Heard somebody say
They overheard you
Just the other day
A simple word
About the way we get along
If only I were sure
Of the semantics
Having doubts 'cause I'm
One hopeless romantic
Could it be
You're slipping away from me
What will I do
If what I'm thinking is true
And you want to be
Really free of me
I won't last very long
Very far from your heart
And this third-hand intelligence
Might be the way that it starts.
Heard somebody say
They thought they saw you
Walking in their way
You were not alone
They said he didn't look like
Thinking to myself
Must be mistaken
Try not to believe
but still badly shaken
Why would you
Deceive me in things you do
So many years
Sharing our laughter and tears
Lasted very long
Maybe I was wrong
Not to ask you
Why you feel
We've drifted apart
And this third-hand intelligence
Might be the way that it starts
Are my sources reliable
Wait and see
Wait and see
Is my psyche too pliable
It could be
It could be
If somebody said
The sky was falling
Would you believe it's true
And change your direction
From spinning round
When it hits the ground
That's just not true
Any believers are few
When you've seen it all
It could never fall
Any more than
I think you could
Tear us apart
And this third-hand intelligence
Might be the way that it starts
OHO (duo Jay & Ray) brings OHO's (visit www.ohomusic.com) original, rock/prog/folk/jazz/pop music and sophisticated, thought-provoking covers to 99 Sea Level, a stunning oceanfront restaurant; home to Chef Danio Somoza, whose farm to table philosophy is bolstered by a unique culinary landscape. 99 Sea Level sources from local fisheries, farms, and orchards to bring excellence and innovation together on the plate. From select meats to local seafood and vegetarian fare, freshness meets inspiration that is perfect for everything from romantic evenings to lively gatherings. Experience the extensive, rotating wine list by the glass or bottle, which pair perfectly with seasonal menus. Hope to see you there. (Friday, December 28, 2018 4:00-7:00PM)
Shouts in the street
I hear them as I'm walking home
Shoes on my feet
Touch down and take off as I roam
Dreams lifted up
So many pies in the sky
U-flying-o's
I duck them as they fly on by
Tomorrow takes care of itself
Today has its trial and its call
Janus he waits at your door
Rising or breaking his fall
You've got your "Time"
And secrets that love has betrayed
The long yellow line down your spine
That your feeling has frayed
Take my hand we may see
Everything we mean to be
When we meet again
Should it be under blanket of night?
All that remains
Is the matter of choice in disguise
Take my hand we may see
Everything we mean to be
Am I with you or you with me?
We have our time then take our leave
Deep in the heart
Where paradox finds its resolve
Long bodies live
They've learned how to bend to absolve
Now desire is the tie
That holds us fast to life
For the sweetness of the honey
Risk the peril of the hive
Now I'm running through your veins
In exchange I know your pain
All the lies have run aground
And to this earth I'm bound
Sunday and Monday The OHO Duo (keys-man Ray and Just Jay) return (after the full power trio of OHO's appearance Saturday) on Monday (3-7) cause they love it at Bourbon Street On the Beach (11604 Coastal Hwy,/Ocean City, Maryland 21842/443-644-2896). Hope you show up for the fun we're all bound to have.
(from http://www.expose.org/index.php/articles/display/oho-gazebo-3.html)
Oho — Gazebo
(Ohomusic OM067, 2018, CD)
by Peter Thelen, Published 2018-08-06
Oho has been making great music since the early 70s, seemingly swerving and dodging any typical styles and genres as they avoided the classification game, instead going for whatever direction their muse took them at any point in time. The three founding members O’Connor, Heck, and O’Sullivan (Hence their name OHO) have long left the band (although Mark O’Connor is a guest one one track here), multi-instrumentalist and singer Jay Graboski who had joined by the time of the band’s first album Okinawa in 1974 is still among the members, all through the years guiding the band through their continuous evolution. And still, on their latest album Gazebo, the band still eschews any kind of classification, other than in a very general sense. In addition to Graboski, the current members include Ray Jozwiak (vocals, keyboards, and accordion) and David Reeve (drums, vocals, keyboards and more), the latter having been with the band since the beginning of the 1990s. In addition, no less than twenty guests have contributed to this track or that adding everything from trombone, french horn, saxes, bass, 12 string, pedal steel, percussion, additional vocals and more. The eighteen cuts herein are all listed as group compositions (with the exception of a couple interpretations) but one can sense that the diversity of what’s on offer here shows that ideas are are hatched and developed by individual band members and from that point developed as a group, having a lot of fun along the way. Thus, the tunes represent more of what the members’ interests are instead of trying to shoehorn their sound into any genre. One can find a little bit of everything herein, though everything on offer is played and sung impeccably by a group of experienced musicians who probably don’t care if you like it or not, it’s what they do, and being independent of any record labels, it’s all at their prerogative and pleasure.
