Marvin Thompson Jr.

Fall

Hey friends, I hope you are well. I don't know about you, but I'm glad were moving into Fall weather. I was tired of the 85 degree days, and besides, it's time for nice sweaters anyway!

I'm excited about a few shows I have coming up in early December. I'll be featured at Williamsburg Music Center and Ashford and Simpson's Sugar Bar, both in NYC. If you have friends in the area, let them know I'd love to see them! I'll also be featured on the TV show Detroit Performs, with a live performance and taping to take place in January. Stay tuned for details. There may also be a new EP to coincide with the taping.....keep that under your hat!

Talk to you soon...

marvinthompsonjr.com

@mthompsonjr

NYC

Hi folks, I hope all is well. I'm coming off of a very busy weekend! Left the city Friday evening for NY, and we had a great sold-out show at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar. There were a record number of birthday shout-outs, and the crowd was very receptive. Kudos to Ian Jesse (bass) and Serge Terentev (drums) for accompanying me on the set. Unfortunately I had to leave right after the set in order to get back to Detroit to perform for Sunday service. Until next time New York...

If you haven't done so yet, check out my new CD Kind Words on iTunes, Spotify, etc. Check out my website marvinthompsonjr.com for upcoming performance dates.

I hope to see you soon...

@mthompsonjr

Kind Words

Hi friends. I'm excited to FINALLY release my new project, Kind Words. I'm proud of this CD and I hope the music touches you. I'm busy these days promoting, performing and promoting again. Do me a favor-please tell someone about the CD, and follow me on Spotify (click the link on my home page). The more followers I can get, the closer I get to becoming a verified artist.

Thanks for your support; I'll keep you posted on how things are going!

Summer Jazz Playlist

Hey, I'm excited to announce I'll be one of the featured performers for the "Summer Jazz Playlist" on June 20th! The show will be held at the Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit; it's a Tuesday night so parking won't be a big deal. Check out new music by guitarist Randal V. Wilson, along with myself and special guests Souldeacon and Inohs Sivad.

The show starts at 7pm. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2938696

I'll post updates and reminders about the show so you won't forget! Follow the event on Twitter at #summerjazzlive

As always, thanks for your support.

MT

Silent Night (not so perfect)

Check out my holiday single, "Silent Night". I recorded this as a musical challenge to myself. Trying not to overthink and overproduce, I limited myself to only a few hours to arrange, record, edit and mix the track. It was difficult, but I did it. Of course there are things I would like to change (eq on the drums, adjustment to the rhodes), but recently I heard someone say, "Don't obsess about being perfect, perfect as you go." Besides, there's always the next track to build and improve.

Feel free to let me know what you think. I'd like to hear feedback from my fellow musicians and producers!

Till next time...
@mthompsonjr

Marvin Thompson Jr. Silent Night:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6SeJR7864X7E9GeYd1lOYl

Thankful

Hi Friends,
In spite of everything we've gone through this year, we have quite a bit to be thankful for. Sometimes it's hard to see the good through all of the storms, division and downfalls, but look again, it's there. This season and into the new year, instead of dwelling on what's wrong, focus on the things that are good in your life, and improve on those things. This change in perspective can make a world of difference.

Have a great Thanksgiving season!

@mthompsonjr

Election 2016: 8 & Out

With only a few days left until the election, it's good to know that all of the drama will soon be over! No matter who you decide to cast your vote for, remember-we all have to live together after November 8th. Here are 8 of my observations:

1. Pumpkin spice sun tan lotion-it's not just for Halloween.
2. Nothing good happens when Tweeting after midnight.
3. White pantsuits are this seasons blue jeans. Even after Labor Day.
4. Fact Check will probably go out of business after this election. It's clear no one is buying what they're selling.
5. Apparently it's cheaper to release stolen emails one by one than it is to release them in bulk.
6. When riding on a 200-passenger bus with only one other passenger, don't say a word.
7. I'm sure Obama is counting down the days till the U-Haul arrives.
8. After observing our situation, other countries have begun printing the first edition of "Elections for Dummies" in hardcover and paperback.

Please go vote.

@mthompsonjr

DIY Musician Conference: 8 & Out

Last weekend I attended the DIY Musician Conference in Chicago. The conference was excellent! There was a lot to learn from the speakers and presenters (all accomplished in their respective fields), and the interaction within the community of over 1,100 musicians, singers and artists that attended was toxic (the good kind of toxic).

Briefly, here are 8 takeaways from the conference:

1. Don't contribute to the "noise" of the music business; be a gatekeeper.
2. Find your story.
3. Detroit deep dish pizza (Pizza Papalis) is better than Chicago deep dish pizza.
4. Network correctly; ask others what you can do for them.
5. Chicago's trains run on time and make it easy to navigate your way through the city.
6. Drum loops add texture.
7. Don't get stuck waiting on perfection; perfect your music as you go.
8. Always be nice to everyone.

These tips work for music, and for life in general. Can't wait 'till next years conference...

@mthompsonjr
@cdbaby
#diymusician

Copyright Workshop

I’m excited to be facilitating the workshop “Copyrighting for Creatives.” If you’re like me, you’d much rather spend your time being creative than pushing paper. But properly documenting your songs, poems and other creative works assures that when the time comes, you’ll receive due credit for your hard work and creative genius.
The workshop will be held at COCAD, a brand new space in Hamtramck that was designed specifically for creative people. Tickets for the workshop are only $30 and are available at http://cocadworkshop.bpt.me
Come hang out with other creative folks like yourself as we navigate the copyrighting process in a fun and relaxed environment. I look forward to seeing you on September 24th.

The Chores of City Square

Sometimes even doing the things we love to do can seem like a chore. Well, not so much doing the things we love, but planning and preparing to do the things we love is where it gets bumpy.

The first run of City Square was in April 2015. Writing the script and music for City Square was easy. The script I wrote in about 2 weeks, and the music took about 4 weeks once everything was in place. One of the first songs I wrote was 11th Hour Prayer which is in Act II. I intentionally did not write any music before the script was complete, as not to have a production driven by a lot of random music that I liked, but had nothing to do with the storyline.

Here is where the chores, or "challenges" came in for me: everything involving the production other than the script and music! Just kidding (not really)! First up, casting. No matter how smoothly it goes during the audition process, or how committed the actors are during the first rehearsal, know this-someone is bound to get married and move out of state, get a new job and move out of state, or just, well, move out of state. This is something we had to deal with during last years run of City Square. Unexpected things will always happen, it's just a matter of how you prepare for them. This time around we secured an understudy in the event unexpected changes need to be made.

In my next post, I'll tell you about the "City Square Venue Lockout of 2015" incident! Fun times...