treah

Wow, the language was French, not Russian? No wonder I never received a reply from the U.N. after I submitted my application for that interpreter job. 😳

Seriously, this piece continues one of the finest Bruce Hornsby traditions-you discover something new each time you listen to it!

Jackie

That is great news!

Jackie

I think you all are right! I would add two more things to this list:

1. The way Bruce voices chords. (I’ve heard him give and demonstrate this answer during interviews and it makes sense to me).

2. The Hornsby “musical touch.” This produces a certain sound (full, flowing…). I’m not sure if it’s made because Bruce doesn’t strike the notes in certain chords all at once or is it an effect he gets by using the pedals? It could be another form of voicing chords. I really hear this phenomenon during the first few measures on the original album version of “The Way It Is,” before the bass kicks in.

Can the musicians out there help me define item #2? Or at least tell me if I’m having auditory hallucinations…

Jackie

Funny! 😆

Ah, it’s nice to be loved

Thanks so much for finding and posting this…I owe you one big favor. This should count as your good deed for today. Actually,it should cover several days worth of kind acts.

I think I might skip the singing along,though. I’m sure the people on the city bus I ride to work each morning already think I’m not quite “all there” when my face bursts into an uncontrollable grin upon hearing a favorite Bruce song on my mp3 player! 😆

Thanks again,Rich.

Jackie

A very thought-ptovoking presentation,Rich. The observations about the importance of reading the newspaper especially resounded with me.

The most poweful headline: Our World Has Changed

Thanks for the link.

Jackie

Last year around this time, I remember hearing a monologue given by a comedian on the subject “life’s too short.” The wordsmith’s performance focused on humorous, pithy suggestions that illustrated the point: Don’t hesitate, tomorrow is uncertain, so don’t waste any more time; do those things you’ve been putting off.

Although the speaker was mostly going for laughs, I took his message more seriously. For me, this particular day seems like a good a time to write or e-mail that family member or friend with whom I’ve lost touch, call that phone number I keep seeing on my local television news to volunteer in the community, try to make my little corner of the world a more peaceful place. I know it sounds crazy, but maybe small acts like these could somehow spread and eventually, there will be no need to add another day such as Patriot Day to the calendar.

Someone much wiser than I wrote these appropriate words:

You’re looking at a picture
I’m looking at it too
Do you see what I see today
Let’s talk about the difference
Find out what’s in the way
Open our eyes, see the same
See the same way

Jackie

Boy,did I guess that one wrong! After Here Come The Noise Makers and Big Swing Face were released (and I finally let out the breath I’d been holding), I had a toally different interpretation.

I thought the song was written from the point of view of someone close to Bruce who had “passed away” (a family member,Jerry Garcia?) and was telling Bruce/the listener that they were fine,wherever they were now. Guess my morbid side got the better of me…

Jackie

I usually enjoy the mix of fans at Bruce’s shows. And since Bruce has “decided to be nice” and play The Way It Is for the yuppies and the radio hits audience members, I would hope they would be mostly satisfied with their “Bruce live” experience.

I’ve been to shows where the yuppies/radio hits crowd was in the majority. This put a damper on spontaneous requests and dancing.

During the shows where the deadheads/Die hards are plentiful, I’ve noticed the opposite to be true. And this can be a positive thing. This was the case at the September 2004 show in Charlotte, NC. The energy level had been high most of the night, so near the end of the show, the people in the first 2-3 rows in the section where I was were on their feet dancing and showing their appreciation for the music. Those of us who weren’t as demonstrative had two choices: sit there and stare at peoples’ backs or get up and join the fun. While I was deciding what to do, no one stepped on me, bumped into me or looked at me as if I was weird because I didn’t get up and dance right away. I (and most of the other people around me) decided to “join the party”-Bruce and the guys were really jammin’,everyone was having a good time, we weren’t in a dance contest, so why not?

I know there have been times when tension erupts among fans, but I’d like to think the positive experiences outnumber the negative.

Jackie

rdiakun wrote:

whereas there are those of us who are hooked on the music he makes and anxiously wait for the next release/tour like a bunch of crack addicts waiting for the next fix. (“Wow!”, he though to himself, “this is really quite disjointed. Get to the freaking point, man. That is, of course, assuming you actually have one! Jeez! And what’s with the crack analogy?”) Like I said earlier, I try not to associate with heathen who don’t dig Bruce’s music I much prefer the heathen that DO dig his music!

Crack addicts?! Heathen?! I’ve never been so offended in my life!“But he’s right.” says that little voice in my head. “That addict thing is a perfect description of you!”

All joking aside: Well said,Rich! I’d be proud to be associated with the Hornsby addicts/heathen any day!

I haven’t really met any detractors of Bruce’s music-I meet (and get frustrated by) the people who say,”Bruce who?” when I mention my favorite musician.

I guess this happens in all generations though. I remember Bruce asking the audience at one paticular show how many of them had heard of Keith Jarrett or Joe Henderson. Needless to say,not many had. It seems many great musicians are not appreciated by what’s called “popular culture.”

I think I remember Bruce saying something like, “It’s a shame in this world more people don’t know who they (Jarrett and Henderson) are.” The same could be said for the name Bruce Hornsby in 2008.

Jackie

To borrow a quote from MVF: “I’m envious.” Sounds like a fantastic show! Tango King,Country Doctor Jack Of Diamonds,Fields Of Gray AND Defenders Of The Flag-what a great selection of songs.

What were the 5 songs you requested?

I hope Bruce and the Noisemakers will play in my “neck of the woods” in the near future.

Jackie

I don’t think I’m going to make it either.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Bruce twice this year already,so there’s really not much to be sad about! (Except not getting to see everyone at the “meet-after”…)

Jackie

David Day wrote:

What makes the two discs different? Is it your favorite also! Does anyone “See the same Way”? : 😆

Hey now!

I think someone at XM must like Spirit Trail too. I heard See The Same Way on Channel 45 bright and early yesterday morning while getting ready for work.

The only difference I see in disc 1 and disc 2 is acoustic piano is featured a little more on disc 1. What am I overlooking?

This is definitely my favorite record for two reasons: 1.Bruce’s two hand independence really stands out and 2. The way the songs flow together (is that intangible enough for you? 😆 )

Jackie