Category: Active Life

Mystical Morning – Leads to New Directions for My Blog and Mystical Morning Commute

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Mystical Morning -bUwe Gronau

The other morning while meditating my mind turned toward my blog and I thought of my blog in relationship to my body mind and spirit.

Mind, Body and Spirit Lead the Way

Much of what I try to do during the day is directed at one of those three aspects of life. Whether it’s trying to enrich and keep my mind sharp by reading, exercising and eating right to help my body and meditating and listening to New Age music to lift my spirit, the actions I take revolve around these aspects of life.

Anyway what I am going to try for a while is to keep this blog oriented toward the rejuvenation, and revitalization of my mind, body and spirit,

As part of this shift, the music discussions on this site will be mostly about New Age music and maybe some jazz. But knowing that my musical explorations of other genres including Americana, blues and progressive rock won’t stop, I will be discussing those explorations at FreeWheelin’ Music Safari!

Getting Directions from KeyWebsites

Now with the above thoughts swirling around in my head I visited some new sites like MindBodyGreen and BodyMindSpirit Guide both of which I believe I will be visiting more often in the future. I also visited a site that I have visited often in the past Tiny Buddha. While I was at Tiny Buddha the following post caught my eye……..

30 Simple Mindfulness Practices to Help You Focus and Be Present

I thought the article presented some  good practices to help become more mindful. As a result of reading this post I decided that this morning I would do two things.

Putting Thoughts into Action

First, I was going to listen to some New Age music on my way to work and secondly, I was going to try to be more aware of my surroundings. S

So as I was driving, I was attempting to view things as if it was the first time I saw them, rather than the six hundredth million time!! I must say that it made for a pretty interesting trip and I don’t think it’s too bad around here!!

Accompanied by Uwe Gronau – Mystical Morning

The music that I listened to was the album, Mystical Morning by German composer and keyboardist Uwe Gronau. I have had this album in my music rotation since its release back in October of 2015 and I like it more and more every time I listen to it!

About Uwe from his biography at his website…….

Gronau was born and raised in the Rhineland in northwest Germany, and grew up in Dusseldorf and Bocholt (where he currently resides) which is only a couple of miles from the Dutch border. “In the ‘70s and ‘80s the Netherlands were more involved in the evolution of jazz, pop, rock and soul than Germany, so I profited from this situation and heard much great music.” Uwe began playing piano at age six and grew up immersed in music as the son of a choir-leader, orchestra-conductor, music-school teacher and piano instructor.

In his early years Uwe studied classical music, but soon became passionate about jazz and rock artists such as Brian Auger, Keith Emerson, Patrick Moraz and Refugee, and Joe Zawinul and Weather Report.

As Gronau got older, his musical tastes expanded to include Supertramp, Jethro Tull, Gilbert ‘O Sullivan, Keith Jarrett, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Dream Theater. When Uwe was 14 he began to play in a series of bands and built a reputation in the area for his musicianship and professionalism.

One thing that always set Gronau apart from many other musicians is that from the beginning and continuing to today, Gronau has always played original material and has never covered compositions by others. In college, Gronau majored in music, German and theater-science. Read More

Thoughts on Mystical Morning

The music on Mystical Morning is varied and always interesting. A review of the album at CDBaby says it better than I can…..

This German keyboardist explores all that and more on his Mystical Morning album which he says is “positive, celebratory music that is like sunshine pouring onto a new day.” He specially has a ball playing his Hammond B-3 organ, most noteworthy on his tribute to Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer (“Letter to Emerson”), a fast-paced piece bubbling with energy.

That organ shows up several other places including the most prog-rock tune, “Over the Bridge,” which has a full-bodied arrangement featuring lots of varied sounds including synth, acoustic guitar and horns.

These pieces are balanced with some softer piano-dominated numbers including two versions of the piano and acoustic-guitar “Shy” (one with drums and one without). In fact about half of the 15 tunes are rocking (with drums or forceful percussion) and the other half are fairly soft which keeps it interesting. Gronau has always been known for making music that keeps the listener guessing and fascinated as to where he will head next. He somehow captures the spirit of the great rock albums of the Seventies and Eighties, but with modern sound exploration that is fresh and invigorating.  Read Full Review

My favorite track is the aforementioned “Letter to Emerson”, but this morning ” A Day in Sri Lanka” and the title track “Mystical Morning” fit the mood of the morning!

