jon-ji.com

why do we ….

jonji — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:53:23 +0000

As an artist, I have always struggled with the whole art vs. commerce thing. Mostly in my head, but plenty in three dimensions too.
The questions are: Why do we write? For whom, ourselves or the audience? Can you do both? Is it a personal journey? Or is it best used in the service of community?
The answers to these questions are going to be different for each artist, and different for the same artist at different points in their life.
For me, right now, it’s about balance. Some for them, some for me. For they really aren’t often the same thing. Life spent immersed in music changes your tastes, you begin to appreciate the subtle over the blatant. This is not true for the average listener. They listen for a different reason and through a different filter. Many times the things I love about a piece are not even heard by the “civilian.” I love them, though, because they remind me of the humanity of the musical communication.

So, I stumbled across this, and thought it summed up one of the reasons we write, create, and doodle. It is only one piece, but very well said.

“You compose because you want to somehow summarize in some permanent form your most basic feelings about being alive, to set down… some sort of permanent statement about the way it feels to live now, today.”

Aaron Copland, 20th century ‘Americana’ composer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Copland

A Clip - maybe this works

enjoy.

before the rain - a short scribble

jonji — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:16:21 +0000

Today is different than yesterday
wake me up and let me dream the day through
eyes wide open
chimes blowing
leaves skirting ‘cross the ground
as if embarrassed and shy
trying to hide from sight
ashamed at their passing glory,
their exuberance.
not realizing that they are more beautiful today
than when flush with green hanging by a limb.

Now, each of their colors is more unique,
affected and effected by their particular disposition
towards the sunlight.
Curled, some cracked,
yet so much more intriguing, and so much the individual,
and free to go where the wind takes them, not bound and not resisting.
Their mortality now understood and certain,
they are free finally, to go where the wind blows,
in the courtyard, swept off the steps and across the lawns.
Despite the browning, they don’t look as if they are dying,
they seem to be journeying.
No longer tethered, going to places we can only guess.
We just catch a glimpse,
a curious and envious glance, as they scurry by.
Feeling a great future awaits,
we just have to wait and see
and watch
the bustle of the leaves.

~j
11/08

a friend reposted this from another site i have. i had totally forgotten about it. when i started reading it, i didn’t even know it was mine for a few lines. hope you enjoy.

Words to live by- Great Quotes from Great People

jonji — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:08:00 +0000

I am going to begin posting great quotes from great people, famous or not. Some inspirational, some just a splash of reality.

But, I think we have to have it both ways. Aware of reality, but keep some of our delusions or it all becomes hopeless. I was thinking this, then I ran across this quote, and I think it’s a perfect way to start.

Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live. - Mark Twain in Pudd’nhead Wilson

too true!

from Pudd'nhead wilson by mark twain

what i learned during summer vacation.

jonji — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:45:40 +0000

ha no.
but what i learned on my april tour.

1. after 2 days, i want to come home. after 4, i don’t. ever.

2. cows lie down when they’re tired. i’ve seen cows laying in the sun, and standing in the rain.

wha?

pics from frog n’ peach

jonji — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:41:25 +0000

a couple pics from the frog n’ peach in slo. april tour.

courtesy of the lovely and talented miss mia.

birthday!!

jonji — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:43:55 +0000

celebrated my birthday in SF on monday night. little show at the rockit room. thanks to all the friends that made it out. very very much.
one lesson learned.
at the end of my set, i announced, “no shots.” within ten minutes i had four shots.
let the adventure begin!

at any rate, it was a good time.
i think.

nice day off. hang at the coast in big sur maybe, the down to SLO for show tomorrow.
thanks all in monterey. it was a really fun little show tuesday night at East Village Coffee.

ok, time for some sun.

art by william e. may from show at pourhouse in paso robles

jonji — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:18:16 +0000

william was sitting in the audience and just cranked out a few sketches. love them!
like how they get progressively crazier too!

by william e may @ pourhouse in paso robles 1-22-10

pics from the last time through paso - pourhouse - jon ji- courtesy of of mia

jonji — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:50:22 +0000

i know i am so lagging. but these are some photos taken by the lovely and talented mia!!

had a really great time at this gig.
hope to be back down the road a bit.
thanks shawn, and all the great folks at the pourhouse.

especially, thanks mia!!!

king of swing - i wanna be like you -jon ji

jonji — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:12:13 +0000

had a lot of fun making this last night!!

enjoy!
click to play, or right click to download, ya?

hey!! i would love for somebody to make a video for this.
any takers?

click this to play - right click to to download. for Mac, i believe you do “control-click” then you can save to disk.
king-of-swing-jon-ji

the inspiration

the king of swing - king louie

and my partner last evening was very supportive

sooooooooooo good!

wisdom from anthony de mello. sj

jonji — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:30:23 +0000

“Both what you run from-
and what you yearn for -
are within you.”

–Anthony De Mello

This is from a book called “Taking Flight.”
But there is a book he wrote, that has become the most important book in my life. I have read it maybe 6 times over the past 8 years. And now I realize, that was hardly enough. I understand it more, on a deeper level each time.
I cannot recommend it enough.
“Awareness” by Anthony De Mello

Here is his Wiki

and here is an org devoted to his work.