With music composed by Shawn Ellison, this song describes the theme of human movement, specifically the emotions involved in leaving a homeland and being in a foreign land at first. The emotional toll it has on the ones who leave and the ones left behind is life changing. 
More personally, it is my personal emotional journey of immigration from Lebanon during the civil war.
Sarabande de Solitude 
Je quitte. 
Tu restes au port.
Ton regard me déchire
Vagues! Emporte mon coeur
Et donne le lui pour un dernier sourire.

Maman, ne pleure pas
Je reviendrais pour toi
Tes larmes, une rivière
Que je naviguerai vers toi

Les arbres sages de mon enfance
Qui racontaient les secrets du passé
Remplacés par les boîtes de ciment
Sourds et froids

Je rêve, et j’écoute et je trouve 
Le courage que tu me donne
A travers ce grand océan qui nous sépare

La solitude, mon abri
En face de tous ces gens qui me bousculent
Dans cette ville froide D’étrangers qui me jugent.

Le temps coule lentement
Je m’adapte doucement
Jusqu’au jour où 
Je t’emmènerai
Ma chère maman, 
Près de moi

English translation of the French lyrics: 
I leave as you stand at the port
The look in your eyes is tearing me apart
Oh waves, take my heart and give it to her for one last smile

Mom, please don’t cry
I will come back for you
Your tears, the river 
That I will navigate back  to you

The wise trees of my childhood
That told me secrets of the past
Are now replaced by cement boxes
Deaf and cold

I dream, I listen and I find
The courage that you send to me
 Across this big ocean That separates us

Solitude, my shelter
From the crowds of prying people
In this cold city of strangers that judge me

Time flows by slowly
I persevere and adapt
Until the time comes 
When I will bring you, Close to me, my dear mom.

Sarabande de Solitude

Music by Shawn Ellison; Lyrics by Julie Slim; Recorded at Clockright Studios; Mastered @saffmastering.com
Shawn Ellison: piano
Phil Spencer: bass
Joe McCreary: drums
James Fenner: percussion
Marco Antonio Santos: guitar
Michael Melinger (alto/tenor saxophones)
Adrian Ruiz: trumpets;
Julie Slim: vocals


One More Day

Music and lyrics by Julie Slim; horn arrangement by Shawn Ellison; recorded at Clockright Studios; mastered @saffmastering.com; 
Shawn Ellison: piano
Phil Spencer: bass
Joe McCreary: drums
James Fenner: percussion
Marco Antonio Santos: guitar
Shirley Johnson: accordion
Paul Klemperer: (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone saxophones); Adrian Ruiz (trumpets)
Julie Slim: vocals


Tu Es Pour Moi

Recorded live at Central Market Westgate on April 11, 2015 with Will Moghanloo (sound engineer)
Edited, mixed and mastered by Isaac Peña
Arranged by Dr. James Polk
 Shawn Ellison (keyboards), Phil Spencer (double bass), Joe McCreary (drums), Shirley Johnson (accordion). 
music: Sydney Bechet; Lyrics: Fernand Bonifay



Petite Fleur

From the latest live EP with Shawn Ellison (keyboards), Joe McCreary (Drums), Shirley Johnson (accordion) and Phil Spencer (bass).  
Recorded at Central Market Westgate with sound engineer Will Moghanloo
Edited and mixed by Isaac Peña

J'ai Deux Amours

A French Lullaby by Henri Salvador who wrote it for his daughter.
Guitar: Jamie Cummins
Sound Engineer: Isaac Peña

Une Chanson Douce

Recorded live in Austin, TX
Originally recorded by Josephine Baker

keyboards: Shawn Ellison
Bass: Phil Spencer
Drums: Phil Spencer
Accordion: Shirley Johnson
Sound Engineer: Isaac Peña
Cover Art: Kamal Nassif

Live in Austin TX

Recorded live with the Austin Jazz Workshop with:
Dr. James Polk: piano
Glenn Rexach: bass
Mike Koenning: drums
Pat Murray: Trumpet
Michael Melinger: saxophone
Julie Slim: vocals

Anything Goes

What is This Thing Calle Love/Hot House

07 What Is This Thing Called Love Hot House

I was thinking about all the healthcare workers, how hard they are working to heal us, and that made me think about their loved one, who probably have to keep a distance from them for safety. It made me think of lovers, partners, wives, husbands, possibly sheltering alone in a small apartment in the big city or a house, and missing physically being with their loved ones
Here are the lyrics that go with the song:
I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except when sirens call
While I shelter in these four walls
And think of how many lives you’ll save
while without you
But I get along without you very well
I don’t miss your touch, no, not at all
I can just call
But hearing you so close
Reminds me I can’t feel your breath upon my ear
But I must stay safely away from you
Corona’s here
 it won’t disappear
This social distancing is hard to do 
What's in store
How long can I go? 
Without going mad copped up all alone
I get along without you very well
I tell myself
Except when darkness falls
Or storm clouds hide the sun from all
Then touching you is what I want most of all

I Get Along Without You Very Well (Corona's Here)

improvisations on the ngoni, a West African harp. 
I needed to focus on something positive today, and I could not write, so I sat with the ngoni and played my emotions into it. 
Just life life, it is not perfect, but it helped soothe me and give me hope again.

Ngoni Musings

This song was always in my ear, growing up in Beirut, Lebanon. My heart and thoughts are with my country. 
Shawn Ellison: piano
Shirley Johnson: accordion
Phil Spencer: bass
Joe McCreary: drums
Zach Braswell: mixing and mastering

Ya Laure

Written collaboratively with Shawn Ellison and embraced as a prelude at St. John Lutheran Church.

Gathering Song

I wrote this song during a difficult time in my life as an attempt to reach out a loved one needing assurance that love conquers all. 
I am honored that this song is now in the official repertoire of the international volunteer organization, Threshold Choir, providing songs of comfort for people in life transitions.

Hear My Heart

Recorded live at Esquina Tango in Austin, TX on May 26, 2013 during the show, Julie Slim in Rendez Vous.
Comme Moi was first performed by Edith Piaf.

Julie Slim

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks