Meaning what, exactly?

Ha.

Got you to read!!

Okay, so an excellent post by my friend, Janet http://scout66com.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/no-really-why-is-your-music-important/ and it really says a lot to me. I would imagine it does to other musicians, too. If the music we make is not special to us on a personal level, why do it? I know, I can hear it now– sex, drugs and fame, Ava- that’s why.

Well, if you are in it for that, better forget it if you are average looking, and over 22… make that 20 years old. For the rest of us who are making and performing our music, stop and think about your music and why are you doing it.

This post by Janet is so eerily timely in so many ways to me. For one, I just accomplished a first: a two show day, WITH a bad back. Second, at the second show, that was so wonderful and the joy made me feel no pain, and I played and sang better than ever eventhough I was so scared that I would be too tired to give it my usual 120%. So, I digress, Janet’s post  made me reflect on how I took the time to tell the audience about certain songs I performed, and what they meant to me and why I wanted to share them. It is not just a vocation, it is enrichment for me. So many times, I am in a situation where no one cares if I sing or play, I am just a nameless busker somewhere, so I can’t share my story, or it wouldn’t be heard anyway.  I love to feel like there are people there that WANT to know about me, why I am doing what I am doing and I really love the singing along and hearing the wonderful personal stories of the audience members. We connect through a song and that is the gold at the end of the rainbow. To know that I brought back a sweet memory, a high school prom, or  a first dance at a wedding, especially for someone who’s spouse has passed on (both shows yesterday were at retirement communities.) Bittersweet, certainly but the diamond is performing my “Ava’s Bossa” which is my own creation and having people think that it was a Jobim song and are drawn in to my story because they discover that music is still being made and there I am, the one who wrote it, right there in the dining room, performing it just for them! Very special, and lots of meaning for me, because I wrote that song out of pure love of Stan Getz and the beautiful Jobim compositions. I always wanted to sound a little like Getz, and this is as close as I can get It gives me joy.

Meaning in my songs? It’s all there is. Truly, I can’t imaging making anything worth releasing to the world that was not written with some meaning, a spark of inspiration, joy, pain, laughter. I’m not saying I don’t have some songs that I made just to be silly or that have no words per-se. I do, but they were created through a thought, an impulse and an idea – not just to churn out something to make money with. Heaven knows, I make nothing on my recordings, so it’s not that!

Adele‘s emotional quality as mentioned in Janet’s post is so much more than her voice. She is not a pop princess, not 90 pounds and 5′ 7″ with plastic parts and t-pain production. Her songs are spare at times, to give her powerful but vulnerable voice full emotional impact. That and her very human and real quality, I think it is something we connect with. This could be the girl next door, the one who, perhaps wanted to be a cheerleader but didn’t fit the mold and poured herself into choir and poems, I digress again, you get the idea. We have a voice that we want to listen to, and it’s so visceral, that it doesn’t matter that the woman who it comes from isn’t a sex icon. Thank God for that. I think of Amy Winehouse and the song that stands out to me and that I actually perform now as well is her beautiful laid-back, stripped down version of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.” Again, it has that voice of hers in the front, expressive and powerful but vulnerable and pleading. The meaning? Wow, that one can be too tender to touch now, but it really drew me into her music and I have started collecting some of it.

I think it really comes across when it’s churned out pop fodder for the masses. Heck, they don’t even apparently ask the artists to do re-takes or learn their parts, they just auto-tune the bejeezers out of it and there ya go. AND MILLIONS BUY IT??? Wow. See, it’s hard to not be a grizzled old fart frustrated musician when you go into Taco Bell and hear the music channel that is ALL pop with mindless words, auto-tuned voices and virtually the same music bed production. Over and Over again. There are so many artists that I can’t even tell them apart, once a certain artist‘s style hits big, then there are about 10 more that must be produced and scouted to be exact replicas, or their vocals are poked and prodded into the exact same mold. The same is true for the instrumental pop category, formerly smooth jazz I suppose. As a sax player, I certainly LOVE the technical wizardry but the fact is true that if you listen to the same 5 or so artists on the same 1 or 2 labels they ALL SOUND THE SAME. In fact, they even seem to have the same outfits and hairdos, even the men?

I find it odd. We say we want new ideas, new music, discovery, freedom, and yet, what the public will support is just more of the same. I’m not sure what I’m doing, frankly. I’m trying to be calm and listen to my instincts on this music thing, so far it tells me “forget fitting a genre, Ava, just make what YOU like and others will, too.”

That means, EVERY dang song I make is very personal, filled with meaning. I would love to tell you about their stories, if you have a moment, please check out some of my creations and ask me questions about them, I would be thrilled and very happy to tell you about the songs.

“Annette’s Song” – Behind the Music

After getting J.R. off to school, it was a rainy day and a melody came to me looking out the window by my computer where I also make music here at home. There was this one tiny bird that often sits in my sight on the fence when it rains, I think it’s my Mother’s spirit, as she loved God’s creatures, nature, flowers and birds very much. This little fellow gave me pause out there in the rain…so, I powered the recording device and breathed into my saxophone this melody you hear: no edits, no tuning, nothing but me and my instrument. It has no words, no meter, just an expression that I sat and listened to in a bit of shock.

