Today's DailyOM Offerings...
December 30, 2008
Inventions & Dimensions
Herbie Hancock
1963
Herbie Hancock's Inventions & Dimensions is a portrait of a young jazz-artist delightedly shaking up traditional hard-bop jazz conventions. A piano prodigy on the precipice of superstardom, the 23 year old Hancock cut the daring 1963 Blue Note Records release just as he was assuming the piano chair in Miles Davis's immortal '60s Quintet. While Hancock's first two releases featured traditional rhythm section/horn lineups, with Inventions & Dimensions he turned towards minimalist jazz without a net. Augmented by an unconventional lineup of bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Willie Bobo and percussionist Osvaldo "Chihuahua" Martinez, most of the Latin-influenced, percussive compositions were born out of on-the-spot-improvisation.
Without the constrictions of horns, Hancock seized a structural freedom that enabled his compositions to explore unconventional chord patterns and rhythms. The tone is immediately set with the teasing melody and New Orleans-influenced rhythms of the tasty album-opener "Succotash." A standout in Hancock's canon, the unusual arrangement niftily manages to be both cerebral and soulful. Next up is "Triangle," a languidly grooving tune that allows us to momentarily collect our thoughts before the aptly titled "Jackrabbit." Characterized by a twitchy piano figure and colorful percussion, "Jackrabbit" finds Hancock playfully challenging his sidemen to keep up as his piano hops around various unexpected motifs and melodies. Dialing the intensity down a notch, the pensive "Mimosa" ambles alongside a slow Afro-Cuban percussion and is as lovely as a solitary desert flower. Slightly chaotic, "A Jump Ahead" concludes the proceedings on a restless note. It's as if Hancock is saying, ! "This album may be over, but you haven't heard anything yet!"
Despite the expert sidemen, the true star of this outing is undoubtedly Hancock himself. With his elegant, clean and modern piano runs, he dazzles but never shows off. Offsetting the cerebral nature of these astonishing sessions is his earthy, always refreshing sense of musical time and space. Fresh, forward thinking and enigmatic, this album remains a thrilling example of Hancock's irresistible charms, and serves as a bridge to impending triumphs both solo and with Miles Davis.
December 30, 2008
Center Of Peace
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may feel restless and wound up with a lot of nervous energy today. You could feel overwhelmed with correspondence and appointments or be struggling to complete a large workload. A great way to release your stress is through physical activity. You might consider taking short breaks, a brisk walk outside, or engaging in more lengthy activities during your lunch hour. You could also try doing brief exercises indoors, such as gentle stretches or calisthenics. Once you’ve burned off some tension, you may want to take a few moments to foster a peaceful state of mind. This will allow you to deal with stress more efficiently during the rest of your day.
Releasing our stress in healthy ways makes us feel strong and centered, regardless of our outside circumstances. Stress only becomes overwhelming when we allow it to build up in our bodies and minds. If we can learn to release our stress in measured doses through the course of our day, we feel better able to handle new stressors as they come our way. When we are calm and relaxed, we feel empowered and confident that we can handle anything. This belief can help us stay grounded and focused, which will have a positive effect on all of our activities. Make an effort to release your stress frequently today, and you will develop the strength, stamina, and stability to handle nearly any challenge.
December 30, 2008
The Ways We Love
Choosing to Have a Mate or Being Single
The way we choose to love can be as unique as the way we choose to make a living, maintain our health, or entertain ourselves. Some choose to seek out a mate and enter into a partnership with a special individual, while others find immense satisfaction in staying single. There is no right or wrong way to be in your life when it comes to deciding whether or not to be in a relationship, even though society tends to put an emphasis on romantic partnerships. Whether you choose to go through life as part of a romantic relationship or live as a single unit, there are benefits to both. Feel free to be comfortable with whatever choice is right for you.
Choosing to be single is a wonderful way to spend time discovering yourself. You have more time and space to figure out what and how you want your life to be without having to keep someone else’s choices in mind. Being single gives you the freedom to do what you want at a moment’s notice and the pride that comes with facing life on your own terms. Companionship, support, and affection can be found while spending quality time with friends, colleagues, and relatives. There is also the fun that comes with being able to date many different people without having to make a commitment. Choosing to have a mate, on the other hand, brings with it an opportunity to share your life with another person. There is comfort in the knowledge that you are facing the world with someone as a united front. When life is challenging, you are in a position to strengthen, as well as give each other comfort. There is also the inevitable transformation of self that comes from allowing another person t! o so intimately be a part of your life.
Remember that what is right for one person may not be right for another, and people can transition between wanting to be with another person and wanting to be alone many times over the course of their lives. Whether you seek out a mate or live the single life, embracing it fully will ensure that either choice is as fulfilling as possible for you.
