Steve Ball

Odilon (beyond the visible) - Sketch

Evening work: Odilon (beyond the visible) 5.1M mp3. 

A new song emerging, perhaps for the new (now underway) C3 recording project.  Words came first, from my old friend and band-mate Bret Hamilton.

Then, the music unfolded as is with Paul over a series of rehearsals.

Odilon Redon feels the cloud, but he can’t explain
Why he sees a burst of orange that saturates his brain
Every time he smells the rain, every time he smells the rain
Light spills everywhere
Light runs down the walls
Light is smeared across her face
Light pours and streams and falls
Light drips into your eyes’ til it overflows
    Monochrome, Kodachrome, yogurt and Styrofoam
    Pixels and parachutes, pastels and paste
    Sight out of time palette out of taste

Odilon wears a cravat of silk
Against his neck to ring his purple shirt
his yellow vest sings a siren of tiger milk
So he drinks and curls his toes in golden dirt
He can’t escape the riot of the spectrum
That rubs against the edges of each thought
The spiral of each resonant vibration
The climbing of azure and rust upon his back
Ants make their way up Odilon’s neck
Ants of every stripe, ants of every hue
    Ants with salve, soup, and sandpaper
    Ants on their way into his view

Redon, Redon, you have (have) gone
Down the river of secret songs
Mixing your paint in somnambulist brew
Lifting the curtain to the untried and true
Redon, Redon, you have not gone

Words: Bret Hamilton
Music:  C3 (Steve Ball / Paul O’Rear)

* * *

Backfloat

Evening work: Backfloat (5.1M mp3).  Fine tuning final piano songs and finishing touches on song order.

From the Anosognosic’s Dilemma:

“Unknown unknown solutions haunt the mediocre without their knowledge. The average detective does not realize the clues he or she neglects.  The mediocre doctor is not aware of the diagnostic possibilities or treatments never considered. The run-of-the-mill lawyer fails to recognize the winning legal argument that is out there.  People fail to reach their potential as professionals, lovers, parents and people simply because they are not aware of the possible. 

This is one of the reasons I often urge my student advisees to find out who the smart professors are, and to get themselves in front of those professors so they can see what smart looks like.”

* * *

Pushing Up a Daisy

Congratulations to Guitar Craft family and friends around the world on completing 25 years.   And next?  

Song of the Day, March 25th 2010: Pushing Up A Daisy, (4.99M mp3)

pushing up a daisy

look me in the eye and tell me I'm not crazy
I may be underground but I'm not pushing up a daisy
read between the lines and you see I'm a little bit lazy
under my designs my sketch lines are a little bit busy  

we're not so dissimilar: we slaughter the same language
underneath our smiles we bear the exact same brand of baggage
eyes are rolling shoulders slumped and staring at the ceiling
time misspent to reinvent the wheeling of our dealing

hang your picture on my wall
why won't you return my call

I'd jay walk one hundred miles to avoid a nosy neighbor
I'd lick the sun and singe my tongue to avoid a flaccid flavor
I don't believe in passive anger mild depression calm aggression
don't believe in flying reindeer Santa Claus random regression

I remember every face
every person every place

open up your ears to the message in the music
sometimes it chooses you even if you don't choose to choose it
you'll squeegee off the field if you don't pay full price at retail
or download free to bankruptcy -- a devil in the detail

we may make more from pulling copper coins out of a fountain
and getting paid is just like sucking honey from a mountain
to some these words are blessings all dressed up as common curses
and sometimes truth is hiding in the cracks between the verses

I remember every note
every phrase and every hope
music lights the frozen dark
pokes a pinhole in my heart

look into the mirror and tell me we're not crazy
I may be out of cash but I'm not pushing up a daisy
read between the lines and you see I'm semi-serious
under my designs my sketch lines are glowing furious   

could be better could be worse
one man's blessing one man's curse

for my current and former bandmates:

Bret, Richard, Kevin, Dave, Curt, Tobin, Adam, Hidi, Bert, Pauly, Tony, Joly, Pietro, Jon, Ralph, Debra, Nigel, Pat, Herni, Ferny, Martin, Christian, Trey, Robert,... Sanford, Blake, Kirk, Dan, Travis, Travis, Bill, Bill, Brock, Heather, Chris, Steven, Horacio, Martin, Claudio, Pablo, Guille, Luciano, Marcello, Sandra, Sama, Maria Gabriela,... Jaxie, Bob, Derek, Dean, Paul, Lee, Chuck.

