pianogonzology

Monday, April 13, 2015

Now . . .

. . . Playing

. . . and available at Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

For his ninth release, Ray Jozwiak has decided to dispense with the hyperbole, intricate poetic descriptions, buzzwords and self-aggrandizing verbal excesses and simply issue a collection of Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak. So here it is.

Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Too Many Cowboys
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 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

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Model . . .

. . . boss?

Recently read an article Adapted from "Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader." Copyright © 2015 by Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli. Published by Crown Publishers, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. The book is purportedly the “only book about Steve recommended by the people who knew him best,” according to Apple. And the article begins with reference to one of Steve Jobs favorite expressions, which was, “that’s shit”, an expression for which Mr. Jobs clearly owned no patent and held no monopoly. Not that the authors implied that he did. But the article goes on to detail how brusque Jobs’ manner was with his employees and how they pretty much had to group together to combat the ‘damage’ that brusqueness could potentially do. And it seems that all involved parties, in retrospect, have no qualms about the way things transpired under the management of Steve Jobs. Some praise him. Others rationalize his actions. Certainly the firm fared no worse for his technique. I certainly understand such personalities. Many people are drawn towards them in capacities either professional or personal. They are visionary. They are exciting. They are stimulating. The complete experience with them never leaves one unfulfilled or unsatisfied. . . well, at least from my experience. So while this article and book both appear to praise, or at least not criticize, the extremity of the Steve Jobs-type personality of the short-tempered, boisterous and callous leader/genius, should it encourage the development of like-leaders/geniuses? The danger in too much admiration is the propagation of short-tempered, boisterous, callous and brusque personality leaders/geniuses who are more short-tempered, boisterous, callous and brusque than actual leader/genius.

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

Saturday, April 11, 2015

There . . .

. . . most resent pitcher . . .

(from http://www.teachthought.com/industry/12-data-points-detailing-the-crisis-of-poor-writing-in-america/)
1. Four out of five students are not proficient writers.

2. Even with spell check and a thesaurus on hand, just 27% of students are able to write well-developed essays with proper language use.

3. Even worse, 26.2% of college graduates produce writing that rates as deficient.

4. Fewer than 50% of college seniors feel their writing improved during college.

5. SAT writing scores are falling, too.

6. About 17% of college freshmen require remedial writing classes.

7. The average fourth grader spends fewer than 3 hours per week writing.

8. Students struggle with reading.

9. Poor writing cost employers $3.1 billion per year.

10. Many students prefer texting over composition.

11. Male students are struggling worse than female students.

12. Writing isn’t considered fun by today’s students.

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

Friday, April 10, 2015

Q & A . . .

. . . for OHO

Q - I live in the southern part of Maryland, right on the border of DC and MD. I write for local Okinawan interest articles for the Okinawa Times in Okinawa and ever since I found and bought your tin can set album of Okinawa, I have been wondering if you had some personal connection to the island. Would you mind telling me your story? Please excuse me if you were asked the question many times, but I have been unable to find anything, as a mysterious band you are. Hope to hear from you.

A - The band were brainstorming for a title. We wanted a title where the "OHO" vowel sound also sounded in the title. The bassist's father was an American soldier who was stationed in Okinawa, and he had a black silk jacket with your island embroidered on it, which we hung in the studio for inspiration. So, while not totally random, there is only this fabricated connection to the music. Little Wing of Refugees, a German record label, apparently took its country's status as a Japanese ally more seriously; & so you have all the South Pacific war imagery in their version of the release.

BTW OHO stands for the 1st initials of the last names of the band's 3 founding members; what does "OHO" mean in Japanese?

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 available now at-Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Times . . .

. . . change . . .

. . . but you always gotta laugh . . .

(from http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/stan-freberg-comedian-satirist-dies-dead-1201467899/)
". . . Satirist Stan Freberg, who influenced generations with his witty comedy albums and cartoon voices and memorable advertising campaigns, died Tuesday in Santa Monica. He was 88 and had been suffering from respiratory problems and pneumonia.

His son Donavan posted the news on his Facebook page, saying, “He was, and will always be, my hero, and I will carry his brilliant legacy forward as best I am able.”

The writer-producer crafted some of the funniest TV commercials of the 1960s and ’70s, including “Today the pits; tomorrow the wrinkles. Sunsweet marches on!,” and Contadina’s “Who put eight great tomatoes in that little bitty can?”

He also scored such novelty-record hits as “John and Marsha,” “Saint George and the Dragonet” and “Green Christmas.” His 1961 comedy album “Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America” remains a classic of the form and an influence for a generation of comedians. . ."

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

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Lines . . .

. . . Written in Early Spring
BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:—
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

(from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/181415)
Source: The Longman Anthology of Poetry (Pearson, 2006)

Hope
from Ambience & Wine
©2012 Raymond M. Jozwiak
available at CD Baby

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

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Now . . .

For my ninth release, I have decided to dispense with the hyperbole, intricate poetic descriptions, buzzwords and self-aggrandizing verbal excesses and issue a collection of Just More Music.

Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak is here . . .

. . . NOW!!!

Clarity
from Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
©2007 & 2014 Raymond M. Jozwiak
Available Now

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