Louis J. Casson: 2011

Tuesday 22 November 2011

My Blues Blog for Christmas

Hi everyone,

And welcome to my last Blog this side of Christmas.

What with promoting my Album “Love and Blues”
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-and-blues-poems-music/id475813444

making an iPhone ringtone (“The Secrets Summer Keeps”) and
of course writing more poems lyrics, I‘ve been busy; but still found time to make this Blog for you.

“See You in the Big Time”.

Now live on Amazon Kindle with a review by Bryan Cowsert. Thanks Bryan for your positive feedback and comments !

Link to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/See-You-Big-Time-ebook/product-reviews/B005QT0GO0/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Links to poems mentioned – click to hear me read these to you:-

Night Rain
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/320686_lgkzi/Night%20Rain.mp3

Which Dictionary Did You Swallow?
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/320685_cftxr/What%20Dictionary%20Did%20You%20Swallow.mp3

New poem: “If I don’t tell ‘em who will?”

This one came to me from a phrase overheard on the main shopping street, plus the thought that singing the Blues is in its way “testifying”. Like in a gospel church where the pastor tells the congregation how it is (“No... truly!”).

See after the poem for Aaron Neville’s version of “Tell it like it is”, second after his version of “Bird on a Wire” in my book.

If I don’t tell ‘em who will?

If I don’t tell ‘em

reckon no one will.

Then no one

will know that thrill.

Of how a good love, deep and true,

can chase away the sadness,

it can happen for you.

So if I look at you and holler

Don’t slide on by

crying “enough”.

It’s for your good

and not my health.

That I’m here testifying,

sharing the gospel of my love.

If I don’t tell ‘em

reckon no one knows.

Each soul passing’s ripe for love’s harvest

whether slick

or ragged clothes.

Love’s glorious appearing can come upon us any day

wars n doubts n fears, uncertain

merely signs it’s on its way.

So listen good today

don’t harden up your hearts.

Takes a deal of bold and sweat

spreading love’s good news

round these parts.

Yes

Takes a deal of bold and sweat

Spreading love’s good news

round these parts.

Link to “Tell it like it is”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcbbOYcEz88

“Singing the Blues” session 5^th November: how it went

My last blog mentioned my taking a session in Blues singing phrasing with Andra Sparks (singing) and Nick Weldon (Piano).

Thanks Andra and Nick for a lovely day! Inspiring, and such a lot to take away to work on.

Nick Weldon & Andra Sparks Website: http://jazzschool.co.uk/

Louis’ Digital Jukebox.

Here’s the links to my music selection for this month, with a Blues flavour. Some of these tracks we went over in the “singing the Blues session”:-

“How long”, Jimmy Witherspoon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2iUltN3tc

“Bright Lights Big City”, Jimmy Reed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giGGK3Fk9co

“Big City Blues”, Mel Torme & Barry Manilow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c-wmgN6xuk

“A Bad Case of the Blues”, Dinah Washington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpb-1vH2F5g&feature=related

“Juke Joint Blues”, Big Joe Turner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_uO-47K7tc

My favourite - “House of the rising sun“, The Animals (with Eric Burdon on vocals) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmdPQp6Jcdk

Finally...

Time to start the festive season with a disco classic: “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Barry White. Featuring Lisa Stansfield as Lady Godiva seeking her horse among shoppers – strange things happen up North folks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8ZRFK-1Aks

That’s all for now folks, have a happy holidays. Till my next Blog, take care. Louis J

This Blog content, Poems & Lyrics, Copyright Louis J. Casson 2011.

See more about Louis J. Casson on Behance: http://www.behance.net/LJCasson

Saturday 1 October 2011

New book coming: See You in the Big time

Hi everyone,

“See You in the Big Time”. New book of poems lyrics coming soon.

Apologies for the long delay since my last Blog. I had to take my summer break, plus recent work on my new book “See You in the Big Time” , editing etc. I expect to release the book in the coming week (3 October onwards).

I’ll announce this with a link to Amazon Kindle when it’s finally all ready for sale.

“Silenced By Love”.

This is a new poem, written in Milton Keynes library last Wednesday.

Silenced by Love

There’s a word that

before it gets to be thunk.

