New dReaMSoaKeR music!!!

H I V E is an album of ambient dark-wave in 3 movements clocking in at over 75 minutes. Composed entirely on synthesizers, H I V E is a continuation of my explorations into ambient and experimental music.

                            

New releases from Stanislav & The Lion

 Corey Stano and myself working on another collection of spoken word and music compositions to be released over the next few months. This collection is our 2nd body of work and is entitled "Arias For Dreaming".

 The 1st release, "Plague Lullaby" is now available for purchase and streaming.

Que Pasa?

 What's happenin' indeed....

Got some news and that news is..I can't tell you yet!

But I'm excited and I hope you will be to when I can share finally share it with everyone.

In other other news..

Been releasing more of my own music which you can listen to and purchase from my Bandcamp page.

Here's a taste...

Ταξιδέψτε καλά

  One of my musical heroes, master musician and composer, passed on this Thurs, May 19, 2022.

Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, known professionally and to the world as Vangelis, was an immense force in the music world. Known for his amazing talent at combining classical piano and electronic instruments into time-spanning works of aural art, he created some of the world's most memorable, and haunting, musical pieces. He captivated movie going audiences with his Academy award winning synth based compositions for "Chariot's of Fire", "Missing", "The Bounty", "1492:Conquest Of Paradise", "Alexander", and "Blade Runner", Ridley Scott's brilliant interpretation of Phillip K Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?".

 It was with "Blade Runner" that I became an overnight fan. Sure, "Chariot's of Fire-Titles" was a big hit..went to number 1 on the Billboard Charts in the U.S, was used at the 1984 Winter Olympics. I even attempted a solo version for bass guitar at one time but only got as far as a few bars of the intro. Needless to say that it was an inspirational tune. But when I 1st saw "Blade Runner" on the big screen it was more than just an inspirational tune that drew me into Scott's dystopian, future Los Angeles of 2019, it was Vangelis' soundtrack that really cemented the experience for me. The movie is a dark, brooding, film noir vision that is at once proto sci-fi and spiritual. Visual artist Syd Mead sets the tone with brooding and depressing landscapes, the grime and grit, pollution and poverty, the blurred lines of cultural and technological heritage. Vengelis ignites the air with an equally brooding, yet less gritty, sound track that is as much part of the story as the story itself. I got lost in all the visual, aural, and spiritual milieu of the experience. I was immediately hooked on the film and Vangelis played no small part in that.

 In my own journey of musicianship, sound sculpting and manipulations, I have ever found a deep connection to Vangelis. His music, be it the cyber-punk, shoe gum "Blade Runner" soundtrack or the ethno-centric and ambient-like "1492: Conquest of Paradise", has always been able to shift in me a gear that needed tending to. A need that commands examination. As a musician, I am often faulted with a great disparity of being most critical of myself. I am not exclusive in this, of course, as most artists will attest. But to each their own journey and I have a great many "litmus tests" to which I submit my conscience and works to. When I am exposed to such great artistry as with that of Vangelis, I am both inspired to move forward and to sit still..listen.

Taxidépste kalá

More new music by Stanislav and The Lion now available

 Corey Stano, the "voice" of Stanislav and The Lion, has penned two new passages of wonderful storytelling prose. I received both her penned pieces and vocal recordings earlier this month and have now found time to compose fitting musical landscapes which, I hope, serve to accentuate her haunting and beautiful words.

 I have chosen to compose a more ambient feel for both pieces, sans Stick or bass, utilizing synths, keeping to less intrusive atmosphere in hopes of lending an eerie quality to Corey's poems. 

 "Verdum" invokes a serenely haunted landscape as Corey weaves her words into a tapestry dotted with the pain and despair of a soldier caught in the throes of World War 1 while a frightened yet emboldened "child" finds her strength in "What Big Teeth You Have". 

 

Back in Febuary of 2003, I wrote a letter to Stick Enterprises...

