“Muse” is loosely described as a source (traditionally a force personified as a woman) that serves as inspiration for a creative artist. In my mind it’s something elusive that compels — perhaps demands — that an artist seek it. Of course, the end goal is never fully reached. Like John Lennon famously said, “Life happens while you’re making other plans,” searching for that elusive thing takes the artist for a journey, often a wild ride. I’m not a lot of things. I’m not a mathematician, I’m not an accountant, I’m not a manager that barks out orders to underlings. But I believe I’m an artist, perhaps not due to any quality level of creativity but to temperament.

The album “The Museman” is sort of a play on words. I have worked for more than 30 years as a small town journalist, a “newsman.” I write the stories as they come and document them on my camera as well. But when I am home, I am drawn to my guitar or piano, and there the story, the muse, calls me. If I’m obedient, I follow.

This is something like my 14th solo record, released to friends or anyone who will listen. This album is the first that is completely instrumental. Instead of crying my soul into a microphone (much to some people’s horror), I let my keyboard playing speak for me. Most of the “songs” are organically created improvisations. In most cases I embellish the tunes with additional instrumentation after the fact. Because of the improvisational nature of this project, most of the content is raw. Really raw. But hopefully if you take the time to get through this journey you’ll feel that elusive thing that compels me again and again. It’s that muse.

Thank you for listening!

— Peter Day
Saturday, December 10, 2016

The Museman (2016)

Rick Mapel (Guitar), Pete Day (Piano) and Donna Bytheway (percussion) play Black Coffee. - 5:23:17, 2.24 PM.  Recorded at Pete's house in the Mojave Desert on January 3, 2017.

Peter Day Studio

Black Coffee

SONG CANDIDATE: Peter Beautiful Piano Extemporaneous 12-02-2023 mix PED

This is Peter Day Music Podcast #1 published on April 5, 2010. Peter discusses his current song, "Only The Lady Knows," and shares the song with listeners. Peter's cousin, Bob Day, appears on the song, joining Peter on background vocals and adding flute.

Episode #1 April 5, 2010 - "Only The Lady Knows"

Peter shares an unfinished song production of "Walking Away." He also shares an original called "I Ain't Runnin' The Show" from 1993. The song was recorded on a cassette Tascam Portastudio.

Episode #2 April 28, 2010 - "Walking Away" Demo

This week Peter shares basic instrumental tracks of original songs "Walking Away" and "Center of My Life." 

Episode #3 June 5, 2010 - Basic Tracks

Peter begins this week's podcast with "Groovin' With A Feeling" that Mercy (Rangel) Powell sang for Peter in the late 1970s. The uptempo jazzy number features Richard Brownell on drums and Ben Brooks on flute. He also talks about his latest album, "To Live In Her Life," and plays "Here, Now, Forever" from the track, which features background vocals by Scott Kirby.

Episode #4 April 14, 2012 - Mercy Powell Sings, New Album Recap

Former radio music promoter Scott Kirby talks about his new documentary "Music Matters" and its premise: That the Payola law stifled synergy between the record and radio industries. To learn more about Kirby's film and music activism, visit http://musicrevolt.org/


Episode #5 - June 13, 2015 - Music Industry Activist Scott Kirby

Ben Flute Multi Melody August P to B

Anything For You

Winter Wind

Sad As Yesterday

Something Real

José

José

This Love Is Real

This Love is Real (2025 remix)

Caviar

Into My Life

MORNING EPIPHANY: The basic track is totally extemporaneous. After recording it, I embellished it with additional instrumentation. It’s interesting for me to hear back where my muse led me. By the way, this is one of the first creations I did connecting my iPad to my trusty old Yamaha PSR keyboard via a Griffin MIDI interface. Then I sent the Garageband file to iCloud and added some light instrumentation on my Mac Mini.

Morning Epiphany

MY (ANTI) HERO’S THEME: The music, which again was created while connected to my iPad, reminds me of something Todd Rundgren might do. I used to think Todd was, well, a god. The perfect music idol. As a fan I’ve stuck with him since 1972. He’s still creating masterpieces — which most people will never hear — but I see him in a more human light. Like all of us, he's not perfect, but certainly worthy of admiration and praise.

My (Anti) Hero's Theme

GONE WITH MR. TEDDY AND YOU: This is one of my favorite melodies (and harmonic structures) by my immensely creative cousin Bob Day. This version turned out sort of spacy-lounge-y. I’m sure it went to a place Bob hadn’t anticipated, but it’s where my muse wanted it to go.

Gone With Mr. Teddy And You (By Bob Day)

THAT NIGHT: I’m not sure which night this was. But it sounds right to me, hence the song title. Again, this is completely extemporaneous. The song struggles to find itself, but along the way I was inspired, massaging that blank slab of clay. It’s raw. It’s not fully formed, but it’s real.

That Night

REMEMBERING MY DAD: My father was an insurance salesman by day to pay the bills, but he had the heart of an music teacher. His grandfather, Charles E. Day, opened the first music store in downtown Los Angeles in the 1880s, and Dad was an avid lover of music, especially jazz. His early hero was pre-famous Nat “King” Cole and his trio. Dad taught several people his note-by-note transcription of Cole’s version of “Body and Soul.” I never learned that from him. As a result, my piano playing is less virtuosic and more, well, nuanced. This improvisation makes me think of him and his impact on many people around him.

Remembering My Dad

4.21.18 Ben & Pete Jam 2 2020 MELLOW GUITAR - 2:24:20, 6.46 AM

(Tremolo E-Guitar)

NOT ALONE (Brooks & Day)

This is one of the songs that came during a session in Ojai. The flute and guitar -- and the song flow -- are improvised. As an experiment I added background vocals afterward. I also have a version of this song with no vocals.

Ojai Session Song 2 BETTER VOCALS - 3:24:20, 1.31 PM

THIS UNDYING LOVE (with vocals) - Brooks & Day

This is the second instrumental we did during our recording session in Ojai. The flute and guitar -- and song -- were played and recorded extemporaneously. Additional instrumentation was added afterward. Ojai Session Song 2 INSTRUMENTAL - 3:24:20, 7.12 PM

SOULFUL LOVE (Recorded in Ojai, California)- Brooks & Day

Ben started this one. I added keyboard and bass.

10.9.17 - 10 23 17, 8.46 PM

Jazzy Flute Melody - Brooks & Day (In Progress, Started 10-17)

Brooks & Day 2020 Candidate

Bossie Nova (Brooks & Day)

Hi! I created his first multi-track recording when I bounced a track from my family's Craig cassette deck to a portable Radio Shack when I was a teenager. Inspired by the likes of multi-track pioneers Paul McCartney, Emitt Rhodes and Todd Rundgren, I have recorded a number of albums and singles over five decades (some are unreleased). Never one to stay in one creative space, I like to transverse from ballads, to atmospheric synth-based explorations, to rock and funky-based jazz. I am also half of flute-guitar/keyboard duo Brooks & Day with my longtime friend Ben Brooks. 

I often post songs-in-progress on Soundcloud. 

Note: There are several musicians named Peter Day in the U.S. and UK. This Peter Day grew up in the Pasadena area and currently resides in a rural California desert town.

Peter E. Day Music

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