Spinmeister Interprets my poetry...

Every so often someone produces a piece of music using my spoken-word poetry. I am honored by 'Spinmeister" (the nom d' paix of one cc.Mixter.org's most gifted producers) - who recently set my poem "Map" to a musical backing which also includes one of my most difficult and esoteric chants - the 'Aku Aku Harmonies".
To hear this offering - which touched me deeply on a personal level - vist: Beginnings

TIVO My Message...........

The genius of Arnie Stanton is obvious - my participation in his art always pushes me to the edge of my creative vista. In his latest offering "TIVO My Message" - I sing his intriguing lyrics accompanied by the SkySwim Orchestra, conducted by Sir Astor Plynth. To experience this music, visit: TIVO

Anima

 

Per Tegelström and I have completed our collaborative song, Anima - a lush and evocative torch song featuring the alluring voice of Kim Westin. To listen visit: Anima 

A Charmed Life

One of CCMixter's creative denizens, "Tenny" -  has put my lyric "Charmed Life" to music in an alluring and dreamy mix.

To listen visit: "Charmed Life"

J.Lang (Wooster & Jeeves in HipHop Lounge-Land)

Everybody knows that J. Lang is the master of ‘groove’….
And it’s always a pleasure to be allowed to work with him in collaboration.
Offered here is another in our song-cycle from the “Jeeves & Wooster visit Hip-Hop Lounge-Land” series.
Original lyrics take a quizzical look at the psychological oppositions which spring up around Life’s vicissitudes and the passages of light and darkness that we all share.
As always it’s great fun to sing lyrics to a musical backing that I may not have discovered alone. Mr. Lang always stretches my boundaries…and I also want to thank him for the excellent production and mixing of this song which are sustained by his magic touch.
To listen, visit: Garden of the forking paths

Joachim - A Song of the Baptist

Per Tegelström composed a dynamic musical backing for our collaborative work, "Joachim" - and he also is my vocal accompanist in this offering. It is a song inspired by the mysterious figure of John The Baptist and also reflects the longing of "seekers" everywhere.
To listen, visit: Joachim

Cherry Gollogoly goes Kabukitronic !

Recently Cherry Gollogoly and I spent some time together - she has been in Japan studying the theater and music of that culture. She performed this highly stylized and original adaptation in the Nōgaku fashion titled “The Prostitute’s Ghost” - inspired by the writings of Ichiyo Higuchi (1872-96). To hear these dramatic recitations - visit: The Prostitute’s Ghost

How songs are written...

Sometimes inspiration may descend upon one in unlikely places. I have written songs on trains,planes and ships and also on such surfaces as found scraps of paper,food wrappers,and once even on the sole of one of my socks. Recently, I have been traveling in the Midwest and Western states and been influenced and amused by all the "Country Music" stations on the radio. In a local restaurant I wrote a couple of lyrics on paper napkins. I recorded these songs in the A-Cappella - and put them up on my CC.Mixter.org page. To give them a listen - click here: Oh I'll Never Forget Ole' What's Her Name?

Baudelaire's Vision Interpreted

Clayton Corrello created an exotic backing music - redolent with lush embellishments echoing the decadent mental voyages of French symbolist poet, Charles Baudelaire. I wrote the first verse and the second verse is a translation of Baudelaire’s poem “Music”.
Many thanks to Susan Joseph for lending me her clear and exquisite voice. She adds some heavenly backing to my song and her harmonies in the second verse enhance the indefinable mystical qualities of the poet’s words. To listen, visit: Baudelaire

Van Gogh & Saint-Rémy-de-Provence Honored

Michel Simons ( a native Nederlander) has composed a dramatic backing score for my original lyric - "Days & Nights" - a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh and also to the beautiful area around Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. I sing the song and play the cello parts. To listen, visit: Days & Nights

Merkaba (gets a tune up)

