pianogonzology: February 2017

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Meet . . .

. . . Ellis Woodward

. . . one of four Baltimore artists performing at "The Thought Behind the Songs" Tuesday, March 28 at Germano's Piatini in Baltimore. . .

Ellis Woodward has enjoyed a meandering and eclectic creative path, having written, recorded, and released four independent album/CD projects, written a theme song for a PBS children's TV show pilot, been awarded a grant to write and record public service announcements about water conservation and recycling, and been commissioned to write a song detailing the dangers of food allergies in children. In January 2015, Ellis was a judge in the children's category of the MASC (Mid-Atlantic Song Contest), sponsored by SAW, (Songwriters Association of Washington). Three times, Ellis has been a showcase-featured writer/member of the Baltimore Songwriters' Association (BSA), and is currently a Coordinator for the Baltimore chapter of NSAI (the Nashville Songwriters Association International)... In the early 2000s, Ellis co-wrote a musical celebrating the centennial of the Wright Bros first self-powered flight (Right Place, Right Time, Wright Brothers), a show that has since been performed in theaters, schools, and museums around the country... In December of 2016, Ellis was inducted into the Maryland Entertainment Hall of Fame, a cherished acknowledgment of decades of writing and performing. http://www.yoellis.com/

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Monday, February 27, 2017

Similar . . .

?????

(from James Madison; A Biography by Ralph Ketchum)
". . . Madison then discussed even more explicitly the "party issues" before the nation. Aiming directly at Hamiltonian arguments that the government ought to favor the wealthy to consolidate the Union, he asserted that a republican government should insure political equality, encourage an equitable distribution of property, abstain from granting special privileges, and thereby diminish the unnecessary party strife caused by partisan measures. A balance of parties based on natural and inevitable differences would then serve the cause of freedom. Madison next asserted that the British government, far from being a good example of a balance of "king, lords, and commons," in fact was virtuous only insofar as public admirers of Britain, Madison meant his readers to think. The true model for a balance of powers that would prevent abuses was the American system, with its separation of the departments in the federal government and the division of powers between it and the states. Madison counseled that "those who love their country, its repose, and its republicanism, will study to avoid the alternative" of disunion or tyranny by observing scrupulously the prescribed limits, and particularly by desisting from acts that would heighten jealousies and animosities. So much for Hamilton's programs to favor the commercial classes and to consolidate power in the federal government. . ."

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Sunday, February 26, 2017

More About . . .

. . . the artists . . .

. . . who will be at Germano’s on special night of entertainment in their cabaret, “The Thoughts Behind the Songs,” on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Doors open at 6pm. Music at 7:30pm. $10 cover, at the door or online tickets here: http://bit.ly/2jguMpX. Join prominent Baltimore singer-songwriters and composers John M. Seay, Ellis Woodward, Sahffi Lynne and Ray Jozwiak as they bring you even closer to their talent and music.

John Seay, to be specific . . .
John M. Seay writes and performs songs that make people think, laugh, cry, smile and remember. Based in Baltimore, he has a well-earned reputation as a songwriter's songwriter, and delivers funny, insightful, user-friendly songs with wry, understated heartfeltitude. Or words to that effect. Plus fancy finger pickin'. https://www.reverbnation.com/johnseay

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Saturday, February 25, 2017

Call . . .

(from a multitude of sources)
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security is inviting comment and COUNTING CALLS before it decides whether to approve Steve Bannon's appointment to the National Security Council: 202-224-4751. . . You don't have to talk to anyone - just leave a message. Here's a sample script: "I don't need a call back. I'm calling to say that I strongly believe Steve Bannon does NOT belong on the National Security Council and I'm urging you to vote against his being included. Thank you for your time."
Please copy and paste on your page.

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Friday, February 24, 2017

Conspiracy . . .

. . . maybe not . . . but who knows?

