Friday, October 26, 2007

Kenny Werner Guest Post = “Thoughts with a Tooth Brush”


Kenny Werner, originally uploaded by drandrewcolyer.

Thoughts with a tooth brush.

I was talking to an atheist recently who was sure there is no God in this universe.
I had never had this thought before, but I realized that
knowing there is no God is perhaps as foolish as knowing there is one.
The fact is we can’t know.

I thought I heard it put best in the movie, "What The Bleep Do We Know?"
One of the points of the movie is to observe how close science and mysticism have become.
Many physicists were interviewed and in this "post-Quantum" era they are making declarations that are more and more in alignment with what the ascetic poets and yogis said a thousand years ago.

Towards the end [of the movie] one physicist said "We have about as much chance of understanding God as a fish has of understanding the ocean he’s swimming in."
Boy, that hit me like an anvil!
Of course!
How could finite beings understand the infinite?
How could one drop of an ocean conceive of the entire ocean?

Ah, but one drop of ocean can merge with the ocean.
It can do nothing else.
We can not understand the God we speak of, but we can merge with Him/Her/It.

This is the incredible aspect of being human.
All other animals are naturally aligned with nature, and play their part.
Humans have the intellect and choice of whether to merge with that ocean we call God, or be a single drop, left alone to evaporate.

But that wasn’t really the point of my story.

While brushing my teeth (when most of my good ideas occur), it occurred to me that the avowed atheist I was talking to would be in total harmony with certain spiritual paths.

In the path of Yoga, a great being, Swami Muktananda has told his disciples, "Meditate on your own self. Worship your own self. God dwells in you as you."

I suddenly realized that the atheists’ claim that there is no god, just us, is in agreement with the statement "God dwells in you as you."

I guess the only difference is that if we know we are God, if we worship at the temple of our body and our mind, if we worship at the alter deep inside our soul, we will bloom into our full potential as loving, creative beings.

Kenny Werner
www.KennyWerner.com
 

 

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Kenny Werner, Lawn Chair Society, and Consciousness Music

Do you love outstanding artistic performances?

Do you love jazz, and have an eclectic taste in music?

Kenny Werner’s 2007 Blue Note release, "Lawn Chair Society", is an awesome and addicting CD.

"Lawn Chair Society", Werner’s first outing on Blue Note, truly sports an "all-star" cast: trumpeter Dave Douglas, reedman Chris Potter, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade. The album incorporates some electronics, which may sound a bit startling at first pass, but the effects generally color the performance once the listener gets deeper into the tunes.

In a press release, Werner says, "I knew I didn’t want to make a record that was purely acoustic or purely electronic. I wanted to blur the lines and create something a little bit surreal."

The Artist Direct review gives Four Stars, states that the CD is "a forward-thinking album that stands uniquely alone from other similarly minded electro-acoustic jazz projects." 
Also, "a cerebral mix of acoustic jazz, electronic elements and generally expansive improvisation that comes and goes in terrifically unexpected directions."
"Thought-provoking, challenging, heartbreaking and truly inspired, "Lawn Chair Society"  is quite simply Werner’s masterpiece." ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Eric Benson of the Chicago Maroon writes: "it’s ambitious and creative. The album is a swirl of styles and moods, moving between trippy planetarium music, tight acoustic playing, and ’70s cop movie–inspired funk.

Will Layman over at PopMatters gives a rating of 9 stars out of 10:  "The closer you listen, the higher Kenny Werner’s Lawn Chair Society will rise on your year’s-best list. Firm and delicate, electric and acoustic, gentle and daring, it does with nonchalant ease what 30 years of “fusion” has done so rarely: keep jazz both serious and modern as it integrates the possibilities of new technology. Suddenly, Kenny Werner (along with producer Lenny Picket) is a jazz master and maverick—a veteran artist whose voice has come alive on a big stage.  Pull up a lawn chair and check out Kenny Werner. His time has come."

Jim Santella of All About Jazz writes:  "With this upbeat program of original material, pianist Kenny Werner takes his quintet through a swinging confrontation that combines modern innovation with classical training.  His music is timeless."  Santella can really feel what the point of Werner’s compositions are.  "His heart is at the center.  Lawn Chair Society sits atop this year’s best-of-list for its innovation, for its ties with tradition, and for the quintet’s superb musicianship."

