Lyz Jaakola: News

Hey. I been real busy. All in all, it's been GOOD busy.
Oshkii Giizhik Singers won a Nammy for "best traditional song" at the Native American Music Awards in Niagara Falls last weekend.
Sweet!
We never expected it.
We are very thrilled and honored because we were up against some excellent singers in that category.
Miigwech to all the people who voted for us. Miigwech to the Advisory Board.
Miigwech to Oshkii Giizhik Singers for being how they are. They are a top notch group of women that I am proud to be associated with. They are my friends and sisters.

We sang at Madeline Island September 25. Also sweet!
That gathering was very cool. The "Islanders" hosted an Ojibwe homecoming, and had an awesome line up of speakers, feasting and powwow. We were also very honored to have been a part of that event. Life is good.

Life is good. Busy & good. I just got done deleting all the erectile dysfunction ads that magically appear in the guestbook... ha ha! Most of them are in Russian alphabet, who knows what they say! Please let me know how to get rid of them...
So, I hope things are good for all of you taking the time to read this. Someday I will be able to actually update it? However, I seem to have this overpowering energy field that has taken out 3 computers in the last 4 months... yeah. Go figure. People talk about magnetic personalities, but this is ridiculous. The IT guys at work said I should start wearing lead gloves and carrying chicken blood! Ha ha! But, once I am able to maintain a relationship with a computer I will be able to get back to "bid-ness" online. Other than that. Give me a call or email my hotmail: lyz_jaakola@hotmail.com if you want to reach me, book a gig, book the Oshkii Giizhi Singers or the Anishinaabe Youth Chorus. Giga waabamin!

Hey!!! Here I am, back to check on things almost 4 months later! Yes, my life IS that stressful. They say that you're only given what you can handle, but I seriously have my doubts...
STILL not in the modular house. Son #2 is ON THE MOVE! (Very fun and cute) I am past midterms, trying to keep things rolling with the Youth Chorus and Handdrummers.
The biggest challenge has been that my older (and only) sister made her journey to the spirit world last month (Feb 21). We knew she was ill. We were all very busy praying for her to get better and she was taken from us much earlier than expected. I said this at her memorial and I will say it here, "My sister is why I sing". She was my first singing teacher, role modeling for me when I was tiny, and always stood behind what I did. She will be greatly missed by our community and my family is painstakingly grieving her passing. For all of you who have sent your condolences and prayers, chi-miigwech.
She didn't want us to "waste time crying" she said, so we are all back to work doing what we do and commemorating her life through our work. She asked that a tree or bush be planted in her memory so that our Mother, the Earth, might help us all to health.

It's a new year! My son #2 is great, funny, and healthy! Also a singer, by the way... both of my boys sing drum songs, it's good for my heart. And they have beautiful voices, if I can say so myself. I have tons of things going on... I still haven't moved, (if you want more info about modular housing dealers in Duluth, just ask, I'd be glad to tell you!) And I go back to teaching college in a week... the sabbatical is over. sigh...
My band is finally mixing down our demo CD, the kids' CD I produced, "Mii Iwe Minowewin", is selling like hotcakes (good thing, now they can afford to make another one this year) And the women's handdrum group is evolving. We are singing about once a month for this event or that... I will try to be more on top the schedule here on the website when I get back to work. Just getting some time on the Internet is a challenge with my one year old!!!
Ok, all that said, I finished my opera, "MISHOMIS"... just need to workshop it. And I rec'd a Common Ground grant from FNCI to hold a concert of my music May 15, 2008 at Weber Hall on the UMD campus. It will be so exciting! I hope anyone in the area will come! And then there's FinnFest being held in Duluth this summer! July 23-28? And My band will be playing at some event there as well as I will be involved helping represent the Finndians of the Northland! OK, enough rambling for now. I gotta get to bed because sleep is a hot commodity around here. Thanks for visiting!

Well, we decided on "Lyz Jaakola & the Smokin Chimokes". Me and the chimokes played at a very cool gig in Wisconsin last month... then lost our drummer. Tom decided it was time for a change. So, we let him go-we'll miss him but we understand- and are now looking for a new drummer. If you are one or know of one, give us a call!

well... the high bridge flyers are looking for a new name. So far we've considered:
Lyz Jaakola & the Heavy Breathin' Heathens
Lyz Jaakola & Blue Steel
Lyz Jaakola & Greasy Wheezer
Lyz Jaakola & the Commodity Crackers
BUT! We haven't yet picked one. If you have any ideas you'd be willing to share... please put em in the guestbook thingy. I'll send you a CD if yours is chosen (I'll post whoever it is to the news entry & they'll have to email me their snailmail addie) Stay tuned : ) !

Ok, well, had the baby... he's awesome. Went back to work days later. Really. I figure if my ancestors could have a baby and go back to survival-level work immediately I can handle teaching and directing a few concerts.
Had Xmas, that sucked. My older son & I were sick all break- baby Xander was fine- but we were literally in the ER 7:30 Xmas morning! Thanks Santa!
Then back to teaching, rehearsing, and best of all, parenting. We are all doing well and loving life. We got a HUGE snowstorm (finally) and dug out, did some sliding, not me, but my son.
Getting revved up for April since there a few gigs coming up for my groups, and my high school composers are preparing for their world premieres due out in May!
I think I have a gig or two coming up, myself, but it's more about the students this time of year.
By the way, I am taking sabbatical next fall and am very available for gigs beginning June 2007 until Jan 2008.
I work too damn much but it's good work, you know?

Wow... there's NEVER a dull moment. I barely have the time to sleep let alone write news... BUT I realize that I should mention that things are chaos! I wish I had a clone... or that my dog could clean house & type... School is in full swing, I am getting rounder every day with the growing new family member (so far dubbed "#2) singing is picking up and my energy is waning. Working on writing, not much time for practice, and my students rock! Ok, I'll probably update around Xmas time... thanks to anyone visiting the website! Tell your friends, family, hairdresser, etc... :)

Well, this month is chaos! BUT I had a great time this past week. My college choir gave a wonderful performance at FDLTCC on Thursday, I opened a benefit concert on Friday then my band joined me to prep the audience for later rockers, very cool. Black-Eyed Snakes and Low also played the gig, it was a swank affair in/for Duluth's elementary music magnet. Then Saturday I had the honor of singing the Nat'l anthem for a boxing match in Superior where they commemorated a fallen soldier (also boxer) VanAlstein. Afterwards The High Bridge FLyers and I rocked the Lakeview Castle up Lake Superior's Scenic North Shore Drive. To end the weekend, HBF spent 5 hours in the studio working on our first CD. Whew! Now it's back to teaching... my 3rd love.

Rehearsed today for Apr 28 gig... by the way, the working definition of "Indian Music" is alive and well. We played everything from Merle Haggard to Neil Sedaka to A. Paul Ortega...