Inventions & Dimensions
Herbie Hancock
1963
Herbie Hancock's Inventions & Dimensions is a portrait of a young jazz-artist delightedly shaking up traditional hard-bop jazz conventions. A piano prodigy on the precipice of superstardom, the 23 year old Hancock cut the daring 1963 Blue Note Records release just as he was assuming the piano chair in Miles Davis's immortal '60s Quintet. While Hancock's first two releases featured traditional rhythm section/horn lineups, with Inventions & Dimensions he turned towards minimalist jazz without a net. Augmented by an unconventional lineup of bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Willie Bobo and percussionist Osvaldo "Chihuahua" Martinez, most of the Latin-influenced, percussive compositions were born out of on-the-spot-improvisation.
Without the constrictions of horns, Hancock seized a structural freedom that enabled his compositions to explore unconventional chord patterns and rhythms. The tone is immediately set with the teasing melody and New Orleans-influenced rhythms of the tasty album-opener "Succotash." A standout in Hancock's canon, the unusual arrangement niftily manages to be both cerebral and soulful. Next up is "Triangle," a languidly grooving tune that allows us to momentarily collect our thoughts before the aptly titled "Jackrabbit." Characterized by a twitchy piano figure and colorful percussion, "Jackrabbit" finds Hancock playfully challenging his sidemen to keep up as his piano hops around various unexpected motifs and melodies. Dialing the intensity down a notch, the pensive "Mimosa" ambles alongside a slow Afro-Cuban percussion and is as lovely as a solitary desert flower. Slightly chaotic, "A Jump Ahead" concludes the proceedings on a restless note. It's as if Hancock is saying, ! "This album may be over, but you haven't heard anything yet!"
Despite the expert sidemen, the true star of this outing is undoubtedly Hancock himself. With his elegant, clean and modern piano runs, he dazzles but never shows off. Offsetting the cerebral nature of these astonishing sessions is his earthy, always refreshing sense of musical time and space. Fresh, forward thinking and enigmatic, this album remains a thrilling example of Hancock's irresistible charms, and serves as a bridge to impending triumphs both solo and with Miles Davis.
December 30, 2008
Center Of Peace
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may feel restless and wound up with a lot of nervous energy today. You could feel overwhelmed with correspondence and appointments or be struggling to complete a large workload. A great way to release your stress is through physical activity. You might consider taking short breaks, a brisk walk outside, or engaging in more lengthy activities during your lunch hour. You could also try doing brief exercises indoors, such as gentle stretches or calisthenics. Once you’ve burned off some tension, you may want to take a few moments to foster a peaceful state of mind. This will allow you to deal with stress more efficiently during the rest of your day.
Releasing our stress in healthy ways makes us feel strong and centered, regardless of our outside circumstances. Stress only becomes overwhelming when we allow it to build up in our bodies and minds. If we can learn to release our stress in measured doses through the course of our day, we feel better able to handle new stressors as they come our way. When we are calm and relaxed, we feel empowered and confident that we can handle anything. This belief can help us stay grounded and focused, which will have a positive effect on all of our activities. Make an effort to release your stress frequently today, and you will develop the strength, stamina, and stability to handle nearly any challenge.
December 30, 2008
The Ways We Love
Choosing to Have a Mate or Being Single
The way we choose to love can be as unique as the way we choose to make a living, maintain our health, or entertain ourselves. Some choose to seek out a mate and enter into a partnership with a special individual, while others find immense satisfaction in staying single. There is no right or wrong way to be in your life when it comes to deciding whether or not to be in a relationship, even though society tends to put an emphasis on romantic partnerships. Whether you choose to go through life as part of a romantic relationship or live as a single unit, there are benefits to both. Feel free to be comfortable with whatever choice is right for you.
Choosing to be single is a wonderful way to spend time discovering yourself. You have more time and space to figure out what and how you want your life to be without having to keep someone else’s choices in mind. Being single gives you the freedom to do what you want at a moment’s notice and the pride that comes with facing life on your own terms. Companionship, support, and affection can be found while spending quality time with friends, colleagues, and relatives. There is also the fun that comes with being able to date many different people without having to make a commitment. Choosing to have a mate, on the other hand, brings with it an opportunity to share your life with another person. There is comfort in the knowledge that you are facing the world with someone as a united front. When life is challenging, you are in a position to strengthen, as well as give each other comfort. There is also the inevitable transformation of self that comes from allowing another person t! o so intimately be a part of your life.
Remember that what is right for one person may not be right for another, and people can transition between wanting to be with another person and wanting to be alone many times over the course of their lives. Whether you seek out a mate or live the single life, embracing it fully will ensure that either choice is as fulfilling as possible for you.