Chesler feels her latest album is her best work

Norwalker Sarah Chesler tried out a lot of the material for her latest album during open mike night at Café Vivaldi in New York City. On those Monday evenings, just about everyone in the audience smoked a cigarette or two.

That's why she named the album, "Monday Night Smoker." There will be a CD release party for the album tonight at 7 p.m. at the West Norwalk United Congregational Church, 275 Richards Ave.

Chesler's CD release party headlines the fourth annual "A Musical Evening" fundraiser that benefits the church and West Norwalk Nursery School --where she teaches during the day.

"I'm looking forward to it and I can't wait," Chesler said.

Chesler described the setting at Café Vivaldi as similar to SoNo Caffeine because of its size and how it made her feel at ease. There her creative juices flowed freely.

"Café Vivaldi was very much inspirational because it has a grand piano and I like to perform there," Chesler said. "I like to perform in small settings because they are intimate."

"Monday Night Smoker" is different from her first two albums because it was professionally produced and features 15 songs instead of 10. She produced her first two albums herself.

Professional music producer Joe DiGiorgi plays guitar on the new CD.

"It's been a learning process for me because I have someone else come in and help me and I get ideas from afar," Chesler said. "It came out much better than I dreamed of and it's much better than the first two albums."

Joining her and DiGiorgi on the album are two freelance musicians, Doug Yowell on drums and Rob Calder on bass. Her husband Chuck Chesler, a musician in his own right, plays the organ on a couple of songs in the album.

"Everyone helped make the songs into something great and I'm very excited," Chesler said.

The theme of "Monday Night Smoker" is about Chesler's life and the people in it. The album is more about relationships than the previous two CDs and it's more rhythmical as well.

"I Hope You Smile" is the first tune on the new album. She also plays her hit from her second album, "Most Definitely" on the new CD.

"It's become more of a groovy song with a full band," Chesler said.

Other songs include "Where is the Love?," which is about finding love, and "Early Morning Jet," which is about leaving and then returning to love.

She also dedicates a song to her father, who died 18 months ago, "Will You Wait There for Me?" The song asks her father to wait for her in heaven.

"It's the most heartfelt song on the album," Chesler said. "He was a huge inspiration to me and he was the strongest man I know."

By professionally producing her CD, she's definitely moving up in the musical world but has no intention of quitting her day job at West Norwalk Nursery School.

"I hope to reach more people with my music," Chesler said. "I would love to play music full-time but as long as I play, I'm happy. Whatever happens, happens."

Tickets for "A Musical Evening" are $15. For information, call (203) 838-8858.