Singer/songwriters who with piano, guitar & voices offer a musical statement- a crossroads where jazz, blues, folk & gospel meet creating something both familiar & new, traditional & unconventional Originally from Canada, Dave studied piano at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory. The 60’s brought rock ‘n’ roll, blues, jazz, and a move to Northern California. He toured and recorded with Rosalie Sorrels and Frontier; accompanied blues/jazz singer Pamela Polland, with his mastery of the James P. Johnson piano style; fronted his own band before he and Chappell became partners. He earned an SFSU BA and Master’s in Creative Writing, has become a published award-winning poet, and is often in demand to perform his poetry accompanied by his Indian drum and Chappell on guitar and vocals. Chappell, daughter of a Navy chaplain, grew up singing folk and gospel music, ending up in San Diego when he retired. She left for Northern California during the 70’s folk music revival with guitar, autoharp & dulcimer, inspired by the new singer/songwriters. She began to explore merging poetry with music in songwriting, performed extensively, wrote and recorded for independent films, including Dewitt Jones’ “The New England of Robert Frost,” and has been an in-demand studio singer. She is an artist, a professional seamstress specializing in restoration of vintage and antique clothing and accessories, as well as paintings, mannequins, figurines, and is a graphics designer. She has taught art classes and demonstrations for many art groups. Awards: With the diversity of their talents, awards have come from different directions. Chappell has won many awards and prizes for her art work in shows in the SF Bay Area. In 2012 Chappell & Dave Holt’s album “Wings of the Morning” was #1 on the Roots Radio jazz chart. Dave’s literary awards include: • 2013 Cultural/Literary Award • His book, Voyages to Ancestral Islands, won a Cultural Literary Award from Artists Embassy International (San Francisco) in 2013 • Thomas Merton Foundation’s Poetry of the Sacred contest • The 2011 and 2014 Maggi H. Meyer Memorial Poetry Contests • Bay Area Poets Seasonal Review 2010 Together they received the high honor of Eagle Feather Awards from the Society of American Indians (Livermore) for their music being featured in the American Indian Music Festival, 2011. Together or separately they have played, toured and/or shared stages with: The Bobs Paul Butterfield Blues Band John Denver Mimi Farina Terry Garthwaite Tim Hardin Graham Nash Bonnie Raitt Carlos Reyes Rosalie Sorrels Kate Wolf Reviews: Chappell & Dave Holt played with the energy and professionalism you’d expect to hear at Carnegie Hall. Anna Boothe, Pacifica Tribune ----- “Chappell and Dave Holt are seasoned performers who can move fluidly between all the musical genres - jazz, Native American, old-timey or blues - that their well-honed talents lead them to. Along with their guests they presented a rollicking good time and a wide variety of tunes in "A Celebration of the American Song". What an enjoyable way to get a history lesson in song!" Andrea Van Dyke, OCA Event Coordinator, Occidental Center for the Arts ----- Dear Chappell and Dave, Thank you so much for performing at the Rivertown Art Center. You concerts have been a big hit with the Antioch community! Many folks in the audience tap their toes and sing along to your tasteful interpretations of favorite jazz standards. Your original tunes are a real crowd-pleaser, too, blending humor and storytelling with fresh, creative musical expression. The inventive variety of you program, along with the warmth and energy of your performance make for a thoroughly enjoyable musical evening. We look forward to having you back soon! Nancy Roberts Curator Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch ----- Those of us who've known and heard the Holts over the years would be delighted with the professional, smooth, vigorous, gracious music that had the audience whooping, clapping, and appreciating everything they did, while asking for more. It was truly a fellowship of good vibes and spiritual warmth. Even the fireplace cooperated. Many thanks to the Holts and to the Jones for providing such a special launching pad for 2011! Stephen Zendt ----- Congratulations on Stone & Fire. It’s a mature and very musical work that covers a lot of ground, and I’ve been enjoying listening. Jazzy side of Americana indeed! Particularly impressed with the stacked background