Tales of Seven

Renditions

A gorgeous rendition of Love Story (Taylor Swift) mashed with Viva la Vida (Coldplay)

Piano / Cello - by Jon Schmidt

Sia at the Fillmore

Children's drawings, 5-foot-tall neon lights in the shape of flowers, and stuffed animals...delicious multi-colored stage.

A taste of KT Tunstall (melodic) and Joss Stone (sassy) wrapped into a strong, quirky presence (a la Bjork).. a presence adorned with sparkly, glitter-ful suspenders and a green tiara.

A crowd of complex and varied ingredients that mixed well for unexpected flavors.

Best known for Breathe Me and Destiny, I thought Sia was actually better live than on her CDs given a fantastic, 'I-feel-every-note-of-my-music-with-passion' presence.

 

Jam Session

It's been a long while since I've played music and this past warm Sunday morning proved the perfect opportunity to give it another go. With a couple of guitars, music books, and a computer hooked up to wireless (to look up lyrics and tabs) we hit the roofdeck for a sunny morning of music.

Mimosas, sassy KT Tunstall, earthy Sheryl Crow and the driving beat of Green Day were on the morning menu, set on a table of blue skies and Bay views.

Favorite Music: Part V

The Color Red.

Dreams of the foreign and exotic

      .....a heavy spice in the air.

The slow and sultry movement in a dance of two.

Music that brings to mind places deep and alluring.

A small sampling of music I like listen to when night falls and the breeze still comes in warm...      

         

Buena Vista Social Club Chan Chan

Gerardo Azevedo Berekeke

Geoffrey Orema Makambo

MC Solaar Le Belle Et Le Bad Boy

Gotan Project Criminal

A continuation on a series on my Favorite Music that includes music in the colors of White, Black, Brown, and Blue

Favorite Music: Part IV

The Color White.

Ethereal, soaring music.

A sense of Purity. Balance.

 

   ....discovery through enlightenment.

I played this music crossing Drake Passage to Antarctica, walking the  Burren in Ireland, looking up at the stars on crystal clear nights. Music that is uplifting through quiet inspiration.

Frou Frou   Let Go

Adiemus   Adiemus

Chicane   Autumn Tactics

Enya   Storms in Africa

Jessie Cook   Incantation

Alison Kraus  Down to the River

Vienna Teng   Soon Love Soon

Enya Orinoco Flow

Favorite Music: Part III

The Color Blue.

In many different ‘languages of style’, a small sampling of songs that represent a

  ...‘depth of feeling’

       ....empathy

             ...perhaps a sadness-to-overcome.

-- music I use for quiet consideration...

Damien Rice   Moody Monday

KT Tunstall   Heal Over

All or Nothing  Dirty Vegas

Imogen Heap   Congratulations

Gary Jules   Mad World

Michael Nyman The Heart Ask Pleasure First

Dervish   Hungry Rock

Favorite Music: Part II

The Color Brown.

A small sampling of songs that remind me of……

Big front porches, peeling paint, New Orleans....

...Zydeco, hot, still air, lemonade, rocking chairs, crickets and fire flys.

A weathered old man with his guitar, old pickup trucks...

… the salt of the earth…

               ...moving with an appreciation of that which is small.

Music I like to play on hot summer days and when driving with the top down. Gritty, earthy, 'no pretense' music I use to get in touch with the basics.

KT Tunstall   Black Horse and the Cherry Tree

Joan Osborne   Dracula Moon

Moby   Find My Baby, Natural Blues

Beck   Farewell

Buddy & Julie Miller   Rock Salt & Nails

Favorite Music: Part I

The Color Black.

To Fight.

To Strive.

A Melodic Strength.

Rebellion.

A very small sample of the music I play to clear the head, shake off something difficult, inspire a workout, and gain strength.

Evanescence   Going Under

Nine Inch Nails   That’s What I Get

Soundtracks to ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘The Crow’

Linkin Park

Eminem

Favorite Music: The Context

When asked what types of music I like, I always stumble. It’s an odd reaction for someone who loves music so much.

I’ve always felt music, like art, is more meaningful in context. Presenting long lists of favorite artists (and for that matter, buying or borrowing reams of music at any one time) seems oddly detached for something so personal. It has the same dulling effect as a walk down a long, white museum aisle with rows upon rows of paintings.

I love the association of a place, memory, or experience with music and art. It creates that depth of meaning I think both music and art are meant to inspire.

All that being said, I'd like to share a some of the songs I like, in their context, in some of my upcoming blog entries.