Thursday, June 23, 2011

All's right with the world?. . .

. . . the piano is tuned, Mystic I is well-rehearsed and will finalize Sunday's two performances on Saturday, a break tonight to watch some baseball, a visit to a couple of wineries scheduled for the weekend, a long holiday weekend forthcoming and by the end of the month - vacation!

A Boston gangster is captured on the West Coast after many, many years, the president is ready to bring home troops from Afghanistan, Congress is questioning the president's military action in Libya, Farrakhan is keeping mum about Kadahfi's monetary support of the nation of Islam, it's hot and humid here in the northeast (and I love it!).

Intercourse with the media and potential customers could be better, concerned about a good friend (artist), lots to learn about the web and exploitation of same, concerned about the health of another good friend (and supporter), wondering about the dangers of driving cross-country alone, reading Hitchens' books like they're going out of style, pushing myself to write while expending so many hours BLOGGING!!!




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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Beware the sharks. . .

. . . in the treacherous, music business ocean. (Even attractive sharks referred by 'friends') It all started with. . .

"BMI members Gentleman Hall did and Billboard Pro made it a reality by putting the band on ABC’s 2011 Billboard Music Awards, watched by 8 million music fans. Backed by the strongest name in the music business, Billboard Pro offers emerging artists the analytics, tools, resources, and opportunities they need to help make their music careers happen. Adding Billboard Pro to your marketing and fan management plan puts you in front of Billboard’s extensive industry network and connects you to the millions of passionate music fans who read Billboard publications, websites, and newsletters. Find out what Billboard Pro can do for your career. Start a FREE TRIAL + take advantage of a special BMI member discount today! CLICK HERE "

Dear BMI,
This is very interesting to me, as a BMI member.

Did I miss it, or did they NOT mention the cost AFTER the free trial expires. (I don't want to provide my credit card number for a FREE TRIAL if I don'tknow what the REAL COST will be at the end of the FREE TRIAL period.

I did find . . . "each year on your subscription anniversary date, you will be charged the prevailing rate for an additional one-year subscription renewal."

Can you help me? I can't seem to find the cost of the one-year subscription. If the REAL cost is this difficult to find in the offer, I am suspicious about what other items that could be hidden from one ignorant of the legalities of such matters.

Personally, I am a little disappointed in BMI for promoting an offer such as this, which sounds so enticing, but offers such great potential for cheating the innocent, optimistic, artist, who relies on BMI to HELP them through this maze of a business.
Best,
Ray Jozwiak




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Monday, June 20, 2011

Pop goes the culture. . .

Have you read about Rebecca Black's FRIDAY video or seen Katy Perry's LAST FRIDAY NIGHT or do you dig Justin Bieber? If there were no www, I would probably know nothing of any of it. But, alas there is; ergo, I do.

I normally enjoy weightier matters, but I must say, at my age, it's good fun to watch the turmoil that develops over superficial, pop-centric 'events' such as the FRIDAY video thing. I barely have an opinion, excepting that none of it surprises me.

Oh yes, then there's the question of how much talent Rebecca Black actually possesses, as deduced by the 'expert' television, soft-news personalities. Again - YAWN!!!

You want to see TALENT???. . . .



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Sunday, June 19, 2011

You Go Bernie. . .

BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT NEWS ALERT

The following is a June 15th news release from the office of Senator Bernie Sanders:

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today introduced legislation to make federal commodity regulators halt excessive oil speculation that has driven up gasoline prices.

A provision in last year's Wall Street reform law required federal regulators to clamp down on speculators, but the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has refused to do so. Partly as a result of the failure to enforce the law, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline today is $3.69 a gallon, although supplies are greater and demand lower than two years ago when prices averaged about $2.44 a gallon.

"We have a responsibility to do everything we can to lower gas prices so that they reflect the fundamentals of supply and demand and bring needed relief to the American people," Sanders said.

When speculators push up oil prices "guess who suffers, it's the rest of us," said Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), an original cosponsor of the bill who joined Sanders at a Capitol press conference. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), another cosponsor, called gas prices "absolutely crushing" for American families and the economy. Other cosponsors include Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)."
-------------------------------------------
We must be relentless in our pursuit of the FACTS before jumping to unfounded conclusions (or rushing to subscribe to a convenient political position)! I've been reading about this situation for a LONG time time and I'm THRILLED that a legislator is doing something about it!





