I'm an Artist

 

Overexposed photograph.  Light Leaks.  Double exposure that doesn't make sense.  Alignment off.  No rational.  No story - except the one the viewer concocts.  These are all things we were taught not to do in photography.  No it doesn't matter when one is an artist.  

I Need Food

 

After escaping prison, Jack wandered aimlessly trying to find food.  Then he saw a breakfast plate consisting of bacon and pancakes at the diner.  Too fat and unhealthy he thought.  He kept going.  Then he saw a bundle of broccoli at the food market.  Too much ruffage.  Finally he stopped by Juzno's kitchen.  Century egg, a slice of Kiwi, and a hard boiled egg.  Additionally, there was a slice of citrus to season the food.  This meal, he thought, had protein, rufage, vitamins and everything else in between.  He supposed, "well maybe this is the best I can have."

A Day at the Library

 

Babe 1:  Oh, great, they still have Fyodor Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.  That's got to be heavy.  I'm checking it out.

Babe 2:  I wonder if  I should check out Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House or should I go for Neil Young's Waging Heavy Peace?

On the Decay of the Art of Lying

 

If a stranger called and interrupted you, you said with your hearty tongue, "I'm glad to see you," and said with your heartier soul, "I wish you were with the cannibals and it was dinner-time." When he went, you said regretfully, " Must you go?" and followed it with a "Call again;" but you did no harm, for you did not deceive anybody nor inflict any hurt, whereas the truth would have made you both unhappy.

I think that all this courteous lying is a sweet and loving art, and should be cultivated. The highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of graceful and gilded forms of charitable and unselfish lying,

- Mark Twain, On the Decay of the Art of Lying

I Wish Time Would Stop (in Anilao Pond)

 

“Everyone looks at what I am looking at, but no one sees what I see.” 

Félicité Lamennais

Whatever is Has Already Been

 

Whatever is has already been,

    and what will be has been before;

    and God will call the past to account.

Their love, their hate
    and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
    in anything that happens under the sun.

Exclesistes 3:15, 9:6

I Have a Dream

 

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Merchant of Venice

 

I learned quite a bit from Jeffrey in just a few days hanging out with him. It wasn't by choice that I hung out with him though. He keeps looking for me. He never stopped talking. I think he was in dire need to an audience. One of the most useful things I learned was not to pretend you are wiser or better or faster than anyone else. He would at times play the victim - which he was very good at. So people assist him a lot. He always carried a cane and walked slowly. Most people are sensitive to that so they always give him a break. I did see him dancing on the boat one time. Without the use of his cane on him. Cheeky little rascal is he.

The Immoral Gulf [Excerpt from the Dystopian Diary]

 

The city of New York is divided into many parts.  One of which that is noteworthy is the gulf between Queensboro and Manhattan.  In the foreground, steel railways and metallic trees overwhelmed an industrial landscape in Queensboro.  Taggers and graffiti artists would claim their portions of the landscape as they make their marks.   People here are trapped in an Orwellian cycle of life - if at all one can call it life.   Further on the horizon, one could see the skyline of Manhattan.  Grand architectural landmarks rear their pompous heads.  The place of the rich, the famous, and the wannabes.  Here they sip their macchiatos and cortados and lattes in the morning, and martinis and manhattans and chardonnays in the evening.  It is the place to be at - to escape to - there is no question about it. 

Welcome to Swamp Country Hotel

 Don't let this little critter scare you.  She's just as lovable as your Yorkshire dog.  Ma'am, I tell ya.  You could play fetch with her.  Do you want to see her fetch this 40 pounder of a round meat?  You'll be surprised how she could easily turn them into hamburger ground beef.  No, ma'am, no need to worry about little Henrietta here.  I would worry more about those fellas hanging outside.  They may appear like your regular clean gent from da south - but I tell ya them ruffians will take you by surprise.   

Hope you had a nice Valentine's Day, Louis

 

A Cappuccino with a View

 

As the city starts to wake up, I sip my cappuccino.  It's very Italian way of starting the day.  You see, the Italians don't have anything for breakfast except coffee and frothed milk.   As the day goes on, they may take a break and have a "coffee break" - usually with an espresso.  They drink it standing up - as though they are in a hurry to finish their drink and rush back to wherever they needed to be.  I found out that the price for a drink of espresso while standing up was cheaper than when one is seated at a table. 

They laugh at Americans as when we order an Americano from our local coffee bar.  Once I ordered one at the airport in Rome, the barista gave me a cup of espresso and a cup of hot water.  This is how they make Americano.  It's simply an espresso diluted with hot water.  

Appearance and Reality

 

"My external sensations are no less private to myself than are my thoughts or my feelings. In either case my experience falls within my own circle, a circle closed on the outside; and, with all its elements alike, every sphere is opaque to the others which surround it. . . . In brief, regarded as an existence which appears in a soul, the whole world for each is peculiar and private to that soul."”

