At long last! My album, Jump in Mud, is available to the general public! If you’d like the full experience, you can still live like the subscribers did for video, pdfs, and musical scores. But for those of you who like to keep it simple, buy my album on Bandcamp by clicking on the album cover below:
Read More
Well, my friends, the Song of the Month club concludes next week. Thanks to all of you who subscribed.
For those of you who missed it, I am offering all of the videos, audio, lyrics, credits, (and scores for the musician option) in one fell swoop for the same subscription prices until the album is released in a few months.
Within 24 hours of your purchase, you’ll receive an email (to the email you give when you pay) for further instructions.
This club has been around since February 2017. Can I still subscribe?
Absolutely! Your password will give access to all the files that came in the previous months.
How do I know when the next song is ready?
I will email you with the new links the minute each new song and video is ready for you.
Can I just buy the album or one song alone?
Not yet. Subscribers are receiving this music before anyone else and before it’s even promoted. Eventually you will be able to, but not until the members get all their special treatment.
Why do you need my address?
Before the album is released, I’ll be sending you a bonus track and mailing you a special thank you gift.
Can I subscribe someone else to this club?
Sure! Just make sure in the special notes to include his/her(their) name(s), address(es), and email(s).
Well, the Song of the Month year has ended (although you can still sign up to get all the goodies in one fell swoop). I’m still waiting for lots of stuff to share… But can I hold you over with this? It’s a song Joe Scatassa and I wrote about where elves come from. Stay tuned for lots of exciting news in the upcoming year.
Read More
I’m so excited to FINALLY share with you my musical work of the past few years. But I’m only releasing it to my new “Song of the Month” club members over a period of 9 months. It is my baby, after all.
I am so grateful to all of you who have supported me through this process over the past few years. I hope you like the finished product as much as I do.
Read More
I thought as a gift this year, I’d let you hear a holiday song I wrote a while back with my mischievous friend, Joe Scatassa. I hope you enjoy.
I can’t wait to share what’s in store for you next year…
“Three Strikes and You’re Elf”
Composed by: Sarah Gromko and Joseph Scatassa (©2012 GromKo. Music/Skullsound) Recorded by: Sarah Gromko and Brian Seeger
Mixed and Mastered by: Marc Lacuesta (℗2015 GromKo. Music)
Read More
This post’s a bit lengthy, but if you’re really into it, subscribe to my newsletter. I get much more personal in those.
dency EndingAll good things must come to an end. We will be finishing out almost 3 years in residence at Pearl Wine Co. this month. You only have one more chance to hear us on December 18.
I cannot express what a joy it has been to explore my music there and grow as a musician. Many thanks to the owner, Leora, for such an incredible run!
Project Overcome FearRemember my 2015 “Project Overcome Fear” video series on my Facebook page?
A few people asked me why I opted for Facebook over YouTube. YouTube now claims perpetual ownership of any content uploaded, so no.
Plus, this is Project Overcome Fear, not Project Exhibitionist. If you wanna see it, like my page. Likers gonna like.
Thanks to all of you who contributed to my campaign to raise money for my album. Because I did not reach the minimum amount I needed for it to be worth offering the perks (daughter of an accountant), I took a few months to recalibrate.
In that process, the song list and theme changed to be more honest with the here and now. I’ve decided to separate this album from Convert Augustine. A lot has happened in one year, and I think now is the time to express it without tagging on to a much older story. We will begin December 18th!
Of course, if any of you who offered to help before still want to contribute financially, I won’t turn it down… 😉
Liturgical Psalm ProjectIn June of 2014, I gave myself a compositional and devotional challenge: to musically set every Responsorial Psalm on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation for the entire 3-year Catholic liturgical cycle.This comes out to about 65 settings a year, so I figured I could use it as a means of personal prayer 1-2 times a week. I started mid-way through Year A, and I’m so amazed to say I just finished the entirety of Year B!
So into Advent of Year C and continuing the fruitful exercise. There’s something to be said for discipline on weeks I feel I have nothing, only to listen back a month later with understanding that I couldn’t hear it at the time, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t there.
New Orleans Vocal Arts VOCEOne of the most surreal and ecstatic moments of this year was when I was accepted into the small ensemble of VOCE, a subset of the New Orleans Vocal Arts Chorale. As Loyola Artists in Residence, NOVA Chorale is under the direction of conductor, Dr. Meg Frazier, whom every choral singer and conductor I’ve met aspires to be.
We will have a few concerts next year, including one that is sure to lift the spirits in this horrible time of world and national conflict, entitled Pace, or “peace/respect.”
I rarely post twice in 2 months, but I have some big news that I’ve got to reiterate. If you’re short on time, please just click here to watch the 58 second video.
