Welcome to my musical world. I’m the leader of the San Francisco-based International Jazz Trio, blending American standards with a touch of Latin, French, and Italian flair. We believe music has the power to connect people, and we love sharing our passion for jazz with the community. Explore this website to discover my latest performances, read my blog, and get ready to experience the magic of live music! I love singing, performing, collaborating and connecting people. I also like to share my love of music with community. Here’s a video of some of my recent performances. Thanks for visiting!
It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to the Sunday Jazz residency at Maykadeh Restaurant. While I’m grateful for the past 14 months of enriching experiences, I’m also excited to embark on new musical adventures! A huge thank you to my incredible bandmates, Dave Austin and Bob Blankenship and the amazing Maykadeh team, and the special guest singers who made each show unique. Most importantly, thank you to my supportive fans, friends and family.
Thrilled to share this lively moment captured by my dear friend Laurent during my performance at the enchanting Le Petite Left Bank. Dive into the playful clip and let the magic unfold!
Is your summer turning out the way you planned? Mine isn’t and contrary to what that sounds like, it’s turned out to be really wonderful! Our plans were to spend a week in June on a houseboat on Lake Shasta. That plan fizzled out when the boat’s motor died and sent the boat to drydock for most of the summer. So, we pivoted… we thought, “Why not keep with the boat theme and check out one of our bucket list destinations, Alaska? Through the magic of the internet, in one morning we were able to book a Princess Cruise to Alaska’s Inside Passage leaving from San Francisco for the same dates as our original plans. For locals, traveling by ship to Alaska from San Francisco offers two bonuses: being able to carry on two huge suitcases per person and the amazing experience of sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge on a giant cruise-ship.
Alaska is something else indeed! All the sights of natural beauty are super- sized. We saw whale, eagles, waterfalls, spectacular glaciers and icebergs.
Once aboard the ship, I learned about “The Voice of the Ocean,” a singing contest mimicking the TV show of the same name. Even though I was on vacation to relax and see new places, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to audition for the show. With the help of my Lola character, I ended up being one of the six finalists. I didn’t win the competition, but I enjoyed the experience and being being treated as a mini celebrity aboard the ship. What was surprisingly the most challenging part of the experience wasn’t the bright lights, performing for hundreds of people nor the pressure of competition, it was balancing on heels at the front of the ship during a very choppy stretch of ocean during my actual performance!
Let’s face it. Life is stressful. And when we are under stress we suffer. It’s bad for our health. It leaves us feeling drained and tired. It fogs our brains. It causes us to disconnect from others. It makes it difficult to concentrate and robs us of the ability to respond creatively in life. It’s not good for us, and when under stress, let’s face it, it’s not good for those around us either. So it’s helpful to have a few stress-busting techniques to reach for when it starts to creep up on you and take you hostage. Here are a few of my favorite busters. They are easy to do and work wonders when I need them most, like right before I give a public presentation, or when running late to catch a plane, or find myself stuck in traffic, or when talking to someone who is being very difficult, or when I find myself running behind schedule and am afraid I am going to get in big trouble for it. In other words, at least once a day, every day. Try them yourself and see if you find them as helpful for relieving stress as I do.
Open your mouth wide enough to hear a click in your ears and inhale deeply, followed by an audible exhale releasing the sound “AHHH!” Repeat until relaxed. Three times should do it.
Sing the song Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music. Each note corresponds with one of the seven chakras and calms the entire nervous system and lifts your mood.
Breathe in deeply and slowly, and as you exhale, notice something you’ve not noticed before in your immediate environment and name it out loud. Such as “pattern in the rug.” Then breathe. “The scratch on the desk.” Breathe. “The different colors on the coffee cup.” Breathe. “The design on the base of the lamp.” Breathe. Keep noticing and saying out loud things in full view that you have never noticed before. Do this for at least 30 seconds to one minute. This stops your brain from racing forward and back in time and centers you in the present moment, thus relaxing you.
Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and right behind your front teeth. Next, purse your lips and exhale to the count of eight as though blowing out a birthday candle. Next, inhale to the count of seven, followed by holding your breath to the count of four. Then repeat. This easy breathing technique can calm your thoughts and refresh your body, inviting stress to flow out and relaxation to flow in.
Anytime you feel overwhelmed by stress, bend your knees and wiggle them back and forth as fast as possible for 10 seconds, and then squeeze your buttocks cheeks together while letting out a very loud and resounding “AAAAHHHHHHH!” as though screaming all the stress right out of your body. Then relax. It not only relieves you of the stress consuming your every cell but also makes you and anyone around you laugh out loud.
Start naming, out loud, one thing at a time, every single thing that you are or feel afraid of right now. Start by naming the thing you fear most in the moment, and then take in a deep breath. Next, name something you notice right in front of you. Then repeat. Again, name something you fear most right now. Breathe, and then again name something you see right in front of you. Do this until you can’t name any more fears.
Do my favorite yoga pose. Pull the corners of your mouth to the ears, and hold it. Maintain this pose for at least 30 seconds. Then release.
Thump your chest with your fist and let out the sound “HA! as loud as possible. Repeat. HA! HA! HA! Then laugh.
Sing your favorite Broadway show tune at the top of your lungs.
Put your thumb and forefinger together and close your eyes. Breathe in, while saying the words “I am,” and then exhale saying, “calm.” Feel the calm flowing from your heart, through your body, and out of your fingertips. Do this as many times as needed.
These are all simple, easy, silly, effective, and fun. Try them all and see which one works best for you. Most of all, just remember: this too shall pass, and with breath it will pass faster and leave you less stressed along the way.
