I love strings. When I play my keyboard (Korg Triton for all you musician types), I love bringing up string sounds and laying track upon track of strings. So when I listen to Blue States, I’m in Muzak Heaven. Organic, electronic, mind-altering lovliness describes them to a tee. The first two albums Nothing Changes Under The Sun and Man Mountain just draw you in with their complexity and lushness. This isn’t new age, elevator music. Not even remotely close. You can’t even classify them. Jazz, pop, techno, downtempo, blues, etc. You name it, they have integrated it all...

Feels closer grip almost gone I’m feeling looser So tired of trying to hold on It’s looking crystal clear now Borderline is near now I can just breathe, yeah, yeah I’m headed for the brink of insanity And I, I hope to get there soon I’m tired of being sane in this world now There’s too much to be consumed I’m headed for the brink of insanity I can see the door not far ahead I hope that they sedate me and give me a rest – Kina, “Insanity“ What makes those lyrics and others so profound in that song is that the music says something totally different....

Last November, my wife and I were honored to be in the presence of Ivana Santilli. Club Meow in Windsor, Ontario (Canada) was the place to be that night. The wife was dressed to impress and I have to admit, I became a tad possessive seeing her but hey, she’s my wife and I’m with her. And I was lookin’ good myself. As Solomon is so fond of saying: HOLLA! Nevertheless we arrived, drank a little, and then it was showtime. This beautiful woman comes out with her band (even my wife gave her props). To start the show, she sits behind her keyboard and puts down some serious jazz...