First released on St Patrick's Day, I explore some Celtic-flavored melodies that came to me while playing a Requinto guitar.  It's higher tonality sounds a little more harp-like and they just seemed to pour out of it.  I add a little foundation with the Gibson SJ-100.

A Celtic Idyll

March is a month of contrasts, especially on the High plains, and really anywhere in the Midwest and Southern states and never more so than this year.  On March 13, following lamb-like weather, a lion of a storm system formed bringing a blizzard to the Front Range from Denver to Cheyenne and tornados to within 30 miles of Amarillo.  Pat and I try to put a little of March's moodiness into music first inspired by his mandolin musings that also inspired an earlier track "The Return".

The Lamb And The Lion (Pat Howell; Mandolin, David Dunham; Guitars

Sometimes the most intense dreams happen during afternoon naps.  I don't take one very often, but had a dream about the Hernandis classical guitar which I hadn't played in a while.  When I awoke I got it out and started playing and this tune was there and waiting.  My good friend and bandmate Pat Howell heard it and said, "Every time I listen, I keep hearing this mandolin part with it".  I love the addition and can be heard here @patrick-howell-786748109.  Doubly honored to have Gary and Darcy Bixler add lyrics and vocal to the song.  Gary's fine Cloud can be found @soundcloud.com/user-432405235-236877019.

When You Awake

So honored to have singer/song writers Gary and Darcy Bixler add a vocal and lyrical interpretation to an earlier song I wrote "When You Awake" in which Pat Howell added a lovely mandolin part.  I am twice blessed by these fine talents adding to a song with such a humble beginning; the result of a dream during an afternoon nap:) Thanks to all of you for making this song something very special.  More fine songs can be heard from Gary @soundcloud.com/user-432405235-236877019, and @patrick-howell-786748109.

From This Moment On--SC Original Collaboration of Gary&Darcy Bixler/Pat Howell/David Dunham

This track is about Yareli and Yasmina, two Ecuadorian refugees ages three and five that were dropped over the US/Mexico border wall by smugglers late last March miles from nowhere.  Thankfully this was all seen by Border Patrol cameras and they were quickly rescued uninjured and in good spirits--no small miracle.  This is when the immigration issue became very personal to me and the need for our national leadership to solve a very real crisis instead of using it as an issue to bludgeon the other political party.  Thanks to Jeff Roberts for his powerful song "On the Border" for bringing this issue to light in his music; soundcloud.com/jeff_roberts.  
The track is in four parts;
1--Dropped Over the Wall
2--Abandoned and Bewildered
3--The Rescue
4--Epilogue; Please Find An Answer

Abandoned At The Border

This is an extra-special release for two reasons; the song was written for my first granddaughter Lanie about the time this picture was taken (she's now seventeen), and this marks my first collaboration with gifted pianist Debra Buesking.  When I approached her with this song, she immediately loved it and the ideas came very quickly to her.  It was emotionally moving to hear her additions giving the song a sense of completion I felt it lacked.  Thank you my friend for sharing your abundant talent that graces this song.  You can hear more of Debra's fine playing and original arrangements:  soundcloud.com/debra_buesking

Cantalanie (special guest Debra Buesking, piano)

I witnessed a miracle--at least I would call it that.  A beloved rose that was a regular bloomer(pictured) fell victim to the incredibly harsh cold spell we had last February.  By April when the rest of the roses were waking up, this one had not a sign of life in it, just a brown stump.  I watered, and fed, and waited, and waited.  Nothing.  I dug out the stump.   For Mothers' Day my daughter had bought a rose to replace the one that had perished...or so I thought.  Within a week of planting the new one, the old one put out a shoot just a foot away.  I guess the digging, watering, etc for the new rose stimulated some remaining root of the old.  It has since received lots of love and care, and has at least a half-dozen buds ready to bloom in a couple of weeks.  So this is an ode; to a beloved rose and all things miraculous.  UPDATE:   Here is the rose into its second bloom cycle:) 
Special thanks to Pat Howell for the initial inspiration and his fine musicianship and sweet additions with mandolin and octave.  Please check out his page for more fine music @patrick-howell-786748109

Ode To A Rose (Collaboration with Pat Howell, Mandolin and Octave) October Bloom

It is wonderful when a previously released song has enough potential energy to be released as a new song in a different genre.  So it is with this song first inspired by Thommo last spring in a collaboration with him and Ren Faye called "Dream Catching".  I liked the initial soundscape and guitar parts enough that I wanted to do a separate acoustic release under a different title.  Debra Buesking's definitive artistry entered the picture when we were teasing ideas for another collaboration.  I submitted this to her, she loved it, and now graces it with her superb playing, actually re-inventing the song.  More of her fine music can be heard @debra_buesking 
Imagine a windswept veranda. a couple dancing to distant thunder, passions building and breaking as the storm approaches.  The original is much different, more Celtic and ethereal and can be heard here as well as Thommo's other amazing productions: soundcloud.com/thommo_tunes/dream-catching-feat-david-dunham-and-ren-faye

