2009MLFM: The Beginning Vol.3

Funny how this month has slipped outta here...or maybe by me getting older and being a grown up time just zips by every year. Over the years my music horizon has grown but when it all boils down for me it comes back to the basic in regards to where my love for this type of music came from back in the late 80s - early 90s. This is Volume 3 of a four volume set. These songs are coming from the albums...

Windham Hill Sampler '86
The Narada Collection, Vol. 2
Blue Chip
Windham Hill Records Sampler '88
Flying Home
Slice of Life
Passionfruit

There were other albums of course over the years that set my foot down the contemporary jazz/new age/fusion path and I have never looked back. But these albums take me back to a time when I could go into a record store and see rows and rows of cds of artists from Earl Klugh, Mark Egan, The Braxton Brothers, Will Ackerman but alas, those days are long gone. You will not hear their music on the commercial airwaves and the only way to find their music now is online stores or satellite radio or internet radio which now that I think about is a blessing. But it's still sad because there are people out there that still do not know about these gifted artists or do not have access to the web. I know I can't stay in the past but sometimes it's cool to vist there.

Hope you get a chance to take you some "me" time and kick back and relax to the sounds of these artists.

Be Blessed, Be Safe
& Have a Wonderful Weekend
~DarrenKeith

{to listen: click here | to download: right click}

***Track Title/Artist(s)/Title of Album***
01. Another Country - Shadowfax{from the "Windham Hill Sampler '86" LP}
02. The Long Riders - Richard Souther{from the "The Narada Collection, Vol. 2" LP}
03. Ariane - Acoustic Alchemy{from the "Blue Chip" LP}
04. Toys Not Ties - Nightnoise{from the "Windham Hill Records Sampler '88" LP}
05. Bright Tiger - Acoustic Alchemy{from the "Blue Chip" LP}
06. Brooklyn At Midnight - Stanley Jordan{from the "Flying Home" LP}
07. Bethany Beach - Special EFX{from the "Slice of Life" LP}
08. Horizons I - Ralf Illenberger{from the "The Narada Collection, Vol. 2" LP}
09. Never Say Die - Michael Franks{from the "Passionfruit" LP}
10. Formal Invitation - Special EFX{from the "Slice of Life" LP}
11. Gwenlaise -  Eugene Friesen/Scott Cossu{from the "Windham Hill Sampler '86" LP}
12. Because It's There - Michael Hedges{from the "Windham Hill Sampler '86" LP}
13. Stairway To Heaven - Stanley Jordan{from the "Flying Home" LP}
14. Sunday Morning Here With You - Michael Franks{from the "Passionfruit" LP}

intro underscore music: Todd Kelley
outro underscore music: Nicolay

photo: InterfaceLIFE/MasterChief

2009 October MLFM: Twilight Edition

It's never the gathering of music for putting together podcast that is difficult for me it's the intros, the many takes I do in order to get the right feel for these shows I post. I'm not complaining at all because I'm so blessed to be able to have an array of music, to have wonderful support from my queen, my geek brothers and sisters and fellow podcasters. There were so many ways I wanted to take this podcast and in the end I scrapped them all because I've come to realize one thing...I sound better in blog post than hearing my voice for a long period of time on the podcast.

Don't get me wrong, I know that many people are critical of their own voice than the listeners but in hearing myself trying to do a "rant" before this podcast I realize that I need a speech coach, I need to expand my vocabulary and I'm cool with that. I think I shine better when I put words to "post" and I'm blessed to be able to do that whenever I sit in front of my computer.

This eclectic of music for this Twilight edition was a delight to put together because after dealing with people who try and play on your emotions day in and day out it was a treat to be able to put together this music line up...I mean where else are you going to hear in one sitting a little ambient, a light folk acoustic, the King of Pop and Gang Starr?  Big thanks to my geek brother Luis for allowing me to use some of his photos in regards to my podcasts. I dig the pumpkin patch because I do not celebrate Halloween but Thanksgiving is right around the corner so I think this photo is appropriate for the upcoming month of November.

I always wondered why Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" is my all-time favorite album and it hit me last week: this album has a kinda "jazzy" feel to it thanks to master producer Quincy Jones. I think they did not want Michael to have Mr. Jones as the producer because of that but I think it turned out pretty good this LP will always be my favorite above his(Michael) other masterpieces.

