Piano Keys and Harmonies
Birthday appreciation for Tim Monger and Philip Glass
Two years ago today I was in Mexico City at the home of my dear friend Ambrose. He moved there from NYC in 2019 with his partner, Natalia, and their beautiful baby was born, who also is my goddaughter. <3 I went to their house just to say hello, to bring love from NYC, and to ask Ambrose for some help in recording background vocals on a song for Timothy Monger, a musician and songwriter from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
We started working in Ambrose’s home studio, texting with Tim for instruction and guidance, and I had no idea that it was Tim’s birthday! I was way behind with my deadline to get the vocal parts to him, promising over the weeks before to get to it right away in NYC. Serendipitously, though I was very late, the recording ended up happening on Tim’s actual birthday, so the harmonies on the song serve as a perpetual ‘Happy Birthday’ message for him, too. :)
The album itself was released on June 2, 2023, and it was such an honor to be part of it, even in a small way. Here is a fun short video I made to celebrate the release.
Timothy Monger
Tim is a good friend who I’ve known since I was a teenager, a representative of Michigan who I wish I was able to see and collaborate with more often. From a distance we stay connected by sharing creative ideas, book recommendations, and pictures of our spaces, adorned with Michigan souvenirs, similar globes and maps and nature specimens. We originally met in 2006, through one of my very favorite bands, his own group, Great Lakes Myth Society. <3
It was Christmastime 2005 when my brother Jackson visited New York for the holidays, and he brought with him the band’s first self titled album on CD. He assured me I would love their songs, many of them pulling references from Michigan history and geography, each one lain with intricate harmonies and all the things I love in a song. We listened over and over, learning the lyrics quickly, and within a matter of minutes and hours, I was a lifelong fan. The band consisted of writers James Christopher Monger, Timothy Monger, and Gregory Dean McIntosh, with J. Scott McClintock on bass and Fido Kennington on drums, along with Liz Auchinvole on violin. Jamie, Tim, and Greg each wrote individual songs and performed lead vocals on their albums, unique in their styles, and offering musical treasures to keep with you always. I will go into more detail about GLMS in another post, maybe one dedicated to influential music throughout my life, or on Michigan music and history.
Tim also has released several solo albums and singles, and he and Greg continue to perform and record together. In March 2017, they invited me to play a show with them in Detroit, and I learned one of Tim’s songs, ‘The Lark,’ on melodica. For my 30th birthday show in June 2017, they both flew from Michigan to NYC, and my brother and I played two songs with them, ‘Hey Days’ and ‘Across the Bridge,’ a definite life highlight moment. :) They both have such unique talents, technically and creatively, and I like to imagine if we lived in the same town, if even for a season, we would be able to create all sorts of musical magic together.
As a celebration of Tim’s birthday today, here is a playlist I made of some of my favorite songs of his, spanning solo albums and band ones, too. I hope you enjoy it! The last song has my vocal harmonies at the end. :) There are so many fun ones here, and ‘Lake Effect’ in particular to me is a true masterpiece, a song that is very dear and special to my heart, that I will highlight in more details in a future post. <3
Philip Glass
Tim was proud and happy to also be born on the same day as Philip Glass, who turns 87 today. I met Philip through the Tibet House US annual benefit concerts at Carnegie Hall, which my mom participated in for many years when we first moved to NYC. Before that, she was involved with Jewel Heart in Ann Arbor (another connection to Tim!), an organization founded by the late Galek Rimpoche, and of which Philip is Chairman of the Board.
I started to perform at the Tibet House concerts when I was 19, and I joined their Associate Board in 2014. It was always a joy to see Philip at those annual events over the years, to celebrate both Losar and his birthday, and to be able to watch him play piano both on his own and to accompany my mom reading Allen Ginsberg poems.
In May 2016, I joined my dear friend and collaborator Tenzin Choegyal, who I also met through the Tibet House annual benefits, on a tour of shows throughout Japan. Halfway through our travels, we met up with my mom, Lenny Kaye, and Philip, who were performing together for a very special event in Tokyo called ‘The Poet Speaks.’ Tenzin and I were invited to open for them, such a special opportunity, and a chance to all be together, sharing meals and music in such a magical and inspiring place.
I can remember so vividly watching Philip play solo piano from the wings on the side of the stage that night. As he started one of my very favorite pieces, the room was still and my eyes welled with tears. It was slow moving, delicate, and effortlessly strong like a beautiful insect’s iridescent wings.
So today, on this last day of January, we celebrate these musicians and writers whose sounds and ideas have touched hearts, ignited new creativity, and permeate throughout neighborhoods and beyond borders. Inspired by their songs and the memories they carry, I feel at peace today, relaxed in the idea that new and exciting things are on the horizon, and lots of creation and collaboration lies ahead for 2024. Looking forward so much to everything.
Happy Birthday Tim! Happy Birthday Philip! <3
Links and Resources
**In rare form, this post went out at no time in particular, just the time it was completed!
Love that image in the beginning of your post. Draws me in. Was lost in thought looking at it. Very pleasing to me. Thank you for positive energy you bring here. Sending you positive energy ⚡️💫🌓
you always create such BEAUTIFUL tributes to people !!! 💖✨️💖✨️💖