Showing posts with label accordion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accordion. Show all posts

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Texting . . .



Him:       There

Her:       Now what’ll we do?

Him:       Let’s dahnce!

Her:       Oh, letsL!l

Him:       Shall I lead?

Her:       Why not?!

Him:       A one and a two . . .

Her:       Now you sound like Lawrence Welk!  Haha

Him:       It’s the accordion player in me.

Her:       Must be.  SO let’s sit this one out.  We can dahnce again later.

Him:       Oh alright . . .







What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html  or at
http://www.ohomusic.com 


OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak.  Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com 


My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com



 PIANOGONZOLOGY - Blogged My 
Zimbio

Monday, May 18, 2015

Good . . .

. . . not bad. . .


Cannot get the wall-unit, air conditioner to restart and actually move cool air anymore.  Is it worth requesting attention from the front desk for this?  We'll only be in this room one more night.  It's about 4:45 and rest from the morning's activities is required.  But some websites at which I perform routine business don't seem to believe it's really me.  Does this mean they can detect from my login that I am physically in an exotic locale and have prohibited me from access for security reasons?  I think maybe.  Nevertheless, as we power-nap and attempt cyber contact respectively, both windows are open allowing a pleasant, dry afternoo breeze in the room. . . and their is an accordionist on the street below gently serenading us.

Not bad.





What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html  or at
http://www.ohomusic.com 


OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak.  Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com 


My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com



 PIANOGONZOLOGY - Blogged My 
Zimbio

Monday, July 21, 2014

Can't You. . .

. . . make that thing sound like a piano or something?


Various accordion takes for Paleolithic Goddess Figurine.


Seven Takes(Accordion Solo)
(work-in-progrss by OHO [Jay Graboski, David Reeve, Ray Jozwiak] basic tracks recorded at Bratt Studios)



What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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Friday, May 30, 2014

Tinkering . . .

. . . with my accordion track for Paleolithic Goddess Figurine again . . .


Round every corner and fade into blue
The Angelus rings, she comes into view
Nine is her number
In nine she is due
She will never fail you

Singing creation, look into her eyes
Out of her mouth she is speaking the sky
Circling heaven, higher than high
She in time is movement

Why should I move from her world vibration?
Molding this clay into
Paleolithic Goddess Figurines

Streaming to rivers, she floats on the sea
Gathers her children who sit on her knee
Showing and telling them where they are free
She is softly speaking

Holding the line when she seems unpleasant
Molding this clay into
Paleolithic Goddess Figurines

There is no real dilemma
She has her own agenda
Though there's a vulture hovering above our heads
Go on and trust the pattern
Her sun and moon are lanterns
Painting the firmament with stars

She is the vision of attention engaged
Breaking the spell of automaton rage
A circuit of heaven, a luminous wave
All is seen before her

Why should I move from her world vibration?
Molding this clay into
Paleolithic Goddess Figurines

Round every corner and fade into blue
The Angelus rings, she comes into view
Nine is her number
In nine she is due
She will never fail you


Paleolithic Goddess Figurine
by John P. Graboski
( 'in progress' by Oho [Jay Graboski, David Reeve, Ray Jozwiak]




What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

Ray Jozwiak: 2014

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Coming April 8th . . .

(. . . to an internet NEAR YOU! - The new solo release of solo, acoustic, original creative piano music from Oho's keyboard man Ray Jozwiak . . . )


1957 Raymond Michael Jozwiak is born at Church Home & Hospital, Baltimore, MD

1962 Raymond Michael Jozwiak enters the 1st grade at Our Lady of Fatima School, Baltimore, MD

1963 Raymond Michael Jozwiak begins accordion lessons at the Accordion Institute of Maryland

1972 Raymond Michael Jozwiak joins the band Reflection to play part-time at private functions

1978 Raymond Michael Jozwiak earns his Bachelor of Science degree from Towson State University

1979 Raymond Michael Jozwiak and Pamela Ann Statter marry

1983 Raymond and Pamela buy their first house (in Towson)

1984 - 1990 Raymond and Pamela bring three, extraordinary young men into the world

1985 Raymond Michael Jozwiak trades in his Farfisa Fast 4 and Leslie 145 tone cabinet for his first, (a Wurlitzer, studio upright) piano

