Olio-’n’-Pastiche Archive: 08.16.06: News Flashes
       
                 

ARCHIVE ENTRIES:
08.19.06: News Flashes cont.
08.16.06: News Flashes
07.01.06: poem Snapshot Gravity

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© Paul Zarzyski. All rights reserved. These words may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.

 

1: Since Last December I’ve been working on a recording project with a quartet of maestro producers—Gordon Stevens, Tim Volpicella, Scott Sorkin, and Lee Ray—at Open Path Music studio in San Jose. Will return for a fourth session sometime next month. We began with little expectation other than to experiment with fresh ways of melding/blending/marrying music made of syllables/words/syntax with music made of notes/chords/symphonics. Our early efforts proved incredibly avant-garde. The project has since evolved a bit more toward “the familiar,” although we choose to believe, it’s still layered with unique collaborations, several of which will definitely challenge and/or charm the tympanums and tickers of music-poetry listeners. Thus far, we’ve recorded 20+ pieces and have decided to press not one, but two, disks tentatively titled Collisions of Reckless Love and Rock-’n’-Rowel. The former will include the more, generally-speaking, progressive “serious” works, while the latter will offer primarily, though not exclusively, lighter-hearted material. Stellar musicians from The Bay Area have contributed to this creative journey with original compositions, and we’re excited about introducing our entire orchestra of participants. Both records could be packaged by the end of the year or, at the latest, early in 2007. We’ll keep you posted on our progress.

  

2: Just signed my first-ever booking agency contract. I’ll be represented by Code Of The West Entertainment (check out their website) comprised of a trio of talented, intelligent western women—Sande DeSalles, Sam King, Molly Morrow—horse-powered with panache/moxie/élan/ verve/veracity/gusto/artistic jump-’n’-kick/“sugar and spice and everything nice!” They’re also managing Cowboy Celtic, Wylie & The Wild West, Joni Harms and a number of other high-caliber musicians and poets. I’m both honored and humbled to be included in such a prominent stable of entertainers.

3: I’m writing a bi-monthly entry, titled Musings From Planet UniPoet, for the Western Folklife Center. If, after taking an hour to hunt-’n’-peck those lengthy website coordinates out on your keyboard, you feel like sitting a skosh longer in front of the screen, you might find my, or more likely the entries of several other artists, engaging or entertaining or, heaven forbid, even educational. And, speaking of The Western Folklife Center, I believe tickets for the 2007 National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko will go on sale soon. Included in their offerings will be the 5th or 6th—over 21 years of my participation—CZARzyski Writing Workshop/Round-Table. I’m not much of a teacher, but I’m one heck of a coach-’n’-cheerleader wrapped into one—yup, megaphones and pom-poms will be employed.

   4: Tom Russell and I are working on a new song, Heart of a Bucking Horse, that’s beginning to take beautiful, truthful shape, both lyrically and melodically. Had the privilege of sharing the stage with Tom and his band, The Upsidedown Cowboys, in the Choteau, MT rodeo arena on July 3rd. Their music blew the hinges off the chute gates, toppled the crow’s-nest and hot-shotted the grandstand full of spectators out of their seats and onto the sandy dance floor. I merely introduced the show and offered brief recitations as preludes to a brace of Russell-Zarzo songs, The Bucking Horse Moon and All This Way For The Short Ride based on two of my poems with the same titles. The latter was especially poignant for me, as well as for a number of listeners familiar with the storyline to the poem and song written in memory of Joe Lear, who grew up on a ranch outside of Choteau. Joe was killed in the bull riding at The Diamond Spur Rodeo in Spokane in the early ‘80s. A few of his family members attended Tom’s concert and heard the song for the first time.  Gorgeous, artistic evening—no rain or wind and fewer mosquitoes than I’ve seen at sundown in the past two months. Tom, his accompanist, Michael Martin Lorca, and I performed two nights later at the Center Stage Theater in Great Falls. All thanks to David Letterman, who anonymously sponsored “the really big shoe” in Choteau. Playing also in Whitefish and Kalispell, Tom established a solid fan base in Montana and we’re hoping to see him here again pronto.    
           
© Paul Zarzyski, 2006/updated 10.20.07