Mystical Morning is Uwe Gronau’s sixth full album and while I have not explored his full back catalog I have listened to and written about hos release Thoughts of Tomorrow and you can read what I wrote about that album here.

So with the help of the music of Uwe Gronau and a little mindfulness it was a Mystical Morning!!!

Here is the title track from Mystical Morning

Chris Thomas King – Great Blues and A Fast Run (for me!!)

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Bona Fide [ Chris Thomas King

Originally Posted October 2014 Revised and Updated June 2026

With the IQ test over and having done better than my wife anticipated, I now have my eyes set on my first 5K of the year, this Saturday in Delanco. Tonight was my second-to-last workout before the race, and it turned out to be my best run of the late summer early fall!

I tried to run short pickups throughout the run and a couple of times my pace dropped below 9 minutes per mile and was under 10 minute per mile pace through most of the run. I pushed it through the first 3.1 miles of the run and then backed off.

 I was able to pick it back up though for a decent push at the end. Overall the time was 39:32 over 4.03 miles for a final pace of 9:48. which I am happy with!

The Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the run was Bona Fide, the latest release from Chris Thomas King who is somewhere today celebrating his 49th birthday (according to his website and 50th according to AllMusic)!

Who is Chris Thomas King?

King was born on October 14, 1964, in Baton Rouge. His father, Tabby Thomas, is a locally prominent bluesman who owned a club called Tabby’s Blues Box, which opened in 1979 and closed in 2004 following Tabby’s retirement.

As a result, King, started early toward his musical future; even as a youngster he was well known as Rockin’ Tabby’s son and a child genius. While frequenting his father’s club he performed with the late Silas Hogan, Guitar Kelly and Clarence Edwards, three masters of swamp blues.

By sixth grade, King was learning to play the trumpet and later traveling as a rhythm guitar player of famous musicians like Lowell Folsom and Joe Tex. As he matured in the musical setting of New Orleans area blues culture, King was encouraged to experiment and develop his own style. Because each blues musician had a unique playing and singing style, he was discouraged from singing others’ songs or even playing the way they did.

He told Lisa Simeone on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition, “They would never sit me down and say, ‘Well, this is how it goes.’ They … told me don’t sing their songs … ‘Find your own song and sing that.'”  Full Biography

About Bona Fide

After listening to  Bona Fide, I wondered why I never heard of him (uh, because you never hear of anyone??) Ok here’s one reason. He came on the blues scene according to Wikipedia in the late 80s and early 90s, when I was busy raising four children!! From Wikipedia:

King is known as the pioneer of rap/blues fusion.[1] He conceived the first sample-based blues concept album in the early 1990s by writing and producing the first all-rap/blues album for RCA Records titled 21st Century Blues… From Da Hood.  Read More

AHA! He Spent Many Years in Europe!

From his website, I discovered that he spent many years in the more liberal confines of Europe!!:

Like Miles Davis and Bob Dylan before him, Chris Thomas King was originally celebrated as the young savior of an aging musical culture when he first arrived on the national scene. Branded as a rebel King was banned form blues festivals across the United States.


He fled to Denmark to cool his heels in the more liberal environment that flourished in Europe. While in Denmark he recorded and released the critically acclaimed hip-hop blues album “21st Century Blues from da hood.”

The French embraced him as a major artist with vision and the rest of Europe followed. He toured with his Danish band extensively across Europe playing major festivals and theaters but longed to return to New Orleans.

Upon returning to the United States in 1995, he started his own independent production company and record label, 21st Century Blues. Soon after he found success as a film composer and actor. Winning three Grammy Awards by 2003 and several Country music CMA awards. Full Biography

I Saw Home in Movies! Who Knew?

While I may not have known his name, I did see him and hear him in the movies Ray, where he played bandleader and blues guitarist Lowell Fulson, and in O Brother, Where Art Thou? where he “portrayed a skilled blues guitarist who claims he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his skill on guitar.

The character is based on blues musicians Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson, both of whom have been linked to selling their soul to the devil at a rural Mississippi crossroads!” (From Wikipedia) But now that I know the name and love the album Bona Fide,

Final Thoughts and The Video

I will be checking out the rest of his discography – maybe I’ll even check out the music that got him branded a rebel and sent him to Europe to ply his trade!!!

