Waves

I recently came back from a week in California. It's always nice to go back home from time to time. The familiar faces, the familiar places. It clears my head from whatever noise is currently polluting it. The last few trips out home over the years haven't always been the smoothest or the most comforting. Time doesn't stop for anyone or anything, things have changed pretty drastically in the last five years. I went from being happily married to becoming a statistic and alone, I lost my father, my mother remarries, and my now once independent grandparents are in assisted living. While all this has sometimes been a tough and bitter pill to swallow, I'm reminded how good it feels to set foot once again in crazy Southern California.

Everytime I go back home I make it a point to go to certain places, see certain things, shove my face at certain greasy restaurants, shop at certain record stores. Each place in it's own weird way has a connection to a point in my life. I went to Laguna Beach for the first time in I'd say close to twenty years. As a kid I used to go down there and run around and swim in that dirty ocean. Oddly enough it was there my love for Nintendo started. I recall going into some deli shop and the had the arcade version of Mario Bros. there. I played it, and was hooked. Walking the shoreline there, I came across the old toy store I used to go to everytime I was down there. Twenty odd years later it's still there, and while I didn't go in, it did make that connection.

Southern California is a melting pot of cultures and musical styling. When I'm in town, I make it a habit not to bring along my CD collection, but to listen to the radio. I'll tune into the famous KLOS for my rock and The Wave for my smooth jazz fix. It's a strange mix I know. But when you grow up listening to both it makes sense. Now I know smooth jazz isn't always the most popular in the jazz genre, Most people tend to think of Kenny G or Michael Bolton. Both of which of late have poked fun at themselves, Kenny with the Audi commercials, and Bolton with The Lonely Island.

Somewhere along the lines, I got into Jazz. The smoother end used to put me asleep as a kid. Well played folks. I more recently got into the traditional forms of Jazz. Few years back my Dad had me track down a copy of 'A Day In The Life Of' from Wes Montgomery. I of course did, and played it. My Dad said this was hands down one of the best records ever, just not in Jazz but in a Rock sense as well. I have to agree this is just the cream of the crop from a well talented musician that was gone from us too soon.

Jazz is one of those genres where a lot of people just don't get it. Maybe the mind isn't open to new things, or they think they have to be strung out on smack to get it. This is one of those albums I think that everyone could get. Great guitar player, great bass lines, smooth yet with a little bite. So to all the people on the fence give this one a shot.

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