Get ready for this fabulous adventure !! My 4th work with Joao, inspiring as always !!!

https://soundcloud.com/jowwwafi: instrumental themes and arrangement, percussion, bass, guitars, synths..., production.
https://soundcloud.com/ruizzoidman21centurions: lyrics, vocals, guitars, synths, added sounds, production.
Intro/Outro: traditional music from Congo Republic. Picture: AI.

Translated lyrics (a funny-epic poem when I was 15):

Cacique manda: “¡Ir a cazar!”  /  Chieftain says, "Go hunting!"
Mondongo Gwanda pronto marchar.  /  Mondongo Gwanda soon leave.
Él ha bebido vino y gazpacho;  /  He has drunk wine and gazpacho;
torre ha subido todo borracho.  /  tower has climbed all inebriated.

Gran cazador, Mondongo corre  /  Great hunter, Mondongo runs
ojo avizor desde la torre.  /  watchful eye from the tower.
Cree haber visto una gacela.  /  He thinks he saw a gazelle.
“No me resisto, voy a cogerla.”  /  "I can’t resist, I’ll catch it."

Lleva su lanza, lleva su flecha,  /  He carries his spear, he carries his arrow,
pronto la alcanza y encima se echa.  /  he soon reaches for it, and jumps over.
Su colocón le trae de cabeza,  /  His drunkenness gets him in trouble,
¡el tío torpón falla la pieza!  /  the clumsy guy fails the prey!

 “¡Jopeng!” Exclama Mondongo, duro,  /  "Dang it!" exclaims Mondongo, tough,
enciende llama porque está oscuro.  /  he lights fire because it’s dark.
 “¡Cagonla!” Grita desesperado.  /  "Bullshit!" he screams desperately.
Ya la monita se le ha pasado.  /  The hangover is over already.

Sobrio, Mondongo no se calló,  /  Sober, Mondongo didn’t shut up,
dijo: “En el Congo soy yo el mejor.”  /  he said: "In the Congo I am the best."
Fue lanza en mano tras el animal,  /  He went spear in hand after the animal,
bajo un manzano fuelo a encontrar.  /  under an apple tree he got to find it.

Comiendo estaba tranquilamente,  /  It was eating calmly,
Gwanda acercábase lentamente.  /  Gwanda approached slowly.
Ya que la vio le tiró fuerte;  /  Once he saw it, speared it hard;
tanto la hirió, le dio la muerte.  /  he hurt it so much, caused its death.

Mondongo salta, vuelve al poblado,  /  Mondongo jumps, returns to the village,
alegre canta: “Ya la he cazado”.  /  happy he sings: "I’ve already hunted it".
Mondongo Gwanda llega a casita.  /  Mondongo Gwanda arrives home.
Cacique aguarda, le felicita.  /  Chieftain awaits, congratulates him.

MONDONGO GWANDA (with Jowwwafi)

A collaborative composition created remotely between myself and Tory Slusher, my first attempt at such a thing back in 2011, and I daresay it has stood the test of time, since we weren't shooting for any specific sort of genre. Let's hear it for unheard nostalgia! Programmed and produced by Solo, and significantly augmented by Tory (who of course also played guitar).

The Transcontinental Alien Samba Ritual and Variations

A little experiment using Stepic to sequence 4 sources.

Big Patch Perc - Scott Moon

VFXSD Waves - Scott Moon

     I would love to share a few interpretations of my favorite Daryl Hall & John Oates songs with you. I first heard “Do What You Want, Be What You Are” on a compilation from my late computer teacher while in Santa Barbara before the pandemic hit. Then I checked out a really cool performance on YouTube taken from the series "Live From Daryl’s House." I suddenly had a crazy idea: interpret this song in the spirit of Diana Krall, with a hint of Ella Fitzgerald. I was amazed by the jazz-inspired chord sequence, especially during the chorus.

     This recording began in 2020, and I knew that the vocals were going to take a few years for me to master. This year, I ended up recording the lead and background vocals, Nord C2D organ, and the Nord Italian Grand Piano (Extra Large sample). The drums came from Sonar’s Session Drummer library, the bass was played on my five string with the bass pod, and the Ibanez electric guitar (which my friend Brian and I call "Steve 2," which I had him modify like a mini-strat…) was mixed with my Lewitt condenser mic on the Vox amp.

     When it came to interpreting the lyrics, I wasn’t thinking about anyone in particular, and only in my imagination. It ended up being a lot of fun!!! (Smile)

     I can’t wait to show you the other songs. I know I said that my Gino Vannelli cover was going to be the last thing on Cakewalk Sonar, but I thought about completing a few covers first. In the meantime, my mom and I are gradually working on getting my new system ready to go. Hope you enjoy this interpretation! (smile)

Do What You Want, Be What You Are - Hall & Oates Cover

Unlike our previous two collabs, Dan does lyrics, vocals and lead guitars on an instrumental by me.
I made a 7/4 track for him, knowing he can sail odd waves, and here you are the fantastic result !!

https://soundcloud.com/user-276716031: lyrics, vocals, guitar solos and fills, percussion, artwork on logo by WouWou
https://soundcloud.com/ruizzoidman21centurions: instrumental idea, rhythm guitars, bass, drums

Verse 1:
A promise was made
And It shouldn’t fade
The words were spoken
Then they was broken

We were in the bright sunshine
I thought she was mine
It’s not something you can pawn
And asa now she is gone

I was here forever beau
It was years ago

Verse 2:
But I thought it still held
Like a solid weld

A promise is a promise
Even for a doubting Thomas
It should carry some weight
It doesn’t have an expiration date

But a last I find
That things can unwind
And we are not together
In this Summer weather

Verse 3:
She made her assurance
But I had no insurance
From the broken promise she made
Yes our romance began to fade

Now I am in the dark
What was there was just a spark
Now I Don’t know
Which way to go

No direction in my life
Yes I’m living in such strife
Wondering if life means anything
My joy has no more spring

I am that sad guy you passed by
Not noticing the tears in his eyes

B E T R A Y A L (with Daniel Lockhart)

Easily buy 4037 by Happy Family here:
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/4037

Kenichi Morimoto - keyboards
Takahiro Izutani - guitar
Hidemi Ichikawa - bass
Keiichi Nagase - drums

HAPPY FAMILY 'Pygmalion' from "4037" [Cuneiform Records]

COVER ART BY WYATT DAWSON @sunsh1nearts

A young man with peculiar tastes and a hungry mind
Tired of needles and tar
decides his need to burn fuel
So, he finds himself a car

This Guy Needs a Hobby

COVER ART BY WYATT DAWSON @sunsh1nearts

Rumbling over the asphalt,
the blurry roadside busies his mind.
His foggy brain twists and knots,
pulling strange visions through the corners of his eyes.
There's life there, dancing in the darkness.
Some of it looks awful nice.

On the Road

Eric Satie - Gnossienne 1

MUSIC AS A FORM OF RETALIATION AGAINST INDUSTRIAL STAGNANCE

Strange as it may seem, music is created for other reasons than making a living. For many of us it is a way of staying interested in a life that is fraught with disappointment and otherwise encumbered with obstructions to contentment. Some have asked me why I don't create music that is more accessible, with potential for popular appeal. I'll consider that whenever it seems there is a shortage of such. For now, I focus on other sorts of potentials. Not much point in spending valuable time attempting popularity through imitation, and trying to do that better than others.

The Transcontinental Alien Samba Ritual and Variations

Benign Tremors