Hi Everyone, and Happy New Year!

I hope this year has gotten off to a good start for you. Here, in the “warm” and sunny south, we had 3 inches of snow in Ellisville a couple of weeks ago, followed by 4 days in a row when we didn’t reach freezing, while our overnight lows dropped as low as 8 degrees. Can’t wait to see next month’s electric bill (Ugh!).

It looks likeThe Gordon Ellis Ensemble will be on hiatus a while longer, as our keyboard player (And my right hand man in the band) continues to recover from extensive back surgery in December. Hopefully we will be back together and performing by mid to late March, but it may be later–you can’t rush these things.

In the meantime, this Sunday, 2/2/25, I will be the Guest Performer at our CSLN Sunday Service, doing 3 of my inspirational songs with their great band. I always look forward to that. Noon to 1 p.m. at Unity Of Franklin, 5125 Franklin Pk., Nashville, 37220.

Next Friday, Feb. 7th, AJ Bigler and I will once again host the CSLN Coffeehouse at Unity Center, 5125 Franklin Pk Nashville, 37220. Here is the pertinent info:

Sign-up for Open Mic is at 6 pm.  Seven slots available

Open Mic 6:30 – 7pm.

Original songs, poems, short stories, and stand up comedy 

Please limit your presentation to 5 minutes.

SPOTLIGHT PERFORMERS

BRUCE-JON BRIGHAM – 7pm

JULIE GROWER – 7:30pm

SHAWN GALLAWAY – 8pm

Potluck snacks and drinks and love offering to CSLN appreciated.

Notes on our Spotlight Performers:

SHAWN GALLAWAY: Shawn Gallaway is an award-winning singer/songwriter, visual artist, author, workshop facilitator and energetic healer. He has traveled the world over, sharing his message of “Healing and Transformation through the Arts”. His “I Choose Love” song and online course (a collection of videos, songs, artwork, meditations and processes) continue to inspire and educate people of all ages on how to awaken their hearts and find their art.   JULIE GROWERJulie Grower is Nashville-based Folk/Americana singer-songwriter. She has released two albums,” In a New Light” and “Lucky 7.” Her song “Hometown Hallelujah”, written to celebrate the resilience and cooperative spirit of the people of Nashville, in the wake of catastrophic flooding in May 2010 was chosen as the theme song for the podcast The Voice of Free Earth. Julie’s song “Down Here” was showcased by Alive Hospice as a song of healing for those affected by grief. Her recent music features songs devoted to animals with a focus on endangered species, and she writes songs for film and television.    BRUCE-JON BRIGHAMBruce-jon Brigham came to Nashville in August 2000 and has been playing & writing original music and songs here since that time. More recently and since February of 2023 he has been recording a definitive album project which will highlight his music and will feature guest artists on several of its 11 slated songs. A four song pre-teaser EP will be released soon [Springtime 2025]

Any questions, please contact A.J. Bigler, or myself, [email protected]

Well, that’s all the news I know that I know. Have a great February. Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

I’ll keep this brief, as I know most people are already knee deep in holiday stuff.

First, a shout out to all who braved 20 degree weather to come out to the CSLN Coffeehouse on Friday. We had a nice turnout, considering the weather, and some fine Spotlight Performers. Thanks, to Lisa Aschmann, who captivated the crowd, Gary Gullbergh, who performed several of my many favorites of his, and newcomer Debra Griner, who brought some of her following with her and did not disappoint. We haven’t nailed down our next Coffeehouse yet, but we are looking at the first Friday in Feb. Stay tuned.

I hope we all enjoy the holiday season, whichever holiday(s) we celebrate. Wishing everyone excellent health, joy, peace, success, love, and prosperity in 2025.

Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I did. Good people, lots of food, and some great original music shared. What more could I ask for?

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Meanwhile, after about 7 years, I finally got to go back up to NYC (Where I grew up, for those who didn’t know). My brother and I have sort of been alternating trips to NYC and Nashville about every 3 years or so. It was a great trip, though short (Flights and hotels ain’t cheap these days). I was there for 4 days, but only two full days, so I didn’t get to see everyone. Still, I got to see two cousins I haven’t seen in years, two friends who used to be our downstairs neighbors growing up, and of course, some good quality time with my brother Eliot, who was a marvelous host. I got to eat out in some great restaurants, had a couple of slices of N.Y. pizza, and went to the top of One World Trade Center, where I challenged my severe fear of heights enough to enjoy the panoramic views and take pics. I didn’t know it, but apparently the WTC is no longer the tallest building in N.Y.C. I believe the Nordstrom Building is. I also got to hang out at Grand Central Station, which I probably hand’t been to in 25 years or so. All in all, a great trip.

