Operation 365... Blog 7

Perhaps it was inevitable I'd find myself thinking about my old workplace Portugalia today. Portugalia is a restaurant in Ocean Beach where I hosted shows from 2006 until April of this year. It was a great run. Much if not most of my Archive footage was filmed there. As often happens when people have been places for a long time, things go downhill. I felt really taken for granted by the end so I resigned. Ideally, that would have been the end and we could have all stayed friends but things just don't always go the way you want them to.

I don't think about it too much. I feel confident that I made the right decision, but today is the day of the annual OB Christmas Parade. The last two years I spearheaded the Portugalia Christmas Parade float and hosted my "12 Hours of Free Music" show on this day. I also hosted my "24 Hours of Free Music" concert there the last 2 Junes before 2010, but I didn't think about it that day really cause I was in New Jersey at my buddy Scotty's wedding. Anyway, even though I'm playing at Winston's this afternoon and am plenty happy, my thoughts are there some today.

Even if I didn't realize it before, I am learning quickly from this project that is no subconscious. What is, is and it will show itself to you if you're looking, at every opportunity. With that being said, here's today's clips.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 10 JJ OB Parade Jam - 12-5-2009 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGJsd_GRgmM

Here we are in 2009 at the OB Christmas Parade rolling right through the heart of Ocean Beach, Newport Avenue. We were in a vehicle called "The Arc of Clark" designed by none other then the great Tim Clark, with assists from Blowski and myself. Our team was an impressive one. Featured on "The Arc of Clark" were my friends Wes Davis, Blowski, Barbara Tolbert, Charlotte James and Adrianna Martin-Morningstar. "The General" Justin Mills drove. In the last year, I've played in bands with all of these folks.

You will hear some pimping of "The Port" as we affectionately referred to it. I cared so much about that place and did everything I could to put them out there for a long time. I would have loved to post the whole parade party as we had a blast, but I chose this part for now. Maybe more later. Here I am singing a little parade medley of my songs "Good Graces," "Do You Feel Free" and the improvised "Sweet Home Ocean Beach" for the parade party people. I'll miss being in the parade this year probably, but change is the only constant life has to offer so we might as well embrace it.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 10 "The Girls" by Jennie Buss - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMR4FBmiRt4

Again, Portugalia on my mind revealed itself in my choice for a cover today. Didn't really plan it that way, but I'm thinking more and more that what you plan doesn't really matter much. It's more what happens. Jennie Buss was a regular at my shows at Portugalia and we were pals. Like Portugalia, I don't see her anymore, but I wish Jennie and "The Port" only the best. And I think this song of Jennie's rocks. My version is a little different than hers, but not too much, "The Girls," as I understand it, refers to the drama behind the scenes at Portugalia that was just simmering then, before it bubbled over.

Peace

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 10 "Meditate" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG9WBPC8b0w

One thing I'm learning is posting and preparing 3 videos every day is time consuming. Sometimes you've got to embrace the short cuts the universe holds out there for you. In this case, the result is this video of me playing my new song (at the time, 2-20-10) "Meditate" with no shirt on. Posting this is against my better judgment it is for sure, but right now, in my mind, it beats making a whole new video from scratch. I tried that last night, but forgot to put the computer mic on. Doh! Enjoy topless Jefferson as much as you can because I doubt he'll be getting any encores.

The lyrics to this tune were written upon one of my first trips to SD about 10 years ago and I finished up the music last year . I was on a "going through 10-year old writings and turning them into new songs and inspiration" tip at that time.

Operation 365... Blog 6

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 9 Jefferson Jay jams with Damon Stoll and The Mooneys - 3-13-2010.

I put this up because today is Damon's birthday. Happy Birthday Funky One. For many years, Damon was the bassist extraordinaire in The Jefferson Jay Band. He plays on my first four CDS, available here (www.jeffersonjay.com). He is currenly visiting Japan with his pops Gary for his birthday. Also representing are The Mooneyhams. Mike (dad) on guitar, Lili (mom) on camera and other things and Jackson (perhaps the world's cutest human). We were having fun in March and here is fun for now.

When I watched the footage, i saw at the end that I was wearing my Ronnie Rico Birthday Party shirt. Yesterday, after my set at Dream Street Live, I learned that my friend Ronnie had recently passed. He was a great guy and he has been in my thoughts a lot today. So I guess it's no surprise that he appeared on the screen and now on yours as well. God bless you Ronnie Rico. "Onward and upward." - Don Truesdail. Also pictured, Don's 8-string bass in Damon's hands.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Original - 9 Destinies Combined - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnMDCah74C0

I had considered waiting to post this tune until some poignant day, but it was ready to go so here it is. I wrote this about the state of my friendship with my good pal Don Truesdail, one year after his passing. I was going to post a perfect version maybe on Jan. 13, 2011 and maybe I still will, but it's late. I just recorded three other tunes to use, Do You Feel Free, The Greens of Mind, and Molasses Man. I played them all well and got them all ont he first take but I accidentally turned the mic off on my guitar so forget all those. The moment had pased and any hope for doing something tonight is fading fast, so I am posting the one ready to go that I had planned to use initially anyway. Love you Don.