Before lips move or
even the impulse to.
Lies dormant
ceasing on the tongue.

A child wants to show a picture:
“Daddy look!”
Or softly nestle up
a small soft hand in mine.

Puppies pleading

whining low

eyes looking up into mine.

Cuddles

each night kisses

before sleep.

You only want to be loved.

Only outside of the moment

could No exist.

Music tracks in production

I’m working with composer/musician Charles Sheinman on setting my poems lyrics to music. The pre-mastering mix of Mr. Blues was a tad scary but in a good way! I hope to share a taste of the tracks with you soon. Link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/CoolMan8

Early November Blues tuition

In early November I’m taking some tuition in singing phrasing with two professional jazz musicians. Andra Sparks (singing) Nick Weldon (Piano) Makes sense since quite a few of my pieces are Blues based and it should enhance my performance of the pieces live.

Andra Sparks, Jazz singer. Website: http://www.andrasparks.com/

Nick Weldon, Jazz piano Website: http://jazzschool.co.uk/

Louis’ Digital Jukebox.

I was in Starbucks, Milton Keynes, drinking a large Americano when I heard Billy Holiday’s “ Good Morning Heartache” Maybe I should add this to my playlist to learn?

Here’s a link to the music:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDZOX9IdKs

That’s all for now folks.

Till my next Blog, take care.

Louis J

This Blog content, Poems & Lyrics, Copyright Louis J. Casson 2011.

See more about Louis J. Casson on Behance: http://www.behance.net/LJCasson

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Love & Lovers. MP3 files of poem and lyrics. Music Links /Louis’ Digital Jukebox.

Hi everyone and here are more poems lyrics and music track selected by me, for your entertainment.

Firstly three poems: with the MP3 links to readings of them by myself. Then on the theme of love, links to my pick of music tracks...

Poems with MP3 links.

Tip: for best listening, plug your headphones in your PC base unit.

This is Gurd

(words for the music track: “Time for Tiffin”, by Charles Sheinman)

This is Gurd, join my dreams.

Feel the air you breath go out, flow through the trees,

a kiss returns.

Softly, know,

Here is where all is and is to know.

No reasons given or needed

accepted you belong

part of Gurd’s song.

Silent, in the silence thoughts

come falling

into the waves of afternoon sleep.

Sea surf

breakers lulling friends and lovers

to mornings shore.

This is Gurd, join my dreams

Feel the air you breath go out, flow through the trees,

a kiss returns.

YouTube Link to “Time for Tiffin” music video track by Charles Sheinman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF6-yIdYVqQ&feature=share

The View from Vanity Tower

Buying building a stack of bibles

so I can get closer to the God of heaven who lies there?

Sifting all the denominational variants n options,

convinced the truth lies in there somewhere!

Surrounding myself with a wall of high-flown books

secure against the new barbarians.

They’re advancing, scaling my Towers’ walls,

damn it they just won’t stop over there!

Keep coming closer from over there.

Who’s going to tell me that the vista of bliss,

that view from Vanity Tower.

Was blended with illusion,

while merely seeming true, not really how it was,

but it held me in it’s power.

Gather up all the rosaries, count beads, to frighten the Devil

Too long, it held me in its misguided power.

Too late to break free from the power.

Magic bullets still from us eluding

not found easy, or made of paper

in my gathered rows of books.

Thoughts, ideas live on beyond exuding,

untarnished truth, below mere looks.

Asking questions with no answers

still time is waning

until death the unknowing captures all.

Why ask questions that have no answers?

I’m only seeking truth that’s all.

Who’s going to deal with all my precious things and books

After the day I die?

Sent off to the charity shop or dumped to the tip

maybe they’ll just burn, watch the sparks go upward fly?

Black ashes, as the sparks going upwards, they fly.

It’s only the View from Vanity Tower

but it keeps you comfy for a while.

Filters and self fooling keep out better than shutters

reality or the sun.

I need to give my mind a scrub and a shower.

See better after a scrub and a shower.

MP3 audio link:

http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/310222_weyrn/TheViewFromVanityTower_19082011.mp3]TheViewFromVanityTower_19082011.mp3

Stroke My Soul

Sing, say the words that stroke my soul.

