Friday the Thirteenth has happy connotations for Ted Garber. The singer-songwriter, who received the Washington Area Music Association’s 2010 Pop-Rock Recording of the Year award for “American Rail,” hosts a release party on Friday for his latest recording, “Live at Strathmore.” Backed by an all-star band, the vocalist will perform songs composed during a year spent honing his craft in Strathmore’s artist-in-residence program. “Cathy Fink has been my mentor throughout this program that emphasizes creativity, career guidance and training in the business of music,” Garber said. “She heard me play in 2009 and thought I could do with some direction, so she encouraged me to apply for the Strathmore residency.

“After I was selected as one of the six local artists in this year’s program, she cracked the whip and urged me to do a live album. I spent the winter break cranking out songs. Seven on the album are new, and two of the four others are totally reworked from my past albums.”