(from facebook.com)

". . . Trump's BIGLY RUSSIAN DEAL: Flynn is not the whole story - Follow the oil money to TREASON: This is what Trump and Putin are up to: Exxon Mobil, under Rex Tillerson, brokered a deal with Russia in 2013 for 60 million acres of Russian land to pump oil out of, but all that Russian oil went through pipelines in the Ukraine, who heavily taxed the proceeds, and were applying for admission into NATO at the time. Putin subsequently invaded Ukraine in 2014, secured the routes to export the oil tax-free by sea, and took control of the port where their Black Sea Naval Fleet is based, by taking the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine by force and not giving it back. This was Hitler-tier imperialism that broke every international law in the free world. After Obama sanctioned Russia for the invasion, they could only pump oil from approximately 3 of those 60 million acres. But now Rex Tillerson is our Secretary of State, and as of today, there’s information circulating that Donald Trump will likely unilaterally remove all sanctions against Russia in the coming days or weeks. Putin will make half a trillion (500 Billion) dollars from that much untapped oil. All pumped tax-free through Crimea, stolen from Ukraine, now owned by Russia. Putin may have subverted our government just to become the richest man in the world. **According to leaked docs Trump will get 19% cut (Rosneft stock placed in Cayman accounts in Dec/16). . . "

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Thursday, February 23, 2017

Cancelled . . .

. . . my appearance . . .

. . . this time . . .

(from https://elkrun.com/events/)
Elk Run Vineyards is nestled in the rolling hills of Frederick County surrounded by dairy and horse farms and fields of wheat and corn. The name “Elk Run” was chosen for a stream. The deed name to the property is the “Resurvey of Cold Friday.” It was a land grant from the King of England to Lord Baltimore. The winemaker’s home is circa 1756. Since 1983 Fred and Carol Wilson and Neill Bassford, along with associates, family and friends, have made Elk Run a shining star among American wine producers. Using new world research and technology while maintaining the traditions and values of old world practices, Elk Run’s focus is on producing high quality wine from high quality grapes. Soils of schist and shale allow for deep roots and good drainage. Seven to eight hundred foot elevations help keep the vineyard safe from frost danger. Warm days and cool nights preserve the fruity character in the wines.Practicing sustainable agriculture, close spacing and great attention to crop levels allow the wine maker to create wines of varietal character, structure, balance and good color.

Substitute To Be Announced

Friday, February 24, 2017
6 - 9:00PM
Wine Down Fridays
Elk Run Vineyard
15113 Liberty Road,
Mount Airy, MD, 21771
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday – Saturday 10am-5pm
Sundays 12pm-5pm

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Sound . . .

. . . of silence . . .

(from http://www.mediaite.com/online/do-you-hear-the-silence-elijah-cummings-slams-republicans-for-lack-of-oversight-of-trump-and-flynn/)
". . . Following declarations made by the Republican chairmen of the House Oversight and Intelligence Committees. . . that they wouldn’t be conducting any additional probes into the Trump administration surrounding the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) ripped into them. . . Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, highlighted the silence coming from those in power to investigate President Donald Trump and Flynn. . .“Let me begin by asking everyone in this room a very simple question,” he said. “Do you hear that? Do you hear the silence?”. . . Cummings continued, “This is a town of House Republicans conducting no oversight of President Trump. Zero. That is what it sounds like when they abdicate their duty under the Constitution.” . . . He further added that House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz “has not lifted one finger” to investigate Flynn’s Russian ties. . ."

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Quest . . .

for Rightness . . .

A Grail?

A Damsel in distress?

The King?

The Queen?

NO. just Rightness.
Let it Ring!

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Monday, February 20, 2017

Nomination . . .

(from https://www.facebook.com/ohomusic)
OHO's instrumental version of "Scared Money (Don't Win)" from their all instrumental album, Where Words Do Not Reach, is a nominee for Best Instrumental Rock Song for this year's JPF Awards (Just Plain Folks). And this song, one of the finalists culled from 17,400 albums and 240,000 songs.Not the Grammies...but something. http://www.jpfolks.com/2017awards.php?

OHO Always great to be acknowledged. Piqued my memory of overhearing a gambler say, "Scared money don't win," then going home and writing a song about taking risks. Former OHO engineer and bassist, Steve Carr, made a stripped-down mix (sans vocals) for our audition for the Star Search TV show back in 1989. The singers had to sing live over this backing track while the band pretended to play instruments (for those of you who have the Bricolage CD/DVD set, you may view our performance of this song on that DVD. Thanks to Bennett Davis' creativity, he was able to match the master with the VHS soundtrack and improve the fidelity significantly.) Later, when assembling the program featured on 2015's "Where Words Do Not Reach" album, since there were no instrumentals by this version of the band (1985-1992), I retrieved the master of this very version from our archives and overdubbed an instrumental (guitar) version of the vocal melody line a la The Ventures, employing a sustainor-pickup-equipped Fernandes Elite model through the "Bloody Finger" distortion pedal. Voila! Who woulda thought this would be a contender? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Orchids to the band.

