Painting with music

Local singer/songwriter Evan Teatum launches CD By Vicki Botta Goshen — By the time he was 16 years old, Evan Teatum was a seasoned musician. He was already earning a living playing music in his native Staten Island, making more during a weekend of late-night gigs than his friends who flipped burgers all week. The blue-eyed singer/songwriter performed extensively on the New York/New Jersey club circuit in the late ‘70s early ‘80s, either as a member of a rock and roll band or as a solo performer. Music was his passion. In the early 1980s, at the request of his congressman, Teatum cofounded the first Staten Island Community Summer Concert Series, which provided free entertainment to thousands of local youths in New York City parks. This series still exists today. He recently went back to play at the concert series, and felt a wave of nostalgia for the place and people he loved there. Much was still the same, though some people he knew are gone. Music continued during career as detective In 1984 Teatum joined the New York City Police Department, eventually becoming a detective in both homicide and narcotics. Throughout his police career, he continued to play music part time in New York and surrounding areas. He played keyboards with 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith and guitar great Lenny Kaye. He also recorded and performed with jazz and beat era legend, David Anram, as well as local favorites such as Shrubs, Ariel, and Moving Star. Teatum lives in Goshen and performs regularly in local venues such as Noble Coffee Roasters in Campbell Hall, the Great American Weekend in Goshen, the July 4th celebration at Thomas Bull Memorial Park. He will also perform at the Bertoni Gallery’s outdoor concert series on July 8 in Sugar Loaf and will be on the Vassar College radio show WVKR on July 11. He thinks of writing music in artistic terms. He “adds color to a musical landscape” and “paints harmonious portraits with words and music.” He is about to present his new, self-produced solo CD, named “Portraits,” to the public at a release party at Bodles in Chester at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 15. Teatum describes this body of work as “acoustically rooted,” using a variety of instruments to “create an enjoyably unique sound and stylization.” Again, using artistic terms, he likens this new CD to “a palette of colors...evoking images and emotions in the mind’s eye. Each track paints a melodious portrait.” He hopes the music’s flow will “take the listener on a journey through good times and bad, with a natural, addictive sequence.” One song on the CD, “Last Tears,” written by Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls, required getting permission to record. Saliers asked only to hear the track when he finished recording it — and she loved it. This meant a lot to Teatum, because Emily and the Indigo Girls are his idols and mentors. Another song written by Jerry Merrick and recorded by Richie Havens also needed permission to be used, especially since Teatum changed some of the lyrics. While he he communicated with Merrick, a friendship developed, and Merrick invited Teatum to play with him in Florida. A multi-faceted musician, Teatum plays acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards and synthesizers, harmonica, mandolin and banjo. His love for vocal harmonies is evident in his latest release, where he is joined by long-time friends Lesley Ann Bowie and Ariel (“Win Again”). Together they invoke a spiritual quality that blends well with his songs. Other personal influences are artists such as Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band, Neil Young, Peter Paul & Mary, The Patti Smith Group, Pink Floyd, David Wilcox, Crosby Stills & Nash, and James Taylor. Teatum’s song-writing style is as eclectic as the instruments he plays. Evan’s other activities include recording and producing for a host of local musicians as owner of a the digital recording facility, Gung Ho Studio in Goshen, while developing a successful DJ entertainment and professional sound business called New York Pro Disc Jockeys (NYPDJ). After retiring from the New York City Police Department in 2004, Teatum has been able to return to his first passion, making music. Judith Tulloch encouraged him to write. All his friends have pushed him to finally put out his own CD after years of helping them with theirs. If the CD didn’t cost thousands of dollars to produce, he said he would just give it away so that he could share his songs with as many people as possible. He said he doesn’t want to make millions of dollars. He just wants people to enjoy the music. The picture on the back of the CD is of Knoell Farm in Goshen, which is next to his house. It was the first farm to sell property development rights to the town to provide it with open green spaces for all time. “Portraits” may be purchased online through cdbaby.com, or locally at Linda’s Office Supply, at 22 West Main St. in Goshen.