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Making connections (blog version)

NOTE: This is a preamble of sorts to another observation about connections I hope to finish up today.

Musicians jamming on a song get into a groove. They are altogether connecting in a series of reactions. Smiles, eye contact: They play off the sounds of the instruments — off each other.

The mix is elevated beyond the contribution of any single player.

They’re connected.

Listen to Dexter Gordon or Walter Wanderley.

When the moment is gone, a song, that was once live music is a memory. It lives on in the brain– a brain that neuroscientists say may be able to store as much as 300 million hours of TV shows were it a video device.

The music connects the musicians who try to connect the audience.

In basketball and other sports, players and the team can get in ‘the zone.’ Every shot goes in, every pass finds its mark.

It’s like jazz.

Elevated improvisation within a structure. Its kind of what I’m doing here. And, it would be appropriate at this time to ask the question: What’s the point? The point these connections, these relationships shouldn’t be taken lightly. The brain is a buzzing slab of electro-excitability that needs its connections, its synapses and neurons to be firing.

I have Lewy body dementia where the connections get snowed in; the neurons get caught in a sticky pile of excess proteins. I get that I have a lot of storage capacity but every day a little is being chipped away. Lewy body dementia robs people the ability to make those connections.

Please join us July 20 for a fund raiser basketball tournament to raise money to fight this horrible disease. I didn’t ask to be the poster boy in this, but I am so happy to be involved. We have raised a total of $25,000 in two years and are looking to do much more.

If basketball isn’t your thing, we have an after party at TrimTab brewery open and free to all. We’ll have Karaoke, purple T-shirts for sale and I hear there may be some dunking going on.

Let’s connect. Go to: www.mikemadness.org

My NP this week are four Paul McCartney albums – 3 good, 1 bad.

For music reviews this week click on www.myvinylcountdown.com

Relationships can be tricky. A misperceived comment; fumbled attempts to help. We listen but aren’t really listening. We make assumptions that aren’t true and build with those assumptions our own wrong-headed case for action – the wrong action.

From the archives today, we have something I wrote about 18 months ago. I believe I meant it as a warning that like a gentle rose, relationships need nurturing to keep the connections alive.

What is more fragile than a relationship?

A day too old rose waiting for one touch to send petals spinning to the ground.

The stability of a family facing a future with too many ifs.

The conviction that doing right is always right. Or always doing right is right.

The profundity of a well educated person.

The joy of sleeping when really really worn out.

The reality you see right now.

The love you can’t define but know it’s true.

The knowledge that the straight trail is better than the switchback.

The theory that a theory is not truth.

The laugh between old friends you may not see again.

The idea that your decisions don’t affect the world.

The notion that there are things that are impossible.

Caring, love as I rearrange everything

What is rare as a loving relationship?

DId you find that yellow bird?

Reach Mike Oliver at moliver@al.com and read his blog at myvinylcountdown.com

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Malo — 337

ALBUM: Malo (1972)

MVC Rating: 4.0/ $$$$

Wow, look at that cover on this album by a band named Malo.

When I first saw it, I thought of the cover art on Abraxas, Santana’s great second album. Obviously different covers in color and all — but similar in other striking ways, attention to detail, beautiful people from another time and place. Maybe it was the same painter?

I put it on the turntable and what did I hear. A jamming rhythmic Latin-tinged, multi-piece band with trumpets, electric guitar and lots of shake rattle and roll. Man it sounded like early Santana led by Carlos Santana.

So not surprisingly as I checked out the names of musicians, I noticed Jorge Santana. He is, I found out, Carlos’ brother. As an early Santana fan, I couldn’t believe I never heard that. As a decade long dweller in Marin County, California, where Carlos lives and is frequently spotted driving around in his convertible(s) I never knew he had a brother in a band or that I had never heard of the band. Of course I believe, the band no longer existed by the time I got there in 2001. They had a Top 20 hit with Suavecito but you don’t see this album around at least not on the east coast.

Maybe they should have re-thought the band’s name. Malo in Spanish means ‘Bad.’

The Malo album cover is from a painting by Mexican painter  Jesus Helguera.

The Abraxis cover was from a painting called Annunciation by German-French painter Mati Klarwein.