For those of you who don’t know, I am raising money to record the fully composed and orchestrated sequel album of Convert Augustine, I’m calling Consummate Augustine. It’s been done for a while. I just need to get it recorded. So guess what? I’m crowdfunding.
For those of you (super generous) who have already given THANK YOU! I only have another month to reach the minimal recording cost (for musicians, producer, studio, etc.) that will allow me to get started.
That means, if I don’t reach the minimum goal by May 17, those who are counting on receiving their chosen “perks” will not be able to receive them, and I will have to refund them. BUT, if we reach it early, I can start sending out the perks early…
Asking for money is never easy, and I know you’re not all busting at the seams. So if you can’t give, keep it on the tip of your tongue to others we know? I don’t have everyone’s info.
It’s weird and humbling to not be in control over the fate of this album. I hope you can help.
I bit the bullet and started an IndieGogo Campaign with lots of stuff to buy to fund a new album (including presales of the actual album).
I will finally record this long-awaited sequel only if this campaign reaches its goal in the next 2 months. So check it out, and tell your generous friends ASAP!
Thanks to the generosity of the owner, in addition to my regular Friday-night residency at Pearl Wine Co. (8:30-10:30pm), first Fridays of the month now feature my Rhythmic Tricks.
We’ll still do my originals and arrangements every week, but the first Fridays bring a heavier version. Up-and-comer Brad Webb is the steady rock on drums, while we experiment with new sounds for the layers above him.
The 2nd week of Jazz Fest, Jason Isaac will be coming in from New York to sub for him while his old pal from Afroskull, Bill Richards, holds it down on bass.
Some of you are familiar with my aversion to cameras. To conquer my fear, I have launched a video series on Facebook. Once a month I put up a home video of me performing.
To witness this year-long transformation from ‘fraidy cat to maybe just cat, like my Facebook page.
(Shout out to my piano teacher, Meghan Swartz!)
Thank you for such a wonderful year! I must say I am quite looking forward to getting serious this Advent season as I perform/compose more contemplative and sacred music. You can get the minute information on all of the performances (such as venue, date, time) on the Upcoming Events page.
Sunday December 14th, at 3pm, come out to the Jesuit Church for Lessons and Carols. This is a traditional FREE event of the season (open to all), in which seasonal liturgical readings are matched to musical selections.
I am once again honored to have one of my compositions performed at Christmas Midnight mass at the New Orleans Jesuit Church. I will also be singing with the choir. The music begins at 11:30pm on the 24th and goes into the wee hours once we can finally legitimately say, “Merry Christmas!”
One of the most significant things to happen to me this year was being accepted into New Orleans Vocal Arts Chorale (or NOVA). This is an unsurpassed group of singers who would shame any musician in this city just being in their presence. My first concert with them is Sunday, December 21st, at 7:30pm, at Holy Name Church at Loyola University. I cannot wait to experience this. It will be unlike anything you have witnessed before. The live experience is inexplicable, but listen to a bit here.
Old U.S. Mint RecapMy 6-piece ensemble’s taping at the Old U.S. Mint in November was such a success. Many thanks to those of you who came out! Your presence made all the difference. Here’s a little taste of the result.
Of course, my jazz trio still plays every Friday from 8-10pm at Pearl Wine Co. Catch us in the last weeks of the year as we add more holiday tunes. You will always be able to hear my originals in the 2nd set, after we warm you up with some fun arrangements of jazz standards in the 1st. Remember, Christmas doesn’t START until December 25th, and continues to 12th Night, so don’t expect me to cut out the sacred stuff on the 26th… 😉
Hopefully I’ll see you before Christmas is through!
Read More
Exciting news!My full band will be taping live at the Old U.S. Mint on Saturday, November 8 from 8-9:30pm. I need you to come be a part of it: make some noise, and keep us upbeat.
My love for the early ’60s lounge movement will shine through my use of jazz harmony, syncopation, groove changes, and odd meters and phrasing.
It will be primarily my compositions (new stuff!) with a few of my signature arrangements to ground the listeners in a bit of the familiar.
With the help of Cori Walters and Brad Webb, our percussion section will be so groovy, your socks might fall off.
Joe Ashlar‘s extensive synth library will make up for the fact that we don’t have an orchestra to play with as the big budgets allowed back in the day. Don’t worry. It’s tasteful, and he’ll play some real piano.
If you haven’t heard Georgi Petrov yet, you will be searching him out after hearing him on this show. He and Trey Boudreaux (whom I play with every Friday) lay it down as if they were one.
Essentially, what I’m saying is this show will be really special. Come out and see for yourselves.
Read More
