1. |
reveals something
03:20
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'reveals something'
the first time he cried
listening to music
it was 2000 & 1
his guru was playing
his favorite raga
the first one he teaches
& no one likes it
the tabla player
was dropping beats
creating tension
the result was better
the second was
when he heard
Amazing Grace
sung in Lakota
a hymn
written by
some white guy
he thinks
who wanted to feel good
about freeing his slaves
it has the same
emotional complexity
as his guru’s raga
the notes too, at least
enough that fit
float around him
not wanting to
just feel good
about singing
Amazing Grace
he reaches into the tension
& chips off the pieces
until it reveals
something better
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2. |
a pre-disco memory
04:36
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'a pre-disco memory'
it’s too hot to walk
insists the voice
of all mothers
& so I ride
my conscripted driver
one hand on the wheel
& the other hovering over
the radio dial
pauses, opting
to quote from
Run of the Mill instead
he says
his not so religious father
taught boys Sunday School
once he brought
My Sweet Lord
to make a musical case
for Martin Luther
over the Buddha
enlightenment comes
to me
not from
a Bodhi tree or
ninety five theses
a pre-disco memory
boogies into
my present moment
we sang with
the Honda stock radio
through AM crackle
my Nike’s
soft waffle
Cortez tread
tapped at the rhythm
It’s a Christian song
we explained to Eleanor
Rob’s indulgent mother
our nearly masculine
voices rose again
baptizing Krishna mantras
drowning them in
endless hallelujahs
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3. |
hell might be a place
03:40
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hell might be a place
100 & 10 degrees hot
too hot even for
Dante’s fire tried soles
not quite hell, but
still 5 degrees more
than what Google says
is dangerous
even this misery is
not without graces
it leads us to things eternal
& back again
snagged on a
theological speculation
hell might be a place
but It’s also
a state of being
we can experience
in the everyday
heaven too
resides in &
through all goodness
how much is enough?
the young poet asked
then waited for
the answering echoes
the gift of self
to the most beloved other
& the produce of
the love between them
eastern ragas
for western ears
hesitant souls
one foot up on
Bonaventure’s ladder
rising to perfection
100 & 10 degrees hot
not quite hell, but
even this misery is
not without graces
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J.J. Gregg Salem, Oregon
A dynamic yet meditative sitar player, J.J. Gregg performs improvised and pre-composed music. With over a decade of hands- on training in India, J.J. immerses western experimental and jazz music into the traditional world of the sitar. J.J. Gregg has performed on the sitar in India, Japan, Thailand, and throughout the U.S. He also teaches sitar & voice online & throughout the Willamette Valley. ... more
J.J. Gregg recommends:
American Harmony
by David Van Auken
David invited me to perform on this album on 'Enchain' and the last 9 months has found us collaborating on many new songs. Check out his debut album here - lovely guitar with beautiful sound textures.
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'Glimmer' really shines, with tracks 1 and 4 my favorites. Lots of organic beats, with some industrial, 80's synth thrown in. A thru-line of 25 years of recording sounds from this fantastic artist!
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A palette of familiar sounds put to intriguing use. Check out the lead track for Side B - 'Harmonics'.
go to albumIf you like hell might be a place, you may also like:
Sorry I'm So Sensitive
by Bea Stewart
The second EP from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bea Stewart runs from gentle folk to pillowy pop ballads, all perfectly executed.
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featured on Bandcamp Radio Mar 26, 2024
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featured on Bandcamp Radio Mar 19, 2024
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