archived journal entries
November 13, 2007 - Deborah
January 22, 2007 - Julian
November 3, 2006 - Deborah
August 29, 2006 - Deborah
June 14, 2006 - Julian
May 17, 2006 - Deborah
May 2006 - Deborah
January 2006 - Deborah
July 2005 - Julian & Deborah
July 2005 - Julian

November 13, 2007

from Deborah Berg

Hello lovely readers,

Eye to Eye is happy to have your eyes reading our journal!

It is a transitional time for Eye to Eye. After completing our third CD, (after a 20 year hiatus between the second and third) we were fortunate to spend many wonderful days over the past two years promoting and performing our latest CD, Clean Slate. We have met wonderfully talented people along the way and have enjoyed traveling and reaching out through radio interviews, trans-Atlantic gigs, and the internet.

For the time being, there are no plans for Eye to Eye to gig in either the U.S. or England. We are embarking on separate projects with the full support of each other to do so. We are a constant source of artistic support for each other and we can depend on that no matter where we both are.

So for me, I continue to write, sing, and play my guitar. I am a singer/songwriter who can morph into lead singer role with a fabulous band of musicians both in New York and in London.

I also sing in the trio, Dusty, a roots-tinged group that ties bluegrass tempos with reggae rhythms in three-part harmony. I am writing songs that are fun and challenging to play, and that I hope others will enjoy playing and singing as well. I am working on a curriculum for a singing and harmony workshop that is scheduled to launch in Spring 2008.

Playing solo is a far cry from working with our Eye to Eye band mates and I do miss collaborating with Julian, but the beauty is in the versatility. I am honored to receive varying musical opportunities that come when I stay open and available to such wonders. I intend to keep creating music and supporting others to do the same. So keep us posted!


Much Love,
Deborah

January 22, 2007

from Julian Marshall

Shikan (Japenese) (lit. "just") ... As used by Genpo Roshi to denote doing something completely, with one's whole being.

Until quite recently, lurking underneath all my experience of playing the piano was an unfulfilled desire to somehow communicate something that I felt was possible but had never quite managed to achieve.

It wasn't until I began to study Zen that the pennies began to drop. I realised that what I needed was rather in reverse to what I had suspected... I needed to stop approaching the task of improvising as a musical challenge and a 'problem to solve' and open up to the idea of improvisation as a kind of 'inquiry in time and space,' with no idea of any piece 'becoming' anything. In fact, I realised that I really needed to give up any idea of 'being a piano player' in order to become one!

To unpack this a little, what I mean is: as long as my attention was on whether the MUSIC was any good or not, I was lost in a mess of judgement and insecurity. As soon as I approached my playing more as a fascinated listener, and quite unconcerned with its outcome as a 'successful' piece of music, the whole game changed. The opportunity in 'being present' to what unfolds has become, for me, a true meditation.

This recital series in Totnes is dedicated to the memory of 'the eight children in the photograph'. I saw this photograph whilst visiting the Jewish Holocaust museum in Sydney, Australia, last October. They were all the victims of 'medical experiments'.

The recital series in London is dedicated to the memory of Little Hetty and Sal, two children who died in the Holocaust.

I hope to come over to play in the US sometime in the not too distant future. Plus, I will have a CD of improvised piano music ready for release sometime in the coming few months.


Sending you all very best and warmest wishes in this new year,
Julian

November 3, 2006

from Deborah Berg

Hello Eye to Eye friends,

Thanks for checking in! This year, Julian and I have been on separate continents, hoping to play together again soon.

The One-Eyed Eye to Eye gig at Mo Pitkins on October 1st was great fun. Matt King, an excellent East Coast keyboard player, joined us and added his own spin on Julian's fabulous arrangements. Our band members were: John Putnam on guitars, Ivan Bodley on bass and guitar, Matt King on keyboards, Tony Lewis on drums, Sherryl Marshall and Elise Morris on backing vocals and me!

The performance was on was the Jewish night of atonement, Yom Kippur, and New York wasn't quite as bustling as usual, but we did manage to fill the house and have a rockin' good time. I guess Brice, the booking agent at Mo's, thought Deborah Berg McCarthy was a good bet for October 1st, and he ended up being right! Some of our fans from Philadelphia rented a limo and came into town specifically for the show! How excellent is that? I would like to thank Jennifer Gandin Le for keeping you all so well informed of the gig via email blasts and website updates and for setting up our store and selling CDs after the set.