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The CSLN Coffeehouse resumes next Friday, 12/6 at Unity Center Of Nashville, 5125 Franklin Pike, Nashville, 37220. Hosted by AJ Bigler and myself, we will start with an Open Mic from 6:30 – 7 P.M. (Sign up 6 P.M.). We are estimating space for 7 performers, each doing a turn of up to 5 minutes: One song, a poem, short story, stand up comedy. We will also have 3 Spotlight Performers: Lisa Aschman, who has written upwards of 10,000 songs, had scores of songs placed in movies and TV, and has written a book, “1001 Songwriting Ideas.” Gary Gulbergh will be our second Spotlight– A super craftsman and very engaging performer, his songs will likely stick with you even after the night is over. Our third spotlight is Debra Griner. I don’t have info on her, but she comes highly recommended. Here are the scheduled times:

Open Mic Signup 6 – 6:30 (7 slots available)

Open Mic Performances 6:30 – 7 p.m.

Lisa Aschmann: 7 – 7:45

Gary Gulbergh: 7:50 – 8:20

Debra Griner: 8:25 – 8:55.

We hope to end by 9:00.

This is a potluck–Please bring something to share. We will also likely pass the basket for a love offering to CSLN.

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The Gordon Ellis Ensemble is currently on hiatus for a couple of months. One of our members who has been dealing with back issues for quite some time will be undergoing surgery in mid December. We anticipate a full recovery and we hope to get back to rehearsing and performing by early Feb.

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In the meantime, everyone enjoy the holiday season and a great 2025!

Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

First, thank you, to everyone who came out to Friday’s inaugural CSLN Coffeehouse. Thanks, to those who performed, those who volunteered, and those who just came to listen and support. Special thanks, to AJ Bigler, Buddy Farler, and Antoinette Olesen–our Spotlight Performers, and to our volunteers, David Arnholder and Marsha Nikahd.

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Second, the Gordon Ellis Ensemble has had to cancel our Oct. 3rd gig at the Springwater, due to some serious back issues with one of our key musicians. I hope this reaches everyone who took a flyer. We hope to re-schedule, once we know the statis of his condition.

Thanks y’all–be well, be safe, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

I hope fall has returned where you are. Fall in these parts means cooler temps., leaves eventually changing, and in this case, experiencing the remnants of a hurricane. No, we don’t get full blown hurricanes this far inland, but sometimes we get heavy rains and winds that can gust to 40-50 mph or more. The remnants of Hurricane Francine are expected to move through at a snail’s pace over the next few days.

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Though it’s still 3 weeks away, I thought I’d mention that the Gordon Ellis Ensemble will be back at the Springwater Lounge on Thursday, Oct. 3rd from 5-7 p.m. Since it still a ways off in the future, I’ll send a newsletter reminder about a week before. We also just lined up a first time gig with Joelton Hardware, but that is on Dec. 3rd, so I’ll mention that in upcoming editions.

The CSLN Coffeehouse (Formerly known as the Co-Creators’ Coffeehouse, the Nashville West Coffeehouse, etc.) is returning on a trial basis on Friday, Sept. 20th in the Unity Fellowship Hall, 5125 Franklin Pike, Nashville 37220. We will have an Open Mic at 7 p.m. (8 Slots available–sign up starts at 6:30). This will be followed by 4 “Spotlight Performers” each doing a 3 song set. This month’s Spotlights include Antoinette Olesen, Buddy Farler, Myself, and AJ Bigler. Pot luck snacks and drinks are encouraged, and we will probably pass the basket for a love offering that will go to one or both Centers–not sure yet how that will work. Hope to see you there–if the turnout is good and people support the event, we will have more of them.

ALERT: I am surprised that I haven’t heard about this on the news, but in April, Nationaldatabase.com (A company that collects all sorts of personal data for companies like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to do background checks, etc.) had a record breaking data breach (Supposedly affecting 2.7 billion people’s sensitive info around the world). Like Equifax several years ago, they tried to hide it, but a week ago, someone leaked the info. I found out about it because I have Zanders ID Theft Protection. They contacted me to tell me that in addition to my email, user name and my phone number, which were compromised with the Equifax Breach and which periodically appear on the dark web, my SS# has also shown up there for the first time. I know someone with Experian ID protection, who got the same alert.

If you don’t have an ID protection program, the info is on the nationaldatabase.com website. Or you can Google it. Nationaldatabase has a link to a site called Pentester, which can tell you if your info has been compromised (Similar to what Equifax did with their breach). I knew I was taking a chance giving my info to Pentester, but heck, my SS# has already shown up on the dark web, so what the hey.

Now I would be cautious of this: Pentester claims to be able to remove your data from the dark web any time it shows up, for $19/month. According to the people at Zanders, nobody can remove your info from the dark web, because it apparently contains many sites within the dark web. So I didn’t pay the money, but Pentester did confirm that my email, phone, and SS# have appeared on the dark web and I seem to remember that they show when it occurred. I am not endorsing or recommending it–you will need to do your own research.

And, on that cheery note, I hope the coming month is a great one for you. Until next time, be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon