Monday, October 31, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 335

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 341 "The Wobblin' Goblin" by Gerald Marks and Milton Pascal
http://youtu.be/pehcbcmEthI


I'm not sure what it's called "Synergy"? "Synchronicity"? The feeling when it feels like all things are coming together. The feeling that there is a purpose for things and you can see the cohesion of it all.

I for got what I was going to do here for Halloween on the 365 and then when it came down to doing-the-videos time, I remembered, I have known for quite some time. There was a tune we sang in elementary school called "The Wobblin" Goblin." I went back once to old H.B. Milnes and tracked down our old music teacher Mr. Jablonski, Mr. J for short. He was still there. The music room was gone so we had to jaunt to a first grade classroom with a piano for him to give me the chords to this tune and "Don Gato."

So at the moment of truth, I remembered to do "Wobblin" Goblin," but I didn't remember the chords. Now I knew I had them somewhere in my mass of things. The beauty was I went right to em and opened a binder with hundreds of pieces of white paper with song chords on 'em and I went right to it. Stoked. Synergy. Synchronicity. Whatever it's called. I love that.

"The Wobblin' Goblin" is by Gerald Marks and Milton Pascal, but apparently Rosemary Clooney had a hit of some sort with it in 1950.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 341 Justin Mills "Truth Ruins Lives" 1-29-2009
http://youtu.be/42nzobFZgnI


As I mentioned, I'm going back down the line, making sure I hit all my favorite artists one more time on the way out of this here 365. I had a blads ton the radio, 94.9FM in San Diego, discussing all the fun things that are happening with my man, Tim Pyles. I was hoping to put up at least one of every Justin Mills song I have just so they can be out in the world for folks to enjoy. He doesn't play very much, though incidentally, he did release a song exclusively for Facebook users yesterday. he song is called "Ass Wipe" and it was accredited to what I imagine is his new band, G-sus. It seems to include himself and his lovely gal, Adrianna Martin-Morningstar who can be seen knitting and singing in the video.

I thought this pirate-y-sounding tune "Truth Ruins Lives" might fit nicely with our Halloween motif even though I posted another version of it only 149 days ago. In unrelated news, I hope no trick-or-treaters come. To me, it feels intrusive. Maybe that makes me the Halloween Scrooge. Can I at least be a pirate-y Halloween Scrooge? Rrrrrrr, she blows. No candy.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 341 "A Spooky Halloween Song"
http://youtu.be/xCo_VhXmOkk


I hit play and let the magic flow on "A Spooky Halloween Song." It comes as advertised more or less. Maybe "A Funky Halloween Song" would be more accurate, but I am an artist not a critic. Found myself thinking about the old days at UMASS-Amherst. As I did the scat solo on "A Spooky Halloween Song," I thought of my old friend and mentor of sorts, Mike Warrington. Doubt I ever would have going down this road without the influence of 'ole Mike. Who knows? He definitely made me realize this is a road you could go. He dropped me a note on the Facebook that he liked my solo on "Smile, Child," an original from a few weeks ago. My old pal Jason Patterson dug it too.

I'd forgot I'd even soloed on that tune. I assumed Mike meant guitar, but he was digging the vocal solo. He wrote he might transcribe it. From a guy who I watched transcribe the solo to Phish's "Divided Sky" years ago, even in jest, that's quite a compliment. So today I thought of him, as I headed down that musical road. I saw behind me on the couch the binder with all the song in it that I found my Halloween cover, "Wobblin' Goblin" in. On it was a flier from a gig our old band Chameleon Stress played, at Butterfield, a UMASS dorm at that I lived in at he time, from October 28, 1994. So I grabbed it and put it to the screen at the end. Oh, memories... Happy Halloween.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 334

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 340 Blowski "Manhunt" 12-29-2009
http://youtu.be/CgZuegzRrsI


Today's archive takes us to the end of the musical year 2009, as least as far as my friends and I were concerned. This clip was filmed right near the end of my Open Mic on December 29, 2009. Here Blowski plays his classic tune "Manhunt" with The Soul Man on guiro. Blowski is one of my best pals and he was right at the center of all the awesome things that happened in what we used to call "The Portugalia Era." You can see there are no mics at this show. Portugalia got banned form having them for some reason I never clearly understood. The truth was getting harder and harder to come by in the waning months of this bygone time.

All I know is my shows went on. People had to project and they did, especially The Soul Man. There's no missing the guiro in this here clip. It was the end of a long hard year, the type of year that gets you resolved to do your best to have better years exclusively in the future, as much as humanly posible anyway.

"Manhunt"is one of many songs by Blowski that has a political bent. Blowski and I have been discussing the problems in the world and what needs to be done about them for some time. We are both refreshed and excited about the societal pulse that the Occupy movement has engendered. it's awesome. So here, Blowski sings about how they're looking for one guy, an escaped prisoner for one reason or another, but they could just as easily be looking for you. And it doesn't matter what you did or didn't do.

We all have to overcome obstacle in this life. Be it a year like 2009, aging (The Soul Man is 93), corporate gered, personal relationships, health concerns. The best we can do is pull together, support each other and maintain a longing and level head thorough all the twists and turns. Having friends is a great blessing. The Soul Man and The Ski Man are two of the best ones I've ever had and I infinitely appreciate them for it.

Two days after this was filmed, Blowski got a haircut on the desert on New Year's morning. Blowski's band Acoustic Booze, to which I once belonged is now on indefinite hiatus, but we never know what surprises this world holds for us. Maybe we will reunite some day and top the charts, inspire a revolution or make someone listening closely shed a tear. Maybe seeing this video will inspire Blowski to get back up on his musical horse. The movement needs folks like him, myself, and maybe you, to provide it with a soundtrack. It needs passionate to share art invoking their thoughts, feelings, opinions and ideas. We need to communicate and we need to inspire each other.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 340 "Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)" by Stephen Foster
http://youtu.be/MWJIDvGHV1M


Don't know what made "Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)" pop into my head today when cover-tome came. I'm glad it did though. I like these cold classic songs. It seems like this Stephen Foster fellow has written more than his fair share of them. He is like The Beatles of a million years ago. I gave ya a little fast version, then some slow version and another little fast version action after the break, just to keep you moving.

Last night was Halloween Observed here in Ocean Beach, meaning adults got dressed up, went out and got crazy. I went out some too, but I can relate to this number. I Could just as easily stayed home along old Swanee River.

Ahhhhh!!! Damn research. I just learned a lot about this tune. Here it goes. I share.

wikipedia: "Old Folks at Home" (also known as "Swanee River") is a minstrel song written by Stephen Foster in 1851. It was intended to be performed by the New York blackface troupe Christy's Minstrels. E. P. Christy, the troupe's leader, appears on early printings of the sheet music as the song's creator. Christy had paid Foster to be credited, something Foster himself had suggested though later regretted. It has been the official state song of Florida since 1935.[1]

According to legend,[1] Foster had most of the lyrics but was trying to give a name to the river of the opening line and asked his brother to suggest one. The first suggestion was "Yazoo" (in Mississippi), which despite fitting the melody perfectly, Foster rejected. The second suggestion was "Pee Dee" (in South Carolina), to which Foster said, "Oh pshaw! I won't have that." His brother then consulted an atlas and called out "Suwannee!" Foster said "That's it exactly!" He wrote it in immediately (misspelling it "Swanee" to fit the melody).[2] Foster himself never saw the Suwannee or even visited Florida, but the popularity of the song initiated tourism to Florida to see the river.

Controversy

This song is seen by some as racist toward black Americans for its imitation of Black English Vernacular (the song is sung from the perspective of a black man), with its original lyrics referring to "darkies" and "a-longin' for the old plantation."[1] Foster himself supported the North during the American Civil War and sympathized with African-Americans. In 1997, former state representative Willy Logan presented an unsuccessful motion to have the song replaced. For many public performances, words like "lordy," "mama," "darling," "brothers" or "dear ones" are often used in place of "darkies."
_____________________________________________________________

I didn't find any of those lyrics. I did see these racist-ish lyrics posted on this official looking site, http://www.50states.com/songs/florida.htm but I ignored them.

The Operation 365 does not support any hate of any sort, even to those who could arguably deserve. The Operation 365 only advocates love. If "Swanee River" is good enough for Django Reinhardt, it's good enough for the 365.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_piTvK5d5A

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 340 "We Swoon"
http://youtu.be/NgSutjl9oUg


I'm going down the list of tunes I have to make sure, nothing too important gets left out of the 365. I have hit most of the important ones already, except all the tracks on my upcoming CD, "Gift To Be Alive." I have been saving all of them this whole time for last two weeks of the 365, after the CD is released on 11-11-11. I bet you didn't know I had a plan. Did ya?

"We Swoon" is a tune I wrote just before we opened for Steely Dan in 2006. I was already feeling the inspiration of their sound starting to sink in to my subconscious. I went to the beach at the bay one day to relax and pretty much this whole situation unfolded as I detailed it in the song. A beautiful young lady was modeling, sexy poses in the water for a photog I later found out was her pops. Creepy, huh? I decided to go with the creepy and in as Steely Dan-esque a manner as I could summon, I went for it. Steely Dan is all about pervy tunes about younger women. See: Hey Nineteen and Cousin Dupree, for two. Consider this an homage. What can I tell ya? I love Steely Dan.