1998 Raymond Michael Jozwiak trades in his Wurlitzer, studio upright piano for a Kawai baby grand

2014 Raymond Michael Jozwiak releases 2014, a cumulative, musical distillation of elements from every human, intellectual, emotional and musical experience of his life to date, performed on acoustic, grand pianoforte


Compound Fracture
©2013 Raymond M. Jozwiak
from '2014'
available April 8, 2014 at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak






What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html 

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

'2014' available April 8, 2014 at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak
Pre-order your copy of "2014" at the iTunes Store NOW

My latest solo release, Black & White Then Back,
can be downloaded digitally at:

Ray Jozwiak: Black & White Then Back

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak3)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

PIANOGONZOLOGY - Blogged My 
Zimbio
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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Coming Soon . . .

(. . . to an internet NEAR YOU!)


1957 Raymond Michael Jozwiak is born at Church Home & Hospital, Baltimore, MD

1962 Raymond Michael Jozwiak enters the 1st grade at Our Lady of Fatima School, Baltimore, MD

1963 Raymond Michael Jozwiak begins accordion lessons at the Accordion Institute of Maryland

1972 Raymond Michael Jozwiak joins the band Reflection to play part-time at private functions

1978 Raymond Michael Jozwiak earns his Bachelor of Science degree from Towson State University

1979 Raymond Michael Jozwiak and Pamela Ann Statter marry

1983 Raymond and Pamela buy their first house (in Towson)

1984 - 1990 Raymond and Pamela bring three, extraordinary young men into the world

1985 Raymond Michael Jozwiak trades in his Farfisa Fast 4 and Leslie 145 tone cabinet for his first, (a Wurlitzer, studio upright) piano

1998 Raymond Michael Jozwiak trades in his Wurlitzer, studio upright piano for a Kawai baby grand

2014 Raymond Michael Jozwiak releases 2014, a cumulative, musical distillation of elements from every human, intellectual, emotional and musical experience of his life to date, performed on acoustic, grand pianoforte


My Mystery
©2013 Raymond M. Jozwiak
from '2014'
available April 8, 2014 at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak






What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

My latest release, Black & White Then Back,
can be downloaded digitally at:

Ray Jozwiak: Black & White Then Back

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak3)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

PIANOGONZOLOGY - Blogged My 
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 Directory





Saturday, February 15, 2014

Tweaking. . .


. . . NOT twerking ! ! ! . . .

Paleolithic Goddess Figurine
(accordion part ) . . .



Round every corner and fade into blue
The Angelus rings, she comes into view
Nine is her number
In nine she is due
She will never fail you

Singing creation, look into her eyes
Out of her mouth she is speaking the sky
Circling heaven, higher than high
She in time is movement

Why should I move from her world vibration?
Molding this clay into
Paleolithic Goddess Figurines

Streaming to rivers, she floats on the sea
Gathers her children who sit on her knee
Showing and telling them where they are free
She is softly speaking

Holding the line when she seems unpleasant
Molding this clay into
Paleolithic Goddess Figurines

There is no real dilemma
She has her own agenda
Though there's a vulture hovering above our heads
Go on and trust the pattern
Her sun and moon are lanterns
Painting the firmament with stars

She is the vision of attention engaged
Breaking the spell of automaton rage
A circuit of heaven, a luminous wave
All is seen before her

Why should I move from her world vibration?
Molding this clay into
Paleolithic Goddess Figurines

Round every corner and fade into blue
The Angelus rings, she comes into view
Nine is her number
In nine she is due
She will never fail you


Paleolithic Goddess Figurine
written by John P. Graboski
performed by OHO- Jay Graboski, David Reeve and Ray Jozwiak






What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

My latest release, Black & White Then Back,
can be downloaded digitally at:

Ray Jozwiak: Black & White Then Back

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak3)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

PIANOGONZOLOGY - Blogged My 
Zimbio
blog search directory Blog Directory





Thursday, February 13, 2014

An Entrepreneur. . .

