New Website! Lisabintuitive.com

Please check out the new website about my services as an intuitive reader, healer, and coach! I've been providing clairvoyant readings, healings, and coaching in hundreds of sessions since 1993, usually by phone. Go here to learn more: www.lisabintuitive.com.

I also have started a companion blog there. Topics so far range from astral travel in dreams to how our fervor to rid ourselves of bacteria is promoting diabetes.

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Poetry Reading for "Journey to the World," 6/1/11

 Enjoy these adorable pictures of second-graders from Anna Yates Elementary School in Emeryville, Calif., reading at nearby Barnes & Noble on 6/1/11 from their new poetry anthology, "Journey to the World." I edited the book; publication was funded by environmental consultants Weiss Associates.   

I taught these students poetry-writing weekly as a volunteer for two school years, second and third grade, with their fabulous teacher Emily Brunick (looking very pregnant in these shots) often writing poems along with the kids. I started every class saying, "Hi, poets!" I'm hoping they continue to think of themselves as poets for many years to come.

Get the book on Amazon: all proceeds benefit student activities - such as the camping trip the following year by these students, many of whom had never spent time in nature. http://www.amazon.com/Journey-World-Second-Graders-Elementary-School/dp/0578081989

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg from 1964: What A Treat

Saw the restored original "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" on DVD last night with the incomparable very young Catherine Deneuve and all dialogue SUNG to challenging (effortlessly delivered) melodies and score by Michel Legrand. Very hip and brighter than those little hearts we used to give at Valentine's Day. It was an early 60s French fable wrapped up in a jazzy-chamber opera musical package. Check it out.
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New Video of Lisa B's Cover of Matisyahu's "Miracle"

I had a lot of fun with my maiden homemade video. Almost makes up for failing grade-school art.
Download the tune from CDBaby or iTunes:
http://www.cdbaby.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?AlbumID=lisablisabernstein3
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/miracle-single/id48927021

" 'Miracle' uses the multi-track guitar work of Andre Bush. Lisa B... matches the tricky cadence well, digging out new meaning from the Matisyahu tune while maintaining the original's sensibility." - Jordan Richardson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Blogcritics.com

Also on the Hanukkah / Chanukah tip: The album includes a lovely vocal/orchestral version of "Hine Ma Tov," with a new translation by me.

"Well-toasted chestnuts... Her lower register serves her best on 'Hine Ma Tov," with a shimmering, layered orchestration." - Kirk Silsbee, Los Angeles Times

They're both from my new album ("Christmas Time Is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice))," http://www.lisabmusic.com/cds_books.html . Lots of songs by Jews (some of which are Christmas songs)! 

"The sure-bet holiday music that should be playing in hipper households over the next few months. Tasty throughout." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record 
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My Versions of Matisyahu Song "Miracle" and "Hine Ma Tov" for Chanukah / Hanukkah Now on iTunes - Plus: Great New Review

I was surprised to discover that in late November 2011 (this year), Matisyahu released five new versions of his great Chanukah / Hanukkah song "Miracle," and the Maccabees also offered their take on the tune. 

My version of "Miracle" first appeared as part of my CD released in late October 2011, "Christmas Time Is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice)" -- and it just went up as a single on iTunes a few days ago! http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/miracle-single/id489270215 

It's also available as a single on the great indie music site, CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lisablisabernstein3


My new holiday album got a thoughtful, extensive review from Jordan Richardson yesterday on Blogcritics that was immediately picked up by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/blogcritics/article/Music-Review-Lisa-B-Christmas-Time-is-Here-2406244.php. 


About "Miracle" — and the other Jewish song on the record, "Hine Ma Tov" — Richardson writes: 
"Christmas Time is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice)" is a vibrant, diverse holiday record that sees Lisa B working through a number of Christmas standards, originals, and Jewish tunes with an energy that is enchanting... Along with the usual fare, the San Francisco Bay-based performer engages with the Hebrew hymn "Hine Ma Tov" and Matisyahu's "Miracle."... [Her] risk-taking continues with... "Hine Ma Tov"... [an] orchestral number accented by bells... the arrangement is... subtle and Lisa's vocals stand out... "Miracle" uses the multi-track guitar work of Andre Bush. Lisa B varies her tone a number of times and matches the tricky cadence well, digging out new meaning from the Matisyahu tune while maintaining the original's sensibility."

