un-manic Monday 

Good afternoon! It's about 1:20 on this variable Monday. Just came from getting my eyes checked. I had cataract surgery back in 2011, and have checked in every year since. Always a bit of uneasiness going in(I'm a bit of a worrywart by nature..), but it is something you gotta do- especially as you get older. And always greatly relieved that everything still works. Very thankful for that. 

Music news. Doing more guitar work these days. I'm still doing the daily thing with the playalongs, but also some solo guitar stuff. Got a fairly nice rendition of Blue Moon up on YouTube. Starting to think, for the umpeenth time, about doing another solo album. With these solo pieces I like to add an intro when I can. I think it's an art unto itself. Kenny Barton used to have some wonderful intros. For the uninitiated, Kenny was a fine pianist in the Art Tatum tradition. Tickled to get to work with him back in the day. 

Solo guitar is tougher because it requires more concentration. You're the only one carrying the ball, so if you miss a beat or a note, it's your ass!  Still, I like  doing it at least occasionally. But I can think of at least two locals who are better solo guitarists than I am. Thinking of a remark made by Tim Green- another piano player who used to be around here- that you should live in a town where at least two people can kick your ass on your instrument. It is how you grow..

Personally I'm humbled enough by some of the stuff I hear online or on records. There's always somebody out there to show you what you don't know. That's actually the beauty of it all..

Skimpy as it may be, I guess this is my news for today. Relieved that the peepers still work, and relieved that- well, you know. One saving grace from this turbulent year(besides legal cannabis)is that I now pay a lot more attention to politics. It finally got my attention. Anyway! Thanks as ever for stopping in and reading. Happy Monday to you, if that's possible! Until next time, I'm outa here. More later.  

 

 

 

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