Sunday Music Muse Day - David Friesen, Pat Metheny

Happy New Year, again, to every one. Let's start the year off with two nice selections. First up, David Friesen Castles and Flags. This is a pleasant CD that could be a concept album to an untold tale of kings, queens, knights and damsels, if you go by the song titles and liner note text.  I liked it. I first heard bassist Friesen from his early albums in the 1970s, including several duets with guitarist John Stowell, who I saw perform duet with Bob Sneider at the Bop Shop a couple of years ago.  Also, the graphic design on the back with the type written in a spiraling maze, reminded me of the time when I wrote letters to art school friends over summer breaks, and would write letters to them in this way. If, the letter was 2 sided, the second side would start in the center and spiral out.  (That's make me feel old, what 20-something actual writes letters to their friends, anymore?) Anyway, this CD is worth a listen.

My second is an item I've been looking for, for I long time, Pat Metheny The Orchestrion Project - A Film by Pierre & Francois Lamoureux - DVD.  I first came across this DVD while working at the Brighton Memorial Library, borrowed it then.  Being a long time Metheny fan I was curious about this side project from 2012.  The scope of this musical project is overwhelming.  It's almost too massive for me to try to describe, but Metheny says the root of it was a player piano his grandfather had.   Now you can find video of it n Youtube.  I have the CD the came from this DVD, and Metheny still performs with small version the Orchestrion machines in concerts, like his show I saw in Rochester several years ago.  This definitely worth checking Pat Metheny's and the filmmakers' liner notes on this DVD.

Hopefully this year will bring endless good music to keep the coming chaos at bay.  I'll do my best to bring good tunes to you. Peace.

Confession of a Serial Accumulator - Killzone Helghast at Ollie's ?

Here's my first video in my " Confessions of a Serial Accumulator" YouTube post, about a recent trip to Ollies. So, relax, and enjoy. Leave a "like," and comment, and subscribe on the video. Thank you.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Mats Eilertsen, Pat Martino

With holiday seasonal music still sounding in our head, let's try to clean out our ears with these two Sunday Music Muse Day selections.  First up, Mats Eilertsen Rubicon, an 2016  understated ECM released that you should find enjoyable.

Next up, Pat Martino Head And Heart - Consciousness/Live.  This release on the 32 Jazz label is an re-issuing of two of the late legendary guitarist vinyl records.  Any Martino music is worth having in my collection.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Holiday Season.  Have safe, and Happy New Year's Eve, and here's wishing you all the best in the coming New Year.   We're going to need to look out or each other to get through it.  Peace.

Introducting my "Confession of A Serial Accumulator Youtube Playlist.

I've been getting into watching mature Youtuber's "Toy Hunts", so I'm jumping on the bandwagon, on a little scale, in my own way. Introducing "Confessions of Serial Accumulator". Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - David Liebman, Turtle Island Quartet

It's ten days to Christmas, and this Sunday Music Muse Day, find me still putting off my Xmas shopping.  While I procrastinate, let list to two slightly odd CDs, in being sort of concept records (?).  First up, David Liebman  The Elements: Water. This "theme" is water.  The music ranges from introspective to more avant-garde played by high-quality sideman.  There is also an interview with Dave Liebman about the production of the music, on the last track. Worth a listen.

My second selection is the Turtle Island Quartet Have you ever Been...?  The theme of this classical quartet CD is playing the music of Jimi Hendrix (a favorite of mine) and the music of David Balakrishnan, the group's founder and resident composer. There's evena tune by John Mclaughlin, "To Bop or Not to Be", from one of his post-Mahavishu Orchestra CDs.  The music of Balakrishnan ,"Tree of Life", is a suite inspired by the Charles Darwin's book, "On the Origin of Species".  I have an earlier CD of the group and think of them a classical fusion band.  I think you'll find their interpretations of Hendrix tunes interesting.

I hope to start my Xmas shopping this week (I have no choice, I guess).  Next Sunday Music Muse Day will feature holiday music.  Until then, enjoy.

Thundercats Tuesday: My unproduced Thundercats story outlines.

I was honored to have written two Thundercats episodes for the last season of the original Rankin/Bass series. I'm was proud of both "Shadowmaster" (TC#125) and "Well of Doubt" (TC#129), but there were several story outlines that didn't make pass the pitch or outline stage, and were unproduced. Here are my collection of my outlines. In future posts, I'll give more detail of each one. 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Charles Lloyd, ECM Records (Anthology)

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds me offering two ECM Records selections.  First up, Charles Lloyd Life Every Voice, a 2002 ECM release featuring a top-notch group of musicians, including the late John Abercrombie on guitar  (one of my favorites) Marc Johnson and Larry Grenadier on double bass, Geri Allen on piano, and Bill Hart on drums.  Playing the tenor saxophone, flute, and taragato a woodwind instrument commonly used in Hungarian folk music, Lloyd leads the group through a varied collection of standard, traditional, and popular tunes, managing to keep each fresh and enjoyable.

My second selection is ECM - Selected Signs, a CD of various artists on its roster.  Worth listening to for a good sampling of what the label has to offer. 

So, with Santa, making a list, and checking it twice, be good to yourself and others, or there'll be coal in your stocking and not a CD of music. ;)