The Road to Ubatuba by Peter King

The foundation of King’s distinctive style is unusually broad and rich, ranging from singer-songwriter gigs to formal training in classical composition and jazz guitar. He has performed at the Three Rivers Arts Festival, Smoky City Folk Festival, Shadyside Summer Arts Festival, Calliope House concerts, the Backstage Bar in Theater Square and many other venues in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ohio. His teachers include Brazilian/jazz guitarist Marty Ashby, who heads MCG Jazz in Pittsburgh, Duquesne University guitar chair Bill Purse, and the legendary arranger John “Doc” Wilson.

King has earned the respect of presenters, critics and in-the-know Pittsburgh songwriters and musicians. Here's what they’re saying:

"Jazzy, easy-going acoustic folk-pop in the vein of vintage James Taylor and Paul Simon" - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Intricate guitar work, exciting singing and evocative, richly melodic songs.” — Philadelphia City Line News

“Proof yet again that we don't have to look any further than our own back yard for great talent.” — Shadyside Summer Arts Festival

"The Road to Ubatuba" was launched to a packed house at Pittsburgh's Club Cafe on April 28, 2006, and King’s musical journey is shifting into higher gear. Interviewed about the CD, he was philosophical concerning its prospects.

“One of the themes that comes up often in my songs is the passage of time,” he says. “There’s one song, “White Blossoms,” that’s sort of based on the old “Rubaiyat,” a poem by Omar Khayyam about living, loving, drinking wine and generally just focusing on the moment.

“That’s kind of how I feel about this record. I had such a kick doing it, playing with all these great musicians. Whatever happens or doesn’t happen, I just want to keep making music that I’m proud of and passionate about. And, hopefully, music that makes people feel good.”

For more information on Peter King and "The Road to Ubatuba," travel to www.peterkingmusic.com.

“UBATUBA + 1: THOUGHTS ON AN ANNIVERSARY (April 28, 2007)

-- By Peter King

Today, April 28, means something to me for two reasons. It’s my birthday, for one thing. For another, it’s a year to the day that I launched my CD "The Road to Ubatuba" with a well-attended and, I think, well-played and appreciated gig at Pittsburgh's Club Cafe. We sold cartons of CDs, if that's any indication -- they arrived by UPS just in time.

Certainly the band was killer — regulars Mark Perna on bass and Marc Reisman on harmonica, as well as saxophonist Eric DeFade, percussionist Jim DiSpirito and drummer Jeff Berman. I’m sure we’ll all share the same stage again some day, and I might just bill them as The Really Good Band. That’s because many people said to me, “Peter, that was good. That band was REALLY good!”

But enough of that magical night. I’m not writing this for the sake of nostalgia, but rather to update fans of my music about what’s transpired in the past year and what’s coming in the future.

“Ubatuba” has done better than I could have realistically hoped. It’s been heard (and bought) around the world, from Australia to Montenegro to Montreal. It’s served as a calling card that has opened doors for me to play some wonderful concerts and club dates. It has also helped introduce me personally to some wonderful people — fans, fellow musicians and new friends.

And “Ubatuba” is still selling — oddly enough, the cool thing about being an “indie” performer is that you don’t explode with a hit and risk fizzling out from there. If you’re lucky, you get to watch your music percolate gradually through the Internet, where it doesn’t seem to get old quite so quickly as yesterday’s teen-pop sensation. (In other words, I’ll never sell a million, and I'll never be mistaken for a teen.)

Anyway, about the coming year: I’m writing new songs for the next CD, which my producer, the aforementioned Mark Perna, assures me will get done come hell or high Monongahela.

I’ve written about seven tunes so far, and I’ve revamped one of my old, old tunes. I’m also working on a version of a traditional tune, in the spirit of the last CD’s “Corrina, Corrina.”

Some of you have heard me play these tunes at gigs. Please feel free to let me know what you think, and why, as you’re a kind of a focus group, if you don’t mind my thinking of you that way.

In the coming months, I’m also planning to participate more in my Web site (www.peterkingmusic.com). The music, of course, is the main thing, but as an ex-music critic, I guess I can’t keep my mouth shut or my hands off the keypad entirely. There’s some interesting facts and stories and tall tales surrounding the tunes I play and the places I’ve been and the things I’ve seen that I’d like to tell you about.

I don’t want to hog the conversation, though, so I’m counting on you to message me back.

While I’m talking about the past year, I shouldn’t forget to mention one other significant event — I got married. Before January 20, whenever I introduced the song “Silly Goose,” I would explain that the title referred to a term of endearment for my significant other. Now, I’ve had to change the banter a little, because my S.O. has become my beautiful wife.

So when you put all that together, it’s been a good 12 months. Here’s to another 12, and to you — the people who get a kick out of the music I make.

I can’t thank you enough for listening.

Best,

Peter

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