Devorah on the mend…

Devorah

I checked in with everybody’s favorite fireball of a singer, Devorah, the other day to see what her summer looks like, and she has a few surprises, as well as a wonderful achievement – getting her music presented with a symphony. Here’s what’s up:

Q. Good to get a chance to visit with you. I reported that you & Dick Hieronymus (click here for the story) had a couple of shows earlier this spring back east that he said went very well. Can you tell me about that?

A. I was invited to sing with two symphonies in January right after the NBC’s Al Roker appearance, and the private event with Bill Clinton…no, I couldn’t coax him to play his saxophone :-).  Dick created two fantastic arrangements, one from my first solo CD “Irrepressible,” and the other from my latest CD ‘5770,’ which is a tribute to my late parents who gifted me with a legacy of ancient Hebrew chants.  It was not only a thrill to work with Dick, but the two conductors loved his arrangements, and are helping connect me to other symphonies.

I cried during rehearsal the minute the symphony started playing “No More Goodbyes,” which has been my favorite song to perform for almost two decades, and I cried again, when the conductor of the Youngstown symphony and his entire orchestra stood up after we finished the finale….just didn’t see that one coming!!

The local Youngstown, Ohio newspaper did a superb article, and publicist Roger Neal put me on three television shows.  He is currently working on a July appearance on Channel 5, Los Angeles’ popular Morning Show seen on three continents.

Devorah, in action....

Q. So, I notice you have your wrist kind of wrapped up there – that’s your right hand. What’s the deal? Does that affect your playing?

A. No deal. I hurt it in the NY subway right before the Wake Up with Al Roker show.  In Yiddish, I was over-schlepping, and my forty-pound backpack, and big Guild guitar got away from me, and snapped my right thumb back towards my wrist. If you watch the one minute video of me with Al at  www.devorahmusic.com you’ll notice an attractive wristband that my family made for me to help brace it.

Even though my lineage is full of doctors, lawyers, and cantors, I never run to see a doctor.  Playing for the Port’s 60th, and over Memorial Weekend sent me running for an Xray….clearly the wrist was not healing correctly.  I’ve been referred to UW Medical Center, and am waiting for an opinion as to what’s next.

Q. Wow, that’s too bad….but can you still perform? What would that look like?

A. Yes, I can still perform but not with guitar. To help with basic money for survival, I had an idea to create a track show of up to three hours long that essentially becomes my backup band. I’ve focused on wildly popular Motown dance music, as well as all of the songs on “Irrepressible.”  It’s the firecracker dance energy, my voice, and great tracks,  that will be the focus of the shows this summer. As far as your question of what it will ‘look like’ versus ‘sound like’?  I’ll be changing clothes and wigs every other song!  🙂

I’m hoping that when people read this that they will email, or call me for shows and/or private events, and that local bands will allow me a spot to either serve as a warm up act or play between their sets. “If anyone needs a cantor for weddings…who ya gonna call?”  360.317.5612 or [email protected]. If you haven’t heard or purchased a copy or an individual download of the music, now would be a perfect time.

Q. So it seems like you travel a lot when you perform, but always come back to San Juan Island – where are you going to be this summer?

A. Since the 2006 decision to become an original artist, and two Cds later I have traveled  beau-coup… marketing and being consistent with each business contact.  Right now my plan is to be Here… where the deer and the rabbits roam! However, with an LA publicist pushing me to NY and LA, I never know exactly….other than this currently appears to be the summer to be between San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez.

Q. Good luck with your summer – it’ll be good to see you around!

A. Ian…a pleasure as always, and thank you for the chance to connect.

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