If We Don't Try We Never Learn (BOTB Results)

 Ballot Box showing preferential voting (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

        "If we don't try, we never learn" is a statement that I use in a few different ways.  For example, in regard to liking certain foods.  I heard somewhere that you need to try a food seven times in order to appreciate it at least to the point were you can tolerate it.  Once you get accustomed to hearing a particular piece of music you will not mind or will even enjoy hearing it in the future.

        For me this past week was a time for trying new things.   The most recent Battle of the Bands was an event for Tossing It Out with blog posts spanning four days.  On Monday first Battle competitor Orion's Reign provided material for a post profiling the band.   Then on Wednesday the other competing artist, Sebastian Sidi, invited me to his recording studio to provide a YouTube video interview including special advice for the Insecure Writer's Support Group.

          I want to thank both artists for contributing their time in helping me to create two great blog posts.  A goodly number of visitors had nice things to say about the featured artists.   This week made a splash on my blog as well as some added visibility for Battle of the Bands.

       

 My Voting Experiment

         In the recent Battle I knew that many of the artists' fans would be coming to vote for their favorite.   And most of us probably have had the problem of non-bloggers not understanding how to leave comments on our blogs so I feared that a lot of potential votes would be lost.  That being the case I decided to add a poll widget to make it easier to leave votes.  This resulted in some wild voting.

         In the comment section from the beginning to the time of the tally on Thursday night Orion's Reign held a consistent lead over Sebastian Sidi who remained a solid second.

 Final tally in comment section:

Orion's Reign         23

Sebastian Sidi         16      

At the Poll:

        My experiment was using the polling system.  The first widget I added apparently maxed out at 30 votes which stopped voting early on with Orion's Reign with 16 votes and Sebastian Sidi at 14.  When I learned of the malfunction a few hours in the first round had been lost.   I recovered with a no vote limit widget from another poll provider.  This poll worked very well throughout the week with Sebastian's votes leading by double over Orion's Reign.   

         It was starting to appear that I would have an awkward situation of one artist winning in comments with the other having a big win on the poll.  By midday of Thursday the count for Sebastian was 85 and Orion's Reign with 45.   Then something happened after that--votes started pouring in for Orion's Reign.

         To see results of second poll click here.

Final Tally from Both Polls

Orion's Reign              178

Sebastian Sidi              102

       Winner by both counts is Orion's Reign, but in my eyes both these artists are big winners.  The participation they both gave pushed Tossing It Out to a new level of excellence.  My thanks to Michael Batistatos of Orion's Reign and Sebastian Sidi. These guys are both real pros and I look forward to big things from both of them in the future.   Hope to see more of you at Tossing It Out.

          Are there some things that you'd like to try but are afraid to do so?   What did you like best in the previous week at Tossing It Out?   What is the most difficult thing you ever had to learn?

      Next Battle of the Bands will be on Sunday March 15th.   Where this previous Battle was classical music interpreted by rock artists, the next one will be a twist on that theme.   Be there for the fun!

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Sebastian Sidi on Dealing with Insecurity (#IWSG)

        On the first Wednesday of each month Tossing It Out participates in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who convene to discuss the struggles as well as the triumphs of pursuing the literary life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.  It's an extensive list which will lead you to much worthwhile information.  The co-hosts for the March 4 posting of the #IWSG are Chemist Ken,  Suzanne Sapseed, and Shannon Lawrence!



A Very Special Battle of the Bands/Insecure Writer's Combined Post

        On March 1st Tossing It Out also participated in the bi-monthly Battle of the Bands event which occurs each month on the 1st and 15th.  In this event two different music artists face off with the same song for voters to decide which version they like the best.   This recent Battle featured rock
interpretations of Beethoven's Für Elise by Orion's Reign from Greece and Sebastian Sidi of Los Angeles.   On Monday March 2nd I was joined by Orion's Reign guitarist Michael Batistatos for a special interview.   In our current post Sebastian Sidi joins me in my first video Tossing It Out episode with some of his thoughts on dealing with and overcoming insecurity.