For only you have the key, that power,

that soothes all troubles, see them flow away.

And I don’t mind,

it’s so sweet not have control.

Dance, slowly in the half light gently move.

Feel the love just sharing, being here.

Our secret place suspending, all time and the world.

All is enough,

to continue in that groove.

Speak, and I will listen drinking in your words.

Each sentence, phrase, gently whispers, murmurs, purrs.

Contently calms my troubled seas,

till the world’s wearing waves of rage,

of disappointments,

become smoothed and flat.

Seek, while others seek what we have found.

Love as a silent wave flows among us

For lucky ones, swept in love’s currents

to its blessed isle.

Blessed I am to stand, to lie,

to know this ground.

MP3 Audio link:

http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/310136_wtkhv/StrokeMySoul_19082011.mp3]StrokeMySoul_19082011.mp3

Bhagavad Blues

Love existing invisible: revealed

stroking my dog, kissing my Wife,

calling a friend.

Acting strips surface words; prosaic

even commonplace acts revealing,

essential spirits.

I have continued in love; giving you

the smallest leaf and solitary rice grain.

Here potentia - joy or sadness - lies:

did you know, or not,

what it meant?

MP3 audio link:

http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/310135_zsq3j/BhagavadBlues_19082011.mp3]BhagavadBlues_19082011.mp3

See: The Bhagavad Gita. Translated by Juan Mascaro. Penguin Classics 1962

Page 45, Chapter 9:26. Krishna: “He who offers me with devotion only a leaf, or a flower, or a fruit, or even a little water, this I accept from that yearning soul, because with a pure heart it was offered with love”.

Staying on the theme of Love & Lovers, links:

Shakespeare: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s Day?

Note that the final couplet, the last two lines, give a reason for writing this or any love poem.

http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/sonnet/18

A Jazz ballad version as sung by Cleo Laine with John Dankworth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg13WcPAHms

John Donne: Elegy XIX To His Mistress going to Bed.

http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/mistress/mistress.html

Love poems by Pablo Neruda (and others!)

http://www.yourlovecoach.co.uk/love-poems/love-poems-by-pablo-neruda/

Andrew Marvel: To his Coy Mistress.

http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/marvell/coy.htm

Louis’ Digital Jukebox.
These are on my current “marvellous mashup” music listening list. Some new some old, a mix of old skool soul plus jazz:

“Neither one of us”: Gladys Knight & the Pips. A fine example of heartbreaking soul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo2Hw0Y-NeY

Another version, live, Winsome Benjamin does her thing. Gooood!:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NasaU9kFRrU

The Stylistics: “you make me feel brand new”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyD5tAGBP9U

Sarah Vaughan: “My funny Valentine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dntaJEqH9IM&feature=related

Billy Holiday: “The very thought of you”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPJuFxl0bxY&feature=related

Dennis Edwards: “Don’t look any further”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH3rx8LhrQo&ob=av2e

Al Green: “love and happiness”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsU6_eSG4k4

Teddy Pendergrass, “Turn off the lights”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSrEdpW3PoM&feature=related

Alexander O’Neal, “Never knew love like this”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAcvYHZm47I

Atlantic Starr “Always”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgl11QAU6nA&feature=related

Hope you all enjoyed it, that’s enough for now I think!

Till my next Blog, take care. Louis J

See more about Louis J. Casson on Behance: http://www.behance.net/LJCasson

Friday 5 August 2011

Theme: Rivers / August heat. Coming! MP3 files of poem and lyrics. Links & Jukebox .

Hi everyone and welcome to my latest Blog.

First some news, followed by two poems - River Scenes and Heat - then links to video and music on the theme of Rivers.

Enjoy!

Best wishes, Louis

Louis’ News

Northants Creative Bursary. Thanks to a bursary recently awarded to me by Creative Northants, I am now busy making MP3 files of my poems lyrics, More details about this soon!

