Zumba2

new EP out by ReLoad

2011-08-19T18:06:00.001-04:00

my CDBABY Store

2011-06-01T22:45:00.001-04:00

ZUMBATRES, "A live Story" released

2010-05-19T10:07:00.001-04:00

the last , and I mean LAST , release of ZUMBATRES, now available.
"A live Story", a compilations of Bootlegs of Zumbatres, performing live, what I consider the best achievement of my penmanship.
for Now, the Album is only available privately by contacting me, soon it would be available on CDBABY, iTunes, AMAZON, and more!.

the Future always been uncertain, and at this bizz of doing music never it's been so unreliable as it's in the times we're living.
It's always an adventure.
this album marks the end of an era. And hopefully it will encompass what I considered the best music Zumbatres ever put out. The Live recordings are preserved as they were, no edits, plenty of mistakes and raw intention.

Hope you like it, as much as I enjoyed putting this music out, thanks to all the musicians that contributed to make Zumbatres a reality and to bring my compositions to life.
thank you guys.

ok, NEW ALBUM available, contact me if you want a copy for now, or wait until it is available on other media

Jose

2010-01-26T17:46:00.003-05:00

Promises

2009-01-26T17:52:00.000-05:00

por que Ellos pueden.....

2009-01-20T22:06:00.006-05:00

Hoy fue un dia historico, para mi lo fue mas, por el hecho de haber votado por primera vez como ciudadano Americano en estas pasadas elecciones. Primera vez que mi voto elije a mi candidato. Pero pense en mi pais, donde naci. Por que alla, no se puede.(?)

Que paso con lo que demostro, Bolivar, Vargas, Miranda, y otros? Como pasamos de ser punta de lanza en Latino America a ser el coleto del continente?

A uno no puede si no encongersele el corazon, al ver la pulcritud, el dinamismo y el CIVISMO, con que un presidente deja el cargo, y se lo otorga a su sucesor, con la mayor de las ceremonias llenas de civismo y decoro, a pesar de las diferencias politicas y de partidos. Cuando uno ve al presidente entrante, despedirse del saliente, con un abrazo y discernir entre sus labios decirle, "estas bien??", y este responder, "que alivio tan grande"....gente, uno podra decirle lo que quiera a los Americanos, pero NUNCA, NUNCA, de que este pais no sirve, ni que las instituciones del Estado no funcionen. a lo largo de su historia, este pais ha mantenido con altibajos, sus preceptos, conceptos y paradigmas con que fue fundado al Independizarze de de Inglaterra. Quizas el unico pais con sistema Presidencialista, donde los "checks & balances", funcionan, quieranlo o no.

Con un discurso arrollador, firme, y al mismo tiempo esperanzador, en 17 minutos, se toco y hablo de lo que se tenia que decir en una toma de posesion del cargo de presidente. En otro lugar del mundo , de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, un sujeto, un tipejo pues, se toma 7 horas y media para decir absolutamente NADA!. Un vomito de ideas sin sentido, un galimatias de cualquier paciente esquizofrenico del Sanatorio de Lidice, para decir, que el pais esta bien, no hay hambre, y no hay crisis.
7 horas y media!!.....pero eso no es lo peor, lo peor es, la cuerda de monigotes y buenos para nada, que le rien las gracias al Payaso mayor.

por que ellos si pueden y Venezuela no? .......ahi se los dejo.

Bien por los Estados Unidos de America, por lograr ideas, de poquito a poquito, de paciencia y perseverancia, cuando los paises de Latino America dejaran de envidiarle tanto al gran pais y echarles la culpa de todos los males y ponerse a trabajar, de VERDAD??

"WE THE PEOPLE" nunca sono mas fuerte, y mas poderoso que nunca.

como dato curioso, Gabriela Montero, pianista Venezolana, toco para Obama en la ceremonia de inauguracion. Otra pianista Venezolana, Teresa Carreno, toco para Lincoln, en su toma de posesion.
El destino es implacable!!

ROMANUS

2008-10-26T22:55:00.001-04:00

Crazy

2008-09-25T07:54:00.001-04:00

Crazy me.
Since, my creative juices are having a hard time to surface. I decided to embarck on a mission of , organizing a number of concerts, in which my band, will not perform any of my music at all and will detour from the Latin flavor that has been characteristic of my sound lately. And, I'm not really a Latin player after all….always drawn to more subtle and lyrically touchy works...
So what is this crazy Idea?.........ZUMBATRES performs the music of Pat Metheny!!!!...
Yes!!!!........one of my all time favorite musicians and composers. One of the biggest reasons why I do music and want to write my own, beside being Bruford, Metheny is a big big inspiration for me.
So this time, I'm aiming to do 2 dates, so far, with Mike(piano), Nate(bass), Chris(trumpet), Phil(guitar), Jake(voices) and me on drums and if I get drunk enough will sing too…

Rehearsal last night went great, and it felt awesome to play some of this tunes that I've listened so many times dreaming of performing them..
Exciting times!!!!... One of the key reasons, is that I believe that facing the challenge of playing Metheny's music I get exposed and over exposed to great music writing…..which is what I need, since I'm having a hard time seating down writing my own..

Nov 30th at the Barley Pub, will be the first date,
I'll get the Press Room to give me another date in January perhaps even do more..
If I could do a series of concert playing this music I'll have lots of fun.
But still need to remember, have to write my own…
So stay tuned for more updates…
For now, save Nov 30th, Sunday in Dover, at the Barley Pub.
More to come……
(there will more regular ZUMBATRES gigs, in the remaining of the year, Nov 10th at the Red Door, sharing the Bill with Jared Steer's Band)

mi Hermano el Castellano

2008-09-15T22:52:00.003-04:00

Desde cobrizas estepas, avistadas de lo alto del Alcazar, un chico, llego a comerse arepas y cachitos conmigo....
jugamos a ser amigos, y a querer los mismos discos y sonrisas de vinilo.

las vueltas del destino, nos regalaron, el aprender las duras despedidas entranables emociones.....que a la vuelta de la esquina, nos dieron, la dicha de enjuagarla en largas misivas..

descubriendo como creciamos juntos, con un mar de por medio, nuestros amores y temores, en hacernos adultos, en empecinadas letras de boligrafos azules..
hoy por hoy refulgurantes pantallas con letritas negras, nos hacen vernos llegar a esto que le dicen los "cuarenta".

unas cuantas pelas, nos dan la alegria de comprobar que no importa el azul, no importa los inviernos, ni cuantas canas se nos asomen...
la hermandad de aquellos crios, sigue ahi..atizbando y anhelante, ....a toda esa vida, que aun nos queda, y lo que hemos vivido..
gracias a la vida por regalarme al mi Hermano el Castellano, ...que me ayuda a reconocer, de los pastos y caminos que todos transitamos, ....de esa patria vieja, a la cual le debemos todo....
gracias a la providencia por mi Hermano ...el Castellano

salud tio, ( a mi querido amigo Alberto...de siempre)

cenizas

2008-05-30T09:10:00.002-04:00

Hace mucho tiempo que no escribo y tengo abandonado , este mi desahogo virtual en la red. Desde Amsterdam han llegado quejas, NO ESCRIBES MAS???!!!!........he estado bastante ocupado, desde finales del 2007 hasta ahora. Desde la preproduccion de una serie de shows,
De los cuales pudieran ver un poco aca.

Hasta pasando por conciertos y grabaciones con la facultad donde imparto clases.

Hasta por la lectura de muchos libros, y tratando de mantenerse al dia con los hechos en aquel ex-pais. (cosa que se ha mantenido igual)…

He comenzado a escribir algunos temas para una nueva produccion de Zumbatres, aunque, no se muy bien cuando , y si se terminara. Siento que llevar las riendas de un proyecto como este, y todo sobre mis hombros, es bastante trabajo emocional y fisico, para hacerlo por "amor al arte"……y el hecho de que no todos los que participan veran el proyecto con el mismo ahinco que uno lo hara. Si uno tiene los medios $$$ para pagar y mantener a la gente contenta, estoy seguro que la situacion seria diferente. El hecho es que hay muchas ideas, y no se sabe cuando podre llevarlo a cabo. Quizas, Zumbatres deje de existir por un tiempo. Quizas sea tiempo de refrescar la sangre del grupo y hacer un alto y mas adelante seguir con gente nueva….mas consona con el concepto del proyecto y quizas la misma mistica.

Lo importante, es que hay una historia de esas, como las de las pelis, cuyo guion aun se gesta, y se va en etapa de pre produccion……….pero, si todo va como se pinta…..sera una historia muy bien contada, muy bien vivida y que dara para mas…….

He ahi la excusa de mis ausencias de estas digitales paginas!!!!

giggin'

2007-10-31T09:01:00.000-04:00

well, not too much happening, thou it seems that I've been busy, playing with my band, and with Randy.
but mostly busy trying to put together the small tour for ROMAN(US) in Feb 2008.
what a pain in the butt!!!!
too much to do, not enough time!

keep on truckin'

Prendedor

2007-10-29T22:01:00.000-04:00

como uno nunca sabe cuando el arrebato de la inspiracion llega,
pues....

Prendedor,
y apareció,
como un destello de luz blanca,
diciendo hola, que tal.

me estremecí entre mis dudas, mi carencia.
abraze la luna que se me encimaba,
y le grite bienvenida.

tras el cristal la sonrisa que me diste, la prendí en mi solapa.
me mira y me distrae, como quien no quiere la cosa.
y no llevo armadura, no tengo soltura,
para desprenderme, de la premura,
de llevarme otra sonrisa, a mi bolsillo.

con la ropa hecha girones, del ventarron de tu pelo,
me aferro al desahogo, de una distancia de agua, tierra y asfalto
miro arriba miro abajo, donde has metido, la sonrisa de medianoche?
quien ya no da reproche, ya esto no lo calma, burlas y risitas de fantoches.

y Orion me la señala, el sagitario la voltea, esperando en mi camisa,
me llevo la media luna de tu sonrisa.

y de tanto sonreir, y de tantas, prendas, ya la noche no es de noche,
ni hacen falta vendas, ....la noche es mi día,
se ilumina y encamina, la senda larga y honda,
de mi desatino y camino entuerto,
pero ahora tengo guía, ......haya frío, lluvia, o calima.
yo protego mis anhelos, con el calor de tu sonrisa.

necesitare mas camisas, para poder llevarme cada una de tus sonrisas

para I.L

New Video now OUT!

