Peter J Slack Musical BLOG

Hello to all fine folks, http://www.pjslack.net/emumaoutravida.mp3 This is an instrumental tune dedicated to AmandaMartinez and Laura Fernandez, both hosts of the Cafe Latino radio program that airs Saturdayafternoons on 91.1FM or online at http://www.jazz.fm for those not in the GTA. "Em uma outra vida" translated from Portuguesemeans "in another life". I don't speak a word of Portuguese (and thanks to the powers that be foronline translators) but I played in a Brazilian jazz band several years back and was reminiscing,it seems like a lifetime ago, in another life. Istarted a mini project called Cafe Latino after Iheard news that Amanda was stepping down and following her beautiful voice and that LauraFernandez (also of a beautiful voice) was taking over as host of my favorite radio show. As with any change there is both excitement, uncertainty and we always have moments missing the life we had before changes, those inevitable blues. The band I played with was a regular in Niagara onthe Lake and played Saturday nights at the Anchorage. The show still goes on and is hosted by Steve Goldberger and the Niagara RhythmSection. On my long drive into NOTL on those Saturdays we played, I always managed to be traveling the same time as Cafe Latino aired, this show always started my fire for those Saturday night Latin gigs and Amanda even spun up a recording that featured some of my playing once,my first time on air play! Thank you Amanda! I was fortunate to meet Amanda once many years backas she was hosting a show at the Latin Arts Festival where I was playing guitar in a backing band. Since that time she launched an amazing singing career. But this is not the end of thestory, one wintry night in Orangeville I happened to meet Laura Fernandez at the annual HAMS party. Laura is also an amazing singer / songwriter and now the new host of Cafe Latino! So congratulations are in order to both these ladies for their positive life changes and this song is for you both. Here's some links to check out: Amanda Martinez http://www.myspace.com/amandamartinezsola http://www.amandamartinez.ca/ Laura Fernandez http://www.laurafernandezmusic.com/ http://www.myspace.com/laurafernandezband There are also live recordings of the saturday night sessions. You should talk to Steve about getting your hands on some live recordings with the Bushman (me) on guitar, you might end up dancing: http://www.stevegoldberger.com/shedrecords.html With warm wishes, PJ Music (C)opyright 2008, Peter J Slack SOCAN

Season's Greetings from the winter wonderland, http://www.pjslack.net/silenceandsymmetry.mp3 There's hopefully always room for a song at the right time. This instrumental production dates back a few years to 2003, I was enjoying some personal freedom having just left a 5 year long industrial post and project. I was spending some time in the wilderness during the fall and winter. This is a sonic sentiment rejoicing the quiet moments after solstice that we should all take periodically in life, a winter song that is to express a natural, yet perhaps not so obvious or logical mirror reflection of stillness against a busy life. I have been working my way through the amazing BBC series "Planet Earth" released on DVD. I am aware after a few segments about northern climates that wildlife and nature takes time off, takes timeout, the dark cold of winter inevitably brings about this natural slumber, the busy life of spring and summer is a mirror opposite reflection of this sleep, a natural balance of living life and taking time reflecting in silence. Although seemingly brutal with many species going months without food, this slumber brings about rhythmic rejuvenation worthy of musical celebration. Happy slumber and solstice to all! See you in the spring, PJ

Hello to all fine people, Destination Unknown Song Track: http://www.pjslack.net/destinationunknown.mp3 As a child I had dreams of exploring other planets and owning a horse, my favorite books were the Time-Life series published in the early 70's and in particular, the reference book "Space" that was part of this series. These books and the wonderful illustrations therein were the stuff of dreams as I was growing up. Later in life I met the daughter of the fellow who was responsible for publishing this series of books and we are very old and dear friends to this day. The books still sit on the bookshelf at my parent's home and are always there for next generation of kids who may require good references and reading material during their stay. Today, through the thick and sometimes monotonous,modern accounting staples of living are these dreams and a sense of great purpose and mystery. Today I imagine, like many others do, that the people of the earth are its seeds and that the ripening earth one day must let go the seeds, like a dying flower eventually must let go of its seeds with hopes and love to see them grow on their own. For me, the sense of great danger with the precarious environment on earth is balanced by the mystery that always awaits us. The next version of Noah's Ark will probably be a space craft and we will still not know where we are going but we always seem to end up somewhere. Destination Unknown - Lyrics Destination unknown Don't even bother to answer the phone 'cause it's not the truth on the other end It's my life falling againIt's my life falling again When will this ever end? Another sight unseen What ever does it mean to me? All this confusion around. Doesn't even make a sound. Doesn't even make a sound. How can we go on like this? Can't always be right. It's never a good reason to fight. There's still the unknown that we face, That shadows over the human race. That shadows over the human race. When will we see this truth? Words and Music (C)opyright 2007 Peter J Slack,SOCAN