What's next for Eye to Eye? More gigs stateside and more writing between Jules and Deb. We are also adding a section to our web site describing our history, starting with the Warner Brothers days and the wonderful and talented musicians and producers we have worked with through the years. Since there was no such thing as a website back then, we didn't get to create one until last year, for our third album. And now we realize that we have left out our beginning works!

We appreciate your support and energy and wish you all a wonderful holiday season.

For our U.S. friends -- Don't forget to vote!


Love,
Deborah

August 29, 2006

from Deborah Berg

Hello and welcome to the latest Eye to Eye journal entry!

I am a weather lover. I love seasons; they go hand in hand with new projects. Weather changes focus. Traditionally, September is back to school and cooler weather gives us a reason to want to wear shoes and jackets again. A reason to shop! The slow exodus of leaves and color is winter's cue to step onto the stage. Winter offers an emptier perspective on familiar views. Of course, it's always great to leave winter weather after a while and visit some of y'all who live in more moderate climates! Spring and its miracles are always sweet and welcome and then summer, with good times and the potential for reconnecting with favorite people and places for a weekend, a week, a month or just a moment.

Hot summer days are beginning their transformation into early autumn now. In Bucks County this morning a thunderstorm dumped buckets of rain down for the first time in a month; a welcome drink for our gardens and fields.

Julian and I have had a rich and productive summer and we wanted to touch on some of the highlights. We did not spend the summer gigging together this year as we did last summer. Performing separately is a strategy we must embrace, since getting together for every Eye to Eye opportunity is both costly and hard on Mother Earth.

And so Julian has been studying and teaching in Totnes and I have been performing and studying in New York and on the west coast at a Listening Party in L.A., a gig on the Oregon coast, and at music camp in the Pacific Northwest.

I will let Julian fill you in more on his re-developed love affair with classical music the next time he writes but simply put and in a nutshell, he was inspired this summer by a fellow pianist who he met while both teaching a songwriting workshop in Devon. She challenged him to dust off the classical pieces he used to work hard on and get the gears in motion big time. Classical performance has been brought up to the surface again this summer and he is challenged and motivated in a fresh, inspired way. Julian will be performing next at the at the Totnes Festival with a songwriting event lead by Stuart Davis and in an improvisational performance with dancer Emma Roberts.

Julian and Arabella are traveling to Australia next month where they will be attending a wedding of good friends, for which Julian will be performing at the Sydney Opera House. Okay, so it's a small private room in the Opera House where the wedding will be held, but still! He will be under the same roof! I would love to hear him play and hope he records his latest work for us!

Besides the Cornelia Street Cafe "Feel the Music Songwriters Festival", which was hosted by friend and fellow singer Valerie Ghent, I got to travel to and have fun on the West Coast performing in a living room in California and a glass blowing foundry in Oregon. Brenda and Armando hosted a fabulous Listening Party for us at their beautiful home in Southern California. We sold out on all our CDs and had some ordered for mailing! Good friends from years past drove down to hear the new music. I performed the songs I can play solo with my acoustic guitar -- just a taste of some of our Eye to Eye tunes!

My wonderful camp friends from PSGW (Puget Sound Guitar Workshop) arranged the Oregon gig. Five of us, Hilary, Jenn, Gail, Bo and I, met in Salem and drove to a great little beach house in Lincoln City for a few days to rehearse, take walks on the wild beach and have a lotta laughs. Our gig was a blast AND we each got to create a glass float!

PSGW was the second week of August. At the student performance I asked my friend Lance Haslund to play bass and John Rankin, a visiting instructor from New Orleans, to play resonator guitar on our Eye to Eye song, Shoes. We slowed it way down and made it sound a little more "down on the Bayou".

The classes I took were wonderful and I highly recommend anyone interested to check out www.psgw.org and go next year!

With the Mo Pitkin's gig coming up on October 1st, I have lots to do and am very glad there is a good reason to get the New York band together again. Please come to Mo Pitkins on October 1st at 7:00pm. We promise we won't disappoint! Matt King has some pretty big shoes to fill with taking Julian's place. He comes highly recommended by many fine musicians, so come hear for yourself!

Enjoy the changing season!


Love to all,
Deborah

June 14, 2006

from Julian Marshall

Hi everyone. So it's my turn this time to put finger to mouse and keyboard. (Also a good excuse to stop practicing the Mozart Sonata In Bb, #K570, that I'm struggling to do any justice to. I've just thrown myself in the lions' den by requesting a lesson on it with an incredible young pianist who is half my age! Help! Still, got to celebrate the old boy's anniversary somehow...)

