Notes
Since 2008, Station North Arts Café (located in the vibrant Station North Arts and Entertainment District of Baltimore, MD) has been serving Holiday Jazz Brunch with the Rhonda Robinson/Charlie Sigler Duo. The opening song 'Digital Jingle Bells' is, vocally, a traditional rendition of the classic song. 'Digital' in this case refers to Charlie's musical setting that mirrors the hectic, driven lifestyles of the 21st century while poking a bit of fun at it as well. We as a society are 'dashing through the snow' in our multi-horsepowered cars. Hopefully, we can somehow still find a way to be joyfully 'laughing all the way' even if we are not in sleighs. With this recording, Charlie & Rhonda endeavor to create for you the experience of coming up the stairs of this cafe, seeing us in the window playing as you make you way in. Imagine enjoying your Belgian waffles with maple syrup or 'Big Mama's Plate'---eggs, bacon, toast and more---as you hear the simple sounds of voice and guitar waft through the air framed by snow flurries seen through the picture window. Rhonda has always loved hearing jazz renditions of holiday music. She is grateful to have had the opportunity in this collaboration to express the joyful meaning of the season through the colors of jazz whether from Charlie's whimsical, quirky treatment of Jingle Bells to the Flamenco-inspired 'I Wonder As I Wander'. Charlie honed his skills accompanying and arranging material for this vocal/guitar duo in his long working association with Ms. Robinson. An insightful, outside-the-box thinker, this hardworking "old soul" marches to the beat of his own drum in his musical expression while employing the jazz lexicon. In arranging the material for this recording, Charlie drew upon his intimate musical relationship with Ms. Robinson and vast knowledge of the jazz tradition to create unique and varied arrangements that would highlight the compositions and Ms. Robinson's vocal strengths. Vocalist/flutist Rhonda Robinson and guitarist Charlie Sigler met while volunteering at Jazzway6004, a noted jazz house concert series in Baltimore, MD. Charlie soon began sitting in at Rhonda's gigs and Rhonda returned the favor, sitting in at some of Charlie's gigs and the many jam sessions he hosted. They frequented other area jam sessions and took in many jazz performances of all levels, bringing the inspiration of all of the great artists they'd seen back into their collaborations. They've performed in duo, trio, & quartet configuration over the years at many Baltimore/Washington area clubs and events. They even had a notable run as a street duo near the Baltimore City courthouse and at the Farmers Market. Though Towson, MD native Charlie is now building his career in the New York area after his graduation from William Paterson University's jazz program, the partnership continues.
