This post, I must admit, is mostly an advertisement and blowing my own horn — even if it is for charity. I read the community rules before posting but I couldn’t find anything about this sort of thing being forbidden. If it is, please tell me and I will take it down. I mean no disrespect to anyone here, not the staff, not the membership, not the bouncers, not anyone who has either liked or hated my previous posts. Please also know that this is ME posting this, not the record label or any of the other artists involved. This post is MY idea.
This post is also apolitical — or at least it should be. Despite the fact that I am so far to the left that I sometimes have to use a cane I would hope that doing a charity fundraiser for a cause we should all be able to get behind shouldn’t be called out as political posturing. Alas, the real world sucks sometimes.
We are all aware of the nightmare that is COVID-19 — we’re all living though it. 4 of my friends have caught it in the past three month. One died. So when I found out about this project early on I, your humble narrator and often penniless musician, realized that not only could this be something I could endorse, but it could be something I could DO.
So here it is, The Quarantine Project Vol. 1, a collection of 28 songs, mostly jazz-influenced pop or pop-influenced jazz, with some classical and some rock and roll thrown in. I’m part of the rock and roll part. Yes, yours truly has a track on this album, a song called “Rear Window (I don’t wanna sleep here anymore)”. All songs were recorded since quarantines began. I recorded my own song right in my little home studio, as I've barely been outside since March 12.
I am humbled to be part of this. I’ve listened to the entire album and find that many of these artists are just amazing. Many are better than me and I am in awe of some of the company I get to keep. The collection was the brainchild of Trumpeter Tony Guerro and features amazing songs by Crystal Lewis, SoundStory, Chris Hutton, and many other artists you may not have heard of but boy oh boy you should.
And here’s the best part — as I said, this is a fund-raiser. All proceeds go to NursesHouse.Org.
Nurses House is a national organization dedicated to helping Registered Nurses in need. Nurses House offers assistance with housing expenses and medical expenses to RNs who are seriously ill, injured, disabled or facing other dire circumstance. So far, since COVID-19 became our American Horror Story they have raised over $2.5 Million as part of their mission. They are deserving of support.
The album is out now, and available on not just the platforms above, but wherever you download your music. It’s important to buy this album (as opposed to just streaming) as that’s where the charity monies are raised. You all know where to look. I can post the amazon and iTunes links in the comments if you wish.
Thank you for paying attention for just a little bit. I can be a real jackass sometimes but I promise that for once I am being sincere. You will not regret owning this album.