Here’s the closing track from Bona Fide, “Goodbye Chicago”  I say, “Hello Chris Thomas King and Happy Birthday!!”

Post Update and Confession:

I never did get around to exploring the ten albums Mr. King released prior to Bona Fide or the four he released after. However, I did listen to his most recent release 2023’s Big Gray Sky and loved it. I’ll give you my thoughts soon!

John Mayall – A Special Life A Special Run Soundtrack!

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A Special Life - John Mayall

Reposted – Feb 17,2024 – ten years later….I was 62 ar the time of the run!

This week has been a topsy-turvy week. Monday it was in the 80s and then was  cloudy all day. Yesterday (Tuesday) it looked like it was going to rain and the temperatures were in the 60s!

Today (Thursday) it was supposed to be back into the 80s. So last night (Wednesday) I decided that I better run then or face another hot day running!

So of course today turned out a  lot like yesterday. However, I’m still glad that I ran last night!!  I decided to run on of my oldest routes, a slightly up and down run going up and down the highest point in Riverside on Pancoast Avenue.

The run was a good one. While I didn’t set any land speed records, I did feel fairly strong throughout the run. Well except when I was going up the steepest parts of Pancoast!! The only good thing is that I do get to go down hill for a good part of the last mile!!

The splits weren’t too bad. First mile 10:20 – Second 10:28, Third 11:04 – the uphill battle, 4 – 10:42.  Total Time was 42:34. When compared to Monday’s 44:54, it even looks better!!

The Soundtrack – A Special Life – John Mayall

On my last run I ran with on of the younger blues musicians, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who by the way is celebrating his birthday today. Happy Birthday Kenny Wayne. So last night I decided to run with someone older than me, by almost two decades!! That would be “the godfather of the British Blues” John Mayall,who turned 80 last November. I ran withnbhis latest release A Special Life.

A Special Life is like Mayall’s gazillionth release since he formed the Bluesbeakers in 1965. I started to listen to Mayall during my freshman year in college with the first album that  I bought being The Turning Point and it has through the years been on of my favorites.This time period in Mayall’s music is my favorite. The Turning Point along with Jazz  Blues Fusion and Movin’ On are three of my favorite albums. I loved Johnny Almond’s sax and flute work and every body on the later two albums, Jazz Blues Fusion introduced me to the trumpet of Blue Mitchell. For most of the world John may be best know for the musicians who have been a part of the Bluesbreakers.

From Wikipedia here are of some ex-members of John’s band…..

  • Guitar: Eric Clapton, Roger Dean, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Harvey Mandel, Freddy Robinson, Jimmy McCulloch, Kal David, Walter Trout, Coco Montoya, Randy Resnick,Sonny Landreth, Buddy Whittington, Eric Steckel, Robben Ford
  • Bass: Jack Bruce, John McVie, Steven Thompson[disambiguation needed], Larry Taylor, Tony Reeves, Hank Van Sickle, Greg Rzab
  • Drums: Hughie Flint, Keef Hartley, Aynsley Dunbar, Soko Richardson, Jon Hiseman, Colin Allen, Mick Fleetwood.
  • Keyboards: Dr. John
  • Vocals/Harmonica: Paul Butterfield

I think that the first time I heard Coco Montoya was on John’s 1987 release Chicago Line. What I didn’t realize until a short while back, was that Walter Trout also played on that album. Looking at the list of guitarist see that both Eric Steckel and Robben Ford have recorded with John, so I will certainly look up the albums they played on. 

The Current Bluesbreakers

The current lineup for the Bluesbreakers includes: Rocky Athas on guitar, Greg Rzab on bass, and drummer Jay Davenport. Rocky Athas and Stevie Ray Vaughan both hail from Oak Cliff, Texas.

By the time Athas was 23, he had already established himself on the Texas Blues scene and was named one of the first TEXAS TORNADOS by Buddy Magazine’s Top Ten Guitarists. The list of Texas Tornados went on over the years to include Eric Johnson, Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, and Johnny Winter.

Both Greg Rzab and Jay Davenport grew up in the Chicago blues scene. Rzab has been a member of  Buddy Guy and jimmy Page’s bands, and Warren Hayes’ Gov’t Mule!

