Photography Songwriting Drumming Skateboarding
Kazumi Watanabe US tour photo was taken sometime in the early 1990s. In brief a dressing room candid from the jazz legend Kazumi Watanabe’s tour. Additionaly this was shot on a Nikon point-and-shoot camera with Kodak Gold 200 film.
I few months ago I decided to give podcasts a try. You might think why podcasts? They are so stark, no pictures, no video, and no text. Instead of all the stimulating visual things that make the internet so fun podcasts rely on sound alone. Thats right, but sound can be very interesting. And why not sound? If I were you I would not underestimate sound. Sound is glorious and the sound of words are not to bad either.
As a matter of fact words have propelled this world forward for a long time. People have used words to do really great things and really bad things. Words can change a student into a doctor, and a single person into a spouse. Words push around so many things in our world. And if you use your words at someone else they might use some towards you. Sort of like a conversation.
Conversations can be very interesting to listen to or participate in. Im not talking about conversations on Reddit, a newsgroup or your favorite web forum. Im not even talking about conversations on text or dm. Im talking about real conversations (the in person type). Conversations that have no reason, nothing to sell, and nothing to prove. Conversations that talk about art of all things. That thing we do or admire that somehow makes sense. That art thing that makes us feel a feeling or elevates us. Art conversations on things like photography, skateboarding, music, poetry, or acting.
If you made it this far you might like to listen to my conversations with my friends. Friends I like and respect. Friends that I believe in. I think they have interesting things to say and you might think so too. I hope you will enjoy a series of podcast I create called “i Had a conversation”
http://www.ihadaconversation.com/i-hada-a-conversation-with-john-stamos/
This is a clip from my old band named Shoot The Moon. We wrote songs, played live and lived our lives together for 10 years. For me, this clip sort of lacks what the band was actually about. Im putting it up because it is (as of this writing) the most popular video.
And speaking of video wow did we create a lot of it. I have been spending the last month transferring all of this video to youtube. A task that has resurrected many feelings both old and new. I think my generation were some of the first to have a moving picture record of our daily lives? It was a expensive thing to have a camera back in the late 1980’s. Now with each generation of smartphone being cheaper and better, everyone will have a moving-picture-record of their life. I wonder if it will as strange for my son or daughter to see 10 years of their life so many years after they lived it?
For me, it is a bit strange to see 10 years of your life on video. I sometimes wonder if this is a good or bad thing? I really loved that experience and those days are so fun to watch. But video also reminds me of how scarce time is. And so I feel guilty about looking at life as opposed to living it.
If you want to see all the Shoot The Moon video go here https://www.youtube.com/kenhada
If you want to see the official Moon website go to www.shootthemoon.com
Meeting Tony Williams was a special moment in my life. Even though at the time I didnt realize how much of a force he was. As a matter of fact when I was young, I used to follow all these famous drummers. In fact I studied with Chad Wackerman. And I loved Terry Bozzio’s drumming. And thought Vinnie Colaiuta was some kind of drum diety. Well after years of playing and listening to drums I began to hear Tony’s influence in some of my drum hero’s playing.
I was lucky enough to meet Tony Williams (thanks to the dude on bass in this video, Bunny Brunel). In fact one day while on the road with Kazumi Watanabe’s band Bunny asked John Wackerman and I if we would like to meet Tony. Of course we wanted to meet Tony! At the time we were all staying at the Keio Plaza. And Tony was in the lobby of the hotel. So we went to the lobby and there was Tony Williams! Of course Tony was kind and cordial. Unlike his We didn’t say too much to each other. But he had a depth to his presence that I have not sensed in many people. In the end I can only say that Tony still has a huge influence on me. And that to this day I try to borrow his creativity and individuality for my own art.
I first heard of Kate Bush by my friend Louis Oliart’s girlfriend Cathy. I named my daughter after Kate Bush. I have viewed every interview, owned every recording and yet she still remains a mystery to me. For me she is one of this artists who stands apart from most.
If you have been messing around with the guitar, piano, bass, even drums this is a wonderful overview from the legendary Leonard Bernstein. Why not play with the big box of crayons? Not saying it will make you great, but you might like some of the colors?