President Barack Obama takes the Helm...

Sitting here watching the inaugural for Barack Obma. Wow. He's now the 44th president of the United States of America. He was sworn in at 12:05pm. He just thanked President Bush for his service to our nation. Talking about the raging storms and clouds for which some presidents have taken office. Reiterating some campaign promises and that challenges will be met. " The time has come to set aside childish things" he quoted from scripture.

We're certainly in a new era and as it always does, time will reveal all things.

Garageband... interesting

I've had my macbook pro for some time now and have never used the app garageband until now. See I was putting together a video clip that I may share with youtube and wanted some interesting music to accompany it. Garageband! I thought. So hey decided to give it a try and must say it was kinda cool and sad at the same time.

Cool, because I could choose all kinds of different sounds and chords and make some interesting sense. I mean funky sounds that certainly worked with some of the experimental footage that I'd gathered. This was really cool. Since I'm a lover of music from all over the planet and maybe from other galaxies as well this new fascination with GB was really compelling me to explore it. Hey add some out of this world notes with some funky hand drum rhythms and some kooky horns and put a nice bass line with it and wow! Must say, yeah this really cool.

Sad, because as someone who has a great appreciation for the artists and consider myself an advocate for the artists and especially dig the musical arts and the genius creations that this group improvises certainly caused me to pause and ponder. I'm one of those who gets frustrated when I hear music that sounds like it was put together at a moments notice and doesn't touch my soul in the way that music does who's creators have spent years studying and wood shedding to master their instrument. For me nothing can take the place of the musician or live music which a tune can be heard many times from the same musicians and will tell a different story each time.

Generated music from different sources other that live instruments has it's place but certainly can't replace the real instrument in my opinion and I'm sure others' opinions as well. Garageband is cool and musicians often use this tool to create music which they perform with other musicians but if for some reason it and other musical apps ever become our main way of creating music then wow existence would truly become sad.

Words to live by...

"But the thing about life is, the s--- doesn't come to you. You've got to go ... to ... it." - Bison Dele (formerly Brian Williams, adventurer, thinker, seeker, and seven year great NBA player who disappeared seemingly at the hands of his brother in September/2002)

There´s a Spirit of Improvisation....

There is a place far away where improvisation appears to be a part of the day to day movement. That place is Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. I´ve been here for almost two weeks now and though there are moments that remind me of the USA, there are certainly things that are far different from the Northern states of the Americas. One of those differences is the improvisation of the people. A rhythm that´s like none other that I´ve experienced. First of all the speech is distinctive and flowing. I love how they speak with ryhthm and how vowels are uttered long. To my uninitiated, non-understanding of the Portuguese ears, there´s this sort of improvisation that takes place when speaking. I guess it´s not improvisational to the native but it´s certainly creative and beautiful to me. I´m fortunate to be staying with a jazz musician so there are ongoing musical improvisational moments.

The pulse of Miami

Was in Miami for about four days and was seeking some creative improvisation. Know it's there but it kept hiding from me. The closest I came to it was when in a restaurant on Lincoln Rd in South Beach Miami and witnessed a trio of electric guitar, electric bass and drums playing some good music, standards with some tightly neat improv. Sadly can't remember the name of the restaurant nor the members of the group. Opened wih a West Montgomery piece which was very well arranged. A very tight trio. The bassist showed great range, the drummer kept steady, fluid time and the guitarist created some interesting melody which kept me there. Took me to some cool places. Must admit this was unexpected and welcomed at the same time. But still not able to find the pulse of Miami. Don't believe you find it in South Beach and when exploring the city, couldn't gauge the pulse. Will seek it another time.

Julie Dexter with Ultimate Universe Live At Paas Health Center

There's just something about good music that gets my spirit moving in the right direction. A particular chord, some on and then off beat harmony, a dark yet light spirited moment, soulful and spiritual overtones, driving poly-rhythmic grooves and much more get me going and sustain my focus as I meditate on what's being shared. Yeah that's some of "the good stuff" in life. Well if anyone is seeking "the good stuff" in the form of music Saturday February 2, 2008 in Atlanta, Ga, come to the West End to the Paas Health Center and you can catch Julie Dexter with Ultimate Universe creating and pushing themselves spiritually and logically to places where there are no boundaries... With her is Mamaniji Azanyah on bass, Kebbie Williams on tenor sax and various flutes, Dashill Smith on trumpet and bass clarinet and Kenito on drums and other percussion. It's always a must see with this collective. Enjoy.