On this Day in History September 20th – Let’s Visit Georgia, Azerbaijan and Central African Republic!

One of the aspects of my job at Lippincott Jacobs the I really enjoyed was making maps to be included in various reports. Typically, they were environmental maps showing the soils, geology, or the drainage areas on an around the area of a proposed project. To develop these maps I used several various GIS software. The point is that I love maps and geography, I like to know where places are in relationship to me and the rest of the world and it really upsets me when people, like my wife, don’t know or care where countries are located.I know it doesn’t really matter to your everyday life, but I just like that it is important as a citizen of the world that you know where countries are!! With that said, as I was looking through the various anniversaries and holidays that are observed around the world today, I thought maybe that’s a way to get a little geography in this blog. So here goes.. Read More

“Into the Morning” with Two Bluegrass Masters – Jim Hurst and Rob Ickes – “Going Down that Road Feeling Bad”

This afternoon I was listening to the latest release from Breaking Grass Just as Strong, after listening for a while, I went and found a video of the band seems that the band has everything I like fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass, wait! There’s no dobro! But I listened anyway and they are a damn fine band without the dobro and I will listen to Just as Strong a few more times before I write about it…. but thinking about the dobro got me thinking about Rob Ickes, and then I came across this post and thought I’d post it again!!! Read More

This Day in Music – Birthdays for Bill Medley, and “Mama” Cass Elliot -two of the best voices ever!

Mama Cass Elliot

Included in today’s birthdays are:

Bill Medley (The Righteous Brothers) 1940
Cass Elliot 1941 (died July 29, 1974 – 32 years old)
David Bromberg 1945

There are voices and then there are VOICES and for me Bill Medley is the later. From the early days with The Righteous Brothers to Dirty Dancing and “I Had the Time of My Life” with Jennifer Warnes, he had it and he certainly influenced his generation! Read More

“Into the Morning” with the progressive bluegrass of Greensky Bluegrass – “Demons”

One of the albums that has been in my rotation since it’s release last week, is If Sorrow Swims from Greensky Bluegrass. GreenskyIf Sorrow Swims Bluegrass is one of my favorite progressive bluegrass bands. I discovered their music a few years back and loved the album Live at Bells,  on that album the band really displays their musicianship. I liked their last album Handguns, but not as much as the earlier albums. If Sorrow Swims reminds me more of their earlier albums. Here’s a statement from the band’s website about the band… Read More

Exploring the Psychedelic/Space Rock of the UK’s Amplifier – Mystoria!

So yesterday the soundtrack for my run (you can read about the run here) was the latest release MystoriaMystoria from the UK psychedelic/Space rock band Amplifier. Amplifier plays highly original material using deeply personal lyrics with walls of noise and stunning melodies. Mystoria is the fifth studio album from the band. They have also released several singles and EPs and one live album.  The original members of the band were Sel Balamir lead guitarist and vocalist, Matt Brobin on drums and bassist Neil Mahony. After there 2011 release the band members changed with former Oceansize guitarist Steve Durose and bassist Alex “Magnum” Redhead joining the band in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The last two years have been a very prolific period in the band’s history. Between Echo Street and Mystoria the band released the EP Sunriders, which was followed by Live in Barcelona 2013. This contrasts with the release of only one EP Eternity that they release in the five years between Insider (2006) and The Octopus (2011). Balamir explains it like this…. Read More

Exploring the Jazz of Post-Bop Drummer – Elvin Jones – Elvin!

Origianally Posted at FreeWheelin Jazz Safari – Sept 14, 2014

Among the Jazz birthdays on September 9th was post-bop drummer Elvin Jones. Jones was born in 1927 and was best known forElvin_Jones_3 his time with the John Coltrane Quartet.  Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan and was one of  seven children of Henry and Olivia Jones. His family was very musical and his two older brothers Hank and Thad both became respected jazz musicians. Hank was a pianist and Thad played trumpet and coronet. Read More

Civil War: September 14, 1862 The Battle of South Mountain – Rebels Hold, Lee retreats, McClellan dawdles!

Battle_of_South_Mountain

Fox’s Gap at the battle of South Mountain, MD. Sunday, Sept. 14, 1862

Yesterday I wrote about Barton Mitchell’s discovery of Special Order 191 concerning Robert E Lee‘s troop movements during his Maryland Campaign in 1862. The discovery of the orders provided information to Gen George McClellan, then commander of the Union Army allowing him to locate and pursue Lee’s troops. Lee had divided his troops and sent the troops under Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws to western Maryland to capture Harper’s Ferry.  To continue his pursuit McClellan’s troops and stop McLaws and Lee. McClellan’s troops had to cross South Mountain, which is the name for the extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains into and through the western portions of Maryland.  There are three major gap’s through the mountains. From south to north they are Crampton’s Gap, Turner’s Gap and Fox’s Gap. Read More