NO MORE BOOT!

So I'm out of my broken-foot boot and into some flats now. Sneaker-ish flats, with good support. But you know how I LOVE my heels. So I'm being good, knowing I'll get into them eventually.
We had Christmas Night at North Lake last Sunday and it was amazing. I sang a solo on "Oh Holy Night," and I managed to get through the whole song (almost) before coming to tears at the tag. That song always gets me. It's a combination of things... the song is powerful, lyrically. Our God, our Savior, joining with us here on earth... heavy. Melodically, there has to be something about the melody, the intervals, that incites emotional response. That's just what some songs do. They speak to you on an entirely different level. Soul to soul. And also, that was the first Christmas song my family would play every year. Fr. Bob had recorded a Christmas album on which he sang "O Holy Night." And on Thanksgiving, every year my family would play that record. So "O Holy Night" means so much to me in so many different ways. Add to that the friends I've made in the Contemporary Music Ministry at NLPC since Joe & I moved here. It's been really incredible. Sharing Sunday last Sunday night with them is the greatest Christmas gift. Thanks, you guys.

Now, if we can get Mommy up and moving around after her knee surgery Thanksgiving week. My mommy is made of strong stuff, I tell ya.

Ow.

For those who don't know already, I took a spill on my mud room floor last Saturday and broke 3 bones in my right foot. I apologize to everyone I'm currently involved in projects with if you haven't heard from me lately. It's taken a little while to get used to the crutches, but I'm becoming pretty operational now! I even made a pot of tea today!

Anyway, to my future band members, thanks for your patience and while I'm kinda laid up, I'm doing the phone work to get us going full blast within a few months. (Check out the Jeanann Hand Band songlist on the previous blog.)

Good thing is I'm spending lots of time on my guitar while I sit around with my bum foot elevated. Every cloud has a silver lining, doesn't it?

Thanks and God bless!

Jeanann

Getting Gigs

Hey!
Things have been going well here in Florida. I met an awesome pro drummer named Dan with whom I hope to put a kickin' country band together to play at some county fairs and festivals real soon. Also putting a set of standards together with a wonderful jazz guitarist named Tom Levenia. He's a super guy, and super-talented as well.

I'll be singing Friday August 8th from 6:30 to 9:30 at Harbor Hills Country Club. It's open to the public, so if you're in the area stop on by.

Yay, Sunshine State!

Ok, I only have a few seconds to write, so I'm just gonna say we moved and it's awesome and I love my new home. I'm closer to my mom and my sibs (although I haven't driven down to see them yet!) I've already made some great friends and have been keeping way busy. I'm picking up some singing gigs; I'll post the details later. I do miss my Nashville friends, especially those at The Well & at CSS. Saying goodbye (even if it's just for now) is so hard for me. I'd like to be like that Col. Flagg character on M*A*S*H who tries to disappear before anyone even realizes he's gone. He was never really good at it either though. But that's what I mean.

"Unapologize" (My country CD)
Last month, imusic folk from Germany and England download a lot of my latest cd from Itunes. That is so cool to me. But I gotta wonder, what happened in that part of the world to make that happen? THANK YOU SO MUCH anyway!

More later....

New CD, New Web Site!

My Christian CD Anthology is now available. You can see it on the front page of jeanannhand.com. I'm in the midst of redesigning my site, so please bear with me. In a few days, everything should be just as I'd like it (or at least close) and I'll have song samples and such.

We had Joe (joehand.com)'s CD release party at Joyce's Pegram Coffee Shop & Deli tonight. Joe sounded great, we had some guest musicians and the turnout was wonderful. A huge hug & thank you to everyone who came out tonight, new friends and tried & true. And a super huge thanks to Joyce and Latif! Yeah, I sang a little too.

Chuck Norris says it's time for bed. Ttyl.

Archive - Because it's so necessary

November 5, 2007 - Monday

Rock Chick
I'm now singing with an awesome 70's/80's/Classic Rock band called UNDERCOVER. I get to really let loose and have a great time singing everything from Janis to Heart to Journey to Zep and lots more. They're a great bunch of musicians and we'll be putting on some great shows in the Nashville area soon. I'll post dates here as soon as I have them.

