Greetings earthlings. I am on a different planet at the moment. It’s called the Beijing traditional courtyard home. It translates as the finest real estate in the center of this ever-changing, constantly-under-constuction megacity. I have been blessed graciously by a friend to house-sit for the month. So it is morning, and I sit under the big old trees, a bricked central yard with herb gardens and greenery speckled by sunlight through the leaves. Birds sing mid morning melodies, insects buzz and flip and swirl mid air, the breezes laugh and lilt along my skin, my hair. This dear fans, is my favorite place in Beijing so far.

I live in paradise

At first, when my friend asked me to stay, I had huge considerations come to mind. After about 5 minutes of perplexing, it donned on me how this was an opportunity for a very needed holiday. So I moved in last week, with full intentions to make this a month of creativity. The 2nd day was filled with musicians – I invited jazz piano, bass, drums and guzheng (chinese zither) and we jammed on a few themes while a few friends sat in the sun and enjoyed (we thank the friends who served us up afternoon summer cocktails).

I meditate and do yoga here, and pick up my guitar to sing the song of this courtyard. So far, there are 3 new songs. One called “Arun’s Dreaming” which I will put up on youtube in a few days…I’m just working out the synergy of singing & playing & knowing the words well. I also brought a massive blank book that I weave and draw and write words and metaphors of love, nature, and sunlight. It is divine.

There is also a friend’s dog staying with me for 2 weeks, who is very very very disliked by the 5 cats that live here. The cats have staked out their territory, and are hunkered down til I put the cockerspaniel-ish dog into the room for naps or evening. There is a big black leader cat I refer to as “grandfather” and he meows at me and curses me for about a half hour. Sometimes the other cats will come out and join in on the boo-hissing me for bringing such a being into their yard. I’m sorry pussycats, this is the way it is. Get over it. Can’t we all just get along? This triggers a new Chinese Chengyu成语 that I regularly use now, which talks about a man who is only passionate about fishing the moon from the lake – a futile effort. The saying is SHUI ZHONG LAO YUE  水中捞月

I will be in an Andy Lau movie – we shoot in July before I head back to the US for a month. Andy Lau, for those who may not be familiar, is like a TomCruise/George Clooney movie/music star from Hong Kong. He’s huge. And his co-star is Gong Li, the queen of Chinese movies. This is gonna be a great experience. I love entering this world of dramatic energies and egos and fame. It’s all a big interesting game.

My trip back to the US will bring me to Pittsburgh to reunion with family and friends. Then onward to New York City, where I will be moonlighting with jazz bands in Manhattan & Brooklyn. The schedule is set – you can check out my friend Sean Nowell’s blog (www.seannowell.com) and the first week of August, I will be playing 3-5 compositions per gig with the Swedes. Sweet. Then, tentatively, I’ll be in San Antonio, Texas to play with the ever-amazing jazz pianist/composer Barry Brake. I will play songwriter concerts and sing jazz with him. He’s great. One time when he was living in BJ we did a jazz gig together. At one point during a jazz tune’s ending, he starts screaming out, “hey do you know Careless Whisper?” I said, “Sure, mostly!” and he bounces the band into the melody of George Michael and I start singing…it was great. We also flipped Autumn Leaves in to Summertime. Maybe next time we do a seasonal theme – Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most and Baby It’s Cold Outside to be included. haha.

The other piece of exciting news in my next step – I am currently planning a cultural-spiritual-creative musical exchange project (to be held in a very amazing place in Europe that I will disclose to you as it comes), as well as developing my own business strategy. The ideas are getting more clarity & purpose, shape and form with each conversation I have. I am quite a dreamer, and it is very helpful to have more pragmatic minds around to mix the dream with the practical application this work requires.

I recently sent an email out to fans asking for connections to possibilities – maybe a good friend of yours is a music supervisor in the movie industry, and would  consider my music for their next tv series or movie, or perhaps you know a producer who likes to hook up people like me with really new interesting talented artists for collaborative songwriting…whatever the hookup (in Chinese we call this guanxi关系.  It involves sharing because you love it yourself. We all share the good things we find with our loved ones, and this natural form of love is where I am working from. I am getting a more consistent roll of emails from friends and fans near and far thanking me for my music. How it has helped them, or inspired them to create their lives from a more positive place. That’s beautiful. Thank you all for your feedback. Please keep it coming! jessmeider@gmail.com

Ok. I must get on with it. There is a big bath running. The trees send their hellos to you all, and I send out love and light…Peace

PS. Check out my friend’s new book. He is one of my favorite teachers ever. Max Strom “A Life Worth Breathing” which is just his very simple mind speaking onto the pages. Really inspiring.