JonMenard.com

Just a little note to say that the CD is in, just in time for Christmas, and I couldn’t be happier.

My friend Elisabeth Ryan, did an amazing job doing all of the CD photography and graphics.

And I was also lucky enough to have another good friend, Allison Lacasse, add some flute on a piece I orchestrated.

I’ll have the CD for order through my website here soon, just need to get through the holidays first!

Take a listen to some samples on the myspace page though in the meantime. The Link is on the left!

Happy holidays all,

Jon

Hello all!

Well, after about two months of being in and out of the studio, I completed my latest project, “The Water’s Edge” this past weekend.

The CD will feature 13 instrumental piano solos.  One song has actually been fully orchestrated, with myself playing synthetic string parts and my good friend Allison Lacasse playing the flute.

I also have included in the CD, a cover/arrangement of the “Theme From Braveheart - A Gift of a Thistle” a song I’m sure most people would recognize.

The Myspace will have samples up in the next few days, and by the end of the month, ordering information will be posted on the site here.  It will be going through the same company “Buzz” is currently being sold, so if you bought that, the process will be identical.

Overall, an amazing experience.

I want to give a quick thanks to my parents and brother for constantly telling me to do this over the years, and for my friend Elisabeth, who both inspired some of the music, did the grapchis for the entire album, and gave me that final nudge I needed to get this project going.

Thanks everyone.

Stay tuned for more.

Jon

Little Update,

Recently, I was contacted by Liana Measmer who interviewed me for an article in the “Wicked Local Billerica” Newspaper.

You can check out the article here!

Enjoy the read

Jon

Well,

This past Thrusday, I was able to go into the 105.7 WROR studio with the other top 10 finalists for their “townie tune” competition and see how Loren and Wally run their morning show first hand.

It was an incredible time, getting to see these guys in action and having a chance to talk with them.  I was able to bring my father, which was a pretty exciting thing itself since he was the one who got me listening to their show in the first place. 

I didn’t win the $5,000 grand prize, a friend of mine from the Boston music scene actually did though! (Michael Maloney, great guy).  However, the experience was more than worth the time put into it, and it actually gave me a bit of publicity (I was interviewed for the Billerica local newspaper the other day, keep and eye out for the story!)

Needless to say, a great time.  I also wanted to thank everyone that voted for me and even went the extra length to have others vote for me as well.  The support is more than appreciated.

Take care,

Jon

I recently entered a song competition to write what’s called a “Townie Tune” (a parody of the Boston area) for the Loren And Wally Morning Show. Turns out they liked it, played it on the air this morning, and placed it on their site (link above) for others to listen and vote for!

The compeition is for $5,000 so obviously I’m pretty excited.

Take a listen to the song it’s at the top currently titled “Want A Place To Park” — a parody of Just The Way You Are by Billy Joel.

I need the votes so if you like it, help me get into the finals this coming week!

Thanks all,

Jon

UPDATE: I MADE THE TOP TEN FINALISTS! There’s another round of voting and I will be on the air live Thursday morning 105.7 WROR around 7am!

The winner will be announced then! So visit http://www.WROR.com and vote for my song “Find a Place To Park” if you can!

Well, seems I just can’t seem to keep out of the studio for very long.

I made the final decision recently to professionally record my instrumental music.  So, as of this past week, I began what will be a series of smaller recording sessions (a song or 2 a session) at Wellspring Sound in Acton, to record my piano solo “new age” CD.  I’ve had a number of friends and family (my father and brother primarily) who have always hoped I would do something like this eventually.  So far, the sound is amazing.  The piano Eric Kilburn has at his studio is by far one of the best I’ve played on.  Combine that with a great mic setup and a his masterful way of recording, and these songs are sounding better than I ever imagined they could.

I hope to have it done by Christmas.  A nice little gift for friends and family.  No worry though, it will be publicly availble once I get “official copies” in.

Oh, and the CD title?  No idea yet.  I’ve got a couple great ideas floating around but nothing in stone.

Take care as always,

Jon

P.S. Don’t forget my upcoming show at Casey’s on Oct. 25th!  Thanks to Jeff Munro for booking me.

Well it took me long enough.

Thursday Oct. 25th, At Casey’s Bar in somerville, I’ll be playing a 45min-1 hour long set as part of Jeff Munro’s Open mic night then.  Should be a great time.  Food and drink there, so a good time for all.  Stop by if you have the time.  In addition to me, alot of my musical friends will be joining me on stage for their random songs (as I’m just the feature of the night)…so check it out!

Address is 171 Broadway St., Somerville, MA.  Literally, 1 minute off of I-93.

See you then

Jon

UPDATE:  SHOW CANCELLED DUE TO RED SOX BEING IN THE WORLD SERIES.

Hey everyone.

I just wanted to make a quick post about why I haven’t really played out much lately.  Basically, I haven’t been feeling very well, and that combined with the long shifts I have at work sort of wears me out.  I’ve got a show or two lined up with no specific dates yet (still talking to those in charge about when would be good).  Hopefully  I’ll be getting back into the swing of things soon and playing a bit more regularly.

Thanks to those that inquired about this.  I appreciate the support.

Jon

Well, this past week, I had one of the greatest experiences a songwriter can have.  A collaboration with another musician in which the end result is better than anything either could have produced alone.

However for me, this experience took on an entire new meaning.

Why?  Becasue it was song about my “soon-to-be-born” niece, that was co-written by myself and my older brother, Grant (the father).

It started with me strumming a chorus I had written about “Bella Grace (short for Isabella),” singing a line I had written and explaining to my brother about how I have been trying to write a song for/about her.  He wanted to chip in, and before we knew it, a few hours had gone by and we had a perfect song.  Harmonies, Lead Lines, Finger Picking, and a simplicity to it that makes it easy to connect to the words and music.  Never before have I had such a great time playing along someone, something I haven’t really experienced since having a band years ago.

We played the song for some close family members on the 4th of July, all of which were very noticably impacted by it.  Others that I’ve had the chance to play it for, have said it’s one of the best songs I’ve been a part of creating.  It’s pretty amazing what people can produce when they combine their ideas together, esepecially when it’s over a topic that they are directly related to.

The song is titled “Stay Graceful.”  My brother and I plan on getting a live recording of it (probably from Club Passim) as soon as we can.  You can bet it’ll be up on the myspace as soon as it’s in my hands.

Until then,

Jon

Hey all,

Just figured I’d shine some light on the next project I’m going to do, when both time and money allow.

I’ve yet to get into a studio and record any of my instrumental tunes.  A while ago, I compiled alot of them using my computer to record my digital piano, and gave them out to friends and family for free.  The responses I got were really good, more so than my lyrical things.  However, it’s always bothered me that I never had them recorded on an acoustic piano.

So, my next project, is going to be a totally instrumental album.  I have roughly 14 or so instumental piano pieces (as well as a few guitars ones I might throw in, not sure) to put together as one album.  I hope to do it sometime towards the end of this year, but who knows!  Of course, I’ll keep you posted here.

Take care,

Jon