several times over the past few months, i've mentioned wanting to do a show about "why simplemuzik is free," and, happily, this week is it! mostly, per usual, it's just me rambling on about inspiration, and feeling, and motivation. but i'm curious about how it is for you too, and fascinated that it's seen and felt and experienced so differently for each of us. from a personal perspective, i'm really humbled to have had the opportunities i've had to reach people, and connect, and communicate and share through music. it's a huge blessing - always. and i feel the same way about the podcast, and talking, and the fact that you're here now reading this and sharing with me. there aren't really any words that get at the truth of my gratitude. but i'm very thankful for it. i hope it shows.

from a creative perspective, there seems to be something essential and important about why we do what we do. doesn't there??? it's not often evident on the surface - but deep down - the inexplicable feeling or connection that a song or painting or person has on us, always seems connected to the root of intent - how we open our hearts, listen, participate, engage. often we can't express it, or talk about it in any rational way. but we still know the difference. and we know the real thing when we see it. it matters. and i think's it's true of life too - in the larger sense - life itself as art - the living and trying and failing and falling and getting up over and over again. again and again. this is the sense in which every moment, and every decision to try again, and not give up, re-creates everything.

for me, that's all art is. it might come in the form of a song, or a poem, or a hard days work - or in simply taking the time to really listen to somebody who needs you to listen. there are as many opportunities as there are moments in our lives. but, whenever it really happens - truly - deeply - it's always an individual expression of our hearts in relation to those around us, our own feeling, and the intermingling of the endless tangents and variations in-between. painful, powerful, aching, true. and very beautiful. i definitely don't understand it. but it feels this way.

if you have time, i hope you'll take a listen to episode 59. i'd love to share it with you and hear how you see it.

don't forget to visit the links:
danny scherr - www.myspace.com/dannyscherr
jonah matranga - www.jonahmatranga.com

also, as a reminder, liz angelucci and i have two shows this week, and we'd love to share either (or both!) of them with you... they are:

wednesday, october 10 - liz and i are sharing a set at el rio - 3158 mission st (@ cesar chavez), san francisco. show starts approx. 8pm.

and friday, october 12 - i'm playing guitar for liz at the red vic - 1665 haight st. @ cole, san francisco. show starts approx. 8pm.

you can always get more info on upcoming shows at - www.simplemuzik.com/rdshows.htm and www.elizabethangelucci.com.

hope you're well!
russell