Trashy Pearls | My Music Blog

Archive for February, 2009

Back in the days when television didn’t reign supreme, music played a much larger part in the entertainment of family and friends. So much so, that every home had a piano and more often than not at least one member of the family could play it. That’s certainly the way it was in our family. And, for me as the designated pianist, I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to do it, even though I didn’t act that way sometimes.

Part of the challenge for me was finding sheet music that I liked, especially at Christmas time. I always felt that the piano arrangements were quite boring and lacked a certain joie de vivre. I think that’s why I eventually started learning improvisation so that I could make up my own arrangements. And, because I didn’t like the standard Christmas versions in print, I always acted like I didn’t want to play. That drove my mother crazy.

Mom couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t use my talent more often. But, I know and I hid the truth from her. I was afraid. I was afraid of being judged by others and that I wasn’t good enough. The fact is though, I was better than most. So, what people thought didn’t really matter at all. But, it mattered to me at the time and took a long ahile for me to even feel comfortable playing in front of others.

Now, as a professional concert pianist, I of course no longer feel inadequate. Many of my colleagues still do but somehow I managed to get rid of that fear of playing mentality. It wasn’t easy let me tell you, but I did it. One of the ways I did it was to finally realize that when I perform it’s not about me at all but about entertaining people and making sure they have a good experience.

For anyone thinking of making music a profession that’s so important to remember. Many musicians think that it’s all about them and they have to sell themselves to an audience. That’s so backwards. The only thing a professional musician should be selling to an audience is the promise of a good time. Man, did it take me a long time to learn that lesson.

In any case, more than ever I love to play the piano at Christmas time. Now that my mom has passed away my Dad has taken it upon himself to carry on the family tradition. So much so that, he actually built a large heated garage beside the main house where he can host a hundred people at a time. He even put the family piano in there.

This year 2006 will see nearly a thousand people come to the family hobby farm and I’m expected to play for most of them. That’s ok though, I love it. Why? Because, I know that a good dose of music and caroling will remind them of a good old fashioned Christmas. You remember, like the ones you used to have before television?

Anthology is the latest Rock CD put out by the extremely talented Duane Allman who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Duane Allman fans, and Rock fans alike will be pleased with this one.

This one will grab your attention right from the very first note with B.B. King Medley: Hour Glass: Sweet Little Angel / It’s My Own Fault / How Blue Can You Get and doesn’t let go until the very last note of the very last song Little Martha, which is another great track by the way.

One of the nicer things about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Rock isn’t your favorite genre you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

If you’re even mildly into Rock music you’ll enjoy this CD. Overall Anthology is an outstanding release. I give it my double thumbs up. You will not be disappointed with one single track.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 6 – Games People Play, track 3 – Please Be With Me, and track 10 – Little Martha

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – B.B. King Medley: Hour Glass: Sweet Little Angel / It’s My Own Fault / How Blue Can You Get. Wow!

Anthology Release Notes:

Duane Allman originally released Anthology on October 25, 1990 on the Polydor label.

CD Track List Follows:

DISC 1: 1. B.B. King Medley: Hour Glass: Sweet Little Angel / It’s My Own Fault / How Blue Can You Get 2. Hey Jude – (with Wilson Pickett) 3. Road Of Love, The – (with Clarence Carter) 4. Goin’ Down Slow 5. Weight, The – (with Aretha Franklin) 6. Games People Play – (with King Curtis) 7. Shake For Me – (with John Hammond) 8. Loan Me A Dime – (with Boz Scaggs) 9. Rollin’ Stone – (with Johnny Jenkins) DISC 2: 1. Livin’ On The Open Road – (with Delaney & Bonnie) 2. Down Along The Cove – (with Johnny Jenkins) 3. Please Be With Me – (with Cowboy) 4. Mean Old World – (with Eric Clapton) 5. Layla – (with Derek & The Dominos) 6. Statesboro Blues – (with The Allman Brothers Band) 7. Don’t Keep Me Wondering – (with The Allman Brothers Band) 8. Standback – (with The Allman Brothers Band) 9. Dreams – (with The Allman Brothers Band) 10. Little Martha – (with The Allman Brothers Band)

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