* * *

Kirkland

Evening Work: Kirkland (10.3M mp3). 

Additional reflections on moving and moving further forward.

Kirkland: there are some fancy parts, some curvy parts, some shiny showy sophisticated parts, and parts still grounded in lumber and flannel.

* * *

C3: Ark

Evening Work: Ark (12.8M mp3) -- this is the song built on the Ivan Lee’s excellent original solo guitar piece (Ardacia) with a second guitar part added (Arc) and now evolving further with lyrics, vocals and harmonies. 

TBD: bass part.

ark
I woke up deep inside a bubble
and pierced my heart with a silver shovel
then stumbled into a stage with strangers
while you were out and away in a manger  
while wise men waltzed around your stable
I went to work putting food on the table
I built a boat and sailed away

twelve disciples go to eleven ten times fast
nine lives eight knives seven sins cut into the past    

my strange story is unreported
and my last breath somehow sounds distorted 
when fabricated in facts of fiction
shred made-up history in twisted diction 
torn free from feeling past frozen chances
or inconvenient circumstances
my winged life shoveled through a wringer 
and bended joy wrapped around my finger

six strings times five fingers forgetting what is lost  
three leaders too many one penny for your thoughts

don't let these curves blind us
leave yesterday behind us
three thousand songs remind us to connect again

I don't know how much doctors practice
or how much time I'll sit on this cactus
or wander out in this borrowed desert
to dig old wounds like a buried treasure
where Pete and Repeat sail off to the west coast
but Pete falls out to become a game show host
and Repeat trades his boat for a baby sitter

one measure too many three of a perfect clone
forever five fingers six hands to play alone  

see how these curves bind us
a full circle sails behind us
if we play an ark will find us and we'll connect again

* * *

Redmond

Evening Work: Redmond (8.8M mp3). 

Reflections on moving and moving forward.

* * *

Earlier: An inspiring afternoon, celebrating a Superbowl of Sound via rehearsal with a new C3 configuration featuring NathaG on keys and ChrisC on drums complementing the already formidable PaulO and LeeS.    

Some excellent new energy in the air.

* * *

Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists 1990

Paul Richards recently found and emailed a link to a rare Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists bootleg from the 3rd leg of our 1990 tour.

Here is the link to the bootleg.

IMO, listening back now, this was one of the ‘peak’ shows of that era.  We did five legs of touring in 1990 after an intense year of work in 1989 that completed with the infamous 1989 “Bogo Tour.”  Bert was beginning to introduce Bach into our repertoire, and it was a musical turning point before the “Nigel phase” erupted in late 1990 and into the 1991 US and international tour(s.)  