“How Is Where We Go” is a great tune, and a catchy one as well, and pretty much exemplifies Oho’s creation process: write and arrange a great tune with thoughtful lyrics, bring it to life with whatever is needed to perfect it (some pedal steel went a long way in this case, plus additional lead guitar, percussion and vocals), and you end up with a tune that meets a number of criteria of excellence and doesn’t really sound like anything you’ve heard before. The opener “Ring in the Brightness” is a tune that is just as vital, a funky and powerful rocker with a horn section featured. The band does a tasteful cover of Randy Newman’s “Baltimore,” perhaps with a bit more of a rock punch than the original, with some great sax soloing from guest Gene Meros, following that up with “Blood Brother,” a good-timey piano tune that sounds like something from another era, with a horn section featured, and different singers taking their tunes as the song proceeds. “Denial” is another great tune with powerful arrangements and great lyrics and harmonies, built on an acousic guitar roadbed with accordion and other arrangements supporting judiciously.
(from The Mourning Bride, by William Cosgrove)
". . . Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I've read, that things inanimate have mov'd,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform'd,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe!
'Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs. . ."
Hear OHO's "Ocean City Ditty" (from OHO's GAZEBO) on Weazel's Beach Show this week on WTMD (89.7FM if you're in the Baltimore metropolitan area - or stream at https://www.wtmd.org/player/player5-index.html) Both Friday night from 7:00pm Til 10:00pm or Saturday from Noon until 3:00pm.
GAZEBO is OHO’s (Baltimore’s longtime music-making offspring) latest aural torrent of pop/rock/folk/prog original (mostly) treasures. We would like you to be a part of it, spread the good word and enjoy the music. The music features a host of local and regional musicians brought together to tickle your eardrums and move your feet.
OHO began as Baltimore's answer to Pink Floyd, an American underground icon, a band that came out of nowhere playing music the chroniclers swore was years ahead of its time. OHO sneaks around the musical conventions that have mummified so many others, unleashing sliders where you'd expect curve balls, fast balls where you'd expect change-ups. Part of it is their sense of humor, part of it their unerring humanity. A curious anomaly, the band was totally out of synch with current musical trends when they formed in late 73, a five-piece multi-instrumental, avant garde, acid-progressive band from Baltimore with a do-it-yourself lifestyle and album/label/outlook who were either seven years too late or seventeen years too early. After more than forty years of evolution, OHO abides (currently consisting of founders Jay Graboski and David Reeve, reunited with thirty-year musical collaborator Ray Jozwiak and a plethora of special, musical guests) cranking out consistently joyful noises.
OHO is comprised of Jay Graboski, Davie Reeve and Ray Jozwiak. Get GAZEBO at https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/oho6
. . . writing to let you know that Baltimore's own OHO will be releasing their latest album, following 2008's Bricolage, entitled GAZEBO. The collection is chock-full of original, prog, folk, pop, rock, jazz-inflected joy from Jay Graboski, David Reeve, Ray Jozwiak (with Bill Pratt's impeccable engineering and production) featuring contributions from a host of local and regional talent including T. Craig Considine, P. Daly German, Lisa Griffee, David Hughes, Mark O’Connor and Bill Phelan, to name just a few. The songs run the emotional, topical and stylistic gamut from A to Z and beyond, beginning with the opener, Ring In The Rightness- a positivity anthem for today, and including fusion instrumental Sought of Despond, multiple rockers and shakers, swampy Nawrlins, a touching ballad and much more.
Contact me if you'd like an advanced music sample (now) or a physical copy (available soon).
Looking forward to your hearing our music and to our hearing from you soon.