If this song wasn't so skeezy, I probably would have posted it earlier in the Operation, but it's cool. I like the music. It's a song, not an autobiography. It is based on a true story. I wound up going over to the parent people and talking to them after, That's how I found out, he was her pop and her name was Holly. I mean, technically, Pops was the one being pervy, if anyone was. I just went to the beach at the bay with my pooch to relax. There's no way I could have anticipated all of this. Hey, it WAS memorable. I remember it.

Timing is a funny thing in this life. I just this past second got some unsavory news about my father's health. Praying for my Pops. Hope he'll be OK. There's some reasons to be hopeful, the doctors say. Life... Wtf. Crazy life.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 333

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 339 Charbra "Hot Veins" 10-27-2009
http://youtu.be/IB11bYcNl-M


Well, consider this the beginning of the end of the 365. I am now going back through and finding one more moment in the sun for some of the 365's top Archival artists. I woke up this morning with Charbra's tune "Oh Mama" in my head. I have posted that now on (at least) two occasions, including the day it was written. I have been combing the hard drives, trying to make sure I don't miss too many classic moments from my recorded shows. This was recorded two years and two days ago at my Open Mic on October 27, 2009.

Charbra are Charlotte James (guitar) and Barbara Tolbert. They are playing with my band at our CD release party on 11-11-11 at The Griffin. Tomorrow, I will be going on 94.9FM with Tim Pyles tomorrow sometime after 8:00PM to discuss it. I am really excited about the CD, "Gift To Be Alive." A lot of these songs were written and inspired in late 2008, the same period of time when Charbra first came to town. They got their band name on the stage at my Open Mic. I gave it to 'em. Charlotte. Barbara. Charbra. Get it. Yeah, it's pretty obvious.

They tried to change it once. I forget to what. Nothing great. I called for an audience vote on the matter and people pretty unanimously chose Charbra. It's been Charbra ever since. Charbra, if the 365 doesn't see you in this configuration again in its final 26 days, thank you for playing the Operation 365.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 339 "Day Man" - Charlie Day
http://youtu.be/ftuyZzC0LAE


I like "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." With the possible (but doubtful) exception of "Dexter," it is my favorite show on television right now. Granted, I don't have a TV set, but... The show's funny. The people are mean. Danny DeVito is at his best. "Day Man" is from a musical Charlie wrote one of my favorite episodes, "The Nightman Cometh," from a few years back. I found the chords and a few covers of it on the web. Most of them were pretty bad though. Props to this guy, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT8aYr-ai2E

Believe it or not, this was one of the best ones I saw, by far. So, enjoy this tune and this season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." It's been a great one so far. It cracks me up.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot about the creepy mask. My pal Andy molded that to my face back in Humboldt in 1995. It is perfectly fitted to my ample proboscis. So today, October 28th, is Halloween observed in San Diego. Yes, the kids will still get dressed up and trick-or-treat on Monday, October 31st, but today the adults go out and get crazy, and by crazy, I mean crazy wasted. No holiday better provides and excuse for women to walk the streets so nakedly. Yes, Halloween Observed is a free-for all here in the SD. Probably a lot of other places too. So this mask is my nod to Halloween, a trick and a treat, if you are so moved. It is also probably the new best cover of "Day Man" on the web. Thank you. Yours, JeffersonJay.com

Shoutout the The Funky DayMan, Damon Stoll, awesome bassist for The Jefferson Jay Band for five years. Peace to The Funky D.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 339 "Countdown"
http://youtu.be/qVVVtnF0InA


"Countdown" is a song I wrote in 1997 or 1998. It is about the feeling of a band coming together. Unfortunately every time I play, whatever band I'm in crumbles. That's why before today, I hadn't played it in several years. That's part of being in a band, I guess. I like the song though. it has pretty music. The finger picking thing at the end I enjoy, even though I kind of forgot how to sing right over that section. It's OK. This song has meaning to me.

Back in those days when I wrote this tune I lived in Arcata, CA. I did my undergraduate work at Humboldt State University there. I had some cool friends and right before I left in 2000 I forgot my dog Angel, but besides that and school, my main thing I did there was go see jazz. Every Monday, and I mean EVERY, I would go to the Jambalaya and see Sam Maez jazz. That's what it was called for the first year or so that this happened. It cost like a dollar. Very few people went. The music was incredible. I was schooled by this amazing group of musicians, led masterfully through their paces wach week by trumpeter/bandleader Sam Maez. The core would change from time to time. Duane Isaacson (guitar), Ken Susan (drums), and Ken Lawrence of Ken Lawrence Instruments - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Lawrence_Instruments - played his own custom made, world class basses.

When Sam had subs the tenor of the group could change dramatically, but I always marveled and his ability to get the best out of the group each time. I also noted as all the players would always bring their very best effort to the stage. After a year and a half or so, more people started coming out. The show caught on and got popular. I waited a year to talk much at all to these guys. I didn't want to bug them. Even though I was the only guy in the room almost sometimes, it took some time for us to all become friends. I would sit there and write and write and write, books full about Sam, the music, and whatever else their artistry made me think of. I learned the standards. I loved it. It was school, therapy, a vacation, inspiration.

One strange Monday night,I was working at HeyJuan burritos there in Arcata and cranking some Miles Davis "Kind of Blue," one of the best CDs ever. As fate would have it, The Ray Charles Band walked in. No Ray but... The music led to me and bassist Curtis Ohlsen becoming friends for a couple days. I connected the band with the jazz jam that night at Jambalaya. It was fortuitous timing. The Ray Charles guys were thrilled to have a place to go and hang. Some sat in, including their trombone player who had one arm. They were stoked. Sam & The Monday Night Band, as they came to be called were also excited at the opportunity to play with some road-tested musicians. It was a great night. Guys in Ray's band were buying Long Island Iced Teas. I'm really glad we all survived.

The next my friends Ryan and Cheryl Horvath and I sat on the stage in the wings and watched Ray Charles play from not very far away. Some day I'd like to some something with all the stuff I wrote while watching Sam and the guys play. I use the stuff I learned from Sam every single day.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 332

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 338 Randy "The Cat" Chiurazzi "Grooves Me" 11-3-2009
http://youtu.be/PuaoPadR_Fc


I wasn't sure any new people were going to be making their way into the 365 at this late juncture. Let's face it. The thrill ride is almost over. I'm going to have to start going through my mainstays once more here in the Archives and then gearing up the grand finale. and I assure you, a grand one it will be. I'm going to go out on a limb here. Anticipate the greatest climax in Operation 365 history coming up here in these next few weeks. So, I am glad Randy "The Cat" Chiurazzi snuck in.

I had considered posting Randy numerous times before. Unfortunately. every time I was going to post him, I was unsatisfied with the clips I found. I caught him slipping up once or twice and didn't want to put that out there. I assuaged that concern of mine, by not watching this clip first. I watched it enough to know it is called "Grooves Me" and it his tribute to DJs and the music they make.

Randy is a funny, unique performer. I enjoy him and his company. Every chance I get to take it in. I do it. I was even a guest on his home-filmed internet talk show once. It was funny. I pretended he had an inappropriate shrine to children on his wall. He got flustered and had to start spinning around his webcam to prove his innocence. I thought it was hilarious. I gave him a chance to interview me first, but he didn't have any questions so I took over. Good times.

This clip was filmed at my Open Mic about two years on November 11, 2009, the day before the Yankees won the World Series.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 338 "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" by Billy Joel
http://youtu.be/Injgb3TUVIc


I did a decent version of "The Ballad of Billy the Kid," especially considering the complete and total lack of piano. Billy was in his prime then and really kicks ass on this tune. I look hideous. This your face on work week. I promise to be much less greasy tomorrow. What can I tell ya? I would have liked to play it even better, but there are only so many hours in the 338th day. I guess it's truly subjective. Pretty cool tune, Billy. Thanks.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 338 "Isabelle"
http://youtu.be/PuaoPadR_Fc


So I was teaching some younger kids today. They got all the classes in the grade together. I don;t know if it was 2nd or 3rd. They told everyone a girl named Isabella is coming back to school next week after being out for a long time with lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. She had the chemo and is cancer-free now. Thank God. I was moved by this story. My heart goes out to this poor little girl and all she's gone through. Her parents also. I got a bit emotional thinking about all the horror this poor young girl has had to endre. And what a triumphant tale as she returns to school.

They told the kids that cancer is not contagious and they they should not make fun of Isabelle because she doesn't have hair. They told the kids that she and her family didn't do anything bad to deserve this. Heavens, no. Then they showed a Peanuts movie called" Why, Charlie Brown, Why," about a little girl who is friends with Linus who gets leukemia. It was both tragic and life-affirming. Tragic in that a young child could have to deal with such difficulties and life-affirming in that they can endure, survive and emerge from such a struggle.

