Here is another version of my song Welsh Dragonfly, which was written after listening to some of the ‘acoustic’ music born out of Led Zeppelin’s retreat to the Welsh countryside. That music had an atmosphere at once both ethereal and bucolic, a vibe I try to tap into myself from time to time. This version of Welsh Dragonfly was recorded on a rosewood and spruce guitar – the rosewood’s scooped midrange provides a nice separation between the bass and treble parts, fitting well with this arrangement. This song makes me feel relaxed and peaceful when I play it. Hope you enjoy.
Dragonfly at Dawn (Improv)
Dragonfly at Dawn is part of what has become a small group of improvisations (dubbed Dragonfly Songs) exploring related ideas and textures. This improv serves as a meditation of sorts, with a recurring set of phases floating over a drone from the lower strings. It also feels like a contemplative interlude between some of the other improvisations in the group. Hope you enjoy.
Dragonfly in the Rain (Improv, 812ce)
Recorded during a thunderstorm, this improvisation expands upon some of the ideas and textures from my song Welsh Dragonfly. This recording and some other, related recordings made on different guitars and at different times, have formed into a small group I’ve dubbed Dragonfly Songs. Sometimes it’s good to further explore familiar musical terrain and approach existing themes from a new angle. Hope you enjoy.
Butterflies (Original Fingerstyle)
Today’s song from the vaults is called “Butterflies.” It’s a meditative song with a mellow, ethereal quality suitable to the title. Butterflies is a track from a project I had called Signs Music Has Changed Your Life. Hope you enjoy.
Irish Well Wishes
Irish Well Wishes is an improvisation inspired by my love of Ireland and the Irish people. When I recorded this, I had recently been reflecting on my visit to Ireland years ago; the beauty of the land and the warmth of the Irish people is often talked about and portrayed in various films, etc., but actually traveling there I found it really did meet and exceed expectations (and yes, it really was ‘that green’). Also, at the time of recording this, I had been listening to a fair amount of Tony McManus and Martin Simpson – all of this gave rise to the improvisation here around some pieces of melody from Danny Boy and various other Celtic guitar ideas. Hope you enjoy.
Home Abroad (Slide Guitar, Low Reverb Mix)
Here is a remix of “Home Abroad,” a slide guitar song which was recorded as part of my Awake Again album project. While revisiting that project and remixing the album (a playlist of the full album is also available on the ‘music’ page), I had two different ideas for how I wanted to approach the mix for this song – basically a ‘wet’ mix which is featured on the remixed album, and a more ‘dry mix’ with a little less reverb that I decided to release here as a bonus track of sorts. Though the wet mix was a better fit for the album, I also like the directness of the dry mix.
Straight Ahead Blues (310ce)
Here is another take of “Straight Ahead Blues,” also known as “New Blues,” which was recorded as part of my Awake Again album project. While revisiting that project and remixing the album (a playlist of the full album is also available on the ‘music’ page), I came across some alternate takes of a couple of songs that I thought it would be fun to publish; this is one of those songs. At the time I recorded this song, I was listening to the Clapton Unplugged album quite a bit, and experimenting with various blues ideas. Hope you enjoy.
Dragonfly Over Water
Similar to Sound and Solace, this improvisation was based on exploring ideas and textures, approaching familiar shapes and runs from a new angle. Here, the focus is on treble string melodies floating over a drone from some of the lower strings. Sometimes it’s important to try something a little different, to expand on familiar territory and explore new approaches, to record an improvisation and see what happens. Hope you enjoy.
Naupaka Slack Key ~ Early Take
Here is an early take of Naupaka Slack Key, a song that pays tribute to ‘beach’ naupaka, a cheerful bush that can be found near many beaches in Hawai’i. While the story of separated lovers embodied in the ‘half flowers’ of beach and ‘mountain’ naupaka is poignant, I often think of the little white berries bobbing around in the water at such places as Kamakahonu beach near the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kailua-Kona where I used to swim as a keiki. Not long ago, an old friend reminded me of the ‘lilikoi man’ who used to walk by the beach there selling passionfruit from a KTA shopping bag for a quarter. As kids, we would build sand castles, explore the nearby pier, and take small fishing nets to catch little minnow-sized fish for our beach bucket filled with seawater (which we would return to the ocean not long after). Anyway, the naupaka plant was often nearby during those childhood hours (small kid time, as they say) spent at various Kona and Kohala beaches – mellow and relaxing days with ohana and friends. Hope you enjoy.
Punahele – Ray Kane Slack Key Cover (Longer Version)
Here is another, slightly longer version I recorded of the classic Ray Kane slack key song “Punahele.” According to the Dancing Cat liner notes, Punahele (“favorite” or “pet”) came to Ray “one night in 1938 at Zablan’s Beach in Nanakuli. ‘Back in those days there were no cars, it was pitch black. So I sit there in the dark in the nice cool breeze and I hear the waves bouncing on the sand and see the moonlight flicker on the water. It inspired me, something so nice. So mellow. That’s what gave me my inspiration.’” Hope you enjoy.