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Bob Marley — 339

ALBUM: Legend (1984)

MVC Rating: 5.0/$$$

The five key shapers of my love of music are all men. I say that only because I just noticed it as I began writing this. The father of three daughters I don’t feel sexist in this regard, but maybe I am.

My five key shapers are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Wilson Picket/Otis Redding, Prince and Bob Marley.

Hank Williams Sr. barely missed the cut.

I cheated I know with Redding Pickett, but they were big soul belters that startled this skinny kid in Georgia when I first heard them and fell in love with their songs. (Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You by Pickett hooked me from the radio.)

Prince was my James Brown, Little Richard altogether as those guys were before my time. And Prince channeled these guys (Sly Stone and MJ as well) into some of the most dynamic music of the 80s and 90s.)

British invaders, The Rolling Stones, some might say is too much like the Beatles but that’s not true. They are very different. At first it was the Beatles creating everything a rock band would be, good vocals, good songwriting, good musicians, genius production and engineering. The Stones came along and deconstructed all of that. Raw, simpler, looser. Black music for white kids who wanted the guitars turned up on blues-based rock. A lot of my friends were one or another: Beatles or Stones.

Then came Marley. Jammin’ with an aromatic cloud overhead. I didn’t expect to like him, but grew to love his music which could be rebellious, politically aware and sweet and kind.

Songs like ‘No Woman No Cry’ and ‘Redemption Song’ and ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Stir It Up.’ If you haven’t tried Marley start with this one, a compilation of ‘hits’ called ‘Legend.’ Another favorite I used to have on vinyl but is MIA was ‘Natty Dread.’

‘Babylon by Bus’ is a good two-record live album.

From Natty Dread’s No Woman no Cry

No, woman no cry
No, woman no cry
No, woman no cry
Said, said, said I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Ob-observing the hypocrites
As they would mingle with the good people we meet (meet)
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we’ve lost
Along the way (way)
In this great future, you can’t forget your past
So dry your tears, I say

And no, woman, no cry.

Speaking of women. I swear I have lots of women, on record that is. My beloved Catherine introduced to me to Carole King and Carly Simon.

I have Heart, Janis Joplin, the Bangles, Diana Ross, the Marvelettes, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, an all-female hard rock group called Fanny, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynettte, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Nancy Griffith, Indigo Girls, the Shirelles, Melanie, Joan Baez, and many other ‘mixed’ groups like B-52’s, the Crams, Mamas and Papas, Sly and Family Stone, the Staple Singers, a Group called Smith, Eurythmics and so on.

While I enjoy much of those none were pivotal to me in transforming or greatly expanding my musical tastes. Janis and Aretha were close. But by then I was softened up to listen to them. Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers BTW has one of my favorite soulful voices.

NOTE: After I published this I realized I did not mention Dolly Parton. I watched her show with Porter Wagoner on black and white TV, probably in the late 1960s, early 70s. Sunday mornings. Been a fan ever since.

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Daily Journal, June 9, 2019, Premature edition

Several stories recently that appeared in AL.com but not here:

News anchor dies by suicide believing he had Lewy body dementia

Music heals the brains of premature babies — and me

Alzheimer’s from A to Z at Birmingham forum

My Vinyl Countdown: Nothing from nothing is something

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Daily Journal, June 6, 2019, Is it raining snakes?

Yay! It rained a little today. Our lawn appreciates it.

Don’t make me start a list of rain songs.

‘Who’ll Stop the Rain”–CCR who also did ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain’

‘Rain King’ by Counting Crows.

‘Purple Rain’ by Prince.

‘Feels like Rain.’ John Hiatt.

‘Rain’ the Beatles.

‘Raina’ by Peter Himmelman. (I know I know — kind of cheating here, but love the song.)

My hands are in the hunt and peck mode now. Time to stop, shake them out and look for that ‘November Rain,’ I mean June Rain, out the window.

But first ..

A FUN SNAKE FACT: I read a story today about snakes, saying they aren’t aggressive and don’t attack, usually. It said when a snake bites a human, alcohol was involved 40 percent* of the time.

I say if nearly half our snakes are drunk, we better be even more careful.

* (update 40 percent, not 70 and that’s referencing humans not the snakes.)

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The Mamas & the Papas — 340

ALBUM: Fairwell to the First Golden Era

MVC Rating: 4.0/$$

Perfect harmonies. Big bold singing voices. Mama Cass. California Dreamin.’