So, we songwriters, being as we are, write songs. I hustled back to my classroom and got on it right away. I already had it playing in my head for half an hour. I just had to write it down and finish it. I then made my way to an empty music room and fingered it out on the piano real quick. It's mostly C and F.

I have never met you Isabelle, but I hope to some day. Isabelle, if you ever see this, your story inspired me today. I look up to you and how you handled this situation and I am excited for you to get back to school with all your friends. I hope you like the song I wrote for you.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 331

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 337 Dan Nichols - 1-19-2010
http://youtu.be/aV-eagZFYaA


This is Dan Nichols. Holy crap. This extra inning World Series action is awesome. I need to turn it on now. Hell yeah. Go Cards. This is Dan Nichols being funny and playing piano at my Open Mic on January 19, 2010. Dan is super talented. He did a version of "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher" by Jackie Wilson that I'll never forget.

He is an interesting and avante garde performer. In fact, this is a pretty avante garde day for this here 365. Enjoy the final word thrown in here by my pal, Rob Zero for good measure. DAVID FREESE BABY!!!!!!!!!! I'm likin' me some David Freese right now. I love baseball. George W. Bush is sad now. Ha ha.

"How did this happen?" - Tim McCarver

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 337 "Sweet Dreams"

This is dedicated to Dylan Avery, who chose this for today's tune and was jamming out to it the second he was born in 1983... on headphones. When asked for comment his mama Annie Avery, simply winced and answered, "Ouch."

Due to an abundance of horribly wrong chords on the internet, I will have to return to this number at another time. Boo false facts!

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 337 "She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper
http://youtu.be/FrgEpsJ0jBs


Cyndi Lauper was a childhood favorite of mine from roughly the same time as the song I was originally planning on doing today The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams." I had to veer from that plan when wrong chords from the internet killed my buzz about the tune. No matter. "She Bop". When Cyndi (and the great, late, Captain Lou Albano) merged rock and wrestling, that right there may have charted a path for me. I had no idea. Her clothes... Fabulous. Absurd. Maybe Cyndi Lauper is one of my hugest influences and I don't even know. Wow. My mind is a little blown right now about that.

So I had heard "She Bop" was written about spanking the monkey and now that I played I can say with confidence that "She Bop" is definitely about spanking the monkey. No question about. Exhibit A... Well, pretty much the whole lyrics. I'm not going to print them all. I've already done that ONCE this week, but it's blatant. Go Cyndi! Do what you got to do.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 337 "It's Time To Clean Up"
http://youtu.be/_qk6SrZ_khA


The irony of playing a song called "It's Time To Clean Up" after doing "She Bop" was really the last thing I was going for. It's actually kind of gross. Hmm. Was it subliminally intended I now wonder? If everything is meant to be, everything happens for a reason and nothing is random, then how can this be? It can't Ew.

Anyway, I wrote this song earlier today with the thought in mind that you could use it to torture your kids when it came time for the to clean up the room. I was teaching all day today. The little guys like giving me a run for money. At the end of the day, the more fun teaching, music at the ARTS Center to little kids, I started playing this song and it worked. They actually listened and didn't seem to mind it too much either. To me, it seems kind of repetitive, Redundant, if you will.

So I thought of this song as sort of a kids' tune/gift to parents to musically browbeat and/or playfully antagonize their children in straightening up their zone. That's what I initially meant it for. Damn linguistics and their infernal context.

In unrelated news, my longtime artist, John Warner, made my album cover today. The cover art looks great. He is blowing up huge doing work for Furthur tour and all kinds of other exciting events. Congratulations John and thanks for another amazing job!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 330

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 336 Mia 1-26-2010
http://youtu.be/CsIYdyVGvLQ

I let Philly B help choose today's archive. He took my friend Mia from the end of my Open Mic on January 26, 2010. Mia is awesome. We hung out the other day and had a blast. He's got himself a sweet spread now. It's a much longer and more interesting story than that but I imagine the man may want some privacy. So that's it. Watch the video.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 336 "Believe It Or Not" by Joey Scarbury
http://youtu.be/kYGBVhd7-fo


This song is so manly, I sped it up, just so you all could handle the manliness. I enjoyed the show "Greatest American Hero" as a youth. It was about a superhero who lost the manual on how to be a superhero so he had to learn, trial and error style. Well, believe it!

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 336 "She's Absent Today"
http://youtu.be/4xI9AQzzbt0


"She's Absent Today" is the unofficial anthem of substitute teachers. I explain it all in the video real quick. I am joined by Philly B, visiting all the way from Arizona.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 329

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 335 Jefferson Does Gu Zheng 2-12-10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwxu2tt6lMU


I will create something today. What this will be, I don't know. I will play music today. This makes me happy. I am as free as I allow myself to be. This is up to me. If I will free, I am free. If I allow myself to feel afflicted, that that's what I will be. There is black or white. There are an infinite array of colors to choose. Things can be however we want them to be.

So, today, I revisit an old artistic adventure. Maybe this will help it become new again for me. In early February 2010, I bought a ancient Chinese zither, known as a gu zheng. I was on an acquiring interesting instrument tip, inspired by thoughts of my friend Don Truesdail. I picked up an accordion, a couple banjos, a sitar and the gu zheng. I took lessons on the ones I couldn't figure out, which was most of 'em. I was playing all those instruments a bunch back then too. Not so much these days. I liked it. It was fun. These days, I don't usually feel like dealing with the hassle of takin' 'em out, settin' 'em up and puttin' em away. Sad.

I actually got OK on the gu zheng after a bit. I could play a little when this was filmed. I like the first bit the most. Maybe I should have cut it there. After, I offer my takes on Zeppelin's "No Quarter," Charbra's "Sugar," Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," and "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on an instrument from over 1000 years ago. Yes, the gu zheng goes way back. It is old school.

Enjoy!

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 335 "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXJLzYPeHy0


For a long time, I would answer "Comfortably Numb" if anyone ever asked me my favorite song. That or Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song." Life is always changing. It's hard to have favorite anything for too long these days. I used to answer my favorite movies were "The Breakfast Club" and "Silence of the Lambs." Then those answers go old, but I had no replacements. I don't know what movie I want to sit and watch that I've already seen. Those movies affected me when I saw them. That's what I liked about them, I believe.

"Comfortably Numb " and "The Wall" had a profound effect on me when I was first trying to find my way in this sometimes dark and psychedelic world. The two guitar solos David Gilmour does in the album version of this tune are still easily two of my favorite solos on any instrument ever. Unfortunately those do not appear in this version. It is hard to do justice to such a great tune. So I just did the tune. Roger Waters and David Gilmour. Those guys wrote the heck out of this number, and the whole 1970s for that matter. What an epic decade it was for Pink Floyd. That's the kind of decade I fantasize about as a musician. "Meddle," Dark Side of The Moon," Wish You Were Here,""Animals," "The Wall." If that's not 5 epic albums back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back than I don't know what would be. Thanks, Pink. It's meant a lot to me.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 335 "Time to Find an Answer"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uab_1KzsHM


I was making this one on the spot and then I stopped when I realized it needed a little more attention. So I wrote some lyrics, made up a couple changes and that was about that. "Time to Find an Answer" was born. The answer is in our minds. We have the answer. We can choose peace, calmness. We can worry about what we want or think we can need or we can bask in the blessing of everything we are. There is a glass. Half-full? Half-empty? We have a glass. And if there's anything in it, that's another cause for celebration.

When we are supposed to have things we will. If you want something put that out into the universe. It's listening. It will hear you and when the time is right it will respond. Will it be the response you want? Who knows? Will it be the response you need? Most likely. We have to trust ourselves and the universe. Life is a lesson in patience every day. Waiting for whatever it is you've set your mind. Happiness, financial stability, love. All we can do is our best and be the best we, we can be. Everything else, we have to give up to faith and trust in universe. Or we can swim in the winter. We decide.

We can be open. We can let the answer reveal itself to us.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 328

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 334 Hester Hamman 1-26-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWomi8iSGKM


Here is a rare acoustic appearance from Hester Hamman at my Open Mic on January 26, 2009. She played stand up bass, keyboard and different things at different times, but this is one of the only ones I can recall where she played one of her tunes on straight up acoustic guitar. She acquits herself very nicely on the instrument. In fact, it is my guitar she is playing.

Hester goes way back with my little corner of the music scene. She was one of the first bartenders who worked my Hot Fudge Sundae Open Mic at the old O'Connell's years ago. They went through a few of them there. My CD Release party will be held where O'Connell's once stood at a bar now known as The Griffin, 1310 Morena Blvd. We played that room twice on New Years's Eves, 2006 and 2007, I believe... or what that 2005 and 2006. No matter. So ir will be a unique homecoming of sorts.

