Tungsten Fluff

Tunes!

The other day, I picked up Steve Vai’s DVD Visual Sound Theories, a performance with the Holland Metrople Orkest and was blown away from the first track.  A lot of the tunes sounded like they were finally in their element – the fullness of the orchestral arrangements made the songs sound complete.  Of course getting to watch Steve’s fingers at work, complemented by his facial expressions, was a treat too.

I can’t figure out why the Ibanez name is blacked-out on the headstock of the JEM on the DVD cover though.  He’s endorsed them for years.  As a side note, I do too – my 1994 S540 is the best electric I’ve ever played.

So I had to go out today and re-purchase Passion and Warfare (my original was loaned to a friend in Daytona Beach and subsequently disappeared - the CD, not the friend).  Found it at a used CD store in Ft Walton Beach for $8 with the liner notes and fold-out poster in mint condition.  I popped it in, picked track 9 and the memory of careening my Mustang blasting I Would Love To on my way to the local airport for flying lessons came rushing back.  Funny how that works.

Here’s Steve playing For the Love of God from the DVD.  Amazing.

Jazz Break

From the great Joey Defrancesco...enjoy.

Gibson's Robot Guitar

I guess it was only a matter of time: a Les Paul that can tune itself.

Awesome Worship

A friend of mine in Ft Worth turned me on to Kari Jobe a while back.  Check out her site - the tunes start up when the site loads and they are really good.  The first track makes the hair on my arms stand up.

She's also on several Christ for the Nations recordings including this one:

Enjoy.

Classic Jimmy Smith

Found this clip from a 1960's Jazz show featuring the great Jimmy Smith on B3.  Enjoy.

Rich Mullins - 10 years later

Rich Mullins passed away 10 years ago this week (September 19, 1997).  Brant over at Kamp Krusty has a great post about Rich and a lot of great comments follow.  I especially enjoyed the first-hand accounts of how “rough” he was around the edges – reminded me of Jesus.  So this morning, I went through a box of CDs and found the only Rich Mullins disc I have left, The World As Best I Remember it, Vol 2 – the orange one - and listened to it on the commute.

From the first line, “Hello, old friends…” I was in a different place.  I had not listened to this in many years and his lyrics had new meaning since I had gotten married, had children, asked  and answered a thousand questions about God, written music, moved across the country and left friends and extended family behind.

To be honest, I had to stifle some tears during the chorus of Everyman:

The world draws up it’s lines but at the foot of the cross

There's room for everyone and love that is not blind.

It can look at who we are and still see beyond

The differences we find.

But with thorns in His brow and a spear in His side

Nails in His hand, He died for you and I

For you and I and everyman.

Amazing and simple message.  So, I need to replace the copies of Winds of Heaven and Liturgy I gave away long ago and re-explore his music.

You’re missed Rich…the world is a better place because you were here…

Guilty Pleasure, Take II

My last attempt at posting a guilty pleasure actually turned out to be pretty cool so I thought I'd give it another try.  There's two guilty pleasures wrapped up in this:

Yes, I actually like Mandy by Barry Manilow and sometimes I would rather play Sims2 than SOCOM or Medal of Honor.

Guilty Pleasure

In the spirit of Pastor Robert's series of guily pleasure posts...I found this a couple of days ago:

Paul Schaffer playing a real B3 and EVH playing Panama on Frankenstein.  Professional jam sessions probably don't get much better than that.  Having David Lee Roth sat this one out makes it even better.