Kathi Funston Speaks! » vocals http://blog.kathifunston.com Thoughts from a happy writer/performer living in Los Angeles. Yes, there is such a person! Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:17:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 New Album In The Works http://blog.kathifunston.com/2010/11/new-album-in-the-works/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2010/11/new-album-in-the-works/#comments Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:30:23 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=246 I’ve been writing new songs with my songwriting partner Patrick Ortman lately, and we’re getting ready to lay down some scratch tracks for a new album we’ll be recording after the holidays. So far, it’s got a bit of a soulful singer-songwriter vibe to it, a definite indie feel, influenced by storytellers who sing the blues, with a touch of country (can’t fight those Texas roots!). I can hear us on Grey’s Anatomy, whose music supervisor should win an award for discovering such great indie artists. Fingers crossed, and I’ll let you know when the album drops!

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2010/11/new-album-in-the-works/feed/ 0 Bad As Jazz http://blog.kathifunston.com/2009/05/badass-jazz/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2009/05/badass-jazz/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 22:31:27 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=198 I returned to my old stomping grounds last weekend to sing with the University of North Texas Jazz Singers in a concert honoring our musical director (also an amazing arranger, all-around musician, and general cool cat), Paris Rutherford. Paris is retiring this spring, and of course, he wanted to go out with a bang. So, he invited all of the Jazz Singers alumni to sing in a couple of numbers, including his incredible a cappella arrangement of “My Funny Valentine.” All I can say is WOWEE! The whole weekend was a whirlwind of rehearsals and get-togethers with friends both new and old. The sheer chops these fellow musicians have, what an amazing thing to be around again! We had a great time, and took a lot of good photos and videos (more to come). 

To top it all off, Paris invited me to sing on a small group number called “Splanky” and I don’t mind saying, we swung the hell out of that chart! Not only was the rhythm section smokin’, but the group was made up of some of the top singers from UNT, including my former bandmates Brandon Pedigo and Cathy Jensen-Hole. And as if that weren’t enough, Paris also gave me the honor of letting loose like a trumpet player who ate some bad meat. Here’s a picture of me getting down during the concert on May 2. What a night! It was so much fun and a slap-in-the-face reminder of why I love jazz music so much! I will never stop singing. Thank you for that, Paris.

Kathi Funston perfroms with the UNT Jazz Singers on May 2, 2009

Kathi Funston performs with the UNT Jazz Singers on May 2, 2009

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2009/05/badass-jazz/feed/ 3 W.E.T. Dreams: The Documentary http://blog.kathifunston.com/2008/09/wet-dreams-the-documentary/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2008/09/wet-dreams-the-documentary/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:44:19 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=116 I just finished recording vocals for two songs by film composer Thomas Rydell. The jazzy Vegas-themed songs will be featured in an upcoming documentary starring Ugly Betty’s Rebecca Romijn.

And no, it’s not what you think. It’s a film about a Bellagio fountain project, people!

W.E.T. Dreams Trailer

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2008/09/wet-dreams-the-documentary/feed/ 0 Singing and Talking and What Not http://blog.kathifunston.com/2008/04/singing-and-talking-and-what-not-2/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2008/04/singing-and-talking-and-what-not-2/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:15:18 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=107 I just completed another vocal session with film composer Marc Ellis and a voiceover spot for Biotene. Working with Marc and Patrick is always a good time!

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2008/04/singing-and-talking-and-what-not-2/feed/ 0 New Commercial Demo http://blog.kathifunston.com/2007/05/new-commercial-demo-is-up/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2007/05/new-commercial-demo-is-up/#comments Tue, 15 May 2007 02:12:09 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=74 Since my show closed, I’ve been busy doing session work around town. Check out the catchy new commercial demo* on my Music page!

*Courtesy of Selectracks

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2007/05/new-commercial-demo-is-up/feed/ 0 Singing and Dancing with the Chantillys http://blog.kathifunston.com/2007/02/more-singing-and-dancing/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2007/02/more-singing-and-dancing/#comments Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:38:37 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=68 What a busy year it’s been so far! I’m rehearsing with former Taffeta co-stars in preparation for my upcoming show, The Chantillys. We’re rehesarsing 6 days a week, and I have to admit, my back is starting to feel the pain from all the dancing! Throw in the singing on top of that, and my lung capacity is increasing exponentially!!

I’ve also been busy doing vocal sessions around town. I recently worked with Chantillys musical director Paul Taylor, and television composer Dick DeBenedictis, who scored groovy TV shows from the 70s like Matlock, Columbo, Perry Mason, and Hawaii Five-O.

Most recently, I did a session with composer Brian Woodbury where I recorded lead vocals as surfer chick Marina in his original show Killa Vanilla.

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2007/02/more-singing-and-dancing/feed/ 0 I’m a Singing Fool and Loving It http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/11/im-a-singing-fool-and-loving-it/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/11/im-a-singing-fool-and-loving-it/#comments Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:08:41 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=59 I just finished another vocal session with film composer Steven Stern and Grammy Award-winning producer and mixing engineer Ted Greenberg.

I’m also gigging around town with The Four Belles, a four-part girl group singing hits from the 50s and 60s.

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/11/im-a-singing-fool-and-loving-it/feed/ 0 I’m a Natural Woman http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/05/im-a-natural-woman/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/05/im-a-natural-woman/#comments Sat, 06 May 2006 17:53:13 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=20 Oh what a night! I got to sing backup for a very talented singer and good friend of mine, Youmee Cha, at an Asian-American Pop Star event in LA.

Xperimental Entertainment presents eXposure: Voices of a 2nd Generation Concert featuring All-4-One, Korean R&B sensation Wheesung, Sickstep, Far-East Movement, Team Masterz, the Asian-American Pop Star Top Ten Finalists, and Master of Ceremony, Dat Phan, winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing.

May 6th, 2006 @ 7pm
The Scottish Rite Auditorium
4357 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
 
Tickets available at www.enterxp.com.

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/05/im-a-natural-woman/feed/ 0 Singing and Talking and What Not http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/04/singing-and-talking-and-what-not/ http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/04/singing-and-talking-and-what-not/#comments Sat, 22 Apr 2006 15:22:25 +0000 admin http://blog.kathifunston.com/?p=103 I just completed another fun vocal session with film composer Marc Ellis and a voiceover spot for Biotene. Working with Marc and Patrick is always a good time!

]]> http://blog.kathifunston.com/2006/04/singing-and-talking-and-what-not/feed/ 0