  'I was in the lobby of a large motel somewhere in Southern California. The hotel had lost our reservations and we needed a place for our youth group to stay. Everything in town was booked! The hotel manager apologized for the mix up and offered to let us stay in the lobby area. The hotel would provide cots and sleeping bags. They would even treat us to breakfast! I discussed it with some of the other chaperones and we agreed that it was a good idea. Besides, where else could we go? As the kids bedded down for the night, I was approached by one of the teen boys. He had a strange looking instrument in his hands. As he handed it to me he said: "Juan, you're a bass player, right? Can you tune this for me?" I took the instrument from his hands and studied it in amazement. I had never seen anything like it. Ever. I held it close to my body and started to tune it up as I felt the notes vibrate through my chest. To my amazement, I found that not only did I know how to tune this beautiful instrument, but I knew how to play it as well! I was immersed in the beauty of the experience. 

Then I awoke...

 A few days later, I was watching Peter Gabriel's video "Secret World" and was glued to the image of Tony Levin playing the instrument I dreamed about. True story. I am a Mexican of Yaqui Indian blood. Visions can be very powerful? My wife and I have agreed that I should get a Stick this year. Could you put me on your waiting list for a used Stick? A 10 or 12 will do. I am not too picky as to the wood. I just want to hold one in my hands!' 

 As it turned out, I ended up buying a 10 string polycarbonate Stick® from a gentleman named Mark who was located in NY. We worked out a price and a few days later I received my long awaited Stick in it's original wood case. Adorning the case was a blue Gordian Knot decal. I found out later that the symbol was used by Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists. Apperantly, the original owner, whom name escapes me, was a member of The League and the 1st owner of this particular Stick #2464. I am the 3rd owner. I found this out when I called Stick Enterprises to order my 1st set of strings and a soft case. Yuta Chapman, Emmett's wife, answered the phone. She asked for my Stick's serial number and then put Emmett on the phone. After polite introductions and pleasantries were exchanged, he began to give me a history of my Stick, offer up tuning and gauge suggestions, setup tips, and a hearty "Welcome to the family".

 And so began my amazing journey on this amazing instrument. All thanks to the incredible vision that Emmett had back in 1969. Over the next few years, I would converse with Emmett via emails and phone calls. He was always interested in what I was doing with the Stick. Talks about solo shows at art museums turned into discussions about turning metal sculptures into "sympathetic resonant art" that would respond to the different notes played on the Stick much like the sympathetic strings on a sitar. How the audience would be encouraged to "play" the sculptures and become part of the experience on a participatory creative level and not just as a consumer. He encouraged me when I started my podcast, "Strada-Sphere Radio: Stick Music and Nuthn' But!". A podcast in both English and Spanish that I hosted alongside Shane Carey who stepped in and took over when I was having technical issues with my recording rig. Music from all over the globe arrived in my inbox, both virtually and in physical form. We had a good run. But alas, life in all its unexpected turns put the podcast on hiatus...for now.

 There was the time when Emmett, Yuta, and Dan Chapman (Emmett;s brother, filmmaker, multimedia artist and damn fine harmonica player) scrambled to send out CDs, books, pamphlets, posters, etc for my friend and fellow Stickist Jeremy Birdsall and myself to use for our presentation during the Guitar! The Instrument That Changed The World exhibit at the Orlando Museum of Art. This multi-media, traveling exhibit was put together by The National Guitar Museum. Jeremy and myself, along with drummer Reed Hayes, gave a one hour presentation that included the 10 string Stick, the 12 string Grand Stick, and the NS Stick. The audience was treated to an exclusive sneak peek of Dan Chapman's personal labor of love, the documentary "Emmett". The Chapmans were ever the gracious souls in constant contact with us and just as excited as we were.

 Emmett was not your average entrepreneur. He was a musician/artist 1st and foremost. He challenged himself on every level in that sense. Not satisfied with convention, he ventured into playing techniques that would eventually require an instrument to fully realize that technique. He built his1st prototype in 1969 and by 1974 the 1st Stick was delivered to a customer. Since then Stick Enterprises has produced several different models (8 so far) in various tunings. Thousands of recording in every genre and across the globe have featured the unique sound of The Stick. 

 He was a visionary and accidental revolutionary. He is one of only 3 inventors who created a wholly new musical instrument that truly changed the course of music (Adolph Sax with the saxophone and Bartolomeo Cristofori and his 'amazing loud and soft machine', the pianoforte.). That is no small feat.