You see, it began in March 2008, when I flew down to help my Dad, overwrought with grief and the grueling work of caretaking for my Mother, who had been struck down with pneumonia, a broken arm and seizures, resulting in a horrific relapse with brain lymphoma. She was paralyzed, bed-ridden and it was so awful, I didn’t think I would ever recover. We used to give each other stylish haircuts when I was a teenager, and poor Mom‘s wavy hair was in her face and eyes, she could not cut, brush or do anything about it from the paralysis. This was the last visit that she could speak to me, and I’ll never forget her looking up at me with those denim blue eyes to say “Thank you, Ava” after I gave her what would be the last haircut, by me, just like we used to do as Mom and Daughter, long ago… On the tear-filled plane ride home, I began writing a poem that I had hoped would be lyrics to a song for her. A month later she was sent home with hospice. I again traveled down, this time, I drove non-stop, all by myself to be there, I did not want to miss her as the doctor said she had maybe a day left. I brought with me and played her Mahalia Jackson and Johnny Cash’s “My Mother’s Hymn Book”. Dad and I could see that the music was still reaching her, even though she looked lifeless, my Dad said “oh, I think she can hear it, I think she likes that music”. I could not bear it, I left, after having an anxiety attack, I was terrified of being in that house where death was lingering and the sound of the respirator was constantly reminding me that my Mother was leaving this world and I felt shame. The guilt has followed me since. I drove home on Tuesday, the call came from my dad early Sunday, April 27, 2008 that she must have passed away while he was asleep in their room. I have wanted to make a tribute to her. I had tried many times, but the grief was too much and I stopped.

Until February 3, 2010 around 10 am when this song was born…
After I listened to the recording of my saxophone, which was not a very conscious effort, I heard what actually came out and was struck with an urge to seek out and listen to two songs that I had not listened to for at least 15 years “The Lament” by Branford Marsalis and “Yesterday and Today” by Dr. Thom Mason. I looked through my vinyl albums, found them both and something gave me this sense of urgency that I had to read the liner notes for both songs, that there was an answer to something, if I would read them. It all fell into place so seamlessly, so quickly that day that I was struck immediately with the thought that Mom was telling me to stop my guilt and be at peace, that this was MY tribute! I read that Marsalis had dedicated his song in memory of his grandmother, and Dr. Mason said that his song was about people that were in one’s life yesterday, but only able to reach in a dream today, and missing them. I was at once excited and rested at the same time. It was a feeling of Peace that I cannot fully explain. It resolved several issues and drained me of my guilt, the mysteries of the Spirit and of how music is my connection to it and through God became really crystallized in “Annette’s Song”.

It stands: beautiful, blue, sweet and sad, strong and vulnerable, much like Mom, much like love and the way I feel about her and what she went through while on Earth. It challenged my faith, but this song has healed a lot of this pain and anger. It is God and the Word is to follow this music, not think of right or correctness but follow it as it is, pure expression and something beyond my own self.

You Don’t Need Couples Counseling…

All You Need Is Ava (wink)

So you and your honey have been busy, money is tight, the kids are buggin’ for new this or that and you feel like that fire between you has sputtered down to ash.

Talk about some serious kindling! Make sure you get the kids to gramma’s or something, you’re going to need to extendyour datenight (wink)! Take it from me, a wife and mom, elementary school volunteer, graphic designer and a few other things, life can take its toll on your love but it is always there. Sometimes you just need the right music, a little bubbly and some “daddy/mommy time.”

Think of me as the cupid that doesn’t sling arrows, I sling a sax riff and a soulful note towards your hearts and hopefully, there it will take hold, you will look into eachother’s eyes and, VOILA! My job is done? Nah, just put my music in your love mix and ANYTIME you need it, I’m your firestarter, baby. Who needs Dr. Phil, am I right? And heck, this $5 is a lot less than that therapist session, right? Nuff Said. You can get the digital EP or better yet,

A video in tribute to Don Cornelius

Not really sure what else to write about here. Well, on second thought…

Soul Train on the Weekends in the Sirkegian Household…

Yep, tried to do the Moonwalk during Soul Train. Let’s see, now that I made this video with fantastically funky clips from Soul Train, the memories are flooding back to me.

When I was small, my Mom (God rest her), my sisters and I would watch Soul Train for the dancers and learn some new steps and styles during the world famous “Soul Train Line” segment. We had so much fun! I also recall trying to sing along to the inspiration of my song here in the video, “TSOP Style” – the Soul Train theme. Robin was a singer in the High School pop ensemble and choir, she and my sister, Bridget, who was classically trained on piano, would write songs together in our living room on my grandmother Johnson’s baby grand piano. Yes, it DID take up most of the room!

I think I'm about 6 here...

I digress… so we would have fun checking out the dancers and the outfits, WOW, the outfits were wild sometimes! I remember my Mom even groovin’ out usually while making something or while doing chores (that we were supposed to chip-in and help with, by the way!). Gosh, that was fun. Especially since Mom has been gone, and I am far from my sisters, their families and Pops, this news today, that Don Cornelius was suffering with his health for so long and an unhealthy marriage and divorce at 75, it really struck me.