         Be sure to check out the links following the summarized textual transcription of what is contained in the interview provided for those unable to view the video.  My thanks to Sebastian Sidi and to Red Rock Recording Studio in Los Angeles for making this video possible  I hope you enjoy the interview.  If you do watch this video I hope you might click the like button at YouTube and leave a brief comment there as well as on this blog.





If you were not able to view the video, here is a condensed text version of the interview:

      Hi, I'm Arlee Bird from the blog Tossing It Out.  We're here for the March 2015 post for Alex J Cavanaugh's "Insecure Writer's Support Group".  I'm joined by Sebastian Sidi who is one of the competitors in my most recent Battle of the Bands post.  I hope you've taken the time to visit that post and vote on your favorite song version.  If not, be sure to visit that post after you've finished here.

Arlee:   Who are you and what do you do?

Sebastian:  I am a self-promoted and self-marketed musician, primarily playing piano.  I have been in the business of music full time for about 15 years.

Arlee:  What exactly do you do here at Red Rock Recording Studio?

Sebastian:  Initially I built the studio to have control over recording my own albums.  Now I also produce recordings for other bands and artists

Arlee:   I've seen you perform a number of times and have watched you interact with fans.  You exude a sense of confidence in what you do and don't ever appear to be insecure.  In fact from what I've seen, you are one of the most self-confident people I've met and seem to be successful in every dream you strive to achieve.  Who has been the greatest force of instilling that self-confidence within you?

Sebastian:  Hands down that would be my father.  He's shown me that you just have to go for it. It doesn't matter if you fail as long as you try. If you don't at least try you'll never no and if one thing doesn't work you can keep trying until you succeed.  Just try your best.

Arlee:   If there are times when you feel insecure how do you deal with those negative feelings in order to keep moving forward?

Sebastian:  We're all insecure.  Anytime I go onstage I'm scared.  The moment I step on the stage I realize that I'm responsible for the emotions of the audience.  Even if I have to pretend I have to appear confident in order to relax my audience.  Once they are at ease then I feel confident and can do my job.

Arlee:   Over the years you've worked with many young people as well as seasoned musicians.  How do you instill more confidence in the artists you work with and mentor?

Sebastian:  I begin be letting them know I'm going to be honest with them. I'm not going to feed them false hope.  I work on developing their talent and what they need to be professional not to be a hit, but to make a career in music.  I keep it real  in order to arm them to have control over their careers so they will be prepared to manage their own futures.

Arlee:    You are in the music and entertainment business, but there are many aspects that are similar to what writers deal with in their lives.  What advice would you give to insecure writers and anyone else who is presently hindered with feelings of insecurity that might encourage them in their quest to break free of insecurity and start achieving their dreams?

Sebastian:  First of all you have to practice some social skills and get out to meet the people who can help you with your career.  You need to talk to people about what you're doing.  Also start doing things pertaining to your dream and don't wait for the approval of others as to whether you should pursue your dreams.  Have something to show people to give what you're doing credibility.

Arlee:   Marketing is a daunting challenge for many writers who often tend to be reclusive and apprehensive about meeting the public and promoting themselves and their work.   What marketing advice can you offer to them?

Sebastian:  Focus on what the public perception of you will be.  Do you have a quality product that is packaged well?   If you are out in public are you offering a good presentation that makes you come across as authentic, professional, and credible?  Don't spare expense in order to cur corners, but in the end make you look bad to the public.  Consider all of the little details that will make the public feel secure in buying your product.   Your packaging is just as important as your product.  Make tiny goals to take little steps toward the big goal.

Arlee:  What are some of the other services you are now offering?

Sebastian:   Currently besides my own music I am offering video production, photo shoots, and promotional consultation.   I can handle video services such as book trailers, personal profile videos, and any type of promotional video needs.  Also we can provide recording services for the spoken word as well as music.  I also can create original music if that's something you need for video or any other uses.