 Emmett changed a great many things in the landscape of the musical world. But his most profound contribution to those of us whom took to his inventive playing style and his creation was his generosity. He gave of himself whenever he could. Be it in a phone call, an e-mail, a good conversation, a jam session, or a heart felt "thank you". He was genuine all the way. 

 In 2006 I added an NS Stick to my collection..and again my life changed.

 Thank you Emmett for sharing your vision, your gifts, and yourself. My approach to music has forever been changed. I am challenged daily and gladly by your gift to us all. But I was affected the most by your friendship.

 Rest In Harmony.

New site, new music

 Recently I had the misfortune of being a victim of cyber hi-jacking. My personal Facebook acct was taken over by someone whom has nothing better to do than try to impress their friends with their computer skills. As a result, my page was deleted and subsequently the music pages tied to it. One by one the hacker slowly changed title info and eventually deleted the pages entirely. So, I am starting all over again. If you care to follow me on social media, here are the new pages: 

Facebook Music Page

 

Facebook Personal Page 

 So, on with some better news... New Music!!!!

                               

 Additionally, I am in the process of redesigning my website..so look for big changes coming soon!

New Music!!!!

FREE song download

I am offering "O' Seraphim! Rejoice!" as a FREE download in appreciation to those of you who pass this way. 

 On Christmas morning, while my wife slept, I awoke at 4:00 A.M. with no plans on creating any music. But alas, as it is with the impulsive and artistic types, I spent the better part of the morn comp0ing and recording.

 Merry Christmas.

Please visit my Music Store and consider purchasing additional music..It goes to my coffee and gear fund and would certainly be most appreciatiated!!!

Risk is the Reward

  I do not suppose to exalt myself as some kind of wandering hermit searching for muse and set upon revolution, whether it is within myself or others.

 Fact is, I find my musical jaunt to be lax and casual when I am presented with form, constraints, and perimeters.Which has been a source of frustration to those whom crawl into bed with me, musically speaking.

 But when left to my own erratic and chaotic devices I tend to flourish. It would seem that in this sense I only serve my self and not my art. But what is art if not a reflection of the truest self?

 I am noted for being a Stickist, bassist..and sometimes a Native American flutist. I feel at home being a creative human. Be it the aural eschewing of a never still mind, the fluid stream of images conveyed by the written word, or the tinting of canvas with an assortment of mediums, I only feel restful when I am unchained. To me the true language of any art lies in improvisation. Exploratory and glorious in all its self serving platitudes, dangerous in its mysterious and often shocking unfolding. Like holding an arial up high in a thunderstorm whilst perched upon a high precipice. I dwell in the security of its purity, in the uncertain.

Another E.R.S.E. offering..

 In the early pre-dawn hours encapsulated by the deprivation of sleep, an intrusive ambient composition emerges.

 A departure from the customary non-instrumentation of the typical E.R.S.E. recordings, I found myself having a bit of respite from the ravages of insomnia whilst using my various tablets as controllers for my DAWs synth patches. 5 hours on and I offer you "The Affection Of The Elements".

More music by Stanislav and The Lion

 Corey Stano and I have completed another track this very week. Penned by Corey, "Nightshade's Blade" finds a well suited home on our evolving album "Myths Retold and Other Lies to Tell Your Children" available on Bandcamp,

                                    

The Dire Hectors

Improvised music has been at the center of my creative algorithm. It is the language which has no written heritage, no cardinal pull, no gestation period, no destination. It is the language of passion. Pure and oft times chaotic, it has been my preferred and most honest form of communication. It is said that the Devil finds work for idle hands. The implication here is that the product is of a lascivious and otherwise criminal nature. But I find that holds true for those of a certain ilk, predetermined by moral fibre (or better yet, lack thereof) and a disregard for constructive behavior. In our quarantine of late, state ordered or self imposed, my musical brother and fellow band mate Ralph Gray and myself managed to chisel away at the stone that is idle time. We found our way to Ralph's practice room (which had been forged by the same isolated hours that had turned many a person into the most prestigious of banana bread artisans) and managed to converse in the language of improv. Like paranormal investigators hoping to capture that gem of an EVP or the proverbial shadow person, we plugged into the board and let the hard-disk spin. And in the final hours of our conversing, just as we were ready to call it a day, we caught that voice. The sound of communication. The power to convey, without words, in a language we can all easily understand.

