Monday, September 22, 2014

Raising Children . . .

. . . is like writing songs. Well, it is kinda'. . .


Before you really have anything, you have some pretty good ideas about what you want in the end. So you get started and before you know it, you're working your butt off to take care of all the developments. And before you're ever really finished with ONE, another comes along and you find you're doing the same thing all over again AND at the same time you're still working on the other one. Before you know, you find that you sincerely like them individually and they can stand alone without you (and without each other too) and you begin to exhale a sigh of relief.  But alas, you recognize something that still needs your attention and, of course, you are more than happy to devote additional effort because you know that if you give all you've got, that (those) song(s) will provide pure musical to many and all kinds of others all by themselves for a long, long time.  It's a rewarding endeavor that brings endless joy and gratification.  But, and although some people make it look easy while others only do it half-assed, it is hard work.




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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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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Sunday, September 21, 2014

Breweries . . .



(https://www.google.com/search?q=brewing+beer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sbss)
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains) in water and then fermenting with yeast. It is done in a brewery by a brewer, and the brewing industry is part of most western economies. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BC, and archaeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in most emerging civilizations including ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The basic ingredients of beer are water; a starch source, such as malted barley, which is able to be fermented (converted into alcohol); a brewer's yeast to induce fermentation; and a flavouring, such as hops. A secondary starch source (an adjunct) may be used, such as maize (corn), rice or sugar. Less widely used starch sources include millet, sorghum and cassava root in Africa, potato in Brazil, and agave in Mexico, among others. The amount of each starch source in a beer recipe is collectively called the grain bill.

There are several steps in the brewing process, which include malting, milling, mashing, lautering, boiling, fermenting, conditioning, filtering, and packaging. There are three main fermentation methods, warm, cool and wild or spontaneous. Fermentation may take place in open or closed vessels. There may be a secondary fermentation that can take place in the brewery, in the cask, or in the bottle.


The Brewer's Alley Songwriters' Showcase Monday
September 22nd opens with Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano @ 7:15PM
Brewer's Alley Restaurant & Brewery
124 North Market Street Frederick, MD 21701
Telephone: 301-631-0089 Fax: 301-631-1874http://www.brewers-alley.com/
(and YES, Brewer's Alley does brew their very own beers)





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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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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Saturday, September 20, 2014

Two Sets . . .


OHO - Set List - Elk Run, Sunday, September 21, 2014

Set #1
1.  I'll Be Back

2.  Slough of Despond

3.  You Got It

4.  Plunge

5.  The Book of Love

6.  Limousine

7.  Free Falling

8.  Ocean City Ditty

9.  In the Sun

10. Blood Brother

11. Constant Craving

12. Burning Grey

13. Island In The Sun


Elk Run, Sunday, September 21, 2014

Set #2
1.  Long To Be Latin

2.  Dance Me To The End of Love

3.  Close But No Cigar

4.  Hey You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

5.  Shouts In The Street

6.  Pumped-Up Kicks

7.  It Will Not Be Late

8.  Won't Give In

9.  Dot On Your Door

10.Echo Park

11.Rain Medley

12. Hallelujah

13. Out of Thin Air
                (if needed:      a.  Things We Said Today
                                       b.  When I'm President



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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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, September 19, 2014

Passion . . .



Social media, email and the Internet have not only brought about the quick and convincing scare syndrome and the quick-spread falsehood but it has also brought about the passionate reactionary.  Witness Hans Groiner.  No, he's not a passionate reactionary.  He is however, a very clever entertainment presentation from the clever and talented Larry Goldings, who is not may I mention, a comic by trade.

The passion, both rational and not, enters the picture when you read the commentaries of the YouTube offerings of Hans Groiner.  In short, the fictional Mr. Groiner is a musician who, although he does not like jazz, has undertaken the project of 'correcting' the music of Thelonious Monk. The result is a new-age-y, benign, vaguely familiar tune chock-full of major chords and 'straight' rhythms.  But Larry's shtick is very SNL-ish or Christopher Guest/Rob Reiner parody-like and every bit as witty.