2007-09-20T19:48:00.000-04:00

with much pleasure we're proud to announce the release of our first single and video
"landscapes in a truck", made up of images from the film: "landscapes in a truck" by Andres Duque, selected images from the film had been edited to fit and convey the message on the song.
we're proud of it!!

Con orgullo les presento el primer video de la nueva Banda ROMAN(US)...
con imagenes de la pelicula Landscapes in a Truck de Andres Duque, las imagenes han sido editadas para transmitir el mensaje de la cancion.

Honor a quien Honor merece

2007-09-15T12:32:00.000-04:00

con mucha tristeza, nos despedimos de unos de los mejores musicos de Venezuela. Hasta Pronto Maestro!!!!
En horas de la mañana de este sábado falleció en Caracas el creador del estilo onda nueva, prolijo pianista, compositor, arreglista y director venezolano Aldemaro Romero, a consecuencia de una oclusión intestinal que lo mantuvo internado en una clínica varias semanas.

Romero inició sus estudios musicales con su padre, Rafael Romero. En 1941 se traslada a Caracas y trabaja como pianista en locales nocturnos y orquestas de baile como Sonora Caracas, Luis Alfonzo Larrain y Rafa Víctor. En 1949 viaja a Cuba, luego a Nueva York.

En 1952 vuelve a Caracas y funda su orquesta de baile. Además, es contratado por RCA Victor para grabar con una orquesta de salón la serie de exitosos discos “Dinner In” con piezas populares de Latinoamérica: Caracas, Buenos Aires, México, Colombia y Río son los lugares escogidos. En 1970, junto al baterista Frank Hernández sienta las bases del ritmo onda nueva.

Se radicó luego entre Londres y Nueva York (1975-1977). En 1978 fundó la Orquesta Filarmónica de Caracas. Prolífico compositor, ha creado desde música caribeña, jazz y valses venezolanos, hasta obras sinfónicas de gran envergadura. Ha sido uno de los músicos más completos nacidos en Venezuela.

A lo largo de su carrera musical colaboró con importantes orquestas y célebres cantantes como Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Stan Kenton, Ray Mekin, Machito, Noro Morales, Tito Puente, entre otros
Romero began his musical studies with his father, Rafael Romero. In 1941 moved to Caracas and worked as pianist in nocturnal saloons and dance orchestras. In 1949 travels to Cuba, and then to New York. In 1952 returned to Caracas and established his own dance orchestra. In 1951 signed contract with RCA Victor to record with a full orchestra, what was to be a very successful album in the "Dinner In..." series, featuring popular Latin American music. Under the RCA label he published his LP Dinner in Caracas, with which beat all sales records in South America until then. Afterwards, recorded numerous LP albums in different countries. In America, his ability as arranger/conductor led him to collaborate with popular orchestras and singers, such as Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Stan Kenton, Ray Mekin, Machito, Noro, Tito Puente and others. He has toured extensively, performing in numerous countries: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, France, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Russia, Egypt and Japan.
Aldemaro Romero is the creator of a new form of Venezuelan music, known as "New Wave" (Onda Nueva), derived from the joropo and influenced by Brazilian Bossa Nova. He has also had an important role in the field of learned music. In 1979 founded the Caracas Philarmonic Orchestra, of which he was the first Conductor. He has also conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Romanian Radio/TV and the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra. Aldemaro Romero has a son with his same name who is a famous biologist in the United states, and is a leader in Cave fish and Marine Mammal research.

quien no se entristezca con esta noticia, no es Venezolano!!, Como musico y baterista, las horas que pase sentado tratando de aprender el ritmo de la Onda Nueva en bateria.......que delicia de musica nos dejo...
hasta luego Aldemaro!

Al buen amigo, buena causa

2007-07-05T07:19:00.001-04:00

Mi Amigo Manuel Hernandez, y quien ha sido critico de mis dos ultimos CD de ZUMBATRES, ha comenzado una excelente website, para ayudar y mantener informados a toda gente que padece de Diabetes.

echenle un ojo, que el Manuel es un buen pana

TuDiabetes.com TU DIABETES PUNTO COM es una comunidad para gente tocada por la diabetes. Los miembros vienen de todas partes del mundo y la comunidad funciona en dos idiomas: inglés y español.

Si alguno de ustedes tiene diabetes o conocen a alguien afectado por esta enfermedad, no dejen de enviarles la dirección: www.tudiabetes.com.

ROMAN(US) is OUT

2007-07-04T20:01:00.000-04:00

Luego de 2 Febreros y un bojote de dias y unos meses despues, el gato Felix y yo, por fin, hemos logrado editar y sacar al mercado nuestra Produccion independiente, ROMAN(US).!!!

a la venta por CDBABY

y mientras me llegue la inspiracion tambien pueden curiosear aca
http://www.virb.com/romanus

-----------------------------------0-----------------------------------------------
After to long Februaries, a bunch of days and a couple of months, Felix and I, have achieve to release our first CD together as the Band : ROMAN(US).

available on line here CDBABY

and while I get inspired, curious people can also check us out at
http://www.virb.com/romanus

CANCION DEL MUCHACHO DE SIETE CORAZONES

2007-07-02T08:12:00.000-04:00

Como es usual, siempre que me falta inspiracion, coloco poesia de alguien mas, mientra busco en los rincones de mi mente algo que me inspire a escribir..

Federico Garcia Lorca

Siete corazones
tengo.
En el alto monte, madre,
topezábamos yo y el viento.
Siete niñas de largas manos
me llevaron en sus espejos.
He cantado por el mundo
con mi boca de siete pétalos.
Mis galeras de amaranto
iban sin jarcias y sin remos.
He vivido los paisajes
de otras gentes. Mis secretos
alrededor de la garganta,
¡sin darme cuenta!, iban abiertos.
En el alto monte, madre
(mi corazón sobre los ecos,
dentro del álbum de una estrella),
tropezábamos yo y el viento.
Siete corazones
tengo.
¡Pero el mío no lo encuentro!

El Renoir que nunca fue.

2007-05-09T18:54:00.000-04:00

El caso de esta extraña obra de Renoir, esta lleno de intríga y cabos sueltos. El orígen de la obra aun esta en debate entre varios expertos. Aunque la mayoría lo ubican entre el periodo luego de haber sido expulsado del la Comuna de Paris, alrededor del 1874, por la oscuridad de su lienzo, que contrasta con sus otras obras mas luminosas y claras del período de la Comuna de Paris. Es sabido que durante este período, al perder el cobijo y apoyo financiero del la Comuna, Renoir, haya divagado de patrón en patrón, tratando de hacerse con el sustento diario.
Se conoce que tras su rompimiento con Jules Le Coeur, hubieron muchos trabajos de encargo gracias a los pocos contactos con lo que existía de la Aristrocacia de Francia para la epoca, y sus negocios y tratos con la Aristocracia de Madrid. Es posible que durante muchos de sus paseos al campo Francés, entre sus conocidos aristrocratas se encontraran los personajes de esta obra. Expertos franceses ubican a la dama como posiblemente Beatrice D’Anjou, aristrocrata del Paris de la epoca y esposa del empresario Pierre-Louis D’anjou quien hiciera su fortuna con sus minas en Algeria, y negocios en Madrid y Cataluña. Hay dudas respecto al caballero del retrato, pero lo mas seguro es que se trate de Santiago Jose del Pozo i Casteller, Duque de Santander; quien para la epoca se conoce estaba invirtiendo de su fortuna en los negocios con D’anjou, se rumorea de un torrido romance entres ambos personajes pues bien era conocido de la libertina relacion que Pierre-Louis y Beatrice llevaban entre los círculos aristrocraticos parisinos.
Pero la historia del retatro no acaba ahí. El conocimiento de su existencia se debe a que la antigua Mansion D’anjou, donde se encontraba esta pieza, fue una de las primeras de las “Maison” donde las unidades Panzer de Hitler hicieron uso de una base de operaciones, para extender su invasion a Francia. Se desconoce el paradero de la familia D’anjou o que fue de ellos. Fue durante la retirada de las fuerzas Nazi de Francia que el retratro llego a Berlin, se cree estuvo almacenado en los cuarteles de la SS por un tiempo. Ciertamente este y muchas otras piezas estaban al cuidado de Adolf Ziegler, secretario en jefe de la division de bellas artes del Reichskulturkammer. Durante el sitio aliado a Berlin, Ziegler, escondio muchas de las obras a su cuidado en las bovedas de lo que luego sería la sede general de la Stassi, temible policía política de la ya desaparecida Republica Democratica Alemana. Fue justo al caer el Muro de Berlin, en 1989 y al hacerse publicos los archivos de la Stassi, que en las bóvedas se descubrieron esta y un sin numero de Obras de autores famosos que estuvieron desaparecidos de la luz publica bajo el duro escrutinio del partido comunista y la policia politica. La pieza forma parte de la coleccón itinerante del Hanf Museum en Berlin.
Por cartas rescatadas de los descendientes de la familia D'anjou, se supo de la existencia de un Renoir, que no se habia visto nunca. En dichas cartas mencionan a Maurice D'anjou, posiblemente el unico vástago del matrimonio D'anjou, y de la incognita de su paradero. Curiosamente, la casa del Ducado en Santander, ha borrado toda data historica, del Duque Santiago Jose Del Pozo i Casteller, quizas debido a su descendencia Catalana y las rencillas familiares que esto acarreo dentro del poderoso Ducado Castellano. Lo cierto es, que los personajes aca retratados son tan desaparecidos y extraños, como a su vez lo fue esta rara obra del artista Renoir.

Gracias a Bea, por la foto y la inspiración, y por aquel almuerzo de Octubre;
todos los hechos aca retratados son solo parte de la ficcion y existen solamente en la imaginacion. Cualquier parecido con la realidad es tan solo una mera coincidencia.

