This is Your Brain on Jazz: Researchers Use MRI to Study Spontaneity, Creativity - 02/26/2008

This is Your Brain on Jazz: Researchers Use MRI to Study Spontaneity, Creativity - 02/26/2008

Occupying Space With Your Opponent

Heard an interesting remark from an aikido master a couple of years ago that I've been able to successfully apply to my situation with cancer the past year. When asked by a student how to get up to the next level in proficiency, the master said, "You'll never get to the next level until you learn to enjoy occupying the same space as your opponent."

My Favorite Place to Play in Tokyo/Yokohama

My favorite "jazz" club in Tokyo-Yokohama. Airegin (Yokohama) near Kannai station. Airegin is the home of a great music festival called the International Impromusica Festival. I've always enjoyed performing at Airegin cause I've always felt the music is put ahead of anything else. Sometimes there are good audiences and sometimes I've played for only 2-3 people. Regardless, there has never been any kind of bad vibe from the owner. It's all about the creativity. Especially in this day and time when the money seems to control all, it's so important for artists to have a space to create and let ideas flow. Airegin is just that kind of space.

Keith Jarrett - The Art of Improvisation

"First the music enters us.  And if the music enters you, then you don't have to worry so much about what to play. The music is telling you what to play. You can just ride along. Float through it. I mean it's like when we are playing something in time and get a lock…we're not….that's not us. I mean, how's that possible? How can you do that? How can that happen?

Gary Peacock

"My First," Still My Favorite...

My first jazz album and I guess still my favorite. Every tune is a gem. Walked into an old plaid stamp store (Green_Stamps) with my folks one Saturday afternoon when I was about 13 or 14. They turned in their stamp books to get a toaster or something. Had some stamps left over so they told me to pick out something. I went over to the LP rack and grabbed this album. Got home and put it on and my life instantly shifted. Forty years later and I'm still chasing that "thing"......that sound...feeling...vibe....I don't know....suddenly...no words....just music....sound vibration....but deep....somewhere in my core. Booker Ervin...hooked me on the first listening....

Healing Sights and Sounds of Japan 2 (HD)

Healing Sights and Sounds of Japan 1 (HD)

Nature at it's best. Spiritual and zen-like sights and sounds. This video was recorded on a cold and snowy winter afternoon in Iwate prefecture in the Tohoku region of northern Japan near Ishidoriya and Hanamaki.