I corresponded via text briefly with Hester last week. I sent out a few notes inviting old friends to my new Open Mic Wednesdays at a place called The Reunion, (2205 Mendocino Ave. SD, CA, 8-11PM, in case you wanted to know). Hester wrote some very friendly stuff back to my little not. She is in New York City currently and I bet she's doing great. Hopefully, we'll get to catch up soon. Hester is a wonderful woman who it's always a pleasure to visit with.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 334 "When the Saints Go Marching In" popularized by Louis Armstrong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcM1QYxC0d0


I was researching "When the Saints Go Marching In" after I had a blast recording it and I learned a few interesting things. One, there's a ton of verses like these:

We are trav'ling in the footsteps
Of those who've gone before,
And we'll all be reunited,
On a new and sunlit shore,

Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

And when the sun refuse to shine
And when the sun refuse to shine
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the sun refuse to shine

And when the moon turns red with blood
And when the moon turns red with blood
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the moon turns red with blood

Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call
Oh, when the trumpet sounds its call
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the trumpet sounds its call

Some say this world of trouble,
Is the only one we need,
But I'm waiting for that morning,
When the new world is revealed.

Oh When the new world is revealed
Oh When the new world is revealed
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the new world is revealed

Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Lord, how I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

Now I don't know if you read all that or not, but it seems like this whose song is about the apocalypse or the end of the world, or the rebirth of the world, somehow, maybe. THAT, I don't know. I played it cause it came up while I was having lunch with my pal, Rich Robbin and because Sean Power, who let me use his room at Spotless Studio to listen to a version of my upcoming CD, "Gift To Be Alive," is a big Saints fan. Thanks, Sean! I told Sean yesterday before the Sunday night game that I liked the Saints to win going away. They took it down 62-7. I'm not sad I didn't watch.

So there you go. "When the Saints Go Marching In" is far more like "Dexter" than I ever would have imagined.

Two, (I almost forgot "Two") no one knows who write his song, again kind of Dexter-ish. Yes it's a mystery. Normally, they say, it's traditional when a song is old. For "When the Saints Go Marching In," they just say, we don't know, they, being wikipedia, in this circumstance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Saints_Go_Marching_In

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 334 "Kevin Brown"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwUgDsjYFEM


"Kevin Brown" is a song I wrote about my brother, Kevin Brown. Kevin Brown is also the name of one of the worst pitchers in New York Yankees history. He almost single handedly ended the "curse" that kept the Red Sox without a World Championship for my grandpa's whole life. F that guy. My brother on the other hand, is cool. He was 10 when I wrote this song in his honor. My other brother, John and I were in Utah, sitting my a river when I wrote this tune. It was like 11 years ago... My pooch Angel was a baby.

Now Kevin is all grown up. He is a collegiate now, a teacher, and he's studied in Scotland. He is growing in to a fine young man, as I knew he would. I'm a proud brother. Life is beautiful like that park in Utah where John and I camped before heading to hike the Grand Canyon.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 327

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 333 3:33.3 of Richard Romero & 3 Friends - 3-3-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bUSjHW7TyM


This is Day 333 of the Operation 365 so I am going to 3-3-09, nine being three times three. Then I am going to go to the three minutes and thirty-three seconds spot (assuming it's at least somewhat appropriate) and then I'm going to share the first 3:33 that I find. Let's see all this 3:33.

Wow. What an awesome some piece of music, that I might never have found to otherwise. I glanced through this same show today and had no idea this was there. How awesome. I love this life. Richard Romero, Misha Borisovsky, Amadou Fall. The Soul Man. Four amazing musicians. Kicking off my Open Mic. What an honor everything is. Honestly.

Cool. If you watch 'til the end you get to see me act bitchy. If it wasn't for the whole 3:33 thing, I'd have probably included more music and less whatever comes after, but hey. I took even one step further actually. At the three minutes and thirty-three seconds and three-tenths of second mark I came in for exactly three minutes and thirty three seconds and three-tenths of a second, not including the four seconds that the screen shows and tells you what's been happening. It's a sweet science, this 365, really.

Shout out to LP records which spun at thirty-three revolutions per minute. That sounds right. Right?

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 333 "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXmYJS_qniM


Thanks to my baby, Leanne, and our pup Nigel's baby, a one-armed stuffed pink guy. They collaborated masterfully on this project. Look how Nigel looks on in proud admiration. We're a close family.

Continuing on my speeding tunes up kick of these last few days, we had some fun with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling." There may be a couple "wrong" chords mixed in. Nothing that distracts TOO much from the fun, I hope. God bless the 365.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 333 "I'm Dizzy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5eI7zMgO5s


Leanne is my special gal. I am very blessed. We had breakfast and did a crossword puzzle. We ate eggs. We came home and took pictures in Photo Booth. It was fun. She spun me around on a chair and I almost got dizzy. Then I wrote this song instead.

I have really enjoyed the forced-to-write-sings-almost daily part of the 365. It keeps me on my toes. Sharp. I have always dreamed of having a job where I wake up in the morning and know I have to write music and work on music all day. Going on tour is a little like that, but not in regards to writing. So this is a little like that. It's just not a job. It's an Operation.

Life will spin you around.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 326

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 332 Destructo Bunny with Jason Burleson 2-3-09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r7jrE45acE


Here are two of my great pals, Destructo Bunny and Jason Burleson from my Open Mic on 2-3-09. The Bunny is playing a gig tonight in his hometown of The City of Mercy, Merced, CA. He has put a nice group together with Apaulo8 and Mark Boyce on keys, two awesome guys. I saw their group Thursday at Winston's and they had some sick thick grooves going. It was righteous.

Jason Burleson, I haven't seen as much lately. I miss him an his unique perspective on things. Hopefully, we will be able to reconnect soon. I have to go help make sure a little girls' birthday party rocks out in Balboa Park here in a few, so I am going to cut this short. Peace Everywhere to Everyone Always.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 332 "Spirit In the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMlIAhEkm0g


I decided today would be a great day to appreciate three-chord tunes. So I did a little search for three-chord tunes and I wound up at this page: http://chainsawguitartuition.net/blog/learn-to-play-20-easy-three-chord-guitar-songs/

There are links to some nice three-chord tunes there. I had actually already done most of them, but not "Spirit In the Sky." "Spirit In the Sky" is a beloved song. I was kind of surprised it only had three chords. I have always thought it was weird that a song that features Jesus in a such a central way was written by a dude named Norman Greenbaum. Norman Greenbaum is the most Jewish name, this side of Shlomo Schwartz. Well, now I finally do that research and find out what's up with that and report it directly to you. I have wondered this for some time.

With the aid of wikipedia, this is what I learned,

He (Norm) was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum later said : "I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes."[1]

"Spirit in the Sky" contains lyrics about the afterlife, making several references to Jesus. However, Greenbaum, who is Jewish, stated that he had no particular religious intentions with the song.[2]

Kind of anti-climactic. And this is why we sometimes let the songs speak for themselves.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 332 "Love Will Lead the Way"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdog-imuHUE


Continuing with three-chord fun day, I wrote this little number after I hit record. I like it it. It is another one of those with potential. I can write a song on the spot in a few minutes, but polishing it and getting it to be exactly the way you might want it can take a bit more time. There is not time for that time in this here 365. I'll have the rest of my life to revisit these tunes after Thanksgiving.

I named it "Love Will Lead the Way" after considering "Migrate to the Music" and "Dabba Dabba Doo Doo," my neighbor's suggestion. I chose "Love Will Lead the Way" because I did "Spirit In the Sky" today on my three-chord appreciation afternoon and I dug the slight similarity there. Love WILL lead the way. I hope all these politicians AND protestors remember all this as they set about working out their differences in the weeks, months and years to come. A plan built on anything else will be incomplete at best. Love is the foundation for positivity in this world. It is the only way.

NOTE on the 365: 332 days in. What I've learned (in part). What you do is what you do. Every single day.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 325

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 331 Robin Lee 4-30-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTsHc7QzLrQ


Here is another awesome Robin Lee song that I don't know the name of. I don't feel so bad this time, 'cause you can see as the song starts, Robin doesn't remember the name of it either. I love and miss Robin very much and she is on my mind lots. She is joined here by Jack Davidson.

I am pretty organized when it comes to all this Archive stuff, more or less. This show is an exception. I posted a clip from Robin playing at this same show months ago. Then I thought it was April 9, 2009. Now I'm pretty sure, it is 4-30-2009, as sure as I can be anyway, without an demonstrable proof to fall back on. It matters to me and me alone, what day it was. Damn love for history. What can I tell ya?

What's most important is you get to see how awesome Robin is. Whether you've seen her play tons of times or never at all, doesn't really matter. What we have is now. Then again, I'm really glad I saw her play, so I guess it's easy for me to say. Peace

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 331 "Down By the River" by Neil Young
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD58LF22rLU


"Down By the River" was one of the first cover tunes I ever learned. I learned out of the back of some guitar magazine with Trey from Phish on the cover. Neil Young is one of the people I respect most in music history. The man wreaks of integrity. This version of "Down By the River" is anything but the one I learned that day 15 years ago. First of all, I couldn't play anywhere near this fast. Second of all, I hadn't yet learned to traslate my daffiness to acoustic guitar. At least not that I recall.

