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Let’s go 2023!
Let’s pretend now, in mid February, that Spring really is right around the corner. We DO have longer days, and they tell me that makes a difference. Write me and let me know if you’re feeling it! I know for me and my tribe, we are looking to opportunities this year to find comfort, connection, and ways to make our changing world a better place, for most of us one local effort at a time.
What a joyful couple of gigs we just experience, and all about community. I joined some of my oldest friends in the business at the Universalist Unitarian Church at Shelter Rock, one of the premier artist concert series of its kind. A joyful noise all around. I met some wondrous people, which was no surprise to me. Growing up in northern Virginia, we spent lots of time at the local Unitarian Church, where my best friend, Lisa, and her family were members. There was always music and theater and community there, as well as weddings and funerals of all denominations.
A week earlier I was at City Vineyard for their Voices on the Hudson series with my dear friends Eugene Ruffolo and Abbie Gardner. We swapped songs and harmonized and had a pretty hilarious time, and I am especially grateful to them and to all of our friends and fans who shlepped all the way west off the Hudson, as it were. The staff there at the Vineyard as especially wonderful.
What a joyous holiday afternoon we had at City Winery NYC on Dec 18th for the latest outing of Cole Porter Re-imagined. You folks who turned out were remarkable in your exuberance and good will. Several of us onstage had been sick and rallied just in time, and you folks were truly inspiring in your energy and joy, just darn amazing! It’s true I didn’t make it through the set without dropping the f-bomb. (I don’t know why I always think I’ll make it.) And the Django song in French – well, I fumbled a line or two but which one of you knew?! We’ll be back there on June 11th to celebrate Cole’s birthday and I hope the release of the full album, with some especially special guests.
As I book other events, both musical and political, I will post things on this site.
Go over to the other side of this page and view a couple new videos ripped from the Cole Porter Re-imagined City Winery show on March 27th. And/or go sign up for the Youtube channel and watch videos galore.
For listening, and watching, check out all the music that’s been featured on this site, on my Youtube channel, and on Spotify. For an indie artist like yours truly, getting 80 thousand streams of “True Love” – my duet with Cliff Eberhardt- well, that’s a very cool thing.
So..in case you need reminding…The Cole Porter project! The maestro’s songbook wrapped in the loving arms of fiddle, mando, my old Gibson, classic upright piano, and the lusting and longing of that dobro. ONE MORE duet partner to secure and this thing is done. We let a small number of cuts out of the protective vault, as well as a few JB tracks that will be on that next album, so wander over to Spotify and check them out, and yup, click to be a monthly listener/follower. Go to the Cole Porter page on this site to read more about the project.
It’s a privilege to have this life, and the life I have, mentoring rising songwriters at Berklee College of Music. I’m grateful for this time in my life, even as I struggle like all of us, to make sense of the chaos we see and sometimes directly experience. I will continue to look for ways to channel musical endeavors into causes that need support.
If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be kept in the loop, do sign up on this site. If I become annoying, you can always unsubscribe lol!
We hold our collective breath, metaphorically, for the times they are a-changing. Get thee to your vaccine center if you are due for your next shot! And let us open our hearts to the world that continues to right its ship.
Patience, like never before.
Let us proceed with hope, with patience, with love and gratitude for what we have, what we may have, and what we may yet achieve, never forgetting the many thousands we have lost, and the challenging work ahead to reach across divides, face our historic faults and fears and rise up in brave new ways.
Head stays clear. Heart stays open. Driven by love, not fear. I feel that now more than ever. -JB
Where to find it
Cole Porter Project Interview
You See This River
Info and Liner Notes CDBaby iTunes Amazon
Order direct from me with Paypal ($18, free shipping included):
It’s Brooklyn-based Americana ready to soothe your hot little souls, pump you up or cradle you, a la I’m With Her, Mumford and Sons, or Mandolin Orange.
The stories here are of the primal instinct for nostalgia, the beautiful and terrible journey up and down the river, the persistence, romanticism, and pig-headedness of humans. The title track captures this journey on the river – sometimes deliberate, sometimes meandering, indeed sometimes treacherous, with no apparent way to jump the current, all the while watched by those who choose to stand on the sidelines. All we might know for sure is that we’ll float another day.
Lydia Hutchinson of Performing Songwriter:It’s so beautiful – the melodies, arrangements, the voice, the whole vibe. It’s so consistently good, one of those rare recordings you can listen to all the way through, every track.Jason Velazquez of The Greylock Glass:
[Janie] released one of the very best albums in the Americana universe certainly of 2017, and likely this decade.Paula Cole, Grammy-winning producer/artist:
[This] album is so beautiful! I love it, honored to be on it! It's touching, heartfelt, and the lyrics are wonderful. It's on replay in my car!
