Siren Sound. My Blog.

Do you like dangerously tempting hot chicks that can sing? If you do, check out the Siren lady. 

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Fact one, she can sing so well that guys can’t resist her. Fact two, a guy will risk everything in order to hear her sing. If you dive into it, you will find that sailors forged the rough seas while following the soothing Siren voice. Unfortunately, she would lead them to a bunch of jagged rocks and the outcome wasn’t so great. Ouch. Fact three, the worst that that she can do to you is ignore you. Ha!

Art Drama Tragedy = Siren
Siren Sound. Why did I choose this name for my blog? One of my fans once said, I am a “Siren songstress.” My knowledge of Greek mythology is not stellar; I assumed he meant a fire truck or ambulance siren. So was this a compliment or not? Clearly it was, because the guy comes to my shows and is super supportive of me to this day. You know who you are… My dear friend, educated me on the story of the Sirens in Greek mythology. From there, I was fascinated and enchanted by the notion that perhaps I myself am labeled as such.

What would the world be without labels <sigh>?

Dig it: Sirens are recognized throughout Greek mythology (Homer’s Odyssey) , Christianity (the Bible) and folk lore.

I fell in love with this mythological creature that is half bird, half woman, and carries a lyre around, which is a miniature harp. Pretty cool, right?So I thought this will be a great title for my blog: Siren Sound. Sounding off on creativity!The world of art and the minds that create it fascinate me. I truly believe without art part of you dies or is not yet alive. In my humble opinion, art sustains life.Follow me like a Siren! I promise you a sweet song, and—unlike the traditional Siren—I will steer you away from the jagged rocks.Thanks for reading my first blog post, and I look forward to this journey together.Now back to the woodshed!

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Best Jazz Cocktails in the CHI

Venture out to one of you super swanky bars. Check out the hot mixologist in hopes that he can make it, shake it and all that jazz. I prefer my bartender in this genre with a well-groomed handle bar mustache or even the Fu Man Chu soul patch (as long as it appears clean), but please no extreme handle bar with the possibility of something dripping… I’ll take a pass on that garnish.20130820-263821-Percys-kyle-lighting-drink
What to order. It’s a vast selection these days. The cool bar owners have modernized the cocktail list to fit the times. Whatever that means…
Take me back to the roaring 20’s, 30’s or 40’s! I’m so there. WAIT. Prohibition. Didn’t they try to ban alcohol? That didn’t work out so well. Did it?! Ironically, it produced some of the most tantalizing cocktails to this day. Funny how that works…

 

 

Here’s a few to choose from next time you want to throw a few down…  

The Manhattan (1860) is a staple. It’s here to stay and can’t fail ya. I prefer Templeton Rye Whiskey on the sweet side. I love the dark fancy Luxardo cherries. Bar owners need to ante up and get the fancy cherries. Girls like fancy cherries. Last I heard bars need girls.luxardo
Martini (1920’s) Gin & Dry Vermouth. Pretty simple. To the point. Now the Martini has been modified to vodka & whatever you can imagine, as long as you put it in the classic tall stemmed martini glass, you’re fit to tie one on. I prefer a dirty, with blue cheese olives. I will confess the French Martini also works for me. Purple is my favorite color, why not drink it?
Sidecar (1922) Orange Liquor, Cognac and lemon juice. Sidecar get it?
Bee’s Knee’s (1930’s) Often jazz slang for a term of endearment still used today. This is a slight knock off of the Side Car. Gin, Lemon juice, honey syrup. Rumor has it they added the honey to mask the smell of gin. Prohibition you know.
Southside (1920’s) The origin is debated if this came from New York or Chicago. But we know it was Chicago. Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup & mint leaves. Shake it, pour and bottoms up. This is delicious in the summer.
French 75
(1920’s) Bubbles! Champagne, gin, lemon juice & sugar. This little ditty made its debut in Casablanca!
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This will get you started… You will find virtually 100’s of very unique, thirst quenching, palate invigorating drinks from the prohibition/jazz era. Tom Collins, Whiskey Sour, Mint Julep, Rob Roy, Old Fashioned, Mary Pickford, Gin Rickey, and so on…

 

Here’s a few joints that might serve some of these up, including jazz (which is the one element missing in many bars).
SIP (I’m performing here Fridy, July 24 & August 8) Extensive prohibition cocktails & the owners have lotsa love for jazzers! Mwah!
Green Mill Iconic joint, rocks glasses are the best, close to perfect (Check out Saber Tooth Band! recently recorded on NPR)

Jazz Show Case One of Chicago’s best bartenders Babo! Order anything he’s the freakin awesome! Top notch jazz performers too!
Andy’s Jazz Club Manhattan delicious, make sure Casey makes it, they need the fancy cherries (Blowing on Thursdays sax player Eric Schneider. He’s on my new EP Perfect Fit.)
Violet Hour Super swank, might stand in line, worth it, bartenders hipster cute, fab!
Gibson’s Top notch drinks, best piano players (Lloyd Wilson, Bob Solone), impeccable service).

 

There’s a start for ya’ll!
Timeless, hip, swank, delicious.
Hmmm sounds like jazz to me.
Now go drink some hooch!!

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Mind Blowing Ways Jazz Will Make You a Better Lover

Yes, it’s true, jazz can improve your performance in the sack.

Taken straight from Merriam Webster the definition of jazz:

American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre.

Dissect this definition a bit and you will find in yourself the perfect lover.

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A lover is a song. Every day that song can be slightly different, just like jazz.

Let’s talk syncopation. Syncopation is basically accenting the unaccented beats. This is a hard concept to understand for non-musicians. If you pull back on what is obvious in love making(the driving beat), and go for the unexpected approach(the unaccented beat), then you might just hit the sweet syncopation spot. If you go for the obvious all the time, well then that’s what is expected. Boring! The song becomes predictable & mundane = same ole’sex, same ole’ song and dance.

I’m not suggesting any dainty syncopation here. The real thing is propulsive syncopation, which basically means power to the unaccented beat. Voila!

Now the polyphony part is presense of more than one voice, each with its own melody, but in harmony. Can you dig it?

Isn’t it beautiful if you think about how similar love making is to jazz? Aren’t you intrigued?  Lovers-lovers-16603963-500-363

So, varying degrees of improvisation. Right!? I mean of course you must always have improvisation in love making. Who wants to be on her back every time she gets laid? Enough said, Lovers, please, improvise! Jazz has plenty of improvisation, and the most exquisite music is often never repeated, just remembered for years to come. A moment is magical if you make it so, just like jazz, just like love making at its finest.

Now throw in a little distortion, and you will definitely get some pitch and timbre. Got it?

So forget about sex therapy. Who needs it? Fire your shrink, pick up a jazz record, go see some live jazz! Do some dissecting. Get into all the detailed parts in your jazz listening and apply your new skills while you’re having sex. You will see and feel how clearly jazz has made you a better lover.

Here are a few albums I can get you started with:

So many more to name, but these should get you all started. Now go get your jazz on!

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