Anyway, I thought you would like to know that the very first of our Eye to Eye Listening Parties took place last Sunday. It was hosted by Darrel Berg...familiar name. Wow! what coincidence...! No, it really was Deborah's dad, who lives way out west on Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington State. Deborah and I phoned in and joined in activities for a while, which was great fun. The party lasted for SEVEN hours, and at least 100 people showed up to listen to "Clean Slate" and socialize.

Now, for those of you who don't know Deborah's dad, a party that he is hosting is WELL worth attending! Darrel is no spotty youth, but he leaves most of us panting to catch up, so energetic is he. Darrel, who has been a Protestant minister all his adult life -- and still going strong (retirement? What retirement?) -- has to be one of the most warm hearted, generous, open minded, accepting, interested, and vital men I have yet had the privilege to meet. A passionate humanitarian who speaks with the wisdom of genuine experience -- and through a considerable chunk of recent history. If we had to choose one person on the planet to kick the Eye to Eye ball in the air, I reckon Darrel would be the perfect choice. He asked us extremely thoughtful questions about the writing and recording of the songs -- watch out average radio DJ! So, a massive 'thank you' to you, Darrel, and to Bruce and Susan Berg who supported SO generously.

The listening parties are our idea to create some ground swell, direct experience of our music. These days, marketing a CD can be a complex and extremely expensive affair. When you are Eye to Eye -- a little outside the mainstream -- you simply have to find innovative ways to reach people who otherwise might not get the opportunity of hearing the music.

I do appreciate your enthusiasm and your efforts in 'spreading the word'. If you have half a mind to, I do encourage you to plunge in and host a listening party of your own. Who knows, it could be a blast, and Deborah and I will do our best to make it worth your while!

Finally, as this seems to be largely a message of thanks, Deborah and I want to express our HUGE thanks to Jennifer, our awe-inspiring promotions manager, without whom no Eye to Eye ship would be sailing.

Summer in England has really begun. The sheep are braying, the cows are bleating...Wherever you are, I do wish you a wonderful summer and, no kidding, thanks for your support.


Love and hugs,
Julian

P.S. Back in May, we mentioned our producer Rhett Davies' wedding...well, he just sent us the most handsome picture, and we want to share it with you:


Our fabulous producer, Rhett Davies and his bride, Susan! Congratulations, you two.

May 17, 2006

from Deborah Berg

Hello E2E friends,

Today, I want to write about visiting one of our most beautiful American cities, New Orleans. Mike and I traveled down for the 2006 Jazz Festival, which happened in spite of the extremely compromised condition the city is dealing with. Although our trip flowed pretty well, there was a strong undercurrent of loss and transition in the people we encountered. Taxis were easy to catch from the airport, but our driver's personal recovery story told of a hard climb back to his former life. Our first taxi driver needed to build a new foundation for his home and had no insurance left to cover it and had not received government aid, so he had no plans of moving his family back from his in-laws. He came back to the city to work and has rented a small apartment. His life as he knew it, is gone.

The Hotel we stayed at, Le Richelieu on Chartres Street, was gracious as usual and had just re-opened after seven months of extensive renovations. The French Quarter didn't get hit as badly as other areas and so, at first glance, as we drove to our Hotel, we thought the town looked really good. But later, as we walked around more, we could see that many smaller stores were not ready to open or had closed permanently. Painted shutters closed tight. And we sensed a smaller population of inner city residents.

We dropped off our bags and met up with our San Francisco friends, the Burdetts and caught another cab to the Jazz Festival. First up for us; Bob Dylan! The fairgrounds were packed, food courts serving up nice little plates of jambalaya and pecan crusted catfish or soft shell crab po'boys! They serve a beautiful iced rose tea and plenty of cold beer. It can get mighty steamy under that Louisiana sun.



Bob and his band played a jammin' set, with the talented Tony Garnier on bass, directing. The crowd responded to Dylan's "Higher Ground" as it touched on the personal experience of the locals. This was a community of locals with an added population of music lovers and musicians that were all rallying for the same thing -- Renewal of the city of New Orleans.

Dr. John came on after and got everyone on their feet with his classic New Orleans groove and fabulous vocals. So many talented artists played the Fest this year. There was so much heart.

Our dinners and breakfasts were delicious and busy. Arnaud's in the heart of the French Quarter was hopping. K-Paul's was excellent with wonderful, warm service. Bourbon Street and all its shenanigans were still going strong – a stopping off point for many tourists and, it being Jazz Fest weekend, the wild party crowd was making sure Bourbon Street hadn't been reduced to a mere memory.