Here’s a taster, “Travelling to My Love”, link to Ernie Ball Current events Forum, click to listen. Tip: best listened to using headphones.
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/current-events/50598-louis-mp3-files-poems-lyrics-comng-soon.html

Thank you Creative Northants for your generous support of my work.
http://www.creativenorthants.co.uk/

Updates to my Behance portfolio site. I updated my Behance site this week to add more information about myself. Take a look: http://www.behance.net/LJCasson

Tim Muddiman. Local guitar man Tim Muddiman is now back in Northampton briefly, prior to flying out on tour again with Gary Numan. Here’s a link to an interview with Tim, plus some pics. All the best Tim!

http://blog.dolphinmusic.co.uk/index.php/blog/view/interview_with_gary_numans_guitarist_tim_muddiman

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=tim+muddiman&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADFA_enGB355GB355&prmd=ivnso&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yPQ7TpbzF5KGhQeqoczIDQ&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1390&bih=700

Poems.

Two pieces for this time of year: Heat and River Scenes.

River Scenes

i. Pond Skater

With a whir of wings;

      dart left, dart right, dart out of sight.


      Pause again,

thread legs dimpling the water’s meniscus,

balancing body and wings atop.

Below the surface,

      A flash of accelerating stickleback snap.

      Move now for life,

Dart left, dart right, dart out of stickleback sight!

ii. Trout

I swim out smoothly lazy,

from the shaded willowed bank.

Sun motes from the surface,

silhouette the dancing fly above.

I rush, and snap my meal,

the ripples revealing I am here.

Outside the river the angler casts,

too late to catch me this time.

iii. Kingfisher

I was made from a handful of jewels and turquoise;

gems coalescing, sparkling, following my beak of coral.

I have to eat small river fish,

their gloopy flesh keeps the jewels glued together.

Shhhh – it’s a secret for us two, not others!

Heat

Corn is waving,

Like bristles on Hog’s skin.

Goose-bumped by cool breezes, now and then in the heat.

August day, so heavy it’s got us all beat.

So heavy it’s got us all beat.

From the warm sticky train, the land’s folding and waxing,

Earth’s muscles flexing to let out a sigh.

As we ride in the freight, going by.

Ride in the freight going by.

Thick rainless air, like Glycerin and water.

In the distance trees dancing; mother Cedar, Shrub daughter.

Mouth dry and sticky, like a crick with no water.

Dry and sticky, like a crick with no water.

Stetson-headed the sheriff shumbles down Main Street,

Sweat kissing the dust on his boot in the heat.

August day, so heavy it’s got us all beat.

So heavy it’s got us all beat.

Staying on the theme of River, links:

River monsters, Jeremy Wade

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/river-monsters/

Amazon DVD, book link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Monsters-DVD/dp/B002VYJX9W

Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darkness-Penguin-Classics-Joseph-Conrad/dp/0141441674/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312272735&sr=1-1

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

In the book Marlow sees an African Woman, regal and majestic...

Scroll down the screen a little the passages quoted are taken from Chapter 3, paragraph 13 (3,13 in the article text)

NB: the commentary on this site belongs to the site alone, they are not my views or comments; I am merely using the link to this site to avoid retyping out chunks of text!

Langston Hughes “I’ve seen rivers...”

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/negro-speaks-of-rivers/

Index of Langston Hughes poems on poemhunter:

http://www.poemhunter.com/langston-hughes/poems/page-1/

Louis’ Digital Jukebox.

These are on my current “marvellous mashup” music listening list:

Courtney Pine, “I’ve known rivers” – based on the Langston Hughes poem. This is a new 4hero remix of the original track, to be found on the Courtney Pine Album “Modern Day Jazz Stories”,.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53z4LuhwJYE

Paul Robeson “Ol Man River” (from Porgy & Bess):

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

& “Summertime”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j5CieXP7L8&feature=related

Miles Davis “Summertime” (a little diversion!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N090STPx-2M&feature=related

Lazy River, Hoagy Carmichael. Some fine piano work from Hoagy here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7yCYXfTA3g&feature=related

The River, Bruce Springsteen (with Sting):

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

Since covered by Michael Buble; this is Ella Fitzgerald’s version of, “Cry Me a River”. Note how the tempo and feel changes at least three times on this track, plus...scat vocals by Ella!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XggjVo3j-o&feature=related

Till next time, take care!