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Notes on the Songs: "Christmas Time Is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice)"

Notes by Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) on her new CD “Christmas Time Is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice)”

1.   The composition “Christmas Time Is Here” evokes nuances of Christmas that aren’t found in any other song – a keen awareness of the holiday’s beauty as well as the unresolved melancholy underneath it. When co-producer Jim Gardiner (whose background includes writing for the Seattle Symphony) told me he wanted to make an orchestral track, I was thrilled, and I was even more thrilled when I heard his mixture of Henry Mancini and Steve Reich, sleighbells and dissonance. With my singing, I aimed to convey the sense of experiencing Christmas privately even amid the surrounding jolliness, and a vivid encounter with “the spirit” at the tune’s end that both redeems and amplifies its haunting atmosphere.

2.   The Hebrew hymn “Hine Ma Tov” continues the orchestral approach. It uses both of the traditional treatments of the song, stately and folk-danceable. Since the song is often heard at Shabbat feasts and sometimes on Chanukah, I couldn’t resist it – especially as it gave me the chance to write a new translation of the lyrics.

3.   “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!” is the tune that sparked my desire to do this record – swinging, flirty, continuing the theme of the fire in the fireplace and underlining the passion and connection that the fire signifies. This track introduces the marvelous live trio of Adam Shulman, piano, John Wiitala, bass, and Alan Hall, drums.

4.   “My Favorite Things” has loomed large in my life since I encountered both the John Coltrane and Julie Andrews classic versions at about the same time, and I’ve been singing it for years. The musicality and fervor of the band, including Alan’s hard-driving drumming and Adam’s passionate solo, helped inspire me to innovate some new lyrics after it, which continue the motif of finding and honoring one’s own truth.

5.   “Miracle” is a duet with the sparkling, multi-track guitar work Andre Bush, in my first time working with him, though we’ve known each other for many years. It’s the second Chanukah song on the record (though it’s worth noting that all the tracks on the record except 6 and 7 have at least one Jewish writer). The American Hasidic reggae artist Matisyahu released “Miracle” in December 2010, contributing a much-needed additional Chanukah song to the holiday repertoire. Both lovely and rousing, it speaks in the voice of someone who is overtaken by his/her private spiritual communication with God but still filled with zeal to encourage all who are listening to keep searching, and to believe that “him who searches will find.” With its many references to candles, fire, shining, sunrise, and light, Miracle again reminds us of why we conjure up brightness during the dark time of the year.

6.  “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” brings back the trio, with a gospel-shuffle arrangement by Adam Shulman that adds some downhome joy to the spectrum of celebration on this record.

7.   I’ve always loved Donny Hathaway’s performance of “This Christmas,” which he co-wrote, and it was a perfect fit for the record as a playfully romantic song for the holiday in which happiness extends to family and community too. You may not notice that helping to propel the tune are tasty shifts from 4/4 to 3/4. Background vocalist Anna Lissa Patterson, with Jim Gardiner’s expert mixing, creates a lush bed to play in.

8.   “Holiday in Oakland,” the record’s first original, celebrates the Northern California city – or the Town, as locals call it – where I’ve lived for 20 years. A rap at the center lauds some of the musical greats who originated here. The holiday I keep saying we should take isn’t limited to Christmas! The old-school track by Jim Gardiner calls up Bump City, and the inspired background vocals by Anna Lissa Patterson, an Oakland native, truly represent. This song was made entirely in Oakland.

9.   Also an original, “The Flame” lights the fire again, but reminds us that sequestering ourselves with loved ones during the holiday can’t seal us away from the world’s tumult and destruction. Being aware of others’ suffering – and our own – is painful, but the pain dissipates when we “find the golden flame in ourselves” and take some action to help our communities. Starting out spoken in time to a lush track, the song ends with a cappella singing that returns to the song’s initial reference to a timeless flame that curls in the dark of winter and the Name within it, hidden but bright. And it recasts the hearth as one that we make together, to create peace on earth.

