July 8

"I'm trying to immature."

We always hear people talking about being mature or wanting to have a mature sound. Wanting more maturity in their decision making or in their work. I'm all for that. But, I'm also thinking that more of a "child-like" way of being is important in the creative process, also.

Tom Waits
I enjoyed hearing what Tom had to say about songwriting. Especially interesting to hear him say that the room is an instrument too!


Haneda Photos
Went to Haneda airport today and got some shots from the observation area on the top floor of the terminal. Kind of rainy though.







Chomsky on FinklesteinNoam Chomsky is one my very favorite writers and speakers. Here is an interesting excerpt in which he describes the "institutional control" that is prevalent in the book world.

July 6

Becoming Posthuman Essay - James Sparks

Posthuman Artists

"STELARC is an Australian-based performance artist whose work explores and extends the concept of the body and its relationship with technology through human-machine interfaces incorporating medical imaging, prosthetics, robotics, VR systems and the internet."

STELARC website

Stelarc images
Stelarc
NeMe: Prosthetic Head: Intelligence, Awareness and Agency by Stelarc
STELARC on Wiki

Alexa Wright
Orlan

Democracy Now
Noam Chomsky



Spent some time this morning researching a few "posthumanist artists" (Stelarc-Wright-Orlan), reading the above essay and listening to Noam Chomsky's talk given recently in Harlem. Had to leave early for a rehearsal and a gig. Nice gig tonight with a new band led by Tim Lyddon. Tim has recently moved to Tokyo from New York. I really like Tim's harmonic vocabulary. Gives me space to go a lot of places melodically. Gives me options for color. He is a great listener.

May 27

I'm starting this blog today mainly as a way to keep track of some of my activities related to creativity and things that I've found helpful to generate new ideas for me. Waste of time? Possibly. I've talked about doing a lot of these things with students in an attempt to try to get them away from their instruments and out of the music building a little and experience life. So, maybe this is a way to track myself and to provide an example to some of my students.

Kamome June 8 - designed gig flyer


Listened to Alan Watt Podcast May 19
Listened to Alan Watt Podcast May 20
Read SEED Magazine
Watched Frank Gehry (Architect) Documentary
Reading "Media Control - Propaganda" by Noam Chomsky (pr/activate)
Reading "Cultural Cold War" by Frances Stonor Saunders (pr)


Trumpet Practice - (warm-ups) took it easy and did "Caruso routine" off an on throughout the day.
Photos - Went to Shibuya and took some photos. Uploaded a few of them to Tokyo Nights Blog


Because of my trip and performance near Hieizan Temple outside of Kyoto last week, I've been wanting to read about Tendaishu Buddism. So, today I started checking it out. I came back to Tokyo on Monday 5/25 and have felt so incredibly relaxed. Can't wait to go back to Hieizan and do some hiking and taking some photos.