Saturday a.m. we met a very helpful and knowledgeable driver, Maged, originally from Egypt but a resident of New Orleans for a number of years. We hired Maged to drive us around the city and take us into the Lower Ninth Ward. There was a clinic I had read about called Common Ground that I was hoping to stop by and visit.

Maged took us across the bridge so we could look down on one of the reconstructed levees. It isn't a huge wall, it looks inconspicuous, and yet, the damage from Katrina flooded a huge part of the city. We drove on, over the bridge and into the hard hit areas. It was a very sobering sight and for awhile, we were speechless. There were miles and miles of utter devastation, as though a bomb had hit.



Chairs caught up in treetops, whole houses shifted off their foundation and resting on cars in the driveway, boats stranded along the parkway and everywhere, on every home, the red spray paint circle and cross system of evacuation and inspection. Maged told us his story as he showed us some of his friends' neighborhoods. He didn't leave the city because he has a dog. Owners were told to leave their pets and come get them after the storm passed. He said he couldn't do that. He got to higher ground with his dog and stayed dry for a few days but as soon as he was able, began helping friends get back to check out their homes and property. His, he said, was trashed. He is staying with friends.

St. Bernard's parish and the Ninth ward were hit badly. Other higher income areas were destroyed as well. Mother Nature packed a unilateral punch. We did find the Common Ground Clinic and stopped to say hello and ask them how we could help.



This is a very grass roots organization that three volunteers got started through sheer necessity and $50.00. Check out their web site at Common Ground Relief. Volunteers are needed. Medicine, clothing, shoes, outerwear, food, blankets, towels, household appliances are all gratefully accepted.



They need computers and are in need of a car. Also there is a New Orleans based Habitat for Humanity working hard. Check out Habitat NoLa. They could use our help if you have any time to give. Or, if you just want to plan a vacation down there and stay in a lovely hotel and shop and eat and hear local music, that would be great, too! Check out Le Richelieu Hotel or other lovely Hotels in NOLA.

Back to the Fest! The music we heard was so great! So much to choose from! We loved the Iguanas and the Radiators. Dave Matthews was amazing; Etta James belted it out there even though she is a slip of her former self. She can sing like she's still a big gal! C.J. Chenier, Lighthouse gospel Singers, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, That was only a few performers and that was just Saturday!



We heard the Radiators on a funky riverboat that never left the dock because of tornado warnings! No matter, they played like crazy and we stood up close to watch the guitar players -- til the bitter end.

Sunday Brunch at a small, cozy restaurant called Stanley's that was packed with a line out the door. Then back to the Fest for more cool music! Sonny Landreth, Allen Toussaint and Elvis Costello. Bruce Springsteen was nailing the vibe with his new Seeger Sessions band and material. It was as though he was speaking to the people of New Orleans with every song about redemption and hope.

I haven't felt as united with my fellow countrymen in a long, long time. And to think music is the bond. Music is the link that brings those who need and those who can give together. How the city will rebuild is still being discussed. It's hard to say. Some of the land that was washed away should probably not be built on again. We have seen what can happen when we build below sea level.

Trees and gardens are trying so hard to come back. The gardens need cultivation and care. This town needs people power! If you have any time to travel down there, please help their infrastructure! It's still a beautiful town full of great things to do and see and great places to stay. New Orleans felt let down by the politics of our government but not by the people of this fine country. This is a clean-up job than can be tackled one home, one person at a time. So go and have a raving good time in the Big Easy!

Tell them Eye to Eye sent you!


XX, Deborah

May 11, 2006

from Deborah Berg

Hello dear friends of Eye to Eye,

Spring is here at last! What better time to plan parties and release new CDs? The scheduled release date for "Clean Slate" is May 30th. Our thanks to those of you who are stepping up to the plate and hosting listening parties across the country. We eagerly await your thoughts and comments.

Since the last time I wrote in this journal, Julian and I have been working closely with our Promotions Director, Jennifer Gandin, here in the States, laying the groundwork for grassroots American exposure. We have had copious conference calls, working out all the details of -- well -- promoting our own CD.

We realized the most important aspect, after creating the music, is exposure. And how do you get heard when you're not a mega-act and/or a mega-record company? A very real predicament, as anyone trying to promote his or her own CD knows.

And for us, there is the dual-citizenship aspect as well. As much as Julian and I are committed to offering the best quality music to y'all, we have a rather large body of water separating us -- i.e. the Atlantic Ocean, making it more challenging to be available every few weeks to gig and network as a band. The Immigration agents were beginning to look at us rather quizzically, after the fourth or fifth visit. Those zany agents! I would just smile and tell them I was playing this here guitar with the friends I was visiting, WHICH I WAS and Lord knows, we were not making much of a profit. Helping the U.K. economy, yes. Making millions, no. If they had their thinking caps on they would see that letting independent artists bounce across the ocean playing music in each others' projects, more often than not would be to their gain.

