Tues. Nov. 11

I met Tina Shafer about 30 years ago at a party me and my college housemates threw. A wild party it would seem. Tina’s recollection: One of my stoner room-mates kind of actively pursued her and my friend Dale Spear - he later managed her for a while – locked her in his room for safety. Whew. Skip forward. Shafer – a recording artist/songwriter whose songs have been covered by many, like Sheena Easton and Phoebe Snow, but most famously, Celine Dion -  has been putting on something called the New York Songwriters Circle for 18 years at the Bitter End. She’s bringing that concept here, for the second time, to Johnny D’s Tuesday Nov. 11 at 8:30. She will perform with Richard Saunders, Jen Murdza, Micah, Rebecca Folson and Chris Ayer. Tickets are $10. Click "read more" for bio info on the artists and the history of the Shafer and the Songwriters Circle.

17 Holland, Somerville, 617-776-2004 www.johnnyds.com
www.songwriters-circle.com

What is this Circle-come-to-Somerville? “I can’t say it’s a franchise, but it’s a branch,” says Shafter, who has two albums out and is mid-way through a third. “What we’re doing is taking the concept of the songwriters circle into Philly and in Boston, The owner of the Bitter End, Kenny Gorka, wanted something,  I got asked to host it. Now, I book the talent, I network and because I’m a songwriter, I know a ton of people. I use that to put people together in a community setting – well known and new writers. Norah Jones, Gavin DeGraw, Chris Barron, Toby Lightman (the two are pictured with Shafer) Richard Julian, Avril Lavigne and Vanessa Carlton have played with us. We’re eclectic, I book acts (that aren’t necessarily folk) but it’s au unplugged realms, based on the true form of the song, It’s in the round. One person does a song and goes around a circle. At soundcheck, I listen to everybody and put them in an order that flows well. I like to mix and match, just make a connection of great tunes.” Criteria? “You have to have great songs, the presentation has to be great, and the songs have have to ring true.” (The Songwriters Circle is a company Shafer runs with Billy Gaus and Shai Navon.)
    Shafer’s songs generally convey a contemplative sense of uplift. It would seem. “They’re coming from a certain amount of deep and painful experiences,” she says. “I try to find uplifting ways of expressing them in songs. It’s a good lesson learned. It is a transformation that occurs when you’re writing from a deep place, unlike anything else. To me, my songs are smarter than I am.”  Expect some light and some dark at a gathering. “Different hues make a great painting,” says Shafer.
    Married with two kids - later divorced -  Shafer made a pretty good pile when “Love Is On the Way,” which Shafer co-wrote, was sung by Celene Dion and included on her hit CD "Let's Talk About Love' CD. a 33-million seller. Shafer says it’s allowed Shafer to pursue her musical muse and work with this Songwriters Circle. “It was awsome,” Shafer says. “It enabled me to make my own records, have a family and do what I love,  support other artists.” The Songwriters Circle returns to the club Dec. 16 with a new lineup.  Also, the Songwriters Circle has a partnership with Live Nation, is having a songwriters contest, where a newcomer will be chosen to open for a major act at Jones Beach. Check the songwriters website below for details.

Synopses - supplied by local producer Liz Longley - on the artists playing Tuesday:

Chris Ayer: Performing Songwriter Magazine says, "Has it all—tight arrangements, excellent musicality and imaginative lyrics. If you're looking for great music, this is the place indeed." A Virginia native and Northern California transplant, Chris is currently based out of New York City, but has spent the better part of the last year on the road, playing throughout the US and UK.

Micah: The soulful voice of Micah is one secret that Rochester, NY can no longer keep to itself. Now, as an undergraduate at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, this 20 year old vocal phenom is ready to give the world the moving voice it has been missing since the early days of Motown.Through the summer of 2008, he toured non-stop all over the United States, even reaching as far as the West Coast, but primarily in the Northeast region, and rapidly gained loyal fans along the way. Micah is making a real mark on the singer/songwriter scene. With performances along side Eric Hutchinson, Matt Costa, Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root), and Jon McLaughlin, Micah has proved his respect within the industry as not only a talented musician, but a flawless live performer.

Richard Saunders: Just 18, Saunders survived the Connecticut suburbs making music too soulfulicious to be ignored. Claiming influences from Donny Hathaway to Ella Fitzgerald to Björk, his musical blend of jazz, pop, and hip hop sounds like a young Michael Bublé who spent his first few years of high school in Harlem. He plays the piano and writes songs to sing with his band, Richard Saunders and the too-cool-for-yous, which consists of Jewish drumming prodigy Jake/Yakov Goldbas, Zwe Bell Le Pere, and back-up singers Wayne Paul, Shenel Johns, and Kimberly Mayo. In a short amount of time, Richard has conquered every jazz vocal award that exists for a human of his age. He’s been a part of the Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Choir in 2007 and 2008, along with the first vocalist ever selected to sing with the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra in 2008. He won the silver award in jazz voice at the NFAA youngARTS week in 2008, and is one of twenty high school students selected by the U.S. Department of Education to be a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. These opportunities have allowed him to sing in venues such as the Kennedy Center, North Sea, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. Having mastered the fine art of scatting, he pushes that all aside and gets down to business. His no-nonsense approach to harmony and lyrics allow him to soulfully speak his mind about the destitution and weirdness of living in the suburbs. No doubt, this Berklee Songwriting Contest and Young Guns 2008 National Battle of the Bands award-winning group of musicians will have much to say as they travel up to Boston this year. “Amazing vocals; uber sophisticated musicality, fearless songwriting.” - 2008 Young Guns National Battle of the Bands judges.

Rebecca Folsom wants to go by 'The Rhythm Angels': The Rhythm Angels are Rebecca Folsom and Celeste Krenz. Their sound has been described as enchanting and transportive. The duet is sometimes times angelic and sometimes earthy. Their chemistry on stage is funny and open-hearted. Audiences relish in their songs that tell stories of love and hope. Their song 'Girls Like Us', for instance states, "Girls like us aren't scared of love, we look it in the eye, we try we let it change us", while another favorite, 'If I Had a Gun' reveals that these two songwriters do not shy away from darker subjects..."If I Had a Gun, you'd be dead, one to the heart, one to the head...if I had a gun, I'd  drive away, I'd drive away...I'd drive away." The beautiful sound of their voices, the depth and straight forward quality of their songwriting, and their easy going delivery have audiences nodding yes in agreement to the great contrast of what it is to be human.

Jen Murdza: Skillfully maneuvering lush vocals around her unique guitar rhythms, Boston's Murdza is an eye-catching, ear-catching performer who will take you instantly by surprise. With a fresh songwriting style built on an almost sarcastic marriage of somber lyrics and playful, rhythmic grooves, Murdza blurs genres like no other. Her final sound is an addictive, foot-stomping mixture of soul, country and rock with a voice much bigger than her petite body.A 2007 Boston Music Award nominee, Jen has supported numerous artists such as Brandi Carlile, and James Hunter.