Kind of Blue's Open Salon Blog

My Latest Venture Integrating Jazz with Spoken Word Poetry

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:03:47 -0400

Playing my Conn CONNstellation horn

(Click on "Sistah" and it will take you to the song. I tried embedding the HTML code for the player and for some reason it won't allow me. Maybe I'm just a bit rusty on my OS skills...)

A couple of months ago I was approached by one of my musical genius friends brotha.deep, a well known composer, arranger, producer and musician from within the jazz and funk genres. He proposed to me to add some horn lines to a spoken word poetry EP he's producing. I thought why not? I am very open minded to musical genres and I love poetry.

Although this vibe isn't finished, this is a sample representation of what we're trying to achieve. Although it says "Sistah" by Greg Randolph above, that is because I posted the link from my SoundCloud account. The music was written by brotha.deep and lyrics by the poet Nile. I wrote the horn lines and performed only those. Honest feedback as to the project is welcomed and needed.

Nile- Spoken Word Poetry

brotha.deep - bass, drums

Oskar Cobo - keyboards

Greg Randolph - muted trumpet

Namaste' to each of you.

The Evolution of a Lasting Marriage

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:02:29 -0500

Appropriate to this photo, life was a blur for us at 21 and 23 respectively.

It's been quite a while since I posted any actual written content on Open Salon (waiting for applause to abade..., Okay) and I'm not quite sure what the impetus for this piece, but here goes. As many on here know, I've been with my wife for 25 of my 46 years on Earth. We also have many people ask us what our secret is, and I will share our secret with you, willing to read.

I named this "The Evolution of a Lasting Marriage", but not in the Darwinian sense. I mean within the period of a long marriage by today's standards. I understand that today's standards may be very low, but let's say 50 years for reference' sake. My maternal grandparents were married 63 years, so it's within the realm of reality.

I once asked my grandfather when I was a very young man how he and my grandmother had stayed together so long? He answered with one word, "patience". He really didn't even elaborate after that as he was often as brief as he was wise. He let that word stew in my young brain for a while as he also often did.

My grandparents were polar opposites. My grandfather a kind, gentle, hard working and completely honest behemoth of a man. My grandmother a tall and thin, moody, secretive and rather loud woman whom I loved very much in spite of it all. My grandmother gave my grandfather a tough time most of the time. But they loved each other and just as often showed that side too.

With myself and my wife I can sum up the key to our longevity in one word, patience. No, I'm not trying to be a meme to my grandfather or unoriginal, it just turns out that my grandfather was right. I though will elaborate a bit more. Marriage is like a fine wine, you must let it age and become more complex to fully appreciate it. The only advice that I give to someone who is contemplating marriage for the first time and asks my opinion is can you walk away when angry and can you muster the courage to say I'm sorry?

When a couple first meets they live off of pure infatuation, lust and adoration. This varies from person to person in how long it can keep the fire lit. Now I will admit that this was a long time for my wife and I. I will however say that the infatuation, lust and adoration doesn't necessarily disappear, it just dissipates a bit and changes form.

I was infatuated with my wife's outer beauty, poise, intellect and humility. I lusted for her petite and beautiful body. I adored her passion and compassion for other people and for animals. Twenty-five years later that infatuation for all of the above has changed and added my amazement of her as a parent, professional and tolerant, patient wife. The lust remains but isn't 24/7 as back then. Anyone who expects that is pushing the boundaries of reality to the extreme. My adoration of her has actually grown in all ways and has added many other facets.

Now what you do add new to the equation are the somewhat negatives that you don't encounter in the early stages of a relationship and even marriage. My wife is quirky (as am I) and she is the single most stubborn person I've ever met. This conflicts with my consummate forgiving nature. My wife is the type who rarely admits she's wrong. I admit I'm wrong every day about something. My wife on occasion wants to go toe to navel with me in an argument. I always prefer a quiet, peaceful resolution.

