Martin Swinger: What's Happening

MOON has reached the lofty honor of Third Place in the 'Top 20 Albums' for the Year (2011) on a recent survey for OUTvoice charts!

'Vocal Skinny-Dipping' is the name of the workshop I offer on improvisational singing. I've led this workshop for high school singers, church groups, retreat centers, music festivals and at social and professional gatherings.

Beginning with simple warm-ups and games we scaffold our improvisational singing into more complex, sophisticated and ultimately gratifying singing experience for singers at any level. All you need to bring is the desire to sing and some friends!

I am terribly honored that my friend and MOON producer, Ed Desjardins, has begun touring with me, backing me up on keyboards, cajone, guitar and vocal harmony. Ed is a SUPER talented performer in his own right, and to have his support onstage is humbling and a great addition to my show. I should say, OUR show!  Join us in a live performance soon or check out recent additions to my YouTube presence to see and hear us LIVE!

I was pleased to compete in the Ossipee Valley Music Festival Song Competition in July 2011. There were MANY GREAT performers and fine songs. I was honored with the First Place award which included a money award and a slot on the 2012 Main Stage Ossipee Valley Music Festival.  Can't WAIT!!

I'm very proud to announce MOON was the featured CD on Jon Stein's Hootenanny Cafe WTBQ 1110 last night and my song Betty Boop & Buddha was featured on Dr. Demento!

GREATEST NEWS OF ALL?   Little Plastic Part won FIRST PLACE at the 8th Annual North Atlantic Songwriting Contest!  I won a cash prize plus a FULL MAINSTAGE SET at next year's Ossipee Valley Music Festival!

A new CD called M O O N is now available under 'Buy my CD's'. Debuted  in May of 2011, the album features audience favorites, Betty Boop & Buddha, Little Plastic Part, Coney Island Lullaby and introduces new songs only now being heard in live performances. Wooden Boy inspired by the writings of autistic genius, Gene Marcus; Consider the Oyster, a wildly irreverent true science lesson based on the essay 'Love and Death Among the Mullusks' written by popular 50's food writer, M.F.K. Fisher; Man On the Moon is a poignant portrait of my father in his last days; My Old Shoe, a quirky love song; Gravity which you can listen to NOW on my MUSIC page; Something Like Goodbye, an intimate moment of awareness about a couple living with AIDS, and many more powerful and fun songs. 

I am honored to have been selected to attend master classes on vocal improvisation with world renowned singer, Rhiannon, a member of Bobby McFerrin's 'Voicestra'. This is a great honor. She selects only 18 students per year and I'm thrilled to have been chosen to attend. The classes will be three weeks of intensive exploration and training on how to conduct improvisation classes and will take place in Van Etten, NY in May, in Point Reyes, California in August, and in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in October. I look forward to sharing my new skills with you all in concerts and workshops next year!

Martin leads an effective discussion and critique of songwriting and technique. An award-winning songwriter, Martin offers a wealth of knowledge to other songwriters.

Martin offers songwriting workshops and performances for young audiences. For more info visit www.swingersongwriter.com

Martin is a member of ImproVox, an A Capella Improvisational ensemble offering improvised music 'IN the moment - OUT of the box!' Improvox offers concerts and a community singing event called a "VORTEX". An ImproVox "VORTEX" is a participatory 'group sing' gathering for up to 30 people. No previous improvisational singing experience is necessary as ImproVox members lead the group through physical and vocal warm-ups and gently into simple improv games and gradually into more complex vocal play which gives instant results in a safe and supportive environment. The games are simple enough that your choir or group of friends may continue playing the games long after the VORTEX and are guaranteed to improve co-operative music sharing and community support among peers while creating unbelieveably beautiful music 'out of thin air'! Consider booking a private event for your friends, your choir, church, school, social or health retreat or office party. We can also help you arrange an open-to-the-public VORTEX for your community or region. Visit www.improvox.com for more info, availability, logistics and financial arrangements.

PROMOTE COMMUNITY AWARENESS THROUGH SONGWRITING Martin is happy to design original songs, based on information you provide (local history, news articles, stories, locally written literature, local heroes, present & past or landmark locations...) and present it to your gathering in such a way that THEY get the fun experience of creating the song and adding their own verses! This is perfect for history-based community theatre projects or special interest groups. Propose an idea or contact Martin to brainstorm how to make this memorable experience happen in your community or group.

PRIDE SONGS, THEME SONGS, WEDDING, CELEBRATION AND HONOR SONGS : Martin has written several successful 'public' songs for TV themes, radio jingles, school songs and personal events. Martin can create a song that is a perfect fit for your event, wedding, goodbye or retirement party, a theme song for your TV or radio program, or Pride songs for your school or church. He requires an interview session and a minimum of two weeks time to create the song. You will receive recorded copy of the song for approval or feedback before the event. Price is negotiable.

COFFEEHOUSE/CONCERT PROGRAM Martin's award winning original songs are held in high esteem by fellow songwriters and audience alike. An easy-going and relaxed stage presence is the hallmark of Martin's performance, making his listeners feel comfortable and in the secure hands of a true professional. His three-plus octave range is exciting to hear and fun to sing along with. Song subject matter runs the gamut from personal songs of relations and events to story and descriptive songs full of humor, revalation, detail and surprise. Add to the mix familar Americana, swing and jazz standards or a Vaudeville chestnut and Martin offers a powerful performance with a broad audience appeal. SWING AND JAZZ STANDARDS (Dinner Music, Weddings, Cocktail Hour, Elders) Martin puts his smooth voice and classic style to work with some of your favorite songs of the 30's, 40's and 50's. Amazing skat singing and mouth blown trumpet solos keep the material fresh and fun. Sing-Along is welcomed. EMCEE/HOST (Festival, Concert, Special Event, Talent Show or Open Mike) In front of a large crowd Martin is comfortable as a pair of house slippers and magically makes the performers and audience feel at home and ready to enjoy. He is savvy about sponsor recognition and comfortable with the unpredictable nature of live events. NICHE AUDIENCES AND PRIDE EVENTS (Gay Audiences, Bears, Pride or Political Events) Martin has been writing for and entertaining Gay audiences for many years, appearing as EmCee and performer for PRIDE events, Cruises, World Aids Day, Political Ralleys, School Diversity Day, Civil Unions and Weddings. Martin offers an album (BearNAKED) and program specifically for BEAR events and will soon re-release his first PRIDE album, 'Singing OUT!'

Martin offers an intelligent and fun songs that reflect some themes very near and dear to Bears. He's great after dinner entertainment, before the evening romp begins. Songs to make you laugh, songs to make you think, songs to make you cuddle with your cub and appreciate being a Bear!