Hello again, Man on a String: Song Track http://www.pjslack.net/manonastring.mp3 I'll tell you what's really going on is I'm preparing offerings for the kind music spirits in preparation for the launch of "Brewster'sCoffeehouse Tour" starting August 4th in Sauble beach at the community center and then coming to a town near you. Come out to the beach and catch a concert in the evening for more information: http://www.myspace.com/brewsterscoffeehouse2 I've been fortunate to learn and participate in acoustic solo style music alongside some of the best writers and performers around. This song is a sample of that solo style and what you'll hear from our coffeehouse tour. I call this a fractal blues. There's ghosts outside the window and wolves outside the door. I count the times I miss you, but I don't count no more. Man on a string, can't buy a diamond ring. Doesn't mean he doesn't care. We all fall down sometimes. We all break our crown sometimes, and it doesn't mean that we don't care. Love to you all,PJ

Hello again good people, Song Track http://www.pjslack.net/seeyouinthemorning.mp3 What do you do when you have the blues and don't drink? I was asking myself this very question the other day. I decided the question was also a good title for a blues album. Most obvious the first track in an album of this title would be called "I'll see you in the morning", something I would never say after a night of drinking. Sleep is the best cure for the blues besides playing the blues, and so to answer the important question, in rootsy blues with a twist song: I'll see you in the morning =========================== The up side of the morning, is the right side of the head. The flip side is the evening, the left side of the bed. I'll see you in the morning, with my arms wide open. Love to you all, and goodnight...;-) PJ Words and Music (C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

Song Track: http://www.pjslack.net/guardianangel02.mp3 This is for my wife Terri who asked that I writeand perform a song to celebrate her goal of becoming a Mary Kay Sales Director. For any ofyou who are active with Mary Kay you understand that this is a very difficult goal to achieve. Throughout the four month process there was a recurring theme at the end of each month, one of panic that we wouldn't make the required sales mark and all of the work the previous months, all of the time and money invested was for not. At the end of each month the goal was met at the eleventh hour. I realized a long time ago that this always happened to us throughout our life together; at the last minute a small miracle would happen and we could carry on with our life. This song is a celebration of our family's Guardian Angel and I extend hopes and wishes that all of your own Guardian Angels that protect you and your family, with love and light, will forever come through at the last minute when needed most. Guardian Angel Guardian Angel shine your precious light. Show the path where everything's all right. Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall. Out of our minds; working 'till the break of dawn. Guardian Angel lend me your wings today. Give us faith that there's a better way. Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall. Out of our minds; working 'till the break of dawn. We gather here to make your glory shine. Do what.s right, no hearts of courage resign. Just when it seems we're headed for another fall You are there to help us through it all. Guardian Angel lend me your wings today. Give us faith that there's a better way. Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall. Out of our minds; working 'till the end of dawn. Namaste!!! PJ Words and Music (C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack the Digital Bird

NEVER LOST:Song Track Today I am grateful to be able to offer to you all, a humble trinket from a seemingly perpetual philosophy machine. Logic doesn’t always prevail simply because the primordial paradox that continues to explode allows neither pure logic nor pure chaos to prevail. “Never Lost” is a song celebrating the dichotomies, without which, we would not exist nor would we have such rich lives. If you find yourself repeating clichés like” I’ll never figure out women” or “I’ll never figure out men”, consider that not being able to figure things out has nothing to do with gender. Also, if you find yourself very comfortable with the way things are, I recommend not getting too comfortable but instead, allow some of the strange things that occasionally happen in life to happen. Never Lost: Lyrics Heard a wise man sayNeed not cry todayOver something lostThat's never found Think you've got it madeLying in the shadeFinally found your placeWas never lost Never lost and never foundNow and thenNever lost and never foundA river without end A child that wants to growFind the youth when you're oldCandle burns both endsSpilling on the floor Lovers get it rightSome may choose to fightThe world is falling downWhile angels rise Never lost and never foundNow and thenNever lost and never foundA river without end Heard a wise man sayNeed not cry todayOver something lostThat's never foundWords and Music(C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

