Today's DailyOM Offerings...
August 29, 2011
Harlem River Drive
Harlem River Drive
1971
New York-based Latin jazz pianist-bandleader Eddie Palmieri had already revolutionized the popular charanga music with Conjunto La Perfecta by the time the ’70s rolled around. He set his sights even higher with his next project, Harlem River Drive. The goal was a complete fusion of the most popular musical styles among New York’s minority subculture. To that end, Palmieri assembled the finest black, white, and Latin musicians in New York for its heady musical brew, synthesizing ebullient Latin rhythms with astral funk, soul, psychedelic rock, and the harmonic complexity of jazz. The band’s only album, Harlem River Drive, finds this socially conscious crew jamming hard in the name of good times and cultural unity.
The band’s name derives from the parkway that runs along the Harlem River in Manhattan. It’s also a perfect name for the album’s opening track, “Harlem River Drive (Theme Song).” All the band’s multi-culti aspects come out in this two-chord funk strut, whose horn blasts and organ swells (courtesy of Palmieri’s older brother, Charlie) sound like a slow summer drive in a tricked-out Cadillac. Singer Jimmy Norman sounds soulful and a little bit cynical as he observes: “We see all kinds of people cruise along the drive / From bigwig politicians to those who have no lives.” A steady bed of funk drums, congas, and timbale does just as good a job at describing the vast cultural terrain that encapsulates the New York of Harlem River Drive.
This band could have been one of the greatest party bands of the ’70s. Case in point: “Idle Hands,” with its Afro-Cuban horn section, searing wah-wah guitar, and honking baritone sax, all aimed at maximal hip-shaking. But the band has more on its mind than groove. Norman’s lyrics-“Then they rose up fast with their greatest schemes / Just killin' stealin' and taxin' using any means…Idle hands!”-are as critical as can be of the political powers that be. Of course, the act of losing yourself to music could be seen as political in itself. So maybe the life-affirming funk of the album-closing track “Seeds of Life” is as much of a statement as the album’s more directly political tracks. As Harlem River Drive’s horn section pumps in and out alongside those unstoppable rhythms, it seems like the band’s funky call for brotherhood might never end. And who would want to stop it anyway?
August 29, 2011
Focusing on Silence
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may find yourself dealing with feelings of anxiety or irritability today. Your first reaction might be to withdraw from the world and retreat into your shell, but there are other ways to deal with your feelings. Rather than running away from your thoughts, you can choose to gain control over them. Mental discipline can take time to master, but the peace of mind you achieve will be worth the effort. A great practice to apply today would be to empty your mind of all thoughts. Focusing on silence for a few minutes can give you a much-needed break from mental chatter and help you feel calmer. If you begin to feel overwhelmed again today, bring your thoughts back to that calm, empty place inside and your stress should vanish.
When we learn to discipline our thoughts, we empower ourselves to cope with any situation. We may not be able to control the events in our lives, but we can always control our thoughts. It is human nature to latch onto negative thoughts and expect the worst, but doing so can erode our peace of mind. If we can learn to control our thoughts, we get to choose the thoughts to focus on that that will empower and make us feel strong. By choosing to regain control over your thoughts today, you can let go of worries and gain the strength to overcome any difficulties.
August 29, 2011
A Self-Created State
Worry
Worry in our lives is an extension of fear and can be a very draining experience.
We have all had the experience of worrying about something at some point in our lives. Some of us have a habitual tendency to worry, and all of us have known someone who is a chronic worrier. Worry is an extension of fear and can be a very draining experience. In order for worry to exist, we have to imagine that something bad might happen. What we are worrying about has not happened yet, however, so this bad thing is by definition a fantasy. Understood this way, worry is a self-created state of needless fear. Still, most of us worry.
One reason we worry is because we feel like we’re not in control. For example, you might worry about your loved ones driving home in bad weather. There is nothing you can do to guarantee their safe passage, but you worry until you find out they have reached their destination unharmed. In this instance, worry is an attempt to feel useful and in control. However, worrying does nothing to ensure a positive outcome and it has an unpleasant effect on your body, mind, and spirit. The good news is that there are ways to transform this kind of worry so that it has a healing effect. Just as worry uses the imagination, so does the antidote to worry. Next time you find that you are worrying, imagine the best result instead of anticipating the worst outcome. Visualize your loved ones’ path bathed in white light and clearly see in your mind’s eye their safe arrival. Imagine angels or guides watching over them as they make their way home. Generate peace and well-being instead of nervousness and unease within yourself.
Another reason we worry is that something that we know is pending but are avoiding is nagging us-an unpaid parking ticket, an upcoming test, an issue with a friend. In these cases, acknowledging that we are worried and taking action is the best solution. If you can confront the situation and own your power to change it, you’ll have no reason to worry.