Boston Paradise Show Setlist
Aug 7^th 1990

0.   Tuning the Air (group)

1.       Askesis (group)

2.       Wall Street (group)

3.       Scaling the Whales (PaulR, HidiM, TobinB, SteveB)

4.       Tony or Ralph / Herni piece (name?)

5.       Intergalactic Boogie Express (group)

6.       Here Comes my Sweetie (PatriciaL)

7.       Circulation (group)

8.       Burning Siesta (HernanN, SteveB, RalphG, BertL)

9.       Spasm for Juanita (RalphG, SteveB)

10.   Lark's Thrak (group)

11.   tuning

12.   Doo do un doo do un doo,this Yes (PatriciaL)

13.   The Breathing Field (group)

14.   Bach Prelude (group)

15.   An Easy Way (group)

16.   The Moving Force (RobertF, BertL, TonyG, CurtG )

17.   Digitalis (GuidoE/DavidP)

18.   The Driving Force (group)

19.  Listen (Patricia)

20.   Eye of the Needle (group)

21.   Fireplace Circulation Em (group)

22.   Fireplace (group)

23.   Asturias (group)

24.   Fragments of Skylab (group)

25.   Flying Home (group)

26.   The Woman in You (Patricia)

27.   Are You Abel? (RalphG, SteveB, PaulR, HerniN, TobinB)

28.   Leap of Faith (TonyG, CurtG, RalphG, SteveB, PaulR, TobinB, SteveJ, BertL)

29.   Bicycling to Afghanistan (CurtG-mid, SteveB-top, RobertF-bass)

30.   Echoes (PatriciaL &  EddieG)

31.   Bach Prelude (again!)

32.   When You Give Yourself (PatriciaL)

33.   Symetrical Circulation (group)

34.   Lark's Thrak (again!)  

Tour Personnel

• Bettina Nuñez
• Curt Golden
• David Pittaway
• Eduardo Galimany
• Guido Ernst
• Hernan Nuñez
• Hideyo Moriya
• John Sinks
• Karen Thomas
• Martin Schwutke
• Patricia Leavitt
• Paul Richards
• Ralph Gorga
• Robert Fripp
• Steve Ball
• Steve Jolemore
• Tobin Buttram
• Tony Geballe

Participants and audients: please amend or correct this data as necessary!

Q: was this the famous “silent Martin” Paradise show? 

 

* * *

Christmas Eve

Evening Work: one final song recorded in the Opal after five + years of recording, rehearsals, performance and living in this amazing space.

Eve (10.9M mp3) – three guitar parts, all improvised, one after another. Lyrics and vocals not far behind, but enough for one long evening.

About the title: It is now Christmas Eve 2009, and we’re on the eve of moving into a new home and into the next phase of life in Seattle.  I see so much contagious hope and excitement in this picture of Sofie. 

Happy Holidays to family, friends, fans, and former neighbors all over the world.

* * *

The Bishop

Evening Work: a deeper reflection on one of the central characters I sometimes play in my working roles, The Bishop (3.8M mp3)

Characteristics:

• often stands close to the King (and/or Queen)
• is able to see and move long distances via diagonal lines
• path through life appears to zig and zag
• protects the home turf via long vision and impact
• training in and connection to work with higher powers
• ‘winning’ often involves making a personal sacrifice for the greater good of the game at hand

* * *

C3: Arc

Evening Work: Arc (7.4M mp3)

Another in a series of new tracks initiated by Ivan Lee and on their way to active “C3” song status.  Perhaps we’ll play these new songs at our show this Saturday night (Aug 29th) at the 15th Ave. Coffee and Tea House on Capitol Hill.

In this case, the C3 instrumental is “Arc” while the vocal version that is underway will likely be “Ark.”  Either way, some nice moody music for traveling over water is happening here. 

* * *

Nigel Gavin: Assault on the Consensus

More History in honor of Nigel’s presence in the USA:  Assault on the Consensus (9.1M mp3) 

This is another Prometheus track, the high-point of the CD, IMO.  There are three sections: the gritty prog-bluesy intro in 7, the sensuous seven melodic middle, and the final anthemic, uh… anthem complete with crowd-sourced chorus that was recorded with a small crowd that was sourced from the Columbia Sound Design crew in a soundstage on the Sony/Columbia lot.    I wish we’d taken pictures of these sessions.

For those just tuning in, this is also from the "Prometheus" CD, written in 1992, recorded in 1993, released in 1994. For me, this piece was the highlight of a seven year collaboration with Sanford Ponder.  Prometheus was Sanford Ponder (guitars), Steve Ball (guitars, vocals), Nigel Gavin (bass), Pat Mastelotto (drums), Chris Rhyne (keyboards).

If you listen in headphones, you will experience for yourself why Sanford deserves the Oscar he won for Sound Design on Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula. And also, IMNSHO, and also why Pat Mastelotto so righteously deserved to join Sylvian Fripp and King Crimson just after this project was released. 

Have I mentioned yet that Nigel Gavin is also the most musical player I have ever played with?  He’s right up there with Tony Levin, Christian de Santis, and Horacio, Martin, and Claudio from the Big Time trio.   Oh, and don’t forget Paul O’Rear and Ivan Lee.

Check out Nigel’s sweet and juicy bass lines around 3’39” if you wish to experience this yourself.

Assault on the Consensus
we saw it coming, a white knife rising
our eyes connected, our senses widened
should have pulled out while the door was open
should have fixed the leak when it was broken
righteous selfish ~ throwback repeat
silent protest ~ blinded senseless

pink plastic bandage on an airbrush cancer
pour from the rubber tongue: elastic answer
dissected, disconnected, empty motion
the outside amplified, the inside frozen

mailbox empty ~ airtight reason
redneck backfire ~ cordless deathsquad

talkshow slavery ~ neon headstone
science conscience ~ sequence consequence

* * *

I often feel that I’ve lived many different lives.    

