to watch The United States of America crumble right before your eyes?
I don't have time to "opine" here about all that I see and all that I've learned about everything that is going on right now, but I'm going to try to get back here every so often and express my thoughts.
In the meantime, if you happen to see this, head on over to this link, and listen to the most recent broadcast, or any of the archived broadcasts available. Your eyes will be opened, and maybe, just maybe, blood will spurt out!
Your Worldview Matters!
Don't worry. I don't plan on being totally negative here. There are wonderful things happening too.
Have a Gooder!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Tommy's Tunes and Trivia
Have you discovered Squidoo yet? It's pretty neat. You can create a "lens" - kind of like a blog, but simpler, to FOCUS on one subject. So, whatever your passion is at the moment, or your hobby, or your business, go make a Lens!
I just made one about Music of the Sixties. Go on over and make fun of my Greatest Albums list. Exercise your freedom of speech and add your "blurbs." Then, give it a rating.
Have a Groovy time!
I just made one about Music of the Sixties. Go on over and make fun of my Greatest Albums list. Exercise your freedom of speech and add your "blurbs." Then, give it a rating.
Have a Groovy time!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
New to Jazz? Start here.
Do you have a friend or relative that you'd like to introduce to Jazz, but don't know where to start? My nephew recently asked me how he could get "into jazz". I am absolutely no expert on the subject, but I've been listening to jazz since I was in grade school. My father introduced me to the Big Bands, and it took off from there. Hey. Maybe this will become an ongoing discussion.
Here's a portion of what I put together for him so far:
Here's a few comments and ways to get to know Jazz better.It's really hard to know where to start. It kind of dependson your current music tastes. That way, you don't listento a style that turns you off to jazz forever.
I did a little research on the internet, and found this guy's comments about how to introduce someone to jazz.
"I don't think it's so much a question of specific recordings, as telling new listeners how jazz "works." I tell people it's not so much about liking this song or that song, but that jazz is a kind of game--what happens when artist X encounters song Y. Listening to jazz is like watching baseball. Baseball is incredibly boring if you don't know what's going on, but the more you know, the more you enjoy it. It's the same way with jazz. You can learn the basic rules (head-solos-head, etc.) in about 5 minutes. Then, the more you know about the game, the more you can appreciate the subtleties. That's why "Kind of Blue" is such a great introduction: the rules are very easy to understand, but the game is so well played."
I got a list of "Essentials for a Jazz Collection" from Wynton Marsalis, who of course knows his stuff pretty well. Duh!
Some of the Classics are:
Get Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, Herb Ellis
Many 60's rockers became jazz fans by listening to Miles Davis "Kind of Blue". I think you'd dig that.
There are so many! Whew! And I haven't even mentioned Vocalists
Billie Holiday ("Lady Bird") - The STANDARD!
Ella Fitzgerald - the "scat" queen (Scat is voice improv, not another definition that's sick.)
Here's an idea for a beginner: Rent Clint Eastwood movies! You'll get a fantastic sample ofgreat jazz in "Bridges of Madison County", "Byrd"
Oh, go rent "'Round Midnight" - It stars Dexter Gordon andHerbie Hancock, and is all about the musicians. You can really get a feel for many different aspects of the jazz "life".
One time I heard Eddie VanHalen interviewed, and they asked himwhat his influences were. He said he used to listen to John Coltrane (saxophone) and try to immitate his solos on the guitar, and that's how he developed his guitar style.
Hey. If you have a lady friend, there is NOTHING as romantic as jazz - NOTHING!! Especially the saxophone. Play anything by Ben Webster. Also, Dave Brubeck's Time Out, Miles - Some Day My Prince Will Come, Joe Henderson - Lush Life, Dexter Gordon - Ballads, and of course, Wynton Marsalis - Intimacy Calling.
A contemporary group that is more "smooth jazz" that is extremely romantic, and at the same time, features 4 of my favorite artists right now, call themselves "FourPlay" (Harvey Mason on drums, Bob James on piano, Nathan East on bass, and Larry Carlton on guitar. They're easy to listen to, and you will hear how awesome they are as players.
If you visit my online music store TomLikesMusic , you'll find a good sample of these artists.
Go download them!
Here's a portion of what I put together for him so far:
Here's a few comments and ways to get to know Jazz better.It's really hard to know where to start. It kind of dependson your current music tastes. That way, you don't listento a style that turns you off to jazz forever.
I did a little research on the internet, and found this guy's comments about how to introduce someone to jazz.
"I don't think it's so much a question of specific recordings, as telling new listeners how jazz "works." I tell people it's not so much about liking this song or that song, but that jazz is a kind of game--what happens when artist X encounters song Y. Listening to jazz is like watching baseball. Baseball is incredibly boring if you don't know what's going on, but the more you know, the more you enjoy it. It's the same way with jazz. You can learn the basic rules (head-solos-head, etc.) in about 5 minutes. Then, the more you know about the game, the more you can appreciate the subtleties. That's why "Kind of Blue" is such a great introduction: the rules are very easy to understand, but the game is so well played."