Dancing On The Veranda (Thommo, Debra Buesking, David Dunham)

A peppy little tune written for my fourth granddaughter ten years ago (she just turned 12) but newly arranged and recorded.  A distinctive feature heard throughout this song is the falling 3rd interval that sounds like I'm calling out her name which I do from time to time whenever I get to visit.  Hopefully it will put a little spring in your step:)

Calling Abby

Marking my third collaboration with gifted pianist Debra Buesking, what an honor and treat to have her add her piano magic to a tune I wrote some 25 years ago on a warm summer evening in Colorado.  The Godin guitar seemed the perfect voice to express the warmth and intimacy of a summer evening reverie, and Debra's piano the perfect accompaniment, like two friends enjoying a glass of wine.  Hear more of Debra's fine compositions and arrangements @debra_buesking.

One Summer Night, A Reverie, with Debra Buesking, piano

What a privilege to work with Debra Buesking again on Scott Richard's smooth and slightly funky synth track.  Actually, I kind of invited myself to the party when Debra queried me about the keyboard part she had for Scott's original track titled "Ennui".  I became very engaged with her playing to the very chill synth track and could hear some acoustic guitar accents giving a little edge to the piece.  Debra's versatile playing defines the direction of the song front to back, and I'm along for the ride--but what a ride:)  Check out Scott's Cloud at soundcloud.com/the_eyes_of_heisenberg,  and Debra's extraordinary playing @debra_buesking.

Kaleidoscope (Collaboration with Debra Buesking, Scott Richards)

Long before September 11, 2001, there was a September 11, 1950; the birthdate of my wife Terry.  This song started out as a very personal musical portrait of her.  Debra became interested in the track after I sent it to her for collaborative consideration.  The result is something very special for the both of us and we hope you too.  In my playing, I address the intimate side of the song and day. In Debra's playing, she addresses the now much larger meaning of the day for our nation and the world. Ultimately I think what we are saying is that 9/11 is profoundly personal. Each of us, if were old enough to remember, know where we were, what we were doing the day the attacks occurred. The attacks also shook the world, world markets, world travel, and any and all sense of security.   Profound sorrow was draped over our country and any nation that called us friend.  "Stay With Me" is another way of saying "hold me close", "we need each other", and as the track picture suggests "forget me not".    A big "thank you" to Debra for lavishing her talent on this very personal song.    More of her beautiful music can be heard @debra_buesking.

Stay With Me (featuring Debra Buesking, piano)

I always love it when my good friend and bandmate Pat Howell sends me his latest mandolin musing, this time with his Octave.  His musing becomes my "muse" and the ideas start to flow, this time using two mandolins and two guitars.  Just in time for Fall, and maybe my favorite season, a refreshing breeze from the Texas Highlands.  Hear more fine music on Pat's Cloud @patrick-howell-786748109

Texas Highlands (Pat Howell; Mandolins, David Dunham; Guitars)

This song, originally written for my 2nd daughter Joanna, was one of my first ventures into Latin Jazz.  Exceptionally talented pianist Debra Buesking heard it and wanted to add her Latin seasoning to it, and did she ever.  I love the spice she gave it; part Bossa, part Tango, all Debra.
Thank you my friend for the collaborations we have shared this year, and this maybe the most fun.  We hope you think so too:)  Hear more of Debra's fine playing and original arrangements @debra_buesking.

Bossa Nueva (with Debra Buesking, piano)

Fingerstyle playing has been a passion for me for over 45 years, having fallen in love with it when I first heard a college friend play with his fingers instead of a pick.  It was mesmerizing and I determined then and there I must learn how.  This song is the first I wrote using fingerstyle and has followed me around now for over 40 years evolving as I learned more playing technique.  I think it is still evolving, but this is where it is now; shades of light and shadow, good times, difficult times, hopefully full of the Grace of God. It is a musical portrait of me.  Performance note:  only one guitar used, the Taylor JKSM, no overdubbing--strictly solo fingerstyle.

Places I've Been

My good friend, mandolinist bandmate, and SC collaborator Pat Howell started building a guitar from a mail-order kit some thirty years ago, got pretty far along on it, then had a local luthier do the finishing work.  It is the guitar pictured and is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and sound.   Being thoroughly smitten by all things mandolin, the guitar hasn't been played much, and he paid me the highest complement by asking me to record the guitar so he can hear what it sounds like as a listener.  I readily agreed mostly because it was a chance to play the guitar again:)  As I was improvising into the Zoom, this little nugget showed up and thought you all might like to hear it too:) I did some editing for musical flow and added some reverb, but nothing else was done to alter the tone of the guitar.  It is a special song for my friend.

