This week, I came across an intriguing suggestion in a book by the Buddhist teacher Ken McLeod: “How do you practice generosity? Once a day, give something you own to someone else. You may give a paperclip or a flower, but the object has to be physical and it has to be yours. It may be Read More

Perhaps some of you are not like the present author, and do not long for your proverbial “Ship” to “Come In.” Perhaps you’ve already, long ago realized what many of us have yet to learn: that we can choose our lives, and that there are steps that are entirely in our control that can move Read More

Aint it good to be alive? If you’re reading this, guess who is still with us? As of this writing: Keith Richards, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Geddy Lee, Bobby McFerrin, Jon Hendricks, Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Bob Dylan, you, and me—to name a few. There’s a sad-but-true phenomenon that the popularity of Read More

Dearly beloved— Yesterday we lost Prince, one of the most visionary artists in this history of pop. He is not alone. The year is young, but we have already lost many great musicians in 2016. Before Prince died, many legends had already fallen: there was country superstar Merle Haggard, and rapper Phife Dawg (of A Tribe Called Quest), and revolutionary Read More

I’m fond of saying this, so now I’m saying it to you, and let’s see where it leads us as far as a Prompt is concerned. The word “unique” doesn’t have degrees; one thing can’t be “more unique” than another. You’re either utterly one-of-a-kind, there aint anything exactly like you anywhere anytime… or you’re not. Read More

We singers often let others hold down the time. In the typical jazz/pop/rock band, the drummer and bassist keep the music churning, and our job as a singer is to soar over that steady foundation. Which is all well and good when we have a band backing us. But when we sing solo, who will hold down the groove? The Read More