Davenport has likewise played with some top blues musicians including: Junior Wells, Valerie Wellington, Pinetop Perkins,Jimmie Johnson and for the last several years he has been the drummer for west-side guitarist Melvin Taylor,  where the other half of the rhythm section was? – Greg Rzab!!.

Last year, Mayall asked about his current band and he replied, “The band I have now is the best band I have EVER had. I think it would be impossible to do better than that!”

 

What American Blues Scene says about the album…..

Mayall is at the top of his game here, and the band comes together nicely, serving up some of the finest fare we’ve heard in a while. This music draws listeners in, and engages them on so many levels! The more we listened to A Special Life, the more we wanted to hear it. Superbly crafted and performed, it is at once earthy, elegant, and soul stirring. Listeners will wear this album out.

So Check IT out!!

The Video

Here’s “Speak of the Devil” from A Special Life – and I will say this may be my favorite track on the album and that I hope that I’m going as good as John, when I hit 80!!!

Kenny Wayne Shepherd – A Run With Thoughts About No Pain No Gain

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Kenny Wayne Shepherd Goin' Home

The Run – with Thoughts of No Pain… No Gain

You know the old saying No Pan No Gain …. Well, If there’s pain, there’s gain then I gained a lot from today’s run!! It has rained on a off all day today and when I set off on my run, I think the relative humidity was like 150% and the air was completely still and it certainly seemed that it had no way to ge air into my lungs!

Needless to say it was one of those runs when you just try to trick yourself, well if I only make 3 miles I’ll be happy, oh 3 down I can make one more mile, at 3.5 only one half mile to go, a snap!!

\Before you know it you’re done, both the four miles and you!! First mile 10:22, acceptable, second mile 10:35 still ok, third mile 11:32 ouch! Fourth mile 12:25 and no I didn’t walk any of it! Average pace 11:14 which is I guess ok!

You know what they say “At least you did it!” and I’ll live to run another day!!

The Soundtrack – Kenny Wayne Shephherd – Goin’ Hom

Now the soundtrack of the run was the new album from the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Goin’ Home and it’s a great album

However, t the last three tracks I heard on my run. which started with Buddy Guy’s “Cut You Loose” pointed my head in the wrong direction. .

The first line of the chorus is “I’m gonna throw my hands up and say “What’s the Use”  Now I know n that the song the singer is  not going to throw his hands yup that because he doesn’t want to run anymore, but the thought of taking that action did cross my mind!!

Next came “Born Under a Bad Sign” not really a positive mental attitude song now is it!!

And then as I finished “Still a Fool” and for running today, maybe I am, my wife would say that the name fits anybody who runs!

About the Soundtrack – Goin’ Home – Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Goin’ Home. was recorded in an 11-day whirlwind in Sheppard’s hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.

The raw, righteous release finds Shepherd revisiting a dozen of the vintage blues classics that originally inspired him to pick up the guitar and pursue a life in music. He approaches the material with an intensity that affirms his deep connection to these time-tested classics.

On Goin Home, Shepherd’s sharp interpretive skills and sublime guitar work shine on his renditions of tunes originally popularized by such blues icons as B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Stevie Ray Vaughan,Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Shepherd’s memorable readings of such beloved standards as “I Love the Life I Live,”

“The House Is Rockin’,” “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” and “Born Under a Bad Sign,” along with some lesser-known tunes drawn deep from within the catalogues of his heroes. Shepherd’s new interpretations are faithful to the spirit of the originals, while serving as vibrant expressions of Shepherd’s musical soul.

My Thoughts

Kenny Wayne’s guitar work has never been better and the band composed of singer Noah Hunt, ex-Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton, former Firm bassist Tony Franklin and keyboardist Riley Osbourn, is great, too, particularly Riley Osborn!

Now Kenny Wayne and his band are enough by themselves, but to make the album over the top great some guest were added to the mix! The guests include: Joe Walsh, Warren Haynes, Keb’ Mo’ and Robert Randolph, longtime friend Ringo Starr, Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson,(that explains the great harp I heard) and the Rebirth Brass Band!!

So it’s a great album that will certainly be at the top of many best of 2014 lists!! So check it out (Press Release) it won’t be hard to find because it’s number 1 on Amazon and iTunes!

