S. J. Downes - Vocals/Steel Guitar, recorded live outside at friends festival in Midlands, UK, July 2022

Recorded on Zoom portable recorder by Paul Hutchinson. 

Picture - Bretagne (ile Brehat) 3.9.2015

🧭 

#compass
#davidcrosby
#csny
#americandream

🕊️🌿

In memory of David Crosby... 

(14.8.1941 - 18.1.2023)

🌿🕊️

Compass (D. Crosby) ~ Lyrics

I have wasted ten years in a blind-fold,
Ten-fold more than I've invested now in sight.
I have traveled beveled mirrors in a fly crawl,
Losing the reflection of a fight.

But like a compass seeking north, (seeking north).
There lives in me a still, sure, spirit part.
Clouds of doubt are cut asunder (clouds of doubt).
By the lightning and the thunder
Shining from the compass of my heart (shining from my heart).

I have flown the frantic flight of the bat-wing
And only known the dark because of that
I have seized death's door-handle
Like a fish out of the water
Waiting for the mercy of the cat.

But like a compass seeking north, (seeking north).
There lives in me a still, sure, spirit part.
Clouds of doubt are cut asunder (clouds of doubt).
By the lightning and the thunder
Shining from the compass of my heart (shining from my heart).



Compass (d.crosby) - live 230722

field recording, buskers Victor & Annette, singing their spiritual 'I give myself away, to you Lord', caught my ears about 2am  20.02.2020 on the subway in New York City, making my way back to Queens where my friend Ted lives, after a night wandering solo around the city catching a few gigs... 

W 4th Street -Annette Tobago, Victor Nigeria - 20.02.2020

Recorded at NEVER Records, Amman, 

Installation/Exhibition @ Turbo, 45 King Hussein Street, Amman, Jordan.

23/08/2016

S.J - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Bottleneck & Backing Vox
Ted.R - Production

I'm Gonna Cross The River Jordan - trad. (2016)

This is for my lovely friend Emma who tragically left this world last month. She was a true soul friend and a musical buddy and it breaks my heart that shes gone. The picture is from the front cover of a  birthday card she gave me years ago, handmade like she did so lovingly for all her friends. The only reason i've kept it is cause its so damn cool, with another picture pasted on the back and inside, and with it being painted and made to look aged or antiquity like with the hand crafted charcoal effect.  She was a brilliant creative artist and singer songwriter with a real pure heart for people of all walks and i know she'll be missed by the many friends she had and folks she came into contact with and brought her own piece of unique Joy to.

With love and blessings to her husband Ben, brother Michael, her folks and her family and all of her friend who I know will miss her as much as I do. x

(notes on song)The track itself is a classic and one of my favourites, I know Emma would have loved it. Its from the jazz tradition, Written by Duke Pearson in early 60's, apparently inspired when on the plane passing over Rio de Janeiro. It was recorded by Donald Byrd whos version was then subsequently played at Martin Luther King's funeral. I first heard it by Harvey Mandel on his 1968 album of the same name and then the cracking version with Charley Musselwhite on 3rd position Harmonica and Harvey Mandel from their Chicago Southside band album.

I hope i've done it some justice in my paired down version, looping on the main hook. I'll learn it properly at some point but this spontaneously came to my playing just now and got it down in a take on my phone.

Recorded 24/12/2017 - early hours.
SJ - Vega 6 string guitar

Peace x

Christo Redentor (Duke Pearson) - solo ac. gtr - (2017)

Spice Routes (S.J.Downes)

Recorded on 28/10/2012 @ NEVER Records, 841 Carondelet, New Orleans

SJ ~ Guitars/Harmonicas

Ted R ~ Production

Spice Routes

We Are All A Long Way, From Where We Want To Be ...

" I walk on,
Through the fuss and the fight,
through this rolling night.
The winter blues(the master)
is before the spring,
like my love,
is before this message that i bring.

That I am nothing,
but for the strength of the song that I sing"

Live improvised performance of two compositional ideas i took to record at Ted Riederer's Never Records art installation held at BAM, Brookyn , NYC -  15th Jan - 15th March

Honoured and all grateful to Ted and Jonathon for graciously accompanying and ultimately, masterfully assisting with their talents, to help bring these ideas and sounds to light.

Nvr4evr

S. J. Downes - Vocals/ Guitar/ Harmonica
Jonathon Toscano - Double Bass

Music and words written by - S.J.Downes

Recorded, Mixed, Produced by Ted Riederer at Never Records, Brooklyn -  21/02/2020 at Rudin Family Gallery @ BAM Strong (Brooklyn Academy of Music) 

Record Sleeve design by Ted Riederer, customised courtesy of Jeffrey Beebe

neverrecords.net

S J Downes

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