In public events, I am revolted by the public and Geneva Convention-defying murder of Qadaffi, or however you sell it. I am not defending the dude at all. I am just saying of you're going to go to the trouble of having international law, you should follow it. Otherwise why bother? and if our leaders don't follow the laws they've made, why should anyone else? I have no idea. When did bringing someone to trial become such an unacceptable thing to do? Finally, rapture liar, Harold Camping, is about to be wrong with his revised lies about the end of the world. Love it when greedy, fear-mongering liars who use God to make cash get shown to be lying hypocrites that they are.

Thank God we have nice, wholesome songs like "Down By the River" to take our minds of all the madness that is daily life.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 331 "The Kindergarten Blues"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROZMLSTUMK0


So I accepted an assignment to be a resource teacher at an urban city school. When I got to work, way too early in the morning, I learned I was teaching kindergarten. Well, I teach all the grades from time to time and kindergarten is by far the hardest hands down. Situations like this are the reason why. The day is going great and then al of a sudden all of the children start attacking me. First they tried to pull me down by my legs. I asked, told, and insisted they stop repeatedly, but to no avail. They do what they want. There is no reasoning with them.

Eventually, I just put my head down, pretending I was crying, in hopes they would feel bad and ease up. Not so much. Instead they just started pounding on my back. It was like getting hit with a hundred soft, little hammers. Oh yeah, they were screaming while they did it. A few children trie to protect me, but they were definitely the minority. I must definitely have accrued some bad sub karma from way back in the day. Eventually, some authority figure came in due to the screaming and lectured them in Spanish. It was amazing to watch instantly revert to their imitation of fully formed humans. Then the policeman came in and gave 'em a talking to to.

They are so darn cute, you can't be mad at 'em for too long. Another of the many dilemmas involved in teaching these minute pups. So that's the story. No harm, no foul. no bumps, no bruises. Just another day at the office. Maybe someday, I'll make a living doing something a lot more like this, and then I won't have to go anymore. Who knows? Maybe then, I'll have 5-year olds of my own to scrap with. At least if I did, it would be one-on-one and I could legally defend myself without hurting someone else's kid, by mistake. Great times. Gotta love this life. What other choice do we have?

http://news.yahoo.com/video/sandiegochannel8-15751279/suspect-attacks-couple-with-machete-in-normal-heights-27029713.html

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 324

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 330 "Dragon Swan Song" by Don Truesdail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QuwjzNoyMk


"Dragon Swan Song" means a lot to me. It is an epic song about a man who never does quite as much as he hoped he would. One could think from the lyrics, he didn't do much at all, but a song can only say so much. You can't tell a person;s life story in a song, any more than you could in a book or a movie, You can only tell parts, parts enough to make the point you want to make. Don Truesdail wrote a fabulous song. Many, actually. I've taken more time to absorb this one though They are intentionally thick.

I know I would play this song in the 365. Today is his birthday. It was the day it was meant to be. So I did it. It felt good.

Happy Birthday Don. You'd be 37. Just like me. And Matt and JT. Matt helped me with my flat tire than I got today. JT helped me finish "Gift To Be Alive." It's a work I'm proud of. Thank you Don for being my friend & sharing so many awesome times with me & so many awesome tunes with the world. Peace

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 330 "Pooch, Poochie, Pooch, Pooch"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBVPswy3Ys


"Pooch, Poochie, Pooch, Pooch" was written for pooches. It's a pooch appreciation song. Straight up. It is also dedicated to DonT.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 330 At Home With Don Truesdail & Angel Gets a Gift - Christmas 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL5aOV4hF8s


This one is self-explanatory. Peace and love. Always and forever. Onward and UPWARD, RIGHT ON.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 323

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 329 Justin Mills & Jefferson Jay "Little Darling" 12-5-09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zl3e--3NZw


Golly, I've been blogcrastinating. This was a fun moment. The 365 returns to the OB Holiday Parade on December 5, 2009. Wes Davis, Blowski, Charlotte James, Barbara Tolbert, Adrianna Martin-Morningstar and myself loaded up on to The Arc of Clark and participated in some parade-y revelry. There was singing, dancing, a whole lot of holiday fun. We even got our driver, "The General" Justin Mills in on the fun. I started playing his classic tune, "Little Darling." I was confident there's no way he would sing. He is a little particular form time to time. Did I mention he hasn't played a gig in years? To my surprise, he took the mic though and festivity prevailed.

Now I'm not saying this version here is one of the high points in the history of music or anything. That would be up to you, but that's not why I'm posting it, regardless. it was a great moment in friendship history, a terrific moment in fun history and THAT's why it is offered in this here Operation 365. Not everything in this life can be epic. Some stuff is relegated to just begin awesome. Everything is perfect. You just need to see it in the right light.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 329 "Faith" by George Michael
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teLtyYUH1e0


Hell yeah, I have faith. In fact, I've been having such a jolly good time on these covers the last few days, I think they may have slipped ahead of the Archives in the most challenging task in the 365 from day to day. In fact, today the tricky part has been motivating myself to blog. Usually that part comes easy. I have thoughts about all these things obviously, I just have to open up the brain and let 'em rip. Perhaps I should say drip... no matter. Either mind...

So, yes, see, rambling comes naturally to me. Tonight I host Open Mic at The Reunion. What a fitting name. The good vibe has been on hand in a big way. I am gong to go discuss all the fun events of recent weeks on the radio, 94.9 with Tim Pyles on Sunday. It's always fun to catch up with my pal, Tim. So yes... "Faith." I hope you dig my down-home version.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 329 "Whatever Doesn't Kill You..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxCEN3ZpZeM


In summation... (for some reason, I just wanted to say that) I wrote this in class the other day. The teacher knows I do the music thing. I tend to keep my lives as separated as possible. Just makes life easier, usually. Well, it was an English class, so the teacher suggested I share my writing process with the class during the last 15 minutes of class after the main lesson was over. I said, "OK." When It came time to do, I had a slightly different idea.

I pointed out how few minutes were left in the class and then I started writing. First the chords, then the lyrics. I'm not sure I said much at all. When I was done, I looked at the clock. Three minutes. Three minutes had passed. I'm not sure they knew what to think. I am pretty sure they knew what I thought though. It came out to quickly for me to have much a filter. This is how I felt in class at work that day. Life as an adult. Pretty scary. Ha.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 322

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 328 Jefferson Jay "All My Life" 12-5-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcp0YkSldUw


Here is a clip from our excursion in the Ocean Beach Holiday Parade in 2009. Blowski and I helped our pal Tim Clark, built us a moving stage. He built it right on to a truck. We called it the Arc of Clark. It shook a lot when we danced when it was driving. It required sea legs for sure. We assembled quite a team to ride the Arc. Barbara Tolbert, Charlotte James, Adrianna Martin-Morningstar joined and Wes Davis and myself and we had a good time. "The General" Justin Mills drove the boat. He and Adrianna would couple up several months later and now they are engaged. Who knew?

Here, we are singing Justin's trademark tune, "All My Life." There is audience participation. Wes provides harmonica and Stephen Malkmus-inspired vocals. Barbara taps the tambourine. 'Twas a fun day upon a truck.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 328 "You're the One That I Want" - John Farrar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Yjkk-Tqyo


I am dedicating this one to my baby, my special lady, Leanne Pearl. I had fun playing it because I meant it and that felt good. I also had fun playing it because it's "Grease" and "Grease" is awesome. Playing Danny Zuco is one of the few life goals I have that I've never achieved. I think that moment may have passed. I would need a lot of make-up. This was fun and I'm sure this will be the new way most people play, "You're the One That I Want" before too long... No question.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 328 "Times Like These"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQjXBzv3rVQ


"Times Like These" is a little number I just made. I think it has lots of potential. I used some neat chords. I made the lyrics as I went but I dig the concept, which is... These times are wild. We need to act accordingly. There's a lot on the line. We must make these times what we want them to be, because that's our best chance at them getting that way. Nothing does itself. We have to make it happen, by occupying the spaces we wish to inhabit, and doing what we need to when we get there. I think I may refine it after this 365 is done. Maybe sooner.

I've been working on getting my CD "Gift To Be Alive" out soon. We are near the deadline. The CD Release is on 11-11-11, just a few weeks away. Much to do remains. I still need cover art. Gift to Be Alive/ How do you say that with imagery? Hmmm... I'm open to ideas...

Monday, October 17, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 321

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 327 Mac Mac 8-13-2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXBfO_o8l4k


Here is Mac Mac from Joe and Jen Stevens' Wedding on August 13, 2008. Mac Mac is a good guy. He is very helpful in a number of ways including photo and video stuff. Lately, he has been down at Occupy San Diego quite a bit representing. I thank him for that. It is a noble quest. I believe.He is also a veteran of the armed forces and here is my favorite song. Sadly, I forget its name, but it deals with some of the issues Mac Mac had in the aftermath of participating in warfare.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Outtakes - 327 "Stir It Up" by Bob Marley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgzOe2H8hmg


I was a little down, waiting for the day to end here in school. I had to do a cover and I am too emotionally exhausted to work too hard on it. Fortunately I found "Stir It Up" in my memory and online and playing it made me a feel a bunch better for a bit. School will be over soon. Lots more to do today, as usual. So I think I'll tie it up quick, (Is this song about sex?) but not before thanking music for once again cheering me up, giving me perspective, purpose, and a way to express my art and feelings.

