Welcome to My New Website!
December 2009
Most people know me as a concert promoter. I’ve been running shows for over 30 years. It’s been a colorful life doing live concerts for a living. I’ve produced thousands of shows, and been nearly crushed to death with all the love I’ve received. Seriously, great love is hard to take in! Thousands of happy people put out a lot of love. Here I am with one of the great love-meisters from my generation, Richie Havens, at a show we ran recently.
All these years I’ve been writing and recording my own music, but with such a busy production schedule, I haven’t had time to release or distribute it. This web page and blog is my attempt to correct that. Over the next few years I’ll be releasing a lot of material.
My first release is a collection of songs titled ‘Pop Tunes for Mystics’ which has been described as “a secular ride through spiritual terrain”. These songs are about using love, to overcome resistance, ambivalence and fear. Think of songs by George Harrison for a sense of spirit, sprinkle in some Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen for atmosphere, throw in some early Moody Blues for dramatics, and you’ve got this record.
It’s my ‘rainy day record’ which will be released this January just in time for the 2010 California monsoon. It’s a ‘chill’ record designed to enhance a reflective mood. It includes a song about my mother growing up in Germany during the war and the cost of her survival. I hope the CD gives people a sense of courage and hope. Life ain’t easy but it is beautiful, and we’re in it together. To view song titles, listen to the songs, or read lyrics from ‘Pop Tunes for Mystics’, click here.
In the summer of 2010, I’m releasing all my social commentary and satirical songs in a two volume set titled ‘Sarcology 101 and 102’. This set includes vintage live and studio performances from my old groups Celtic Elvis and The Dogmatics. There will also be some crazy new satirical stuff never before recorded. Everything is beautifully re-mastered by Paul Tumolo of Wild Plum records. If you’re a ‘levity’ kind of person with a yearning for intelligent irreverence, this will be your record. I plan to make some videos of this humorous fare for You Tube. Be sure to sign my mailing list to be notified when the project is released, which is also when song samples and lyrics (and links to buy) will be available on my website.
At the moment, I am writing and recording an album called ‘Math to Metaphor’ which uses recent scientific discoveries as song writing subjects. We’re witnessing a mass awakening in all areas of study. It’s been fantastic for me to reach across the aisle and bring these scientific discoveries into the realm of metaphor and music. ‘Math to Metaphor’ will be released in early 2011.
In tandem with all my new releases, Kathy (my wife and business partner) and I will be working hard to produce another summer season of live concerts. We’re early in the booking process, so it’s too early to announce the summer’s hightlights. But here’s an example from a recent season. This is a picture of me playing with Country Joe McDonald and the Channel 5 News Band at the 20th annual Music and Market Series in downtown Concord .
This was the amazing day we broke the Guinness World Record for the most people showing up to play guitar and sing a song together. Two thousand and fifty two soulful folks all singing "This Land is Your Land". Here’s the YouTube link to see highlights ... click here.
To see our current concert activities go to www.CommunityConcerts.com
So, if you like my stuff please help me ... tell your friends, family and colleagues and add your email to my mailing list.
Thanks for reading! It’s been a great life so far … jim
