Monthly Archive for February, 2009

Classic Wines Auction w/Tom Grant and the Woody Hite Big Band

Published on February 23, 2009 in Events. 0 Comments Tags: , .
March 7, 2009
5:00 pmto10:30 pm

On Saturday, March 7th, Valerie joins the Tom Grant and the Woody Hite Big Band to raise money for children’s charities at one of the city’s most successful fundraising events – the Classic Wines Auction. For tickets and more information, go to www.classicwinesauction.com.

More about the Classic Wines Auction:

What began as a small group of friends exchanging wine from personal collections to raise funds for Portland’s Metropolitan Family Service, the Classic Wines Auction has evolved into one of the top ten charity wine auctions in the United States according to Wine Spectator magazine, prompting organizers to form a separate nonprofit entity in July 2004. This shift has enabled the event to attract new supporters, expand its catalog, increase its fundraising and benefit a greater number of local charities. The 2009 beneficiaries are: Metropolitan Family Service, which helps to strengthen families and individuals while enhancing their participation in community life; New Avenues for Youth, which helps homeless youth overcome tragic childhoods, exit the streets, and become productive members of our community; Friends of the Children – Portland, a mentoring program providing at-risk children with sustained adult role models; Trillium Family Services, providing family-centered, mental health services for children and families; and YWCA Clark County, offering life-changing services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and homelessness.

Valerie Day and John Smith on All Classical 89.9 w/Andrea Murray

Published on February 13, 2009 in Blog and Brain Chemistry. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , .

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Here’s an audio clip of the recent conversation that John and Valerie had with Andrea Murray from All Classical 89.9. In it you’ll hear about the man behind the orchestrations for Brain Chemistry for Lovers, the collaboration with the Portland Chamber Orchestra, and…..how Jimi Hendrix thwarted one medical career!

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Valerie Day and John Smith on KBPS with Andrea Murray

Published on February 12, 2009 in Blog, Brain Chemistry and Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .
February 12, 2009
3:00 pmto3:30 pm

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Valerie and her husband, orchestrator/arranger/composer John Smith, talk with Andrea Murray on NW Previews about the music for this weekend’s Brain Chemistry For Lovers performances with the Portland Chamber Orchestra.

In Portland you can listen on All Classical 89.9 FM, or for streaming radio, go to All Classical’s website: http://www.allclassical.org

Valerie and Darrell Interview w/Paul Linnman on KEX

Published on February 12, 2009 in Blog and Brain Chemistry. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

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Valerie Day and Darrell Grant go in the 1190 KEX studios to talk with Paul Linnman about their upcoming Brain Chemistry For Lovers performances this coming Valentine’s weekend with the Portland Chamber Orchestra. It’s an action packed three minutes of fun…and you don’t even have to get up early in the past to hear it!

Valerie and Darrell on KMHD w/Lynn Darroch

Published on February 5, 2009 in Events. 0 Comments
February 6, 2009
1:30 pmto2:30 pm
1:30 pmto2:30 pm

Valerie and Darrell talk with jazz writer and DJ Lynn Darroch about the upcoming Brain Chemistry For Lovers peformances on on Valentine’s weekend. To tune in go to KMHD 89.1 FM in Portland or for streaming www.kmhd.org.

Brain Chemistry For Lovers opens for Dr. Helen Fisher at Illahee Lecture Series

Published on February 4, 2009 in Blog, Brain Chemistry and Events. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .
February 18, 2009
7:30 pmto9:30 pm

On Wednesday, February 18th, Brain Chemistry For Lovers w/Valerie Day and Darrell Grant will open for Dr. Helen Fisher for the Illahee Lecture Series. Also appearing for this 20 minute abbreviated version of the show (both onscreen and in-person) will be OHSU’s Dr. Larry Sherman Ph.D. (advisor for Brain Chemistry For Lovers, Dr. Sherman also plays himself in the film for the show created by filmmaker Jim Blashfield).

Brain Chemistry For Lovers is one of Valerie’s most recent projects. Fusing cabaret, concert, and science lecture, Brain Chemistry For Lovers uses music, film and the latest discoveries in the world of neuroscience to explore one of the most universal of all human experiences – Romantic Love.

helen3Dr. Fisher is often called “The Doyenne of Desire” as she is one of the most prominent experts on the study of love and the brain. Her book “Why We Love – the Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love”, and a ground breaking fMRI study she and her colleagues conducted to study the brain circuitry of romantic love, are are used as a part of the science lecture in the Brain Chemistry For Lovers performance during the phase of love having to do with Dopamine.