The Video

Here’s a great video for the song “You Can’t Judge a Book…” The song captures the spirit of the album!!

Michael Brant DeMaria – The Maiden of Stonehenge – New Age Healing Music

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The Maiden of Stonehenge - Michael Brant DeMaria

2026 Reflections

Looking back, I never did complete the grand experiment of comparing the psychologist and the shamans. That’s not unusual. Over the years I’ve started plenty of projects that wandered off into the weeds. But what struck me when I reread this post was that twelve years later I finally did embrace yoga as part of my daily routine. These days a work morning often starts with twenty minutes of yoga before heading off to Target at 5 a.m. So perhaps Michael Brant DeMaria had more influence on me than either of us realized

Discovering Michael Brant DeMaria

So the other day I was browsing through the Zone Music Reporter’s New Age Top 100 Radio Air Play chart and I spotted down at #87 an interesting looking album titled The Maiden of Stonehenge by Michael Brant DeMaria. Not knowing anything more about the album, than that it had both an interesting title and a cool cover (there I go again dating myself). I downloaded it on to the iPhone and gave it a listen. As soon as I heard the flute on the first track “Lost Village” I knew that I was going to like the album and I was very, very correct!!

So then I started to research the album and Michael Brant DeMaria and what did I find. Another one of those people who REALLY have it all together!! (Unlike me who has little pieces scattered all over the place!)

From his biography at his website:

Dr. Michael Brant DeMaria is a psychologist with over 25 years of experience in helping guide others on their life journeys. He has published and presented numerous papers on the role creativity and spirituality play in the healing process nationally and internationally.

Michael DeMaria is also an author. His writings include: of Horns and Halos (1992), Ever Flowing On (2001) and the book of poetry,Moments (2008).

His passion for philosophy and psychology started at a young age having graduated with degrees in both as he turned 20. ,He also received the outstanding student award the same year in the department of philosophy, art and religious studies.

Dr. DeMaria then became the youngest recipient of a Ph.D. in the clinical psychology program at Duquesne University, where he studied in the graduate programs in psychology, philosophy and The Institute of Formative Spirituality

Comparing Edward to Michael HaHaHa He Wins!

Sooo.. I graduated with a two degrees too – one in Political Science and one in Education – and then went to work for a civil engineering company??? Right – top that!!

Hey Michael I think I need some help figuring out my journey and you better hurry, cause the remaining part of the journey keeps shrinking faster and faster!! But back to Michael, so he’s a psychologist does that make you a good musician – maybe not but I guess he may be an okay musician – then I read……..

Michael Brant DeMaria has been something of a phenomenon in the healing/new age music realm with four consecutive #1 albums on the Zone Music Reporter charts, three Grammy Nominations for Best New Age Album, and several Album of the Year awards in the Native American, Ambient, Relaxation/Meditation, and World Music categories!

Whoa- yes Mr. DeMaria you can do it all!!

About The Maiden of Stonehenge from Mainly Piano

….The Maiden of Stonehenge, takes his music in yet another direction. The music is the soundtrack to a play by the same name written by DeMaria and Stephen Lott, (who also co-wrote the play Siyotanka several years ago). This time the play takes place in ancient Britain and tells the story of the coming of age of Teagan, a young, disfigured orphan girl abandoned and left to fend for herself. Her journey takes her across the mythic land where she meets wild and wondrous creatures while discovering the healing powers of nature, water, and her own voice.

Thoughts on Exploring New Age Meditation Music.and a Challenge

The music on the album and the overall vibe of the album is great and is meant for healing and yoga meditation, etc.. Now this is the third album that  I have listened to over the last several weeks of this type.

The other two were Get Tribal’s Gods of Drum and an album from Ahilah called Warrior that was recommended to me by  reader, Kevin Thiessen, from AsZension, who was involved in the production of the album.

Now my mission should I choose to accept it…..(this post will self-destruct in ten seconds – damn you ADD!) is to do meditations over the next week or so using tracks from each of the albums and record my observations from each to see who does it better the Shamans or the psychologist!!

Now let’s see if I can do it! The one thing, I know I will do, is listen to more of the albums from Michael Brant DeMaria!!!

The Video

A medley of the music from The Maiden of Stonehenge!