I don't think this podcast will fit on a CD for burning so my apologies for that and I will try to keep them at least 80 minutes or less in the future. I hope everything is wonderful in your neck of the woods, urban and suburban surroundings and as always...

Be Blessed, Be Safe
& Have a Wonderful Weekend/Work Week

~DarrenKeith

{to listen: click here | to download: right click}

Track Title/Artist(s)/Name of Album
01. Art of Motion - Andy McKee{from the "Art of Motion"LP}
02. Above The Clouds - Gang Starr feat. Inspectah Deck{from the "Wu-Chronicles: Chapter 2"LP}
03. Empty - Blackfish{from the "Pole Navigation"LP}
04. In Flight - Eddie Palmieri{from the "Listen Here!"LP}
05. Egypt - Erick Turnbull{from the "Erick Turnbull"LP}
06. Off The Wall - Michael Jackson{from the "Off The Wall"LP}
07. Another Island of Women - Don Ross{from the "Music for Vacuuming"LP}
08. Unbreakable - Blackfish{from the "Pole Navigation"LP}
09. Sweet Surrender - Chieli Minucci/Special EFX{from the "Simply The Very Best of Today's Smooth Jazz Guitar"LP}
10. Listen Here - Eddie Palmieri{from the "Listen Here!"LP}
11. Heaven And Earth - Jens Buchert{from the "Feng Shui"LP}
12. Musiverse - Paul McCandless{from the "ShapeShifter"LP}
13. Jingle Bells - Erick Turnbull{from the "Erick Turnbull"LP}

Bonus Tracks
Last Man On The Planet - Breakers Broken{from the "Reset "LP}
My Beautiful Blue Sky - Moby{from the "Ambient"LP}
So Flows the Current - Patrick O'Hearn{from the "So Flows The Current"LP}
 [to subscribe to iTunes copy and paste rss feed to iTunes]

id drops: Fave & EJ Flavors

intro underscore music: Todd Kelley
outro underscore music: Nicolay
photo: Luis Lauranzon

2009 October MLFM:InspirationSounds

" Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise,
made to those who fear you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways;
for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness."

~Psalm 119:33-40

I have to keep telling myself, "God, Thank You." In spite about how I feel about my current job and how every day I am learning truly learning more and more when it comes to dealing with customers how we as consumers...we as people in this world are truly a bunch of spoiled, inconsiderate brats. I'm learning that we feel like we are owed "every thing" and not responsible for our actions. We live in a time where company rules and policies do not apply to us. I have never worked at a job where I truly look forward to my days off and each day it makes me long for a job where I do not want to hear or deal with customers. But through it all I have to say, "God, Thank You."

I'm learning to thank Him because it is showing me what's in my heart that needs to be worked out. I have never used foul language under my breath until working there so I need to stop fighting it and ask my Lord and Savior for temperament, patience. I used to have it but when you begin to drift from His Word, His Ways slowly but surely you begin to those "Fruits of the Spirit".

I'm learning that now whenever I receive wonderful service over the phone that instead of saying just, "Thank You" I should ask for the individual supervisor or manager and acknowledge them, I should begin writing letters of gratitude for the excellence service. I'm learning that even though it's an individual "job" to help me that it's not my job not to put them through the ringer when I am (the customer) is having a bad day. It is teaching me as a consumer that when I am not happy with a company that it's not the customer server agents fault of the rules and policies and not to become nasty with them.

I'm learning that as a customer to be have as much information as possible when needing assistance. It breaks my heart that when customer calling in for help how many of them make it so hard to help them. They do not have paper or pen handle...they do not do research for themselves to get prepared. It's so sad, we have information at our finger tips through the world wide web and yet are some of the laziest people around and I have to include myself in the bunch but after taking call after call of people thinking they do not need to do their part (something simple as getting a zip code of the hotel where they will be staying) goes a long way in helping a customer's research.

Now I know the first thing people are going to say is, "if we had all of those things why do you need you in customer service? I mean, we pay your salary!" Funny, I have said that before myself and here is what I have learned in the process...

