Jazz improvisation as aired on KWVA radio in Eugene, OR,  June 17, 2010.

"Ruminari" by Aralia Fresia

KWVA radio show: Frog and Toad's radio show on June 17th 2010.  Apologies to Charles.  I can't stand being told "We love your piano playing please come back soon" because I am a people pleaser and because of this I tend to burn out by obliging, until I end up burning my bridges.  Lord have mercy on me. I love you and Frog for airing my live recording from the diner.  I will always.  This recording bothered me because of not knowing what the people in the backround were saying about me, and why they would be so rude as to talk so loudly anyway. I felt like this tree, angry at the sidewalk for choking my roots.  It's a bumpy path sometimes, getting over it. 


"Ruminari" radio broadcast

Nifty Chord Progression

"Everybody wants to be my boyfriend," she cries,
but when they do they change their minds. 
It's "watch out for this girl she will break your heart"
Well, the only heart that breaks is mine,
watching this girl crying!

"Nobody wants to be my girlfriend," he cries
'Cos when they do they'll change their minds,
It's "Free spirits only know how to love!"
Well, love could change the world, you've got to let it show!

Nobody wants to be no hermit just yet
'Cos when they do, they think they're too old.
Watch out for this girl she will break your heart
While the only heart that breaks is mine,
Watching this world crying.

Free spirits only know how to love
and love can change the world
so you've got to let 'em know!
Free spirits only know how to love,
so why don't you let it show?

All Lyrics and music by Aralia Fresia©2000

"Let Love Show" by Aralia Fresia©2000

"American Picket Fences" by Aralia Fresia©2002. 

A Cold wind's blowing through my old screen window 
tonight and I wonder
If It might be You?
Off in some corner
Hidden by the sun
and that wind swept around your Corner
and blew your heart right down to me:

"American Picket fences, Picket Lines",
You were not very kind to his.
Oh, one fences you in; another one fences you out

No it might not make no sense to me
oh, but your heart was shining down on me,

Govt. lands outside my door!
Govt. lands outside my nose!
oh no no no!!

What do you remember boy?
That sun
Was shining at night for me!
In this same....
Chair in the living room! 
I can't move!
Are You 
a Neighbor 
Of me yet? oh
First thing I know is,
'Neath these twilight lights and you
That I got it bad
Why does love have to be that way?

It's known, It might not make no sense to me
No, it may not make no sense to you
No, it may not make no sense to them
But that sun was shining bright
...that night!!!....

All music and lyrics written by Aralia Fresia©2002

"American Picket Fences" By Aralia Fresia©2002

He was in no shape or form to sway a crowd, definitely, not charismatic, charming quick witted enough, because the people would roll their eyes and say, "not now, dude, can i talk to ya later? can't ya see i'm busy now?"

He thought I had it to make him social again. He eventually got his way, by making me the conscientious girlfriend, in so far as I was willing to spy on him, ooh, through everyone in the environment, and I, trying to figure it out.  Was it love? Was it love!!?

He eventually found himself immersed in the groups;  those who inquired about the love affair, this Love affair! Feelings can change though by the end of the summer. I said, "go away, 'n leave me alone!" The next second later he's tapping on my door saying, "ooh why I was such a grouch, I was only trying to figure it out, What is love?" and

What is Love when you can't sleep at night, under the stars, tonight? Ya know I won't sleep tonight, as long as you're near me. ('cos I was in no shape or form to sway a crowd, definitely not charismatic, charming, quick-witted enough because the people would roll their eyes and say 'not now, can I talk to ya later?') And I can't sleep at night, under the stars tonight, ya know I won't sleep tonight, as long as you're near me!!  How I wish I could sleep under the stars. 

Ukulele song "Nada" lyrics and music by Aralia Fresia©2008

"Nada"

"NADA" original ukulele song, lyrics and music by Aralia Fresia©2008

No words can describe how squirmy I get hearing this again. 

COSMIC ROMANTIC INTERLUDES
You drive up to my house, Tourette's syndrome sorry for what you said. You could win a free mini dinosaur, a little abuse and a loaf of good bread you said. 

You could win a free mini dinosaur, 
I say well my rent is overdue, and spoiled child syndrome, I'm sorry for what I do, you could win a free mini dinosaur, a little abuse and a loaf of good bread

From your sundance to your cafes and your rainstorms the month of may, lane county pick a time just please be kind.  I came in when he came in, I had to open up that door, and let him in, and now my kitchen is on fire, and my backyard is on fire are those cosmic romantic interludes, or are those interuptions? I dont know but take your bad habits to the sky because they are not there, just mix up some words that you would never hear me say before, cosmic romantic interludes are not interruptions no.  Aralia Fresia©2001

True Love Don't Need No Diamond Rings:

He said, Don't need no diamond ring to say myself from freezing, No. Cos last night I took a walk outside tonite the night said "please be free" And true love dont need no diamond ring to save your soul from freezing, so last night I took a walk outside tonite the night said butterfly open up to me, very well.  "Guess I'm a sad girl"  Whatever you say. You know why that I am here, I stayed indoors too long and lord he might disappear now. Cause last night said please be free, the night said the same thing to me, True love!  