 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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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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Thursday, September 18, 2014

History . . .

(fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Airy,_Maryland)
Mt. Airy was established in 1830 and continued to develop throughout the decade, beginning with the construction of house settlements along Parr's Ridge. A man named Henry Bussard built the first of these houses. This town was known for its train station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) at Parr's Ridge. The railroad ran from Baltimore to Frederick, cities to the east and west, respectively, of Mt. Airy. Following 1830, the town received its official name after the suggestion of "Mount Airy" from an Irish B&O worker who complained about his freezing ears on a windy work day.[citation needed] Over the years, milling, canning and sewing industries initially helped support Mt. Airy's economy.

The city's proximity to the National Road contributed to its growth. The National Road ran west from Baltimore to Illinois. By the 1890s, the city's growth had increased significantly and three new churches were built (one Episcopal and two Methodist), along with a very important bridge, still standing and known by residents as the Twin Arch, that helped with railroad transportation. Four great fires (1903, 1914,1925 and more recently 2007) burned though the downtown district, but the town rebuilt every time.

The Mount Airy Historic District that includes the railroad station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Currently, Mt. Airy is no longer economically dependent on the railroad, as citizens work a variety of different jobs. Many of its citizens work in Washington, DC or Baltimore; the city is a part of both of those cities' metropolitan areas. Mt. Airy is a neighborhood community for these job centers. Mt. Airy is similar to back in the day with the national road but now with Interstate 70 bordering the southern end of town with an interchange with MD-27. In the last few decades Mount Airy has had a lot of growth with the town which was part of the Residential project of the Mount Airy Master Plan from the 1994 to 2003 update.


(from http://www.elkrun.com/about/)
Elk Run Vineyards is nestled in the rolling hills of Frederick County surrounded by dairy and horse farms, 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, family and friends, have made Elk Run a shining star among American wine producers.
For the past 5 years Julian Wilson has taken on greater responsibility for field management, wine making as well as the most knowledgeable in new marking technology. Lauren Wilson, Julian’s wife, a former Technical Director  for WHAG in Hagerstown, has taken on marketing & event work for the winery.

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. Practicing sustainable agriculture, on 25 acres, dense planted and controlled crop is heightened by the soils of schist and shale which allow for deep roots and good drainage. 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 with great attention to crop levels allow the wine maker to create wines of varietal character, structure, balance and good color.
While a few wines are augmented by additional fruit, Elk Run Grows all the varieties it makes. Elk Run is the sole grower, producer of Gewurztraminer, the first and one of two who grow Pinot Noir ( 4 time Gold medal winner in 2012 for our 2010.


Did I mention OHO, at Elk Run Vineyards, Sunday, September 21 at 3PM for 'Sippin Sunday'? . . .





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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Elk . . .

. . . Run
. . . is the name. . .


. . . but you'll see many more grapes there than elk.  And this Sunday, September 21st, you'll also see OHO (3 - 5:00PM) as Elk Run Vineyard presents "Sippin' Sundays" at the vineyard.

OHO came out of nowhere in the early 1970s 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.  Definitely, one of a kind and all in good fun...its got to be. 21st Century OHO continues to play locally as a trio consisting of guitarist/vocalist Jay Graboski, drummer/percussionist/vocalist David Reeve and keyboardist/vocalist Ray Jozwiak. In 2011 the band began work on a new release, tentatively entitled GAZEBO.  Look for it in the near future.





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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Discovery # . . .

. . . 492,732,075,295 . . .
The music business is a lot like the electoral process.

"The clear difference between the cheap pop put on the radio and the quality work heard less is the amount of money thrown at the pop to force into the ears of all." (thanks David Balogh)




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) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

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

PIANOGONZOLOGY - Blogged My 
Zimbio
blog search directory Blog Directory