Hola Friends & Fans!

I'm back in NYC in June for a show in one of my favorite small theatres: Symphony Space's Thalia! My boyfriend's Dad used to take him to the Thalia to watch movies as a kid. Now it's renovated and has become part of the Symphony Space complex -- and it's a great place to see a show up close!

Reminder! Discount on June 9th show at Symphony Space in NYC for DHC E-Blast members: Use the Special Code "RAC102" when you order online at the Symphony Space Website or say "DHC in NYC" when you order by phone at 212-864-5400. Tix normally $32 are $22 with the discount codes - so get your tickets NOW - sale ends when we run out of discount seats!

I'm excited to try out some new material at the show -- but if you're coming and there's something you REALLY want to hear, email your request now to publicity@hipharp.com and I'll try to get it on the set list along with the new material.

I just got back from Binghamton, NY, where I had a great time playing with the Binghamton Philharmonic, and got one of my all-time favorite reviews (see it below)! The show was a blast! The orchestra out-did themselves -- especially the percussionists, who worked out some theatrical choreography for the "Garbageman." And as far as Personal Adventures go, while out for a stroll in Binghamton I ended up at a rollicking church barbecue and bazar, ran back to the hotel for my harp, and jammed with their gospel choir. Was that fun? Oh...yeah!!

So I'm really excited about this summer, especially my first week-long performance workshop at the Celebration Barn in Maine and my friend Fred's Tomato-palooza in North Carolina. The workshop is open to harpers and other musicians or performers who want to add music to their shows. You can read about it and find out how to register at my Workshop Page. The Tomato-palooza -- well, I'm not sure it's a public event. Stay tuned for more on that.

I'm also thrilled about the NEW PBS Broadcasts of "Invention & Alchemy," so check to see if it's coming to your area by keeping an eye on my ever-changing Tour Page!

Have a great start to your summer fun and I hope to see you at a show or over the airwaves!

NEW INTERVIEWS - audio and text interviews like Deborah's recent radio interview with WSKG's Bill Snyder. They're all at the Interview Page.

SIGN UP NOW! SUMMER PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP! Deborah invites you to a "Performance for Musicians" Workshop July 9-14th -- a full week with Deborah in rustic Maine! This workshop is geared to performance, so if you have a competition or concert coming up, this is the place to hone your performance skills! If you're looking to develop your own personal performance style, this is where you can do it! Still a few spaces available - so register NOW! More info at Deborah’s Workshop Page or go straight to the Celebration Barn's Registration Page.

HEAD TO HIPHARP.COM! Find updates on the latest PBS Broadcasts of "Invention & Alchemy," see photos of DHC collaborating with scientists and inventors in her "Inviting Invention" series at the Cambridge Science Festival, get the scoop on upcoming events at the Tour Schedule, shop Deborah's online catalog and more at HipHarp.com! And, if you haven't already, join Deborah's E-Newsletter Mailing List.

When they say it's difficult to define Deborah Henson-Conant, they aren't kidding, as she demonstrated in a performance with the Binghamton Philharmonic on Saturday night at the Forum Theatre.

To call her an entertainer would be a disservice to her musicianship, which is outstanding. To call her a musician would marginalize just how much fun it is to watch her. Henson-Conant is a singer, songwriter and harpist, and if you think that makes her a triple threat, you are right.

But she is funny, too, engaging the audience in conversation as well as using cheeky lyrics to some of her songs such as "Songs My Mother Sang" and her hilarious encore "I Love My Garbage Man," which brought down the house as two Philharmonic percussionists came in dressed as sanitation engineers complete with "trash cans" that they dumped on the stage and played a la "Stomp" while she clanged the lids.

Her musical style is as impossible to pin down as her act. From the opening "Cosita Latina" to the darkly beautiful "Nightingale," as energetic as a hoedown, as spirited as a Sousa march and as hypnotic as new age music, as awesomely bombastic as the best movie scores, as bright as calypso, Henson-Conant's music at one time or another sounds like all of these and more.

But it's her blues that really blows your mind about the harp. In "Way You Are Blues" she let fly a smokin' -- can't believe I'm saying this -- harp solo that was amazing, showing the harp as a natural choice for blues. Think about it -- it's essentially a naked piano that's played like a guitar, so why shouldn't it be good at the blues?

Her storytelling is anecdotal and threatrical at once and her show provided plenty of opportunity for the Philharmonic and its soloists, conducted by Jose-Luis Novo, to show off and chances for lots of audience participation.

Although Henson-Conant has revolutionized how her instrument is played, it is obvious she does it because she loves it and not for "shock value." Which means she will likely stand the test of time, doing what she does best -- even if we don't know exactly how to define it.

LINKS:

PAGES ON DEBORAH'S SITE:
HipHarp Homepage: http://www.hipharp.com
Tour Schedule: http://www.hipharp.com/where_you_goin.html
DHC Catalog (DVDs, CDs, Sheet Music, etc.): http://www.hipharp.com/dhccat.htm
Interview Page: http://www.hipharp.com/Pblcty/interviews_front.html
PBS Page: http://www.hipharp.com/pbs_mats/faqs_pbs.html
DHC Workshop Page: http://www.hipharp.com/EvntPg_pgs/cbarn07_wkshp_1sht.htm
Inviting Invention at MIT - Photos: http://www.hipharp.com/EvntPg_pgs/0704_inviteinvent_mit.html

PAGES ON OTHER SITES:
Symphony Space Website - DHC Tickets: http://www.symphonyspace.org/genres/eventPage.php?genreId=2&eventId=2018
Celebration Barn - Workshop Registration: http://www.celebrationbarn.com/workshop/register.html