Inga Swearingen: First Rain
Inga Swearingen always loved singing, whether it was with her elementary school choir in San Luis Obispo, California, or performing her own songs in high school, or during her years of voice lessons. But it may have been joining a jazz choir while pursuing her education at Cuesta College that sealed her decision to be a jazz singer. In 2003, after studying with Swiss artist Susanne Abbuehl, she won the Shure Jazz Voice competition at the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival. She earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from Florida State University, then returned to California, where she now performs, works on recording projects, and teaches at Cuesta College — her old alma mater. First Rain is her latest CD.
Tell us a bit about First Rain, your new cd? How did the album come about?
First Rain features music and song rooted in family, nature, love and human spirit. It’s a mix of homegrown folk, and soulful jazz, with guitar, stand up bass, violin, cello and vocal harmonies by my sister, Britta.
Last year my friend said, “It’s time for you to record again, lets have a party”. So we put on a couple of house concerts at the farm that helped to fundraise for the project. I was surprised and touched by people’s generosity. We made this together, and the music is filled with that gratitude and love.
What is your favorite track from the cd? Tell us a bit about the song.
“Brick by Brick” is a song I sing with my sister that compares my experience of living in a farm-house that was being remodeled for seventeen years — to a transitional place in life where one must rebuild from the ground up.
How did you go about choosing or writing songs for an album? How long is the process from start to finish?
When I arrange a song, I try to get to the essence of the lyric and find a musical way to communicate that. And when I write, I’m pulling from everything that inspires me, be it jazz, classical, folk, rock, anything good..
The actual recording goes down pretty quickly — it’s the gathering of songs that takes the most time for me. This project took about a year.
I have read that you described the album as “Swedish Farm Jazz”. How would you describe this type of music? What song on the album best represents Swedish Farm Jazz and why?
I view jazz as a big umbrella — a lot that can fit under there in my opinion. On this album, we incorporate jazz harmony and improvisation and the sense of exploration that jazz encourages, while using rhythms and feels other than straight ahead swing. I’ve found that European jazz draws heavily from the folk songs of particular regions. They have a very broad definition of jazz, which certainly resonates with me.
When creating, I try not to fence myself in with a particular genre. However, eventually you must describe your music to others. Having spent time in Sweden as a child I have a fondness for the language and the music. We cover a traditional Swedish tune “Visa Fran Jarna”, which is one of my favorites on the album.
How is this cd different than your previous recordings?
It feels like it’s my most personal work to date because I wrote 5 songs on the album about my home (a small farm in California), and my family mostly. Even the standards and traditional songs are rooted in themes of nature, love and human spirit. I’ve given myself the time to gather material, find the musicians and sit at the mixing board making decisions about how to best present the songs in an honest way. I think this has given the album cohesiveness and fluidity.
'Whatever' from the 30th Anniversary Special
How has appearing on the A Prairie Home Companion affected you or your audience? Have you noticed a new breed of fans showing up at your concerts?
The opportunity to perform on A Prairie Home Companion has not only provided me with lifetime musical memories, it has also expanded my audience to places that I have not yet been able to tour. I’m an independent artist who books my own shows and plans my own tours, so to receive an email from a PHC listener inviting me to their town is an incredible offer. I’m touched that people take the time to email, and I try to write everyone back.
You have appeared on A Prairie Home Companion as a featured guest many times over the past years. We have been taking a quick look back in honor of the 35th Anniversary of the program. Do you have any favorite memories from your guest performances or of the show? Are there any favorite guest performances that you recall hearing that stand out?
I remember singing a song by Rich Dworsky at Tanglewood a few years ago and the poem mentioned birds, just then birds began to chirp in the rafters and we all heard it. Even the radio listeners heard them! It was magical.
And yes, every time Jearlyn Steele is on the show I am moved by her passion and joyous spirit. She sings from her heart.
"Hush Little Baby'
Do you remember anything special about the 30th Anniversary concert?
I loved singing “Hush Little Baby” with 30th anniversary lyrics, a cappella with the audience. They sang their part with such confidence, and that allowed me to scat sing over the top.
How can fans keep in contact with your touring schedule/appearances?
My website has a full listing of tours and upcoming performances and also a way for folks to write to me. I do like hearing from you and staying in touch!
LORD MEDUZA IS THE BEST SPELL CASTER ONLINE.
It’s an honor to share my testimony with the world. You merit all the accolades that mention you. Lord Meduza has been a gift to me since our meeting online. He is the only one that knows everything about creating spells. I adore him immensely for his kindness, compassion, integrity, and the support he offers to everyone who interacts with him. Without Lord Meduza, I wouldn’t have survived this difficult situation. His magic turned me into a Lottery winner of £177 Million Pounds, transforming my entire life into something beautiful and extraordinary. The numbers he provided for the lottery were transformative, elevating me from grass to grace, and I want to express my eternal gratitude to him. Thank you, sir, for being a source of help to those in need. Anyone who reads this article and requires assistance can reach him through his Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com or WhatsApp +18079072687 as he is unmatched in crafting spells.
