Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Yardbird Parker


One thing I can say about the majority of my generation is that not many of us are aware that there was great music before 1975. I don't know many kids like me that extend their ear to jazz. They think it's just loud, random noise that you can't follow. Charlie Parker is one of my favorite master jazz musicians and also considered an influencial innovator of jazz in the 20th century.

"They teach you there's a boundary line to music, but man, there's no boundary line to art."

Jazz is just something that makes you feel good. It's upbeat and very in the moment. It makes you wanna tap your toes and fingers. Get up and move your body. Almost like letting the music take you, eat you up and never digest you.

Even if it's a sad or slow song. It'll have the effect of making you feel very introspective and self-reflective. Me, personally, I think it to be one of the rawest forms of music. And you don't need words to comprehend that. It is whatever you want it to be. That's the other great thing!

People can take lyrics out of songs and the song could be about a bicycle, but the person applies the lyrics to their current situation. Be it love or lost, or whatever. With jazz, there aren't words to make up an emotion. There's nothing BUT emotion. You create the sadness or the happiness once it hits your ears. Charlie Parker said it best himself;
"Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your own wisdom."

When I hear Charlie Parker's "Embraceable You", it makes me want to sit outside on a stoop and enjoy a nice glass of Brandy on ice. (And I don't usually drink Brandy which makes the idea even funnier.) The song just makes you feel like that's what you should be doing. Or maybe strolling through a park hand in hand with someone that makes your insides shake at their touch. Kissing in the sun or tracing all of their curves with your fingers. It's entitled "Embraceable You" afterall.Then you have other songs by Charlie Parker like "Street Beat" that makes you wanna violently throw everything off of a table onto the floor, then dance atop it in a mad happiness. Take a perfect stranger by the hand and on contact the energy feeds through the tips of your fingers into their skin. Soaking up the enticement, the excitement, the life.

Though Charlie Parker's life was short lived, he made memorable jazz. In the beginning before it was jazz. Before it was anything. Before it was hip and way before it was world known and praised. He followed his own beat. He made music that made people feel good--it made him feel good. And that's precisely what music is suppose to do. He got the name Bird/Yardbird because they say he lived his life free as a bird.

I can't see any other way to live it either.





Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Indifferent Lull

As the mid-week blues blows in for it's weekly reminder that life's plan isn't playing out on the timely schedule I thought it would, I find myself becoming more and more impatient. Desperately wanting the distant future to be the near future. Not really knowing where to start or how to end the cancers of my life. The people, the parties, the bullshit. I can't say my situation is necessarily plight, but more like a wind that's picking up and showing me I'm dedicated to kicking things into high gear. My work outs, my writing... My painting could use a little more inspiration but I'm sure once March rushes in with a warm breeze, the colors will flood the canvas and all will be well.


The balance of responsibilty and happiness. Maybe they CAN co-exist afterall. The Spring looks promising and my outlook, though at an indifferent lull, is pregnant with idea of elation.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Different Shades of 'Oh!'

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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Games With Greenery

The awesome, most kickass past time for many of us as kids was Nintendo and anyone who knows Nintendo, knows Super Mario Brothers. The addicting, relentless obsession. The rush of beating each world and saving Princess Peach. The glory of defeating Bowser!

Well I'd like to admit I've started this addiction once again. The rebirth of sore thumbs that get so tender, texting on my Crackberry is almost painful. But I do it for the win. The excitement of escaping and being a hero all at the same time. Adding a little *enhancement to this activity is even better. Hours of stoned video gaming will ensue. Talk about your compulsive habits. I recently invested in a gaming system as a way to keep myself in the house and out of **trouble. An investment I think is working out pretty good. I'm seein a few video games exclusively and it's going well. It's funny how in this case, responsibilty comes in disguise as childhood fun.
*Weed. I mean weed. It totally makes every single thing in the world better. **Spending excessive money for no apparent reason.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Groundhog Resolution



You gotta love American folklore; if it's cloudy the groundhog will leave the burrow and if it's sunny, the little fucker will retreat back into the burrow. That's what determines an early spring or a prolonged winter. The things people will believe. I suppose it's okay to be superstitious about something though. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't. I guess it's more of the gullable American culture that I dislike.

Whatever-the-case, be it rain or shine, Groundhog's Day is the metaphoric day for everyone to self reflect and get on with their lives. Their procrastination. Their vices and addictions. Just get along with it. Whatever it is, whatever it may be. The shadow can be symbolic for buying a house, getting the courage to do stand-up comedy or, like the mighty groundhog, simply uprooting to greener pastures. Almost as if a reminder not to fuck up the New Year's Resolution you already forgot about. Keep it going and see where it takes you. Maybe if every month had some superficial reason to make promises to yourself and others, then celebrate the idea of fulfilling those promises, the world would get more acheived. "Hey it's Flag Day! Don't forget to blow your husband!" Hah! Well that actually would be helpful to so many, many people. But you get what I mean. More goals could be reached. Orrr just a lot more celebrating.

Either way I think it's good for people to start getting pumped for the Spring.
The excitement of longer days and warmer nights. Six more weeks of winter or not, face the dragon and here's to not seeing your shadow.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Crawl Then..



Ooooh! What have I awakened in me? This is something fan-tubular! When your body is suddenly flooded with inspiration, you can't wait for the gates to open. Pen to pad. Voice to mic. Paint to brush.

Beautifully Yum


Yum.

This video is both poetically arousing and inspirationally inspiring. Yeah! I said it. Inspirationally inspiring. Whether it's gramatically correct or not, real human beings know exactly what I'm talking about. And if you don't.... watch this and form an opinion.