5.23.07

There is a thought floating around in the world of Quantum Physics that time is actually moving faster ... how many times have we felt that, heard friends comment about that ect. I am looking at the date of my last entry and ...WOW! It's been awhile.

January 2007 started of with a bang and I have been traveling around the globe more in these past few months than in the last 10 years. There were trips to Japan and around the continental US ... but a recent tour in Basque country with an incredible talent and friend Fernando Saunders once again leaves me in awe and a state of deep gratitude. The music was stellar as always with his band from Switzerland - Ricardo Regidor and Arno Truxler, piano and drums along with Basque guitarist/artist Rafa Ruida and myself on organ and synth. His tour coordinator Jonan called it the F-F-F Tour, Food, fun and Fernando ... with those priorities, how can it not be fun. Short of me falling (I am told flying) of the stage at a concert in Vitoria and miraculously only receiving bruises on my knee caps and arm, no broken bones or sprains ... this was the most memorable experience of a wonderful culture and people ... the food was amazing as well as some of the most beautiful countrysides I have seen. I loved the spirit of the people and the simplicity of life that is part of their mindset. So much heart and appreciation for what they have and experience. I do understand why the local music and artist sound the way they do after seeing the environment that they live in!

While this tour was small from what Fernando usually does with Lou Reed and Marianne Faithful, what it had in spirit, fun and heart ... the comradery of musicians and crew made it a joy to be one. And tours that I have been on with alot more "budget" pale in comparrison to the amount of stress that they had or their lack of "people skills" and basic caring for one another. There is a deeper lesson to be learnt here. And I experienced this whole spectrum all within days of each other.

There was no question after this tour with a quick stop for another date in Kinston Jamaica that flying back to Los Angeles for one day to record with Yoko Fujimoto of KODO would also provide the same emotional experience, wonderful art and music, pure creativity where any struggle as far as logistics are second or miniscule to our desire to see each other and create ... it is not for nor motivated by money, but by love and art. That is so cool.

Thank you to Fernando and Jonan, Ricardo, Arno, Rafa and an incredible musician bassist named David Gonsalez who acted as our road crew ... all of ONE.

In fact, let me talk alittle about this guy because his work ethic, enthusiasm as well as possessing the most incredible smile welcomed us at each show. He was the first there, almost the last to leave ... setup the stage on his own perfectly and towards the end of the tour even joined us on stage for the encore, Lou Reed's "Satelite of Love" Fernando style!. I was amazed and quite taken by the spirit of this young artist who did his job with no ego and such dedication. I just got thru listening to his "work in progress" CD of his music and was really impressed. I can hear his music doing something very cool!

Well, moving on to another adventure fueled by this one! More later. Take care all!

12.04.06

It's funny to me now that when I was constructing this site, this particular page was the most important to me. Almost a year later it is the one page that has remained empty and while I am sitting at this phenominal studio in Chiba Japan can't think of a more appropriate place to make it's first entry.

What a year, one that I could not have dreamed off and in thinking about it now, was one that I had wished for at the end of 2005. I had wanted to get out and travel more ... performing dates with Peabo Bryson has taken me to spots across this country as well as Singapore and Jakarta. The bonus was recording with Keiko Matsui in Johannesberg with those wonderful musicians was something I have dreamed off since the early 90's where I realized that I had an affinity for South African music. I saw the threads that connected it to the music of Polynesia where I grew up. My experience there confirmed that feeling. Going to Madrid with Fernando Saunders was another rich experience. To play with him and his band, to hear his voice ... it's magic! Now I end the year mixing Keiko's record in Japan, where my grandparents roots are and a place that I love very much.

I have been talking about completing my CD for almost 10 years ... and looking back over that period of time have been thinking seriously about seeing a therapist as to the mysterious "why" that it never came to be. Procrastination, the realization the no one may want to hear it but my ego, the big fear factor .... or what I have been contemplating that my purpose and perhaps joy to see and help others acheive their dreams as an artist. Claiming the title of Producer and being happy with that, or in certain cases as with my dear friend Keiko Matsui, arranger, a talent I have that brings her compositions to life. I do feel I can hear things in what people compose, no matter how simple it may be. If it has heart, I will find it.

That being said, I do feel like creating music as an expression of what I am feeling, the voice of my experiences and emotions and follow my own words that I always tell artist. That is to create with passion, and then release it, don't claim ownership of what we never owned and let this creation take a life of it's own ... whatever that may be. And of course, the dilema of how to remove the ego from an artform that seems to be driven by it. Hmmmmm ....

I realize the neccesity for all of us to be kinder to ourselves, less judgemental of ourselves and therefore of others. That's a big one. By doing so, imagine how much less anger there would be. God knows there is enough of that around already.

Another big lesson is to learn to forgive ourselves ... that is a difficult one too ... I think of a few situations that were wonderful where looking back I manged to muddle up. Over and done with, smarter hopefully to never repeat again. Thank goodness I can count those on one hand, nonetheless, they have stuck with me for awhile.

Have a great New Year, feel blessed just having and being who you are. I have seen enough this year that has humbled me and made me feel like the richest guy around!