I felt confused and despondent when the unimaginable occurred and a valuable Bitcoin wallet was gone. However, the web’s most popular ethical hackers and PI made this amazing recovery feasible with the help of “WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY.” As soon as I reported a group of losers who nearly caused me to lose my investment in digital assets, this extremely talented group of cyber punks sprang into action. use these scammers’ flaws and their extensive technological expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to track down cryptocurrency that has already been distributed. Through meticulous analysis and tenacious private investigative prowess, they were able to pinpoint the exact location of the missing Bitcoin, which had become entangled in the complex web of online transactions. WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY carefully extracted the valuable cryptocurrency, navigating the labyrinth of code and cryptography that stood in their way. It was a triumph of human ingenuity over technological complexity, a remarkable feat that left the grateful owner in awe. In the end, the lost Bitcoin was restored, the crisis averted, and faith in the power of digital asset recovery was renewed. As a true hero in the high-stakes realm of digital finance, WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY has once again proven its unmatched capacity to resolve even the most difficult cryptocurrency puzzles. I had nothing to do after losing my cryptocurrency, which was worth $450,000 USDT, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience until I heard about WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY. I am thankful that I gave them a chance. To retrieve your missing bitcoin, contact WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY at wizardjamesrecovery@usa.com.
How to Recover Stolen Cryptocurrency – “Hire a Hacker” Crypto Scam Recovery#POSITIVEREVIEWONCRYPTORECOVERY.
After much deliberation on how to invest my recent work benefits, it’s like these scammers know when you are vulnerable. I was reached out to via IG about a crypto investment program by a so-called page called “Cryptfx_Trader.” They forced a Ponzi scheme down my throat, and out of my ignorance, I fell for their tricks. I am a senior citizen who wants to leave a good legacy for my grandkids, and investing in crypto was the best thing to do, and Bitcoin is the future; that’s what those scammers persuade me with. I believed in them as they were organized, and we usually talked for hours. I gave them all my benefits via multiple transfers to 3 different wallets. It’s been months, and there has been no positive outcome from this investment, despite its intended purpose. I want to back out, but my account has been hijacked, and my funds have been restricted. Disrupted, I sought out looking for help to get back all my lost investment. It was a tussle getting the best crypto recovery expert. I finally found DUNENECTARTWEBEXPERT, fortunately, they were the answer to my prayers. I engaged in their services, and a well-guided recovery process was what I welcomed. All the necessary details required by them were provided, and within a period, my held digital asset was successfully recovered. In terms of crypto tracing and recovery, DUNENECTARWEBEXPERT comes first hand. I couldn’t be more pleased with my experience with DUNENECTARWEBEXPERT:
MAIL: Support (@) Dunenectarwebexpert (.) Co m WEB: http s : //dunenectarwebexpert.c o m/TELEGRAM: DuneNectarWebExpert
Potential investors are hesitant to seize this profitable investment opportunity due to the depressing rise in internet theft that targets digital assets. I myself lost $123,850 after falling for a scam from an online Pocket Options Broker. They lured me in by promising me large profits on my money, but I was turned away when I attempted to visit the investing website later. I tried to get in touch with their support staff, but I quickly discovered that I had been scammed.
I was desperate to get my money back, so I looked online for answers and found Wizard James Recovery. I was drawn to his stellar reputation for offering top-notch recovery services. I took a chance and contacted him, and to my surprise, he was able to assist me get back all of the money I had lost within 72 hours. My gratitude for his exceptional service is beyond words.
For unparalleled recovery support, I highly suggest contacting James at ( wizardjamesrecovery@usa.com ) if you find yourself in a similar circumstance.
I sincerely appreciate the help provided by WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY in recovering my cryptocurrency. I had lost all of my life’s savings after falling victim to a fraudulent investment organization. I was distraught and didn’t know what to do. I discovered WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY after doing some internet research. They have an excellent reputation and have helped many customers recover their stolen bitcoin. I am glad I tried them out. The personnel at WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY was very knowledgeable and helpful. Throughout their journey, they kept me updated and provided me with a detailed explanation of the recovery process. All of my bitcoin accounts were recovered using the WIZARD JAMES RECOVERY. With deep appreciation, I thank the Wizard James Recovery.
You can get in touch with them at email : wizardjamesrecovery@usa.com OR WHATSAPP: +44 7418 367 204 if you’ve also misplaced your cryptocurrency wallet, forgotten your password, or had your phone compromised.