Give to a cause..get music

 I had recently asked my wonderful friend Corey Phyllis if she would be interested in reading a short story I had written to which I would add music to. I have always loved her voice as it has a tonality which I feel has musical qualities about it. She was more than happy to indulge my request.
 Over the past few years Corey and I have had many a conversation ranging from topics such as spirituality, social commentary, indigenous issues, music, literature, economics, and general banter of a much more pedestrian, but no less passionate, resonance. She's even been detained, as it were, while protesting in D.C. You can say that she is a warrior with a more noble cause than mere war.
 For this musical endeavor we call ourselves "Stanislav and The Lion" and the single is available at my music store which is linked below. The story, or parable, which Corey so beautifully recites, concerns itself with the imbalance of humanity towards itself in the microcosmic sense which in turn contributes to the overall disparity of the natural world. The proceeds from the sale of "The Rhino and the Oxpecker: Un Moderne Parable" will go to the National Indigenous Woman's Resource Center. The NIWRC is "Dedicated to Restoring Sovereignty and Safeguarding Native Women and Children".
  When purchasing the song you will be given the opportunity to pay more than the base price of $1.00 if you so wish. All proceeds to benefit the NIWRC.
 

The Evolving Album

  My latest release, "Articulo No. 5" is an ever growing, or "evolving" album of mostly new (with occasional lost/found) music. Material that just doesn't fit into a particular album's scope, or concept, if you will, can find a home on "Articulo No. 5". The album's price will reflect the track listing's content and as such will increase as songs are added. However, each track will be available for individual purchase.
 The idea for this ever expanding album is simple: I am impulsive and will occasionally walk into my studio with the intent on laying down an idea before it slips into the ether never to be heard again. What starts off as a simple one or two line idea will snowball and before long the acorn sprouts, roots, and grows.
 This will also allow me to separate my solo concepts from my collaborative ones such as I enjoy with my band Jupiter Groove and my narrative story/musical pairings of Stanislav and The Lion.

A Farewell to...

 My son and I shared tears today. Each one of us in his own way, miles apart but united in sadness and shock. Neil Peart, drummer, lyricist, author, and all around great human being has left us.
  I am a bassist whom started out as a drummer and living in a small desert town in Southern Cali. I never owned a drum set, let alone a single drum. I had the good fortune of having a great friend who would loan me his drums. I played in high school marching band and occasionally sat in with my friends Al and Andrew for school recitals and I once subbed for my friend Michael on a country gig at Silly Al's Pizza in Ehrenberg, AZ. Mike and I would obsess over Neil's solo on Rush's "All The World's A Stage" and "Exit Stage... Left". We were amazed by Neil's chops, precision, odd meter, and crazy percussion which he often incorporated into pretty damn well everything. I recall playing these solos for our band director, Mr Spooney" whom looked at us and remarked "That's no drummer, that's a percussionist!". Those solos are orchestrated journeys. Well crafted, thoughtful, and fucken amazing. I was influenced by Neil's writing and took to heart his disdain for lyrics and poetry that "rhymed for the sake of rhyming". I took that same credo with much aplomb as I began crafting my own lyrics and poetry. I still do and with every stroke of the pen (or key) I am forever conscience of Neil's influence on my own prose. When Neil put together the "Burning for Buddy" project I flipped. Here was one of my heroes paying tribute to one of his heroes, Buddy Rich, who happened to be another of my heroes. To hear Neil, and other amazing drummers, play music that most of them were not known for was a special treat. Those are some of my favorite albums of all time. Rush was, is, my biggest musical love. I was there with every morphing, through the straight rock era, prog era, keyboard heavy era, and back to the guitar based rock that 1st had Cleveland radio station WMMS  listen and take notice back in 1974. I bought two Rickenbackers and 6 Jazz Basses because of Rush..looking for that crunchy tone. I love drummers, especially those whom explore the whole of percussion as a vehicle to convey a sonic story. To craft and execute a symposium composed of "syncopated swing". Neil did just that..and with virtuosity in spades. He made a proficient air drummer out of every Rush fan. Every steering wheel became a Tama drum set whenever "Tom Sawyer" blasted out of the after market Pioneer 6 x 9s in Camaros and Datsuns across the land. He is one of the greatest and most influential drummers of my lifetime, of anyone's lifetime. He is in my Holy Trinity of Trappistas along with Buddy Rich and Dave Weckl. When Rush called it quits in 2015 it galvanized a universe of fans and musicians. I didn't want it to end..no way. No one did. I got to see Rush on their final tour..it was a magical experience. It was special in a way that no other Rush tour had been. There was something in the air..the cosmos..the whole of "musicdom" bristled with the energy..to borrow from Mr. Peart himself. Our clown princes of nerdy rock took a final bow and said "Thank you". We all knew that it was real, and final. 
 We have lost one of the most gifted musicians of this century. An influential drummer, lyricist, poet, author, and wonderful soul. I am saddened. This is my youth, my molding as a musician, my passion as a fan. It is a stark reminder, and that with the sharpest of blades, that "we are only immortal for a limited time". 
 Rest well, Professor. Thank you for enriching my life with your talents. For sharing with us the fruits of your undying labor. For allowing us to take part in your great Ghost Ride, and for being part of the soundtrack of my existence.
 I bid Farewell to a Rhythm King.