Arlee:   Thanks for meeting with the Insecure Writer's Support Group and anyone else who may have dropped by.   This has been the very first video edition of Tossing It Out made possible by my guest Sebastian Sidi.  Be sure to check out the links provided below to learn more about Sebastian's work and about Red Rock Recording Studio.

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For more information about Sebastian Sidi, bookings, performance schedule, or products available for purchase visit Sebastian's website:   http://www.sebastiansidi.com/   You'll find some wonderful CD's for purchase as well as a DVD documentary and concert video that has been broadcast on many PBS stations.

If you are interested in audio or video production find more information at Red Rock Recording Studio:    http://redrockrecordingstudio.com/   Feel free to contact Sebastian about your promotional needs.


And now for Sebastian's most recent recording from Red Rock Recording Studio:





        If you have still not voted on the most recent Battle of the Bands post, please do so by clicking this link.

        Do you have anything to add to Sebastian's advice ?   Have you personally utilized the services of a recording studio or videographer for your author needs or anything else?    Would you like to see more video features at Tossing It Out?




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Für Elise (BOTB)

     

Battle of the Bands!


         I'm excited about today's post.  After all it's time for the Battle of the Bands, the event where music loving bloggers offer up two different versions of one song and you the readers decide which version you prefer.   The Battle of the Bands blog event was founded by Stephen T McCarthy and Faraway Eyes.   After you vote on your favorite of the two selections I've offered, please visit the participants who are listed at the end of this post to vote on their Battles.

       Today and throughout this coming week I'll be presenting a very different approach to the Battle of the Bands.  I'll explain more at the end of this post so be sure to read all the way to the bottom so you don't miss what's to come.  But first let me introduce today's musical selection and then we'll listen to two interesting and outstanding recordings based on this very famous work of music.

Für Elise

      You're all undoubtedly familiar with the piano work by Ludwig Beethoven known as "Für Elise". You might not recognize this title, but I'm sure when you hear the opening notes you will have that a-ha moment of recognition.  This piece is one of the most famous piano compositions that nearly anyone who has taken piano lessons has played at some time or another.   Beethoven's "Für Elise" is among the most recognizable of all classical works.

       For the reference only, if you wish to hear the traditional classical piano version you can check it out at Fur Elise but PLEASE DON'T VOTE ON THIS VERSION.  Vote between the two artists who are featured in this Battle.  While the featured recordings aren't note by note covers of the Beethoven work, they are artist interpretations in updated styles.   Please give them a listen in order to give each a fair judgement.  I will refrain from commentary on either for reasons to be explained at the end of the post.

       Now enjoy!

Orion's Reign "Für Elise"   (2014)




For the alternate guitar duo metal version by George and Michael from Orion's Reign visit Fur Elise Duet.


Sebastian Sidi "Für Elise" (2008)

     



An alternate concert version by Sebastian Sidi solo piano with synthesized back-up can be found at Fur Elise Cover.


Time to Vote!

    For this round of voting I'm using a tandem system to help me with voting verification.  Please vote using the poll included below this red message and also leave your vote in the comment section with reason you chose the artist you did.  Use the "Anonymous" option ONLY if you are unable to vote using one of the other "Comment as" options.  If using the "Anonymous" option please include your name (first only is okay) and your city.  

Which artist's version of "Fur Elise" do you like best?

Orion's Reign

Sebastian Sidi

 

pollcode.com free polls

          Which do you prefer?    It's up to you to determine the winner.   Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the one you chose.  Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around.   And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.





And don't forget the special news at the bottom of this post!

Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

‘FAR AWAY SERIES’ 

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Book Lover

This Belle Rocks

DC Relief Battle of the Bands

Special Coming This Week!     
   
       You'll want to check back here on Tossing It Out throughout this week. 

       Tomorrow Monday March 2nd  I'll be hosting Michael from Orion's Reign with an exclusive interview and some photos of the band.  You might be surprised by some of his answers to my questions about the band and their music.   

       Then on Wednesday March 4th I'll be assisted by Sebastian Sidi for a special Insecure Writer's Support Group post.
   