Good Day to all fine people, Song Track: Mother is Going to Melt Your Ice I suppose I'll begin the introduction to this sad song by using an old cliche here: I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. My new year's resolution every year from now on: I'm going to make the best of my life and do things that respect the lives and beliefs of others, respect and enhance our beautiful mother earth, and do things that naturally have respect for my own self and my own well being. Writing country blues songs and love songs certainly can rank in all three of these categories as long as it causes people to stop and reflect in a positive and constructive way. This has always been my intention for writing songs. This is a blues / country song to add to the "Declassified" album project. This is sort of a late addendum to resonate the theme in Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth". I can certainly remember winter when there were 20 foot snow banks along the road where I live; today only half a foot if any. I can remember talking about all of the environmental issues, such as acid rain and greenhouse gas, when I was in grade school, thirty years ago. Somewhere along the line I decided to join the popular consumer culture and ignore all of these messages and simply become a sleeping, dreaming skeptic like everyone else: in this life's dream everything is just wonderful no matter what we choose to do. The lessons about impending doom that were conveyed were obviously lost in the interpretation of what life's dream is. I find myself at a loss to tell you today what my dreams are beyond enjoying companionship with a happy, healthy family and friends. I write songs to try and work out the answer to this difficult yet seemingly simple question. This is a blunt declassification for you today: our life's dream is approaching a cataclysmic nightmare. The green revolution and evolution itself will not come about in calm, happy transitions but rather cataclysmic changes of nature and free will that leave no choice in the matter but to change. Successful form with harmonious sense of survival carries on and survives. I am neither an anarchist nor pessimist but rather make these observations based on the irreversible and unstoppable nature of change itself. Successful life form on every scale becomes stubborn in a sheltered trough of calm and serene. This becomes the sense of balance and survival. This is survival inertia. Collectively we become extensions of single calorie burning organisms and impact nature as a collective, external consciousness that devours the amount of energy required for the new and larger hungry life form satisfying a larger survival inertia. The energy required to sustain the new collective life form is a quantum jump beyond what is required to sustain the sum of the individuals that make it up, this is the concept and physical manifestation of quantum consciousness. A successful star in the cosmos will devour more mass until finally it dies and is reborn into the next larger form and then eventually, a black hole. The propensity to consume and collect and the idea of "survival inertia" is not limited only to human nature and form but is a fabric of the universe. There is great hope however because, most importantly and perhaps most profoundly, the sense of survival and way of survival is something that is communicated. Mother earth is communicating to us, a requirement for a new paradigm of the collective sense of survival. This is my interpretation for you in case you've missed the message: Mother is Going to Melt Your Ice (Lyrics) The fields are burning. We've poisoned air. Nature is turning a war on this terror. Hey hey! Mother is going to melt your ice. The east is yearning for western fare. Dollars churning for plastic wares. Hey hey! Mother is going to melt your ice. How green is your lawn? How far does your tank of gas go? When we reach the desert island, won't matter any more. (C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

This past fall I participated in a benefit for the Jai Dee Children's Fund and we raised money to help build a school in Laos. I wrote a song for the event and was asked by one of the elders of the community if I would record it. I am pleased today to be able to offer you the recording of this song. This is a blessing for the children of Laos and is a humble and simple musical exploration of the enchanting Khong Island in southern Laos. The Island River Heart From the island river heart, Love flows freely, forming beautiful falls. From the land of happy hearts, Accept this blessing: May you love and be free. Love and be free...Love and be free... Song Credits: Peter J Slack : Vocals, Guitar Jennifer Gillmor : Cello Recording/Engineering: Brian Hewson, Escarpment Sound (C)opyright 2006, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

OASIS TANGO I simply have to continue to ask this question: what are your symbols of peace and freedom? My philosophy is that the ultimate symbol of peace and freedom is an honestly earned, deep respect for one another. How do we gain respect from one another? Do we build nuclear bombs? Send armies marching to destroy? Drop bombs on innocents? Slaughter one another? Enslave on another? Together we live on this oasis. There's not a lot of good real estate to build our own Zion anywhere other than here on the great mother planet earth; our oasis in the universe. The doorway to Zion, to individual peace and freedom, is to learn to dance with one another. I offer this vibration and these symbols crafted from ancient and modern instruments, as a digital hex to ward against the false respect nations and hateful societies seek to achieve through aggression, violence and death. May we all find peace and freedom, may we all learn the Oasis Tango.