LA CIUDAD DE LOS ZAMUROS

2007-05-03T09:55:00.000-04:00

Un viernes 20 de Abril, despues de unos 6 años, un obligado retorno a la ciudad de los Zamuros. Caracas, no es la misma, mi querido amigo, aquella de los frios amaneceres, del vaporcito saliendo de la boca en las mañanitas yendo al colegio, ya no existen.
Caracas esta llena de Humedad, el calor es mas parecido al estar en la Guaira que en otra cosa; Segun mi Padre, Merida, tambien esta muy caliente!. No quiero imaginarme como esta Puerto Ordaz!.

Alrededor de la 3 de la tarde arribo al Aeropuerto en Maiquetia, impresionante nuevos andenes y terminal, pareciera que uno estuviera llegando a Miami o algo asi..todo reluciente, y uno dice, wow, ......claro, el primer bofeton es la interaccion con el oficial de turno en inmigracion....la funcionaria, repite mi nombre despues de hacer un Scan de mi pasaporte Americano,
-Ud es venezolano?
-..si, yo naci aca
-y su pasaporte Venezolano?
- pues no tengo
-Y su cedula?
-pues fijese que tampoco tengo, vera, srta, yo tengo casi 20 años vivendo fuera de Venezuela, asi que realmente no poseo esos documentos, Yo no vivo aca
-o sea que Ud pretende entrar como Turista?
-pretendo no, le estoy entregando mi pasaporte Americano, como que otra cosa podria yo entrar?

con cara de malas pulgas,(bien malas por cierto) y una expresion de aberracion en la boca me sello de mala gana mi entrada a mi Ex-pais.

si, definitivamente, el pais es otro,
Me cambiaron a mi ciudad, a mi pais, a mi gente. La agresividad de la gente en la calle, al conducir, es otra, es profunda. Pareciera mas bien una rabia contenida hacia todo y todos. El Venezolano cambió, o siempre fue asi??. Si antes el trafico de Caracas, le parecia a uno insoportable, las palabras faltan para describir lo que es hoy dia. Impresionante es aun ver a los Ford de los 70 rodando, como pueden, y con el escape a todo dar, vomitando el Tetraetilo de Plomo, .....que le da a la ciudad su particular olor , al lado de numerosos HUMMERS, Audi, Mercedez, y hasta Rolls Royce! ultimo modelo Por si fuera poco, la ciudad ahora disfruta, de su propia Calima, pero a diferencia de Tenerife, no es por las corrientes que arrastran las arenas del Sahara, hasta la costa Canaria, ........quien sabe por que .....
quizas los unicos que tenga respuestas, son esos sujetos oscuros, negros y parsimoniosos, que flotan en el aire.

La impresion mas fuerte y se que sera duradera, fue la cantidad de Zamuros que vi. Nunca habia visto tanta cantidad de ellos y lo que es peor, volando a alturas que antes me hubiera sido imposible imaginar.
Que carroña buscan? la que deambula por la calle buscandose los churupos, o los despojos de la burgesia?, la nueva, digo, por que de la vieja, los que quedan, son muy pocos y decidieron pintarse de Escarlata. Y los del medio, cada dia mas apretujados, sus casas deteriorandose a un paso quizas, mas lento que el de la gran estructura de la ciudad. Pero deteriorandose al fin. Los cobres ahora solo sirven para comer, curarse, y pagar al dia las exigencias de los acreedores.

Pero hay 2 paises en realidad. Uno el que desayuna, almuerza y cena, Escarlatas y Colorados. Otro, el pais que decidio inmolarse de la manera mas sencilla, ignorando el tin tin de la radio, y la griteria de la TV. Obviando los impresos y derrochando lo mucho o poco que hacen. No lo sabre yo, que fue la unica manera de llevar la paseada, sin marearme y vomitar. Aunque ÈL, a veces me miraba por ahi, desde un inmenso cartelon, colgando de algun Ex edificio que alguna vez albergo a algun Ex ministerio de algun Ex gobierno. El costo de la vida es sencillamente imposible, quede un poco impresionado de los precios, de los cuales no tenia equivalencia alguna, pues mi recuerdos de los Bolivares, era del 94 cuando me fui del pais. La gente no esta ahorrando, esta gastando lo que tiene en bienes materiales, quizas previendo lo que les viene encima, como para hacerse con algo para cuando le agregen mas y mas ceros al Bolivar.

Pero el Venezolano es otro, al menos el que fue como yo, es una especie en vias a desaparecer, y los que quedan parecen mas bien aves migratorias o con inmensas aspiraciones de irse.....
como muchos otros.....
total es que la Ciudad esta inundada de Zamuros, y no solo de los que vuelan, hay cada especimen rondando cerca de uno todo el tiempo viendo a ver que les cae, o que sacan o que se llevan..
yo espero volver, por que me removio el corazon ver a la Familia y a tantos amigos que llevo cerca de mi pecho, que se me parte el alma no verles de nuevo y pronto. Pero como estan las cosas, ......solo el de alla arriba sabe que pasara..

como dijo el Poeta Venezolano_americano, Guillermo Parra, Caracas, no es una ciudad, ..........es una Mierda!!!!

Adendum: olvide mencionar, que al dia siguiente de mi llegada, el vehiculo de mi hermano, desaparecio del puesto donde hacia 45 mins, habiamos aparcado. a las 12 del mediodia.

Fantasma

2007-04-06T14:22:00.000-04:00

Hora en el que la patria es otra
Dias en los que carricitos crecen..

Salgo de los retratos, para
Dar abrazos, anejados de casi 72 Lunas

Hora en que me cambiaron como era,
Sigo yendo y viniendo
Como un fantasma. Tras las paredes
Por los pasillos, bajo la mata e’mango,
Mirando desde el Rincon….
Detras del monitor.

Soy el tio fantasma al que no puedes tocar.
Mi vida es un cuento, que no tiene final.
Donde no hay colorin, y aun no hay colorados
Yo escribo los papeles de un personaje
Desterrado……..

Quien sabe, cuan real sera el tio, que tan serio se rie
Llego a la casa de la abuela, quien sabe por que rio

Y quien era ese , el de la foto papa?.
Yo se que estuvo aca , por que yo lo vi.
Donde esta su cama, y por que no duerme aqui?
Sabes tu si los fantasmas duermen?....y que hacen de dia?
El tio tiene tia?.......y los fantasmitas no estan?

Cuantas preguntas mija, deja que lo veas…
Ya le preguntaras….

Pero como todo fantasma que se hace respetar..
Recuerda que “llegastes y ya te vas”…

Yo estoy ahi….fantasma pero ahi estoy..
Echenle los cuentos , cuando puedan entender,
Quien sabe, si sera menester, verles, correr por un anden
Cuenteles que , los fantasmas, lloran, rien, quieren, y comen..

Aunque no me puedan ver……….

Roman(us)

2007-03-17T18:13:00.000-04:00

while we get ready to polish our new album, we've learned that cousing A. has granted the permit to use images of his documentary, "landscapes in truck", for our song with the same name.
in the meantime, a little bit of iddleness, brought this attempt of doing the "secret live of trees"

RPM Challenge '07 almost done

2007-02-26T10:11:00.000-05:00

F & I, are about to complete the RPM Challenge for Feb. of 2007.
If it werent' for this crazy idea last year, this music, and the project which is something that we always wanted to do together since our childhood days. Being always inmerse in our own separated projects, we crossed paths here and there on side projects…..but never, really worked on something that was our own.

The music can be quite dark…perhaps more a reflection of our current times that an impression of our personalities in this music. We're proud of the result and how easy has been to produce this hard to label music. The sense of trust in to see how this pieces develop is what I appreciate the most.

*** some of the previous post are actually , lyric material that appaer one way or other in this songs.
****the album should be out for sale on a limited copies base in a couple of months.

the Secret Lives of Trees

2007-01-22T13:37:00.001-05:00

The Secret lives of Trees.

Hear the wind…..carry on stories of the past
Strain your gaze, …may this sorrow wouldn’t last
Feel your hands into the soil, never has your soul
Feel so close to your own heart.
Aging questions your life has sought

Rooted in fears, waiting for years.
Branched in despair, yearning to be free.
You’d never find growth,
Come learn with me,
About the secret lives of trees

Let your birds rest in me.
Would the sing me song of your travels
would they nest their hopes
In my arms? Should they carry messages
Of my longings ….
Fertile seed, bring to me…..
Of sunny days, and summer breeze…
Nurtured ground, for bygone dreams

\ Rooted in fears, waiting for years.
Branched in despair, yearning to be free.
You’d never find growth,
Come learn with me,
About the secret lives of trees

when you hear me knock
On your bedroom window….
Howling tales of whisper…
You’ll know I have returned.
All pure and determined.
Come learn with me.
The secret lives of trees

2007

2007-01-01T18:54:00.000-05:00

un adios de año sin abrazos,
un adios de año sin besos.

circulan mis ojos, tras los cueros, el metal abruma el oido
y el jolgorio y carcajadas de los demas,
no son mios...

vacias las manos, vacio el mirar...
la estrella no trae otro cantar,
curioso el sinsabor, de la esencia verdadera
ansioso el saber, de la realidad certera.

y otro año se va, y me deja con recuerdos
olorosos, sin sabores.
cuantas bocas, cuantos cuerpos?
y el soldado, aun sigue inerte, ......muerto

tanto caminos, mis manos labraron...
y el año llega con descalabro...
huyeron los deseos, escaparon las sonrisas...

una vez, que miras, y desaparece con la brisa.
la familia, la montaña, .......
solo son recuerdos, pegados a mis parpados,
a quien solo veo cuando duermo.

otro año........
ven a mi

Llovizna del Mar

2006-12-20T10:14:00.000-05:00

Vendran los tiempos en que el mar con su Brisa
No me saque mas lagrimas, sino sonrisas..

En el pecho, Resaca de desamores, y lloviznas de corazones.
La arena en mis pies, desvanece, cual hicieran mis suenos y anhelos,
Justo en ese breve instante, en el que abre los ojos y amanece.

Porque solo la brisa, que viene del Mar, trae preguntas, nunca respuestas.
El cielo no habla, aunque en la boveda celeste, muchas historia se cuelan.
Entumecen los huesos, y al pecho dan Neblina.

