Sunday Music Muse Day - Jack Bruce, James Blood Ulmer

This week's Sunday Music Muse Day  features two grreat musicians who are sadly no longer with us, but their musicial legacy lives on.  First, Jack Bruce - Jack Bruce Collector's Edition. I was a fan of bassist Jack Bruce from 1960's when he exploded on Rock scene with the power trio Cream, Eric Clapton on guitar and Ginger Baker on drum. Like Ginger Baker, Bruce also ventured into the jazz world, famously playing in the groundbreaking jazz fusion group Tony William's Lifetime, with John McLaughlin (pre-Mahavishu Orchestra). This Collector's Edition contain a lot tunes I never heard of his written by Bruce and Pete Brown, many are live recording.  There is specticular group of guitaristshowcsed on CD such as Eric Clapton,Gary Moore, Clem Clemson, and David Torn.  Bruce does a haunting rendition of Jimi Hendrix' Wind Cries Mary. The music is worthy of anyone's collection. The only down side to the package is the type design is almost unreadable on the CD cover.  It might be better on full size vinyl record sleeve. 

The next election is James Blood Ulmer - Music Speaks Louder Than Words. Ulmer passed away last June 3, 2026.  His music style has been described as "jazz, free funk and blues." His playing on this CD displays that perfectly. Subtitled "James Blood Ulmer Plays the Music Of Ornette Coleman",  it tells you all you need to know. Ornette Colemon is best known as "a principal founder of the Free Jazz genre".  Actually, I found this rather subdued for Ulmer but still was satisfying.  I wish there had been liner notes for it.  But, i guess he title makes the point and his intention clear. 

These are rare gems to be listened to and enjoyed often.  Take care, and peace.

Thundercats' characters I designed become action figures by Super 7

I can't wait to see Jagara and Zaxx (both I designed for the original Rankon/Bass series) on my local toy shelf. If I ever do another comic con I might offer this or my poster (In the comments.)

Here's my version of poster for Jagara.

Wild West - Character art by Doug Wildey

Here's a preview of images I'll use for a Journeyman Artist Timeline Tale video, soon. "The Wild West" - Unproduced Animated TV series Pitch". Back between season 1 & 2 of ExoSquad, Will Meugniot asked me to do some character designs for a western series that he and Doug Wildey were also doing sketches. I did my best to keep up to their high standards.

I never met him Doug face to face, but talked to him on the phone when Will Meugniot, who knew him well, ask me to use him for a storyboard for ExoSquad. I was nervous at the thought of talking to him. I called, and our first exchange was so memorable, to me. I introduced myself by name and he replied, “well, I never heard anything bad about you, so I guess you’re alright.” From a great artist like him, I’ll take that as a compliment. I have xerox copies of concept drawings he did for a western cartoon series pitch that didn’t happen, It might have been some of the last work he did before passing away." Here's some of the art Doug Wildey did for "Wild West".

I'll do proper labelimg when I do the video, but for try to guess who did which drawing?

Sunday Music Muse Day - Peter Erskine, Oz Noy

For today's Sunday Music Muse Day there are two more selections from the  Jazz90.1 Rochester Jazz Festival tent CD bin (see my last Sunday Music Muse Day post). First up,  Peter Erskine & the Jam Music Lab All-Stars - Vienna to Hollywood - Impressions of E.W. Korngold & Max Steiner (The CD title is a real mouthful)  Of course, Peter Erskine's name caught my eye, as I'm a fan of his drumming from his days with Weather Repor and his solo career as a leader.  I recognised Max Steiner as the composer of the 1933 King Kong movie score.  Erskine related the project started from him overhearing Joe Zawinul, the keyboardist and co-founder of Weather Report playing "one of the loveliest melodies I'd ever heard" at concert hall soundcheck.  Written by Erich von Krongold, who had fled Nazi Austria for hollywood to do film scoring. This is a really interesting CD for all the levels of music it explores and includes.

Next up is Oz Noy - Fun One. Oz Noy is a jazz fusion guitar I first came to know from a track on a CD of his that John Sneider, brother of Bob Sneider, played trumpet on.  This quartet session features several well-known jazz tunes, and great playing by Noy, so it's well worth giving it a listen.

There's been a heat wave sweeping the country, but I hope everyone is staying cool and safe.  Peace.

Bixby Grant - Private Eye: Fangs & Brimstone

I got a nice delivery as TGIF surprise, the latest Bixby Grant comic by Patrick Coyle, Writer/Artist, with extra goodies.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Gilad Barakan, Jason Keiser

For my Sunday Music Muse Day, is a by-product of the volunteering at the table for the Jazz90.1 radio station at last week's Rochester Jazz Festival.   One of the fun games for patrons who come by the table is a chance to win free music CD with the roll of over-sized foam dice.  Rounding  a "double" in two tries wins you a CD.  Derrick Lucas allows me to pick CDs from bin collected CDs, I try to pick well-known musicans as options for winners to choose from.  Derrick, knowing my love for new music, invited me to pick any CDs from the bin to take home.  So, here are two "Music from the Bin"selections.

First is Gilad Barakan - Unsettled. it seems to be a self-produced 2026 production. To be honest, I picked out for the CD cover art, and being featuring guitar . It's nice laid back quartet with Barakan on acoustic guitar, Ahmon Alom on piano, Tad Mashiach on bas, and Orfri Nehemya on drums.  I like the session, there hint of world music, a mediterranean vibe in some tunes, and I would like to hear from them, and see them live.

My second pick from the "Bin" is Jason Keiser - Kind of Kenny. Again, I choose this CD because Keiser is a guitarist, playing steel string& nylon string acoustic guitars.and because he is joined by well-known guitarist John Stowell. I have several of Stowell's CDs and saw him perform in duet with Bob Sneider at the Bop Shop Record store several years ago. Rounding out the quintet is Danielle Wertz, vocals, Erik Jekabson on Trumpet and flugelhorn, and Mickael Zilber on tenor and soprano saxophones.  This very much a tribute CD of music of the late Kenny Wheeler (1930-2014).  I knew of Kenny Wheeler from his ECM recordings as a leader and sideman. This very interesting and satisfiying recording.  Well worth a listen.

For this 4th of July weekend, the country is celebration (as best as we can) 250th anniversary of the birth of the nation. It's bittersweet considering he current stressful political situation, but "We the People" will endure, and work together to get back on the right track for benefit of every American.

Peace.

Sunday Music Day Muse day - Bil Bruford Earthworks, Gene Bertoncini & Roni Ben Hur

Today's Sunday Music Muse Day is bringing us heavy rains and storm weather. The good news it might hit  Washington DC, too, but enough politics,  A rainy day is a good time to enjoy some good music. First up, Bill Bruford's Earthlworks - Random Acts of Happiness. This is a live recording of the drummer's post guitar-less post-King Crimson group  form 2003. Besides liking the music I love the CD package design and illustration by Dave McKean.

Next up, is Gene Bertoncini & Roni Ben-Hur - Smile.  This is an example of how a music collection grows. The first Gene Bertoncini recording I bought, in 2020, was duet session with local guitarist Steve Green, who I had seen live at Jazz90.1 event at the Artisan House. Well, I enjoy the duet CD, so I started picking up any Bertoncini CD I'd come across, to where, now, this makes the 9th CD I have of his.  It definitely won't be the last. I've enjoy his classic Jazz guitar playing solo, duets, in groups. 

Again, stormy weather is never a excuse to avoid listening to some good music.  Try it, you'll like it.