vocals, full and rich and harmonically adventurous. There’s a lot to choose from, but I think the two moon songs may be my favorites, although the title song too is very well realized. Keep up the good work, Mitch Greenhill, Pres. Folklore Productions, songwriter, recording artist ----- Congratulations on Stone & Fire. It’s a mature and very musical work that covers a lot of ground, and I’ve been enjoying listening. Jazzy side of Americana indeed! Particularly impressed with the stacked background vocals, full and rich and harmonically adventurous. There’s a lot to choose from, but I think the two moon songs may be my favorites, although the title song too is very well realized. Keep up the good work, Mitch Greenhill, Pres. Folklore Productions, songwriter, recording artist ----- As for the music - whew!! What a journey!! Of course, I love the songs with the 30ʻs flavor, and all the background vocals are so well done - often charming and fun. But the biggest impression really is of the body of work over all, and how it was written and recorded. In this day and age of so much "cookie cutter" music, all so digitally perfect, etc - I felt like I was transported back to a time when people only made music for the True Love Of It. Your album has a great "human" quality to it, and the instrumentation supports that all the more. Real people playing real instruments. I also appreciated the careful craftsmanship of your songs. Clearly, you took no shortcuts, and let each piece evolve to the fullest. Chappell, your voice is as rich as caramel, and the two of you have finely honed your voices together over all these years. Bravo!! Pamela Polland, Grammy Award winning song writer, vocal instructor to the stars, singer extraordinaire ----- Really enjoy listening to a well-crafted, well-produced, full of passion, jazzy side of Americana musical statement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys need to keep putting out good music! WOW! All of the songs, instrumentation, improv breaks, beginnings, endings, Richard and Karen Carpenter lush harmonies, you name it, just knocked it out of the park!!! Malcolm Hunter, jazz saxophonist ----- Another significant challenge, to my ear, was the difficulty of blending an acoustic guitar with a piano -- and yet in this mix down they seem very companionable, to the point where it’s a positive and distinctive feature of your sound on every cut. I give Randy major credit for figuring out how to help your vocal and instrumental flavors blend into a rich and satisfying unity, even when we don’t have the advantage of watching the two of you together as you perform. I’m pleased with the way my dobro and steel parts sound on the finished album, and I enjoy the variety of other instruments that you used to enrich the different textures of the songs. But more importantly there’s a nice consistency throughout the album -- an instantly recognizable Chappell-and-Dave style that you’ve accomplished in your years of performing together. In a certain respect it reminds me of Robin and Linda Williams in that both of you are perfectly capable of carrying the lead by yourselves, but in combination you’ve reached even greater heights. Good going, guys!! Mayne Smith, professional musician, songwriter, recording artist, musicologist ----- “To me, it is THE version of ‘A Satisfied Mind’ …” Longtown Sound, Uncle Shag’s tweet about Chappell & Dave’s new CD ----- “Wow... Reminds me of wandering around in Golden Gate Park in the 60's and running into the Grateful Dead. Love the sound!” Jeff Sullivan, music fan Wings of the Morning lyrics 1. I Can Feel It in the Wind Listen, can you hear it, it’s a sweet, sweet harmony, It’s a movin’ of the spirit, or so it seems to me. No, no, don’t you fear it, let us raise our voices high, Make some room for our souls to try and touch the sky. If you’ve got a dream then you must dare to try, Because our dreams will have their rightful place in time, If you’re a dreamer too then put your hands in mine, There’s a place for you in the visions of my mind. There’s a golden harvest moon out tonight, It’s a sure sign summer is coming to an end. Soon we’ll be going down the road, and ya know we might, Never ever have this time to share again. That’s why I want to say these things I’m sayin’ today, I could say goodbye and just be on my way. There’s an answer that could weave into your life this time. I can feel it in the wind from off the sea. It is whispering a song and we could sing it out this