Maybe it ties to the whole Ronnie Rico thing actually. You can try to steer fate but life has a life of its' own.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 9 I Want You - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eehdB61PJGM

Jefferson Jay plays Bob Dylan's classic "I Want You."

Operation 365... Blog 5

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 8 Don Truesdail - "Torn Teddy" 12-18-2008 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uYk0U0jL3U

This is a special to our Archives presentation as it is a one of the three songs that Don Truesdail played in his final performance on December 18, 2008. Don, one of my dearest friends, passed away January 13, 2009. In this performance, he is joined by Amadou Fall on kora, The Soul Man on guiro and Misha on violin. It was as beautiful then as it is now. Enjoy! "Onward and upward" - Don Truesdail

I've decided that I want put up special songs in the Archives on Thursdays. Because this started on a Thanksgiving Thursday and is scheduled to end on a Thanksgiving Thursday, I am going to be putting up "Big-Hitter Thursdays." And by that I mean I will try to make sure every Thursday something really transcendent and special is shared with all of you.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 8 Brand New Mind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDuT8enzfDQ

Brand New Mind was written on January 13, 2009, the one-year anniversary of my dear friend Don Truesdail's passing. One of his tunes "Torn Teddy" is available in Archives today.

I was at our friend Richard Romero's house with Don's wife Nancy when I wrote it. It was a tough day as you might imagine. Later Nancy and I went and sat on the cliffs and I finished the lyrics to another tune I will post here someday called "Destines Combined," about my relationship with Don one year after his passing. Here's to you, Don!

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 8 House of The Rising Sun - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYITlgPkSDY

Here I play the traditional classic "House of the Rising Sun," a fun one to sing.

Though it wasn't planned this way exactly, (the fine line between what's planned and what isn't has really has me intrigued these days), perhaps this is another shout-out to my friend Don Truesdail. Don liked to play a lot of traditional tunes, many times adapting them to his own liking and style. I don't do it as often but here I do. So Truesy-Wuesy, this one's for you!

Operation 365... Blog 4

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Originals - 7 "Fabulous Love" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF3_gOB5ll

This is a tune of mine called Fabulous Love. Haven't really played it much out ever yet. Wrote it on banjo last year. It is a spiritual song of sorts about perseverance and survival.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Covers - 7 "I Shall Be Released" by Bob Dylan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLXtXFLGEd8

Another spiritual song about perseverance and survival incidentally. It is hard sometimes to tell what's planned and what just happens and seems planned. I guess if you believe everything happens for a reason like I do, then nothing is random and although I feel I didn't plan to put two songs, "I Shall Be Released" and my "Fabulous Love," available here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF3_gOB5llo up on the same day, I guess it's the only way that it could ever have been.

Operation 365 - Jefferson Jay - Archives - 7 J.Mitchell - 10-20-09 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ci08bpIGg

Anyone who knows me knows I like an oddity (a freak show if you will) as much as anybody. In fact, I live for it. It may be my favorite type of entertainment. This sets the table for my Archive offering today. I strongly suggest you check the inimitable (although it is fun trying) J. Mitchell. The first time he came out to my show before I even met him, someone had saved his life from choking with the Heimlich. I would say this is about an average J. Mitchell performance. I miss his fine work. Perhaps the most unique creature I've ever met. I could go on and on with crazy stories from the short time I've known him, but I will allow his fine work to speak for itself. To anyone who thinks that Open Mics are not quality entertainment, I offer you J. Mitchell opening up the show at my Open Mic on October 20, 2009.

Operation 365... Blog 3

Hi. A little tired. Been civilly serving. Yesterday I was subbing at a high school in the zone. In 2 of my classes, students surprised by requesting I play my song "February" for them. They were genuine and I was flattered, so I obliged. I played them each versions and conversed with them briefly after. They wanted to know what it was about.

I said, a long time ago some ago, some pretty unfortunate things happened in my life in February and I wrote this song as sort of a make-up song all these years later as an olive branch, a burying the hatchet if you will. High school kids as they are... Well, they wanted to know what happened and I told them. My best friend died when I was 17. Most of them were able to deal with it pretty well, save for one exception.

These things happen I told them. I believe everything happens for a reason and it was a long time ago. It was a bit more involved then that as you may imagine, but that's all I feel like sharing now.