I hope you like today's 365. I apologize. I don't feel like I brought my A-game. Life doesn't not always permit. We do the best we can.

DOH! I looked it up and I did "Stir It Up" on Day 189. Bummer. I guess I will post this as an outtake instead, just because it's there.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 327 "Happiness Is Warm Gun" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtNVab_gySI


Playing "Happiness Is Warm Gun" may have cheered me up even more than playing "Stir It Up" probably in no small part because I am home and free at last. Yes, I am still workin' at the 365 and I am going to the studio to work for a few more hours soon, but I am doing what I like, what I choose and what I feel like and that feels amazing. I am feeling euphoria inches away. It is very exciting. plus I love "Happiness Is Warm Gun." It cheers me up like I don't know what. The dark subject matter, the light lyrics, another Beatles masterpiece. The 365 wouldn't have been complete without it.

I played it naked. I want to come out of the closet about something. I like being naked. I see nothing wrong with it. It's not that I'm an exhibitionist or want anyone to see me. I don't. I am just comfortable in the outfit I was born in and it is my preferred costume for sleeping and chilling around the house whenever its appropriate. Sue me. Because I don't wish to be seen, I almost always throw on some fabric for the 365, but today, I just didn't feel like it. I was feeling like I'd already done enough things that I didn't wan to for one day and if I want to be naked than that's what I'm gonna be, goshdarnit. I did use my guitar to cover up as much as possible though. You're welcome.

Sometimes when I do one of these nude, (There's been a couple times...) I distort the colors a bunch so no one knows whats going on, much less what I'm wearing. It's artsy. Well, so is playing a Beatles tune in your birthday suit. The land of the free and the home of the brave, right? Well, this is my patriotic statement for the day. I am me and proud to be. If that offends you, find a mirror and work it out. Peace.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 327 "Diggin' Out"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2BwFYeycJY


I''m not even sure I like this song, "Diggin' Out". I just wrote it. I was in a class with some students. They were talking and being disrespectful. I spoke to their regular teacher and he told me to demand that they be absolutely silent. I did. It worked more or less. The quiet gave me space to write a little something. This little something. I was writing about how lost so many of these kids look. It's like someone told them they'll explode if they try to hard in school, so they do everything they can not to try at all. Not always, just often. Watching so many people waste so much time each day depresses me. It makes you with you were elsewhere. Then I feel like I need to dig out too.

This feeling is compounded when the teachers all treat you like a pariah just cause you're a sub. I have to go beg forgiveness from one after school today. Her kids left her room a mess last week and I didn't clean it up. I didn't know I was supposed to. If she says anything to the boss, that might be just enough to make me gone. I am a sub, That is how dispensable we are. If anyone says anything, with grounds or not, they'll just get someone else to do the job. Nothing like groveling for a job you barely want but really need. Sad.

So I thought a little about the protestors on the city streets of New York with the cold, hard winter coming. I thought about how they're not gonna want to be there, but they will, because that's what they gotta do. I am here feeling the same way, without all the adrenaline and righteousness of doing such an awesome thing for our country. I am just waiting for some miserable person to get mad enough for whatever reason and see that I'm sent packing. It's that easy. Hey, maybe I'll find out I wrote a cool song. One can hope.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 320

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 326 Backstage at The Belly Up with The Jefferson Jay Band - 8-19-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk3P1_0AtRA


Here we are with The Jefferson Jay Band chilling back stage at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach before our show on August 19, 2009. Yesterday, Prince Harry, descendant of the seemingly immortal Queen Elizabeth, was there kicking it for Vokab Kompany and Karl Denson. One of the main guys in Vokab subs at the same school I do, or so they tell me.

So normally, I wouldn't share a video like this. There is nothing fancy to it. It is almost personal. But after showing a musical clip fro one of my shows pretty much every day, it feels good to shake it up and share something that I probably wouldn't otherwise. There is one shot in here I really like of The Soul Man standing int he doorway bathed in white light. That might make a good T-shirt.

Artists appearing include, (in no particular order): Blowski, Jose Maldonado, Richard Romero, Jeff Dewine, Jack Davidson, Justin Werner, Apaulo 8, Misha Borisovsky, me and The Soul Man. Special thanks to playing the pretty part of "Stairway to Heaven" as our band made it's way to the stage.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 326 "Fraggle Rock Theme" by Phillip Balsam & Dennis Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ40cqUH98c


I loved "Fraggle Rock" when I was a kid, It's another of the many music/hippie influences that led me on the path my has gone. have a book I wrote about the the hippies handling by the mass media in 1967 had a huge impact on the movement and how they are viewed to this day. It sits in a file on my computer. It is not a book, I guess, but could be pretty easily. It needs editing. I have a million things like that.

I have a solution for the players to the NBA strike. I have a line of musical instruments that I've invented the likes of which the world has never seen. They are designed to be affordable and bring everybody the ability to make beautiful music. I've said too much already... There are many other things like this. I have a catering business that can't fail, a movie based on my first album "Great Story," a comedy screenplay about steroids in baseball, a lot of other business ideas that don't really fit anywhere on my board in the board game of life. I'm just putting it out there. Maybe someone will see this and hit me up and see that some of this gets done. It can happen. It just requires some capital.

These must be the kinds of things you think when you watched "Fraggle Rock" a lot as a child. At least they are for me.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 326 "Olson"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVj1erCBR9E


So last night my buddy Dylan Avery, visited from L.A. with his adorable pooch Gordo. Gordo and I were featured in last week's San Diego Reader. See here.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2011/oct/05/blurt4/

We were catching up. Boy, does he have an interesting life. I dont; even know where to begin. I'll skip the whole part about Alec Baldwin and get right to his new short film "Olson." "Olson" is a story about a happy-go-lucky working stiff who weaves his way through a maze of crazy character and wacky adventures... or something like that. I watched it. I got it.... and thens something happened. This song popped into my head. It was a theme song, of sorts, an anti-theme song of others and the whole thing came out like a C-section delivery. I wasn't sure if he would like it. My "Olson" would-be theme is not in EXACTLY the same mood as Dylan's fiery flick. He approved. It's ironic like rain on your wedding day... or something like that. Maybe it's juxtaposition. I use that would correctly about 16% of the time.

I fired up the 'ol iMovie and I recorded. I was still figuring out the fine-tunings of it all, so I tried it a couple times and I share two here. The first is short and sweet, appropriate for a fun, little film, like this one. The second is longer and features commentary from director Dylan Avery. It is not commentary pertaining to the song or the movie, per se. He is having a phone conversation about the Occupy San Diego and other stuff, in the background. Then he sings along a little. It is festive. He later left my house, went to the Occupy San Diego, got physically ill, and is said to be slowly recovering. We wish a speedy recovery and backup vocalist and direct inspirer of this song, American hero/major sweetie, Dylan Avery.

Oh, in entirely unrelated news... The folks at "The Scott and BR Show" on xx1090AM, "San Diego's (self-appointed) sports leader", created a video tribute page my songs that were inspired by their pretending to want to have me on their. Thanks guys for the love. See you when I see you.

http://www.doublex1090.com/pages/scottandbrshow_landing?Scott--BR-gave-Jefferson-Jay-Radio-Blueb=1&blockID=551714&feedID=10151

Thank you for playing the Operation 365.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 319

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 325 Hugh Gaskins "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" 12-17-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q5R03rBrCk


Hugh was in my dream last night. Someone told me something happened to him. I'm glad it was just a dream. Hugh is an awesome dude. Here he is, playing at my December 17, 2009, my last Thursday show of the year that year. I remember for the first while after I met Hugh back at Twiggs, in '01 maybe. I just noticed that he was extremely loud compared the other acoustic types. I had no idea we'd become such good friend.

Hugh has consistently supported me at my shows ever since. He and The Soul Man are the only artists, besides me of course, to play at all 4 of my 24 Hours of Free Music concerts. I think he played a couple '12 Hours" shows I did too. I went to his wedding lat year. He had me MC the affair. Leanne and I had a wonderful time. She says it was the day she fell in love with me. Thanks Hugh.

I went to his CD release party at Humphrey's a few months ago. He was really appreciative that I came. He posted this on the Facebook a couple days later. "Jefferson is one of the very best in this town at running a show of any sort especially of open mic variety. Every day that goes by without Jefferson at the helm of a show is a loss for musicians in this town. Hugh." Well, Hugh is happy to know that I am back. I'm happy too. Things are going great at The Reunion and I am hoping Hugh makes it out to join us on a Wednesday real soon.