- F. H. Bradley, Appearance and Reality

Plastic Renewables and its Consequence [Excerpt from the Dystopian Diary]

 

How could such a city turn desolate?  Many decades ago, people thought that it was a good idea to recycle plastics.  So great an idea that building materials became exclusively made from plastics.  Little that they know, the recycling plastics would produce gas that would react with sunlight.  This is commonly known as photochemical reactivity, which results in by products - mainly ozone and other toxic fumes.  So called pundits and Faucian prophets claimed that the people weren't recycling enough.  In order to mitigate the air quality condition, people were mandated to double up in recycling plastics.  Items that were completely useable were discarded so that they can be recycled.  They kept doing this not knowing the dire consequence of their action - like a frog inside a kettle of slowly boiling water.  It would be be too late before the people realized that they were exposed to toxic fumes.  It was a short matter of time before all of life will cease.

A View from the Hotel [Excerpt from the Dystopian Diary]

 

The first day.  Checked in at the Boro Hotel.  Our window view shows parts of Long Island City, which is part of Queens, which is part of New York City.  I could never figure that out.  The city may look alive but there was not much interesting activities going on in the day nor at night.  I'm reminded of a sci-fi movie with zero population and where only the buildings were left.  There was no sight of any living creatures.  

Our room was bereft of color - as though time rewinded into the monochrome past.   Naked electrical conduit and water pipes snaked just below the ceiling.  At the hallways, graffiti and unfinished walls that reveal the inner hollow blocks were all over.  Every bit of interior decor was a feature.  It was not done by accident.

We will be Here

 

"He who has a voice, let him speak.  He who has ear, let him hear.  We are coming."

"I have a voice but I won't speak.  I have ear but I won't hear.  When they come, we will be here."

Who was the voice of King Louie?

 

Guess who was the voice of the orangutan King Louie in the Disney movie The Jungle Book?  If you guessed Louis Armstrong, then you are like me who made the same wrong answer.  The correct answer is Louis Prima. 

Captured with an iPhone at the Louis Prima Gallery of the New Orleans Jazz Museum.  I was introduced to the music of Prima by a friend not too long ago.  So I was intrigued to check out his gallery.  I don't have his music though so my apologies for disappointing some of you.  But you can learn more about him by searching YouTube.

Image as shot.

I don't own the copyright to the photo of Louis Prima.  Appropriated and posted for educational use under Section 17 U.S. Code § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

Hope your day is going well.

Sazerac Rye

 

NOLA's own whiskey.  Quite frankly, I never liked Rye Whiskey.  It's just too rough for my pallet.  Years ago my daughter gave me a bottle of rye whisky for Christmas or perhaps my birthday, and it just didn't go well with me.  At that time I was a Scotch whiskey snob drinker.  All the whiskey I drank would be made from unblended malt.   But I had to try the Sazerac.  So I bought a bottle at one convenience store.  Just for the experience.  Surprisingly, it was smooth.  We stayed for three nights at Eliza Jane in NOLA, and I ended up finishing the bottle.  I'm bad.  

Hope your day is going well.

Ry Cooder - Somebody's Callin' My Name (Traditional)

 

Ry Cooder - Somebody's Callin' My Name (Traditional)

 

From the movie "Crossroads)

 

You better hush, hush, hush, hush

Somebody's calling my name

Hush somebody's calling my name

Hush, hush, hush, hush

 

Somebody's calling my name

Crying oh my Lord, oh my Lord

What shall I do

What shall I do

 

Than you can call for you mother

But your mother can't do you no good

Call on your mother

Your mother can't do you no good

 

Call for your mother

Your mother can't do you no good

Crying oh my Lord, oh my Lord

What shall I do

What shall I do

 

Bobby King, Sam King, Arnold McCuller, Wille Green, Jr, vocals

Ry Cooder, guitar

 

I do not own the copyright to the music, the recording and the photos.  (Photo of Robert Johnson is known as 'the dime store portrait' or 'the photo booth self-portrait,' and was taken by Johnson himself.  The video clip of spinning turntable is from Atakan Ozkan https://www.pexels.com/@atakan-ozkan-1068907.) This video is posted for educational use under Section 17 U.S. Code § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

 

Hope you enjoy. 

