Put three photos from the open mic performance in the photo gallery and decided to use one of them for the home page. All taken by my son, Marshall and I am so grateful for there being a photo record of that night. Drummer Jim Dotson has taken the big step of relocating from Vallejo, Ca to Las Cruces, New Mexico to be with family and to embark on a new phase in his life. I wish him all the best and hope to hook up with him again in the future. The distance is going to make a reunion something that will require alot of planning before hand. We're all getting older now and time is precious and in short supply. But, I've got the pictures to remind & jog my memory of us being on stage together one last time rockin' out, doin' what we always loved to do. Jim & The Gents, Sounds Unlimited Blues Band, Fusion,Urban Strut,Tommy Torpedos Direct Hits. and any and all groupings in which JD was drumming.
Robert Lazaneo: Blog
Yesterday I got myself out & about to Keystone used books & records store. Love to go into this place and rifle through the racks n' racks of lps. When I lived in San Francisco in my younger days I would go to these stores and spend hours searching for whatever "gems" could be found. Still like to do it. Found this great Nina Simone live recording from the 1960 Newport Jazz festival that just blew me away. Her singing and piano playing with a trio backing of bass, drums, and guitar was fantastic. So much power and subtle phrasing in her vocals. Got a great B.B king live at the Village Gate, Procol Harums, Broken Barricades, and the Modern Jazz Quartets Bach & Blues album where they do compositions based on some of Johanns work. Really cool! Jackpot!
There was a moment during the presentation when the Beach Boys were performing the song, "Good Vibrations" that it light of the passing of Whitney Houston, that song seemed to take on a healing aspect with its refrain" gotta keep those lovin' good vibrations happenin' with her" it was a hopeful message. Have you ever had a song that seemed to be the absolutely perfect song for what was going on in your life at the time? Almost as if the composers created this song to give you strength to get through whatever trials you were going through. Thats real song power.
Woke up to hear the news of Whitney Houstons death and watched the twenty four hour news cycle endless replaying of any and all aspects of the story with pundits weighing in with their speculations & opinions on the tragedy without knowing the essential facts on the cause of her death. She was a wonderful singer who was blessed with an incredible voice and made many fantastic recordings which will be here for many years when the circumstances of her personnal life ups & downs will be muted except for those who like to dredge up information as either a titilating story of artist decline or as a cautionary lesson. Imagine for a moment what it was like to be her with everyone seeing you and thinking that they knew what was happening inside her head.She was a human being dealing with life like we all do. Trying to do the best that she could under enormous pressure. Fame for some,is like a curse. I can only imagine what it must have been like for her. R.I.P Whitney Houston.
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