10. I wrote “Winter Solstice” as a poem, as opposed to a rap or a spoken-word piece, and it’s spoken in free verse, out of time. Still, the lovely track adds enormously to its flavor. What you hear is a one-take vocal with musical accompaniment by Jim that emerged rapidly – a testament to the communication finely honed between us over almost two decades of collaboration.

11. We couldn’t resist offering an instrumental version of “Christmas Time Is Here” to close the record. Allow yourself to come full circle, and amid the orchestra’s strings and brass and timpani to experience your own Christmas – the spirit that is you, and the other spirit that is near.

copyright 2011 Lisa Bernstein

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Purchase songs or CDs -- and please write customer reviews!:

iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-time-is-here-chanukah/id477308876?uo=4 or www.itunes.com/lisab

Amazon:
(please buy new; used ones are promos or bootlegs others are reselling) http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Time-Here-Chanukah-Solstice/dp/B005YFBA28

CDBaby--a great site for indie music:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lisablisabernstein2

Thanks and enjoy!

"Christmas Time Is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice)" available on Amazon and CDBaby

"Christmas Time Is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice)" is available on

Amazon: http://amzn.to/uq7RJo ,

CDBaby: http://bit.ly/vwqGFB, and

itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas-time-is-here-chanukah/id477308876?uo=4 or
www.itunes.com/lisab


Please enjoy, and support independent music on the holiday!
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The Singer's Life: Where to Start (And How to Keep Going)?

Are you a singer? Do you want to become one?
Check out the workshop I'm giving at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, Calif.!

Sunday, October 30, 2011, Noon - 3:00 p.m.
www.jazzschool.com2087 Addison St., Berkeley CA 94704 (510) 845-5373 $50 advance, $65 at the door

The Singer's Life: Where Do You Start (And How Do You Keep Going)?
A workshop for singers who want to get started with manifesting their dreams — and keep manifesting them. This is not a performance class, but a class that will help you perform more regularly, by first identifying your goals and then putting together a plan to achieve them. Students have the opportunity to tell the story of where they are as singers and where they'd like to be, using writing exercises to help define personal goals. Instructor Lisa B outlines the various aspects of a singer's life, from education to songwriting to performance and promotion. She then brainstorms with each student and provides advice about specific steps on the path — for the next year and beyond.

We'll be working (and playing) within three main areas:
I. Your initial dream of being a singer, your purposes as a singer now, and aligning your singer activities so you feel your own power and well-being.
II. The various pieces of a singer's life.
III. Setting and accomplishing short- and long-term goals.

I can't wait! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lisa B on:
itunes: www.itunes.com/lisab
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-B/e/B000APFBT0/ref=ac_dpt_sa_link/189-6228384-6601816
cdbaby: www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LisaBLisaBernstein
website: www.lisabmusic.com

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"Holiday in Oakland": The New Single!

The first single from my winter holiday CD just went up on CDBaby at http://cdbaby.com/cd/lisablisabernstein and www.itunes.com/lisab. "Holiday in Oakland"! A positive tune about my Town for any holiday, especially celebrating the music originating here.

The old-school-with-a-new-twist track is by Jim (James) Gardiner (composer, educator, producer, engineer, and friend), who runs Gardiner Music Mentoring and Pajama Recording Studios near Jack London Square in Oakland.

Oakland native Anna Lissa Patterson sang the background vocals, creating both downhome excitement and a luscious ambience (her contribution also put the sheen on "This Christmas," on the CD).

Go download it! Click on the links below to go to CDBaby or go to iTunes, which gives a nice long sample including the rap. (But on my iTunes page are some songs by the UK-based model-actress-singer Lisa B, who isn't me and is a lot more famous.)

