Been working at the project table for last couple of hours, listening to Pandora, on my “Scott Bradlee and Post Modern Jukebox” station. As you already probably know (but in case you didn’t), a Pandora station like this isn’t “all” music by that particular artist - a “station” just plays music of a similar genre, etc. So far, they not yet played a tune I didn’t like - just love this kind of music … [Read more...]
Going to see Holst’s Planets – NOT!
September 29, 2018 By
Had a pretty tough decision to make this past week. Couldn’t decide, so no decision was made. The quandary was, which night should I go see MN Orchestra, playing Holst’s Planets, Fri evening or Saturday evening? Didn’t want to “stay” at the office for 2-3 hours waiting until the 8pm performance, so after I left the office for home yesterday afternoon, I chose to let the decision default to … [Read more...]
Loring Park Art Festival – part 1
July 29, 2018 By
Forgot to “check in” yesterday. Had a really nice day, looking at all the creative art that people produce. I came across a photographer who is local to the twin cities so he had a lot of downtown MPLS photos, and I had chosen one photograph print to buy (either 11x17 or maybe 16x20), unframed since the framed version was three times the cost of the unframed. As I was paying for it, another … [Read more...]
Relaxing music video – drums
July 21, 2018 By
This is just so relaxing. Used to listen to a jazz drummer by the name of Billy Cobham all the time when I was a teen ager/young adult. Played his “Funky Thide of Sings” album over and over. https://www.facebook.com/DrumTalkTV/videos/1890765131002142/ … [Read more...]
World Music
August 2, 2016 By
Well, I can tell this is going to be a very good day. I just shared a post of Asian (Chinese Lute) music and now here is a wonderful music video of toe-tapping Hispanic music. I have to admit, I liked this a bit better, because the video aspect captured my visual interest (in addition to the music itself). I love World Music! Thanks goes to Carlos Arturo Castellanos for … [Read more...]
Asian Music
August 2, 2016 By
Initially I was going to pass by this and not listen to it. But, I then remembered I love the group called "Twelve Girls Band" (having a few of their CDs), and so decided to give this a listen. Wow - she is amazing. Give it a listen if you have a couple of free mins. Thanks goes to Norm Witt for sharing. The World's Premiere Chinese Lute Virtuoso Plucks Out A Fiercely Impressive Tune … [Read more...]
Dinner with Nancy and Lois, before seeing South Pacific
July 20, 2016 By
Hi there. This is story #2 from this past Saturday night. Story #1 was my encounter with a stranger in the parking lot before dinner at "The old spaghetti factory". Once I figured out how to pay for parking (had to download an app) and actually paid it, I walked across the street to the restaurant. I was still a bit early, and this place has a huge lobby with lots of elegant seating, so I took … [Read more...]
Seeing South Pacific in the evening after having Lailah that afternoon
July 17, 2016 By
Huh. Well. Starting from around 5:30pm Friday, thru 11pm tonight, it's been a whirlwind of "activity", in the life of Brian. You can tell with my lame opening of "Huh. Well.", that I'm just too dad-blame tired right now (midnight) to write all about what's transpired during this 30 hour period, since it would probably take me a couple of hours to do it, and Mr. Crabby didn't get to take a nap … [Read more...]
More thoughts about music
June 22, 2016 By
Listening to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. What a piece of music. Then: Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the common man". Years ago (in the '80s), a jazz group called "KittyHawk" did an upbeat electronic version of this piece, on an album called "Fanfare". Silly thing is iTunes has this album but this particular piece is missing from it. If you want to listen to it, look for it on their "Collection" … [Read more...]
Thoughts on music
June 21, 2016 By
On a completely gorgeous day, I'm listening to Pandora, my "Stewart Copeland" channel. (He was the drummer in one of my favorite bands of the 80's "The Police"). Mr. Copeland also has composed movie and tv soundtracks, such as the music to the tv show "The equalizer." The music currently playing is from "The Rhythmatist", which I also have in my CD collection. According to Wikipedia: The … [Read more...]
Dream job??
May 12, 2016 By
I have had a long and successful and diverse career in software development and IT, encompassing more than thirty five years. I wouldn't trade my chosen career for anything. Wouldn't trade it for the world. But, with that said, here are my latest "dream jobs": Orchestra conductor Hollywood film composer Musician in a (successful) Latin Jazz Big Band Software development instructor at the … [Read more...]
Listening to music
May 11, 2016 By
For the most part, I don't listen (much) to Piano music. Sometimes, it's a bit "too slow" for me. However, today, we're listening to music from a disk called "100 Best Film Classics" - this is disc four of a six CD set I received last year via a donation to MPR (MN Public Radio). After listening to this CD, it seems to be mostly piano music - some piano solo's and some with orchestra … [Read more...]
Composing music – John Adams
February 20, 2016 By
This is how my mind works. A friend attending a concert tonight posts a picture of a (living) composer giving a talk before/after this particular concert and mentions their name: John Adams. I just happen to know or believe that I vaguely remember there are two composers (living) having that name. One of whom I like and have more than a few CDs of various orchestras playing his music (such as, … [Read more...]
Listening to Herb Alpert (or…)
November 12, 2015 By
In the sixties, when I was a little kid, I was brought up listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - my dad had all their albums ("South of the border", "The lonely bull", "Going places", "A taste of honey", "Whipped cream and other delights", etc.), as well as the various hits by Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66. Never really gave any thought to where I picked up my love for Latin Jazz, but I … [Read more...]
Pandora and an irritating limitation
November 7, 2015 By
Pandora thinks one hundred stations is enough for a Pandora listener. I wonder if this was just an arbitrary decision by the developer (who, obviously doesn't like lots of different music/artists), or did someone actually say in 'The Requirements', "the maximum number of stations for each user should be 100" … [Read more...]
NPR Tiny Desk Music
August 22, 2015 By
NPR Tiny Desk Music Selection (opens in a new window) Not entirely sure whether I like this band's sound, but the leader/singer (and piano) sure has a unique way/style of singing & playing piano. Love the horn section and drummer too … [Read more...]
Judy Garland welcomes Barbar Streisand to her show
August 13, 2015 By
Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand (opens in a new window) Never saw this before, never saw an adult Judy Garland singing (that I remember). Never knew she had her own show - since this was in B&W, I would guess it was in the early '60s. The way she shows her love and affection for Barbra S. during the duet is simply amazing. Two amazing singers. … [Read more...]
Claude Bolling article (crossover music)
August 12, 2015 By
Article on Claude Bolling (open in a new window) One of my favorite crossover albums in the '70s. … [Read more...]
Columbia House (Record/CD mail order) closing
August 12, 2015 By
Columbia House closing article (open in new window) This new brought back some good memories: First, of my buying classical CDs via Columbia House in the '90s, then, looking at the accompanying picture of the "8-track" tapes - had plenty of those in the '70s [not only did I have an 8-track stereo in my bedroom (growing up as a teenager), but I believe I might have had an 8-track player in my VW … [Read more...]
The Macarena
August 4, 2015 By
I'm sorry, but "Macarena" is still my all-time fav song & music video...just had to share this with everyone today - lol. YouTube music video (opens in a new window) [ok, maybe not my all "all-time" fav, but let's say my all-time fav from 1996.] … [Read more...]
