He goes through his daily routine, dum da dum da dum da dum, when suddenly a man trips over his shadow.
Tune/Photo/Art: Gerald Bartlett

Improv Challenge 002 | A man trips over his shadow

Sometimes a sense of serenity comes from the simplest, overlooked, and nearly unseen gifts.
Tune/Photo/Art: Gerald Bartlett

Improv Challenge 003 | Unseen Gifts

Sometimes we go through hard times and we lose hope that we will get through it in one piece. Sometimes we lose a part of who we are that we thought defined us.  Anger sets in because we don't know if we have the strength to find it again. But without these mountains to climb it is impossible to get to the next place. Life changes. We don't realize we have the power to mold those changes. That power comes from within, not an imaginary outside source. We need to take responsibility for our life or we will never be happy. I have been down this road. It does not get easier. Life isn't supposed to be easy. You have to work for it with the wisdom you gained from the mistakes you made. Find the music that is still there. Take one day at a time. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Choose Life My Friend

This is a very loving offering to the Immortals of New Orleans piano - particular shout-outs to Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd (Professor Longhair); Mac Rebbenack (Dr. John); the Nevilles; Tuts Washington; Allen Toussaint and so many others.  The first time I heard a Professor Longhair recording, my head exploded and continues to with almost every listen.  To me, they are stars in the sky.  Respect!!  Here is a rough, raw improvisation on a them...still learning like crazy,  so it's likely I may replace this with another iteration as my chops come together.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy.

Lewis Road Mess-Around

So many people struggle with insomnia because of devices in bed. I am guilty myself. Most of my music was created to listen to in the dark when there is no other sound. Put in your earbuds so it goes right into your brain - and dream.

Insomnia

Istanbul

Music to sleep by. Turn out the lights. Put in your earbuds and close your eyes in the dark. Enjoy.

London Bridges

Modern Way

This is the second version of this piano improv. I asked Sophie, my 13 yr old student to add to the music a cello part the way she felt it. She has good instincts for someone so young. She has played several other pieces of music in the past 3 years that you can easily find gong down my list of tracks. she listened once to the original music and then added the cello.  I was pleased with what she played because she was able to feel where the music was going.

Insomnia (Collab With Sophie)Version 2

played around with impressionist & Messiaen sounds. named after a Lovecraft story

Polaris

The Music of Sound...really!!  It's all grist for the mill.  I visualize Sound/Music as colors, shapes and forms rather than notes in a scale.  I look upon each of these pieces as individual environments and/or sculptures in which to spend some time, looking round, feeling the curves, hanging out, exploring... Each composition is based on different elements, structures and rules or lack thereof.  Consequently, each is unique unto itself.  

Blissfully free of genre, everything is fair game:  beats; melodies; disquiet; washes; pulses; broken clichés and memes; subliminals; words and voices; chaos; sonorities; field recordings; indeterminacy; world music; the holy; the gutter; otherworld music; drones; synths; samples, etc. etc.  etc.  

I enjoy entering into the mitochondria of what makes a sound  that particular sound and then genetically change it into something entirely different than what it was - with just the essence lingering.  I also like to explore the "in-betweens" - spaces between beats, frequencies, timbres, spaces, tones, etc. In large part, simply, I'm curious to explore it all.  Suffice it to say, the wider your aperture the more you will hear and experience.  Et voila!

Oh!  Headphones will likely provide a more fulsome listening experience for many of the pieces.

You're thoughts/comments/feedback are very welcome.

My music is all piano improvisations expressing emotions. It is music telling stories without the words. When I feel the desire to express my emotions I sit at the piano and press the record button. I prefer playing in minor flat keys. They feel and sound different to me. I don't think about what I'm going to play. I don't plan a chord sequence. I just play and record straight through until it's done. I then lay 1 - 4 tracks on top of each other mentally mixing the sounds to each other. I don't know how to mix sounds electronically or fix mistakes. It's all done by ear, sometimes in the dark, my favorite way to play. 

I think I'd like to do some collabs this year of 2023. My earIy years I sang and played piano or fronted bands while playing keyboard, but the last ten years of playing my music is all improv. I would like to branch out and work with some other musicianǹ men ǹs. If anyone is interested msg me. I no longer sing 've been composing and performing most of my life.  At this point in my own history I started playing the piano 60 years ago and teaching and playing in piano bars for 48 of them, starting in college. The music I play now is beyond what my capabilities were back then. But my ability to teach surpasses most teachers who can only teach what they were taught.

I was ten when I decided I would teach  piano.  My desire is to tell my stories - the music that comes out with no planning or crafting. I play what I feel, close my eyes and my hands play those thoughts.

This is what I leave of me to my generations to come who wonder where their desire to make music comes from. My mother also played. I learned recently that my grandmother and great grandmother were both accomplished pianists when they were young. They had to stop and become housewives. No one told me. I found a diary.  Now I have great-grandchildren. They will know who I am through my music. When I am gone my music will still be here. What a wonderful thought!

A number of possible grooves...music I make to make myself move.  May you also be moved! Best on headphones...or in your car :D
Thank you for listening!

New tracks tagged #Piano Improv