Though I’ve blogged the past three days, I really haven’t been online much. And I haven’t been on the computer as much as I used to…

It seems I am either gardening, practicing piano and drums, or gigging.

Yesterday was a big gardening day for me, and by that I mean pulling weeds and trimming hedges and planting trees. Very labor intensive.

But, I definitely have a lot more energy to work all day in the garden.

Yesterday was also a beautiful sunny day, perfect for gardening. It may have been a bit cold and breezy, but once I got to moving around, I felt just fine.

In the coming days I’ll be busy gigging. Starting tomorrow, every day until January 1st, 2008. So, I’ll probably be too busy to do online things. And for me this is a dramatic change, as I used to spend countless hours on the Internet and on my laptop, working, surfing the web, coding, blogging….

Yes, things have definitely changed for me. I think I’ve lost my desire to code and take on my role as computer programmer. I definitely want to practice more piano and drums and especially improve on my piano playing.

So, I might not be around much until the beginning of the New Year….

Last Saturday morning I performed with Big Daddy Orchestra on the KUSI News Morning Show.

First off, it’s not that I hate doing these morning shows, but, having to wake up extra early in the morning to perform on TV isn’t exactly my cup of tea. I mean, I’m typically a night person and feel my “bio-rhythms” peak out at night when I usually perform. Early in the morning is a big challenge for me, although I’ve been waking up really early lately, like 5am in the morning, so that really helped this time around.

Anyway, my Dad taped the show on video, so when we got together for Christmas at my parents’ place my Dad let everyone watch, and I sort of cringed the entire time.

For some reason I really hate to watch myself on TV. And I’ve done several of these local TV show appearances in the past, and still I can’t bear to watch myself on TV. Matter-of-fact, I read about a few actors who can’t stand watching the movies they acted in, so that sounds like me.

Anyway, you know how they say that the camera puts on an extra 10 pounds?

For some reason it’s always true!

Anyway, I wasn’t too disappointed because I looked pretty good on TV this time. My wife commented that when she first watched the performance she noticed my complexion looked really good. And for some reason the camera crew focused on me quite a bit. Well, I was directly behind the singers so that always helped. I think I had one or two good shots of just me on drums. Oh well… ;-)

But, other raw vegans claim that one’s complexion really improves while on the diet and one gets a certain “glow“. And looking at myself I could have sworn that my face had a glow about it. I mean, I don’t think I imagined it and it would’ve been the last thing I was looking for, concentrating more on how I performed and how my drumset looked. But there I was, with a certain “glow”… hmm… still skeptical, maybe it was the lighting.

One of my teenaged nieces said she didn’t like our female vocalist. Okay, that’s a fair and honest assessment. Although not a very nice one. My Mom then replied that she is a very good singer. A great voice.

Incidentally, our female vocalist is one of the best (if not the best) vocalists I’ve ever worked with, and if one is to criticize her, then I suggest trying to sing like her, because she is a phenomenally talented and gifted singer. And she’s out there working professionally, not just in our big band, but in other bands as well, and in other projects like recording sessions and such.

So, we’re going to be on TV again this coming Friday on FOX 6 News. These TV performances are to promote the big New Year’s Eve gig we’re doing on the Aircraft Carrier Midway, now a World War II museum permanently docked at the Embarcadero in Downtown San Diego.

I guess it’s a lot of fun doing these TV shows. It’s interesting how they do things behind the scenes at these TV News Stations. Like, seeing the anchorwoman making funny faces at the camera during commercials. And noticing how young the camera crew is, and all the joking and antics that may happen.

It’s all in good fun.

But, it reminds me that us musicians and performers put ourselves on the line out there in front of the camera as if we are under the microscope. We enjoy what we do immensely, and there’s no other place I’d rather be, but we are there in front of the camera or onstage for the public to say, “Yay” or “Nay”…

Sometimes, the public can be cruel….

But I believe in myself and my fellow musical colleagues. One has to I guess, or else we would take up another job… what some would call a “real” job.

Yet, I’m thankful that I’m able to be out there doing it. And I am my own harshest critic. I think I suck all the time. And I’m constantly striving for perfection… in an inspired way. But I am very hard on myself.

