5 Minutes to Deep Peace on Thursday 9/13

You will be entertained at the very least and enlightenment is an option.

http://advancedmeditation.com/cmd.php?Clk=2095310

Thursday, 9/13, there is a teleconference call where you can learn more about this. There will be sample meditations and a chance at a free gift worth $400.

http://advancedmeditation.com/cmd.php?Clk=2095310 

Trust me. You want to try this. The IAM Meditations are the product of the fertile mind of Steven Sashen who is also responsible for much of the Shampoo Method we talk about here every day.

It’s completely safe. I’d trust this guy with my life.

This feeling, this is what we have all been looking for our whole lives. It’s like coming home.

Love, Ann  

Conversation with Mother on Jazz

Mother read the preceding blog on jazz and emailed me that preludes, fugues and Gregorian chants were jazz.

Huh? How?

So, I asked her what jazz is. Here’s what she told me and my reply:

“Ah, excellent question.  Jazz is basically improvisation, with strong rhythm and syncopation as a rule.  But as you point out, there are so many different styles, you can’t be rigid about the definition. 

“So:  the preludes present melodies, and the fugues (now written down and kept the same) are improvisations on the prelude melodies.  Gregorian chants (IF I remember correctly) began improvisationally.  

“Sam didn’t think he liked jazz either, but I took him to a couple of concerts which he loved.  There are styles of jazz I don’t care for at all.  And sometimes performers/artists within those styles I do like. 

“The appeal is that it’s the creativity, imagination, and interpretation of the musician(s) at that time.  A given group doesn’t play a song the same way twice because the inspiration of the moment is different. That’s why live jazz rings more true than recorded jazz, which can, of course, still be nice.  

“If you check out some old Dave Brubeck stuff, you might remember it from childhood.  I had a lot of his albums.  Focus on the Quartet stuff (rather than trio or octet)  Unsquare Dance is a fun song due to the lopsided rhythm.  There are lots of great piano jazz performers, and you’re getting the idea I could go on and on.  Like Mickey said, “Oh dear.  I’m explaining how to build a clock, and all you asked was ‘What time is it?’ ”

“Note:  Your ability to relax into jazz is representative of the changes you’re going through.  After all, you’re the gal who couldn’t stand the cover version of a song you liked because it wasn’t exactly like the original.  (Even if you eventually decided the cover was better.)

“Oh yes.  I was surprised about your dislike of sax’s.  I don’t like soprano sax (too nasal and reedy), alto’s just a little better.  Alto and tenor are what I think we hear most, but my favorite is the baritone, which is sexy beyone belief.  Check it out and see what you think.  There’s really a world of difference between them.

“Starting to wish I’d brought a jazz cd with me to the office today!!”

I replied:

Thank you. That helps.

I still don’t like covers, but the reason is because it is jarring to hear it differently when I am trying to sing with it. I can’t get it right if it’s different.

As for listening, so far it is only a recording, which also doesn’t change.

HOWEVER, I have started voice lessons again… you’ll love this… Samantha needs her music organized!!! She has 3 shelves of binders with lyrics. Mostly in sheet protectors, but not all. I’m to type up an alphabetical list in Excel and mark any that are on existing lists, but not present in the notebook.

So, she asked what I wanted to sing and instinctively pulled her Jazz binder out. I had to laugh. She is always so intuitive in her choices of what we sing.

Um… this week Autumn Leaves and I Shall Be Released. Last week, the blues tune, Love Me Like a Man (Bonnie Raitt).

We sang the last 2 lines of Autumn Leaves to each other trying to change it each time.

Amused, slightly resigned *sigh*

Mother just said, “Outstanding!”

Love, Ann