So here Hugh is, playing unamplified in December of 2009 at our final Thursday of the year. He even pops a string at the end, one of his classic moves. Paul Lopez and Soul Man step up and join him on congas and guiro, respectively as he plays The Carter family classic "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" Nice gospel, Hugh. Nice audience vocals coming from Sweet Joyce Ann, I believe. Maybe Annie Rettic too? The guiro's pretty loud with on mics. I can say this. It was a truly unique time, that late 2009. A great time for a revival.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 325 "Hey You" by Roger Waters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0jaEfUFPV4


"Hey You" is a classic of Pink Floyd's epic 'The Wall." To this day, I claim "The Wall" as my favorite CD ever, just cause it is so classic and it meant so much to me at a real dark time. I have been procrastinating auditioning for the really cool Pink Floyd cover band for months, even though all I had to do to audition is this right for about 5 other tunes. I have seriously mixed feeling about the thoughts of traveling around the world for a few months making good money playing Floyd tunes for lots of people. Sounds silly, right? I love my life and I love Floyd's music as much as anyone's but... I love my pooches and my lady and my friends I would love to tour doing my own stuff, but suffice it to say, that would be a much smaller tour at this point. I should send something in, maybe this, but for all I know it's too late now anyway. It would be fun, I suppose, and great experience undoubtedly. Life is funny. Some stuff we're driven to do by uncontrollable forces inside ius. Other stuff, not so much. Hail Floyd!

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 325 "Dragonbreath"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrLPsfDJg3A


Today is a big day locally in the wonderful world of dissent. The shook up the Occupy San Diego thing downtown. People are scattering. There is a gathering in North County in Encinitas. There is a whole march from Balboa Park to downtown and back. I should take in some of it, to participate and all. For now, I am driving away at today's 365. It is only 1:30. My urge for food is a little stronger than my urge to chant and march at this moment.

What I did do though, is dig into my songwriting archives for a protest tune, I wrote long before protesting became cool again. Who saw that coming? I wrote "Dragonbreath" in '02 or '03 and it's all right there, personal responsibility, the fact that each individual has a stake in this game, the fact that we should cure hunger first. There's a lot in there. I don;t play this one so much anymore. Today was the first time in a long while. Some of the references are dated. Back then DVDs were new and fancy-ish Now there's Blu-Ray or whatever they have. I tried to throw in a line about the iPhone 4 just to make it seem a little less out of touch with today. Either way. Protest is protest. Dissent is dissent. It's about time. Brothers and sisters in love, this song is yours to use as you see fit. We are all in this together. "Imagine no possessions" - John Lennon.

This 365 is me giving everything to the universe. Use it if you like for whatever purpose you deem true. This is a message for individuals, not corporations. My fellow earthlings, I give myself to you... I may just need to go give myself to bacon real quick first. In the meantime, here's another song. Oh, in case you missed. in this song, we are the dragon, and by acting we breathe. We can be big and strong. We can breath fire. We can breath lov if we want to. I think it's a god idea. Hope all those protesting don't forget about it, when they're making the media a list of what we believe. My friend Will Edwards convinced that leaving things open-ended and undefined makes for a lot of flexibility. With this great flexibility, our limitless potential is retained. It's a lot harder to attack a fire-breathing love dragon when you're not sure who it is , what its doing or why. This will all become clear in time.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 318

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 324 Jefferson Jay "Killing's Wrong" 12-17-09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPB50IjNV7w


The beauty about me changing the lyrics to "Killing's Wrong" every time is I can post it over and over again without feeling guilty. Most of the songs we played in those days are on my new CD "Gift To Be Alive." I have been saving all those tunes for after the CD release (on 11-11-11 at The Griffin) and a lot of times, that leaves "Killing's Wrong." It's all good. I hope it's a funny one. I didn't watch it yet. Being honest.

In other CD related news, I started a Kickstarter program to help raise the last bit of dough I need to master the record and print it up. Here is a link if you want to see my little pitch. I did it at school. I think I did a good job. Check it out, especially if you don't know what kickstarter is or you want to be part of this fine thing. Kickstarter is a great new organization that tries to help fund inspiring (perhaps un-inspiring ones too, I don't know) art projects.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2116246188/friends-of-gift-to-be-alive-jefferson-jays-5th-cd?ref=email

I've never done anything like this before so I don't know. Figure I have to try. Maybe it will work out. A lot of times, I see people asking for a million dollars (slight exaggeration) on this thing. I am trying to raise a much more reasonable 2 G's. Fun and prizes also. Please inquire within.

In case you don't click, here is the video I made for the Kickstarter. They said to make a video. it's pretty funny.



I am joined at this December 17, 2009 funfest by Blowski on keys, Paul Ruiz on trumpet, Marko Paul on sax, Paul Lopez on congas and The One and Only Soul Man on guiro.

I love this beautiful life.

NOTE: After watching this video, I realized I had a couple more things I wanted to say about it. Watching it made me realize that SDecember 17, 2009 was our last Thursday show of the year that year. The last Thursday show of 2008 was one of the most memorable nights of my life. It was the culmination of a triumphant year for friendship and music and it turned out to be Don Truesdail's last performance.

So much had changed in a year. Friendship and music were still in the house, but just about everything else was different. Most of us were ready for 2009 to be over. There were some great times though. It was the end of the year. This we knew, but it was the beginning of the end for Portugalia, the restaurant where a lot of these shows went down. This we only sensed. There were some pretty big signs, though...

For exapmle, the venue had lost its right to use mics. I guess the owner had upset someone (or lots of people) and they took away his right to have mics. Most of the other shows had to stop because of this, but I soldiered on, adapting my programs as best I could to an old-fashioned truly acoustic format. No mics at all. I thought it was pretty sporty of me. It didn't matter. Appreciation from the venue for my efforts had pretty much left the building. It's OK. It was a good run. I am proud of my work there. Can ya tell?

Also, this was (apparently, I don't remember) the day after I got my new banjo. Before Don died, I never would have imagined myself playing any other instruments besides guitar ande bass, too much. After Don died, I felt a huge calling to. In the first days after he died, someone offered my an accordion. I took it as the universe telling me something. So I got that banjo. I already had one, but this one was way better. Don played with a banjo a bit in his last months, about a year before this was filmed. We jammed with it together some. Well, the interesting part, to me, is, I wound up playing that banjo a lot. I played with Wes Davis in his Clean Dirt Boys band and on the road with him on our April 2011 tour. I had no idea I'd played it on stage just after I got it. Life goes in circles, I guess. I almost never play it now. I like banjo, too...

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 324 "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" by Calvin Carter & James "Pookie" Hudson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JpEcPkUkDk


For today's cover, we'll go all the way back to 1955, Marty McFly-style. "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" was a hit for The Spaniels. It's a sweet smooth tune. Fun to play. Thanks to me dear, Leanne and Nigel, our pooch and dancing and smooches.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 324 "The In-Love Blues"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YEEzcFuOBs


Here, Leanne and I got busy on a little instrumental blues jam. Shucking and grooving, we scat and rat-a-tat-tat through a sweet blues progress in the key of Love Major. Awwww...

I love you, honey.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 317

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 323 Paul Lopez and Friends "South Bay Boogaloo Blues" 12-3-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRRvNutA5Z8


Here is another song from Paul Lopez Music group's set on December 3, 2009. I was a huge fan of the short-lived band. Who knows? Reunions happen. I miss my friend Paul Lopez. He is a fabulous musicians and I always enjoyed his company. I hope this finds him well.

Lopez is joined by Paul Ruiz on trumpet, Mikey on drums (I don't know his last name), Soul Man on guiro, and "JT" Jim Tuggey on bass. I don't know Mikey very well, but JT, Ruiz, and Soul Bro are as cool a 3 dudes as you're ever gona get. Doing music with individuals of this quality of character makes making music an honor, a pleasure, a privilege and a treat every time.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 323 "Super Freak" by James and Alonzo Miller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=400xmEdTkb0


"Super Freak" is a pretty universally adored tune. I had never played it before, but it is very fun to play, I learned quickly. Rick James is funky, or was funky and the Charlie Murphy skit about him on the Dave Chappelle Show was really funny. Funny and funky. "I'm Rick James" ...sir.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 323 "Independent Girl"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At0MozHRIPM


So yesterday, I was feeling gung ho poochie, in the afterglow of discovering that my friends' Lauren and Jeremiah had adopted a second pooch, a 2-month old boxer named Rosie. I recorded a couple of tunes saluting pooches and then I set about recording a pooch-related archive. About an hour later, I have put together this "Independent Girl" video , atribute to my bestest friend Angel. Angel is 11. She 3/4 lab and 1/4 border collie. I grabbed all kinds photos taken throughout her life and put them together with this tune I recorded long ago, when I was coming to terms with the fact that "Angel does what Angel wants to do."

The story behind this song is pretty interesting. So a number of years ago (2003? 2004? 2005? It was shortly after that huge tsunami in Phuket.) I was exploring methods to bring my music to a whole lot more people. I came upon a company called Taxi designed to help get independent artists' music in the hands of movers and shakers. I went to this convention they held called The Road Rally. It was alright. The best part about it was the chance to connect with some of my peers, so we could all commiserate about the uphill climb of the unsigned artist. I liked most of the folks I met a lot. Probably the coolest part of the whole thing was meeting Shawn Kilroy, an interesting artist from Philadelphia. We became fast friends and concocted a plan to meet up in Jersey and do some recording together.