These are the things I think of when I think of this singing group.

And during their prime, they really were larger than life.

California Dreamin’ is such a perfect ‘state’ song. It made me wonder what the best song about a state is? That one has to be near the top.

Well there’s ‘Georgia on My Mind’ as sung by the great Ray Charles. Of course ‘Sweet Home Alabama. Sweet Virginia by the Stones. Yellow Rose of Texas a traditional folk song but Hoyt Axton is known for his version. Private Idaho by my hometown band B-52s . This could go on forever but don’t forget this one: “The Moon is Bigger in Alabama.”

This greatest hits album also has Creeque Alley, kinda of a here’s-how-we- got-here song that has the memorable line: And the only one getting fat is Mama Cass.

Their song ‘Monday Monday’ could also start a list-sickle song like the state songs. ‘Manic Monday’ by the Bangles via Prince; Tuesday’s Gone by Skynyrd; Friday on my Mind by the Easybeats; I Dont like Mondays by the Boomtown Rats.

There’s more. Hit the comments if you want to add more. Because there are many, but I’ve got to go, trying to make that Midnight Train to Georgia.

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Music heals the brains of premature babies and me (Blog version)

 

Mike Oliver is an opinion columnist who is using music and his writings to raise awareness to Lewy body dementia on his blog myvinylcountdown.com and AL.com.

As you all may have figured out, I enjoy music. (Understatement).

Not only do I enjoy music, I believe it is therapeutic, as I have pointed out before.

I believe it is therapeutic for anyone, not just those like myself who have a degenerative brain disease.

Now, news out of Switzerland on the effects of music on premature babies adds more substance to my, admittedly anecdotal reports of music’s healing properties

“Among very premature babies, some of whom were almost born four months ahead of schedule, those who were given daily doses of music written just for them had brain functions that appeared to be developing better than those who weren’t exposed to the music, ” according to ScienceAlert.com., citing several studies.

Yes! I knew I was on to something. Tiny babies rocking out, shaking their booties, doing the funky chicken are helping their brains.

Well not so fast.

Turns out they weren’t exactly rocking out.

The music (which the babies had no say in choosing) is basically elevator music.

The preemies received “eight minutes of soothing background musi c (Click to hear it), bells, harp, and the Indian snake charmer’s flute five times a week.

Incidentally, the snake charmer’s flute was the most soothing sound to newborns,” ScienceAlert.com reported.

Bells, flute, snake charmer’s flute? Are they trying to teach them to slither out of the crib?

I have a friend, Jill in California, who suffers great physical and mental pain upon hearing the harp.

Did the researchers consider any Iron Maiden or old school Black Sabbath. I find a little ‘Crazy Train’ gets my blood pumping in the morning. That’s the goal here, right? Get the healing power of blood circulation in the brain.

If the experts believe that hard rock may be too much at this age, or encourage head-banging, maybe they can start them off with a power ballad by the Scorpions. Or going to another genre, how about the soothing tones of Barry White? Or Smokey  Robinson and the Miracles? Or the Rev. Al Green?

I listened to some of the music they  used on these little ones and, frankly, it sounds like what we called New Age music. You know , Kitaro. There were no lyrics. I say get them started on words. Old school hip hop like Run DMC or Kurtis Blow.

May want to avoid the Police doing (De do do do de da da da). That, and Janis Joplin singing ‘Cry Baby.’

I think the babies would enjoy the whole catalog of the ‘The Mamas and Papas.’

While this is fun, I’d like to take serious note that the best way to solve this problem is to reduce the number of premature babies. Unfortunately many women lack access to good neonatal health care, and sex education. AL.com’s Anna Claire Vollers is spending the year investigating these and other serious issues facing moms in Alabama .

Follow Anna Claire Vollers excellent reporting on Motherhood in Alabama.

Sciencealert.com says the music was aimed at different  parts of the babies’ day, such as feeding time or waking: “Headphones were placed on all babies during the trial when they were waking or noticed to be awake.”

I can see it, Lil’ Man, Lil’ Woman with the head phones on, maybe some shades, chillin’ to Bob Marley.

“We jammin’ we jammin,’ babies nodding their heads in unison, “we hope you like jammin’ too.”

