the titled blog

I’ve been working on illustrating a lot lately, and developing a series of animal “portraits”. Remember the Giraffe portrait? He was a bit more on the cute side.
I think they are pretty funny looking, don’t you?

PS: If you haven’t already, click HERE to “LIKE” my Facebook Page for my jazz project, “Courteney Rodda and the Other Guys”
OR, you could check it out on ReverbNation.com! Since being on the site on Thursday, we’ve climbed from the bottom of the heap to #4 in the local Jazz category! And our national rank is already at #197 (out of 1100 jazz artists, that’s not bad in 4 days!)
Here’s the link to the ReverbNation Page: Courteney Rodda and the Other Guys on ReverbNation

I don’t think words can express the sheer excitement I have for this project. Over the last two years I have been trying to get a jazz group together (I wrote a little bit more about it here). I have been a lover of jazz music from as far back as I can remember. My first CD that I bought was not a Hanson CD, or a Backstreet Boys CD…it was Dizzy Gillespie. Though I went through phases of listening to the pop that my friends were listening to, I always went back to Jazz. It was, and still is the only music that will always get me excited.
As a vocalist, I can remember the first time singing a jazz scat solo (scatting is vocal improv) in my high-school chamber choir and I think I was one of the only students that was thrilled to do it (I honestly don’t remember if I was even good. heh.)
Eventually, when I started writing my own music (which I am by no means prolific) it all had a decidedly jazz feel about it. As I’ve developed my voice over the years, I’ve pushed myself to approach my singing from a jazz angle (even if it was just a contemporary worship song for church) and have been pleased to discover that my voice + jazz are a happy combo.
Which brings me to…now! I, along with Dave (on drums) and our fabulous guitarist Rob Herrett, have been slowly but surely putting together an exciting repertoire that we can’t wait to share with everyone. You may have noticed, at the top of my page there is now a link that says “Courteney Rodda and the Other Guys“. Recently we recorded a couple of songs and I’d be thrilled if you would take a listen!

I apologize in advance for the plethora of Bigsby in this post.  I guess he was just extra cute today.

Morning.  Bigsby always comes and lays on my stomach while I read the news on my phone and check my mail.

Bigsby’s new thing is to roll around on the kitchen floor showing off his belly.  He probably thinks it will get him more treats.  He’s probably right.

Breakfast. Peanut butter and honey, whole wheat toast.  Banana.  Cappuccino.

“Hey Bigsby, come over here and stare up at me adoringly”  ”Ok.”  (Ok…maybe it was just that he wanted my toast)

New nap spot.

Baking day.

Bun day.

Banana apple oat muffins.  Will share recipe tomorrow.

Saved this little friend from work yesterday.  Chances are it won’t survive.  My bet is within a week all the yellowed leaves are going to fall off and it will look dumb.

Husband home for lunch.  Husband stirred the soup.

Homemade tomato soup + veggies + cheese.  Om nom.

Worked on arrangements.

View from behind the mic.  Recorded more songs (to be shared tomorrow).

Dave’s sparkly snare.  He bought it off of a guy that drummed for Heart in the 80′s.  The dude was pretty epic (complete with poodle perm mullet + crop top sweatshirt)

Barefoot and singing.

Our guitarist extraordinaire.

*I stopped taking pictures after the recording session, because I was working all evening on the website to get the tracks posted tomorrow.  The pictures of what I did past 7:00 would have looked like a view of my wordpress dashboard. Stay tuned for some new music posted tomorrow.  And a recipe.  Huzzah!*