We need "live" people to correspond with when it comes to business transactions because that makes us (the customer) feel like we are not just a "quota" to meet a percentage each month. Now as a customer it may be my right to be a jerk to someone who is helping me or jump down a Customer Service Representative throat when they make a mistake but should I be surprise when I get mediocre service? I'm learning it's about "Doing Right" and not "Being Right". I'm learning that it's not all about me, it's about what that customer service agent is going through day in and day out when dealing with different personalities, different attitudes day in and day out.

This does not excuse bad customer service because there are some people that should not be in that field of work because that may not fit them and some do not have people skills and maybe they should choose another line or work. We can could go back in forth in regards to the "Customer" and "Customer Service" relationship but what I'm learning is that you have to have empathy for customer service workers. You think I would have learned this lesson from working 6 years as a Houseman in the hotel business...but I guess I forgot the core lesson and God had to remind again. Ouch

I may not like what God allows me to go through but in the end I'm learning that when I put it in His hands he shows me what I need to learn and how to become a person from the situation I'm going through at the moment.

Be Blessed, Be Safe
& Have a Wonderful Weekend and Work Week.

~DarrenKeith

{to listen: click here | to download: right click}
[to subscribe copy and paste this rss feed into iTunes]

Track Title - Artist(s) - Album Title
01. He Reigns - Kirk Franklin{from the "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin" LP}
02. Letter From Home - Chi{from the "Sun Lake" LP}
03. Never Again - Kingz Jewel Feat. King Bull{from the *"First Step" LP}
04. There's a Monk In My Garden! - Oystein Sevag{from the "Sanctuary: 20 Years of Windham Hill" LP}
05. Love Liberty Disco - Newsboys{from the "WOW 2000" LP}
06. Morning Ride - Ken Navarro{from the "The Best New Age, Vol. 6" LP}
07. More Than Conquerors - Praiz{from the "The Take Over" LP}
08. Where Lovers Walk - Jonn Serrie{from the "The Best New Age, Vol 6" LP}
09. Speak to My Heart - Donnie McClurkin{from the "WOW Gospel 1998" LP}
10. Daydreams - Schonerz & Scott{from the "Sancturary: 20 Years of Windham Hill" LP}
11. He Reigns - Newsboys{from the "WOW Hits 2004" LP}
12. Wide Asleep - Michael Manring{from the "Drastic Measures" & "Sancturary: 20 Years of Windham Hill" LP}
13. Spoken For - MercyMe{from the "WOW Hits 2004" LP}
14. Zuni Rain - Michael Gettel{from the "Narada Smooth Jazz" LP}
15. Don't Cry - Kirk Franklin{from the "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin" LP}

photo: Luis Lauranzon
outro underscore music: Nicolay

*CORRECTION - In the podcast I said Kingz Jewel album was named "The Contact" but it's actually "First Step"...my apologies

Oct2009MLFM Podsafe Edition

I don't know why but this tune by Apes on Tapes has been in my head for the longest. I first heard this cut back in 2008 on Macedonia's "Both Sides of the Surface" show. (ironic is that that episode was named, "Goodbye Summer, Have a Great Fall." since is how I love Autumn) I showcased this track last year but with all good things they have to come back around. Some of these tracks you may have heard them in previous podcasts but it's good to sometime to reach back and and refreshing course of great music. To my new listeners...welcome; to my regular listeners...thanx and thanx again for coming back time and time and showing love for what I do.

Another artist I heard last year that I had to showcase their music is The Shanghai Restoration Project. I love their music and rather if it's laid back or makes you want to get up and dance (and I rarely do that...not that I don't want to dance) it's refreshing and easy on the ears.


The cool thing about this selection is not only that most of the tracks are free downloads but the fact that these musicians get when it comes to getting their music to the masses. Sometimes in order to get huge returns you must be able to give a little away. I will never forget the 60 minute segment on The Grateful Dead. These guys are millionaires and what they did when it came to their music is the "sowing and reaping" effect. At their live concerts they gave the okay for their fans to record their concerts. To many groups would frown on this but this worked in their favor in two ways...

1) It was a concert so the people had already paid their money for seeing them in concert and plus it would give the people to have a piece of history so to speak to share with their friends, family.