 

https://youtu.be/H7knTgdgaSU

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Daily Journal, June 4, 2019

Tuesday’s not gone yet. In fact it’s only 10:58 a.m. my time (Central). As I said in a previous post, I was going through some fluctuating symptoms the past few days. So much better this morning as I can type.

Fluctuations in symptoms is a hallmark of Lewy body dementia. I see it as the ultimate donut and hole cliche’. In other words I am thankful it is not just one long descent. I am thankful that I have a donut on some days. (No wonder I can’t shake this extra weight).

Describing the symptoms is hard for me to put my finger on it, literally, when I have those symptoms but let’s just say I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin, feel fidgety and fine motor skills like buttoning shirts, typing, and tying my shoes become frustratingly difficult. Coping mechanism? Maybe half a tab of carbidopa/levodopa or get out and walk or both.

I have doctor’s permission to up my dosage slightly during these events. It’s good medicine but it was developed to treat Parkinson’s not Lewy body specifically. I also take a med created for Alzheimer’s patients to help with the cognitive issues. I don’t know how that is working, but somethings going well as I’m three years into this thing and still playing basketball.

In fact at the MikeMadness tournament I am getting excited about seeing who is going to come in second.

Because they may as well go ahead and put my name on the trophy now.

I’ll be wearing my No. 33 Boston Celtics jersey.

Let’s outro with my greatest therapeutic treatment: Music.

I love to listen to the slide guitar intro by Lynyrd Skynyrd for the song Tuesday’s gone — beautiful.

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Wynton Marsalis, Teo Macero — 342, 341

ALBUMS: Black Codes from the Underground; Acoustical Supension (1985)

\MVC Rating: Black 4.0 $$$; Acoustical 4.0/$$$$.

I’ve never been a major jazz fan. I give it about 5 to 10 percent of my listening time. Total listening time for the week is between four and seven hours. An hour is about three album sides. So  I still get a fair amount of jazz in

This is about all that, and jazz too. I’m combining these two respected artists because they are close in alphabetical distance and both are playing some late model jazz (1980s).

There is some jazz I really like and listen to, mostly from the old days. John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dixieland Louis Armstrong, Joe Henderson, Cannonball Adderly, Bud Powell, and Sonny Rollins to name most of my repertoire. Oh, and Chet Baker (hipster dude).

So a jazz collecting friend asked why I don’t have any modern jazz, at least someone like Herbie Hancock (who isn’’t all that modern these days.) I dunno, I said. Seems like it takes me too long to warm up to. I do like some fusion as done by the Dixie Dregs and Sea Level, but that’s my Southern roots kicking in

So I asked him who’s the best jazz person right now in the world. He said the best trumpet player is/was (this was 1980s) Wynton Marsalis. So I bought a Marsalis record Black Codes from the Underground. He’s extremely good – won two Grammy’s for this album.  I like it, but am not passionate about it. It’s busy with trumpet runs (as you’d expect) throughout. Makes a good party record that can rise above the background music tag when you want some jazz but not something that rattles the martini olives.

Next up was an album I almost forgot about Teo Macero – and this album would be a notch higher on the in-your-face jazz – in other words with its funky beats, bleating sax and switcheroo time signatures, with splatters of electric guitar, it would not work as well in a background setting demanding low volume. In some ways Marsalis might be pushing it as a dinner time suggestion because of its swings and complexity. Playing Wynton’s album for the first time in years made me realize this album deserves some listening concentration.

Both these guys have great folks working with them and resumes that are about as good as you can get.

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Daily Journal May 30, 31, 2019

Had lunch Thursday with some friends from the West Coast. Talking about San Francisco made me nostalgic. Good conversation, good lunch at Mile End deli. It was DELIcious. (Sorry).

I’ve been stop-starting on some stories that I need to focus on. There are so many paths for me to go down, that I need a compass.

I really enjoyed the use of the phrase city-savvy in a sentence — as an alternative for streetwise. What sentence you are asking? The one I just wrote. (Sorry again).

Stay tuned for details about an after party for MikeMadness 3X3 basketball tournament. The tournament is Saturday July 20 to raise money for Lewy body research and awareness. We have raised about $25,000 overall in the previous tournaments. This will be the third and I hope we can raise $25,000 altogether this year to bring our total for three years to $50,000.

Here is officia MikeMadness page: https://mikemadness.org/