LATEST PERFORMACES:
Aug. 25th
Friends of Pegram Park Writers' Night. It's a fundraiser for a beautiful park in the neighboring town of Pegram. I love Pegram's main street. It feels so home-y!

Oct. 6th
Sang the historic Lawn Chair Theater at Puckett's Grocery in Leipers Fork for the Nashville Riders (a great bunch of folk) as they finished their run raising money for the Williamson County People for Animals. You know how I love my critters!

August 25, 2007 - Saturday
What I’ve Been Doing Lately
Current mood: sleepy

What I've Been Doing Lately
Hey! My keyboard was broken for a while, so when I'd try to send email or log on to myspace or write blogs it would come out like this: "fdjkp 53890 ??*!JF /" It got to be kind of fun to try to make words out of the keys that did work, but I was continually unsuccessful and thus, laying low. So here's a brief diary of fun events recently.

August 9
I wore Phil Keaggy's shoe. I was at a sort of party and he was there and I noticed his really cool shoes and he let me try one on. The event was a lot of fun and I met a some really great people.

August 22
Played some stuff at a songwriter night downtown on 3rd ave at Past Perfect, a neat little restaurant off lower Broadway. Had a great dinner there too. Seared ahi tuna-- muy delicioso. Thanks, Songwriter Host Nathan.

August 25
Sang at the Friends of Pegram Park Songwriters Night, an event held monthly during the warmer months here in Nashville. Saw some great folks I already knew and met and heard some new ones, including Blue Larry Blue, who really isn't so sad as he sounds. Joe introduced Boo's tune and it went over well. I loved sharing some of my new stuff and was encouraged by the warm response. Thanks, Marilee, for having us, and Joyce, for hosting the night.

It's dry and hot up here in TN. But full of love.

See you later.

j*a

May 28, 2007 - Monday
BGV
I'm late in posting this, but last Monday we did a backing vocal session for Mercenary Mary and Daddy's Arm's. HOLY COW, it's sounding amazing!!!!! I thought the songs sounded done before the session, but wait till you hear them now! Thanks Jason, Missi and Nirva!!!!!

Blog Archive - Older

3/18/07
Where the heck have I
been?! On myspace a lot. I think I've been updating there more than I've been updating here. Actually, I know I have, and that's due to some computer stuff that's been going on over the past couple of months. My pc has retired and I'm currently switching back & forth between Mac mini (nice and quiet and fast) and a mac 733 (noisy and slower, but has my web editing software on it, which the Mini does not. And that was some bad grammar there, wasn't it? But, despite missing my family and friends in SFLA, I've been having a great time
around my home base here in Nashville. Yesterday morning, Joe and I and our friend John Grassadonia were guests on Third Coast Music, (thirdcoastmusic.net), broadcasting from Puckett's Restaurant & Grocery in historic downtown Franklin. Thanks Rick, Pam, Jan and Miss Vicky!

8/23/06

So much has happened.
My father passed away June 5th. Our whole family, including my husband Joe, was there in the hospital with him when he let go of this life. I feel so blessed to have spent the past 1.5 years or so living with him and my mother while our family lived through his illness and the surrounding issues. God works in such strange ways. I miss my dad a lot. Anyone who knows me knows that he's been such a huge part of my life and owns a huge part of my heart. I hadn't written anything about his death until now, and I have to admit I am a little choked up talking/writing about it now. We sang to him, all of his favorite hymns, while he was fading over the last couple of days. Never had music been more powerful in our lives, I think. He spoke his last words June 2nd while being admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and never really regained full consciousness after a procedure to drain one of his lungs which had collapsed. Lots of family& friends were there for the funeral. It was really beautiful. The choir he and I had been singing in at church sang at his funeral. So did my husband Joe; to have him go through this with me was just... well, I have no words. He was there just when I needed him most, and somehow always knew exactly what I needed. My mother has been amazingly strong throughout everything.
Thank you so much for your prayers.