Here are the lyrics:

Holiday in Oakland

lyrics © 2011 Lisa Bernstein

music © 2011 Lisa Bernstein and Jim (James) Gardiner

published by Lisa B Swingin’ Music, BMI, and Jawiz Music, ASCAP

Let’s take a holiday in Oakland

Let’s take a walk around the lake

With the lovers and the runners

The kids of every color holding hands

In Oaktown

Let’s take a holiday in Oakland

Let’s take a break and eat some grits and greens

Potstickers and beef chow mein

Crabs we caught today in the bay

In Oaktown

In the winters we don’t freeze

In the summers it’s a breeze

Under redwoods in the park

Soul and salsa after dark

Drive down Christmas Lane

See the galaxies explained

At Chabot, watch the moon turn to gold

Let’s take a holiday in Oakland

Let’s hear the music that we made:

(rap)

Tower of Power, Y&T

Goapele and Michael Franti

Tony Toni, Del the Funky Homo Sapien

Digital Underground in Raider Nation

The Pointer Sisters and Pete Escovedo

Redwood Records, Oaktown Jazz, livin’ their credos

Kitka, Keak da Sneak, En Vogue, and Hammer

The Hawkins Singers and Pharoah Sanders

In the winters we don’t freeze

In the summers it’s a breeze

Under redwoods in the park

Soul and salsa after dark

Drive down Christmas Lane

See the galaxies explained

At Chabot, watch the moon turn to gold

Take a holiday, oh yeah

Throw all your worries away

You can slide under the bay to San Francisco

But you better come on home

Go deep in the east

And just settle in the west

Amble down Grand and strut your best on Broadway

Dip your finger in the water in Jack London Square

Run to the hills and inhale the air

Come to my house and just sway in the hammock with me

I’m in Oaktown

That’s where I’m gonna stay

That’s where I work and it’s where I play

In Oaktown

(Let’s take a holiday in Oakland!

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The "Holiday in Oakland" single: 
http://cdbaby.com/cd/lisablisabernstein

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/holiday-in-oakland/id472458271?i=472458273&uo=4 
cdbaby: www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LisaBLisaBernstein

www.lisabmusic.com

Gardiner Music Mentoring: A Great Program, Expanding Now

I'm excited to tell you about Gardiner Music Mentoring, a program for youth 14 and up as well as adults. GMM provides one-to-one and small group mentoring and lessons on all aspects of musical development — all within the world-class Pajama Studios near Jack London Square in Oakland.

Know a young person involved in music who would flourish in an alternative learning setting?

Seeking to expand your skills in audio engineering, music composition, or performance?

Gardiner Music Mentoring will tailor a program to meet your starting point, goals, learning style and schedule. You can study:

•  Music composition, theory, and orchestration
•  Recording, mixing, and mastering
•  Instrumental and vocal technique and performance
•  Creating your own CD and producing CDs by other artists
•  The evolving music business and your career planning and launch

Gardiner Music Mentoring features personal instruction from Jim (James) Gardiner as well as an amazing array of mentors who are working musicians. Jim has an unmatched range of skills: composition (he was composer in residence for the Seattle Symphony), audio engineering (Grammy nominations and 42 gold- or platinum-certified records), and producing. His program's mentors include some of the best the Bay Area has to offer, with more being added each month.

Jim has a magic touch with kids, providing a framework of both creativity and discipline, and a special ability to communicate. And he does pretty well with grownups too — as I can attest.

Check out Gardiner Music Mentoring's curriculum, testimonials, and more: http://www.gardinermusicmentoring.com.

Week-long summer camp sessions start in August, and weekly lessons as well as more immersive programs are ongoing.

A great place for you or a young person you know to take the next step in musical development — whether it's learning about recording and mixing with the latest technology, in a real-live studio environment; getting started on your first symphony; or being guided and assisted at every step in creating your next CD.

Feel free to contact me (see my website link below, Contact page) to find out more, or contact Jim at (323) 481-1590.

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Lisa B on:
itunes: www.itunes.com/lisab
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-B/e/B000APFBT0/ref=ac_dpt_sa_link/189-6228384-6601816
www.lisabmusic.com
cdbaby: www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LisaBLisaBernstein