Solitaire Miles' photostream

Join me this Tuesday Jan 31st with pianist Jeremy Kahn at Katerina's in Chicago for a night of great jazz and lesser known swing tunes www.katerinas.com/ 8 - 11 pm

"Listening to singer Solitaire Miles is like stepping into a time machine and going back to a bygone era of great female jazz singers." - Brad Walseth

I created this self portrait because many of the songs I do are older, lesser known jazz and swing tunes that you can only find on old 78's. Listen here - solitairemiles.com/Music.html

I am a guest this week on Able Pathways, a wonderful interview show on Blog Talk Radio which features disabled people working and living in Chicago. On the show I talk about working as a partially blind artist and musician living with Lupus. I was honored to be interviewed by Rob Pritts, who is a disabled journalist and an inspiration to so many people here in the US. www.leaderarena.com/ablepathways-4-9/
For a long time I didn't want anyone to know that I was partially blind, or that I had Lupus. I was ashamed and thought that folks would think I was inferior, or unable to accomplish much. But I joined a Lupus support group, and after seeing how so many men and women with Lupus struggle to live their lives and support their families I was inspired and heartened. My friends in the group encouraged me to share the story of my struggle, because it might inspire or give hope to other people living with Lupus or chronic illness. It's been a little scary to step out as a disabled artist and musician, but so far nobody has held it against me, and I am proud to be working as much as I can.

Here is a close up of my "Vargas Girl".
I am offering a Valentine's Day Glamor Portrait Special. I will paint your pin up or portrait. View the whole piece here - solitairemiles.deviantart.com/art/Vargas-style-pin-up-138...

My friend and photographer Thomas Zamiar shot this clever triptych of me as a gypsy fortuneteller. I don't read cards or tell fortunes in real life, but my name, Solitaire, also happens to be the name of a Bond girl from the film "Live and Let Die" who is a fortuneteller. So Tom thought it would be clever to do a sequence of gypsy photos. Check out the 2nd pic, in the middle. He put the camera on a special shutter speed and I had to move the card in my hand slowly so it would photograph as a blur :) He is a very clever guy.

Thomas Zamiar www.zamiarphoto.com/

Monday Jan 16th and Tuesday Feb 21st at the Jazz Showcase www.jazzshowcase.com/

Tuesday Jan 31st at Katerina's www.katerinas.com/

Friday and Saturday Feb 17th & 18th at Andy's www.andysjazzclub.com/