Mr. Do-kashi-teru has generously extended the backing music for me to make room for more "Space Choir" and other embellishments. Bruno Grugeryvic helped me with the trumpet samples in this redux of our song "Merkaba". A "Merkaba" is a purportedly a divine light vehicle allegedly used by ascended masters to connect with and reach those in tune with the higher realms. To listen, visit: Merkaba (Trans-Harmonic Matrix Mix)

Old Dog & Mejans: Her Horned Helmet

This may be one of my more unusual offerings. Its a surreal ballad in the style of Bertolt Brecht and one can imagine some Old-Salt sitting in a smoky tavern delivering this; his strange memory. Ross Lorraine plays the Concertina for me...I rasp out the singularly strange original lyric. To listen, click this: HER HORNED HELMET

Corinna Corinna

Sometimes its pleasing just to simplify. Panu Moon (guitar) and I perform "Corinna,Corinna" - the traditional folk/blues song in a slightly melancholic, slower paced adaptation. To listen, visit:
Corinna,Corinna

A Song of Hope & Renewal

I love Ditto-Ditto’s and DoKashiteru’s musical sensibilities and their combined effort really resonates with something in me. Every so often, I like to write some lyrics (and sing a song) that is not too heavy…just something about Life’s happy moments and the joy of being in it. To listen to this song, visit: Springfever

Ballad of Paul Morphy

This video is a tribute to the great chess genius Paul Morphy (1837-1884). The accompanying song is in the style of the old parlor songs of the Stephen Foster era and is delivered by Anchor Méjans. Some images are taken from "public domain" films at Prelinger Archive.

Interpreting Old-Dog

Every so often somebody writes a lyric that resonates deeply with one's consciousness. I felt a need to interpret "Old-Dog" (Ross Lorraine) poignant lyric for his original work "No Forever". To listen, visit: no forever

St. Anthony's Fountain

The " British Council NZ " produced a delightful piece of music which I adapted to a mildly sinister, yet winsome romp, in which somebody who has flown the coop appears to have the last laugh. To listen, visit: St. Anthony's Fountain

Snowflake's Call To Consciousness

I was inspired by Snowflake's lovely voice and also by her call to action. My contribution to the CC.Mixter challenge is a melange of her vocals, the beautiful sustaining backing music of Alex Beroza and some of my own added Cello. To listen, visit: Apologize & Sanctify

Mermaid Video

Video made for Scott Altham's version of the Mermaid Song.

Storybook Song from Neptune's Realm

The multi-talented Scott Altham has produced a delightful and truly captivating version of my "Mermaid" song - to listen - visit: Mermaids

“Mermaid”, was penned during a recent Caribbean journey & written as part of the “Jeeves & Wooster in Lounge-Hop-Land” song cycle:for Moira Waugh and J. Lang, both of whom inspired me to create the lyrics. J’s melodic and free-flowing music and Moira’s wonderful vocals really enhance the overall atmosphere…a fantasy of King Neptune’s realm. To Listen, visit: Mermaid

Existential (But FunFunFun) Suburban Blues

Over the years Panu Moon and I have sung together in various venues and I have always loved his sense of humor and willingness to support some of my wackier ideas. Recently we collaborated on what he dubbed "Suburban Blues" and wrote a song titled "Fun Fun Fun" - He demonstrates his expertise on jazz guitar and I get to croon-out. To listen to this offering, visit: funfunfun

Istanbul Song Brought into Life

Mikael Hansson has produced a lovely and lush musical bed for my original song "Istanbul" - now titled "Heliopause" - I think he captured the longing and mystery I hoped for in the lyrics. It was a treat to be able to sing this piece and work with him. His careful attention to detail really shines in this one. To listen, visit: Heliopause

Amon Rowley Illuminated

The enigmatic and nearly forgotten English composer Amon Rowley (1909-80) has been the subject of mystery, controversy and speculation for many decades. To learn more about this fascinating character please visit Amon Rowley .
Several years ago I had the honor of performing/recording some of Rowley's pieces with the now disbanded TRI London) - the institute has however re-grouped under the banner, Amon Rowley Foundation.

