Cynthia Bythell Music

Mom was my first music teacher.  She was a brilliant goddess of love and beauty when I was little.  Some of my fondest memories are the hours we spent sitting side by side on the piano bench singing together as she played. Although she became embarrassing, unreasonable and very nearly stupid during my teen years, Mom eventually returned to her former self (except…

Last night was nearly sleepless, with lists of things to do running through my head, along with startling realizations of things I’d forgotten about entirely (like writing this note to you around the beginning of the month). Sometimes the holidays feel like a fast moving train coming right at me! Fortunately, the rough night prompted…

Recently I got swept up in the state of the world.  It’s not like me.  I’m a kind of “head in the sand” person who doesn’t generally partake of the news.  For the sake of my amazing recovery from chronic depression, that’s the way it needs to be.  So anyway, since mortal reality reached out…

Adventures in music continue as my inspirational originals album moves along.  Amidst recording sessions, mix-downs have begun.  And next week, I’ll be turning over a finished piano/vocal to the arranger.  Can’t wait to hear what he does with it… So Fun!   Simultaneously, I’ve been editing the avalanche of videos generated by the jazz gig…

I came with the intention of loving everyone. It was easy. The holding room at the Phoenix Convention Center was wall to wall with brave people living their lives fully. Some of the younger people looked a bit like they were headed for the guillotine, and my heart really went out to them. It made…

It was so much fun bringing in the New Year last night on stage, singing with the Magnolia Jazz Band  in Palo Alto. Wish you could have been there, but you were probably having fun wherever you were. Some more Jan. gigs are scheduled, but so far, they’re all private events just like last night. You’ll be the first…