I got a list of "Essentials for a Jazz Collection" from Wynton Marsalis, who of course knows his stuff pretty well. Duh!
Some of the Classics are:
- Louis Armstrong (Considered by many to be the greatest of all time)
- Count Basie
- Duke Ellington
- Dizzy Gillespie - the Father of BeBop (BeBop is a term you'll hear a lot from jazz musicians. It's a style that became extremely popular in the 30's - 50's)
- Benny Goodman
- Thelonius Monk
- Charlie "Byrd" Parker
- John Coltrane
- Sonny Rollins
- Dexter Gordon
- Joe Henderson
- Ben Webster
- Miles Davis
- Herbie Hancock
- Wayne Shorter
- Freddie Hubbard
- McCoy Tyner - Just unbelievable piano
Get Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, Herb Ellis
Many 60's rockers became jazz fans by listening to Miles Davis "Kind of Blue". I think you'd dig that.
There are so many! Whew! And I haven't even mentioned Vocalists
Billie Holiday ("Lady Bird") - The STANDARD!
Ella Fitzgerald - the "scat" queen (Scat is voice improv, not another definition that's sick.)
Here's an idea for a beginner: Rent Clint Eastwood movies! You'll get a fantastic sample ofgreat jazz in "Bridges of Madison County", "Byrd"
Oh, go rent "'Round Midnight" - It stars Dexter Gordon andHerbie Hancock, and is all about the musicians. You can really get a feel for many different aspects of the jazz "life".
One time I heard Eddie VanHalen interviewed, and they asked himwhat his influences were. He said he used to listen to John Coltrane (saxophone) and try to immitate his solos on the guitar, and that's how he developed his guitar style.
Hey. If you have a lady friend, there is NOTHING as romantic as jazz - NOTHING!! Especially the saxophone. Play anything by Ben Webster. Also, Dave Brubeck's Time Out, Miles - Some Day My Prince Will Come, Joe Henderson - Lush Life, Dexter Gordon - Ballads, and of course, Wynton Marsalis - Intimacy Calling.
A contemporary group that is more "smooth jazz" that is extremely romantic, and at the same time, features 4 of my favorite artists right now, call themselves "FourPlay" (Harvey Mason on drums, Bob James on piano, Nathan East on bass, and Larry Carlton on guitar. They're easy to listen to, and you will hear how awesome they are as players.
If you visit my online music store TomLikesMusic , you'll find a good sample of these artists.
Go download them!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Here Comes Christmas! What's Your Favorite Song?
Everyone has their favorite Christmas song. There are the great old hymns of course, and there are the contemporary songs. I have favorites in both categories. Ever since I was a little boy, I've loved "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and "Silent Night". As for contemporary song, there are a lot of great ones. Probably my very favorite is "A Christmas Song". I also love "White Christmas" and "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
What are your favorites?
What are your favorites?
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Nuclear Fishin'
Wow! I never thought I'd see this. When I worked at Caribou Ranch, one of the most fun times I had was the "album naming" party after we finished recording the Ozark's album. I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard and long in my life!
Among the names I remember were "Nuclear Fishion" and "Rubber Tornado" . The picture that became the albim cover was on display for inspiration, and finally, someone looked at it and said. "Men from Earth!".
The thought behind this was that if aliens came from outer space and landed near these guys, of course, they would point and say, "Men from Earth". Ha!
Anyway, this picture was taken on the ranch as a representation of what "nuclear fishion" might look like. There was also another drawing that showed an atomic bomb crater with dead fish in it. (Don't tell PITA!) I thought I had the drawing, but at this point I can not find it. If I do, I will scan it and post it here.
Y'all Come Back Now, Ya Hear?
Nuclear Fishin'
Among the names I remember were "Nuclear Fishion" and "Rubber Tornado" . The picture that became the albim cover was on display for inspiration, and finally, someone looked at it and said. "Men from Earth!".
The thought behind this was that if aliens came from outer space and landed near these guys, of course, they would point and say, "Men from Earth". Ha!
Anyway, this picture was taken on the ranch as a representation of what "nuclear fishion" might look like. There was also another drawing that showed an atomic bomb crater with dead fish in it. (Don't tell PITA!) I thought I had the drawing, but at this point I can not find it. If I do, I will scan it and post it here.
Y'all Come Back Now, Ya Hear?
Nuclear Fishin'
Saturday, March 18, 2006
This is my NEW blog!
I canceled my old blog. Therefore, it'll take me awhile to get this one going. Soon I'll have a bunch of goofy things along with trivia and other assorted factoids, etc.
In the meantime, if you'd like to know how to make money on the Internet, visit this website
YourFreeInternetBizWeb
In the meantime, if you'd like to know how to make money on the Internet, visit this website
YourFreeInternetBizWeb
Stay Tuned!
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