My friend Aaron sometimes plays shaker with the band. He can really groove. He can also dance his heart out. Although Aaron is deaf he loves music . I wish more people could feel music the way he does. He is an advocate for the deaf community. He has given me insight into their special culture. He is very social. On the first Friday of each month at Jillian's on Lake Union there is a get together of deaf people and hearing people who have learned to sign. He says it is awesome. He loves going to concerts and, as in the photo, entertaining friends. He is best friends with his brother Tim. The photo was taken at The Gorge at at Dead Concert. He is a great guy and a good friend. If you are interested in learning sign language or learning more about the deaf culture, you can e-mail Aaron at phishace3@hotmail.com
On the 27th of October there is a group of us getting together to play some music at Studio 04. John Matthews, Ronnie Llinas, Jimmy Culler, Mike Daily and myself. The last time we got close to having a band together at Mike's was with Mark Dodge in preparation for the Taste of Edmonds. We were rushed and it would have been more fun with more time. Tonight is for relaxing and experimenting with recording a bunch of us live. Manolito couldn't make it but he said maybe he can do it next Wednesday. There are so many songs to record and the biggest challenge for me is picking which ten or twelve songs to record. But the whole point is dialing in the sound and just having some fun. I am looking forward to it.
Sarah is working on editing a film which she was the executive producer and production manager. She is spending almost all of her time in Seattle at this time. She is amazing in her versatility and she is really growing as a human being. Sarah has always been something of an old soul, very reflective, very thoughtful and much too hard on herself. She is one of the most caring people I have met. It is very heart warming to watch her taking care of and caring for herself.
Sarah Murat
Next up is more Andie. I will be recording more of Andie and she is committing to singing more at gigs. People love her voice and personality and it will be a lot of fun to work together. She is doing harmony now to one of Bill Spies's songs. She has already done the backgrounds in the first song we recorded for Bill. I will be using her voice on the acoustic as well as the band CD's also. If you haven't heard her sing listen to Far Cry From Love. It is a free download
Acoustic CD We are working on tightening up several new songs for an acoustic CD. I am hoping to get the family involved on a collection of classic and new ballads. I love the new tunes and yet there are some songs that are like cherished old friends that grow closer to one's heart with time. There are so many writers in our family with such a wide variety of styles. Funny things is, we hardly ever sit down and play music together. What is that about?Bill Spies is a man on a spiritual quest. The kindness in his heart is apparent in the way our little dog spot runs to him when he comes over for a session and then lets him pick her up. She does that for almost no one. Bill has been very patiently working away at his project and I hope to have two of his songs mixed in the next week. We are working on sharing his heart felt songs of spirit to the world.
All There Is To Be and Eternal Love are nearly done. We are looking at Song For Today to decide how to move forward. You always have to decide on your drums tracks. It they are shaky, you have to start over. I think we let the song breathe a little to much when we recorded it. The feel is very good though and Mike has been working on re-cutting his drums over the first tracks we recorded. That is what we are up to with Bill.
We will be mixing this week and working on the completion of Today. Bill is about to embark on some big changes that may make it challenging to work on the CD in our area. We will go with the flow and we wish him much success.
Freedom and Josh
The Minstrel
Freedom calls with epic poetry
Wrought with consonance and imagery
Once wounded warrior wields words
Spinning spirit soaring surge
You see vast and ancient scenery
Hear spirit and humanity through
This mindful minstrel
With dread lock canopy
Folding time into a crease
With ancient cries for modern peace
All is not vanity rings true, He says
Peace begins with me and you
September 24, 2004
I heard from Josh and he is in LA and says he is having a ball. I am so excited that he is on stage with his brother and touring with the band. It is a good time for him.
They are promoting the release of Freedom's CD Bloom. Many CD's are available on the website. Just click on the underlined Freedom and check it out.
- Andie has embarked on a new business as a distributor a product called Juice
Plus +,
an all natural whole food based supplement. It comes from the juice
of fresh fruits and vegetables. She has both of us taking it. She also
has Faith on it. I can really feel a difference. It has taken about
three weeks but I am sleeping through the night and that is an adventure
in itself. I haven't been able to do that for many years now. She will
have a web site to promote her new venture shortly. I give it a hearty
two thumbs up. For more information or to order juice plus send her
an e-mail.