I figure, if one is happy with their performances completely, then one better start worrying… there is always room for improvement… always.

I slept very early last night. I had to pick up my father-in-law from LAX yesterday. I left home around 10:30am and got back around 5pm. So, a big chunk of my day was spent picking him up from the airport in LA. The traffic was pretty good for most of the drive, but there were parts that were less than fun.

So, now I’m up at around 3am in the morning!

Merry Christmas!

And now that I’m up, I’m sort of in a reflective mood. And just reviewing my life this whole year.

Overall, it was a good year musically for me. In that respect I am blessed.

And I have a lot to be thankful for on Christmas Day. Being alive to experience another Christmas Day, for one.

I’m also thankful to have a very supportive wife who is behind me 100% with my musical endeavors. She’s a person who believes in me when others don’t.

Performing music is a very tough life sometimes. On the one hand, you have all these dreams or expectations. Goals. And then there is the harsh realities of the music business in general… at whatever level you are at, whether an international artist or just a struggling local musician like me.

Maybe like most things in life, it’s somewhat of a bittersweet pill.

But, I enjoy the struggle, I suppose.

And I’m going to be 50 next January, which is a very scary thought for me. As a musician, it can be very scary. As a human being it can be very scary. So, chances are, my life is more than half over. Unless, of course, I do make it to 100, then my life is exactly half over.

Anyway, once again I have a goal to get much better at playing piano. At 50, it’s more of a challenge. But, I’m already expecting some 6 hour days of practice in 2008.

And, that is why I’m so committed to trying to do whatever it takes outside of practice (diet, exercise, yoga) in order to improve at my age.

Incidentally, Christmas time is a very lonely time being primarily a raw vegan. First off, all the traditional sinful delights are being offered. And in my family I’m pretty much the only raw vegan around. So, I’m the oddball who isn’t eating anything on the Christmas dinner table.

But, Christmas time is spending it with family… so, onward I suffer… looking on at those cooked and baked foods that I used to eat, but have to pass on now.

By the way, eating a fresh garden salad gives me a LOT of energy. I ate a big salad for dinner before going to church and I was so hyper and fidgety throughout the whole church service.

Anyway, Christmas for me is a bittersweet pill. There is the good, the bad and the ugly.

I know that we all should focus on the good. I sincerely always want to. But, the reality is that life isn’t always a bowl of cherries. As great and awesome as it can be, Christmas time usually reflects life. And it can truly be insane on any day of the year, including Christmas.

Well, enough Christmas ramblings…. I just hope everyone has a great and grand day today.

I just wanted to extend to my friends and readers out there a very Merry Christmas!

Season’s Greetings!

Life has been quite busy for me these past few days, as I find myself gigging, in the recording studio, picking up long lost relatives from the airport, and preparing for the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus!

I’m getting ready to partake in a Christmas Eve dinner with family, then it’s off to an early Catholic Mass with the family. I’m still a Buddhist at heart but I’m trying to keep family happy by participating in the Yuletide events…..

God Bless Everyone… and may there truly be Peace on Earth, and Goodwill toward Men (and Women)…

Peace & Love,
Randomguru

I used to always make sure I catch the ragtime pianist at Disneyland who always played everything at outrageously fast tempos… Rod Miller is his name, and the news travels slow to me, so while doing searches of ragtime pieces on YouTube, I find out that Rod Miller has retired!

Here’s his extremely fast rendition of Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag:

Amazing!

Thank you Mr. Rod Miller for bringing joy to people’s hearts with your amazing piano playing at the Coke Corner on Main Street in Disneyland… you will be missed!

What makes all this even more amazing was that Rod broke his back as a child and had his spine fused. Doctors told him he’d never walk again, but he defeated that prophecy. He shouldn’t have been able to sit and play piano either, but Rod figured out how to do that too. In the end, the 30 plus years of playing 8 hours aday, plus outside gigs and practice, took its toll on Rod’s body and tortured spine. He is retiring now, but not because he wants to, I can assure you.

