Wednesday, May 26, 2004
I haven't been able to write for awhile...
Not exactly writer's block,
more like computer back-
I went to visit the Wizard of Sangenjaya,
Edward,of Edward's Clinic.
Himself and his staff are a godsend.
Edward's Clinic offers accupuncture, moxibustion, and shiatsu massage,
to fix whatever ails you.
So, I'm almost back in the saddle,
almost...
Pins and needles, needles and pins-
It's a happy man that grins...
-The Honeymooners
Till next time... 'Mela
9:59 PM
Saturday, May 22, 2004
© 2004 Pamela MacCarthy
All rights reserved
“Sermambetiba”
Digital
This is my new computer art piece, "Sermambetiba".
I was imagining myself visiting an old friend in Brazil.
I named it after a street where she lives...
We met in NYC years ago, and we haven't kept regular correspondence,
but I do hear from her from time to time.
She's a bubbly Brazillian artist named Marcia...
Till next time... ‘Mela
8:48 PM
Thursday, May 20, 2004
I've got to do something nice for myself today.
I successfully fought off the urge to stop in at the local
for (more than) a few street level beers...
The rainy night, and the tug of loneliness were oppressive-
I grit my teeth, held my umbrella tight in one hand,
and performed my Cat in the Hat balancing act
while pedaling my ass home-
I cut up a mango and called it a day.
Earlier, I went with my friend Hiroshi to a café in 2 chome Shinjuku,
to meet the owner and discuss a gallery showing for my digital art.
Things went well, but more time is needed to find a proper time slot-
A possible late autumn show...?
OK.
So why can't I shake this sinking feeling?
It would probably do me well in life to be more optimistic-
But a pom-pom girl, I ain't.
I once got some very powerful advice from a club owner boss:
What men want most is a cheerleader.
I know one girl sittin' here, that wouldn't be objectionable to one either...
Criminy, the sun breaks through...
I'm traveling in some vehicle
I'm sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
That shell shock love away
There's comfort in melancholy
When there's no need to explain
It's just as natural as the weather
In this moody sky today...
'Hejira'
-Joni Mitchell
Till next time... 'Mela
6:52 PM
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Since it is yet another grey day,
here's Grey Day song list PART DEUX:
Such a Night - Dr. John
Steel Guitar Rag - Doc Watson
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
Hejira - Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius
Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell
Good Stuff - Chet Atkins
Dimming of the day - Richard and Linda Thompson
If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
Carefree Highway - Gordon Lightfoot
Buffalo Nickel - Bela Fleck
The Magdalene Laundries - Joni Mitchell, The Chieftans
Music proves to be great company,
on this rainy day, in my solitude...
Also, a bowl of bing cherries,
a hot cup of Strawberry and Kiwi Celestial Seasonings tea,
and old fashioned donuts...
When I can’t stops me fiddlin’
I just takes me Rit’lin
I’m poppin’ and sailin' man!
-Bart Simpson, of The Simpsons
Till next time... 'Mela
2:53 AM
Sunday, May 16, 2004
I hear those little noisy frogs,
in the distance-
Usually, this is a sign that water is about to make an entrance.
The rains, and the flooding of the rice paddies are next up to bat.
I saw a white ajisai (hydrangea) yesterday.
During the rainy season, they turn lilac, deep purple, indigo blue
or magenta,
depending on the acidity of the soil they're in.
This time of the year I usually get busy on a canvas.
I will start soon on my next painting,
a portrait of my son, Michio.
This is an introspective time for me.
The quiet of the rain, and the mossiness of everything-
It makes me feel like solving inner puzzles...
A lot of this is done through painting-
The challenge of the problem solving I do when I paint
satisfies many other long running questions in my head.
This is a different form of creativity.
My computer art is pure spontaneity,
whereas my canvases are calculated.
I have an image in my mind's eye.
The problem solving occurs in finding the way to
manipulate my brushes to attain it,
and the surprise occurs when I discover things
that were unknown to me before making the attempt.
This explanation probably seems a trifle eccentric,
but , it cooks for me, Jim...
Rainy Day People
Rainy day people always seem to know when it’s time to call
Rainy day people don’t talk, they just listen till they’ve heard it all
Rainy day lovers don’t lie when they tell ’ya they’ve been down like you
Rainy day people don’t mind if you’re cryin’ a tear or two
If you get lonely, all you really need is that rainy day love
Rainy day people all know there’s no sorrow they can’t rise above
Rainy day lovers don’t love any others, that would not be kind
Rainy day people all know how it hangs on a piece of mind
Rainy day lovers don’t lie when they tell you, they’ve been down there too
Rainy day people don’t mind if you’re cryin’ a tear or two.