Greetings to all fine people, ABOVE THE CLOUDS:SONG TRACK I'm just ecstatic today to receive another great submission for distribution on the pod-waves from the archives of Mr. Thomas Hastings. I suspect Thom has an entire album stored away. Let's just call it the Eight Years After project and be thankful he has decided to let it sail on the internet ocean. Thom labeled this song "Above the Clouds" and this is a very appropriate title as it does put your spirits above the clouds. Many thanks from all of us Thom for your contribution. Warm Regards to all fine listeners. Please enjoy your day. Warm Regards, Peter J Slack Music, (C)opyright 1998-2006 , Thomas Hastings, All Rights reserved

The meaning of declassified is to reveal secrets, for example, through the declassification of secret documents. The social conscience, however, reveals itself without the declassification of secret documents or news broadcasts. Perhaps one of the most well guarded secrets is that the reason people are depressed is not because pharmaceutical companies need to exist by making pills to cure people's sadness. Although this sounds like a ridiculous statement it is equally ridiculous that people feel they no longer have time or tolerance to be sad. Equally as ludicrous, pharmaceutical companies and marketers of goods have convinced us that it is not normal to be without a sex drive. Today there are many reasons to feel sadness and it is an inescapable part of living as a human being. Wouldn't the world be a nicer place if there weren't so many sex crazed people? Welcome to the year 2006 and the epitome of Brave new Worlds This is a song to kick off a musical exploration on the theme of declassification. DECLASSIFIED Put the trash in the can, Drag it down to the end of the road. Where it goes from there, Don't really care and don't want to know. 3 billion starving people, Living on the edge of life. Vanish into the darkness, Out if sight and out of mind. Drive off in your car. Don't let anyone get in your way. When it all goes wrong, Take a pill and it all goes away. In fear the armies marching, with allegence to a flag. 3 billion people starving, enemies of the state. Put the trash in the can, drag it down to the end of the road. Where it goes from there, Don't really care and don't want to know. (C)opyright 2006, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

Good day to all fine people! CUPID'S ARROW 2 I humbly offer this new recording as homage for Valentine's day. It is my own emerging tradition of producing a guitar duet as a celebration. The first rendition of this style of song ,"Cupid's Arrow", was recorded in my closet with a classical guitar borrowed from a dear friend. This morphological rendition ("Cupid's Arrow 2...the next couple a years...;-)") is performed with my Les Paul that I have recently 'converted' into an acoustic guitar!!! The piece is inspired from soul, blues, classical fugue, and country...it's a folk fusion peice.. PLEASE ENJOY! (and forward this song to your favorite Valentine!) With Love.... Happy Valentine's Day, PJ Slack

(PHOTOS BY: Cassandra Slack) Hello Fine Listeners!!! PETER J SLACK LIVE @ GRAFFITI'S I am so very fortunate today to be able to release to you a recording captured live at Graffiti's on March 3/2006. The most fortunate occurance was to have some very dear and talented friends jamming with me and helping me to perfect my humble love song. I extend great thanks to those friends: Thomas Hastings; Guitar Jerrard Smith; Mandolin JR Busby and Russell Leon; Jembe And additional thanks to Russell Leon for organizing the event and letting us record to produce this PODCAST. (C)opyright 2006, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

Good day to all fine people! SONG TRACK: 8 YEARS AFTER I am very excited today to introduce some awesome talent on the PJ Slack Musical Blog. This song was recorded by a good friend and musical colleague, Thom Hastings, in the studio we had operated many years back. I am convinced that a 5 year plan is too quick to really accomplish anything in life and a 10 year plan is generally more realistic. Thom didn't have a name for this tune so I named it for him: "8 Years After" This track was recorded in 1998. Thom is an incredible guitar player and song writer. We hope to hear more from him soon and perhaps we can convince the other studio operator, Doug Hastings, to put some tunes up here as well or perhaps any other of the fine artists on this spam..uhhh..I mean... mailing list. Enjoy!!! PJ MUSIC (C) 1998-2006 Thom Hastings, All Rights Reserved