* * *

Nigel Gavin in the USA: Policeman’s Ball

Archive Diving: I'm reminded via email that my old friend and League of Crafty Guitarists / Prometheus bandmate Nigel Gavin is currently visiting the US from New Zealand. Hi Nigel.

Here is a reminder of an obscure track featuring Nigel that deserves to be heard, this one also from "Prometheus", written in 1992, recorded in 1993, released in 1994.

This still really shows off Sanford Ponder in some of his finest recorded moments. The Policeman's Ball (4.3M mp3).

Nigel and Pat Mastelotto are also not too shabby here.

* * *

C3: Niagara

Evening Work:  Niagara (3.8M mp3)

This is a new C3 song being built on an excellent solo guitar track from bandmate, Ivan Lee.   It’s, of course, still a work in progress (Paul’s bass line is still under development) but I hope to add this to our live set within the month. 

Niagara
I was a drop of niagara falls
a mouse among wild animals
you were a lion
I was a slow soft snail
you were a pit bull
I was your wagging tail
you were Teen Spirit
I was a system sound
you were the circus
I was a dancing clown

I was a photon inside your sun
a grain of glycerin inside your gun
pulling the trigger
wait for the film to start
sound growing bigger
a murmur inside my heart
set this in motion
cut to the seven sins
cue the explosion
bring in the violins

dangling carrots  
three million reasons why
money inherits
weaknesses amplify
tell me what's missing
if cash cannot fill the hole
if at the beginning
somebody moves the goal

the team was right but the timing wrong
turned moving up into moving on
now we’re all characters in a song
the punch is short but the line is long

* * *

White Christmas

More History: this time going way back to 1978, high school and my first full length album project, with the DeKalb High School Concert Choir directed by (my first real musical mentor) Neil Austin.   Neil Austin challenged me in many ways back in those days – and I challenged him right back.   Um,… does anyone remember the day I brought in and played “Close to the Edge” for class?

Beginning in my sophomore year, Neil Austin drove me to visualize and name quickly all of the seventh and ninth chords around the circle of fifths, while also leading his whole class through at least three years of daily Kodály Method solfege.  Music, among other things, is a language -- and Neil Austin is largely responsible for developing my early fluency and encouraging my understanding. 

Here is the just digitized White Christmas (3.7M mp3) from the vinyl-only album.   

If you squint your ears, you can just hear my tenor voice amongst the other young male voices in the choir.  

Tracks Include:

1. the First Noel
2. Carol of the Birds
3. White Christmas
4. Jingle Bells
5. Jesu Bambino
6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
7. Fanfare for Christmas Day
8. Away in a Manger
9. Christmas Is
10. What Child is This?
11. Do you Hear What I Hear?
12. The Star Carol
13. We Wish You the Merriest

* * *

Spectacle

More History: Spectacle (6.8M mp3) also from the 1997 Buenos Aires Greenthumb sessions.

This is another example of my ongoing practice of clothing a song in multiple radical arrangements over the years. The piece was originally conceived on May 12, 1988 during the first Guitar Craft course in France during a late night guitar session with Victor McSurely, Robert Fripp, and a hand-full of other Crafties who were up late playing in the cafeteria of the facility where the second French Guitar Craft course was being held.   Victor began with a seed in seven, and a number of variations came to life within this small, intense, non-circular circle.  

The seed came home with me to Boston (where I was sharing a rent controlled apartment in Brookline at the time with New Man singer/sax player Scott Gilman, who is now with Foreigner.) The piece became a staple of my Redline subway busking repertoire. 

Words poured out, pretty much exactly as they are today, in real time one evening when I was practicing at home in my Fairbanks St. apartment. 

The song next evolved into a Prometheus song in 1992-1994 featuring rocking rhythm section provided by Nigel Gavin and Pat Mastelotto, and then I re-recorded it instrumentally, as originally conceived, for 1999's the Breathing Field CD.