Yeah but sometimes you wanna talk about the ones that rant and rave about your soul. Don't need no diamond ring to save my heart from freezing, well I don't remember why funny thing I know what its like.  And hon I don't need no more children, I saw some last night, and I dont know why I'm here, oh lonely night so long I'll be right here now,  I might find out.  Cause last night I took a walk outside tonight the night said butterfly open up to me, please be free! True love don't need no diamond ring!

And I said "very well then"  AraliaFresia©2001
 

Cosmic Romantic Interludes/True Love Don't Need No Diamond Rings

Open Door, by Aralia Fresia ( Laura raccoon) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
you know how to walk thru an open door, ray
when my heartfelt words are clouded by sorrow
and i smoked all my greenbacks today
learning how to play
you  know how
to walk thru an open door 

Open Door

You told me what I was from the start
you had no trust in me
you must know what it means to be
wound up in no mans land
even though its a man's world not mine.
You do have virtues but where do they hide?
You know not why you lie!
Evil ways that you don't perceive 
Wind up in No man's land
even though its a man's world not mine!
Not mine not mine not mine
never mine
Not mine not mine not mine
never mind.
Man claims its a man's world look out
Here we come
No way it belongs to YOU
Actually it belongs to EVERYONE
SO how could you
come to that stupid conclusion anyway.
I'll teach man lessons
he never forget
So don't let me hear that phrase!
"It's a man's world" 
If I do I will prove him wrong
Weak or Strong
I will find just the right time!

Lyrics and music by Aralia Fresia©2014

NOTE: To see as well as hear it in video but Lo-Fi version see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nGn0zptoTQ

"It's a Man's World my ass!"

It's a Man's World my ass! by Aralia Fresia©2014

Me hashing thru " I Burn For You" by Sting (Gordon Sumner).
In D minor with the modulation to E minor. thru the circle of 5ths.  Great song, Sting.

I Burn For You

Sting's song - "I Burn For You" (Cover)

Me on Piano. Sorry I forgot what tune this is?  Anyone remind me?  Just enjoying some jazz standards  with The Crowtet,  a few fellas from Portland who stopped by for the Learner's Sunday jam.

Jazz Station Sunday Learner's jam on May 21, 2017

Stella By Starlight, studies on this jazz standard at the Jazz station in downtown Eugene Oregon on May 21, 2017 with visiting guests The Crowtet from Portland, and me,  Aralia Fresia -  I am on piano, I have played this tune better than this, but I was getting distracted simply by the enthusiasm others were sharing.  Excuses excuses so they say. Its great to know what I can fix.

Stella By Starlight

Jazz Station Sunday Learner's Jazz Jam on May 21, 2017 (Stella By Starlight)

Me hashing thru 'Walking on the Moon', the composition by Sting (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner... Just practicing, no copyright infringement intended...
Arrangement  by Aralia Fresia

Reggatta de Blanc

Walking On The Moon

(Cover) Walking On The Moon,  by Sting

I'm going for a walk, when the sun goes down, today my day got cooler.  But I'll be alone when the sun comes up, when the moon leaves the sky I'm under, but you wake me up when my Love takes me over, i'm burning up with the thrills are over my head. When does summer start for me? When does summer start for me? (reggae-bluegrass jam)  I can't think, I can't breathe I can't eat, I cant even go to the store.  You, wake me up when my love takes me over, i'm burning up with the thrills are over my head. Yes, sometimes you can help me lose my mind, but i dont' believe that you don't believe in me, oh.

Today My Day Gets Cooler

Happy Groundhog Day!!!!  6 more weeks of Winter.  
Me on my tarnished-jalopy of a Tenor Sax oozing vibrations.

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Teaching piano via tenor sax...
(I'm on sax while Kevin C. plays jazz piano accompaniment)
I've been teaching music for a little over a year, and now that I've gotten some experience at it, I am able to assert that my approach to teaching is a unique and inspiring one, and here is a description of my skills/approach:
* Fun teaching style - provide jazz piano accompaniment regardless of YOUR skill level (1 measure/2chords +melodic resolutions) 
* Rather than schedule weekly lessons, I charge per lesson, a one time fee of 30 dollars per lesson. ( up to 2.5 hours per lesson time)
* The most important thing to learn at your lesson, is to say "I can" rather than telling yourself you can't.
* Record yourself when you practice improvisation at home, and then record yourself w/ me accompanying you on tenor sax
* Once you like what you are hearing, you'll be ready to memorize notes,pitches,scales, and read musical notation.

