Wrestling With A Decision

"Wrestling With A Decision"........not my words, but an incredibly fitting and timely phrase. Not all the memories, experiences and stories are necessarily from the past; some are current, very current. How do you decide what is the right thing to do, which is the right path to take? Flip a coin, run an analysis, follow your heart, pursue your dreams? Or just conform and do what is expected of you, following the crowd like another cow in a herd of cattle. I don't know the answer, but I know what I'm feeling, and so do you - deep down we all do..........all it takes is courage, the courage of your convictions, and The Soundtrack........The Soundtrack Of My Life!

Listen To Brian Auger's version of Hebie Hancock's beautiful 'Butterfly', Kool & The Gang's 'Summer Madness' and PM Dawn's 'Adrift On Memory Bliss' and listen to yourself; maybe your heart's trying to tell you something! And remember, it's never too late to become what you might have been.

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Repercussions

I picked up this CD in 1996, Repercussions  Earth And Heaven, mostly because the majority of the musicians were also members of the Groove Collective. I never heard anything from this group again over the years, but this recording is killer! Absolutely contemporary in every way, and even listening to it today, 12 years later, it sounds as fresh as any Nue-Jazz being released.
Listen to 'Find Your Way', 'Test Of Time', 'Promise Me', 'Slice Of Heaven' , 'Love Like The Sun', and 'If There's A Question
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Sanborn Clone?

A lot has been written in regards to the similarity in sound that Nelson Rangell has had to David Sanborn, especially amongst his early recordings. Perhaps it's true what they say; imitation is the greatest form of flattery, in any event, Nelson is a truly gifted saxophonist that's probably had a tougher time than most in identifying his own sound. I really don't remember what prompted me to pick up this release in 1988, but it probably was either a review or more likely a well placed ad - I'm glad I did. I've been a Rangell fan from the beginning, especially of his GRP output, and in a way, feel that Nelson really benefited from the Grusin/Rosen direction, and lost his a way a bit these last few years in terms of direction and production.

Listen to 'New Country', 'Heroes', and 'To Begin Again'

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An Endless Train Ride

It was September of 1989, I was moving into a new apartment with my girlfriend, who down the road would become my wife and the mother of my children. My parents were there to help us out; that's the way they were. I remember that I had been eyeing David Becker's first two releases, and finally took the plunge and picked up his 1988 release, Siberian Express. I'm not sure what I thought I was getting into, but whatever itr was, I wasn't prepared for the incredible fusion of this amazing and under appreciated guitarist. The Soundtrack Of My Life would be totally incomplete without the Tribune and the rest of Becker's recordings. The internet has been good to me; the DBT has released a few new recordings the past few years, which has defiantly quenched my thirst for this incredible guitarist.
Listen to 'Anja', 'Hilversum' and 'Siberian Express'
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June Is GRP Month

It was June of 1990, I was in Savannah, GA spending 10 days on the beach with my girlfriend....but it was also GRP month; remember when they used to do a summer promotion? How great were those ads of their upcoming releases? In any event, that Summer saw a great number of releases, one of which was Dave Valentin's collaboration with Herbie Mann, Two Amigos. I happened to take a day trip to Hilton Head Island, and stopped at this mall and picked up this CD, along with a few others that might just make this blog. I remember the day as if it was yesterday, and not 18 years ago!

Listen to 'Moonlight Walk' and 'Rambo The Cat'

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Change

It was the Fall of 1987, around the time of The Stock Market Crash; my life was full of change, both consciously and subconsciously. I was in the process of embarking upon a new endeavor, forming new relationships, and at the same time, subconsciously, leaving old relationships behind. Almost twenty one years later, I have that same feeling again, that thirst for change, adventure, desire, that burning need to chase my dreams - an almost spiritual quest; I've even gone back and re-read The Alchemist. It was Lee Ritenour's Portrait that laid down the groove for The Soundtrack Of My Life that Fall 21 years ago; it was the first recording of his that I purchased in the CD format, just a great recording, made memorable by the prescience of The Yellowjackets on a number of tunes. I'm not sure where this quest is going to take me or if I even have the courage and strength to complete it, but I'm certain that The Soundtrack Of My Life will be there with me!
Listen to 'Windmill', 'White Water', 'Portrait', 'Runaway' and 'Route 17'
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Fall Of The Iron Curtain

It was October of 1989, I was sitting on the couch, in my apartment, watching CNN, and all I could think of, was how I was actually witnessing history, taking place, right before my eyes - there on live television, I was witnessing people, young and old, free and oppressed, tearing down the Berlin Wall, while authorities from the soon to be former East Germany, just stood by, knowing that there was nothing they could do to stop this historic moment. As I often did, I was watching TV, with my Stax headphones on, I distinctly remember listening to Windows CD The French Laundry. Incredible, Historic, The Soundtrack Of My Life!

Listen to 'Night Whispers' and 'Spin Of The Wheel'

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If The Glove Does Not Fit, You Must Acquit

It was Fall of 1995, I had just picked up this GRP project, and was really looking forward to listening to these Beatles interpretations; not that I was a Beatles fan, because I'm not, but because I really liked GRP and the artists involved in this project. I listened to the disc on the way to the outpatient surgery center, to repair an old hockey injury. In the days that followed, while I laid around the house recovering - I'd get to witness, along with the rest of the nation, mesmerised, as a certain white Ford Bronco dashed down the Santa Monica Freeway, followed by a convoy of police cruisers and helicopters - The Soundtrack Of My Life, you gotta love it!

Listen to Goove Collective's version of 'She's So Heavy' and Spyro Gyra's interpretation of 'In My Life'

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Jam Up

It was........2 nights ago; we found ourselves in a really cool performing arts center, located in Homer, NY; it was hot and humid, the perfect setting for a sold out performance (400 fans) of Spyro Gyra. Used to be I'd catch Spyro Gyra on a regular basis, but I think I've only seen them twice since 1992; once in '92 for their Three Wishes tour in Raleigh, NC and then in 1996 or 1997 (I think) when they opened for Basia in Buffalo, NY. For some reason, our paths have not crossed, until this year, when I get to see them twice! They smoked, as usual the other night, drummer Bonny B brings a whole new dynamic to the band, I'm excited to see how this plays out in future projects. Jay and the guys mixed the old with the new, as usual, but the arrangement of Shaker Song, was probably the best I've ever heard, with Julio Fernandez and Bonny B providing background vocals! The venue was awesome, a converted church, semi-circular seating for 400 patrons. Another highlight was their performance of Heliopolis, one of my all-time favorite compositions, maybe I'm getting old, but I don't ever remember being at one of their performances, and there's been many, when they performed this gem. I'm looking forward to July 27th!
Listen to 'Jam Up' and 'Heliopolis'
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Happy Father's Day Dad, I Miss You

It was 1996, by now my father was on dialysis, and he had to be taken to the center to get hooked up to the machine 2-3 times a week - it was a real shitty scene - for everyone. I remember driving over to my parent's to take him for a treatment; I had this Infiniti J30 which had an awesome stereo in it; for some reason of all the memories, many of which I've blocked out about this time, this one stands out like it happened yesterday - it was late spring, and I had Fattburger's newest CD cranked, listening to cover versions of Oye Como Va and Everybody Wants To Rule The World. I can't believe it's been almost 12 years since he's been gone; This Is The Soundtrack Of My Life, I miss you dad, everyday - I love you. Whether or not we get to hear another release from Fattburger, will be the question going forward - ironically, Carl Evans Jr, co-founder of the group, passed away earlier this year, he too a victim of the effects of diabetes.

Listen to 'Oye Como Va' and 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World'

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