This lecture is a part of the 2009 Illahee Lecture Series on The Nature of Desire. For more about the Lecture Series and to purchase tickets, go to : www.illahee.org or click HERE.

Where: First Congregational Church (1126 SW Park, Portland). 7:30 PM (Doors open at 6:30). Tickets are $20

The SOUND of Brain Chemistry For Lovers

Published on February 4, 2009 in Blog and Brain Chemistry. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

One of the reasons music is so powerful is how it makes us feel. In spite of myself, I have an emotional reaction to some of the most inane and psychologically manipulative movies or even commercials because of the background music that’s used in conjunction with the images. My husband John Smith, who has composed and produced the music for 1000’s of commercials, talks about the psychology of chords and how easy it is to manipulate an audience to feel what you want them to feel. For instance, let’s imagine that we’re being shown a scene in a film where little Johnny is about to blow out the candles on his birthday cake. His loving family is around him, but the camera moves to a figure smiling in the background – Johnny’s uncle perhaps. If the chords being played underneath the Happy Birthday song are in a major key (the ones we usually hear) we experience a sense of happiness and that all is well. If the film composer instead uses some disturbing sounding minor chords – or a violin section playing a rhythmic figure that we associate with the soundtrack to horror movies we’re familiar with – we feel discomfort. “Oh no! Something horrible is about to happen to little Johnny! Maybe his uncle is about to go mad and smash his little head to bits!”

You get the idea. Continue reading ‘The SOUND of Brain Chemistry For Lovers’

BRAIN CHEMISTRY FOR LOVERS w/Darrell Grant and the Portland Chamber Orchestra for OHSU’s Brain Awareness Lecture Series Celebration

Published on August 31, 2008 in Brain Chemistry and Events. 0 Comments
February 16, 2009
7:00 pmto9:00 pm

“Where the Art of Song meets the Science of Love”

On Monday, February 16th, 2009, OHSU’s Brain Awareness Series joins forces with the Portland Chamber Orchestra in presenting a unique multi media Valentine Concert, Brain Chemistry for Lovers, at the Newmark Theater. Brain Chemistry for Lovers brings together Grammy nominated vocalist Valerie Day, jazz pianist Darrell Grant, award winning filmmaker Jim Blashfield, and orchestrator/arranger John Smith, to explore the most universal of all human experiences through familiar selections of American Popular Song, film, and the latest discoveries in the world of neuroscience.

The Brain Awareness Lecture series is presenting this special concert in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their successful neuroscience lecture series.

Tickets are $30 and will be available in November at any TicketMaster outlet or at the PCPA box office, 503 248-4335. A special Patron Event ticket can also be purchased through the Portland Chamber Orchestra website. The patron event is $75 and includes a ticket to the performance, an artists reception, sparkling wine and dessert,  a special Valentine gift, and a DVD of the night’s performance. For more information or to purchase, call the PCO at: 503-771-3250

Brain Chemistry For Lovers is also a part of the Alaska Airlines PDX Jazz Festival

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Brain Chemistry For Lovers w/Darrell Grant and the Portland Chamber Orchestra

Published on August 31, 2008 in Brain Chemistry and Events. 0 Comments
February 14, 2009
7:30 pmto9:30 pm

“Where the Art of Song meets the Science of Love”….

On Valentines Day 2009, Brain Chemistry For Lovers will have it’s premier performance with the Portland Chamber Orchestra at the Liberty Theater in Astoria Oregon. The scientific story behind the strongest human emotion is told through music, narrative, animation, and quotations from writers and philosophers through the ages. Maestro Yaacov Bergman conducts the PCO and jazz musicians Darrell Grant, Kevin Deitz, Mike Horsfall, and Gary Hobbs through some of the greatest love songs ever written.

Tickets are $16 to $25 and can be purchased through the Liberty Theater box office, or at  www.ticketswest.com 503.224.TIXX or 1.800.992.TIXX. Tickets purchased through Tickets West are subject to a convenience charge. For more information, call the Liberty Theater at (503) 325-5922 Ext. 55.