The Incomparable Panu Moon

I have the privilege and honor of having Panu as a friend in this life. His influence on me has been profound. Not only is he a consummate guitarist but an accomplished singer and lyricist as well. To hear some of his offerings and also how other talents have re-mixed his work, check out his profile on ccmixter.org here: Panu Moon

GOA ( The Mysterious She Mix)

Privilege comes to me again as a collaboration with soundsmith J. Lang.
This time we create a "Lounge-Hop" offering which blends Eastern mysticism with a plaintive love ballad, titled: GOA ( The Mysterious She Mix). To listen visit: J.Lang

Yeats Interpreted Dramatically

Once again the enigmatic and delicious talent of "Onlymeith" has created a deeply dramatic soundscape for my reading of Yeats' poem "THE SONG OF WANDERING AENGUS" -
to listen to this offering visit: hazelwood

image by: jillian tamaki

Gnostic Oracle Music

When I hear the lyric/poems of A.M. Mews (as she alone can recite them) I feel as if I am in the presence of a Seer. Perhaps like one who once stood before the Oracle of Delphi. Her words are both familiar and foreign and perhaps too, conjure up images both personal and distant. I have a similar feeling when I listen to the raw energy which Bill Ray delivers in his wonderful drum solos, which to me are also polar in their dynamic control and paired sense of wild abandon. With that in mind I add my accompaniment of electric cello to try and create a mood of other-worldly evocations. Thanks to Victoria Melfi as well, for the brief ethereal female singing part. To listen - click here: Oracle (Purple Gnosis Mix)

Au Clair de la Lune Revisited

It has been recently brought to light that the very first discovered recording of a human voice was made by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1860 and is a 10 second rendition of the old French folk-song “Au Clair de la Lune” sung by the inventor’s daughter.
In honor of this discovery I am offering my version of this song.
I would like to thank my friend Anne Hagert for singing the female part for me. I translated the lyrics to suit my piece. My intention was to produce an audio-vignette, merging past and present and also introduce some humor. I call it the “Absinthe” mix because the song was popular during the Belle Époque and my embellishments echo the delirious atmosphere of the times….plus I get to play some neurotic cello!
To listen visit: Absinthe Mix Au Clair de la Lune
If you want to hear the original historical recording - go here:
phonoautogram

I Scratch the Surface with J. Lang

Consummate mixer and DJ - Mr. J. Lang has put together a wonderful upbeat song (yet still with a tinge of winsome melancholy) "Scratch The Surface" - I have the honor of writing the lyrics and singing this offering - but it takes the master of composition to deliver it like an old fashioned heart-shaped box of chocolates tied with big red bow! To listen - click here: "Scratch The Surface"

Kaer Trouz Interpretation

I respect Kaer Trouz and her explorations into the personal realms which she allows us glimpses. I couldn’t resist adding some cello and harmonies to her absorbing and sensitive offering “Deflated & Alone” - I tried to keep the integrity of her original deconstructed musical arrangement (enhancing the sense of unraveling) and place the cello portions in the spaces between. I loved singing the harmonies and the church bells add a hymn-like quality to this gutsy existential paean. To listen - visit: Alone Together

Dance-A-Thon

Scott Altham is a really fun guy to work with! He let me be esoteric and sing & dance all at once.
He produced a very trippy dance number with my lyric "Triumph" and a good time was had by all....to listen visit: TRIUMPH

Atlas with a Davy-lamp

The talents of the entity known as "Places to Know" - produced a deeply probing psychological atmosphere to accompany my lyrics for an original song "Atlas"...the music is a journey through deconstruction and sounds both unsettling and comforting combined....to hear this offering, visit cc.mixter.org here: Atlas With A Davy Lamp

Disgruntled Zygote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-on5kwZ_A3s

This video was made by Forrest Stowe. Though not a collaboration in the strict sense - I did have the pleasure of singing the random words" - and I get to make a cameo appearance! His editing is pretty spectacular is this offering and the sound track he created is unique. A short film with content. (click link above)