. . . was opening a 'music studio' in our very own east Baltimore neighborhood (speaking of accordions).   (I always thought the term 'music studio' sounded impressive.  Sophisticated, cultured and exclusive.)  This studio was to be called the Maryland Accordion Institute.  (Talk about impressive, sophisticated, cultured and exclusive!)  The phone call was telemarketing for prospective clientele, namely wee sprites who were interested in learning to play that prince of all reed instruments, king of the Bohemian beer hall, and butt of many, many jokes - the accordion.  But, this was not the perception held by myself at the time.  Nor was it the perception held by many in a similar position at the time.  It was, quite honestly (and truly, unashamedly) an interesting and desirable proposition.  I was, indeed, VERY interested in learning to play the accordion.  DAMNED interested.  Those Sunday afternoons listening to Dad play his accordion, combined with my natural love of music, possibly even my lack of ambition and talent on the guitar, all united in my seven year old brain forming a profound hunger to learn to play the accordion.  As odd as it sounds, I did not regret at the time, nor do I now regret not pursuing the 'cool' -er musical path of playing the guitar.  It just never occurred to me that that's what I should have done.  And I never looked back.

You haven't lived . . . until you've heard forty seven accordionists playing HALLELUJAH I'M A BUM on a cold, Monday evening in November.  Kinda warms the cockles of your heart.  We used to have 'band practice', not as in a conventional 'band' of various compatible instruments rehearsing together for a performance, but a 'band' meaning a group, and 'practice' meaning just that.  And many of us most certainly needed practice. Theoretically, the concept had musical merit.  Playing with other music students promoted an understanding of time, tempo and dynamics, following a 'conductor' (of sorts) and taught cooperation, support, sympathy, patience, harmony, rhythm and accompaniment.

The configuration was four rows of metal, folding chairs of about 8 - 10 facing the conductor (an accordion teacher, most often Mr. Edward (Taylor) Krawcyk, whose back was to a row of assorted couches and chairs where the parents of the students sat to 'enjoy' the music of their progeny.  The protocol had the 'new' or less senior (accordion-wise) students in the first row, with students 'promoted' to the following rows as they progressed in skill, or sometimes when they merely 'hung in there' for a period, with or without really improving technically at all.  And the coup de gras for seriously dedicated students of the squeezebox, during each band practice, was the opportunity to perform a solo.  Only two rows of students were allowed to perform a  'solo' each week, simply because of the one-hour time limit of the weekly gathering.  The first two rows would offer solos one week, with only the 3rd and 4th rows the following week.  And Oh Boy, did I look forward to my time to 'shine' with a solo every other week.  This performance opportunity was not taken lightly, by myself at least, and much time and toil was taken in the selection, preparation and eventual performance of my bimonthly accordion solo. Yeah, that taste of public attention, appreciation, the thrill, the communication, the connection between performer and audience cannot be underestimated.  It's not ego.  It is a need.  Like a drug.  The accordion band practice refined my experience and perception of the performer/audience relationship.

After several years of accordion band practice sessions, which were really low-calibre concerts, I'm not quite sure what inspired or motivated me since nothing clear remains in my memory of the motivation, I wrote my first original composition. "You couldn't play the music so you made up your own,"  was one good-natured comment I received from the father of another accordion student at the conclusion of accordion practice on the night I chose to perform an original composition as my solo.  In fact, it was my very first original composition. The piece was entitled THE NEW YORK STRANGERS.  It was essentially, half blues and half folk song. It was not verse-chorus-verse-chorus, or verse-chorus-bridge-verse-chorus in structure.  It was first-part-second-part (repeat).  It had lyrics.  Very simple lyrics which I, unfortunately (and embarrassingly) do remember so will not repeat here.  It was inspired by. . . nothing in particular but the need to write an original composition.  Well, isn't that ENOUGH? The best part of the entire experience, and the finest nuance of the memory, is the look of pride on my very own father's face as I received congratulations from several listeners that evening.

There were times when I felt that I had ALWAYS taken accordion lessons.  Then there were times when I felt that I would never STOP taking them.  But through the twenty-twenty vision of hindsight, they were ten years well spent on lessons which exposed me, I can now say unwittingly, to a wealth of music theory.


Henry
©1997 Raymond M. Jozwiak
from 'Songs from Our Circle 4'




What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

My latest release, Black & White Then Back,
can be downloaded digitally at:

Ray Jozwiak: Black & White Then Back

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser:  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak3)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

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Zimbio
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