New E.R.S.E. recording

The 1st track from the second collection of the Emotional Response Sound Experiments Volume Two: SLEEP is now available.  

 "Raven Is Angry" combines church settings, rain storms, chimes, frequency emissions from the planets in our solar system, voices, and strange radio transmissions. It clocks in at just over 20 minutes. More tracks will be added in the coming weeks. 

   

News and what not...




June 30 2019

 Looking forward to my next show with my band mates in Jupiter Groove. We are set to play at the Shovelhead Lounge in Longwood FL opening up for YYNOT. The amazing A Fine Line will be on board as well. I plan on once again playing my NS/Stick exclusively for this show.

April 2017

Just released! I'd like to present you with the following track titled "Still". It is a composition which I recorded with my very talented soul brother Radek Kordasiewicz as part of our Ollin project.

Back in 2005, I was contacted by Radek about an art project called MusicWordArt where musicians, artists, and poets from around the globe would collaborate and release "Art Packs" (Radek is from Polland, we have yet to meet in person!). These works of art comprised images, poetry, and music to form an unique experience of which I had the pleasure of contributing to.
These experiences where the nucleus for Ollin. Radek had suggested we work together in more of a duo setting. We released an ambient piece comprosed of synths and bass soundscapes called "Ocean Wave". It marked our first composition together and we soon found ourselves exchanging ideas and tracks via the internet.

As time progressed, we determined that Ollin had more
to say than the two of us could utter and required a larger talent pool to create and release it's ever expanding sonic ideals. To that end, we culled from an international bevy of musicians spanning a decade and 4 official releases:

Radek Kordasiewics - synths, loops, atmospherics, guitars
Bill Forth - guitar textures, lead guitar, bass guitar
Reed Hayes - electronic drums
Janusz Kruszelnicki - saxophone
Marco Rodi - bass guitar
Sean Ghannam - lead guitar
Roy Southgate - voice
Juan R Leon - bass, Stick, Shakuhachi, Native American Flutes

For the latest and "final" release we employed the talents of artist Lena Czerniawska for the cover. You can learn more about Lena at https://lenaczerniawska.weebly.com.

It is fitting that this final release sees Ollin returning to it's "duo" incarnation. As with the inception we also return to it's compositional form of synths and ambient bass sounscapes. I see a journey bookended here yet not ended. One that has taken two kindred spirits on an artistic jaunt through a landscape, nay, a universalscape, that is hallmarked by not only a maturation of two musicians finding their footings alongside one another as ocean waves of creativity swelled around them, but of a friendship, a brotherhood, and an unbreakable bond born in the stillness of time.

