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.

Beyond Thundera Podcast -

 Here's my latest podcast appearance; Enjoy

To Stop Chasing ghosts - My old writing attempts.

For another Thundercats' Tuesday Post, in my yet to be air ed appearence on the Beyond Thundera podcast, with Buddha McKeone and Geale Peter Lawrence. The subject of my writing came up, as professionally I'm mostly known as a artist/producer/director, I only got paid to write two Thundercat episodes, "Shadowmaster", and "Well of Doubt". Peter wondered "Why" there weren't others? Well, actually, besides several unproduced Thundercat story ideas, I have a back log of original character,s concepts, outlines and half-finish stories, dating as far back as my teens. Many can be seen in my Dime-A-Dozen Youtube video playlist. I thinking in an effort to declutter my art files, (and in some ways to stop chasing the ghosts of T'Cat's, ExoSquad, Gargoyles, and other shows I worked on, but have no control over) I might start collecting them into mini-books, sketchbooks, and short videos. It felt good at RICE (Rochester Independent Comic Expo) I presented and sold original items, purely on their own merit. At this point I got nothng to lose, and nothing to prove. I'll keep you posted.

 

Sunday Music Muse Day - Bill Frsell, Rudresh Mahanthappa

Today has been a beautiful weather day, warm and sunny. I perfect day for running errants, grocery hopping,and doing some light housework.  The you would feeel guilty relaxing with some new music.  First up, Bill Frisell - In My Dreams,. This Bill latest release and it fall solidly n neo-Americana jazz he's well know for, including his own originals and tunes like Stephae Foster's "Hard Times", and Daniel E. Kelly's "Home on the Range".  The whole CD is rather laid-back but totally enjoyable.

Next is a CD I picked up purely on knowing of one of the player sin the group., guitarist Rez Abassi.  I have several of his recordings, so figured I'd give this try,  Rudresh Mahanthappa - Kinsmen, reminds me of John McLaughlin's Indian themed music with Shakti, but with saxophones. Worth giving it a listen.

As pleasant weather continues into the early evening, it might be a nice night a firepit and a friendly drink.  If so, enjoy it.

Adam Strange - Between Wars, The DC Universe of Dwayne McDuffie

I made another trip to Ollie's Discount store and spied those two gems, I had to leave them behind, because the line for the cashiers was too long. I did the low-life move of hiding two copies for my return. I've been a Adam Strange comic fan since the original run in the 1960s. The Dwayne McDuffie book is a no-brainer. I had the pleasure of meeting him when we both worked at Warner Bros Animation. He was on working on Justice League and Static Shock animated series , and I was working on Ozzy & Drix series. Our office were next to each other. 

Ex Machina - The Complete Series Omnibus

Here's a Wednesday Hump Day: Odds and Ends post. I went back to Ollie's and picked up the massive Ex Machina Omnibus. Wow, it's 3" thick, but at $40 for $150 retail priced book, it was too good to pass up. I only had the first issue, anyway, plus who could pass up a comic about a guy with a jet pack(Rocketeer, anyone?).