        Finally, the results of my Battle of the Bands post between the versions of "Für Elise" as performed by Orion's Reign and Sebastian Sidi will be announced on this coming Friday March 6th. 

        This should be an interesting week so I hope you stay with me at Tossing It Out!


         Which version of  "Für Elise" was your favorite in this Battle?   What did you like about the version you chose as your favorite?  Did you ever take piano lessons and learn to play this song?

  

If you have any questions about leaving a comment, please read message at the bottom of this page below the comment box which will appear if you click on "No. of comments" next to the posting time or you can click on main post title then scroll down to bottom of the page.




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Keyboard Kings

              If you were to ask me to name some of the greatest mathematicians of all time, one of the first people that would come to my mind would be J.S. Bach.

           "What?" You may ask. "He was a composer and a musician!"

            But, you see, I think of music as one of the purest most wonderful forms of mathematics.  It's based on intervals, progressions, and combinations that can be expressed numerically as much as by lettered notes.  I can see a work of music as a fantastic equation which deciphers some of life's deepest meanings.  Listen to one of Bach's many works for keyboard and you might begin to understand what I am saying.

           Mozart was an early showman who might be compared to being the Elton John of his day, if I may be so crass in saying.  As a youngster, Mozart toured with his father throughout Europe and was famed for his keyboard wizardry.

           Some later more serious composers such as Beethoven, Schubert, or Schumann were keyboard kings in their own right composing some of the greatest works for piano of all time.  Then of course, there were the keyboard specialists like Chopin and Cesar Franck and the heralds of the romantic age of music, Brahms and Rachmaninov.   There were the mystical sounds of the impressionists such as Debussy, Ravel, and Eric Satie.

           Any discussion of keyboard kings would be incomplete without mentioning Franz Liszt, one of the first superstars of music.  When Lisztomania swept Europe this popular artist played hundreds of sold out concerts during which women swooned and fought for articles of the musician's clothing.  Some have said that  Liszt would sometimes play the piano with such ferocity that the instrument would sometimes break, while other times he would play with such rapturous beauty that audiences would be entranced.

         With the advent of the age of jazz many wonderful keyboardists came onto the scene.  Artists such as Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner, and Keith Jarrett have had illustrious careers playing their popular styles.  The rock era has also seen many fine keyboardists like Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and Nicky Hopkins.

          A dear friend of mine has established himself in the Southern California area with his self-taught keyboard artistry.   Sebastian Sidi has gained a sizable following playing concerts and other venues over the past decade.  With seven CDs and two live concert DVDs, Sebastian has sold hundreds of thousands of copies without distribution from a record label.  He is the equivalent to a self-published author and doing extremely well at it.  He is certainly a Keyboard King in his geographical realm and he would love to take his musical message to the rest of the world.

           Here is a sample of Sebastian in concert as he plays his own composition, "A Moment in Time":



         Here is a promo video for his composition "The Ride":




               For more information about Sebastian, his tour schedule, or purchasing his CDs and DVDs, you can visit his website.


               And of course let us not forget the other royalty of the keyboards--me and all of you as we type away at our blog entries for A to Z.   How are your fingers holding out so far?
            


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Sebastian Sidi: Living a Musician's Dream

          I first met Sebastian several years ago.  He had already put out a couple of CD's.  As soon as I met him I was immediately drawn in by his friendly sincerity and upbeat positive attitude.  He has never ceased to surprise me by what he can do.  I recall the first big concert he put together in the Civic Theater in Downey , California.  When he started describing to me what he was planning I was expecting a totally amateurish fiasco.  He had enlisted a local dancing school to choreograph some numbers to some of his music. I really thought it was going to be on the level of a dance school recital. But Sebastian went into the project with a clear and creative vision that he made work.  The entire concert came across flawlessly and  was as good as  anything that I had seen anywhere. The capacity crowd  loved it and it was one of the best concert productions that I have ever seen.  I had just begun to see the amazing talent and vision of Sebastian Sidi.  