time, And I know that I could find the harmony. Everybody in the world wants to find a love that lasts, But they don’t know what to do when it can’t be found. Some people say it’s just a dream in the past, When they checked it out all they got was the runaround. In these affairs we’ve seen so many ups and downs, Still I know a love survives through them all. Americana/Jazz ISRC usgh1530276 Songwriter - Dave Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Guitar & Vocals Dave Holt - Piano & Vocals, electric bass 2. Cats & TV Screens There’s a cat that’s sleepin’ in a store window, She sleeps both night and day. Perched on a window sill, Ya wonder if she ever will, Simply roll off onto the floor. Chorus: And she sees the world like a TV screen As it hurries past on feet and in cars. And she doesn’t care who is standin’ there, It’s strictly yawn and stretch and food in the bowl. There’s those cats that hang out on the Broadway strip, Hawkin’ dirty girlie shows for tips. Leanin’ on the door jamb, No one’s jammin’ in the doors, But ya know, that’s just the way it goes. Chorus: And they see the world like a TV screen, As it hurries past on feet and in cars. And they don’t care who you are or from where, It’s strictly money in the hand, or “move on, Joe!” Well now, me, I’m just one of those passers by, I see the cat sleepin’ on the window sill. And when those hawkers shoot their spiel, I head on up the hill, Cuz, ya know, I’m just movin’ on, Joe. Chorus: And the world seems like a TV screen, As it hurries past on feet and in cars. And if our shoulders brush in this crowded rush, It’s strictly, “Pardon me, I’ve places to go.” Chorus: Sometimes the world seems just like a TV screen, As it hurries past on feet and in cars. So, if our shoulders brush in this crowded rush, It’s just you and me with no place to go, No place to go...scat out... Americana/Folk/Jazz ISRC usgh1530277 Songwriter - Chappell Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Guitar & Vocals Dave Holt - Piano & Vocals Tom Ekkens - Harmonica 3. February Rain Once in awhile there’s a day, That wakes all my senses and forces pretenses away, Like February rain, Washing off dead leaves, forgotten when new ones appear, A mother shedding, she’s shedding winter tears, The knowledge of pain, February rain. When I look back on my life, And see all the changes and how rearranges caused strife, Like February rain, Beating down dried fields, forgotten, when harvest is here, A mother shedding, she’s shedding winter fears, The knowledge of gain, February rain. There comes a day when I’ll die, To shake my defenses and uncover secrets and lies, Like February rain, Uprooting old trees, forgotten, when saplings appear, A mother shedding, she’s shedding winter veneers, The knowledge it contains, February rain. Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530278 Songwriter - Chappell Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Guitar, Autoharp & Vocals Dave Holt - Piano & Vocals 4. Mama Told Me About the Forties We were kickin’ the can down a dirty alley way, When Eddie our man on the coronet, started to play. Then memories of love under lamplight On a summer-sweet scent, Swept down the street as if time and its dreams, Had never been spent. Mama told me about the forties, It was New York City at the Waldorf Hotel. How she and her girlfriends saw Count Basie, But they couldn’t hear the music very well, The talk was loud, it was a noisy crowd, I guess nothin’ has really changed. “ Eddie, my friend, how’d we get in a situation like this? This playin’ on the street for somethin’ to eat, I might never have missed.” He said, “Kid hang on, we’re just here to catch those Big Apple sights, Stuff for your dreams when you’re playin’ those scenes, In the Baltimore nights.” Mama told me about the forties, How she met my daddy at the Savoy Hotel. He crushed her orchid while they were dancing, And she don’t remember the band too well, She thinks his name was Harry James, But the real shame is how drunk and crazy those kids got. “Ah, but you know how young people can be.” So with the car roof rolled down, Me and the band split town, Looking like Oakies from the dust bowl, With the back seat packed full, Of horn players blowin’ sweet and loud, Til I swear I saw up in the clouds, Fred Astaire dancing, with Ginger romancing. Folk/Americana/Jazz ISRC usgh1530279 Songwriter - Dave Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Dave Holt - Piano & Vocals Chappell Holt - Vocals 5. Carry