For My Friend--Part 1

This is part 2 of some improvisational recordings I made with Pat Howell's beautiful handcrafted-from-a -kit dreadnought acoustic guitar.  Part 1 details the guitar's journey a little more and here I wanted Pat to hear his guitar in drop D tuning, and I thought you'd like to hear it too:)

For My Friend--Part 2

Written for my youngest daughter Rachel a few years ago, it explores the smooth jazz format using the Godin Encore nylon string guitar.  Annie Smart heard it, loved it, and asked to collaborate on it.  Her additions of vocals and piano are wonderful, artistic, and insightful; so good that I had to incorporate some of her lovely additions in the instrumental track.  It is such an honor to work with her. Join me in listening to the finished collaboration and more of her enthralling music @annie-smart-1.

Sunshine In The Rain--Instrumental with Lovely Piano and Vocal Accents Featuring Annie Smart

A little taste of a place I have never been to except in thought with the help of a few pictures.  A little Celtic chill on a hot summer day.

The Emerald Isle (with Gibson SJ-100)

Both Pat and I are blessed to have daughters. So when he came to me with this musical idea in honor of his daughter, I was quick to get on board. We originally released the tune (an Irish reel of sorts) as a church offertory, but decided to make a more formal recording, and now with an added second guitar part that Pat loved when we reprised it as offertory in honor of his daughter's homecoming from college for Thanksgiving.

Of Fathers and Daughters (Revised and Updated 11/22/21)

Some clear sky and fresh air for those who have to shelter in place. I floated this tune (pun intended) by my band mate Pat on mandolin and he was quick to compose a part that added a real sense of open sky to my pickings. Hope you enjoy this seafaring shanty. I came across the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield. The feel of the song fits the poem, but composer John Ireland does it much greater justice.

Sea Fever
By John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
 I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
 I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

Hoist The Main Sails (a sea shanty)

Curtis Gremmel joins me in another "twenty fingers" collaboration exploring an improvisational blues riff heard at the beginning.  Done in one take (essentially) I employed a little editing and sound enhancement to tighten the track. Curtis is left center in the mix. Hope you enjoy this "shade of blue".

Love In A Shade Of Blue (with fine guitarist Curtis Gremmel)

It always amazes me how a collaboration can change the whole feeling of a song. Such is the case when Cloud artist Devin Locke reached out to me to collaborate.  I sent him a tune I had been working on, but would not necessarily stand on it's own.  What he did with his fine playing, getting inside the basic melody, bringing out the possibilities, reminded me of the playing of Django Reinhardt and helped me hear the song in a whole new light.  For more of Devin's fine playing check out  soundcloud.com/devin-locke.  To hear a wonderful vocal version of this song, check out: @myckael-marcovic/si-django-avait-joue

Conversation At A French Cafe (with fine guitarist Devin Locke)

A little upbeat offering for the Autumn season.  Not long before we "fall back" an hour with the time change in a year that has seen so many changes and challenges.

Fall Back

A little tune for those in the Autumn of life who may have lost a spouse or maybe never married but have found someone very special and find themselves "falling again" in love.  
Annie @annie-smart-1 loved this tune and asked to collaborate on it which can be heard on her Cloud by following the link.  It is lovely in every way, and I am so honored by her collaboration.

Falling Again (Guitar Instrumental)

A while back fine guitarist @devin-locke inspired me to revisit some of the early Miles Davis' recordings which are brilliant jazz masterpieces.  I wanted to try my hand at the style and have Devin join me if he felt so inclined.  He hasn't yet, but may do so in the future:) Anyway, a little tribute to a master...

Miles And Miles To Go

Longtime friend Clint Culwell and I got together to practice and record some of his songs and covers, and jam a little as well.  Out of the session came this little gem, a unique, slightly reggae take on a traditional favorite.  Clint is left center on vocal and nylon string guitar; I am right center doing some ornamenting on steel sting guitar and playing bass. For more music from Clint check out his Cloud @Clint-Culwell.

Wayfaring Stranger (Clint Culwell;  guitar, vocal, David Dunham; guitar, bass)

With all that's going on, sometimes the heart just wants to flee to a place of innocence. Maybe we could meet there...

Return To Innocence

A little song to celebrate all of you (and those to come) who have followed my musical musings; over a thousand now.  Thank you and God bless you.  Benediction is from the Latin meaning "blessing".   A celebrated blessing said daily around the world I now say to you: "May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  May the Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace".  I am so honored to have Pascal Basso and MoiRa collaborate on this tune giving it a Celtic symphonic splendor:  soundcloud.com/pascal-basso/benediction-v2

Benediction

I am a finger-style guitarist perched on the Texas high plains.  At the core of my music is melody that is inspired and informed by my Christian faith, family, friends, and countless influences through the years from the great composers, to jazz, folk, rock, Latin, Celtic, and the many fine musicians I have come to love on the Cloud, some I have been privileged to collaborate with.  Thanks for stopping by to have a listen. Comments are always welcome. Feel free to click on the picture of any track to learn more about it.

David Dunham

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