Pastillitas (Caberet Nocturne Remix) - Al X, Ximena, Palomo
Moan (Trentemøller Dub Remix) - Trentemøller
Seven Movements - Eberhard Weber & Paul McCandless
Red Roses - Peter Power
Deep Politics - Grails
Love Buzz - Nirvana
Manhatta - The Cinematic Orchestra
Take Me Into Your Skin - Trentemøller
My Romance - Brad Mehldau
I painted this during a cool November, 21 years ago!
This piece is also in my personal collection,
and will be included in the paintings of mine chosen
to make available for prints, at an online location.
I will post info here, when it’s up and running, stay tuned.
This is a painting I did a few years back in August.
There is a bit of contrast to my older paintings to the newer ones-
I don't use black outlines for contrast anymore.
I've discarded them, and the idea of them like training wheels on a bicycle-
I simply don't need them anymore .
The flowers in this painting, Nozen Kazura in Japanese
are everywhere I look, now...
They grow on a sort of vine,
that wraps and drapes on tall shrubbery / trees.
The flowers drop onto the ground
and replenish often during their bloom into September...
The trees are everywhere; I painted this in October,
when the fruit just starts to become bright orange, and ripe...
It's in supermarkets now; it has a subtle flavor, not overpoweringly sweet or tangy.
To me they are a symbol of Autumn in Japan.
In November, the leaves get as orange as the fruit,
then drop off, while some fruit still clings to the branches...
A poignant site, with a dusting of the first snow...
This painting is of the "nozen kazura", or "Chinese Trumpet Flowers" in English...
They bloom all through the summer here, hanging down on vines all over the place...
I recently bought the new reunion "Crusaders" CD; "Rural Renewal".
I like it.
I have always liked the "Jazz Crusaders" so when I saw this CD, I was glad.
It has that signature "Crusaders" sound; tight and funky- with a mellow, seasoned, tempered feel about it-
not hyper or annoying.
If I had a car, I would think this a great CD to listen to while driving...
Joe Sample is as happenin' as always, along with Wilton Felder, Stix Hooper, Freddie Washington, Steve Baxter, Dean Parker, & Lenny Castro.
Ray Parker Jr., Arthur Adams, and Eric Clapton do some guest tracks...
I'm presently thinking of some new ideas for my gig at "J" August 8, Friday.
I want to get a beautiful acoustic sound.
I have always thought it "corny" to sing "pretty"-
I don't think that singing with soul, swing, and economy of instruments is "corny" any more.
My gig at "J" will be just me, piano, guitar & bass,
and I've got some great ideas for some tunes and arrangements...
Stay tuned for more details...
I remember the day I started this project, early in May-
I was out photographing the violets on the ground
growing out of this cobblestone wall,
and a little girl came over to me...
She introduced herself as "Moka",
and commenced to tell me she was living in America since she was two,
and has now returned to Japan.
She was walking along the road she would have to walk to go to her new school.
She looked perplexed, while asking me:
"What are you doing? "
"I am a painter, I told her, and I'm photographing these flowers because they are screaming for my attention"...
And now my screaming violets...
My son left for his first night at work.
He is now working part time after school.
A break in the rainy season, a preview of the heat to come...
Photo: Michio Yves Ueda
