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Starting September 27, 2008: one photo per day accompanied by prevailing thoughts, moods, or feelings on that day.

August 23, San Francisco, CA: I love music for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of how songs that I associate with parts of my life can evoke emotions that I haven't felt in years. I played trumpet for about 10 years and regret quitting. There are a few songs that really make me wish I were an expert at an instrument. I actually dream about being able to play them. After dragging my feet for a long time, I finally made a playlist of my performance Wish List. Here are some of them, with links where I could find them:

Piano:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54eNjLgImLs">Landed - Ben Folds.</a> Who am I kidding? Ben Folds is probably my favorite musician right now, and I couldn't choose just one song. I also adore <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN8CGaJv0UY">Songs of Love.</a>

Baroque Impressions - Cyrus Chestnut (I couldnt find an online version, but here is a great <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fuL0msuM1g&feature=related">remake</a> of another well-known song.

<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Bill+Evans/_/Just+You,+Just+Me">Just You, Just Me - Bill Evans.</a> I listened to this song for hours at a time in college. Bill Evans is one of my favorites, and this song is just incredible.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q9Ft6mlJVY&feature=fvw">Awakening - Ahmad Jamal.</a> Another college staple.

<a href="http://new.music.yahoo.com/dave-grusin/tracks/memphis-stomp-from-the-firm--2122652">Memphis Stomp - Dave Grusin.</a> This song grabs absolutely every bit of my attention when I listen to it.

Saxaphone:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H8W_iEYvRo">Tour's End - Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio.</a> My favorite song on this list. I just had a dream about playing this in a school talent show. One of my favorite songs of all time. Getz makes it seem SO easy, and Peterson is (I'm listening to it as I type and had to close my eyes to take in the piano solo...its even distracting to listen to this when I drive because I get so into it). I don't know who the guitar player is, but he is also amazing. Like I said, one of my all time favorites.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ICJUFOJa2g">Jazz Crimes - Joshua Redman.</a> I buy everything album he makes. Amazing. I also love the organ in this. Speaking of organs...

Organ:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Vk0jSsoxM">The Cat - Jimmy Smith.</a> No Contest. I admit that the drums and horns on this song are also mind-blowing, but I'm always Jimmy in the dream, so its got to be the organ. I actually had an excerpt from this song as my answering machine message in college.

Guitar:

Calm Before the Storm - Jonathan Butler. My parents bought this probably when I was about 11 or 12. It always reminds me of childhood, and the track title is pretty appropriate, actually. I couldnt find a good link to it, but it is by far my favorite song of his.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgcBTDLpj5k&feature=related">Havana Club - Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra.</a> Most people who know anything about my music collection kow that I could have picked almost any Otmmar song, since I own just about everything he's ever done. He is one of my favorite artists. In May of 1992, during Johnny Carson's last month as host of the Tonight Show, I saw Ottmar Liebert for the first time and LOVED the performance. I didn't write down the name, but 6 months later, during my first quarter of college, I walked into a record store and his name jumped right back into my head.

Violin, Viola, Cello:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY_iMa7kk1k">M79 - Vampire Weekend.</a> Loved it the first time I heard it.

Trumpet:

<a href="http://new.music.yahoo.com/chuck-mangione/tracks/land-of-make-believe--203891001">Land of Make Believe - Chuck Mangione.</a> One of the first artists I can remember my dad playing for me when I was about 4 or 5. And technically he isn't playing a trumpet, but flugelhorn is pretty close, so I'm counting it. All 9 minutes of this song are well worth it. My favorite part is how it builds from about 3:00 with the guitar (the solo is nuts) to the symphony at 4:45. This is my favorite arrangement of the song.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=596qaxm-u4o">I Will Survive - Cake.</a> This one is so easy. I liked the original. Until I went to college and heard it over...and over...and over again. To me, this version is far superior to Gaynor's. This would also be my choice for electric bass. I saw these guys perform in my first semester of grad school back in 96. I just saw them again in the spring. Still amazing.

The playlist has more songs, and I'm sure that I haven't thought of all the ones that belong. What is clear is that I have some sort of fantasy about being a virtuoso on at least one instrument.

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August 23, San Francisco, CA: I love music for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of how songs that I associate with parts of my life can evoke emotions that I haven't felt in years. I played trumpet for about 10 years and regret quitting. There are a few songs that really make me wish I were an expert at an instrument. I actually dream about being able to play them. After dragging my feet for a long time, I finally made a playlist of my performance Wish List. Here are some of them, with links where I could find them: Piano: Landed - Ben Folds. Who am I kidding? Ben Folds is probably my favorite musician right now, and I couldn't choose just one song. I also adore Songs of Love. Baroque Impressions - Cyrus Chestnut (I couldnt find an online version, but here is a great remake of another well-known song. Just You, Just Me - Bill Evans. I listened to this song for hours at a time in college. Bill Evans is one of my favorites, and this song is just incredible. Awakening - Ahmad Jamal. Another college staple. Memphis Stomp - Dave Grusin. This song grabs absolutely every bit of my attention when I listen to it. Saxaphone: Tour's End - Stan Getz & the Oscar Peterson Trio. My favorite song on this list. I just had a dream about playing this in a school talent show. One of my favorite songs of all time. Getz makes it seem SO easy, and Peterson is (I'm listening to it as I type and had to close my eyes to take in the piano solo...its even distracting to listen to this when I drive because I get so into it). I don't know who the guitar player is, but he is also amazing. Like I said, one of my all time favorites. Jazz Crimes - Joshua Redman. I buy everything album he makes. Amazing. I also love the organ in this. Speaking of organs... Organ: The Cat - Jimmy Smith. No Contest. I admit that the drums and horns on this song are also mind-blowing, but I'm always Jimmy in the dream, so its got to be the organ. I actually had an excerpt from this song as my answering machine message in college. Guitar: Calm Before the Storm - Jonathan Butler. My parents bought this probably when I was about 11 or 12. It always reminds me of childhood, and the track title is pretty appropriate, actually. I couldnt find a good link to it, but it is by far my favorite song of his. Havana Club - Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra. Most people who know anything about my music collection kow that I could have picked almost any Otmmar song, since I own just about everything he's ever done. He is one of my favorite artists. In May of 1992, during Johnny Carson's last month as host of the Tonight Show, I saw Ottmar Liebert for the first time and LOVED the performance. I didn't write down the name, but 6 months later, during my first quarter of college, I walked into a record store and his name jumped right back into my head. Violin, Viola, Cello: M79 - Vampire Weekend. Loved it the first time I heard it. Trumpet: Land of Make Believe - Chuck Mangione. One of the first artists I can remember my dad playing for me when I was about 4 or 5. And technically he isn't playing a trumpet, but flugelhorn is pretty close, so I'm counting it. All 9 minutes of this song are well worth it. My favorite part is how it builds from about 3:00 with the guitar (the solo is nuts) to the symphony at 4:45. This is my favorite arrangement of the song. I Will Survive - Cake. This one is so easy. I liked the original. Until I went to college and heard it over...and over...and over again. To me, this version is far superior to Gaynor's. This would also be my choice for electric bass. I saw these guys perform in my first semester of grad school back in 96. I just saw them again in the spring. Still amazing. The playlist has more songs, and I'm sure that I haven't thought of all the ones that belong. What is clear is that I have some sort of fantasy about being a virtuoso on at least one instrument.