They (“they” are those who you know who they are) tell us change is good; both needed and desirable, and for the most part I agree: Life is nothing if not dynamic (except in small corners of Iowa where quantum mechanics do not apply) so, I’ll agree to play my role in the Pageant and hope for the best. But when it comes to certain musical constructs, I’m constitutionally incapable of joining the random particle flow.  At times like this - I mean like now - I’m remembering a couple of Foghat Albums that played endlessly in a certain living room outside of Cleveland (I’m Jersey born and bred but was heaved into the milk-fed world of the Midwest for a couple of my formative years-thanks again for that, Dad). Though no one is ever going to mistake Foghat’s Lonesome Dave Peverett, creator of the Rimbaud-like stanza

“I got Drunk last night
and the night before.
you gimme some more wine, yeah
Gonna get drunk some more”

for Marvin Gaye, there was a certain charm there that appealed to plenty of ding dongs like the young me ( ok and the old me- If “Fool for the City” comes on the radio when I’m driving-I turn into Lonesome Peter) . So, as time passes, and minds expand, I consider the ineffable aspect of that goofy band that defies change.  It’s easy to point to masters of the known and unknown Universe like Becker and Fagen, or Miles Davis and rationalize that they’ve created quality works that will probably last as long as playable media.  But there are deep organizing principles and extraordinary artistry behind their output. Foghat and the other utensils in the silly pop drawer (and they are legion) grabbed something base and primal, id driven I suppose, and triggered some junk DNA response that we can’t avoid.

It’s music as force, and it’s never going to change, regardless of who’s conjuring with it .
Something to keep in mind instead of Blaming it on the A-A-A-A-A-A-lcohol .

Today I am cheerleading for musical traditions: melody, harmony, structure, phrasing etc. concepts that seem to be heading for the cultural La Brea Tar Pits. I suspect that I, along with millions of other sentient beings (household pets included), may go insane if I hear one more horrid drum machine loop masquerading as a bit of television underscore or, lord forbid, a theme.  The easy access to supposedly “broadcast-ready” samples and loops has put potentially hazardous material in the hands of those who don’t have high-level clearance, and millions of dollars back in the hands of companies who treat music as an after thought. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be a snob, but dude… STEP AWAY FROM THE PRO TOOLS AND DROP THE MOUSE.  A good friend of mine says digital audio production rigs should be licensed as potential weapons of mass destruction…. they are certainly responsible for destroying many brain cells of listeners the world over as well as being behind the Walmartization of much of the music we hear on a daily basis.  Another talented guy I know calls it “Music By Numbers”…put the loop here, put the pad here, find the already created bass line and put that there and …Voila ! You have your very own piece of…what’s the word? ….Music? Garbage?  Is it relative or is a qualitative barometer appropriate? Well, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one of my faves so you know where I’m coming from: I believe in the concept of innate quality.
Technology allows a composer like me with a goofy perspective and an extra hour of time to pretend to be a writer, no one will ever mistake me for Dan Brown, I mean Norman Mailer while I’m telling my little tales…conversely, the technologically driven, parasitic spread of crummy music is an altogether different story.

Defining oneself in short bursts of literary energy is a strange endeavor for a guy who likes to play the piano in the dark while trying to access the secrets of the Multiverse, but I suspect it’s either Blog or perish. Thus, like so many zygotes before me, I choose life.
Here’s the current drill: I’ve been thinking about this whole notion of “Personal Branding” and it’s about as appealing to me as literally putting the iron to my left butt cheek (always the more sensitive of the two).  Who am I? What’s my brand? I always thought it was as simple as letting my music speak for itself, but that does not seem to be enough these days.  So, as a wise man once said “Who am I?” The futurebus is here; I withdraw my media metrocard and board.
To what end I ask? The answer resounds from all corners of the twitterverse and the Linkedination: “You need to separate yourself and stand out within the giant throbbing ooze of mediamites that are taking over the planet…proclaiming loud and clear for all to hear that “I possess the alchemy necessary for you to turn your musically leaden thoughts into sonic gold, that hearing my curiously impenetrable yet at once familiar piano voicings and orchestrations will move you to such degree that you are compelled to buy my recordings or that you will be sufficiently impressed with my mighty curriculum vitae to reach out for some quality underscore.  Or finally, failing all, that I am willing to spec a quality project “(generally the final answer, Meredith).
Well…ok-if this be what it takes- I promise to be relatively honest about things (do you really need to know that I like “Days of Our Lives”?) and do my best to amuse in the brief time allotted us all.
Currently, I am pitching on several potentially major network pieces. I’ve also been working at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock with the amazing Jerry Marotta doing some acoustic piano/Taos drum duets- The stuff is awesome and I am very excited about the potential.  I continue to keep my fingers in the music library world as well… more on that later. We’re also very busy trying to sell our apartment in Manhattan (talk about inertia)-let me know if you need a 2Bed/2Bath in Chelsea.
I sense the iron is getting hotter, back to the ooze .