A selection of songs and soundscapes of the city, coast, country, and life with cats -- a soundtrack to a true believer's quest for healing, hope, and deep peace in times of war. Sounds I didn't know I had in my head. Gospel fusion, hymns reimagined for such a Time as this. Soulful harmonies, chill grooves, sounds of past, present, future.

SIMPLY THE BLESSED

REST

Inspiration from the 1906 hymn " Leave It There" written by Philadelphia Minister, Charles Albert Tindley. Philly vibes here, a nod to a saxophone player  I used to listen to every day on my morning commute to a place called Nicetown.

Leave Them There

Inspired by 2 Corinthians 3:17, "The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where He is there is freedom". A seaside soundscape chronicling a pilgrim's journey to a far celestial shore.

Long Long Way From Home

A dreamy interlude inspired by a very real Ms. Sunday

Ms. Sunday Says

Inspired by the many versions of Pie Jesu that seek to rise about the cacophony of sound in Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy

Venice

A song written for my mother's beloved French speaking cat, Bernadette.

Bernadette

A reimagined soundscape amid the tumult of war in the Middle East of the traditional spiritual "There Is a Balm in Gilead" with Minnie Ripperton vibes. The "balm in Gilead" references Jeremiah 8:22, but the spiritual's lyrics focus on the New Testament concept of salvation through Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, the balm of Gilead is a healing compound, symbolizing spiritual medicine for Israel and sinners. And it's " There's a balm" not, " There's a bomb", ok? Though there are bombs. We're singing about the balm.

Gilead (There's a Balm)

A song about getting lost and found....with air trumpet by yours truly. 
When you didn't know the way to go? Didn't He always show you the way?

Isaiah 30:21 - And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. . You are divinely guided and directed.

The Way

Acapella porch singing of " Motherless Child", traditional spiritual written c. 1899. 

Motherless Child

Interlude mantra  "I'm a Child of the Light" 

Child of the Light (Interlude)

A simple song of thanks to my Heavenly Father from a girl who didn't have an earthly one.

Thank You, Lord

Very much a remake of the Welsh hymn, " Guide Me" (Cymn Rhondda) written in 1745 by William Williams, known as " The Watts of Wales". A soundtrack to navigating urban life as a pilgrim.

Guide Me (Cwm Rhondda)

High to low in this soulful treatment on the second take of " Lobe Den Herren", the tried and true hymn written by Joachim Neader (1650-1650), also known as " Praise to the Lord, The Almighty". Melody from Erneurten Gesangbuch, 1665. Gesundheit!

Lobe Den Herren / Praise to the Lord

When it's time to draw the line and you're drawin' the line.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. - Psalm 16:5-8

“Draw a line; draw a line that pleases you. And remember that it is not the artist's role to copy the outlines of things but to create a world of his own lines on paper."  ― Milan Kundera, Life is Elsewhere

Drawin' the Line

A meditation on Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and I will give you rest 
Only in your rest, I can see now
That only in your rest am I free 
Only in your rest, can I see victory 
Only in your rest am I free 
Only in your rest

Rest

Original tune with samples from " My Fair Lady", Bobby Freeman's  ( Bette Midler/Barry Manilow) " Do You Wanna Dance", and "Out of Africa", because who doesn't want Robert Redford to ask her to dance.

Forever Dancing

Bluegrass ambient version of The Irish Blessing.

The Only Thing to Say

A parody rap song about having pastries with Muhammad Ali, naturally. 

Flour, sugar, butter, salt -- everything I have belongs in a vault!

Mr. Ali

Narration of Beatrix Potter's story Jemima Puddleduck

The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck

Wait for it..... a mashup of Hubert Parry's " I Was Glad" with William Blake's 'Jerusalem" with reggae vibes, yes these are all my voices-- some other threads of " Jerusalem, My Happy Home" in there with a nod to " The Holy City". All things Jerusalemania. What no ear has heard in this theater of the absurd.... 

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. - Psalm 122

Jerusalem by William Blake 
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon Englands mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen!
 
And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?
 
Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
 
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.

Jerusalem (I Was Glad)

A long time struggle with my last name lead to writing this parody to the tune of " All of Me" with yours truly on air trumpet. Enjoy!

What is a Westergren? (All of Me)

An original arrangement mashup of " God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Joy to the World", reimagined for such a Time as this........with mouth trumpet by yours truly. I wish you joy.

Comfort & Joy

An original acapella arrangement of " The Holly & The Ivy" -- a departure from the common spritely tune, this winter woodland walk soundscape version speaks to the mystical holy nature of the tree itself and its deep symbolism among Christians and pagans alike. 

The Holly & The Ivy

A meditative version of Silent Night with the Xalam (West African lute) meant to evoke a dreamscape of contemplation of the mystery of the Holy birth.

Silent Night (A Meditation)

A meditative reimagining of The Huron Carol, a French Canadian carol, also known as " Twas in the Moon of Wintertime". Words byJean de Bré­beuf, cir­ca 1643. Trans­lat­ed from Hur­on to Eng­lish by J. Ed­gar Mid­dle­ton, 1926.

Mouth trumpet by yours truly. 

’Twas in the moon of win­ter­time,
When all the birds had fled,
That migh­ty Git­chi Ma­ni­tou
Sent an­gel choirs in­stead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And won­der­ing hunt­ers heard the hymn:

Jesus your king is born,
Jesus is born,
In ex­cel­sis glor­ia.

Within a lodge of brok­en bark
The ten­der babe was found,
A rag­ged robe of rab­bit skin
Enwrapped His beau­ty round;
But as the hunt­er braves drew nigh,
The an­gel song rang loud and high:

Refrain

The ear­li­est moon of win­ter­time
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glo­ry on
The help­less In­fant there.
The chiefs from far be­fore Him knelt
With gifts of fox and bea­ver pelt.

Refrain

O child­ren of the for­est free,
O seed of Ma­ni­tou,
The ho­ly Child of earth and Heav’n
Is born to­day for you.
Come kneel before the ra­di­ant Boy,
Who brings you beau­ty, peace and joy.

Refrain

The Moon of Wintertime (Huron Carol)

A parody of Melania Trump singing " O Christmas Tree" at Mar-a-Lago, New Year's Eve, after discovering a very unfortunate looking tree. Happy New Year, First Lady!

Melania sings "O Christmas Tree" (Parody)

A mashup of the Blue Book standards, " That Ol' Devil Moon" and " I Wish You Love" ....Mouth Trumpet solos by moi. 

"Old Devil Moon" is a popular song composed by Burton Lane with lyrics by Yip Harburg for the 1947 musical Finian's Rainbow. It was introduced by Ella Logan and Donald Richards in the Broadway show. The song takes its title from a phrase in "Fun to Be Fooled", a song that Harburg wrote with Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for the 1934 musical Life Begins at 8:40.

 "I Wish You Love" was introduced in 1957 by Keely Smith as the title cut of her solo debut album, I Wish You Love, and was one of Smith's signature songs.

Old Devil Moon / I Wish You Love

A meditation post Inauguration and MLK Day for the non-dualistic thinkers, feelers, and healers 

Rise

A trip hoppy meditation on 1 Corinthians 2:9-10: 

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. 

Preaching audio from Dr. Preston Patterson from Final Millennium Ministries which can be found here: 

https://www.youtube.com/@finalmillenniumministry2862

Never Before

Meditative jazz version of the traditional spiritual "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen" .

Nobody Knows

A deceased red spotted purple butterfly landed on my lap the other day and inspired me to try a bit from Madame Butterfly. It ain't over till the fat lady sings!I I am not a trained opera singer, but I'm half Italian and was raised by Italian women, so that explains some of it. Stay tuned......

I Try Madame Butterfly

Chorally trained vocalist, songwriter, voiceover actress, aspiring sound engineer with a thing for British talking bunnies, show tunes, sacred choral music, Mahalia, Motown, jazz cats and Kanye's last record, Jesus is King. Occasional air trumpeter.

H.WEST

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