Me Somewhere in the dark I lost a friend, carry me, Somehow I missed the mark and lost his hand, carry me, Like moons eclipsing shadows hid our glow, Reflections caught half way that could not show, carry me. Carry me, carry me, Messengers of mighty speed, Angels ride on dreamy steeds, Chariots of fire freed, Come flashing across time to meet my need, Carry me. What is man that Thou art mindful, carry me? Petty wars and jealousies, carry me. Who am I that help comes when I call? Just another child bruised from a fall, carry me. I see the planets turn, carry me. I feel the sun as it burns, carry me. I hear the human cry as it yearns, I sense my spirit fly, oh carry me. Folk/Americana/Gospel ISRC usgh1530280 Songwriter - Chappell Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Vocals Dave Holt - Synthesizer & Vocals 6. All Is Quiet Along the DEW Line (Instrumental) So Darlin’s hush now, the Russian bear sleeps, And all is quiet along the DEW Line. Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530281 Songwriter - Dave Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Dave Holt - Piano/Synthesizer & Vocals Chappell Holt - Electric Guitar & Vocals 7. Wings of the Morning (Psalm 139) Thou it was who did fashion my inmost parts, Thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb, Thou knowest me through and through. My body is no mystery to thee, How I was secretly kneaded into shape, And patterned in the depths of the earth. If I say, “Surely, darkness will steal over me, And night will close around me, Darkness is no darkness for Thee, And night is luminous as day. To Thee both dark and light are one.” If I take the wings of the morning, And fly to the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there will Thy hand lead me, And Thy right hand hold me. Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530282 Songwriter - Chappell Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Vocals Dave Holt - Synthesizer & Vocals 8. The Wind in the Oak Well, I found an old dirt path on a hot summer’s day, Well, it wound up the side of a hill oaks shaded the way. From the top the rolling fields stretched out to the bay, And like a good dog the wind just wanted to play. Well, I sat down on the ground under a tree, Where the view just seemed to go on to infinity. My heart leaped into the wind and spread its glorious wings, And I rode the breeze to the uttermost parts of the sea. Bridge: And even on the farthest plains, Of baked and barren sands, Or the jagged heights of unnamed peaks, I traveled to distant lands. (I held the Divine Hand.) Well, I drifted back to the hill and the ancient oak tree, With its branches spread and awaiting to embrace me. The wind wove through the leaves and as I listened breathlessly, It whispered you are loved eternally, It whispered you are loved eternally. Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530283 Songwriter - Chappell Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Guitar &Vocals Dave Holt - Synthesizer & Vocals 9. Dance of the Desert (Lawrence's Lament) Flurries of sand and wind sway from dune to dune. Mesmerizing mirages arise like cobras to a piper’s tune. A lizard scurries on the shifting sands, His trail quickly blows away. A desert creature knows his way, knows his way without leaving a trace. Tracing lines on the desert face, tracing lines from the squinting sun. White veils and robes caress the cheek, caress the breeze in billowing folds. Crystalline eyes of the bluest blue, coolest hue, Peer from under shaded lids. The desert teaches obedience, she’s a betrayer to the weak. Chorus: “Has he learned yet?” ask the Winds. “He can travel far without water,” reply the Bedouins. “Ah, but he is such a fool! He’s mastered thirst for water, He’s deceived by the power, And betrayed by the vastness.” Bodies bend with the camel’s pace, knees slung over saddle horns. Traveling single file to conceal their numbers to be easily traced. A fair man who leads daggers to war? Blue eyes flash among black eyes! The desert embraces none but her own, her oasis beguiles the weak. Chorus: “Has he learned yet?” ask the Sands. “He knows how to slay with his hands,” reply the Nomads, “Ah, but he is still the Fool! Disregarding life to draw blood, He is deceived by the power, Of the peoples who love to roam free, Who roam free...ooooh.” Flurries of sand and wind sway from dune to dune. Mesmerizing mirages arise like cobras to a piper’s tune. Folk/Americana/Jazz ISRC usgh1530284 Songwriter - Chappell Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Guitar &Vocals Dave Holt - Synthesizer & Vocals 10. Nobody Says They Dig It We were sitting in a café, sipping our lattes, Comparing our investments, IRAs, 401Ks, When we heard the roar of a boom box, and a skateboarding fool, screaming down the sidewalk and he shouted out, “It’s so cool!” Nobody says they dig it when they love it anymore, This breakin’ ground just hardly makes the scene, But when I say I dig it you’ll know I love it, And you won’t have to wonder what I mean. I was raised a way up in the country, don’t you know, We kept close to the earth on which we’d grown, So when I say I dig it, it’s just plain speakin’ to me, back to my roots, a little bit like back home. Why don’t they say they dig it when they love it anymore? I think it’s hip to dig it so I do. Some city folks they keep things on the surface, oh, yeah! But I get down and dig it, I can’t stay cool. Well, one day my kid while listening to his I-pod said to me, “This dude who’s playing guitar, Dad, he sure is bad.” I heard the same thing he did. I thought for once we might agree, Seems “bad” don’t have the meanin’ I thought it had. Why don’t they say they dig it when they love it anymore? That’s just beatniks and hippies and they don’t make the scene. But when I say I dig it you’ll know I love it, And you won’t have to wonder what I mean. Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530285 Songwriter – Chappell & Dave Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Dave Holt - Piano & Vocals Chappell Holt - Guitar &Vocals 11. The Cowgirl & Her Horse The river is blue, I can tell you, My Sweets, The river is blue, I can tell you, My Sweets, And the hillside is green, That is all I can tell you, My Sweets. The sun is yellow, I can tell you, My Sweets, The sun is yellow, I can tell you, My Sweets, And the clouds are high in the sky, I can tell you, My Sweets, I can tell you, My Sweets. That cowgirl and her horse Head across the wide open plains, To follow the trail of a wild horse With tail flying and mane. The roses are red, I can tell you, My Sweets, The roses are red, I can tell you, My Sweets, Like the heart that I painted for you, I can tell you, My Sweets, I can tell you, My Sweets. In the dark glows the moon, I can tell you, My Sweets, In the dark glows the moon, I can tell you, My Sweets, Like my love glows for you, that is all I can tell you, My Sweets. I can tell you, My Sweets. That cowgirl on her horse, I can tell you, My Sweets, That cowgirl on her horse, I can tell you, My Sweets, Caught that mustang like you caught my heart, I can tell you, My Sweets, I can tell you, My Sweets. Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530286 Songwriter – Chappell & Kelsey Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Guitar &Vocals Dave Holt - Piano & Vocals Tom Ekkens - Harmonica 12. Coconuts Can’t you see them palm trees, Baby, Just blowin’ in the breeze? Can’t you see them monkeys pickin’ Bananas off the trees? You know we’ll be there some day, Say, whatcha smilin’ for, Baby? It ain’t so far away. Ain’t it the blues from that steel guitar? Ain’t it the blues makin’ you crazier than you are? Ain’t it the trade winds, ain’t it the sea? Ain’t it those coconuts? Ah, ah, ah… Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530287 Songwriter – Mark Wise Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Dave Holt - Piano/Synthesizer & Vocals Chappell Holt - Guitar &Vocals 13. Love Fills My Sails The Bard on the Avon asked the right question, To be or not to be, that is life’s call. If we are to be then where is the meaning, If living is better than to not be at all? Chorus: Love fills my sails, I ride on its power, Love like a gale that devours my soul. Love like a hurricane, its center at peace. Love like a mournin’ dove, its wings spread full. The Oracle’s riddle, what is this creature, On four legs at morning, two at noon light, And three in the evening when day time is fading? But what gives life meaning ‘tween morning and night? Chorus The answer is Man at life’s different stages, A baby crawls on four, a youth stands on two, And he leans on a cane, three legs when he ages, But, he must have love for life to be true. Chorus Love like an eagle, its wings spread full. Folk/Americana ISRC usgh1530288 Songwriter – Chappell & Dave Holt Label - Bohemian Hwy Music Artist License - BMI Songwriter License & Affiliation – BMI Chappell Holt - Guitar &Vocals Dave Holt - Piano & Vocals