  

                                                          Sebastian Sidi was born in Uruguay and came to the United States as a child.  Now he is a full-time musician and  composer, specializing in piano and keyboards, whose sound can be described as classical, new age rock with a touch of Latin flavor. Sidi’s music features an energetic and passionate new sound that has broken the molds of traditional musical genres. Self-taught and unable to read a single note of music, Sidi learned to play the drums as a teen, beating out heavy metal tunes on a friend’s tattered drum kit. His musical career was launched when he began incorporating keyboards and composing songs for a number of small rock bands.

            Throughout his career, Sidi drew inspiration from the sounds of the Scorpions, Iron Maiden, Van Halen and Raul Di Blassio. His composition gradually became increasingly intricate and his knowledge of numerous instruments advanced. The addition of bass guitar to his repertoire solidified the unique Sebastian Sidi sound that has been featured on four albums, including 1999's raw, uplifting “Prelude;” 2000's intricate “Electrified;” 2002's relaxed “Passion;” and 2005’s “Desperate Journey.” Collectively, Sidi’s albums have sold about a quarter of a million copies.

            Fluent in both English and Spanish, Sidi attracts a diverse fan base, for which he produces and presents distinctive and theatrical concert events. These “celebrations of music” bring together fans from different places, of all ages and races – from 10-year-old children to 80-year-old seniors.  Outgoing and always upbeat, Sebastian establishes a real rapport with his audiences and never fails to make himself available after performances to give autographs and meet and greet his ardent fans.

           When not in the recording studio, Sidi can be seen performing live on stages throughout Southern California including Downtown Disney, Universal City Walk, The OC Pavilion and Downey Theatre, among many other well-respected venues. In 2008 Sebastian was chosen as the Celebrity Honorary Marshal at the Downey Christmas Parade. He has been the opening act for bands such as Berlin, The Motels, Ambrosia and many others.

         Recently, Sidi  launched his first public television special concert event, which premiered in June of 2008 on KOCE-TV in Los Angeles and has been shown on PBS stations throughout the United States. In the special he worked side-by-side with 12-time Emmy Award-winning producer, George Veras, who also produced “Yanni Live at the Acropolis.” In March of 2008, Sidi appeared on “AZTE PA’CA.”, a TV talk show hosted by Latin Radio Icon, Renan Almendarez Coello (“El Cucuy”) , as well as an appearance on the NBC TELEMUNDO morning show, “BUENOS DIAS”.

        Sebastian's story has been featured in major media outlets throughout Southern California.  He has been lauded for the distinctive new genre he is single-handedly credited with creating. Sebastian Sidi is a resident of Downey, CA.  In addition to his own musical projects and performances he also sometimes sits in with other bands and has produced recording for a number of artist.

        Recently I sat down with Sebastian Sidi and asked him to share some of his reflections on his career as a successful musician.

Why music?

 More like, WHY ME? I feel as if Music chose me as a tool to share good vibes with others. I did not wake up one day and decide that I was going to pursue music as one does with accounting or law. It just kind of landed on my lap sort of so to speak and I followed the road it to see where it would go. And here I am, a successful musician.

How have your musical tastes changed over the years?

Well the bands that influence my music have pretty much stayed the same. Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Dio, Van Halen etc. But I also listen to the wave, salsa, pop, fusion, etc. But mostly 80's ROCK/METAL.... mainly because that's what I listened to when I first arrived to the USA

What have been your biggest musical influences?

 SCORPIONS, IRON MAIDEN, DIO, VAN HALEN

Who are you listening to lately?

 The same!

Do musicians really get all the girls?

Nope, but because girls think so, that makes it easy to get girls! ha ha ha But in my genre of music, it's not so much like that. My music is more classy than metal, so the audience are not groupie like. But I have had my moments. =)

Can you see yourself married with kids?

YES! Can't wait

What has been your biggest thrill so far as a musician?

The faces and reactions on people while I perform on stage. Priceless. And meeting fans after a show.

What would be your biggest musician dream come true?

Too many to list, but lets start off by touring the Country.