Another great online review at The Lamp reads: "Lawn Chair Society is unorthodox, unpredictable, beautifully moving, and thematically coherent. Played to the hilt by musicians and realized a by vibrant composer; it deserves to be ranked among the best releases this year."

Consciousness Calibration Research Technique:  on Dr. David Hawkins’ logarithmic Consciousness Scale of zero to 1000, Kenny Werner’s CD "Lawn Chair Society" calibrates at 457. The track that calibrates the highest (at 481) is track 5, “Uncovered Heat”.  This is the level of Excellence, and has an extremely high degree of Spiritual Integrity.

I believe that "Uncovered Heart" is the gem of the CD.  Written 16 years ago, when Werner’s daughter Katheryn was born, it makes sense that “Uncovered Heart” should be the album’s showcase, as Katheryn was present for the recording but died in a car accident before the album’s completion.

If you like jazz, blues, funk, movie soundtracks, and electronica, then this CD is for you.

I can’t remember the last time I heard an album that displayed such a broad musical palette, while offering outstanding artistic excellence.

Kenny Werner should be nominated for a Jazz Grammy for "Lawn Chair Society".

We will definitely be featuring Kenny and his music over at our ConsciousWorldMusic.com membership site when we launch.

You can go immediately to Amazon and purchase your own copy to share with your friends, family, and loved ones by clicking on this link for:

Kenny Werner = Lawn Chair Society

For further information, read the reviews by clicking on the links above,
or check out Kenny’s main site:  www.KennyWerner.com

Thank you.

Dr. Andrew Colyer

Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

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Sunday, August 12, 2007

Bruce Hornsby and Consciousness Music: Camp Meeting

Here’s an article from AllAboutJazz.com about Bruce Hornsby’s new album, "Camp Meeting".

Camp Meeting

Bruce is one of my all-time favorite artists.

I can’t wait to get the CD and calibrate the music.
Bruce’s music generally calibrates to be life-enhancing, life-supporting, and has a high degree of positive Spiritual energy.

In fact, I don’t think any of his music calibrates below 200 on Dr. David Hawkins’ logarithmic Consciousness Scale of zero to 1000.

We’ll have to research that out with our Consciousness Calibration Research Technique (CCRT).

We’ll share it here with you!

We are planning to feature Bruce as one of our commercial artists over at ConsciousWorldMusic.com, currently in the pre-launch stage.

Thank you.

Dr. Andrew Colyer

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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Pat Metheny, Brad Mehldau, and Consciousness Music

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau quartet, in Poughkeepsie at the Bardavon Opera House.

It is always a pleasure to see and hear two great improvisers working together. They played as a duo, and with the quartet.

The concert ranged from quiet, intimate, ballads, to funky grooves, to bossa nova, to burnin’ tunes.

Of course, there were also the signature “Pat Metheny” sounding tunes = which are difficult to describe in words, but instantly recognizable when you hear them.

All of the songs were original works, from Pat and Brad both collectively and individually.

Bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard also contributed outstanding performances.

Everyone had fabulous technical skill = I remember thinking, “I would love to see a PET scan or functional MRI of these guys’ brains right now!” It is truly amazing to see artists and performers like this = channeling whatever comes through.

On Dr. David Hawkins’ logarithmic Consciousness Scale of zero to 1000, the concert overall calibrated at 468. That is the level of Excellence.

From a consciousness standpoint, the highlight of the evening was a Pat Metheny piece, playing his Pikasso guitar, entitled “The Sound of Water.” It was a duet with Brad on piano, from their recent release, Metheny Mehldau Quartet. “The Sound of Water” performance from last night calibrated at 494.

Considering the overall level of consciousness of mankind is currently at 205 (as per Dr. Hawkins, August 2006), last night’s performance benefits the entire population of humanity. To be specific, by Metheny Mehldau Quartet being fully who they are, and expressing themselves in this way, approximately 94% of the population of humanity was benefitted from this performance = by virtue of the power of the field of consciousness that was expressed.

For further information, here are some sites to check out: Pat Metheny Home Page, Pat Metheny Wiki page, Brad Mehldau Home Page, Brad Mehldau Wiki page.

Thank you.

Gloria In Excelsis Deo!

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Monday, February 12, 2007

Why Music?

“Music is the universal language of human expression. Playing and listening to music lifts the human spirit, delighting our senses and engaging our intellect, while also speaking directly to your hearts.”

I got this quote from a brochure!