I have so many quirks, faults, shortcomings, annoyances, aggravations, etc... that I'm going to spare the details. Let's just say I'm working on them all. I also have my positives but I would humbly digress and let my wife elaborate on those. Where Susan and I have suceeded is that we have both learned from one another about each shortcoming and patiently (notice that word) never given up on the other. If we split up every time we had an argument, disagreement or felt that the other was just too much to handle, we'd have parted ways many years ago.

The bottom line for me is that our evolution has transformed one type of love to another more complex and long lasting love. We respect each other so much more after all the mighty hell we've endured and we relish the memories of all the great times we've had together. I have been faithful to my wife all these years and she to me. I've never even thought about raising my hand to her in anger, nor her to me. I've never lashed out and called her a profane name and I've never talked negatively about her behind her back. These are the things I'm most proud of after all this time, outside of our beautiful son.

People have asked us if we can both envision another 25 years together and without pause we always answer "yes" simultaneously. I can't imagine the grass being greener and I don't want to imagine it. When temptation has stared me in the face in these 25 years, I always mentally and very deeply told myself that gratuitous pleasure is fleeting and that I am a horrible liar and could never live with that kind of secret.

A colleague on a business trip once said to me (ironically enough in Las Vegas) "your wife would never know!" I looked at him squarely and said, "I would." If you can evolve to that point and truly mean it, you're home free.

"Home of the Brave" (Land of the Free?)

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:01:45 -0500

"Home of the Brave" (Land of the Free?)

Home of the Brave by Greg T. Randolph

(click link to play song)

A song of elegy, celebration and homage to all Native Americans, past and present. May we never forget their plight and their still constant fight.

Namaste'

Sweet Sorrow by Greg T. Randolph

(click link to play song)

"The Lonesome Road From Home" (solo musical piece)

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:01:49 -0500

Lonesome Road From Home by Greg T. Randolph

(Just Click on Title to Listen)

The Inspirations

Music for me is the same as writing, it comes from emotion. As we all know on Open Salon the plethora of emotions run wide. Writing and/or playing instrumental music depends on a mood or a vibe. Upon leaving home last week for just a brief overnight trip to Nashville, I was overwhelmed with the sensation I used to get when I traveled nearly 6 months of the year (for a past job).

It was lonely enough of a feeling when it was only my wife that I was leaving. Now I leave my son behind each time I travel and I don't like missing even one day of his young life. So this vibe came to me when I returned based on what I felt when I left. (Make sense of that.)

I hope someone or anyone listens and enjoys and perhaps gets it.

Namaste'

"Paz y Amor (Peace and Love)" & More...

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:01:45 -0500

(Photo credit Griffin A.T. Randolph)

Paz y Amor by Greg T. Randolph

(Click on title to listen)

In the event that anyone who has befriended me on here (or not) would like to hear a short snippet of a raw recording of my trumpet style, please click the link above ("Paz y Amor"). I have limited space on SoundCloud so it's not the entire original song, it's a raw outtake of the shell.

I recorded this original vibe prior to the horrible tragedy in Tucson and as I programmed and recorded the drum/bass/guitar electronics and I inserted a latin percussive beat, along with the vibe of peace and love led to the title. It took on new meaning after the events, but the song remains the same.

The recording was done in my office at home (recording studio double) with only my PC, Martin Committee Trumpet and a Blue Snowball Microphone. All subsequent additions, mixing and editing will be done with a suite on my PC. I hope to finish up the rough (very) edges soon and be able to lay down the entire track and present it.

As a bonus (or punishment, depending on how you listen), I am adding the link to the completed recording and mixing of a VERY avant garde recording I made, inspired by freedom of expression in music and complete and utter disregard for form. It's entitled "Et Tu Hunter S.Thompson". Only I know the reason for the title. It's a complete departure from my normal music. Try to listen with an open (if not twisted) mind.

Original Art by Griffin Akira Thomas Randolph

Et Tu Hunter S. Thompson by Greg T. Randolph

(Click on title to listen)

Listen if you please. I know music is not writing, but it's art nonetheless. Art is in the eye/ear of the beholder, right?

Namaste'