As mentioned previously, during my time here at the Kimmel Center (where one of my responsibilities is to teach music to tri-state area students) I have been having conversations with many people from all walks of life regarding music; what kind, when and how it used. I've decided to start logging/categorizing some of music's uses in peoples life.
In keeping with the beginning of the school semester theme, phase two prompts me to investigate the category "Music To Chill By". If you are in school (grade school, college, continuing education, a life time learner etc.) or just love to study whatever, then this for you. If you would, kindly let me know the following:
•What kind of music do you listen to when you’re chillin’?
•When/ how often do you chill? (During the day? Night? Every day? Only on Tuesdays? etc.)
•How do you use the music? (To help you reflect on the day’s occurrences? To create an atmosphere of total isolation? To help you find peace within yourself etc.)
If you have not done so already, please read and respond to the previous post entitled Where There's Music.
I will be keeping a log of all your responses and sharing them with the many students that I come in contact with during the course of the school year. Feel free to have your friends/associates respond to this inquiry as well. The more the merrier!
Until next time, musically chillin’ I am,
Marc D.J.
After a long, long day - or even after a harried couple hours - I'll throw on just about anything by Gino Vannelli. His range of genres from folk to pop to rock to jazz to classic - there always seems to be something in there to suit the need. But in extreme cases I'd have to say his neo-classical compositions from Gist of the Gemini, Pauper in Paradise and particularly Canto just work at soothing my frazzled brain.
Gino Vannelli was one of our heroes in junior high school. His song which started with the lyric "When I think about those nights in Montreal..." gave us all a sense of belonging to the 'real world of rock and roll', whatever that was. It was our version of Sinatra's "Chicago", Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" or Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" (I know, I know but we were 14 years old...)
From Gino's own web site, "Gino Vannelli, is one of the greatest musicians and most intriguing artists of our time. Part philosopher, musician, composer and poet, he brings these talents together in his music. He is a perfectionist, breaking all the rules to journey to the heart and soul of a musical inspiration."
We idolized Gino. Many of us had regular appointments at his father's barbershop on the chance that we might, one day, meet the voice of our generation or at least get our hair to look like his. And then we "discovered" Supertramp and Pink Floyd. Gino and his hair were, sadly, history.
wow he is far from "history"!!!! His new album "These are the days" is out in a matter of days and i can hardly wait!!!