~ I have a Bachelor of Arts in Music, 37 YouTube subscribers, and 143 fans on Facebook. My music's been on the radio twice, once on KLCC FM Eugene, when I won 3rd place for the Willamette Valley folk festival, in a song contest in 2001 and again in 2010 when my jazz piano solo, "Ruminari" was aired on June 17th, 2010 on KWVA FM Eugene. You can hear these performances on soundcloud.com -

Just some late-winter sax/piano jazz improvisation

This is me trying (from memory) to reproduce a song from my attempted musical, “How a Song Writes Itself”, which I submitted to the University of Oregon, in 2000. I never got it back after they rejected this first idea for my Senior Project, saying it wasn’t academic enough, but here’s kinda how it sounded with a guitar. Very simple chords, with complex changes, and previously penned lyrics, the musical element literally wrote itself, as I recorded it spontaneously, back in 1999, and this is a facsimile of what it originally sounded like: 

Here, stolen from Africa's golden dawn is a lioness
Here. Stolen from Africa's golden dawn is a Lioness.
She is shot with a tranquilizer, and thrown in a prison
So... she can stay asleep 
To her natural instincts
But still she is imprisoned by and with his mind

He reaches in to touch her
but her vision of him is obscured by the keys
to her heart
They're in his .... pocket.
Without them he is trying to open her up,
Without them he is trying, to open her up!
"Well, I once was a lion too!" he angrily explains
That which he himself is,
So diligently,

and yet with her, he's free, from all 
Responsibility
So "Why can't he be a lion?" she asks?
And why in Shera's name is she
Such a criminal?
Such a criminal!

For having ripped at his face of false fronts
she is anesthetized.
he is mad at God!
Free, she says,
"I am free."
Is now the password!
The door has been kicked open many times.
I lost the Key
To those Like You!
And at night,
when everyone else has gone to sleep....

* I wish to stress that this song in no way endorses a belief in violence nor animal cruelty. It's just a fictional story and metaphor about a wild animal in captivity*

*Melody and Lyrics by Aralia Fresia, but I do need a chords coach on this song, to bring it back to the way it was on that lost tape!  It's maybe 60 percent there.

"The Stolen Lioness" ©HowASongWritesItself(musicalproduction)
Anyway, this is what's left of a 5 song musical I wrote a long time ago and scrapped.  =)

How a Song Writes Itself (Stolen Lioness)

How A Song Writes Itself  (Stolen Lioness)

* I wish to stress that this song in no way endorses a belief in violence nor animal cruelty. It's just a fictional story and metaphor about a wild animal in captivity*

Trying (from memory) to reproduce a song from my attempted musical, “How a Song Writes Itself”, which I submitted to the University of Oregon, in 2000. I never got it back after they rejected this first idea for my Senior Project, saying it wasn’t academic enough, but here’s kinda how it sounded with a guitar. Very simple chords, with complex changes, and previously penned lyrics, the musical element literally wrote itself, as I recorded it spontaneously, back in 1999, and this is a facsimile of what it originally sounded like.  It's still not perfect, I know I lack organizational skills on guitar; maybe Sting can help me with this. I'm still pretty bummed out that I can't find chords as quickly as I want to on guitar. I'd say this is only about 60 percent like my original. The beginning is great. I just don't like guitar much really because it hurts my fingers and I find callouses to be itchy and really annoying. I like my fingers to not be all leathery. I guess remembering how to play all of my own songs for more than one performance is something I want to be able to do, Lol. but I'm so disorganized & Spontaneous. 
https://youtu.be/4Dz-NO0WMlw

Here, stolen from Africa's golden dawn is a lioness
Here. Stolen from Africa's golden dawn is a Lioness.
She is shot with a tranquilizer, and thrown in a prison
So... she can stay asleep 
To her natural instincts
But still she is imprisoned by and with his mind

He reaches in to touch her
but her vision of him is obscured by the keys
to her heart
They're in his .... pocket.
Without them he is trying to open her up,
Without them he is trying, to open her up!
"Well, I once was a lion too!" he angrily explains
That which he himself is,
So diligently,

and yet with her, he's free, from all 
Responsibility
So "Why can't he be a lion?" she asks?
And why in Shera's name is she
Such a criminal
...a criminal?

For having ripped at his face of false fronts
she is anesthetized.
he is mad at God!
Free, she says,
"I am free."
Is now the password!
The door has been kicked open many times.
I lost the Key
To those Like You!
And at night,
when everyone else has gone to sleep
*You'd better believe
She will sneak out through the cracks
of this beaten door!
Of this beaten door!
~~~~
by Aralia Fresia©1999HowASongWritesItself(musicalproduction)
Anyway, this is what's left of a 5 song musical I wrote a long time ago and scrapped. =)  The ending is supposed to flow quickly bluesy all the way to the tonic but I stalled on it too much in hesitation and it fell flat.

'How a Song Writes Itself' (demo:full))

'How a Song Writes Itself' (Demo:full)

Musician/Composer/Poet/Artist/Writer
 in Eugene, Oregon.

Aralia Fresia

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