Scared Money (Don't Win)
by OHO
from Where Words Do Not Reach

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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Elk Run . . .

(from https://elkrun.com/events/)
Elk Run Vineyards is nestled in the rolling hills of Frederick County surrounded by dairy and horse farms and fields of wheat and corn. The name “Elk Run” was chosen for a stream. The deed name to the property is the “Resurvey of Cold Friday.” It was a land grant from the King of England to Lord Baltimore. The winemaker’s home is circa 1756. Since 1983 Fred and Carol Wilson and Neill Bassford, along with associates, family and friends, have made Elk Run a shining star among American wine producers. Using new world research and technology while maintaining the traditions and values of old world practices, Elk Run’s focus is on producing high quality wine from high quality grapes. Soils of schist and shale allow for deep roots and good drainage. Seven to eight hundred foot elevations help keep the vineyard safe from frost danger. Warm days and cool nights preserve the fruity character in the wines.Practicing sustainable agriculture, close spacing and great attention to crop levels allow the wine maker to create wines of varietal character, structure, balance and good color.

Friday, February 24, 2017
Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano
6 - 9:00PM
Wine Down Fridays
Elk Run Vineyard
15113 Liberty Road,
Mount Airy, MD, 21771
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday – Saturday 10am-5pm
Sundays 12pm-5pm

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Saturday, February 18, 2017

Orange Stuff . . .

(from http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/newspaper-mistakenly-runs-picture-alec-baldwin-snl-instead-trump-n719846)

". . . This was no laughing matter for a major newspaper in the Dominican Republic. . . El Nacional issued an apology Saturday after readers quickly pointed out it used a picture of Alec Baldwin playing President Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live" — instead of the true Trump's image — for a story about U.S.-Israeli relations. . . The paper said on its website that the gaffe went "unnoticed during the reviewing of page 19" because of a "mix-up of photos" sent by The Associated Press. . . "The picture was sent that day by the Associated Press with the name of the actor and the program, but was placed as if it were the one of Trump," the paper said. "El Nacional apologizes to the readers and to all those who felt sincerely affected by the publication. Alec Baldwin imitates Trump on one of the most important shows in the U.S.". . ."

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Friday, February 17, 2017

Idealism . . .

. . . is difficult to maintain . . .

. . . as I grow older. But I'm not giving up! I'm not crying for the past, like the spammy emails you receive about the 'good ole days' when men were men and children had to walk uphill (and from) school in three feet of snow without legs, because I firmly believe with age, both individually and societally, things always do get better. (If your gonna make something great again, be sure you can prove that it was truly ever great.) But I do clearly recall viewing adults through a very idealistic lens. Of course my parents taught me (rightly, I might say) to respect my elders and I took that very seriously. I thought that every and all adults were very smart, very reasonable, unselfish, giving, caring individuals who had nothing but the best interest of us all at heart. Not a bad beginning. In hindsight, children should learn to respect all others regardless of any pre-conceived notions 'cause what kind of pre-conceived notion has a child? Only those they've learned from adults. You must learn the respect before learning analysis of education, intelligence or motives. I learned quickly, beginning with college and very clearly at my first full-time job, that that was just not true. Life since then has only confirmed to me that while I may not be the impressive intellect one would write home about, there all all kinds of folks ranging from blindingly bright to barely a flicker, and I for one intend to continue learning and growing. . .

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

Some Things . . .

. . . never change . . .

(from James Madison; A Biography by Ralph Ketcham) as Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of Treasury promotes his plan for a national debt. . .

". . . Hamilton's candid admission that he intended the concentration in order to bring to the federal government a self-interested support he thought is desperately needed to become an effective means of government only increased Madison's apprehensions. Though the secretary expressed regret at the misfortunes of those whose interests suffered under his plans, he saw them as a small price to pay for the vital strengthening of the Union he thought made them necessary. As Madison observed the Hamiltonian "phalanx" in Congress, the eager support given the program in New York financial circles, the often arrogant comments by men of wealth about their superior capacity to lead and govern the country, and the tendency of backers of the secretary's report to exalt the executive over the legislative department, his concern for the survival of republican principles grew rapidly. Jefferson's famous charges, made in old age, that "Hamilton's financial system . . . had two objects; 1st, as a puzzle, to exclude popular understanding and inquiry; 2nd, as a machine for the corruption of the legislature," and that "men thus enriched by the dexterity of a leader [Hamilton], would follow of course the chief who was leading them to fortune. . . "

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