Vendran los tiempos en que el mar con su Brisa
No me saque mas lagrimas, sino sonrisas..

Del Este, las historias, al oeste, sus secuelas se van..
Surcame estos mares, quien quiera que seas….
Sacame del pecho las espuelas…de campanas anteriores.
Quien quiera que seas, me reconoceras al verme?

Y a este Vendaval quien ha que lo pare?.....
Que el coraje atiza el fuego, y que trozos de amor te dare cuando llegues.?
Quien quiera que seas…..

Vendran los tiempos en que el mar con su Brisa
No me saque mas lagrimas, sino sonrisas..

Pero, hoy, esta noche y las que vienen……
Me deja solo, con mi canto y mi llovizna…

Finito!!!

2006-11-28T16:32:00.000-05:00

done, ces't fine, listo

the new album is out and about....available at CDBABY
and I got a nice interview in the WIRE, a, great newspaper in Portsmouth NH.

now , the painful process of promoting this baby begins!!!

mon deu!!

nothing is as perfect

2006-11-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

The sweat was enough, the lunch, delicious.
As the cold breeze, sunny day of November
Hit the window, where I ate.

Saw you flying in, with the crowd of shimmering auras.
And, surrounded me with laughter and good vibes.
You, in front of me, talked about the places, the travels
And how all it unraveled in a accented Castellano,
That made me trembled.

Seeing the ocean in those eyes, the crooked smile.
I thought I had hope for a while.
Could I take a swim in those for a bit?
Heard you laugh at my jokes, and saw those
Glittering sparks there, distant, curious, interested.

Later, among canvases and jewelry, we laugh and investigated
With our smiles immersed in wine.
How short the moment, how precise the time.
All this questions will be never be unwind

Of course you have a boyfriend, things are never that perfect!
And we remain curious, and not too hopeful.
I hold a bitterness, while Mark Hollis sings in my headphones:
“Happiness is Easy”…..and a painful smile draws
Making me look more like a clown in pain, than an expectant lover
How long this Irony will last?

for K.

waiting.......

2006-10-31T07:45:00.000-05:00

I've neglected this pages for a long time.
Recording the new CD was stressful, demanding and tiring...
but it's done, after a trip to Barcelona and a visit from little brother, the Master's and Artwork are finally in production, lets hope I get them before the November 24th.!!

After all this work, I still ask myself 'why do I do it'??. I'm operating on a loss, and aprehensive about make back the money spent, without a propper management and marketing I'm doomed....
damn, i hate this part of the bussines...!!!

more later.

Almost there

2006-09-02T16:13:00.000-04:00

Well the recording of the new album is done, all we need is editing, mixing mastering and voila, to pressing .....
what an effort, first you start with composing the music, at the batcave

then, you go to the convince your musicians that you need to record and need to go into the studio.

then, you add at awesome percussionist from germany,

and Finish the recording session only to get more weeks of editing mixing and mastering!
......in the meantime in the distancia sister is working on the graphics....
needeless to say I'm very very proud of this recording, I have put my music into a total different level..
so we'll see!!!

2006-07-30T17:33:00.000-04:00

World Citizen - I Won't Be Disappointed
(Words by David Sylvian)

What happened here?
The butterfly has lost its wings
The air's too thick to breathe
And there's something in the drinking water.

The sun comes up
The sun comes up and you're alone
Your sense of purpose come undone
The traffic tails back to the maze on 101

And the news from the sky
Is looking better for today
In every single way
But not for you

World citizen

World citizen

It's not safe
All the yellow birds are sleeping
Cos the air's not fit for breathing
It's not safe

Why can't we be
Without beginning, without end?
Why can't we be?

World citizen

World citizen

And if I stop
And talk with you awhile
I'm overwhelmed by the scale
Of everything you feel
The lonely inner state emergency

I want to feel
Until my heart can take no more
And there's nothing in this world I wouldn't give

I want to break
The indifference of the days
I want a conscience that will keep me wide awake

I won't be disappointed
I won't be disappointed
I won't be.

I saw a face
It was a face I didn't know
Her sadness told me everything about my own

Can't let it be
When least expected there she is
Gone the time and space that separates us

And I'm not safe
I think I need a second skin
No, I'm not safe

World citizen

World citizen

I want to travel by night
Across the steppes and over seas
I want to understand the cost
Of everything that's lost
I want to pronounce all their names correctly

World citizen

World citizen

I won't be disappointed
I won't be.

She doesn't laugh
We've gone from comedy to commerce
And she doesn't feel the ground she walks upon

I turn away
And I'm not sleeping well at night
And while I know this isn't right
What can you do?

© 2003 by David Sylvian/Opium (Arts) Ltd

ROMAN[Us] live

2006-07-28T10:51:00.000-04:00

First performance by Romanus, in Portsmouth, unfortunatelly Felix could not make it all the way from Barcelona, to the US...hopefully next time..
we have instead Mara Flynn on vocals, which was great..she did an awesome job!! We also had Randy Armstrong of the Doah' group fame on guitar, dumbek, keyboards, vocals and native american flutes.
oh it was a trip.!!!!
hope to do more of this music in the short future.

I AM

2006-06-24T14:33:00.000-04:00

a new me, with my old clothes, memories of my chilhood, flashed in front of my, a little bit blury, cause of the tears.
the remembrance for the Arepitas de la abuela, the cachapas con queso e'mano. El cafecito and El universal in the morning.
Or anxiously waiting for Sopotocientos, to show up on TV.

Now I walk a path, filled with noble causes, almost part of legends.....no wonder still, as a fully functional country the USA works pretty darn good!.....I'm proud of be part of a tradition and bright minds.

but My land, Motherland is here with me, with the Joropo, and the chicha Andina, and el Papelon con limon. My ancenstry of humbling beginnings in a small middle of nowhere in South America...coming from far away.....Cantabria, Castilla y Leon,
Italy, France, ............

I AM a Citizen of this world.

??????

2006-06-04T13:22:00.000-04:00

Quien Eres?
Porque Llegastes?
Cuando te fuistes?

Porque, Te fuistes?
por que te escondes?
Como dolio?
Que se sintio?

Cuando regresas?
si es que regresas,
Porque no arriesgarse?
a mas Comos?, Porques? Cuandos?

y dejar los jamases para el dia despues
ese, el que nunca llega, .......

Porque?

aceitunas

2006-05-15T21:22:00.000-04:00

con tus dedos aceitunas.
y el adios de la sonrisa...

me dijiste papa frita,
y los ojitos verde mentira.
se ven lejos, lejos
mirando, riendo, llorando.

y la carcajada que brota y
retumba, y el vacio del lejos
y de kilometros de aire.

con tus dedos aceitunas...
agitala, agitala.
un beso papipa
para que no digan....

un beso hermanita,
para que sigan.

awaken

2006-05-15T21:03:00.000-04:00

have lost faith....in words.
yet to understand, what's the cost.
of all the things I once got lost.

no remorse, no desire,
a blank stare into the moonlight.
and here we are upon this greatness,
this emptiness of our very own selves.

upward to the skies our sight travels
sending our devotions to unknown maps
in our lovely dance we stumble and revel
in a small moment of bliss.

our faith have been shaken, our fears
awaken, and in the mist of things
I got up and welcome the crash
with an open heart, for it will lead me
closer to ME.

Blemish-by David Sylvian

2006-05-09T07:31:00.000-04:00

Because every minute, we live, every minute we die, somethings rises, somethings fall, somebody smiles, somebody cries, a house is built, a house is burned, every minute, every day, all around the world.....
someone hopes, someone gives up.....this is what makes up our place we live in, constant changes, every minute, every day....(Josero)

Blemish

I fall outside of her
She doesn't notice
I fall outside of her
She doesn't notice at all

And mine is an empty bed
I think she's forgotten
And mine is an empty bed
She's forgotten I know

Put the brakes on
Put the brakes on
'Cos I'm fading fast
Can't find the link
Between me and her

He who was first's coming in last

I fall outside of her

And the trouble is there's no telling
Just who's right or who's wrong

Don't tell me that love is all there is
I know don't I ?

Don't crowd me pappy
Got too much to think about
The game's not lost
If I say it's not
And it's not
Give me one more chance to do things right
Don't crowd me pappy
Got too much to think about

There's no talking to her
Talking to her
I'll keep my thoughts to myself
Unless I'm asked

Like blemishes upon the skin
Truth sets in

Life's for the taking so they say
Take it away

I fall outside of her
She doesn't notice
She doesn't notice at all
And mine is an empty bed
I think she's forgotten

All is bloated and far from truth
Let's secure that reputation
Place the dummy upon the roof
Stitch him a tongue
Give him proof

Don't tell him love is all there is
I know, I know
Just pull the wool down over his eyes
One more time

Her heart's a foreign place
I visited for a while
And although I try to please her
She came at night and stole my visa

Come away now, run away now little man
You'll not make sense of it
Try as you might to understand

Like blemishes upon the skin
Truth sets in

Ride-by David Sylvian

2006-05-03T19:47:00.000-04:00

Messages ran all over town
Words without sound
Condemned me
And left me for dead
All over again
It wasn't the first time, but this time
Things will never be the same

Ride, ride the very thought into the ground
In the church of the lost and found
The angels cry
Ride, ride until the darkness closes in
Until the ravaged soul begins
To reflect the open skies, ride

The chapel was burned
Razed to the ground
From the darkest of clouds
Small birds tumbled like rain
Time and again
You may go charging at windmills
In these days
Absurdities never change

Ride, ride the very thought into the ground
In the church of the lost and found
The angels cry
Ride, ride until the darkness closes in
Until the ravaged soul begins
To reflect the open skies, ride

In the thick of the woods
The word is taboo
In the darkest of continents
Light can deceive you

Ride, saddle up your thoughts and run to ground
In this world of lost and found
The eagles fly, ride

Josero says:Tomorrow was my Yesterday. Why the infatuation with Mr. Sylvian?. Haven't heard anybody like him, and haven't heard and read anybody with so much transparency on the fragility of human nature ias he does in his Lyrics. His music, by some considered simple, perhaps under some standards, reveal a fearless attitude toward adventurous experiments in composition. One has the feeling that he's talking directly to you when you hear his music. Yes, I know it sounds cliche, but it's true. Just when my hopes of one day, bumping into him in NH where I live, as he was living not to far from me, I found out that he moved back to London and spends some time in New York City as well...
bummer, how many times we crossed paths in our very own cars, or visited the same coffee shops, without me noticing he was around??....the ever elusive David........but it's ok.......only him can pull out something like that..
Godspeed my friend...