 

INXDS #Crossroads #lyrics #RobertJohnson #Blues #DeltaBlues #SlideGuitar

Phil Woods - Paul (1979 vinyl LP “I Remember”)

 

Phil Woods - Paul (1979 vinyl LP “I Remember”)

 

"Buy, buy, says the sign in the shop window; Why, why, says the junk in the yard." - Paul McCartney

 

From the 1979 vinyl LP “I Remember”.  The album is a collection of original compositions dedicated to the memory of just a few of the musicians who have been an important part of Phil’s life. (liner note)

 

Julian for Cannonball Adderley

Paul for Paul Desmond

O. P. for Oscar Pettiford

Ollie for Oliver Nelson

Charles Christopher for Charlie Parker

Flatjacks Willie for Willie Rodriguez

Sweet Willie for Willie Dennis

Gary for Gary McFarland

 

All compositions by Phil Woods

 

Perhaps Phil Woods's best known recorded work as a sideman is  Billy Joel's 1977 song "Just the Way You Are".  He also played the alto sax solo on Steely Dan's "Doctor Wu" from their 1975 album Katy Lied, as well as Paul Simon's "Have a Good Time" from the 1975 album Still Crazy After All These Years.

 

I do not own the copyright to the music, the recording and the photos.  (Image post and video art were appropriated from the original album.) This video is posted for educational use under Section 17 U.S. Code § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

 

All posts are rendered in old school using restored vinyl LPs.  This channel does not use recordings from CDs.  As much as possible, I attempted to remove most of the pops and crackles from the original vinyl album.  Some remastering was applied to make the performance cut through within the confines of  the loudness wars.

 

Hope you enjoy.

 

INXDS.  #jazzsax #slowjazz #jazz #vinylrecord #quoteoftheday

Peter Paul and Mary - Christmas Dinner (1969 vinyl LP Peter Paul and Mommy)

 

Peter Paul and Mary - Christmas Dinner (1969 vinyl LP Peter Paul and Mommy )

 

And it came to pass on a Christmas evening,

When all the doors were shuttered tight,

Outside standing, a lonely boy-child,

Cold and shivering in the night. 

 

On the street every window

Save but one was gleaming bright;

And to this window walked the boy-child

Peeking in saw candlelight. 

 

Through other windows he had looked at turkeys,

Ducks, and geese, and cherry pies;

But through this window saw a gray-haired lady

Table bare and tears in her eyes. 

 

Into his coat reached the boy-child

Knowing well there was little there

He took from his pocket his own Christmas dinner

A bit of cheese and some bread to share. 

 

His outstretched hands held the food and they trembled

As the door it opened wide

Said he "Would you share with me Christmas dinner?"

Said she gently, "Come inside." 

 

The gray-haired lady brought forth to the table

Glasses two, last drops of wine.

Said she "Here's a toast to everyone's Christmas,

And especially yours and mine!" 

 

And it came to pass on that Christmas evening

When all the doors were shuttered tight

That in that town the happiest Christmas

Was shared by candlelight.

 

Peter Yarrow – vocals, guitar

Noel "Paul" Stookey – vocals, guitar, banjo

Mary Travers – vocals

Russell Savakus – double bass

Paul Prestopino – guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro

Produced by Milton Okun

Musical Director: Milton Okun

Assisting Instrumentalists: Russell Savakus, Paul Prestopino

Associate Producer: Phil Ramone

 

Peter, Paul and Mommy, released on Warner Bros. in 1969, is the trio Peter, Paul and Mary's first children's album. It contains hits like "Puff the Magic Dragon", among others. The album reached No. 12 on Billboard's Top LPs chart. The single "Day is Done" reached number 7 on the Easy Listening chart and number 21 on the Pop Singles chart.  At the Grammy Awards of 1970, Peter, Paul and Mommy won the Grammy for Best Recording for Children.

 

According to Paul Stookey, the album grew naturally from the fact that all the previous albums the trio had released contain at least one children's song. The album contains new songs as well as some songs they had previously recorded. Songs such as "It's Raining" and "Puff (The Magic Dragon)", found on earlier albums, were re-recorded for the album with a backing children choir. The single "Day is Done", written by Peter Yarrow, is also a different recording from the one on the album. "The Marvelous Toy" and "Going To The Zoo" are songs by Tom Paxton.

 

Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961, during the American folk music revival phenomenon. The trio was composed of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Paul Stookey and contralto Mary Travers. The group's repertoire included songs written by Yarrow and Stookey, early songs by Bob Dylan, as well as covers of other folk musicians. They were enormously successful in the early and mid 1960s, with their debut album topping the charts for weeks, and helped popularize the folk music revival.

 

I do not own the copyright to the music, the recording and the photos.  (Images on this video were appropriated from the original album.) This video is posted for educational use under Section 17 U.S. Code § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.

 

All posts are rendered in old school using restored vinyl LPs.  Unless noted, this channel does not use recordings from CDs.  As much as possible, I attempted to remove most of the pops and crackles from the original vinyl album.  Some remastering was applied to make the performance cut through within the confines of  the loudness wars.

 

Hope you enjoy. 

 

You can also view my jazz uploads at Juzno's Jazz.

 

INXDS.   #folksinger #childrensong #lyrics #folktrio #traditional #folkballad #folksong