In any case, in honor of those kids and their appreciation for "February" the tune, I put up 2 versions today. One recorded at TheStudiosInSanDiego shortly after it was written in February 2010 Originals - available here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kZqe_dVKZo

...and another one recorded live on March 21, 2010 with Paul Ruiz on trumpet, Paul Lopez on congas, and The Soul Man. This group of people was one that joined my frequently in those months. When we had a drummer, we'd be called The Jefferson Jay Band, but when it was like this, I called The Jefferson Jay Experience. I always love playing with all of those guys. That version is available here as today's archive selection and it is available here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9ErbsNCQCk

My 3rd offering of the day, my "Cover" is a version of Led Zeppelin's "Down By The Seaside" also recorded at TheStudiosInSanDiego. It is here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhQjDlIa2wA

In other news, I helped get P.A. for some disadvantaged kids' music room today. Hooray!

Peace

Operation 365... Blog 2

Hello.

Blogging it up on a lunch break from teaching. Chose Wes Davis and Becca Warner for today's choice form the archive. Very interesting. Just another example of how much and how quickly things change. I will spare you ALL the details but the first lyric of their song is " the nights that I think about moving..." Well, it's 15 months later now, and they've both moved. I miss them both bunches and feel this video shows a little bit of both of their charming and colorful personalities.

For my original jamboree, I played "May", one of many many tunes written from a month's perspective. February should appear tomorrow. Today at school, two of my classes requested I play "February". I was somewhat flattered and obliged and they were (well, except one kid) a really great audience. Well, gotta get back to work now. See you soon.

OK, so Operation 365... Take 1

So I've got tons of material (and a screenplay, two master's theses, 4 albums and a movie, but that is neither here nor there) that I've been wanting to share for a long time but havent; know how to do it. I thought a bunch about what would be the best way to do it so it was interesting and appealed to people in the most compelling manner possible. I talked to people. I asked friends. I decided for awhile I was going to make a website/network and try to share from my massive archive of original material, but "how would I get people to that site?" was always a question I knew I would have to answer eventually and I had no idea on that one.

I asked my good pal Dylan Avery, an accomplished video manipulator in his own right, what he thought the first step should be for me in this pursuit. He said rip all your tapes. SO I did. That is just the type of job that a multi-tasking, occasionally procrastinating, archivist who doesn't' know what to do with his material can sink his teeth into and I did.

So I ripped. And I ripped. And I ripped and I ripped and I ripped and I ripped and I ripped and eventually it was all in there. Great. I still didn't know what to do. In the meantime, months passed and little changed (well a lot changed, but...) my content (tons of videos, hundreds of original songs specifically) still remained unshared and I didn't have much going on creatively and I decided.

I was going to share. I had realized since January 2009 when a little birdie whispered to me in the shower that I needed to "put it out there". Now was finally time. I wasn't going to worry about the best possible presentation. I was just going to put it out now. Dylan and my other friend Wes Davis made a cool movie which will come out next year called "Buzzkill". I saw an early version and what I got from it personally was that if you do something today and then again tomorrow and the next day, it radically improves the likelihood that you will do that thing the next day after that and so on. I liked that idea and wanted to put that thought into motion for myself and like my friends in "Buzzkill", wait and see what would result.

Saying you're going to do stuff is scary so I didn't say much to anyone at first, but it's been a few days now, so I figured I'd catch the world up on what I'm up to.

I want to post 3 videos each day for a whole year. I will be posting them on youtube at my page jeffersonjaydotcom.

http://www.youtube.com/jeffersonjaydotcom

One of me playing one of my tunes. One of me playing a cover tune, which is a tune written by somebody other than me for those who don't know the lingo. And one clip form my archives which will usually spotlight one or more of my friends but may include me as well depending on how I feel that day. I am not going for greatness, but I am certainly not aiming to embarrass myself either of course (well not too much) I am not going for anything at all in particular beyond the goals I've already stated. I have no idea what will happen or what I hope will come of this but I figure something will and I am interested in seeing what that will be.

Challenges ahead: The clearest challenge is obviously doing something every single day. It's quite a commitment and I am am even a bit sheepish myself about it as we speak but hey, what the hey. The other biggest challenge I can see ahead is... I've only written about 200-250 songs at the most I think. So even if/when I get that far, I'm going to have to figure out a way to have a new song each day when I'm out of tunes. My archive is extensive so I will easily have enough material for that one and well, there are plenty of tunes out there to cover and I'm sure I can play 365 of them so that shouldn't be too hard either.

I may have some guests sometimes but it will mostly be me I believe and I'm going to try to blog about it all a lot because that just seems like a thing one should be doing with a project like this. SO i hope you enjoy my songs, my verbiage and getting to know me as Operation 365 marches on.

P.S. I wrote a new tune in 5 minutes or so yesterday while on of the vids was bouncing so that's #251 (about) and here I come. Hope to see ya all some time.

Peace