Category Archives: Music

Paper Clip and Soda Straw Save My Pedalboard

Posted on April 5, 2012 by ken

I had one of those awful moments earlier today. I had left my microphone plugged into my pedalboard last night (never a good idea), and since I use an XLR-to-quarter-inch impedance transformer, that means about four inches of solid connector … Continue reading →

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Chromatic Harmonica Repair

Posted on February 26, 2012 by ken

I was about to start work on another song for February Album Writing Month when I noticed that my chromatic harmonica was buzzing badly on one hole. When this happens on a regular blues harmonica, it’s usually just a tiny … Continue reading →

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Pianos and Rock Doves

Posted on February 18, 2012 by ken

My two newest FAWM songs are “Leaving Again” and “Flight Of the Rock Doves,” and each introduces an instrument I hadn’t used before in this FAWM cycle.

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Harmonitronica Geekout: The Hole Story

Posted on February 2, 2012 by ken

Last night I posted my third song for this year’s February Album Writing Month. “This Hole,” along with the previous song, “I’m Not Not Very Concerned,” combined harmonica with loops created in Korg’s iKaossilator, an iPad application.

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She Had the Will (Etta James, 1938-2012)

Posted on January 21, 2012 by ken

I’m playing Etta James today. Not her old stuff. I’m listening to two records that might not exist at all had she not been such a tough woman. I like her 50s and 60s stuff just fine, but for me, … Continue reading →

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Epyphony

Posted on January 7, 2012 by ken

A day late, here’s this week’s ImprovFriday contribution: Epyphony (Three Kings Suite). We three kings disoriented are Guided by an unmoving star Beacon calling morse reminder Hopelessly following yonder star I was always fascinated by the legend of the kings, … Continue reading →

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Send your music out into the world and it will come back to you more wonderful than before

Posted on December 3, 2011 by ken

This was the first week in many months that I was able to contribute a piece to ImprovFriday. And it reminded me why I’ve missed it so much. ImprovFriday is a worldwide online collective of improvisational musicians, using all kinds … Continue reading →

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Fried, a Night

Posted on December 2, 2011 by ken

I’m wiped out after a long week of travelling and running around and wrestling with uncooperative software. But in my travels I acquired another analog synthesis gem, a Moog ring modulator. It’s hard to explain exactly what a ring modulator … Continue reading →

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Harmonitronica, Tradition and Musicianship

Posted on January 11, 2011 by ken

Many people, myself included sometimes, do not understand the connection between the acoustic old-time and blues and bluegrass that I love to play, and the harmonitronica I’ve been spending so much time on lately. For the last few weeks I’ve … Continue reading →

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Nine Sticks

Posted on January 11, 2011 by ken

OK, so you’re all used to the binary jokes by now — and there will be more of them come October. But this is a special moment for everyone that hasn’t happened before in my lifetime and will not happen … Continue reading →

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