SHOWS
UPCOMING SHOWS
February 2, 2023
City Vineyard NYC
New York City
“Three Songwriters Walk Into a Bar” featuring JB, Abbie Gardner, Eugene Ruffolo
February 10, 2023
Unitarian Universal Congregation
Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY
Soulful Sundown featured artist
April 5, 2023
Arts at the Armory Songwriters in the Round Sommerville, Ma
May 5, 2023
Goodwill Theatre, Johnson City, NY
Stoned Soul Picnic ft. Diane Garisto
June 11, 2023
City Winery Loft, NYC
Cole Porter Re-imagined, with special guests
1:00 brunch music, doors at 11:30
PAST PERFORMANCES
December 18, 2022
City Winery NYC BRUNCH at 1:00pm doors at 11:30
New York City
Cole Porter Re-imagined. Special guests to TBA
Decemeber 11, 2022
Cutting Room
New York City
Stoned Soul Picnic featuring Diane Garisto
November 28, 2022
The Bitter End
New York City
Songwriters in the Round with Ann Klein, Bette Sussman, James Maddock, and JB
October 3, 2022
Cutting Room
New York City
Songwriters for Voting Rights
featuring The Conte Brothers, Nicki Richards, Dennis Collins, Kenny White, Angela Reed, Richard Hammond, Larry Satlzman, and JB
August 27, 2022
Club Passim
Cambridge, Ma
with Abbie Gardner
August 5, 2022
Sellersville Theater
Sellersville, Pa
Stoned Soul Picnic ft. Diane Garisto
August 3 and September 7, 2022
Armory Cafe
Sommersville, Ma
Songwriters in the Round
March 27th, 2020 City Winery LOFT NYC The Cole Porter Project 1:00 brunch show doors @ 11:30 Special guests TBA Proceeds towards Voting Rights groups
March 3, 2022
Live Stream from Euphoria Studios NYC 7pm sharp Go to JB’s Facebook page! ft Larry Slappy Saltzman, Ben Stivers & Richard Hammond Proceeds towards Voting Rights Groups
Oct 16, 2021 The Towne Crier. Beacon, NY Opening set for Kenny White
Nov 4, 2021. Club Passim Cambridge Opening for Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
Nov 17, 2021
The Burren Sommerville, MA. 7:30 pm
Songwriters in the Round with Rene Pfister and Genevieve
Nov 29, 2021
Rudy’s Jazz Club Nashville, TN. The Cole Porter Project ft Viktor Krauss, Keith Sewell, Ben Stivers, Justin Weaver, Billy Contreras
Dec 5, 2021. The Cutting Room Stoned Soul Picnic featuring Diane Garisto
August 13, 2021
Power Station NYC
In-Studio showcase/ livestream The Cole Porter Project
July 23, 2021
Private House Concert
Little Washington, Va.
with Paul Guzzone
July 24, 2021
Perrywood Manor
Upper Marlboro, MD Concert on the lawn
with Paul Guzzone
July 24, 2021
Perrywood Manor LIVESTREAM
Upper Marlboro, MD LIVESTREAM/Concert on the lawn
with Paul Guzzone
July 25, 2021
Private House Concert
Martinsburg, W.Virginia
with Paul Guzzone
May 15, 2021
Pomona Cultural Center
Pomona, NY
with Paul Guzzone
March 6, 2021
Club Passim Livestream from Passim’s page! Songwriters in the Round with Rene Pfister and Scarlett Keys
Jan 12, 2020
The Cutting Room
New York City
APAP Showcase 7:30 pm
Cole Porter’s Fiddle live debut
Jan 12, 2020
The Cutting Room
Stoned Soul Picnic featuring Diane Garisto
APAP Showcase 8:00 pm . guitar and vocal
Jan 27, 2020
The Cutting Room . 7:30pm
Fundraising event for Stacy Abrams’ 2020FairFight
with Dennis Collins, James Maddock, Kenny White, Bette Sussman, JB
Jan 12, 2020
The Cutting Room
New York City
APAP Showcase 7:30 pm
Cole Porter’s Fiddle live debut
Jan 12, 2020
The Cutting Room
Stoned Soul Picnic featuring Diane Garisto
APAP Showcase 8:00 pm . guitar and vocal
Nov 30, 2019
The Turning Point
Piermont, New York
with Paul Guzzone
November 11, 2019
The Red Room
New York City 9:30 pm
Sex & Romance NY Style!
JB & Shannon Conley sing Cole Porter, Ellington, and more
November 7, 2019
The Cutting Room
New York City
Stoned Soul Picnic featuring Diane Garisto; guitar & vocal
October 24, 2019
Barbes
Brooklyn, New York
Buschwick Book Club: songwriters read, multiple, write, perform.
July 4, 2019
Club Passim
Cambridge, MA
with Buskin and Batteau – Independence Day Party
July 19, 20, 21, 2019
The Birchmere
Alexandria, Virginia
Opening for The Bacon Brothers
Aug 21, 2019
Birdland
Vocal Mania
The Stoned Soul Picnic/Laura Nyro voices