Fisheye Lens Test for iPhone4: Short Skate Montage

These small fisheye lenses for iphone and other mobile devices are really nice. For $25 you get a good effect. It makes things so easy to capture on the fly. It doesn't really replace the real deal but for small timers this is a good find and well worth it.

Skaters: Branson, Nick, Jace

Music: Town Mountain covering Bruce Springsteen's I'm On Fire.

Louisville, KY Skate Trip

I just spent three days with James and Roy skating an amazing park. The Louisville Extreme park is well worth the hour or so drive. It's definitely crazy crowded on the weekend nights but we had plenty of time to ourselves during the day. Get down there and skate it. Louisville skate scene has a great vibe and some serious rippers (unfortunately not really seen in the video below, just old dudes hanging on to scraps and going with it).

Here's Roy's montage:



Get out there and skate with your friends. Go to new places. Always hit new spots. Be respectful to local riders. Enjoy the journey.

Be Safe Out There - Heavy Slammin' -

Skateboarding is dangerous. Difficult. Not easy at all. Skateboarding hurts for everybody who tries it. You will slam many times very hard. If you are called by it you'll get up and continue the journey. Seasoned skaters speed through the streets and parks with the kind of ease and grace of a swallow. Always at ease yet always on toes. Although the ride is relaxed the navigating, computing mind never is. The instant you leave the moment is usually followed by the moment your body hits the ground. The best riders commit themselves in meditation to oneness with their boards at high speed. The best riders will still get hurt. Contrary to public opinion skateboarding is a thinking man's game with an added, sometimes heavy, twist of fate.

- Cincinnati skater Justin Gibson all zen'd out on a salad grind -

Ghetto Skateboards, FL

If skateboarding was easy everyone would be doing it. Skateboarding challenges every athletic and mental muscle in your body. Stay on your board and stay right in your head. Keep the moment forefront at all times. Remember what you are doing is a gift bestowed upon and given to very few. But, respect your limits and respect your intuition.

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Please send all positive thoughts, vibes and prayers to my friend Kyle who took an incredibly heavy slam today and got a concussion and ruptured spleen. Kyle is a Vet, husband and all around generous and friendly guy. Sessions at Beech Acres are always better when he's around. Hoping he gets better soon.

Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still...

Cash sings of Revelations - It's Alpha and Omega's kingdom come -

Amazing before and after satellite photos
03-11-2011
Japan's Northeast Coast
8.9 magnitude Japan Earthquake, Tsunami 2011

Model-computed energy from the March 11, 2011 tsunami as visualized by the NOAA Visualization Lab

That Vintage "Nashville Sound": The Last Date by Floyd Cramer

From Wikipedia: "Floyd Cramer was one of the architects of the "Nashville Sound." He popularized the 'slip note' piano style where one note slides effortlessly into the next. This was a major departure from the percussive piano style which was popular in the late 1950s.

Cramer moved to Nashville in 1955 where the use of piano accompanists in country music was growing in popularity. By the next year he was, in his words "in day and night doing sessions." Before long, he was one of the busiest studio musicians in the industry, playing piano for stars such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, The Browns, Jim Reeves, Eddy Arnold, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson, and the Everly Brothers, among others. It was Cramer's piano playing, for instance, on Presley's first national hit, "Heartbreak Hotel." However, Cramer remained strictly a session player, a virtual unknown to anyone outside the music industry.

Cramer had became well known following the release of "Last Date", a 45 rpm single in 1960. The instrumental piece exhibited a relatively new concept for piano playing known as the "slip note" style. The record went to Number two on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart, and sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc."

Apple Hill Studios Live Performances -

Just me and Ian working through some material at Apple Hill Studios.

The Devil's In The Details - written by Ian Mathieu

Here is a short clip of us working on the Avett Brother's Ill With Want, from their new album, I and Love and You. If you are into alt-country, no depression style music then you have to check these talented brothers out. They were invited to share the stage with Bob Dylan at this year's Grammy awards. Doesn't get more legit than that (at least in my book).

New Clark Jenkins album featuring Chris Walker: Listen!

Chris Walker was and will always be known as one of Cincinnati's most respected and beloved bass players...

He was a true musicians Musician if you know what I mean. For years Chris was one of Cincinnati's premier bass players in the local, performing and recording music scene. He played with everyone. I was always so drawn to him because he seemed to be driven entirely by music and he gave himself to that drive completely. There are few people who truly live that way. Chris sacrificed much to lead a life dedicated to music but no matter where he was playing he was always in the moment and in the song and at ease. That to me is a true musician's Musician.

Chops and style: Walker was in a league of his own.

The year of Chris' car accident I had been playing with him in a group called the Kelly Evans Trio. It was an original project fronted by a talented singer/performer. But, the group was led by Chris. When Chris called me the prior year and asked me to play B3 and keys with the group I was floored. At the time I was focused on playing out live and working on my Hammond and keys chops. It was a period where I was really trying to get my playing to the next level. Having him ask me to play in that group was an amazing confidence boost. I'll never forget that experience and the music we made. I learned so much playing with him.

One of the few live performance shots with Kelly Evans Trio/Quartet.

Stanley's Pub, 2006. Musicians: Kelly Evans, Chase Blowers, David Faul and Chris Walker

Around that same time my good friend Clark Jenkins from Big Whiskey was recording an album that Chris was playing bass on. The project was put on hold for quite some time after Chris' accident. After Chris' death last year Clark began re-work on the album that includes Chris' initial bass track recordings. It's been a really difficult project for him. I can't really imagine trying to do it myself. With help of lots of friends Clark is finishing up the album and he's just released the first six songs on his site. Please stop by and check it out.

http://www.bigwhiskeymusic.com/fr_store.cfm

I wanted to share one of the tracks from the album here on my site. 50 Miles is a song that Clark wrote and asked me to record Hammond B3 on back in 2007. The track features Chris' bass playing as well. For obvious reasons this song a total treasure to me. Thanks, Clark, for your work and dedication to get this album finished.

Hope you enjoy the track.

50 Miles : Clark Jenkins
musicians: CJ, Chris Walker, Joel Cotton, David Faul, Austin Spiegel, Mer Hogan, Chris Verbanic, Elton Clifton

Pre set shot before Kelly Evans Trio gig - Chase Blowers, Chris Walker, David Faul

Blue Whisp, Cincinnati

Midpoint Music Festival, 2006

...RIP Chris - you are missed by so many...