Rainy day people always seem to know when you’re feeling blue
High stepping strutters who land in the gutters sometimes need one too
Take it or leave it, or try to believe it
If you’ve been down too long
Rainy day lovers don’t hide love inside they just pass it on
Rainy day lovers don’t hide love inside they just pass it on
-Gordon Lightfoot
Till next time... 'Mela
8:24 PM
Monday, May 10, 2004
Gnarly, dude.
The sun has a nerve to shine today.
Two days of rain were giving me the well needed excuse to
be invisible-
Now with this bright sun,
unlike itsy bitsy spider,
I don't feel like climbin' up no spout.
I was always of the belief
that if you didn't have anything particularly bright and uplifting to say,
you should basically piss off.
But for all of the bright, sunlit days of creativity
and sparkle,
there is an equal amount of time
mentally spent in a cool,
mossy, dark place,
where the fog swirls,
and rocks sweat.
A place where batteries are charged...
Garlic, ginger, turmeric, thyme, lemon grass, cilantro, chili,
black pepper, oregano, cinnamon, basil, rosemary, onion, mustard, cumin, sage, saffron...
There will be no more rocket fuel powered lift-offs.
You must flap your wings like Icarus & Dedalus...
Watermelon kisses.
Black chocolate
and rhythm.
Colors and breath.
Bright sunlight
I'm not ready yet.
" I am not flying, I am falling with style..."
-Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story
Till next time... 'Mela
8:33 PM
Saturday, May 08, 2004
© 1997 Pamela MacCarthy
All rights reserved
“Yesterdays”
37 cm x 45 cm
Gouache On Canvas-paper
I painted this at my mother's house,
in upstate New York.
I saw this completely intact little tricycle,
on the lawn sitting there like a rusted battleship-
I studied it for a long time, and thought that this image
embodied motherhood.
I wanted to capture all the feelings of beauty,
love, struggle, futility, hope, and nostalgia
I felt when I first caught a glimpse
of this little relic on the morning lawn
of my mother's backyard.
I painted it in 1997.
Till next time... 'Mela
8:21 PM
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Just a short post today,
to wish my oldest and dearest friend a
H A P P Y * B I R T H D A Y !
Mary & I have been friends since we were both 14 or so.
You ain't gettin' my age outta me,
just believe me when I tell you it has been may moons
since then.
She has been my Taurus rock,
and my bestest buddy.
I'm gonna sing a song for her tonite,
across the world...
All the best to you today, Marishka!
Till next time... 'Mela
7:16 PM
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
The show last night was totally fab!
It was my first time to visit JZ Brat for an actual performance.
Nobuo Hara was in top form,
as well as his Sharps and Flats.
Here is a set list from the night's performance:
Blues East
Trumpet Blues
Artistry in Rhythm
One O'clock Jump
Apple Honey
**************
guest vocalist
On the Sunny Side of the Street
That's Life
**************
String of Pearls
I'm getting sentimental over you
Sing! Sing! Sing!
**************
Encore: It's a Small World after All
3 guesses whom the guest vocalist was?
It was so completely cool the way it all came about.
I sent Tomoya an email,
to wish him to "break a leg"...
When he got my (phone) email, Mr. Hara was there.
He said: " Ask her to bring some charts"!
I have some big band scores
that are arranged by tenor-man, composer, Akio Ueda,
that I used for another big band concert-
So I gave one of them,
"On the Sunny Side of the Street" a shot.
"That's Life" I did with just the rhythm section.
It all reminded me of a 1950's jazz movie,
where musicians just fall by,
and support one another...
I asked all the band members to sign my program,
as a memento.
A stellar night,
I was happy to not only be in the audience,
but also a participant in a great night of music!
Special thanks to Hiroshi, for inviting me out for some music.
Tomorrow is my gig at Jazz Spot "J" in Shinjuku.
I hope to see you there!
Till next time... 'Mela
6:06 PM
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Nobuo Hara and his Sharps & Flats Orchestra
Tonight I will visit JZ BRAT.
Nobuo Hara & his Sharps & Flats will do a special Golden Week
appearance.
Appearing also will be Nobuo's son, guitarist Tomoya Hara.
I plan to attend the second show,
the first show is an afternoon date-
I feel strange going into a night club to see a show
in the afternoon...
Tomoya will appear with me and the Quartet at Shinjuku Jazz Spot “J”
this Friday.
Mr. Hara and I have done some work together.
I am the girl singer on Nobuo's CD, That’s Big Band.
I also appeared with Nobuo at his 45th Year in Showbiz recital
at Orchard Hall, Shibuya,
and the Big Band Festival at NHK Hall.
It will be nice to see Mr. Hara and the guys once again.
My old friend Mike Price is one of the trumpet guys.
I got to know a few of the guys during our rehearsals
for both the recordings and live performances.
Till next time... 'Mela
Labels: Jazz Vocalist Pamela MacCarthy, NHK Hall, Nobuo Hara, Orchard Hall, Sharps & Flats Orchestra, That's Big Band CD
8:14 PM
|
Photo: Michio Yves Ueda
