Deborah Van Kleef: Home
Welcome to my website. Over the next few weeks I'll be adding excerpts from my new CD, "Work in Progress," plus photos and more information on upcoming performances. If you'd like to hear from me periodically, please sign up for the mailing list. (I promise not to share your address with anyone.)
I am very proud to say that I released my first CD, "Work in Progress," July 12. A capacity crowd filled the back room at Loganberry Books (check it out at www.loganberrybooks.com), made short work of the refreshments and bought lots of CDs. I got to play live versions of many of the songs on the CD, with the expert backing of Gene Epstein on bass and Seth Rosen on guitar and mandolin. Everyone who attended got a complimentary "Work in Progress" kazoo. After "Banjo on My Knee Blues" (from the 1936 recording by Louisiana Lou), which includes the line "'Way down in Alabama with my banjo on my knee," the audience lifted their kazoos and joined us in a rousing rendition of "Oh Susanna."
Thanks to everyone who helped -- Mom, Dad, Susan, Karen, Gail, Beth, Mary, Jim, Steve, Seth, Gene and Isaac, and especially Harriett Logan and her staff for making such a beautiful space available for us. (I'm sure I've omitted someone -- my apologies...)
Where to get "Work in Progress," the debut CD by Deborah Van Kleef:
• Buy it online at CD Baby
Click "BUY" at left
• Download individual songs or album at iTunes (search on "Deborah Van Kleef")
• In Cleveland, pick it up at Loganberry Books, at 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights (a block north of Shaker Square), www.loganberrybooks.com, 216-795-9800
• Send a check for $18 ($15 + $3 postage & handling), payable to Third Story Music, Inc. to: Deborah Van Kleef, 3251 Clarendon Road, Cleveland Hts., OH 44118 USA
Early praise for Work in Progress:
After years of being a fan, friend and champion of folk musicians everywhere, Deborah Van Kleef has finally come out with a CD of her own — and it’s a gem. Her long apprenticeship to the likes of Woody Guthrie and Malvina Reynolds is evident in her own luminous compositions, where history, humor and passion combine to give us songs that tell real stories. Whether mining the rich lodes of traditional music, taking on bosses that ride the backs of their workers all the way to the bank, or singing a simple love song to her son, Deborah Van Kleef reminds us and reassures us that music — and we — are powerful.
-- John McCutcheon
Great musical variety, heart and soul!
-- Cathy Fink
What a splendid CD! The choice of songs is excellent, [the] band the same. I started out by making a list of favorites and found that it added up to nearly half the album.
-- Peggy Seeger
Deb has a nice, natural voice, and sings with feeling and conviction. The songs are first rate — about half of them are her own fine compositions, and deal with everything from health care to a local strike against McDonald's to her personal experiences, all well crafted and well performed.
-- Alice Gerrard
Deborah Van Kleef sings with passion and skill on behalf of working people.
-- Bob Franke
Some unexpected accolades:
[T]he songs are in my head... and, for what it's worth, the dog likes them too. If I play this CD she can ride in the car without stress -- it's the only CD we've found that she likes.
–- Mary Kelsey
My seven-year old daughter constantly begs me to switch from NPR to Work in Progress [while riding in the car]. She... sits in back reading the lyrics and gleefully announcing what song comes next. It's provided a good jumping off point for discussing issues that don't always come up with the seven-year old set...
-- Amy Hanauer