I just moved back to Nashville and re-united with my husband Joe. I'm thrilled to be back at my home with my best friend. Been making some new friends as well. (Do miss the great ones I made in FL, though. They are irreplacable.)

I'm getting some valuable recording lessons from The Protools Guy himself. When he (joe) gets back from his tour with John Michael Talbot we'll be finishing my country CD. I know my dad is smiling down on us. I'll be doing some songwriter nights and gigs around town. Also have tentative plans to play in Dallas early next year. I continue to write some praise & worship as well, and hope to record some of that soon. And I'll also be compiling all of my God-specific music on one CD sometime soon. Last night I went through some of my older stuff and I was reminded how blessed I have been to have had such amazing opportunities.

Ooh! And check it out! A couple of my songs are featured on a hot new website: Http://www.creativecafe.com. I'm in some great company there. Download some music, why don't you!

Thanks for checking in. See ya.

j*a

4/09/06

Another one of my songs, "The Last Time," has been added to rotation on Kewlcountry.com. They broadcast country oldies - Nothing less than a year old with the exception of indie artists with a traditional sound, 24/7. They're the sister station of Variety96.com, which is currently playing my single "Unapologize." On Kewlcountry.com, you probably won't hear the same song twice in a week and you may hear some great music from Indie artists. Visit them here!

About the song: "The Last Time" is a traditional-sounding country waltz. I love the sound of the recording; there's some tremendous fiddle work on it. I wrote the entire song in a dream a few years ago. There's a clip on my music page. Or request it on Kewlcountry.com to hear the whole thing!

4/05/06

Outbound Music (http://www.outboundmusic.com) has just added "Unapologize" to their countrymusic playlist! Outboundmusic.com's mission is to provide listeners with a wide variety of easily attainable quality music while providing indie recording artists & songwriters honorable and equitable distribution and promotion services. They donate 10% of its net profits to charity. How cool!

3/23/06

"Unapologize" has just been added to the playlist at mvyradio.com's Local MusiCafe, which is consistently ranked within the top 15 most streamed internet radio stations in the world. Visit their site for a listen!

3/22/06

So what the heck have I been doing, you ask?
...
Let me sum up (to quote Inigo Montoya):
Most of you know my dad is seriously ill. I've been with them (my dad and mom) in south FL for the past year and it's been a really special time. With such intense personal stuff going on, I cut back a whole bunch on things I was so focused on earlier. Not permanently, just now when it's what I feel called to do. I kind of retreated into my Faith and learned (once again) what a sublime gift God gives us when we hand ourselves over to Him. Only God can give you the biggest something when you're working from nothing.

Of course, music is something that doesn't just leave you when you ignore it; the creative voice begs to be satisfied and I've had some great outlets for it along the way.

My guitar and I have become intimate friends. I'm also singing in one of the best gigs available: My dad has been a church choir member, well, for as long as I can remember. Being here in the same town with him now, I joined him in the choir. What awesome experiences we've had sharing this activity together. And the choir members have been wonderful too.

In addition, I've been blessed with spending a few mornings playing for an Senior Adult Daycare Center and Alzheimer's Day Care Facility. There's no way you can spend a morning there and not just be smiling ear-to-ear for the rest of the day.

After a couple of years off, I just published a new issue of my web magazine for girls. It has it's own domain now at Philomenagirl.com. The concept is still evolving and will just keep getting better with every issue.

I just got the mixes of the last 2 original songs I recorded up in Nashville (Thanks, Joe!). I love them! Check out my music page for some mp3 clips.

One of the songs, "Unapologize," has just been added to the rotation on Variety96.com, an online streaming radio station out of Austin, TX. If you stop by their site, request my song!

It's also been selected for the playlist on Thats Country LIVE!, Canada's top online country radio station. The station also airs on the US MBN Wireless Network, which has 1.7 million listeners and rising. Visit their site here. And, if you feel like it, request my song!

"Unapologize" has also been selected to play on the FTM (For the Masses) Podcast Network, a group of podcasts that look to showcase the best in independent and unsigned music from all over the world. Their programs are available as both streaming media online and downloadable to listener’s portable media player or computer. They'll let me know when the song will be used. I will let you know!

I'm looking forward to recording some electronica versions of some tradional old Catholic music. You'll be the first to know when there's something to listen to there.

I'll be playing for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica on April 22nd in Boca Raton. See ya there!

Thank you so much for your prayers and your friendship. Drop me a line! And keep the prayers coming!

love,
J*A

Give me a shout!

1/30/06

I can't believe I haven't said this yet, but:
THANK YOU, VINNIE, FOR THE GUITAR!!!!!!!

Oh, and I do have a space:
http://myspace.com/
jeanannhandmusic.
Some of my Christian stuff is there.

9/05

HOLLYWOOD BEACH CLAMBAKE!
I'll be singing at the
CLAMBAKE PAVILLION
SATURDAY SEPT. 17th
6:30 - 7:30

8/15/2005

Ok, so I was a month off! The
Hollywood Beach Clambake is
the weekend of Sept. 16.
I'll be playing that Saturday in
the late afternoon/early evening.
I'll post a more specific time when
I get that information.

7/20/2005
I've been in Florida and will be playing
at the Hollywood Beach Clambake in August.
I'll let you know the date when I find out.

3/12/2005
I'll be visiting some friends playing at Rippy's tonight and will will most likely be singing for a bit sometime between 8 - 8:30. Come on over and buy me a coke.

3/10/2005
Good boy!

3/8/2005
Welcome to my world.

3/6/2005
Foiled
My foil won't fit in my suitcase. I don't have a bag for it. And no one wants to see you board a plane with one.

3/2/2005
Ruff
So this is what followed me up my driveway when I came home this afternoon. Wish we could have kept him. But Boo seems kind of glad to remain the lone dog in the house.

2/9/2005
Good times & noodle salad.
Just returned from a very efficient visit to Florida. Last Thursday, Joe & I shared some music at the annual Run For Life banquet. I'd missed the event for the past 2 years, so I was especially glad to see all the regular players in this event as well as meet some new ones.

Saturday night, I was in the front row for a hella-awesome Mardi Gras parade. Actually, it was part of Hollywood's Fiesta Tropicale (http://www.mardigrasfiesta.com), a newly resurrected pre-Lent celebration organized by my brother-in-law. While it captures the excitement and revelry of a traditional Mardi Gras, it's more family-friendly than the Mardi Gras you'd find in the French Quarter. I'm already looking forward to next year. I wonder if I could use my pull and be Queen of the Fiesta or something like that. And have people give me presents.

Oh, and:
Hey, Conrad! Thanks for the ride!

Of course, the best part of any trip to Florida is spending time with my family. Thank you all for your prayers for my dad and mom. (My dad was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas.) He's doing well with his treatments; we fully expect him to come through this strong as he's always done with everything else. We are of good stock, my people!

Please keep us in your prayers and good wishes. Thanks!

P.S.
Started tracking vocals for my newer songs. I can't wait to share them with you!

1/1/2005

Happy New Year!

11/25/04

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Personally, I am thankful for being born into this wonderful country, into my wonderful family (new members as well as the originals) and continuing to live among the abundant blessings with which God showers me.
If you are reading this, I am thankful for you too! And thanks for all your wonderful thanksgiving presents & greetings.

11/22/04

Ok, did the tracking on Sunday night & really had the greatest time ever! I'm so thrilled with what took place! Can't wait to share it with you!

11/17/04

Studio - On Monday, I'll be tracking the rest of my songs for my CD. I am very excited about that!

My Joe!
Here is a great review of my husband's latest CD:
http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=6060.
I am so very proud!

10/26/04

My mom & dad are so cool!
They're working at the polls... in South Florida!
No wonder I turned out alright. For the most part.

Happy Belated Birthday, Jon! (That's my brother, who also happens to be one of the biggest musical influences in my life).

10/21/04

This is what you should not eat for breakfast:
A pot of coffee and 1/2 a bag of low-fat oreos.
I'm just saying.

10/7/04

I don't like talking about my flair.
Dick Cheney's flair? I could go on forever.
dickcheneyfanclub.com.

9/25/04

FREE BURRITOS!
Actually, it was even better than the phrase sounds.
Joe & I just got back from a really cool night! Rick Lonow (one of my favorite persons in Nashville and an amazing musician) invited us to come listen to him play as a member of Burrito Deluxe, the current incarnation of the legendary Flying Burrito Brothers. It was an awesome show and an awesome time! Much of the crowd was from the Americana Music Association Conference and the people I met were super fun. I even got a lesson in two-stepping (Thanks, Joyce!)
Thanks, Rick! You da dawg!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM & JUDY & JEN!
I MISS YOU!!!

8/17/04

Does this mean I'm officially a redneck?
I got an electric hedge trimmer for my birthday from my husband. That's what I told him I wanted (many, many times; I am not subtle about such crucial things as presents) & I wasn't lying. When he gave it to me, I was happier than I would have been if he'd handed me another piece of jewelry or something like that. So I guess that's it. I am a redneck.

When I tell my girly-girl friends what my husband gave me for my birthday, they're all "Oh, I'm so sorry!" To which I respond, "No, I really love it! It's just what I wanted!" They pat me on the head and say, "Sure it is, sweetie." But behind my back they say, "What a brave girl."

Now I want some kind of powered saw. And a shotgun.

Oh! And be a member!

8/04/04

Thank you all so much for the birthday gifts & greetings!
You're so thoughtful & generous! You make me feel like a princess!

7/23

Send me birthday greetings!
Or presents...presents are good.
And tell me I'm pretty.

7/11

I've always thought that if I were in the circus, my chosen act would be either the trapeze or the tight rope. The trapeze artists and tight rope walkers always get the best costumes, so very sparkly. Swings make me a little nauseous, though. I guess it would have to be the tight rope.

Free Streaming Audio
Listen to free streaming audio of Jean*Ann's songs at her Broadjam location: http://www.broadjam.com/artists/
artistindex.asp?artistID=7182
You'll hear both her country & her Christian music there.

6/04

Nothing happened in June. I overslept and the month just kind of got away from me.

5/20/04

I got an email from Martha Stewart. She's grateful for my kind words and support. And she wants me to buy stuff if I can. And complain to my local tv station if they cancel her show. I said ok.

Here I am in my kitchen practicing to take over for Martha. In case she needs it.
From the looks of things, I seem to use a lot more breakfast cereal than she does.

I'm going to S Fla tomorrow to see my family-- YAY!

5/11/04

Joe & I did a concert at a church in Franklin, LA Saturday night. Beautiful church, wonderful people, extraordinary priest. Plus we got to visit our friends who live there. A great experience all around.

4/17/04

We got a riding mower last night. Dreams do come true.

4/14/04

Tanya Harding moved here sometime last year, I think. Training for a boxing career. She'd be fun to hang out with. I mentioned that to Joe and I think it made him a little nervous.

3/24/04

Just added a partial list of the cover songs I do. Check the "booking" link.
My brother & his wife just had their second child, a beautiful little boy named John David.

3/12/04

I sat in with a friend at Legend's Corner down on lower Broadway (Thanks Darryl!) My friend Darryl O'Donnel is amazingly talented; I don't think there's a country song he doesn't know and can't sing the pants off of. If songs wore pants, that is.

I love that area (around Legends Corner) because it's a great piece of Nashville country music history. A lot of tourists come through there and most of the ones who do are true country fans. Got to do some good old classic songs, which I just love to sing! (To see some of Legends Corner, go here.)

Hoping to find myself there again one day soon. Singing, I mean. I guess I could go & just hang out too.

2/29/04

Apparently, there is no news. I will shortly be posting a link here to my blog. So even if there's no news, you'll at least find something entertaining to read.