Damage (by David Sylvian)

2006-05-01T21:57:00.000-04:00

I found the way
By the sound of your voice
So many things to say
But these are only words
Now I've only words
Once there was a choice

And I want to love

Did I give you much?
Well you gave me things
You gave me stars to hold
Songs to sing

I only want to be loved

And I hurt and I hurt
And the damage is done
You gave me songs to sing
Shadow and sun

Why didn't I stay?
Why couldn't I?
So many lives to cross
Well I just had to leave
There goes everything
Everything

Can I meet you there?
God knows the place
And I'll touch your hand
Kiss your face

We only want to be loved
We only want to be loved

And I want to be love

And I hurt and I hurt
And the damage is done
You gave me songs to sing
Shadow and sun
Earthbound, starblind
Tied to someone.

reach

2006-04-30T23:28:00.000-04:00

So I reach the sky, .....or try to reach the clouds?.
so I beg for love.....shall I receive less?

do you reach within me, or is it darkness that you see?
do I keep my flame, .........is it strong enough to warm the home?

reach, stretch the hand...pull inside.

look between the shades of memories of yesteryears, bring me once a smile, when I knew how.

reach the sky, reach the heavens...........bring me back the song from the days of our togethers.

reach the heart, pull it in.......place it back, where it belongs.....
reach the sky, reach the soil, ......make the pain go, inside my soul.

So I reach the sky, .....or try to reach the clouds?.

it's FINITO

2006-03-14T21:56:00.000-05:00

it took me a while to post it, but yes, the first effort of the ROMAN[Us] project is done...
I have posted some of the pieces here in the meantime, while I work on the actual site of ROMANUS.

what can I say, it's sounds great!!

J

Almost Done

2006-02-17T18:09:00.000-05:00

The completion of the RPM Challenge project is close to be done in 2 weeks!!!....we're pressing this weekend....working hard , F. Roman in Barcelona and me here...
I'll press the CD once all the pieces have arrived from Europe.....voila....
I cannot express the amazing feeling of elation I feel when I think of what we're doing. And that I couldn't have envisioned it and take to reality with that amazing friend I have....38 years of laughter and companionship...
these are indeed our "sounds postcards" sharing our ideas over the cyberspace and with the help of technology making it a reality.....wild times we live in!!!!

a Solution....???

2006-02-09T09:12:00.000-05:00

I have come with an idea that could save the day when it comes to the recording issue of the new tunes. And that is, to have the gig of the 18th of March recorded on a Multitrack System by the same engineer. The Whole thing is a complete gamble, but, what can I do??.
Last rehearsal was productive, and damn! those tunes sounded great, I wish I could have the extra cash to afford the studio time and post production expenses!!!!
The thing is, if the gig goes well, and the recording is well done, I might as well have a good, very good recording of new pieces in front of an audience. (or not!)That in itself is worth a try........
so we'll see.....
I other departments, advancing in the writing and compositions for the ROMAN[us] Project has proven slow, I found my self lacking creativity and stuck with silly ideas for piece and my lack of manouvering inside softwares...it's frustrating me!!!
big sigh!

Though Decision

2006-01-19T21:38:00.000-05:00

Today was a hard day.
It was with my uttermost reluctancy that I decided to cancel the dates of my recording sessions for the new album.
Financially, it was a jump into a void. No matter how much I really want to do the CD. I simply cannot afford the enterprise.
TOO MUCH MONEY!!!. and I need to save some.
A different approach or idea has arisen. To record our live set while opening for Analog Method on march 18th. That would provide me with enough perspective to hear the new tunes as 'we" play them. instead of just rehearsing them and listen them from my point view.
Perhaps, it would be recorded at Beauty Hill with my friend Randy, or who knows...
it's just time to set up some things straight.

damn it!!!!

Craaaaaazy

2006-01-18T08:51:00.000-05:00

Well I have signed for the most crazy idea in the Eastern Seacoast.

The project, all seacoast artist to create an album in 28 days!!!!
this time I'll stay away from the drums and be a programmer and create something fun and different, with the help of technologies....
GATO would be collaborating from Barcelona, and since last Night, DJ VESSO would also add it's part....great!!!!
check it out!!

la mirada

2006-01-10T23:18:00.000-05:00

....que me alerta que me llama..
me susurra y me suspira....me cuenta y me alegra el dia. Sucede que la mirada, permance constante, me enaltece, me acaricia el ego suavemente, sin dejarme caer. Y la mirada canta, canta canciones de otros tiempos, de los mejores, de los que fueron, de los que son, de los que seran......
me regala 2 corazones, para completar los mios. Y con caricias y ojeos, me calienta lo del frio....
la mirada, tu mirada.
me regala todo y no se queda nada.

Niveas lunas te estremecen, y suaves brisas nos conmueven
llueve y llueve y llueve, que ya no hay horas y deseos que no lleguen.
dame la mirada, te regalo todo y me quedo nada.

et je Danse........

2006-01-02T23:15:00.000-05:00

Y el nuevo dia llego y nos dijo que nos fueramos....tu en un coche, yo en el otro.
y nuestros abrazos y besos, se quedaron en esas 4 paredes......esperandonos....
oyendonos reir.....oyendome llorar.

no hay adjetivos, no hay colores.....
no puedo dibujar, ni describir....
la tormenta y marejadas, que causaron tus amores.

atras los temores......hoy la tristeza, de saberte lejos, pero tan cerca.
de decirnos hasta luego.....y preparando los corazones, para cuando vuelva el sonido glorioso de nuestros pechos.
que retumben y ensordezcan.....
ya no puedo calmar estos calores.....

que horrible pesadilla, el tenerte lejos....sabiendote adentro.
que hermoso el horizonte que me dibujastes, para el nuestro re encuentro.

para ti ratoncita

abrazando al tiempo

2005-12-20T13:25:00.000-05:00

...y te columpiastes sobre ese vendaval que sentias...
tan fuerte llego tu mano alzada, que tomo la mia.
a pesar de estar tan fria.....seguiste ahi; agarrandola.

y no camino, floto en vapores y suspiros, llenando los espacios
que creia vacios....indeferente el tormento de la duda,
dejala que tiemble, dejala que sufra, ........
que este tiempo es nuestro, y de la paciencia del Buda.
el recodo se aproxima, y azorados nos lanzamos, al vacio tan lleno.
tan lleno de ti tan lleno de yo....no hacen falta redes ni complicadas maromas
tan sereno el posarse, cual abeja sobre rosas y claveles...

imagen absurda del pasado incongrouente...
lo que quieren nuestras mentes, es este presente del presente.
toma mi mano, que en mi asidero te llevo al principio del futuro
al comienzo de los dias, que vendran, y vendran...
me miras y sonrio, reimos

y saltamos.........

Si asi llueve.............

2005-12-20T06:46:00.000-05:00

que no escampe!!!!!....
couldn't help to post this thing, it's one the best thing that have ever happened to me in my "field". Modern Drummer magazine, the most widely read drumming magazine in the world, had featured me in a tiny tiny tiny snipet, in their On the Move Column.
It's not a great achievement, but I see it somewhat of a recognition of my efforts of all these years.....
that and the completion of ALL the tunes for the next album are keeping me elated, and happy, as I know that the sound of the upcoming album would be so different and it would be like a "homage" to my motherland of sorts.....
but the year would end in the highest of notes, besides this notice, I'm leaving to NYC, to have the most wonderful Christmass and new year's ever!!!! ....yes ever since those childhood days of enjoying the holidays with Gato and our toys....
same feeling, but with a most delightful company......
Ratoncita y yo.....New York city here we go!!!!!!!
until next year.
Namaste

6 down, 1 to go.....

2005-12-07T08:47:00.000-05:00

Well, the new ZUMBATRES album is becoming more and more a reality. 6 tunes out of 7 are done. Final touches and one more sitting at sequencing and arranging the remaining one, (Senor Bill), and all we need to do is rehearse. Now that's a different monster already, some of the passages have proven to be quite hard to nail down, even for me!!!!, the composer.
But the tunes are sounding better that I expected, and for sure this would be one great album once is done; much more in tune with my Venezuelan side, less jazz, more Tumbao, mas guapachoso pues!. Following many recomendations from the great Aaron, and others, plus playing with Dan in the band is what had made me move towards the original side...Can't wait to have it done!!!!..
MARCH 2006!!! recording time.
no se si sera culpa de la ratoncita, pero muak!!!!, por eso

Fall's gone

2005-12-02T21:21:00.000-05:00

Fall's gone, ....winter's home.
a bilingual song tells it all.

y mis pensamientos cruzan, montes y mares....
a mi desgarrada tierra, hogar de mis amores: familiares, amistades y de Corazones.
silent wait of the inexorable hour.....week, months, seasons.

traeme el caliente aliento de tu tierra deliciosa, completa y olorosa.
but without hate, blood, or resentment.

regalame un abrazo....
y reverderame el sentir..
hoy mas que nunca, necesito
descanzar en tu regazo.

and Fall's gone...ah the promises of winter
be here be done.

Home Town

2005-11-24T19:20:00.000-05:00

The city has been in my thoughts of late. Recalling my life as it was back there from 1-25 yrs old, now that I live with 4 seasons every year, it's kind of nostalgic to think of a place where your only worries, climate wise is if it would rain or not today. The traffic , that's another story.
But I do miss the warm afternoons, and the May-June sounds of the cicadas on the threes, lullabying me to sleep. or the sounds of frogs and crickets at night....
only 2 1/2 months you get of that in this area were I live now.....
Family, friends......and a laborious little mice awaiting for things to straighten up...so the future can be built.....
soon enough, the shapes of thoughts, will become clearer, more palpable.....less talk, more everyday alarm clock buzz.
soon.....
and talking about laborious, up in the corner office of the tower at the right of the picture, someone who has never known what it is to not worry about your country, works tirelessly once again....for the sake of the country.....