 The complete OIllin catalogue is available for streaming and purchase at  The Official Ollin Bandcamp Page.
 There is an Edit Mix of "Up and Away" along with an original composition of mine on the Lena Records Sampler available here.

May 2017

 Getting geared up to promote our album "Gears Of Progression" in a few upcoming shows. Happy to say that we will be joining our good friends in the Travis Larson Band for some dates in Florida...on board for some of the shows will be Dave LaRue and his incredible band. As for the album we recorded it about two yrs ago and we finally got around to giving it a go. Well actually it was a bit more complicated than that. But not much more...
To be honest we just had a pickle of a time getting the production end of it right. Finding a studio that had the time and more importantly, the right ears for our music proved to be a little harder than we anticipated. But our patience prevailed when Ralph came across Sean Shannon. A mighty fine audio engineer,producer,author, and one hell of a drummer. We met up with Sean at his Mix Monsterz Recording Studios in Apopka, FL at the tail end of the hurricane season. Within about 15 mins or so of Sean dialing in some eq settings after importing and converting our files we knew we had made the right choice. The rough mixes breathed with a vibrance and energy that had us tapping our fist and smiling like giddy 13 year olds at the beach in Panama City. Suffice it to say that we exhaled an exuberant collective sigh of relief.
A month later we had our master.
Art work began for the album as I pounded the keys and manipulated the mouse (having thrown my Wacom Tablet across my studio in a typical ADD moment) as I created the art for the second time since my former Mac was no more (all my previous work was on that and although I did backup religiously, I couldn't find the files on my BU drive). T
With the music mastered and the art now done it was now time to send everything off to the presses.
And wait.
What's another month, right?
Well, it's finally here. And we are very very happy with the results. Strange...it all seems to sound and look better when it's in your hands. Maybe all just a bit..surreal? Is this the right context? Is that word ever used in the right context?
Oh..btw..I found the original art for the album...a week after we got the CDs in. Gonna use it on a t-shirt anyway....
So there it is. Not too big a deal..not too much drama. Our we happy? Proud? Excited? Well yes, of course we are.
But even with all the waiting and seemingly endless searches for the right studios..it was all rather..well...kind of effortless. No seriously. Not trying to make it sound as though we have this down pat or anything like that, but the recording took a total of 3 days with a follow up day for Dan to fine tune some guitar stuff. The bulk of the recording was done on day 2. We recorded 13-14 songs in one day. We didn't thing anything of it until our recording engineer Jeff Knauff told us that the average band usually knocks out maybe 1 or 2 tunes in a day. Thing is we have been playing these tunes live for some time now. We didn't write or rewrite anything in the studio. Next time around it may not be that simple ( but I get the feeling it will be).

The original, and formerly lost, cover art.

                                 July 2017

 Been a minute since my last post...
So what's going on?
Music...that's what. Doing a few shows with Jupiter Groove in the next few weeks. I am also having a Kahler Bass Trem installed on mt 6 string Ibanez SoundGear. Yup..Dan is kinda freaking out! I wanted a special tuning for this bass...so I got a hold of Tim Pfouts once again, over at S.I.T. Strings. They have been fulfilling my string needs for the last 4 years now and I am exceedingly happy. What I want for this particular 6 string was an extended range tuning. I wanted to tune up to a high "F". So my bass would be tuned as follows:
E (90)
A (70)
D (50)
G (30)
C (25)
F  (20)
I wanted super light gauge strings (my preference) and no low "B" string as the bass will have a trem system and the "flop" wouldn't be very musical. Besides, I'm no fan of the "B" string anyway! Once again Tim and his team delivered. They sent me a super light (.025) round wound "C" and I obtained a super light (.020) round wound "F" Snakeskins String from Conklin Guitars and Basses. Incidentally, Snakeskins Strings are also made by S.I.T. for Conklin exclusively. That made me super duper happy as I really wanted to stay with S.I.T. all the way.