Harlem River Drive
Harlem River Drive
1971
New York-based Latin jazz pianist-bandleader Eddie Palmieri had already revolutionized the popular charanga music with Conjunto La Perfecta by the time the ’70s rolled around. He set his sights even higher with his next project, Harlem River Drive. The goal was a complete fusion of the most popular musical styles among New York’s minority subculture. To that end, Palmieri assembled the finest black, white, and Latin musicians in New York for its heady musical brew, synthesizing ebullient Latin rhythms with astral funk, soul, psychedelic rock, and the harmonic complexity of jazz. The band’s only album, Harlem River Drive, finds this socially conscious crew jamming hard in the name of good times and cultural unity.
The band’s name derives from the parkway that runs along the Harlem River in Manhattan. It’s also a perfect name for the album’s opening track, “Harlem River Drive (Theme Song).” All the band’s multi-culti aspects come out in this two-chord funk strut, whose horn blasts and organ swells (courtesy of Palmieri’s older brother, Charlie) sound like a slow summer drive in a tricked-out Cadillac. Singer Jimmy Norman sounds soulful and a little bit cynical as he observes: “We see all kinds of people cruise along the drive / From bigwig politicians to those who have no lives.” A steady bed of funk drums, congas, and timbale does just as good a job at describing the vast cultural terrain that encapsulates the New York of Harlem River Drive.
This band could have been one of the greatest party bands of the ’70s. Case in point: “Idle Hands,” with its Afro-Cuban horn section, searing wah-wah guitar, and honking baritone sax, all aimed at maximal hip-shaking. But the band has more on its mind than groove. Norman’s lyrics-“Then they rose up fast with their greatest schemes / Just killin' stealin' and taxin' using any means…Idle hands!”-are as critical as can be of the political powers that be. Of course, the act of losing yourself to music could be seen as political in itself. So maybe the life-affirming funk of the album-closing track “Seeds of Life” is as much of a statement as the album’s more directly political tracks. As Harlem River Drive’s horn section pumps in and out alongside those unstoppable rhythms, it seems like the band’s funky call for brotherhood might never end. And who would want to stop it anyway?
August 29, 2011
Focusing on Silence
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may find yourself dealing with feelings of anxiety or irritability today. Your first reaction might be to withdraw from the world and retreat into your shell, but there are other ways to deal with your feelings. Rather than running away from your thoughts, you can choose to gain control over them. Mental discipline can take time to master, but the peace of mind you achieve will be worth the effort. A great practice to apply today would be to empty your mind of all thoughts. Focusing on silence for a few minutes can give you a much-needed break from mental chatter and help you feel calmer. If you begin to feel overwhelmed again today, bring your thoughts back to that calm, empty place inside and your stress should vanish.
When we learn to discipline our thoughts, we empower ourselves to cope with any situation. We may not be able to control the events in our lives, but we can always control our thoughts. It is human nature to latch onto negative thoughts and expect the worst, but doing so can erode our peace of mind. If we can learn to control our thoughts, we get to choose the thoughts to focus on that that will empower and make us feel strong. By choosing to regain control over your thoughts today, you can let go of worries and gain the strength to overcome any difficulties.
August 29, 2011
A Self-Created State
Worry
Worry in our lives is an extension of fear and can be a very draining experience.
We have all had the experience of worrying about something at some point in our lives. Some of us have a habitual tendency to worry, and all of us have known someone who is a chronic worrier. Worry is an extension of fear and can be a very draining experience. In order for worry to exist, we have to imagine that something bad might happen. What we are worrying about has not happened yet, however, so this bad thing is by definition a fantasy. Understood this way, worry is a self-created state of needless fear. Still, most of us worry.
One reason we worry is because we feel like we’re not in control. For example, you might worry about your loved ones driving home in bad weather. There is nothing you can do to guarantee their safe passage, but you worry until you find out they have reached their destination unharmed. In this instance, worry is an attempt to feel useful and in control. However, worrying does nothing to ensure a positive outcome and it has an unpleasant effect on your body, mind, and spirit. The good news is that there are ways to transform this kind of worry so that it has a healing effect. Just as worry uses the imagination, so does the antidote to worry. Next time you find that you are worrying, imagine the best result instead of anticipating the worst outcome. Visualize your loved ones’ path bathed in white light and clearly see in your mind’s eye their safe arrival. Imagine angels or guides watching over them as they make their way home. Generate peace and well-being instead of nervousness and unease within yourself.
Another reason we worry is that something that we know is pending but are avoiding is nagging us-an unpaid parking ticket, an upcoming test, an issue with a friend. In these cases, acknowledging that we are worried and taking action is the best solution. If you can confront the situation and own your power to change it, you’ll have no reason to worry.