Breaking news

2005-11-06T19:57:00.000-05:00

After a week of alleged sightings of the Cape Crusader on Portsmouth Roof tops, our journalist team, has discovered what it seems to be the Dark Knight's pad in the small seacoast town.
All this, after a series of strange murders and dissapearances, then the prescence of the Batman in our cold autumn nights confirm what the chief commisioner in town mentioned, "...this matters have got out of our hands...".
The town have seem a heavy influx of media reporters both locals and foreign.
Mulimillionaire, Bruce Wayne, declined to comment if the murders, (which happened most of them in the new soon to be opened resort being built in the NewCastle Islands by WAYNE enterprises)have any correlations with those ones back in his home town of Gotham City.
One thing is for sure, the Batman sightings have increased in the last 2 weeks, leading us to think that a solution to this crimes will be cleared soon or more havoc will disturb the peace of our beloved town.
Portsmouth Herald, NH, NOV 2007

with my excuses to Bob Kane and Warner Bros. for using this as a joke.
necesito aligerar mi mente, y la ratoncita lo sabe, Ne's Pa??

Danilo(1955-1988)

2005-11-05T19:49:00.000-05:00

Dani, solo queria decirte, donde quiera que estes, que a pesar de nunca haber siquiera hecho el intento de tocar juntos....
a pesar ni que estabas tan enterado de que yo tambien perdia la cabeza por la musica, por cuestiones de edad, nunca coincidiamos, y nuestros encuentros eran mas fortuitos que buscados...
queria decirte, que como me prometi a mi mismo, hace mucho tiempo por admiracion y orgullo de saberte el mejor bajista de Venezuela, y de haber sido mi primo......decidi dedicarte POR FIN!!!!!, un tema a ti , nunca es tarde verdad??(a grabar en Marzo)

un abrazo desde aca Dani,
para ti....

a different look

2005-11-05T06:55:00.000-05:00

it's been a while since the origins of this nice drawing came to be. End of aug. a burning gig, and the last gig with Jesse on bass, hopefully with luck, perhaps, He could participate in the upcoming recording.
I think this is the first time I see myself in a "charicature" way.
love it.

la mirada alla lejos

2005-11-04T16:39:00.000-05:00

la mirada alla lejos.......
brisa caliente, del dia ,
cobijo tibio de la noche.
cante de estrellas, suspiradas sorpresas.

reflejo tangible de una memoria infinita.
dermis de antes, sublime destino..
se desdibuja sin hacerse notar....

pintame otras tierras, de azules, de rojos, de verdes.
mirame, desde dentro, como lo has venido haciendo.
no existe otra manera, de llegar al centro.
con pericia me has descubierto.....

me deshojastes el frailejon que llevaba conmigo.
y entre risas, riendo....nos vamos yendo...
subete al paramo, aca te espero.

las miradas alla lejos tienen la culpa.

El duelo de los Fueros...........

2005-11-03T12:03:00.000-05:00

Sopla el viento, trayendo unas briznas de espigas.
Silba el viento a lo lejos, y en el horizonte se dibuja,
La figura imponente del poderio del Instinto.

Respire hondo, queriendo ingresar en mi, el valor;
Valor necesario para semejante tarea.
Busco , ahora con ansiedad, herramientas que me ayuden
A resitir el embite inevitable de la Noble bestia…
Hermosa criatura, de poderio sin igual..

Me recogo, me aferro, miro al cielo, respiro de Nuevo;
Mi sombra se dibuja en linea recta, vertice ineludible del dolor
Que me espera.
Sol que abraza, me abrazo a mi instinto, que se sabe completamente
Vencido…..

Victoriosos resoplidos, me anuncian, que llego el momento.
Caluroso galope, fuerza bruta….
Sin mas remedio que el de rendirse, dejo mi guardia olvidada en el
Cajon del fondo, si ya no es necesario llevarla puesta,
Total, es otra la estacion….
Y mientras palpo y busco, busco los colores que me permitan expresarte,
El terror, la pasion y la incesante borrachera, que me traes..

Mientras entrecierro los ojos tratando de ajustarme y prepararme,
Ya es muy tarde, el colapso es repentino, mientras agonizo al recibir
La embestida……………..
Mi sombra se achica y se hace nada, mi brazos extendidos Este-Oeste,
Con el golpe recibido me lanzo a volar…….cuesta abajo..
Para remontar la cuesta de lo que vendra, cuento con mejores alas, y soberanas palabras
Venga, embisteme de Nuevo……que se me alebestra el fuero y de mas
Valor me lleno.

Distancia I

2005-11-03T07:16:00.000-05:00

brisa que viaja del sur...
me trae cuentos de la vida mas alla..
de la vida alla atras..
de la que no esta....
vida , la de las canas..que vienen..y no ves...
solo cuando es ya muy tarde...

la del canto de chicharras, al pie de mi Avila..
la de la arepita y el beso de la Abuela..
la de los primos..y el hacerse grande...

Vida, aquella,.....lejana, la de Superman...del encanto...aquel olor a cafe...sabor de manana..

aca en la orilla...el horizonte es otro..oscuro, indefinible...con los bolsillos llenos de arena...
arena de alla....arena de hoy....desmembrado...en solitario.....bailo mi bolero al son de mi solo corazon....
el horizonte es diferente...desde aca....

Distancia II

2005-11-02T22:56:00.000-05:00

Llega un dia tu noche, y susurras y espabilas, preguntas y respondes.
hasta que dia? , hasta que noche?...si buscabas sigiloso, la idoneidad que no responde.
Dibujastes una sonrisa, pero de ojos cerrados, y labios firmes.

Jocoso el porvenir que rie a su lado, demuestrame con creces, que no estaba equivocado.
busca y desapareceme, las sabanas frias, para ese mundo yo encontrarme y arroparme de tu boca.

Miraste hacia atras, y cuantas sonrisas contaremos, de cuantos libros comeremos...
Whitman, Poe, Elliot, Borges, Eco, Gallegos, Moliere, Rimbaud, Victor Hugo...
todos rien, todos lloran....

haganme un espacio, para poder dormir ahi, con las letras y acentos.
Serrat, cantame, Simon arrullame, Manolo me grita, .............y nosotros....seguiremos caminando, cantando , llorando y amando..
traeme de vuelta a la Distancia.....que yo se que tanto tiempo y distancias, metros y kilometros....son todos una gran mentira.

trabajandito..........(meanwhile in the Bat Cave)

2005-10-15T15:05:00.000-04:00

sometimes is amazing how much time a single piece of music takes me to be completed. In my case there is a composition of mine, which will be featured in the upcoming album, that took me literally a year to compose. Nowadays, well it's still hard, for me to write music. Is a proccess I love, for once is done boy, the elation I get to hear my music come to life being played by the band it's beyond anything I can imagine.
2 pieces are done in the preproduction stage of this new album, one needs a minor tweek and the 3rd one is about to be done...all sections are cleared approved, now it comes the annoying task of figuring out when do they sound good together and have the final product staged. I have a pretty good idea of how it will be, I've been procrastinating too much lately.
But, the aid of technology is here to stay...I dont' know what I'll will do without it.
With the help of GarageBand from Apple and LIVE from Abbleton, it's incredible how fast I can complete tasks.
I'm INCREDIBLY happy with the new piece, a groovy 5/4 time Afrocuban Songo, dedicated to the memory of my late cousin, Danilo Aponte.
I'm sure that he would be pleased with the piece wherever he went.
for you Dani.
A 3rd piece is done, but needs some arragements, so that leave perhaps 4 or 5 more to go!!!!!
Hopefully we'll get in the studio by end of Feb or March.
yeah!!

513.....

2005-10-12T08:03:00.000-04:00

513 years ago today, something happened that changed the known world.
I don't mean to be political(we know how much hatred there is surrounding this event).
Don Cristobal in 1492, or Christopher in English(rather use the Castillian definition or the Italian: Cristofori)set up sails and ended up in this side of the world. Yeah, this side, not now USA, as many Americans still believe, but rather the minor antilles, South America
If Don Cristobal wouldn't have done none of that, none of Us would be here right now ...yes, that's right, like it or not, that event caused for us who lived and grew in this side of the world to become who we are today. So, yes this is for admiration to somebody who stuck to his guns and being true to what he knew...he did it...with the helps of others...despite all the bad things that happened after that(colonization, massacres, etc), his action gave opportunities for us to come to life.....this is just a break into my regular postings just to elaborate on my fascinacion for middle ages and its transition into renasaince....Cristobal, and with support of the Spanish Crown, gave us LatinAmericans, our identity that bizarre but delicious mixture of Spaniard, African and Indian culture...
to Colon, a brave dude..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus

...Found!

2005-10-05T07:55:00.000-04:00

....a surprise lurks, waiting for you.
it stares, it dances, it smiles.

a dance of eyes, a row of hellos.
one day it hits you, a powerful thunder
from bellow....

explosions within, striking blue,
a francophony of sounds singing of
new harmonies and tunes..

et Je'danse!!!!

more than a year ago

2005-10-03T18:47:00.000-04:00

a little bit over a year ago(one year and 5 months!!!), El sonido de la risa...
el choque de las olas, la costa helada de Maine....y el sol calientito, como el desayuno que tuvimos...
tu pelo blanco, cada dia mas...tu curiosidad la misma.
la dificil tarea de envejecer a distancia, la de sentir la familia cerca, lejos,
alla....hace 18 meses que unas zancadas de Merida, pisaron una vez mas..

caminos de Merida a Caracas, de Caracas a Boston, Boston a Portsmouth...
cuantos cuentos??..Sao Paolo, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, ciudad Mexico, San Jose, Avila, Madrid, Barcelona, Taiwan, Oporto, Berlin, Londres, Buenos Aires, Panama, Habana, ....y siguen contando....camino al congreso.

playing away

2005-10-03T18:46:00.000-04:00

New sounds, new goals, heck a whole new band.!!!
I'm the only one remaining from my original project which started back in the Fall of 2003, once we started the rehearsal, the seed to write music and record was planted. Of that powerful band, only I remain. Have no problem with that, it's my band, and I get to choose who plays who doesn't, even thou I have nothign to do with the changes. It's sad to see not everybody feels as intensely as you do regarding creation and expression of music. It's also ironic, some get mad because there are not enough gigs, other because we gig too much, and are not happy with going beyond the comfort level. But these changes are great, they have pushed me to a new level.
now I count with Dan Sure on piano, probably the most versatile piano player I've met, and his obsession with latin music has helped the new sound of the band, now I'm writing music with Dan in mind, this helps the music a lot and his involvement in the creative proccess is fantastic. Nate, on acoustic bass....incredible big sound, and enthusiasm....eager to learn.
I'm very happy with the band.......now we need more gigs
;-)

a blast from the past...

