Two . . .

. . . more days . . .



Creative musician, Baltimore-based Ray Jozwiak offers recordings and performances of eclectic, instrumental solo piano (and piano-based) compositions that have been referred to as 'Fractured Jazz' laced with generous amounts of 'Improvisational Terror Tactics.'

Ray has been nominated for a WAMMIE Award in the Jazz Instrumentalist category, named Baltimore Magazine's BEST LOUNGE PIANIST and was a finalist in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for the composition ALWAYS YOU.

Performances in and around Baltimore include the 13th Floor Lounge-The Belvedere, The Kiss Cafe, Gardel's Supper Club, The Full Moon Saloon, The Baltimore Songwriters Association, Border's Books and Music, GBMC, Tyson's Tavern, Elk Run Vineyards and appears regularly at The Brewer's Alley Songwriters' Showcase.

For the last couple of years, I have been working with founders of the Baltimore icon prog-band OHO (and former members of Ful Treatment) for a present-day OHO power trio crankin' out OHO classics, new material and selected 'covers' when live for your aural stimulation. Check it out at http://www.ohomusic.com

Ray's music (CDs CHROMATOSE, CRITIC'S CHOICE and PUT A FINGER ON IT and FOR THE RIDE and digital downloads-only ANOTHER SHOT, AMBIENCE & WINE, BLACK & WHITE THEN BACK and his latest "2014") are available for purchase at http://www.cdbaby.com/all/rjozwiak as well as a host of cyber-outlets for download.

The music incorporates, conjures, channels, borrows, steels, and respectfully pays homage to cartoon theme songs, childrens novelty tunes, pop, country, Polish folk songs and dances, hymns, the Beatles and the British invasion, prog and art rock from Gentle Giant to Egg, Myron Floren and Lawrence Welk, Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, Merle Haggard, Cannonball Adderly, Vince Guraldi, Wynton Kelly, Fats Waller, McCoy Tyner, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Eric Dolphy, Frank Zappa, Keith Jarrett, Thelonious Monk, Elvis Costello, Ani DiFranco, Bob Zacharcko, Jay Graboski and David Reeve and more.



Available
from Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
©2007 & 2014 Raymond M. Jozwiak
Available April 7, 2015

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 will be released April 7, 2014  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

Tweet  

So Is Spring . . .

Coming 

April 7, 2015

to http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak

On April 7,  my latest, digital-download only, solo, instrumental piano music release becomes available at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak which brings you . . . well . . . JUST MORE MUSIC by Ray Jozwiak.  Organic, still anything but mundane, original compositions and improvisation based in jazz but incorporating elements of everything from "A"dderley to "Z"appa. 

". . .equally at home playing Keith Jarrett-style jazz, Steely Dan-style rock and writing and performing classical compositions. . ."

". . .jazzes up the room most mightily. . ."

". . .channels Erroll Garner and sometimes Thelonious Monk, and plays himself into corners that you just don't think he’s going to get out of – but, wait – a quick wriggle and there he is gliding across the open floor. . ." 

JUST MORE MUSIC by Ray Jozwiak will be available through digital distribution only at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak

For a Promotional Copy, Please Contact:

Ray Jozwiak

Website:  http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Email:  pjozwiak@verizon.net

Phone:  410-369-8463

Snail:  1049 Winsford Road

Towson, MD 21204

USA

Butter
©2014 Raymond M. Jozwiak
from Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

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 will be released April 7, 2014  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

Tweet  

Refinement . . .

 . . . of music continues for a potential 2015 solo release.  Original lyrics from 'Until I Tried ' are here, just in case you want to sing along. . .


Words are all that I have to express
All the things I would like to be able to tell you but don't quite know how
Couldn't before and still can't do it now
During all of this time that's transpired little's changed
But a lot has occurred in my thoughts and my feelings for you
Countless superior intellects have searched for answers
I never gave it a whole lot of thought

Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside
Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside
For you

I have always believed that it's true
Very few things I'll ever encounter will be quite as precious as you
The magic between us so rare and so new
Though I'm not one of those that you find
Who has always the need to express to so many exactly what he has in mind
I find I have this burning that's deep down inside me
For words I never needed before

Until I tried to let you know how much I feel  inside
Until I tried to let you know how much I feel  inside
for you

I can't imagine ever having my life depend upon eloquence
And maybe it doesn't
But after all this time together it seems long overdue
And in the end it probably doesn't make a difference in how you feel
If I never say it

Now I'm daily rehearsing the way
To articulate every syllable nuance and stress when I say
How much I need to have you here today
And I won't give it up easily
I suspect that it's just as important to you as it is now to me
The words we use themselves have no meaning
So all the more must I make them just right

Now that I try to let you know how much I feel  inside
Until I tried to let you know how much I feel inside
for you


Until I Tried
©2007 Raymond M. Jozwiak
(work-in-progress by Ray Jozwiak for an upcoming digital download release)








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:

(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

Tweet

Available . . .

Wasn't sure I wanted to release a solo piano collection next year or not.  I think I may.  The piano's tuned.  Some good takes are in the can.  Still working on some things though, like . . .


Available
(work-in-progress by Ray Jozwiak for an upcoming digital download release)






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:

(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

Tweet

A Very Good Year . . .

 . . . and also . . .

(A digital-download-only solo, instrumental piano music
release by me [Ray Jozwiak])

 The track list is:
 1.  My Mystery
  2.  Compound Fracture
  3.  Harbor Noon
  4.  Highs & Lows
  5.  Not Like Me
  6.  Ognat
  7.  Stick To Your Guns
  8.  Integrity
  9.  Exactly
10.  Your Voice
11.  Baggage

© 2013 Raymond M. Jozwiak
All compositions written and performed by me [Ray Jozwiak]

and it's Available at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak

     
Ognat
(instrumental) ©2013 Raymond M. Jozwiak
from '2014'




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:

(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

Tweet

Two Days . . .

. . . April 8th (This Tuesday). . .



. . . my latest digital-download-only release "2014" becomes available to the public at large.  It seems like a lifetime since I started this project and finally, it's now only two days away. You can get it at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak.

 2014, like its predecessor Black & White Then Back Again, 2006's Put A Finger On It and my debut release Chromatose, consists of solo, acoustic piano performances exclusively.  The compositions are all original, and though they are based in jazz (and contain substantial amounts of improvisation), they also encompass a variety of musical styles while conveying a range of emotions.


Exactly
©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)

Coming April 8, 2014  - '2014' by Ray Jozwiak
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:

(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

Tweet

Soft . . .

. . . Machine

Robert Wyatt was a founding member of the Soft Machine, who along with Pink Floyd Helped to transform the late sixties psychedelic scene in the UK into something more lasting. Through successive albums, Soft Machine soon moved toward a more jazz-based fusion with rock music, punctuated by Wyatt's distinctive drumming and vocals, attracting a massive following across Europe. After extensive touring, Wyatt left intending to pursue a solo career, but instead assembled Matching Mole who released two critically acclaimed LP's before disbanding prematurely. In 1973, Wyatt fell from a third floor window during a party, leaving him paralysed from the waist downwards. From that day onwards he has concentrated his efforts into solo recordings, mixing simple and effective keyboard melody lines with poignant lyrics, often filled with personal and political references. The results have proved both haunting and reflective, even producing two chart hits - his 1974 re-working of 'I'm a Believer', and the 1983 Falklands War indictment 'Shipbuilding' written especially for him by Elvis Costello.

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:

(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

Tweet

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:

(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

Tweet