This version here features the 1997 ‘Greenthumb’ group including:

guillermo olivera
luciano pietrafesa
martin de aguirre
christian de santis
steve ball
martin schwutke
horacio pozzo
fernando kabusacki
claudio lafalce
pablo mandel
marcelo o'reilly

* * *

Spectacle

call this land my home
call this land your own

I don’t imagine anything I say is going to change you
take a walk around the block and try to wear some darker shoes
try to see through my eyes

born on this side of the border
you brought your guns, you brought your order into my homeland
the only place I understand
you made the law, forced our submission
you did not ask for our permission, we did what you told us
how long will you hold us?

we have the number, you the power
your strength grows weary by the hour
don’t ignore us -- so many million more of us than you

call this land my home

from where I’m standing this land looks small
from where you’re standing I can’t see anything at all
help me see through your eyes

I don’t imagine anything I do is going to change you
help me see through your eyes

* * *

PS – happy August the Hippo to my first band, Fish (Richard, Bret, and Kevin.)

* * *

Curtains

Some History:  Curtains (5.7M mp3) – from the CD Greenthumb recorded by the group 'Greenthumb' in Buenos Aires in 1997 featuring the all star Argentina Crafty line-up of Martin Schwutke, Fernando Kabusacki, Guillermo Olivera, Christian de Santis, Horacio Pozzo, Claudio Lafalce, Martin de Aguirre, Luciano Pietrafesa, Pablo Mandel, and Marcelo O'Reilly.

The song was written in 1990 and first performed by a group called “Curtains” that performed in the Claymont Barn, Washington Square Church in NYC, and in the Old Piano Factory in Boston.  The group “Curtains” featured Tobin Buttram, Steve Jolemore, Nigel Gavin, Karen Thomas, myself, and a Boston percussionist whose name I cannot remember at the moment.

This song still sounds and feels relatively relevant, to my ears.  Occasionally, “C3” will pull this out and play it live.

* * *

long before the curtains close
the Window's eye is filled up with tears
siren songs announce the flooding
river borders bend, disappear
trees give up their fruit for lumber
reindeer sing a sad city song
glowing water flowing under
melting islands drowned in the sun

long before the days were numbered
long before the snow fell on sand
lightning came before the thunder
warning those who might understand
signals in the taste of water
dark spot on the face of the sun
chocolate bubbles in the harbor
simple signs of what was to come

fight the fire, learn to fight the fire we started
lost desire, lost desire doesn't matter
flame inspires, flame ignites motivation
come inside, help requires an invitation

Eskimo needs air conditioning
sheep dog needs cut and a shave
who remembers sweater weather?
why won't the seasons behave?
Macy's has a sale on parkas
white bear wonders why his cheeks are red
palm trees over streets of Bellevue
no more need for long underwear

fight the fire, learn to fight the fire we started
lost desire, lost desire doesn't matter
flame inspires, flame ignites our motivation
come inside, help requires an invitation

* * *

No, I’m a Frayed Knot

Evening Work: No, I’m a Frayed Knot (5.4M mp3)

A slow, moody song documenting the power, pain, and process of saying “no.”  Also, along with the song themes of this week, the title is another well-known punchline.  

* * *

To Get To The Other Side

Evening Work: To Get To The Other Side (5.1M mp3)

Tony Geballe did not tell me this particular joke, but we did study symmetry together back in Red Lion House.

Also the answer to the question: why does the guitarist keep practicing, writing, recording, improvising, and performing new music?

* * *

Tell God Your Plans

This Just In: Tell God Your Plans (5.1M mp3)

This is one (the most accessible) of four new things flying around within the barely bearable Seattle heat this past week.  Lyrics and vocals are underway, but the vocal version is not yet ready for prime time.   The title is reference to a joke that my old young friend Tony Geballe told me in the Red Lion House ballroom in 1988.

I’ve also been working on some new C3 repertoire since we’ve been playing weekly, every Thursday night from 6-9 at Fortunato’s in Woodinville. 

* * *

Family Reunions – Three Years Apart

Portland, July 2006

Mackinaw City, July 2009

* * *

Back Home with Nik Bärtsch's Ronin

Just back from a week offline. 

 
This from our Family Tree Contest + Water Balloon + Pizza Pavilion Party.  Ross and Carol won the large dinosaur kite by not getting wet in the Water Balloon event.  That was followed by a spontaneous but 100% predictable water balloon fight where the unlucky contest host was doused in one massive MacGruber moment.  