Want to see where?

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Monday, January 15, 2007

Kenny Werner and Consciousness Music

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of being in a workshop/lecture with Kenny Werner at the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) conference in New York City.Kenny is one of my mentors, through his book Effortless Mastery, video, and CD’s. He is a living example of someone who performs Consciousness Music.

Kenny has been writing and teaching about playing from “The Space” for over 10 years. His playing is a perfect example of what it sounds like to be in “The Space” when practicing, playing, and performing.

Anyone who has done meditation, quiet prayer, contemplation, or Qi Gong practice, will recognize “The Space” = it is all the same. “‘The Space’ is a place beyond the mind,” Kenny said. As a musician, when one gives up the need to sound good, the need to impress other people, the self-judgement that comes with being a performer, it is at that time that one is able to achieve a “liberated performance,” the thing that all artists and fans strive to feel and hear.

The problem is that many musicians become “top-heavy” with ego = playing from their head = which makes their performance sink just like The Titanic.

If, as a performer, one can be completely fulfilled and satisfied with whatever comes out = one note, many notes, consonance, dissonance, whatever = then that person is taking the right steps towards letting go.

It’s not just about playing from “The Space” either. It’s about living and playing from The Space. It’s about making a profound contribution to your own life and the lives of others. “People are being drawn to things that have meaning,” Kenny said.

Some students will ask, “Does all this being in The Space and playing from your heart mean that I don’t have to practice?” Kenny’s answer: “Someday, you might want to play in a different key or time signature. Playing in an odd meter of 7 or 5 should be as good and easy as playing in 4.” The whole point of practicing to continually become more technically proficient is so that Spirit can flow through you while you are in The Space. If you are having to think and struggle to get an idea out while you are playing, you have left The Space.

“Mastery is that which you do without thought. It is playing without thinking.”

“The Space becomes your teacher. The Space tells you when you’re done with something. The Space gives context and meaning, and removes the tyranny of styles.”

Sitting in the front row, I asked the question, “Can The Space tell you where to start?”

Yes, he replied. Find the smallest bit or piece of music that makes you relax = where you sink into The Space = and start there. See how you feel when you look at the page. It might be the whole page, half a page, two lines, or just two measures. Keep reducing it down until you relax. It might even be just two notes. Or one note.

Just relax. Play that one note from The Space. Tell yourself, “Every note I play is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.”

Just breathe. Feel it.

That’s Consciousness Music.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Consciousness Music, Jazz, and Sonny Rollins

In the April 2006 Issue of Hudson Valley Magazine, there is an article about one of the world’s greatest living jazz artists = tenor saxophonist/composer Sonny Rollins. Rollins is interviewed for this magazine because he is a resident of Columbia County, here in Upstate New York. In the words of the interviewer, Thomas Staudter, “man and instrument are one”.To be a great jazz improviser, one has to overcome the challenges of the left brain = technique, scales, the harmonic structure of music = and move fluently into the right brain aspect of spontaneous flow. This requires a shift in consciousness. Some are able to make the shift, others never do. That is not to say that they are not capable; they just have not practiced enough, exposed themselves enough, mentored with a teacher enough, played out enough, etc., to make the necessary shift from left brain playing to right brain playing.

If you ask Kenny Werner, composer, pianist and educator, and author of Effortless Mastery (look for an upcoming blog post dedicated just to him and his book), some people have just not been mentally and emotionally kind enough to themselves to be able to make the shift. They are too busy berating themselves for what they are not doing, instead of relaxing into “the space” and allowing whatever wants to come out through them to be expressed.

Sonny Rollins has been channeling jazz for decades, celebrating his 75th birthday last September. In the magazine article, Rollins discusses the fact that for him, music is not only to express joy, but it’s also “an important social force.” He also has his own spiritual interests, and believes in “having some values outside of materialism.”

At the International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE) conference in Manhattan in January, Rollins “sat outside a ballroom post-interview and signed hundreds of autographs, taking a moment to greet each well-wisher”. He apparently shares “similiar displays of his generous spirit after each of his concerts”.

“It’s connecting with his audiences that keeps the artist at the top of his game. ‘I want people to leave my concerts with a positive feeling so they’ll feel hopeful and optimistic about everything,’ Rollins remarks. ‘That’s my ultimate aim, that’s why I play.’”

God bless you, Sonny Rollins. That’s why I write and play, too.

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