2) Even though they were giving the green light to record their music(bootleg) many people still would end up going to the store and buying the studio recording of the Grateful Dead music.

I'm not saying you should never pay for great music because is that were the case i would never put links to these gifted artists sites because we now live in a day and age where it's okay to get crappy customer service and people feel it's okay to steal music and that is far what I advocate. I take the time to put information links in my show notes because I have the utmost respect for musicians...especially today because to be honest without the web, I think I would live off my own collection of music but not too much great music is played on the radio any more.

This collection of music on this episode is from artists that are creative, innovative, and gives you a sense of "yes...great music still lives."

As always, kick back, relax and take you some "me" for the next hour.

Be Blessed.

~DarrenKeith

{to listen: click here | to download: right click}
[to subscribe: copy and paste this rss feed into iTunes]

{Track Title/Artist(s)/Album Name}
01. Grand 5 - Apes on Tapes{from the "You Open" LP}
02. Babylon of the Orient - The Shanghai Restoration Project & Amos Winbush{from the "The Shanghai Restoration Project" LP}
03. in the morning - CHRISS ONAC{from the "UN PANTIN !!!?" LP}
04. Everybody's Wonderful - David Binney/Alan Feber{from the "In The Paint" LP}
05. Apolo X - Vate{from the "Volk" LP}
06. Soup - Euforquestra{from the "Soup" LP}
07. Miss Shanghai - The Shanghai Restroration Project & Dez{from the "The Shanghai Restoration Project" LP}
08. The Winter - Balmorhea{from the "Rivers Arms" LP}
09. B.A. - The Jive Turkeys{from the "B.A. " Single}
10. Apres le beau temps... La pluie - Antonie Dufour, Tommy Gauthier{from the "Still Strings" LP}
11. Hometown - Sam Yahel{from the "Hometown" LP}
12. Tears of Grace - Andrew White{from the "Walk In Light" LP}
13. Miss Shanghai Revealed (Bonus Track) - The Shanghai Restroration Project & Di Johnston{from the "Reinterpretations"(Bonus Version) LP}
14. Somewhere (Eric Kupper Reprise) - John Shannon{from the "Somewhere" (remixes)}

intro underscore music by Todd Kelley
outro underscore music by Nicolay
photo: Chris Gin

2 great blues podcasts to check out by Todd Grundy

• RIBS TPTD: October is "Blues Month", part 1
• RIBS TPTD: "Blues Month", part 2 – Blues Women

Macedonia's BSOTS episode where I first heard Apes on Tapes

• BSOTS 073 - goodbye summer, have a great fall

music from Iodapromonet/Jamendo/AllAboutJazz

The Shanghai Restoration Project & Amos Winbush
"Babylon of the Orient" (mp3)
from "The Shanghai Restoration Project"
(Undercover Culture Music)
Buy at Amazon.com
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at appliedSB (Groupietunes)
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album


Euforquestra
"Soup" (mp3)
from "Soup"
(reapandsow, Inc.)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album


The Shanghai Restoration Project & Dez
"Miss Shanghai" (mp3)
from "The Shanghai Restoration Project"
(Undercover Culture Music)
Buy at Amazon.com
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at appliedSB (Groupietunes)
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album


Balmorhea
"The Winter" (mp3)
from "Rivers Arms"
(Western Vinyl)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at eMusic
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
Buy at Puretracks
Buy at Amazon MP3
Buy at appliedSB (Groupietunes)
Buy at mTraks
More On This Album


The Jive Turkeys
"B.A." (mp3)
from "B.A. - Single"
(Colemine Records)
Buy at Fat Beats
Buy at Dusty Groove
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album


Antoine Dufour, Tommy Gauthier
"Après le beau temps... La pluie" (mp3)
from "Still Strings"
(Candy Rat Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album


Andrew White
"Tears Of Grace" (mp3)
from "Walk in Light"
(Candy Rat Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Buy at Napster
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album


The Shanghai Restoration Project & Di Johnston
"Miss Shanghai Revealed" (mp3)
from "Reinterpretations (Bonus Version)"
(Undercover Culture Music)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album


John Shannon
"Somewhere" (mp3)
from "Somewhere (remixes)"
(ObliqSound)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Rhapsody
Stream from Rhapsody
More On This Album