Swizzy Revisited & Further HRH Adventures...

Time marches on...

I've gotten really lax about posting to the blog. Been trying to keep up the myspace, facebook, twitter thangs while simultaneously living in the moment. Dig? No excuses just the facts. A wee example of how busy I've been: I left my new Swizzy base (the Villa is on the market)for 4 days and ended up being on the road nearly 5 weeks. Crazy! I just kept going in a forward motion. None of this back and forth crap. The trains in Swizzy are spendy even with my half price card-no waste, no worries. So how can I catch you up on my wacky adventures over the last couple of months? There are sure to be gaps, but one day the tell-all... blah diddy blah...

Old friends in new places: Rickey Payton & his Lady

This past summer I sang again at the Montreux Jazz Festival. When I was in Jazz radio, I dreamed of being there. Now I've actually sung twice at the festival. Headlining next? It's in the dreambox. It was another magical year. Mark Kelly hooked up a sweet lakeside stage for us and friends. Plus he shared one of the big stages with me. It was different than last year, in a good way. We were more confident, less frantic, and saavy enought to take small moments for ourselves. Princess was blessed with a couple more Montreux gifts: a fabulous necklace of antique glass beads & a guitar! Guess I gotta learn to play now. The biggest surprise was running into an old family friend there. Can you imagine? I was just walking along the lake getting ready to sing when I bumped into Rickey. It had been ages since we'd collided in person. For one second I almost felt like I was back in the States .

Magic moments at Montreux Jazz Festival!

I played some new smaller fests as well and met more wonderful people, some of whom are quickly becoming friends. (BTW- I miss you, my friends Stateside, who know me well and treat me like family! U know who u are.) One such new bud is a winemaker. Lucky me!!! Jean-Christophe has an amazing vineyard overlooking Lake Geneva. His sweetheart, his little daughter, & the entire family welcomed me with open arms, so I spent the harvest season with them. We snipped the grapes from the vines the 1st weekend in October. OMG!!! The gorgeous weather, wonderful people, & great wine almost made me forget I was fruit picking. Tough physical labor by the way, but then there were magnificent lunches and dinners plus wine, wine, wine! I actually arose for the 7am breakfast looking forward to spending my day in the vineyard with other family members and friends practicing my French. It's kinda sad when a 2 y/o asks,"Tu comprends, Katt?". Ma petite Banane, that's what I call her, keeps me on my toes.

The vineyard...

Pere Michel making music at the Open House.

Jean-Christophe and his family...

grapes fresh from the vines...


time for crushing to start the wine fermentation process...

Oops, I jumped ahead a bit. One of the highlights of my second season in Swizzy was the 2 week singer's session I got to do in the Winterthur schools. It was a series of mini-concerts a capella called "The Voice- That Katt". If anyone had ever asked if I could begin singing each day at 8:15am I'd have punched him, but I did it. One thing that keeps me saying yes to new adventures is my goal to reach larger audiences and sing all over the world. School children? Never thought of it. What a trip! They were all ages and nationalities. Not too blended 'cause I am in Swizzy, but there was a smattering of world representation. Every weekday I sang at least 4 sessions. The teachers' told me how touched some of the students were by my songs. But it was the strangers on the street who would stop to ask if I was the singer then recount the story of how their kids came home from school talking about me that assured me I was having a positive impact. See, I've come to learn the youth are desensitized by music videos where all is glamourized. Usually what they get is fairly homogenized. Using jazz, spirituals, originals, pop, & showtunes I was able to demonstrate the power of the first instrument- the voice. An extra special me treat was singing some of the spirituals I grew up singing as a wee lass. I had forgotten some of those songs and they are sooo powerful. Walk With Me Lord & Swing Low Sweet Chariot were school house favs. The songs really do free the spirit for the journey. For me they also set the energy in the room. Pretty cool!! I was so thrilled when they sold out my final concert, bringing their siblings, parents and grandparents. Thanks kids for diggin' the music and me.

Zurich's Casa Bar...

I'm still constantly blown away by all the opportunities coming my way since I began this adventure. It never crossed my mind how any of it would unfold. Even now another chance to realize my dream of singing in Russia is in the mix. Obtaining a Russian visa when I'm not in my country of origin is a trial, but I'll keep searching for a way. I've been invited, the first step. Keep fingers and toes crossed for me. If all works out I'll visit Southern Russia for nearly 2 months before the year's end. Oooo weee!!!:) When gratitude is constantly in my heart I know I'm truly blessed.

As always I send you Katt-joy and wishes for a fulfilling life...