It turned that we had my mom's whole house to ourselves for a weekend and we decide to challenge ourselves. (Think Operation 365.) Te challenge we created for ourselves was to record to a whole CD with all new material, start to finish, during this roughly 36-hour period. We started. Shawn did the heavy lifting early, producing beats and other parts of songs. He pretty much produced the whole thing actually. I did the lion's share of the writing. I was a bit distracted by a lady friend early on, so I got busy later. No pun intended. Late that night, I wrote a handful of tune, including this here "Independent Girl."

36 hours is 36 hours, but I was very proud of what we accomplished. It was fun too. Tere were lots of different kinds of tunes. My pal, Spencer Katzman guested on a couple. So did the legendary Carlos Comitini, The Mack Daddy. So, I never play this song, but I think of it from time to time and I am proud of the loving retrospective it's provided here on the first 11 years of Angel's life. It was a blast working with Kilroy, We named the band, which has just that one CD to its credit, Jefferson Kilroy and we named the offering, "The New Jersey Sessions." Out of respect and appreciation for Mr. Kilroy's indispensable efforts on the expedition, I stuck a picture somewhere in the middle of him sitting at a computer working on these tunes.

Angel has a million nicknames: Ange (pronounced Ainge), Strange, Strangel, Angellica (her whole name), Strangellica, Flizeppo, Strangellina, Strangellina Jolie, Poochesa, Jackie, Blackie, Sweetie-Pie, Poocherella... No matter the name, I love her the same. She has been my best friend and a never-ending source of love the entire time. I am so proud of her. She has been a great dog for quite awhile now. She is my best reference, my Ambassador of Love. Playing ball with her always makes me smile and when I'm sad, there is no one more comforting to cry on. Unconditional loving everybody always is highest height we can hope to achieve on this plane. Many humans can't even conceive such a way of being. For my dog, it's just another day of being Angel.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 316

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 322 Paul Lopez and Friends "OB Love" 12-3-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvFbhcbRiZ4


Here is some great music played by a great group of guys. They named the song "OB Love" as a shout-out to love in our heavenly home place of Ocean Beach, San Diego. Around this time, December 2009, it looked like Paul Lopez, virtuoso conguero on Aqua Dulce was going to be leading a kick-ass band for some time. I loved them as they came together. I felt the music they were making was inspired. At this time, Paul Ruiz was backing Paul Lopez on trumpet, Jim "JT" Tuggey was on bass, and The Soul Man was on guiro. Some of the other members changed as time went on and the band sort of vanished. Life is funny that way. You never know what is going to happen. I am glad I captured the band in its inception and as it grew for awhile. I really loved the musical and sensory experience their music provided.

JT, playing bass for this ensemble, is an awesome dude. He has worked with me closely on my next CD, "Gift To Be Alive," which I am releasing on November 11, 2011 at The Griffin in San Diego, 1310 Morena Blvd. It's where the old O'Connell's used to be. I think extremely highly of JT. As I do of my Jefferson Jay Bandmates, Senors Ruiz and Soul Man, of course. Paul Lopez, I used to see a lot. He played all the drums and percussion on "Gift To Be Alive." It's been awhile though and I hope to catch up with in time to invite him to the CD Release party. This is me putting that out there in the universe. More Paul Lopez Music Group, as I used to call it tomorrow. They later changed the name to LoPro. That name is probably more fitting.

I almost forgot. Special guest appearance by Wes Davis. Peace

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 322 "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" by Mel Tillis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAzij4rGa48


Apparently, it's Poochie Appreciation Day on the 365. I'm feelin' the love for our four-legged furry friends today and I'm going with it all the way to Day 323.

So the lovely couple I married a month or so ago, (actually, exactly a month ago, yesterday) Lauren and Jeremiah Bryant adopted an adorable little Boxer puppy named Ruby recently. I saw a photo on Facebook that brightened up my day immeasurably. What can I tell ya? Subbing is not as glamorous as you think. A few back and forths and I learned miscellaneous cute puppy was a girl named "Ruby." Then I went and learned this tune.

Yes, "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town," is about a guy who comes back form war paralyzed from the waist down and his girl leaves him and goes and parties it up. I think we can safely assume that is not whom the cute puppy is named after, but the song is pretty neat all the same. I'm familiar with the Kenny Rogers version. I saw The Killers did it too though. I enjoyed playing it. I kinda wanted to get it a hair more refined but this is the 365 and there is only so much time in a year. I figured out once that by the time this 365 is over, I will have spent about two whole weeks, 24 hours a day working on these videos and this here blog, all for whoever enjoys it.

Congratulations to Lauren and Jeremiah for the new love hanging in their home, cute little puppy
"Ruby," Biff the Dog's sis.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 322 "Take Two"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYkv9bEl95Y


I made up this one as the cameras were rolling. It is a bit related to the previous post about Ruby, my friends' Lauren and Jeremiah's 2nd household poochie. I have been loving life in a 2 pooch household since February. The extremely adorable Nigel appears to my right, screen left and Angel, my best friend since 2000 is relaxing on the other side of the room. The unconditional love our pooches hold for us sets an example we can all use to carry through our lives. There are so many opportunities to lash out, especially at those closest to us, from time to time. Dogs don't do it, and we don't need to either. They are loyal, one of my favorite traits in all existence, and having two of just means twice he love for everyone to share.

So it's not entirely clear what Im taling about in the chorus "Take two and call me in the morning. Take two and stay awake for a little while." Of course, aspirin or ibuprofen is implied. I like Advil as much as the next guy, when I have a headache, but I am telling you I was thinking about pooches and their loving ways when I extemporaneously sang you this song.

Now the next challenge will be to try to find an archive video that echoes this motif. Peace and hail poochies! Angel and Nigel, I love you!

My archive efforts turned out to be an original for tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Operation 365... Blog 315

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 321 Jefferson Jay "Killing's Wrong" 10-8-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMHYiJUMSgU


I went to an activist meeting in San Diego with a bunch of other artists long ago. This old-timer spoke up and said in a gruff voice, "We need new protest songs, and ones with melodies we can sing. The next morning I awoke from dream with "Killing's Wrong" playing in my head. It was easy to figure out. It is G-G-C-D the whole time. I change up the verses every time, just to keep me on my toes.

I went down with my sweetie to check Occupy San Diego last night. There was a bit of a heavy mood because somebody had fallen off a building and died earlier in the day. It wasn't entirely clear if the incident had any thing to do with the movement. They thought it didn't. It was nice to see folks gathered together with the express purpose of making things better for all people. I have been aching for this for ages.

So in solidarity with everybody who wants to live in the best world for all people possible, today, I post, "Killing's Wrong" from two years and three days ago. I am joined here by Richard Romero on bass, The Soul Man on guiro, Blowski on keys and Paul Ruiz on trumpet. Dig it.

NOTE: Re: The media's insistance on a "set of demands" for the Occupy Wall Street movement.
"There doesn't need to be a set of demands the set of demands is. We should all treat each other like humans in a positive way." - Destructo Bunny

Amen, brother.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 321 "Celluloid Heroes" by The Kinks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOFmgoqJWfg


Back in high school, my rock n' roll future was laid out for me in part by a little group we had called The Boptones. The Boptones were a student/teacher rock band that played classic hits from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. It was fun. We would practice on Sundays and at the end of the year we played our big concert to a sold-out auditorium with 80 screaming friends and fans. You can see ow this could a lasting impression on a young mind.

In fact my rock n' roll dreams were born before I even tried out for the band. Early in high school, I attended one of those shows and instantly became a huge fan of Chris Scelzo. One year older than me, Chris was a guitar hero. He was the kid who wore a ie to school each day. To me, he was Jimmy Page. In part because he played Page's "Heartbreaker" solo note for note. "Heartbreaker" might have been the next year but it was one of those Zeppelin tunes.

I instantly befriended Scelzo, thrilled he would even have me as his amigo. We are still friends to this day. He loved The Kinks and when his turn to be band leader arrived, one of The Kinks' tunes he chose was "Celluloid Heroes." "Celluloid Heroes" tells an interesting story about what happens to famous movie stars when their moment of fame is over. The song details a "walk down Hollywood Boulevard" over the names of all the great movie stars of yesteryear. Stepping over trash, the walk is a metaphor for how far folks fall from the the grandeur of the silver screen. It questions what fame, status and humanity really mean. Pretty deep tune, huh. Hail Scelzo.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 321 "Happy Birthday Dad"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43pkk8av7Lc


Today is my Dad's birthday. Haven't written much about my Dad here in the 365 so far. I briefly touched to a little spat we had months ago, but I am glad to say that is long int he past. Thank goodness. I love him and thank him for being my Dad. Without a Dad, I wouldn't be much. I wish you happiness, comfort, peace and perspective, things all of could use a healthy dose of, always.