                        

                                  May 2016

 Spent 3 productive days in the studio with my band mates in Jupiter Groove last weekend. We were able to track 13 tunes in about 1 and 1/4 days! The rest of the time was dedicated to punches,overdubs,layering..etc. We recorded  the tracks in Gibsonton, FL. at The Parsonage Recording Studio with owner/producer Jeff Knauff at the helm. I got to use my new Sire V7 (which sounded AMAZING), my Dean Rhapsody 12 string,an Ibanez SR 506,and my Squire Vin Mod Jazz Bass Fretless. Dan brought an army of axes with him, including his trusty Parker Flys, an Ibanez 7 string, and a Rogue Electric Sitar. even an acoustic (a Martin, I believe) made it onto the tracks. Ralph dragged in his mighty Pearls..a massive set actually, to lay down the funkygressive grooves. We are now in the process of going through every track, one by one, getting levels, fine tuning, etc. Look for a Summer/Fall release!

An old fashioned book burning?

                                       

                    




 I recently ordered the book "In the Spirit of Crazy Horse" from an online book reseller. I was surprised to receive the 1st edition of the book (1983-1992) instead of the latter edition (1999 - present). I used to own a copy of the 1st edition which I had purchased in 1991.I lost my copy when  I left California in 1992 to move to the East Coast. I went on a search to buy the book again but could not find it anywhere...I later found out that the book had essentially been taken off the shelves due to legal actions brought upon by agents of the FBI against the author and Viking Press citing "slander".

 The book was out of circulation for almost a decade before anew edition,with additional material,was re-issued  Viking/Penguin Press. Originally,Viking had destroyed all warehouse copies that had not gone to retail outlets. For almost a decade, the book was held up in legal red tape as the courts sorted out the accusation brought forward by the FBI:

> After publication of the book, two plaintiffs filed libel suits against Viking Press. Bill Janklow, the former Republican governor of South Dakota, filed a $24 million lawsuit in South Dakota. He also sued three booksellers in South Dakota who had sold hardcover copies of the book. This case was watched because of its repressive aspects related to bookselling.

Janklow's suit was based upon one paragraph in the book which has statements by AIM leader Dennis Banks referring to rape allegations made against Janklow by Jacinta Eagle Deer, a young Brulé Lakota on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Banks also noted Janklow's arrest for driving drunk and nude on the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota in 1973.[1]

Janklow filed a separate lawsuit against Newsweek magazine (Janklow v. Newsweek, 788 F2d 1300) for an article that contained the disputed passage.[1] In his complaint, referring to the statement by Banks about rape, Janklow "cited a 1975 letter from Philip W. Buchen, head of the Office of Counsel to the President of the United States, to the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, saying that three Federal investigations found the allegations against him 'simply unfounded'. The Senate committee was considering Mr. Janklow's nomination as a director of the Legal Services Corporation..."[1]

Viking Press filed a countersuit against Janklow in the Southern District of New York, which in part alleged that Janklow had interfered with the company's constitutional rights to publish and distribute the book.[1] A South Dakota circuit court ruled that the book was not defamatory and terminated Janklow's lawsuit in 1984. Upon Janklow's appeal of the ruling, the South Dakota State Supreme Court reinstated the case in 1985.

David Price, an FBI agent who was at the Wounded Knee incident, filed two identical lawsuits against Viking: one in South Dakota state court (Price v. Viking Press, Inc., Civ. No. 84-448) and an identical suit (Price v. Viking Press, Inc., 625 F. Supp. 641) in federal court, seeking $25 million in United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. The case was transferred to a federal court in Minnesota.

The lawyers representing both Matthiessen and Viking Press in the federal suit in Minnesota were noted First Amendment lawyer Martin Garbus of Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz, New York City, with Barbara F.L. Penn, St. Paul, Minnesota.

In the Minnesota case, Federal District Court Judge Diana E. Murphy dismissed the Price suit. Her 33-page ruling noted: "Viking recognized that responsible publishing companies owe some duty to the public to undertake difficult but important works." Janklow's case in South Dakota was similarly dismissed. In both cases both the author and publisher were deemed to have been protected by the free speech clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. It was noted that Matthiessen's book was clearly one with an opinion.[2] <  From Wikipedia

 I am not entirely disappointed that I received a 1st edition of this book, I suppose it's a collector's item of sorts. I still am going to get the newest edition,as it contains additional material that I have great interest in.