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Friday, June 17, 2011

Silver Tongued Devils. . .

In the first New Hampshire debate among 2012 presidential hopefuls, Factcheck.com found a number of incorrect, misleading or shaky factual claims:

**Pawlenty was wrong when he boasted that he was "one of the few governors" to respond to a Bush request to send guardsmen to the southern border. In fact, all 50 states participated in that border operation

**Romney claimed that "we didn't raise taxes in Massachusetts" to pay for his health care law. In fact, his successor imposed a $1-a-pack tax increase on cigarettes to pay for the new law.

**Santorum claimed a Medicare advisory board created by the new federal health care law will result in a rationing of care for seniors. The law specifically says the board “shall not include any recommendation to ration health care.”

**Santorum was wrong when he said the Obama administration is "against any kind of exploration offshore or in Alaska." The administration has approved 296 new permits for new offshore oil wells since taking office, and it is considering granting the first permits in Alaska since 2004.

**Bachmann claimed the Congressional Budget Office "has said that Obamacare will kill 800,000 jobs." That's a distortion. CBO said some Americans would work less or leave their jobs if they can get health insurance outside the workplace.

**Pawlenty said that "[if] Brazil can have 5 percent growth, then the United States of America can have 5 percent growth," showing his economic plan is not unreasonable. But the fact is, World Bank figures show Brazil has failed to achieve 5 percent growth for 23 of the past 30 years.

**Gingrich again tried to rewrite history by claiming that his words "right-wing social engineering" were "totally taken out of context." In fact, he called Paul Ryan's plan "too big a jump" and "radical" change as well.



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Jay P. ah said, Jay P. . .

This is from October of last year, written by my friend and compadre of many years, Jay Graboski, but it's cool (from http://www.ohomusic.com). . .

"Jay performs with Mystic I at the Center for Spiritual Living service in Timonium, MD. Gonzo pianist, Ray Jozwiak, has joined our musical team committed to providing spiritually uplifting music for these services on a monthly basis as well as offering to perform at a variety of related events and venues. Ray, Jay, the late Greg Marsh (sax) & David (alternating musical chairs with the late OHO drummer, Jeffrey Graboski) performed together in Ful Treatment, a “wedding band” playing mostly covers at weddings—including my own on 09.10.77, American Legion halls, bull roasts, private parties and a number of taverns and local bars from 1977-1979 when Ray left (not only the band, but music altogether for about 20 years) to marry spouse Pam and begin a family (3 boys).

An interesting yet not-so-flattering story about the Ful Treatment band takes us back to circa 1978 when we were hired by the owner of The Rocket Lounge (on Harford Rd. in Baltimore city) for the purpose of driving the younger patrons OUT of the bar. I can only surmise that these folks irritated the tavern regulars (I pray it wasn’t a commentary on our “sound” as it seems absurd to me that there existed an establishment that actually sought out “lousy” entertainment). But the lounge owner was willing to give each Ful Treatment member a 33 1/3% raise to effectuate this unusually bizarre request (from $30 to $40 per man, per evening) over what we were being paid at that time for playing Fridays and Saturday evenings at Ernel’s in Curtis Bay (the only place in my 60 year lifetime, BTW, where I ever witnessed a wooden bar chair being smashed into bits over the head of another human being by an irate and obviously intoxicated patron). (Ernel’s was a “port” bar that lured sailors and merchant seamen on shore leave to a somewhat seedy world that promised relief from long periods of confinement to vessels at sea . We immediately lay down and went into our hypnotic and patriotically soothing version of “God Bless America”).

Ray’s addition to Mystic I opens up a lot of space for fills, soloing and generally has urged me to shift my accent from acoustic rhythmic strumming to a sparser more electronic, garnishing approach. I’m stumbling happily through this initiatory stage where, among my many faux pas there glisten moments of fortunately arrived at notes, ringing in pleasing tones.

Ray has a released a number of CD’s featuring his “Gonzo” styled, original piano music, much that has garnered the praise of music critics. Do yourself a favor and check him out at www.rayjozwiak.com. Here you may find out about Ray, view his performance calendar and find links to acquiring his recordings."

And do YOURSELF A FAVOR and check out http://www.ohomusic.com.



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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Google me this. . .

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It's MIND GOOGLING! ! (I mean BOGGLING)



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Ray Jozwiak: Another Shot


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