Anyway, I digress -- Rather ironic, our name is Eye to Eye! We have considered re-naming the group Ear to Ear, since we do a LOT of listening to each other over the phone.....just kidding.

But you know what is really cool? Hearing from new people who write in to our web site to say they love our music and ask when can they hear more! This, my friends, is truly a kiss from the gods. So, grass roots it is. Julian and I are enjoying the organic quality of people helping people. From our friend Cara Frank, in Philadelphia, we have established a friendly rapport with the folks at WXPN. And two friends from the Warner Brothers days, Gary Katz and Hale Milgrim, have enthusiastically supported our continued musical partnership.

Before I close, Julian and I would like to send out BLESSED WEDDING WISHES to Rhett Davies and his beautiful brilliant fiancée Susan. Rhett's clarity and steady guidance in the production of Clean Slate was invaluable and we wish that all the happiness they inspire in each other can settle in each others' hearts forever.


XXOO, Deborah

January 17, 2006

from Deborah Berg

Hello all friends of Eye to Eye!

We wanted to catch you up a bit on what we have been up to and what is in store for the next couple of months.

First of all, we wanted to mention our thanks and appreciation to all who participated in making our London gig a wonderful and memorable experience. The gig at Pizza on the Park on the 30th of November was a blast. Our fabulous band kept every tune hopping. We have had excellent luck with finding band members on both sides of the pond and therefore find it so satisfying to present our music to you, our loyal fans and supporters.

Pizza on the Park is a mid-size venue on Hyde Park Corner in the heart of London. Upstairs is a well-appointed Italian restaurant that serves the club. Our U.K. guitarist, Robbie McIntosh played scrumptiously as did our bass player, Steve Pearce. New drummer, Ian Thomas got into the groove as if he’d played with us for years. And another special added treat that night was, all the way from New York City, the lovely and talented Ms. Sherryl Marshall on backing vocals. Julian played keyboards and of course I sang and played my Martin acoustic guitar on some of the tunes.

Here are some pictures from the evening:


Julian and myself, thrilled to be at Pizza on the Park!



Here we are onstage!



Back: Robbie McIntosh, Steve Pearce, Ian Thomas
Front: Sherryl Marshall, Deborah and Julian



Julian and myself in post-show bliss


Julian and I would like to thank both the band and the audience for helping us rock the house!

Next up; manufacturing for a U.S. release:
Eye to Eye has hired P.R. whiz gal, Jennifer Gandin to help lead the march from London to the States where Eye to Eye will release Clean Slate in the early Spring. There will be a few visual changes for the CD cover but the same sweet and salty songs will fill your ears with delight!

Write us back and let us know how you like the new CD!

All the Best,
Deborah and Julian

July 20, 2005

from Julian & Deborah

On July 20th, we had a show at Spice of Life (in London's West End; http://www.spiceoflifesoho.com). We have a few pictures from this gig that we'd love to share with you!

Here we are in the West End!



After the show:
Robbie McIntosh, Deborah, Martin Ditcham, Steve Pearce, and Julian


After the Spice of Life gig, we had a radio interview and then were asked to stay and review the news. Very odd for me as an American--to be reviewing U.K. Newspaper articles on the air!


Deb ready for her radio close-up!

July 6, 2005

from Julian Marshall

How did Eye to Eye start up again, you might ask?

Well, one day in 2001, in a fit of enlightened reminiscence, Julian could stand it no more and called Deborah, who by this time had become a Dame with a whole kingdom, fourteen children, and a staff of hundreds. However, a vestige of the old Rock and Roll sensibilities still lingered in her royal loins and she could not resist the crazy mumblings of Julian's song ideas.

One day, in a drunken stupor, they decided to reform Eye to Eye. The rest is history in the making. They called their old friend, producer Rhett Davies, and blackmailed him into submission. Finally, in the summer of 2004, everything was in place. Julian, Deborah, Rhett, band, and a bunch of songs met up at Skyline Studios in New York City to lay tracks for 'Clean Slate'. The duo - and I think the whole team - had about as much fun as is legally allowable with clothes on. Vocals were recorded in Blue and Green Studios in the middle of Dartmoor, Devon - making a mild contrast to the NYC environment - and then back to Skyline for mixing.

The result was born for all to witness on May 30, 2005. Deborah and Julian are thrilled to be back in the saddle. This time there's no going back...