If you weren’t playing music for a living, what would you be doing?

 Psychologist, or Graphic Designer

You work pretty hard at your musical career. What’s your idea of a vacation?

Peace and Quiet. A quiet beach maybe, with a margarita. Something mellow. I love to visit my family in Uruguay.

What’s in your musical plans for the future?

 I am constantly setting new goals which means I'm constantly completing new goals. Next is a NEW CD hopefully by March 2010

What can we expect from the upcoming CD?

You can expect a very high energy and also very passionate CD. And this will be the best produced CD yet.

             I want to thank Sebastian for taking the time to do this interview.  For more information about Sebastian and his music and also to see and hear samples of his music and musical performances be sure to go to his website http://sebastiansidi.com/ .  At his website you can order CD's and DVD's.  Also you can visit his site on YouTube to hear his his newest release The Ride and see the promotional video for his upcoming album to be availble in 2010, which should be his biggest yet.  In fact when you check out the YouTube video you will see several other links to click on to see and hear other performances by Sebastian.

             If you are new to this blog site and like what you see, please click on the follower button on the right hand side of the page. There will be many other interviews and features in the weeks to come that you may find of interest.  And if you would like to leave a comment about today's feature please click on "comment" at the end of this article and leave your message.  Hey, fans of Sebastian Sidi let us know how you feel about Sebastian and his music!

Sebastian Sidi: Desperate Journey // Live at the O.C. Pavilion -- Music Review

         One of the nicest and hardest working musicians in the business today is a young man by the name of Sebastian Sidi.  Over the past year and a half you may have seen his exciting PBS television special or perhaps even seen him in one of his many live performances.  If you haven't heard of Sebastian and his music yet, it would be an absolute honor for me to introduce him to you. Tomorrow I'll be interviewing  Sebastian  and letting you get to know him. Today however I am going to review two of my favorite recordings by Sebastian Sidi.   

           Released in 2005, Desperate Journey was a real breakthru for Sebastian Sidi exhibiting a heightened musical maturity and expert musical interplay between him and a sharp band of virtuoso musicians.  The album is a satisfying mix of rock, classical, and Latin influenced music which is at times highly energetic and on other tracks cooly jazzy and laid back. It is the type of album that can be appreciated by just about any listening audience.

           The opening tune is "The Limit", powered by high energy drums, nice keyboard riffing by Sebastian, and some very slick guitar work by Javier Lima, who is Sebastian's cousin.  The mood is mellowed by a lovely redition of the classical crossover hit originally made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, "Time to Say Good-bye". Sebastian and company is joined by vocalists Georgia Waggoner and Tonya Hoodye in a version that absolutely soars.  The mellow mood continues with the vocalists once again joining on the wordless ethereal "Mirucha".  Next, the title tune, "Desperate Journey", picks up the pace again with a tune that fits the title. Tight interaction among the musicians  and fantastic songwriting skills makes this song one of my favorites on the album.

          The musical atmosphere switches to the salsa tinged "Moon Shadow".  This is a joyfully upbeat tune where Sebastian's keyboard skills absolutely shine and sparkle like stars on a warm Latin night -- this one could have you on your feet dancing.  The Latin beat carries on in "Spice It Up", which is just as the title implies. Great piano and synthesizer work, hot perscussion, and more sizzling guitar from Javier really spice up this track. 

        Then with the excellent sense of pacing that Sebastian has, the next tune, "Moving On", brings us back to a more introspective mood.  It's a beautiful melody the invokes a spirit of dreams and good memories.  I could listen to this song over and over.  The band continues with the popular crowd-pleaser "Theme from Chariots of Fire". Sebastian's imaginative arrangement of this old favorite breathes new life into the Vangelis tune. This is followed by another personal favorite, "Moment in Time", where the girls return with their airy wordless vocals. This is another wistful song with such a dreamy cool jazz quality that it almost like remembering the first time you fell in love--I wanted this song to go on for several more minutes.