Of course this coming on the heels of Etta James‘ leaving after battling cancer and so much more for so long. Again, the pain of the fact that Mom would have been the same age, well, she was– also being born in 1938– as Etta James, it really hurts and is a reminder that our time is precious and those who have given us life and inspiration are VERY precious.

Maybe, just maybe, one day, I might do the same for someone. The more I create, hopefully, the greater the chance that someone will see it and remember when they grow up and try to make something of their own.

I’m going to stop writing and finish making dinner. I am also going to reflect on what I’m doing with my abilities and if I am prioritizing my life well…

Be blessed, stay well and enjoy your friends and family as much as you can! I enjoy the thought of someone else in the world reading this post, watching the video I assembled and hopefully, liking/discovering my music.

In “Love, Peace and Soul”

Ava

Heroes…

They come in many forms:

Mothers, Fathers, sons

sisters, teachers, nuns…

some have white hair

others have none.

Skin like coffee, cream, or honey

some can walk tall others are tall

in a chair with wheels, or bearing

a cane or an IV as a staff…

A hero can be anyone!

It has nothing to do with looks

health or thought —it’s deeper…

A hero is a man or a woman

who is helpful, dedicated to good

Not ashamed or scared to give

If it means another will thrive

Even if they died

A hero will take that chance

Elevate another when

they are falling themselves.

A hero needs no cape, no movie

no script, nor a paycheck.

They follow their hearts

even if it means pain or death

shame or poverty.

A hero takes ridicule

with grace and wisedom.

Knowing it is an Earthly price

paid for Divine efforts

they bear the brunt

and stay true.

No matter what.

A hero can be big or small

in physical size. They can be

young, old, wide, lean and yes,

A hero can be rich OR poor.

A child, a great-grandmother

a faithful family pet…

To be a hero to someone, another

person, creature or a whole world.

We can. You can. Today.

Heroes…

We need more of them

so. Be one.

Written by Ava Lemert, 9:15 pm, January 20th, 2012

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Ava Lemert’s Upcoming Release 12welve 4-3-2012

Ava Lemert's Upcoming Release 12welve 4-3-2012.

Ava Lemert – the Soulful Singing Saxstress

When you hear Ava sing, her soulful voice might remind you of the late Teena Marie —Ivory Queen of Soul. What really sets Ms. Lemert apart from the crowded field of female soul singers is that she plays a mean saxophone —as well as being a prolific songwriter, and thoughtful lyricist.

“I just tell people my music is Soul Music —simply put. There’s no better word or genre to describe my sound. Everyone and anyone ‘gets’ soul, from country to opera, if you really feel it, you get it.” Ava Lemert has been performing as a solo singer/songwriter/saxophonist since Spring 2008 out of a personal tragedy. “My mom had brain cancer and I dove into my music to keep from falling apart.” Like many musicians, Ava’s music is driven by life, loss and passion.

Since then, Ava’s released several singles and her debut CD “From My Soul” which was aimed at the smooth jazz stations got some international airplay, several television appearances and many online radio interviews as well as local terrestrial FM radio spins. “I smoothed my sound out and dropped a few of my vocals to try to fit a genre. I have wanted to pull together a collection of my own songs that showcase my love for singing, lyric-writing and R&B music. With 12welve, it feels like I have found my own voice and the creativity is an easy flow, not a compromise or conformity, this is truly Ava Music.”

Ava’s upcoming third full-length release, 12welve is a huge break in a new direction for Ava, as well as a throwback to the “love music” of early 1970′s soul. Ava’s eleven originals on the album run the gamut of human emotion, from the powerful “Ain’t No Turning Back Now” which could easily be the fight song for the 99% to the tender contemporary R&B ballad “A Mother’s Song” which will touch any parent’s soul with words of unconditional love and hope for the future of their child. “I went into my ‘angry bird’ self to come up with ‘Something to Prove’ which is about an obtuse egomaniac, disrupting everything around him with his loud cell phone conversations. A show-off, basically that has his priorities out of whack!” Ava turns on the heat with scathing vocals, reminiscent of Tina Turner while singing thought-provoking lyrics such as ‘Don’t you see that the best things, in life, are free?’ The track is funky and you’ll think it’s some dusty soul gem from 1973 except for the reference to a Bluetooth earpiece.

The glimmer of Ava’s many talents has caught the eye of some impressive names in the music business. “Working on a Groovy Thing” the only cover on 12welve, was produced and arranged by Tower of Power keyboardist, Roger Smith. With a fresh arrangement, luscious strings, vocal harmonies, and Ava’s sizzling sax licks the song is reborn with Ava’s unique, signature sound.

Currently, Ava is performing in the Sacramento area and is hoping to expand her performance calendar in Spring of 2012 to support the release of 12welve. All inquiries regarding booking, distribution, interview requests or appearance opportunities can be sent to: ava@avalemert.comor by calling (916) 606-3384.

One Sheet is Ready!

Image via Wikipedia

One Sheet for “12welve” CD by Ava Lemert

Merry Christmas from Ava, John v.2 & John v.3 2011 and always!