For those who missed Barbara’s pre-concert radio interview on GVSU, you can click here to listen!

And while you’re reading, here’s an upcoming event for those of you who live in Traverse City: Barbara will be joining fellow singer/songwriters Adair Correll and Caroline Kovas this Friday, July 16th from 8:30-10:30 pm at Horizon Bookstore for the monthly Northern Michigan Songwriters in the Round! Adair and Caroline are both gifted artists so count on a fun evening of great singing and songwriting.

Hope to see you there!

Tickets are $10.00 for the show with CD’s available at a special concert discount price of $10.00. Tickets are available on Barbara’s website, through Wealthy Street Theatre and at the door the night of the event.  Song samples and lyrics from the CD are available at Barbara’s website.

Her CD Passages has been touted for its high production quality as well as great songs.  Jordan credits much of the album’s quality tracks to the skills of co-producer Joe Ayoub as well as the other top tier musicians who played on the album.  Ayoub, a sought after bass player out of Los Angeles was touring with Enrique Iglesias at the time Barbara was looking for a co-producer and connected when he was in the area visiting family.  Joe also provided the guitar and bass tracks. Ayoub has also played with Liz Phair, Colbie Calliat, Tyler Hilton, Nikka Costa, Aly and AJ, and many other well-known artists.

Ayoub enlisted musician friends Jeff Moehle on percussion and Dave Proulx on keyboards to contribute to the CD; both accomplished west Michigan musicians who have shared the stage with major recording artists. Jeff and Dave will be joining Barbara at the CD release concert along with Traverse City musicians Michael Racine and Paul Recht.  Barbara also included a couple of her old band buddies on the CD: Jeff Schroeder and Mark Geovijan, as well as Traverse City musicians Al Jankowksi and Ron Getz.

Jordan will not be delivering the typical CD release concert.  She enjoys using a format that combines music and media to deliver the messages in her songs.  Barbara leans toward a narrative approach to writing she since believes “stories hold a universal message everyone can relate to.”  On Passages, she delivers a more light-hearted approach in songs like “Inside Out” about middle aged love, and “I Had to Take It” about a reformed shoplifter.  She explores the darker side of life in songs like “See What You Made Me Do” about the cycle of abuse and “Loose Ends” which speaks to the cost of the fear of commitment.

Learn more about Passages by listening to some song samples, or reviewing the albums lyric and album credits.

If you would like to purchase tickets, you can do by clicking the Add to Cart button. Thanks!

The Song of the Year songwriting contest has received the votes from the judges for December’s round … your material was quite impressive … Congratulations on your great songwriting.

Click here to hear samples of Barbara’s award winning songs.

This is “Inside Out” love.

This is the kind of love I want to give and receive. This is the kind of love that comforts us, fills us up and makes us feel that we are “at home.” This is the kind of love that the song “Inside Out” is all about.

Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to use the song “Inside Out” to help spread the message of “real love” to a wider audience. We’d love to have you be a part of that! Luke Wilson and I have created a video slideshow that we’ve uploaded to youtube. Click here to see it. If you know of some friends, family or special people you love who would appreciate the message, please send them the link. You might also want to include a note from you telling them how this reflects the kind of love you have for them.

In case you want to give the DVD as a gift or musical greeting card, we made copies of the music video on DVD with a matching gift card all wrapped up with a red ribbon for you to give to someone you love.If you want us to mail one to you or to someone special with a note from you, you need to get your order in quick! If you’re local, you can pick up a copy from me; just send me an email. We’ll also be making this gift package available at Horizon Books and Chocolate Exotica in downtown Traverse City, and at the upcoming Indoor Folk Festival I’ll be playing this coming Saturday at Building 50, so check my website for locations and more info.

On this coming Valentine’s Day and every day, may you love and be loved from the Inside Out.

Inside Out DVD & Greeting Card  - $10

Just wanted to let you know that the first track from Barbara’s Christmas album, The Gift of Christmas Peace, is now on Youtube as a part of a wintertime slideshow. Watch it below, or check it out on Youtube.

It’s sure to be a great time, we would love to see you there. For more info, visit www.budsisback.com.

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I love the Christmas Season. Well, at least one part of it. I like the part where we feel moved to give rather than just get. Toy drives for kids. Shoe boxes full of presents for children in all parts of the world. Visiting nursing homes to sing Christmas carols for the elderly and the staff. Gatherings with friends, family and co-workers. Love is in the air.

Christmas is about love and giving because it is a celebration of the One who came to offer love, mercy and peace to a hurting world, hungry for a Savior to lift them out of the darkness into the light.

Somewhere along the way, the real reason we celebrate Christmas started to get lost in a frenzied attempt to “buy” and “do” and love and peace began to disappear from the season too. I don’t like that part. We say things like “I’ll be glad when Christmas is over and I can relax” or we look at our credit card bill in January and try to numb the sinking feeling we get when we realize we spent more than we can afford.

I don’t want to forget the One who changed my life – who gave me undeserved grace, unbelievable love, and a peace that transcends my life circumstances. I want to remember how the birth of Jesus Christ changed the world and transformed my life. I want to sing about that at Christmas and I want to share that with you.

With only a week to pick the songs, find a pianist, record the music, find a photo, design a cover and produce copies, I was led to put together a simple piano-vocal CD of soothing Christmas songs that will remind us of Who and what we are celebrating this Christmas season. It’s called “The Gift of Christmas Peace.” If you would like to get a copy of this for yourselves or send one to a friend, family member, co-worker or even your employees or customers, you can get a copy here. You can also go there to listen to samples of the songs. It was a pleasure to work again with Dave Proulx. He did a beautiful job on piano, in a type of “George Winston” and Windham Hill style.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Gift of Christmas Peace,

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Keyboard player, Derrick Hall has visited more than 30 countries performing with the variety band Ges Werk. Ges Werk opened for many different artists such as Kid and Play, Temptations, Dave Mathews Band, Morris Day and the Time, and many more. Derrick has personally performed with The Temptations, War, and Millie Jackson. He has performed at night clubs, bars, casinos and hotels for over 13 years. Derrick founded Vynl Production, providing studio production, artist promotion and entertainment for weddings, nightclubs, corporate events and private parties. Derrick also serves as Music Minister at the Lighthouse Church of God.

For those of you outside the WNMC listening area, you can listen to a live stream of the show on the internet. Just go here to listen to the stream.