I’m sipping a cup of candy-cane green tea and listening to Pandora’s holiday channel–a few moments of quiet time, which is quite a rare treat these days. Twinkling petals of early afternoon light dance around my room to the beat of the music. I’m feeling a delicious combination of sentimentality and gratitude. I think I must be having a holiday moment!
Why this overall positive outlook? I believe it’s the effect of two filters I’ve chosen to wear over my lenses this year; the “Stay Neutral” and the “Chop Wood Carry Water.” In other phases of my life, some of the events of this year would have had me spinning in panic and caused me immense anxiety.
Both of my parents took falls this year, Mom breaking a hip and Dad, a shoulder. I consistently reminded myself to continue to chop wood and carry water and not focus too strongly on either wanting positive outcomes or worrying too much about negative outcomes. In retrospect, although my parents’ injuries were extremely painful and caused them immense inconvenience, the gift of their having had them was that they created opportunities to look at how we children and grandchildren could better support them. I can see now that my parents are both stronger and healthier from the experience.
Singing has always been a wonderful refuge for me. Performing is also becoming one. Even though I often feel nervous the day of the performance, I’m always buoyed by the experience of being with all the other performers, interacting with our wonderful audience members and singing from my heart. Performing truly is good medicine!
Has your summer brought you a sense of renewal? I was recently pondering ways to maintain the wonderful sense of renewal that I feel after a long weekend or vacation once I’m back home. First of all we need to figure out what actually renews us. Each of us is unique and our needs change all the time. It isn’t always the things we read about doing or think we should do that offer the best renewal choice. For example, sometimes when I finally sit down to read a good book with a cup of tea, I realize that what my body and spirit really needs is to get outdoors and move. Other times, reading is just the ticket to the relaxation I needed.
I take a daily afternoon break and get out for some fresh air. I may not always be able to leave my desk at a scheduled lunch hour, but I don’t let that stop me from taking a refreshing break at some point in the afternoon even if it’s not until 3:30 or 4 p.m! Whether it’s a walk along the Embarcadero or Crissy Field, a visit to one of the many nearby farmers’ markets, or sitting quietly for a while in a nearby garden, I find I’m refreshed when I return.
I’ve also noticed that although some things are pretty tried and true, like taking a soothing hot bath after a particularly stressful day, its also very renewing to try something new. Recently, I caught on to the Chia seed craze and started adding the seeds to my morning juice and oddly have felt renewed by having found a new, healthy practice. Sometimes especially toward the end of a busy week, it’s tempting in the evening to just be a TV- watching couch potato but I’ve found that if I choose instead to spend a few minutes gardening, going for a walk in the neighborhood, practicing my songs or listening to some beautiful music, I feel more relaxed and also get a better night’s rest.
April and May in Italy and France was a painful experience because I just kept having to pinch myself to see if I was really there or if I was in a wonderful dream! I planned the trip back in October and was initially going to be going alone. In January, a friend I’ve known since college decided to join me for the first two weeks in Italy and in February a mutual friend of our’s whom I’ve since middle school decided to join us too. We had such a fun time everywhere we went. We celebrated a birthday in Rome and threw our three coins in Trevi fountain too. I can’t say what I wished for of course but I just know it will come true! We had some beautiful weather some days and rain and hail that looked like snow on other days. We visited Saturnia, Sienna, Monterregione, San Gemingnano, Volterra, Solvano, Soldano, Pittignano, Lucca, Pietra Santo, Bologna and Milano. We ate dinner in the house my grandmother was raised in and lunch in the house my grandfather was raised in too.
In Paris, I spent two weeks with my friend Sandrine. I met Sandrine while vacationing here on the West Coast two years ago. She is a Parisian native and much like me here in San Francisco, lives a very full and rich life in the City of Lights. I took in almost every walking tour offerred in Paris and visited museums I’d never been to before like the Cluny Medeival Museum and The Montmartre Museum which had a very interesting exhibit about the Black Cat cabaret theater. One of the highlights of my time in Paris was being invited to perform on May 2nd at the Swan Bar in Montparnasse. It was very exciting to prepare for the event and the show itself was lots of fun! I spent a few days visiting old friends in Montpellier, in the South of France. One day we saw pink flamingos and had a delicious lunch by the Maguelone Cathedral on the Cote D’Azur. Another day we had a lovely time hiking around a medieval village called Sauve where R. Crumb lives.
The night before I left Paris, I attended a concert of jazz icon, Jon Hendricks with his talented daughters, Michelle and Aria Hendricks and scat improvisor virtuoso, Kevin Fitzgerald Burke, who just happens to be the son of Kat Fitzgerald, my dear friend and fellow Supper Club Six member.
I’m back in San Francisco now and looking forward to a June “busting out all over” with music, flowers and love!
"Debra, an enchanting chanteuse, delights audiences with playful and seductive performances of her charming repertoire." -- Bonita and Bill
"Savor the sultry fashionings of Debra's jazzy renditions of classic confections."-- Linda
"Debra is an amazing vocalist who has a special ability to connect with her audience. She brings passion and a bit of flair to every performance." -- Leslie and Michael.
"We enjoyed dinner at the Villa D'Este in San Francisco last night accompanied by a great show. They have a diverse troop with varied talent styles, each a treat. The best way to describe Debra's performance is a true reincarnation of one of my favorite singers, Clara Bow, the IT Girl, characterized as Betty Boop. She hit every note and stayed in perfect character. If you haven't yet, you have to experience this event, held every first Monday of the month at the Villa D'Este, a classic Italian family restaurant."
"Debra made Bob Sarlatte's surprise birthday party so wonderful! We all enjoyed her choice of music and songs. She really made the party a special occasion!" --Catherine Sarlatte