* * *

Home: after a week offline, the process of ‘unpacking’ also involves more than just suitcases and guitar cases.   This evening, I managed to move my inbox down from over 4000 to just under 900, mostly while listening to Nik Bärtsch as energizing background music. 

Here’s a quick, improvised attempt to articulate what moves me about this music. I initially shared this list a couple of weeks ago with Paul and Lee as reference to the music we’re currently writing and performing:

1. Patient evolution – no one is rushing to get anywhere

2. Precision – each part is clean, precise, crisp – like a beautiful blueprint, or well organized workspace

3. Space – each phrase is a hook, every instrument is playing just enough to lock into the whole without dominating

4. Fearless and Confident – the musicians and phrases are articulated with poise, confidence, and calm

5. Polyrhythm everywhere – there are layers in the harmonies and rhythms that wake up the body, heart and the my mind at the same time

6. Conversation – each part is in conversation with every other part, and the conversation is focused and relevant

7. Searching – the music is not making statements,… it’s sort of like it’s asking questions instead of being a ‘know it all’

8. Listening – the music and musicians feel like they are listening, not preaching or broadcasting some re-hashed, pre-thought ideas

9. Flow – the meter and tempo is precise, but the grooves are not rigid or metronomic.

10. Drums + Percussion – everything rests on a solid bedrock of interesting spacious grooves; feels like a beautiful brick building built on an extremely solid foundation

11.  Prepared Piano – I first heard about the use of ‘prepared piano’ back in David Liptak’s music composition class in 1981.  To my ears, this music is the first ‘successful’ use of prepared piano that does not sound like an experiment.       

I also gave a copy of this CD to Tjeerd (and Cathelijne, Sterre & Tijmen) Hoek at their going away party last Friday evening.  This is the second copy I’ve recently purchased, then given as a gift. 

And there may be more.

* * *

Other semi-notable events of the day:

• Saying ‘goodbye’ to ~47 relatives now heading back to various corners of the globe.
  
• I practiced the Airport Exercise in two airports today. 

Great to be back home.  

* * *

Character Sketch: Video

Weekend Work: putting final touches on the 45 songs of SB Sketch Box, including this update to reflect recent world events.   Here is a quick home-made video to accompany the new version of Character Sketch:  

* * *

Character Sketch

Independence Day 2009: Character Sketch (2.6M mp3)

who would have ever guessed
you'd be first to fall down
on the ground
in your prime time
your shine time
so young

1
Gary homeboy sure smile and pure charm
and sure style boy great dance great man boy

2
ten X fame odd pose odd nose boy no just say no boy
what a strange tan boy poor Michael just a boy

who would have ever guessed
you'd be first to fall down
on the ground
in your prime time

who would ever have guessed?

* * *

Without You

Here’s a quick video from my last night in the Opal Creative Space.

loneliness is a power that we possess to give or take away forever
all I know can be shown by your acceptance of the facts
they're shown before you
take what I say in a different way and it's easy to say that this is all confusion
as I see a new day in me, I can also show it you and you may follow

* * *

Dark – in Buenos Aires

Early this morning, my friend and band-mate, Horacio Pozzo shared the following beautiful YouTube video of his playful version of the last section of Dark.

Horacio is one of the members of the BigTime trio, and was also a key member of the Greenthumb team who played a series of shows and recorded the Greenthumb CD in Buenos Aires and Mendoza way back in 1997.

* * *

Today is a significant day: we formally said goodbye to the Opal Creative Space that we may seek and find the next facility for the next stage of our work and play in Seattle.  

Over the past three years and four weeks and three days, this space has hosted rehearsals, recording sessions, painting sessions, house concerts, and been “guest housing” for some very special visitors to Seattle.  On April 9th 2006, we did our first official House Concert in this space, and Robert Scoble (in addition to documenting the event) brought Buzz Bruggeman over to mingle with Pete Wilson, Mats Myberg, and the other various Seattle luminaries in the audience.

* * *

To celebrate the completion of our work in this space, Lee and Diane came over for dinner tonight (poor Paul got literally stuck on the I-90 bridge…!) and then Lee and I did one last ‘clean up’ acoustic show for Sofie, Regina, and Diane in the, now totally empty, pristine, and reverberant space. 

Of course, we missed you Paul.

Some new pieces in the air in addition to that old familiar sound of sweetness that comes from being in the right place at the right time. 