2005-09-14T18:21:00.000-04:00

bruford
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

here is one of my favorite pictures of all times.
not for the quality of the composition, but for the 'character' included with 'yours' truly.
none other than Mr. Bill Bruford, one of the very reasons I play drums.
a constant source of inspiration.
(boston, sept 1999, I believe)

more on the stage

2005-09-04T14:13:00.000-04:00

peligroso
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

just one more pic from sat aug 27th, while performing with James Cohen Caravan

horizonte en espiral

2005-09-02T09:02:00.000-04:00

horizonte en espiral
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

un Horizonte de espirales, se descrubre a lo lejos...

dime Elegua, cantame Elegua.....abreme las sendas..

el horizonte de espirales que nos espera,
me levanto y miro, pero Lorca me abofetea,
Neruda rie a borbotones....y tras el humo del cigarrillo
Rimbaud me mira langidamente, meneando su cabeza.
....con desesperanza.

El horizonte de espirales....a lo lejos rie...y tan rapido se mueve.
me mueve aca y me mueve alla......
cuentos hechiceros contaban de sus portentos....
pero ninguna preparacion es suficientemente completa para el shock de la vision

el horizonte de espirales en que te encuentras....brilla a lo lejos
con el reflejo de mis ojos..

dame un momento, que me acomodo...
dame un momento, que me preparo...
dame un momento, ...que alla voy

cuantas vidas me esperan, alla a lo lejos...horizonte de espirales??..

on the stage

2005-09-02T08:37:00.001-04:00

on the stage
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

performing

2005-09-02T08:37:00.000-04:00

performing
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

setting up

2005-09-02T08:36:00.000-04:00

setting up
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

what a wonderful weekend, actually 2 weeks...childhood friend Alberto & wife arrived from Galicia, Spain to pay a visit....last time I saw them was 2001.
what a lovely pair...I'll post the photos once they send them...I didn't take any!!!....but, it was an eventful weekend...indeed...my first time perfoming at the "Portsmouth Blues Festival"...what a blast...I perfomed with James Cohen, too short of a set if you ask me...but hey, it was fun.
I'm supposed to go up to Ottawa again to finish the album and to play some gigs and they will be coming down with me to do some dates in NH as well.
so this has been a fun trip so far.

Ole

Ariella & Me

2005-08-25T09:26:00.000-04:00

Ariella & Me
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

Ariella, wonderful daughter of Soraya & David....now my putative daughter..
what a sweetheart.!!
:-)

Soraya, David & Me

2005-08-25T09:25:00.000-04:00

Soraya, David & Me
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

2 of the most nicest people I've met.
thank you guys

after Ottawa.........well

2005-08-25T09:21:00.000-04:00

los panas
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

.......no pics on the Ottawa trip, unfortunatedly, I could not manage to take any pics, as I should have...great city...great people...but too busy recording and 2 gigs...
Canadians are very nice people..
so in turn, I'll just post more pics on the Los Angeles trip recently sent by Vero.
los panas, Hermes, Aaron, Me, Alberto, Lionel, David, Nacho

Disney Hall-ghery

2005-07-31T18:14:00.000-04:00

Disney Hall-ghery
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

and the amazing Walt Disneay Hall....a Paul Ghery masterpiece.

Geisha House

2005-07-31T18:13:00.000-04:00

Geisha House
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

the Geisha House restaurant, a beautiful restaurant, designed by the ever kind David Maman.

Alex

2005-07-31T18:11:00.000-04:00

Alex
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

The amazing Alex Acuna, with whom Otmaro was performing while I was visiting...

Ariela

2005-07-31T18:10:00.000-04:00

Ariela
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

the one and only Ariela Maman..

new brothers

2005-07-31T18:09:00.000-04:00

la familia
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

Wonderful people, full of laughter.
David Maman, Me, Aaron Serfaty, Otmaro Ruiz

to live and rumbear in L.A

2005-07-31T18:08:00.000-04:00

hollywood
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

Back from the west coast. Los Angeles, is quite a strange place, a mix of Art Deco, Old Spanish colonial architectural style, a big salad of disparate tendencies....
The most striking thing, for me at least, was the resemblance of certain parts of the city to some sections of caracas, my home town, a mix of Las Mercedes, Altamira, Sebucan with Puerto La Cruz and Barquisimeto. The Weather, great, hot as Venezuela, but not humid, so it's quite pleasant...
Still, the whole feeling of the town is strange, it has the vibe of a small coastal town, but with Millions and millions of inhabitants!!!....didn't bump into anybody famous thou...but I gained a whole new Family....amazing people, who treated me like if I was some long time lost relative....that was the best part of m y trip....
I shall return...perhaps forever....
to Raquel, Alberto, Flora, thanks for the hospitality, Soraya, David, Ariela, wonderful newfound family...
Aaron, Otmaro...Davicito, Nicky...
mi familia...!
gracias por la risa, las comidas, las arepas,
Shalom...

Verde Coraje

2005-07-18T20:22:00.000-04:00

si parafraseo a Benedetti, es por que la certeza de la realidad en que habito asi lo requiere.
Por que si y por que asi es, es cierto.
Mi Soledad, como dice Mario, esta tan, pero tan concurrida......que es imposible no recordar cuan solo se esta.

Basta con mirar las sombras que mis manos crean, para darse cuenta, .....que soledad tan alborotada.
Que soledad tan ruidosa.....que silenciosa soledad......
Esta soledad que me lleva y me trae, me duerme y suspira.......me cuenta cuentos y me recuerda;
que este es solo un instante, y del cual hay que huir......sino, corremos el riesgo de que el instante sea lo que ES, y en si una enternidad abrumadora nos ilusiona y convence..

que verde coraje el de los cuentos, el de otros respiros, y otros silencios..
que verde el coraje que siento.........coraje verde del desahogo, coraje verde de la desilusion.
coraje verde del camino transcurrido........y ver que no se ha llegado a nada...

coraje verde que me dejas , soledad tan lleno de vacios...
que coraje Soledad......quedate con mis respiros......
que mios ya no los siento

La Puerta.......

2005-06-30T11:51:00.000-04:00

Deje la puerta abierta,
para que te decidieras a entrar....

Sutil olvido, que al dejarla abierta, no solo entraste tu.
Sino tambien, espejos que crei se habian ido.
regresaron, y contigo entraron las otras sombras..
las de alla lejos, de arriba, del norte..

Tan frias se mueven ...congelando pensamientos y entumeciendo el sentir.

Deje la puerta abierta, y te fuiste...
Tu sabias que nunca paso la llave. Que sentido tenia, poner cerrojo y tragar la llave?....
Siempre es uno mismo el que quiere correr y romper la puerta para salir primero.

Dejo la puerta abierta siempre, asi salgo yo tambien, y veo como se ve mi habitacion desde fuera......quizas yo tambien me entusiasme, y no regrese....

Quizas, solo anciano, a recordar y remover polvaredas y aracnidas telas, de los albumes de recuerdos.....de manos, de ojos, de corazones..

La puerta esta siempre abierta, regresa cuando quieras....
cerciorate tan solo, de que yo aun habite alli.

La puerta esta abierta.......para el que quiera entrar.
O el que quiera salir.

A shadow.......

2005-06-24T10:10:00.000-04:00

time passes, makebelieve of going ahead.
When in reality, the shy, quiet little boy
we thought left behind...has been hiding all this
time....waiting, waiting for that moment in which
he's the ruler, the commander.....the one.

I'll be a shadow, a name in a sentence;
a face on photographs...
one by one, we all become one, a shadow..
in everybody's lives. A recount of things that once
were, once felt, once loved, once missed.

Who do we miss?...the shadow or our attachment to its
prescence?...

time to go back to the sand box, and be our own
boy of yesteryears, bring me out to play.

Soft Rains Of April.........

2005-05-12T09:29:00.000-04:00

Are over........

as many other things..

we remain, have rebirth, die again and again...

soft rains of April are over.....

I found myself, staring an emtpy room, through the shades of a salty rain. that numbs my eyes. Stirrs echoes in my chest, of long gone pains.
I see them walk, and tumble as they go....unfinished dreams that would never be, persons with name that would never be spelled....
a face without a smile, of forgotten parents..

the fake promise of May is over, the misty heath of June clouds the thoughts.
Once we were a dream, once we did it all.

what gifts will come in the fall?
what misses the winter will provide?.....we born, we age, we die, be born again,
a chain made of pain, bulding little by little all the small pieces that completes my heart, piece by piece, bit by bit....

complete but empty.......

the rains of April are gone,
hope of May is done.
....the humid nights of June, brought back the sorrow,

memories please fade, remember me no more....

it's just me, alone......

Howling......

2005-05-11T23:15:00.000-04:00

Cloudy night........Through the mist of darkened words, it lurks, it moves.......Breathes
into thin air it takes form, it grows.......

becomes alive and hungry, .......Its been there before, since always. Waiting, for the moment to jump again...
I can see its eyes, ......

from the depth of an emptied rib cage, it becomes loud and clear...The howl,

where is my moon?.....Where my prey, where my flesh, where my mate?

awaken beast, ready to laugh again, ........Laugh again at my things, my feelings, my deeds, my attachments...
wanting every piece of me to be taken back into the dark whole it shouldn't have never been let go off.

but there is very little I can do.....Just close my eyes and feel the freezing sharp claw, cutting through my skin....

and there it is, finally......
the thousand cries, the creepy laugh.........The painful, wholesome, heartfelt
cry........
I'm here again.........I'm back........