        But not one to dally for long, Sebastian kicks it back up with "Rock the Blues". This is just what the title says it is-- a good time boogie infected jam where everybody has a good time. This is followed by another Latin influenced number called "Pachanga" that makes you want to just close your eyes and groove to the music. "Rising Thunder" is a majestic tour de force where Sebastian shows off his vast musical talent by playing all instruments on the track. You will declare, "Is there no end to this man's talent?"

          The final tune is "Corazon De Nino" by the famous Argentine keyboardist Raul di Blasio.  What more can I say about this one, except beautifully performed with all keyboards and synthesizers by Sebastian Sidi. It is an apt closing to a great album.  But wait, there is one more track!  I won't tell you what it is here except that I've never heard anything like it on an album before and it is rather interesting.

      LIVE AT THE O.C. PAVILION PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE

         The other recording that I would highly recommend is the DVD LIVE AT THE O.C. PAVILION .  This is the DVD recording that is the same as the PBS special that has been playing throughout the country.  The DVD is great because you get to hear Sebastian with band playing live before an audience and see them in action.  The DVD was produced by Emmy award winner George Veras who also produced specials for Yanni and others.  Everything from the sound to the visuals is top-notch.  Many favorite songs selected from Sebastian's many albums are performed including the modern takes on Beethoven's "Ode to Fur Elise" and "The Fifth Symphony".  Sebastian is accompanied by a band that is as good as any you have seen, which includes his cousin Javier Lima on guitar, Xris Martin on bass, James Friedman on drums, and sassy violinist Cara C, as well as his vocalists and other guest musicians.  For an experience you won't forget and can enjoy over and over, the DVD is the next best thing to being at one of Sebastian Sidi's live concerts.

      You can obtain these and all of Sebastian's other recordings and hear samples of his music at his website. Also a preview of his next album The Ride  to be released in 2010 is on youtube. If making a comment to Sebastian on one of his sites, please let him know that you heard about his music from this blog.

      If you are already a fan of  Sebastian Sidi or know about his music please leave a comment  to let us know what you think.  Have you seen him perform live?  Tell us about it.  What is your favorite album or song?  Let everyone else know what you think about Sebastian Sidi.   If you're new to hearing about Sebastian, but would like to comment on this article we want to hear from you as well. 

      Be sure to check back tomorrow for the interview with Sebastian Sidi. And if you haven't done so already, please sign up to follow this blog.  There will some interesting interviews in the weeks to come that I think you might enjoy.

Something Special This Week!

             The first week of my new blogging schedule has finished and I would say successfully.  Had some interesting comments and good participation. But I'm still looking  for more followers for the blog.  I had mentioned, in one of my comments to a reader I think, that I would like to reach 100 followers by the end of this month.  So please dear reader if you haven't already signed up, would you be so kind to just click the follower icon on the side of the page and become a Bird Watcher.

           Be checking all this week for some neat stuff.  On Sunday I'll be continuing my prayer series with the installment Why Do You Pray?.  This series is for all thinking people-- you don't have to be religious.  In fact I'd love to hear what anyone has to say about this topic.

          On Monday my NaNo update and how I approached some problems I encountered this week and how it all applies to other aspects in life.

          I'm real excited about midweek!   On Tuesday I'll be reviewing a CD and a  DVD by a really fine recording artist by the name of Sebastian Sidi.  He's been making quite a name for himself, but I certainly think he deserves more recognition.  Then on Wednesday I'll be posting an interview with Sebastian Sidi.  Please stick with me on this one.  I can almost guarantee that you will be surprised when you learn about this immensely talented artist and you may end up becoming another of the thousands of ardent fans who already follow his career. Don't miss either of these posts.

          Thursday will be another debate topic yet to be decided.  Got any ideas to toss out to me?

           And Friday??  Well that's a mystery.

            My thanks to those who have been following my posts and to anyone who's here for the first time, hope you stay with me!