 Class dismissed.

New music,new shows

                    Lena Records Sampler One Release


 Radek has been laboring long and passionately on starting a new label focusing on ambient,electronic,progressive,experimental,
and all related genres and sub-genres. The label is Lena Records.
 Well that labor has paid off and I am happy to announce that the 1st release is now available as a free download for a limited time.
 Lena records Sampler One brings together 7 different artists representing a wide array of styles from ambient, fusion,prog,folk,dark-wave,spoken word,and experimental.

 Lena Records will be offering singles,eps,and full album releases by up and coming artists in it's first year. Radek and I completed a new tune by our project Ollin​ which will be released on a forthcoming album of brand new Ollin material. This will be our first  a full length album as a core duo in about 5 years. 
 I will also be recording new material for a solo album in the coming months to be released by Lena Records and produced by Radek himself.  




 Please visit the Official Lena Records Facebook Page and like us!  

        

               De Soto Luminary Walk Saturday Dec 19 2015

 I will be performing once again at the De Soto National Memorial in Bradenton, FL., for their annual luminary festival. The festival features music,food,period actors, and candle lit trails. The event starts @ 6:30 pm and runs till 8:30 pm. It is free to the public.

 And speaking of De Soto, I have been asked if I will be selling any of my music at this year's performance. The short answer is no...and yes.

 Although I do not have any physical CDs of my music at present time, I am offering digital releases of my music via my online Music Store hosted by Bandcamp. Of particular interest to those of you who have seen my solo Native American Flute performances at De Soto is the album "The Wind That Moves The Moss". It is an album containing two performances recorded live at De Soto in 2013 and also includes some studio compositions.

The album is now available for purchase along with other releases.




                                         OLLIN News 
   

                    

        New Ollin track "Still" harkens back to early yrs.

 It's hard to believe that Ollin started 10 years ago! I just finished recording my parts for one of the tunes on our new album and let me tell you...I am excited! It really captures what Radek Kordasiewicz and I do best..create an emotive atmosphere in which the listener can really get caught up in. 

 We will be having a big "release party" of sorts planned via a cybercast interview where we will debut "Still" and play some old Ollin classics..and a few surprises as well...we'll fill ya in later.

 All new material,along with bonus tracks,will be available for purchase in the coming months. 

 Visit the new Official Ollin FaceBook Page and like us!

                                                                       

                           
                                         Solo News

 And I will again be at the De Soto Annual Luninary Walk this coming Dec 19 in Bradenton FL.

 And..new solo project is planned for 2016. A complete solo album,produced by Radek is in the works for the coming year.

 In the meantime, enjoy a few of my older tracks...
 

                                     Jupiter Groove

 And I will be with my band Jupiter Groove at the following dates...

Wed Nov 11th at The Haven

Sat Nov 14 at the Deland Original Music Fest. 
 *Venues and times TBA

                            Lindy Romez & Sol Y Mar

A special reunion show at the Deland Original Music Festival 
Sat Nov 14
* Venue and time TBA

E.R.S.E. News 

And finally (again)...

 Some have commented that my E.R.S.E. recordings have broken links to Soundcloud. And you are correct. Soundcloud no longer hosts E.R.S.E. I have moved them to my Bandcamp page.
  
 To recap...
  
 E.R.S.E. are a collection of compositions created entirely by using a variety of field recordings which are then processed,manipulated,and mixed into tracks which are designed to evoke an emotional response by the listener.There are no musical instruments used in the 1st of these recordings although the compositions do take on a musical quality at times.The recordings are ambient in nature and can be dark and eerie at times.
The series will boast at least 10 releases which will vary from tracks composed entirely from field recording and tracks that will feature bass,Chapman Stick,and flute that have been heavily processed. the volumes will progressively become more abstract and at the same time retain a musical quality.
Voices of Spring (Floating Mix) from Tension and Release:Volume One may be streamed below. You can purchase more of my music by visiting my Bandcamp page.