Howl...........Taking me back..

so long ago.

2005-05-03T17:27:00.000-04:00

mama%20y%20tio%20oswaldo
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

"Dicen que la Soledad, es no tener a nadie a quien volver"
Miguel Bose

....y una vez mas, el Iberico la pega....
que sensacion esa la de ver una foto de nosotros cuando eramos unos chiquitos...la satisfaccion de vernos la cara libre de preocupaciones ( si las habia , seguramente eran tan nimias como: ¿Quien se comio mi chocolate?, o cosas asi...
y esa cara de no tener idea de lo que nos espera 30 lustros despues.....como provoca decirles, ay carajito, deja que crezcas, y veras...cuando estes en primer siclo de bachillerato, mosca con ....!!!!..

siempre que veo esta foto de mi madre y mi tio(que en paz descanse) en la rural Barrancas del Orinoco.....pienso en ello....

The RIte of Spring..........

2005-04-01T07:21:00.000-05:00

Spring has decided to show its face...once more..
I've been busy and unavailable to post any of my ventings...(I'm sure nobody really reads them, but it's a good outlet).

Crazy projects in the making, uttermost awaited decisions, and pending ones await this "primavera".

Shakespeare's The Tempest is going to take most of my time this next 2 months, and rehearsals for my gig in Rhode Island..

I shall have some time later to perhaps write a little bit longer.

Namaste

Last 2 gigs....

2005-03-17T07:48:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update, before revelling into a whirlwind of stuff to do.
last 2 gigs, despite the few people showing up, were fun.

The highlights, two individuals who had perhaps too much to drink, one, biker type, tatooed...watching the band in awe, aproached the band and said:" I just drove 5 miles, and I wasn't expecting to hear something like this in Portsmouth, could you play some Miles Davis??"....I wasn't expecting to hear something like that from somebody who look was going to request to play some ZZtop...
amazing.

the second dude, a skinny fellow, young...drunk...
got up after our set, approached the band, and said: "thank you guys...I came here in such a crappy mood....now, I go home happy"...

Music, does amazing things.

till the next post

long time..............no write

2005-02-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

It's been a hectic and crazy couple of weeks....on the good and bad side..

waiting for a lot to develop, the long time project with GATO, is coming to an start.
still working on pieces and names....but now we both are working on pieces of music each one on our side of the Atlantic.

Also, waiting to hear a YES, from the production company who would bring the band to tour in Iceland, Denmark and Sweden.....crossing fingers!!!
Also awaiting a distributor in Hong Kong to do the go ahead.
and a record label interested in the band as well.
May 27th, we will open for the Band Entrain..
yohoo..!!

more later

New Year, New Birthday , new show...bitter sweet

2005-01-18T20:19:00.000-05:00

@ drums
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

x-mass came and went, new year got here and runs fast already!...a new show with the band, 2 days ago....and a loss of some cash in the proccess of producing the aforementioned gig.
What followed was a strange gig, the band, oh boy, it's sounding amazing, a great blend of dynamics and there is a lot of that almost thelepatic communication between us when we play, and each of the guys, are making my Tunes sound really good.
I'm extremelly grateful for this. The Audience thou, that's another story. For starters, we didn't get a big crowd, which hurt my wallet. But there was something eerie about the crowd, very non-responsive, long pauses between the end of a tune and the corresponing clapping...pretty weird vibe. Must have been the building, ....Even thou is one stage I like very much....

Now, the time has come to sit, and figure out a real plan, a real one!!!...this band, this music is too powerful to stay here....just here...no, it needs bigger spaces, an open land to roam...
I mentalize myself for what I need and should come.....
for now, just a quick upload from sat, the 15th. at the Mill Pond Center.

Long time no post

2005-01-03T08:03:00.000-05:00

Well, holidays came and went and in a blink, we are in 2005.
Despite all the unnecessary and necessary stresses and turmoil of 2004, it was a good year overall.....which I hope it's just an incentive and a hint, that 2005 will be even better.....

I think I'm right....so I hope.....at any rate, we can only learn, and keep learning from our falls and risings.
happy new year to all my brothers and sisters in this crazy so called life.
namaste

Sant Jordi i Els Drac

2004-11-15T10:31:00.000-05:00

bcn_34
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

Saint Jordi, in the Cloister of the beautiful Barcelona's Cathedral. A litle fountain, in which Sant Jordi(patron of Barcelona) is depicted stabbing a Dragon...(not enough light to get the fullness of the dragon at the horse's feet)....
but like Sant Jordi, I, yet have to kill and defeat my own dragons. I believe I carry several of them around, they have grown big and strong, I pray to have the strenght and courage that Sant Jordi once did....
we're all Knights fighting obscure dragons from the depths of our own souls. May the Gods, stay with me.
bless

growing up...upside down

2004-11-10T17:29:00.000-05:00

bcn_27
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

it was 36 years ago, who knows how or what and for what reasons,
at 12 I learned to play the drums, on my own, at 17 got my first drum lesson, at 19 went to Psychology school for 4 yrs, quitted , went to Music School, for 2 years, studied with Gerry Weil for a little under a year, went to Music College for 3 years in the States, got married, then for a year wasted money and time learning the technolgies of the web, got divorced, started a new life, new band, new gigs, new people, new love, somehow along the way I forgot that I had to grow inside as well, besides attemping to learn all the cool things of what we call music, I forgot I had to be a grown man, now I'm paying the consequences of such and odd upbringing ....such a little kid inside myself...it has to be nurtured, but it also have to grow.......

Life has placed me in a situation in which, music has become a central part of it, and a source of joy and anxiety. Driving me towards the uncomfortable situation in which cannot make a living as a musician, cannot function well in a different enviroment outside the musical arena. What to do?, how, when , where?....everything is a whirlwind of things, a big salad of messes, pros and cons. To the point that I don't know anymore....forget days, forget dates, appointments, times and duties.....

this is not happiness...

Gaudi, the master

2004-11-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

bcn_10
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

Do I need to say anything?.....Antoni Gaudi i Cornet, what a mind!!!.

bad girl

2004-11-09T09:43:00.001-05:00

bcn_26
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

Bebis playing a bad girl, with a bunch of bad girls on Barcelona's alleys. Close to las Ramblas

face off

2004-11-09T09:42:00.000-05:00

bcn_29
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

here is the little dragon and me, almost there, too bad I don't have the picture of me all burned after he surrounded me with his fire breath.

my Cathedral

2004-11-09T09:41:00.001-05:00

bcn_35
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

One of the favourite part of Barcelona, is the Cathedral, built in the year 300(well it started then) this is a great view from the Cloister.

the gargoyle & I

2004-11-09T09:41:00.000-05:00

bcn_28
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

walking on the street, just leaving Placa Sant Agusti Vells, where Gato is, youfind the Arc de Triomf, a XIX beauty, here beautifull gargoyles are lined up in the walkway towards the Arch, this one, a Dragon(the symbol of Catalunya) and me, decide to have a confrontation

good bye, Democracy-Au Revoir

2004-11-02T09:54:00.000-05:00

No, I'm not talking about the US, you might think. No, I'm talking about my homeland, Venezuela. The issue is way to extense to really go on and on, but there is plenty information here: Nueva Venezuela, and here Daniel's Blog, and here: The Devil's Excrement.

I wont dwell into this aweful and horrendous realm of what it's going on down there, I just pointing out and trying to vent a well rooted frustration.

Democracy, as a way o govern a country, my country of Birth, is gone. we're witnessing, what I believe will be 40 yrs of Totalitarism and represion, "a la Castro"......that unless, there is and unrest, and people wake up and fight..
"la pelea es peleando".....

que los Dioses amparen a Venezuela.

Jazz y otras entelequias

2004-11-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

bcn_9
Originally uploaded by jorodu.

Fact-people don'like jazz. Well they do, but their prescence in the market place makes it almost impossible for any jazz artist to make a decent living(that is unless you're Pat Metheny).

-reason why there are very few new jazz artists in comparison with pop or rock artists, which seems to be cloned by the minute.

I should have dedicated myself to pursue a career as a rock musician instead of venturing in jazz. Jazz is a unknown territory, always unpredictable.
Trying to convey the subtleties of emotions by simply choices of chords and tensions in the melodies, has proven to be more challenging that doing it with words. But again, all that have to be said in rock or pop it's been done, hence, at least to me, how empty and poised the lyrics feel.

-but in order to uplift my spirit, have to comtemplate Gaudi's work for a while.

cheers.

Thar she blows!

2004-10-29T15:56:00.000-04:00

well after a succesful 2 weeks run, Moby Dick-rehearsed, by Orson Welles, came to an end. it was a great great show.
It should be taken on the road. But, alas, I should dedicate myself to the obnoxious art of finding more gigs for my band.
now I have an extra time, so I need to get my self in motion here....

not enough time to post all the photos from Barcelona.....but here is one...of me and GATO. in SITGES, Catalunya

more pics and thoughts later

where is the cathedral???

2004-10-08T08:16:00.000-04:00

Well, Bebis and I have returned from Barcelona, Spain. Hard to leave, the city and GATO in particular. It was a well deserved rest and we all had a good time.
This time the mediterranean deserves a honor spot...ah, so great to be able to stay in the water longer than 5 min...(take that New Englanders!!!)...

Now it's all hectic time again, rehearsals and preparations for Moby Dick-Rehearsed to be open Friday 15th(oh boy), a gig on the next coming sundays at the Stone Church.....but need to get my butt in gear....
Trying to find solace in this coming weeks, need to organize everything(EVERYTHING) in my world right now if I want to achieve things!!!..

one funny point of the return, was that Tuesday while taking breaks at work, taking strolls, I kept looking up trying to find the Steeple of the marvelous Barcelona Cathedral (close to where GATO lives), as an attempt to orient myself and finding nothing but red, yellow, brown colored trees......wake up, you're in New Hampshire.

big sigh!!!!