There is no way for me to sum up in one post what Rod Miller means to me, to Disneyland, and to the world of Ragtime music. He has been Ragtime music’s greatest ambassador, churning out the tunes a breakneck speed to guests at Disneyland. He was always learning new songs right up until the end of his career. He tutored students of Ragtime Piano with whatever time he could spare (a few have followed in his footsteps working at Disney Theme Parks). He has been a great friend to many and could always be counted on to cheer you up when you were down, play that special song of memories for you, or just to make you laugh and feel good with a song.

So all that’s left to say is “Thank you for the beautiful music Rod. You would have made Walt proud.”

Yesterday my wife and I went to a local piano store to try out some grand pianos.

I hadn’t been to a piano store in eons, and the last time I went I was torn between a Boston and a Yamaha grand piano. I’ve always wanted a Steinway because of the name and prestige. And have been impressed by a Steinway grand piano’s overall tone, sort of warm yet not overly bright.. with deep tones and a wide sonic and dynamic clarity.

But, at 40K and up, it’s just well beyond my affordability.

The Yamaha grand pianos have always been noted for superb sound and affordability. Plus, many pianists from Chick Corea to Elton John endorse Yamaha grand pianos. Elton has that famous “red” Yamaha grand, The Red Piano. He supposedly has this red piano shipped everywhere when on tour.

I’ve always been skeptical about Yamaha pianos because of my allegance to the unaffordable Steinways that can cost several 10K. But, ultimately I judge pianos by their overall sound quality and the response of the keyboard.

So, here I was checking out all the grand pianos in the store.

I don’t mean to brag when I say that I have a great ear for pianos. I figure that any musician who has an ear for music can judge for themselves what a great piano sounds like. But I will admit that I am very picky when it comes to the sound of a piano.

So after checking out virtually all the grand pianos available to me in the store, I settled with a Yamaha 5′3″ grand. The price was pretty reasonable, and the overall sound and response of the keys were pretty phenomenal.

I went into the Steinway room, of course, and tried out most of the grand pianos there. I was not impressed with what I was hearing. And was surprised by how thin sounding some of then were. I even tried out the Steinway concert grand in the back of the showroom and saw a sign that it was already sold. Of course, I couldn’t afford one anyways. But I played it and was surprised that it was out of tune! So I quickly stepped away from that one.

Most of the newer Steinways seemed to have a duller sound that what I remember, and I’ve played several Steinways during my lifetime. Could it be that American Steinways weren’t up-to-snuff with the German Steinways? Well, for the cost I was not really impressed. And drifted back to the Yamaha room.

I also tried a Boston grand piano (which is also made by Steinway) and it was okay. It just didn’t do much for me, that’s all.

For reference, I tried a Kimbal upright piano nearby and that truly sounded atrocious!

Back to the Yamaha room. I narrowed it down to three grand pianos. The smaller one was just okay. It had a thinner, smaller tone attributed to its size. The second Yamaha was pretty nice but it was pretty expensive and didn’t really sound all that great for its size.

I once again singled out the one Yamaha that seemed perfect for the price. Its tone was quite full sounding for a 5′3″ grand and the price was pretty reasonable. But, I was still skeptical and not quite satisfied.

Then the store manager mentioned that they had some special pianos at their warehouse about 3 blocks away, and he assured me that I would be quite satisfied with at least a couple of Yamaha grand pianos over there.

So, when we got to the warehouse one of the store salesmen had met us there. The store manager gave us the key and I gave it to the salesman to open the door to the warehouse.

There was at least 12 grand pianos on the warehouse floor and countless pianos still in crate boxes.

I tried all the pianos. And was very very critical with all of them. And I quickly narrowed it down to a C2 5′8″ Yamaha grand piano in glossy black finish. The sound was quite amazing. The notes played weren’t overly bright and had a nice fullness about them. The action of the keyboard was very amazing too. And being that we were in a warehouse, I’m sure that this piano would sound even better in a more acoustically tight environment. It sounded like a perfect piano for practicing and recording, and just for playing piano for hours… which I can easily do.

But to buy it or not… that was the question….