What a joy to let this go knowing how much has grown here – and how much more is now possible that our work here is completed.

* * *

Bat Mitzvah II

More photos from the recent event:

Family Portrait

Just press this button…

Sofie: my turn…

Dada and Sofie (by C. M. Florkowski)

 
Curt and Sofie Reunion (by C. M. Florkowski)

* * *

Bat Mitzvah

Today was the Bat Mitzvah of Isabel Sarah Williams, and we had the honor and privilege of spending the evening in celebration with many excellent and essential friends. 

Sandra Sofie and Jax trade schmoochies (Sandra flew in from London for this!)

 
Taking turns sharing schmoochies

Mama gets in some action as well… Sofie takes it all in.

 
Someone with chocolate fingers took a look at this photo.

Sofie’s mentor and glow-stick supplier, Evie, steals the show…

Sofie teaches Isabel and Dada how to use the picture button

This is a small sampling of the hundreds of fab photos that happened at the event. More to follow as they become available. 

* * *

One more highlight of the evening: I had quick but significant conversations with Frank and Ingrid, Bill and Donna, and Sandra Prow, and Travis Metcalf (among others) about the past, present, and future.    Many heart-warming names came up including MartinS, DebraG, and many others. 

That combined with a diverse crowd from the extended Seattle Guitar Craft family made for a wonderful evening of reconnection. 

* * *

Home Sweet Home

Home Update: I heard PG’s beautiful Home Sweet Home in shuffle mode on my Zune this morning while on the Connector.  It reminded me of many old friends and old times, but more importantly, how much I love to be home. 

We’re now back from a far-away visit to Grandpa Kelley’s April House on a Florida beach.  We also got to spend time with Grammy Kelley, Uncle Ryan, Grandma Frances, Aunt Julie and cousin Joey.  One small highlight, of course in addition to seeing everyone, was seeing Sofie fly an amazing $2 kite on the beach.  Oh, that and being generally offline for an extended period was very good medicine.   

Although we’ve unpacked, we’re still recovering from the 20-hour cross-country travel adventure that began ~4:30am Florida time on Tuesday and ended that night at 9:30pm PST when we finally got home.

* * *

We have not cracked open the photos from the trip yet, but here are some pre-vacation pictures to fill in some gaps.

 
why do we need winter hats in April?

 
we don’t need these in Seattle, but we will in Florida

 
practicing swimming

 
we’d better bulk up a bit before flying on airlines that no longer serve food

when will winter be over?

Mae Mae and Sofie practice flying around the gym with Jenn

more practice: hey, how does this camera work?

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WHAT is the Name of this Band: Nine Lives

Song of the Day: Nine Lives - May 2008 (11.6M mp3) by “WHAT Is The Name Of This Band” featuring David LaVallee, Ivan Lee, Joel Palmer, Paul O’Rear, and SB.

Nine Lives is a specific nine-part container for improvised music that has been in use since ~2003 where it began life within the (2003-2004) Seattle Guitar Circle.  In it’s pure form, this improvised piece consists of nine sections, each with its own specific instruction, character, texture, and (if the group has sufficient ‘group-ness’) life. 

Being improvised within each section, no two performances of Nine Lives is ever quite the same, although the form and format remain generally consistent (and recognizable, if played with clarity and conviction) from version to version. 

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From WHERE comes WHAT?   I’ve been spending 2008 and 2009 Saturday mornings engaged in guitar calisthenics, sitting, and improvisation work with a new configuration.

A few weeks ago, WHAT IT NOT B performed background music for an adventurous yoga class a few blocks from the Opal Creative Space.  As you can see from the colorful iPhone photo, we shared the stage, like many new and aspiring bands, with an interested on-looking victim of semi-creative taxidermy.

You will likely see and hear more about this active project over the next cycle.

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Sofie Painting

Mid-April Update:  Recently, I’ve been re-thinking everything from the ground up.  I’ve been reading the best book of the year (Outliers) and find that this has added to the momentum and courage required to question basic assumptions and practices.

It is also clear - based on how I recharge - that I am actually an extroverted introvert.  I’ve been spending some time recharging this past week, and this will continue into next.

And, all the while, we’re enjoying many recent diverse activities.  Among them:  

 
First some fun with color and texture…

 
Moving on to some calligraphy…

Finally ending with some performance art… (“what if I were my own canvas?)

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