Things To Come

         Halloween is coming-- of course we know that.  Can you believe that as I write this Halloween is only two short weeks away.  Then we know for the most part what comes after that.  Holiday seasons!  Thanksgiving has always been a favorite for me.  Then there are so many things to like about the Christmas season.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves.  I'll be writing about those things later, but first we need to finish with Halloween. But not today.  Instead I would like to look ahead at some other things you can expect to see on this site and make my most recent big announcement.

          Saturdays just don't seem to be conducive toward in depth writing.  There's alway too much going on it seems.  Go here, go there, and this and that.  So here are some quickies.

         I want to thank my good friend Sebastian Sidi for becoming a follower of this site.  In November I plan on doing a interview with Sebastian because if you don't know him yet I think you ought to meet him now. I think you are eventually going to hear about Sebastian anyway so you might as well perk up your ears and find out why more and more people keep on adding themselves to Sebastian's list of fans. If you want to get a preview of Sebastian Sidi and hear some of his music then check out his website -- I think you might be impressed.  Be following this blog for more about Sebastian Sidi.

        Another musician of note is Forrest Smith of Phoenix, AZ.  I've known Forrest for--well, I won't say for how long, just that it's been a long time.  He is a very fine songwriter, singer, and musician.  I can't say enough good things about Forrest so you can bet I'll have plenty to say in my feature about Forrest.

         Collagepodge  is an interesting business created by up and coming artist Ada Jackson of New Jersey.  Using her creative talents and artistic eye, Ada can take anything and turn it into something wonderful.  Her works of art are often commissioned as gifts or keepsakes. I'm sure that Ada will have some interesting ideas about art as heirlooms as well as other views about the world of art.

          Whether you are interested in photography or not, you may be interested in what Juan Velez has to say about the topic.  Juan has been making quite an impression in the world of sports photography and his pictures have appeared in many places. Maybe Juan can give us some pointers on how to take better photos when we get together for holiday events or just take better pictures anytime.  It's always good to hear from a pro.

         Finally, that "big" announcement that I mentioned in my teasing opening paragraph.  I made the plunge and signed up for NaNoWriMO.   "What!" you say?   In an earlier blog I wrote briefly about this.  It stands for National Novel Writing Month and you can check my earlier post for my comments about this or follow the link to the NaNo website if you want to get more details.  I will be writing more about this challenge you can be sure.  Between my upcoming novel and this blog and everything else I write, I hope I don't drown in a sea of words and phrases.  If any of you readers are participating in NaNo, then for the record my NaNo name is wordleeness.  Let me know if you are out there and good luck!  So the juggler of words and phrases has tossed it out to you-- got anything for me?

Soccer Saturday

          Halloween will once again be put on hold for a day or two.  I do intend  to get back to the topic of Halloween's effect on the economy unless pitchfork wielding crowds start clamoring at my blog door for me to quit.  Hopefully, I won't hear a peep-- speaking of witch (a halloween-related  grammatical error), Halloween Peeps are on the candy shelves now.  Are there any other Peeps fans out there?  Just Born candy company has a cool website for Marshmallow Peeps for all you Peeps lovers.

           Today's title might make you think I'm doing one of those weekly themes like I was talking about yesterday-- no, I'm just going to watch soccer with some family today.  It's Ecuador vs Uruguay in qualifying rounds for the 2010 World Cup. My wife's family comes from Ecuador.  I should have invited my buddy, musician Sebastian Sidi , over to join us since he's from Uruguay -- should have made for some entertaining banter.  I'm quite sure that Sebastian is out playing music today-- he's one hard-working musician.

          And speaking of soccer, I got a kick out of  the recent posting by my blog buddy Stephen T. McCarthy .  He's offering his version of the suggestion box that works best for him -- a paper shredder. Good ol' Stephen is ever ready to offend in his witty way if you got what it takes to handle it. If you enjoy some intelligent commentary on the state of things in today's wacky society you might want to check his blog.  I read it regularly.  I will also give credit to Stephen for getting me started on this blogging thing.   You can take that anyway you want, but so far I'm having a fine time.

           Keeping it short for today.  Stay tuned for more exciting adventures in Halloweenland!