part 4

I had a roommate in college who blew my mind. Everybody "knew" him and everybody "loved" him. He was the life of the anti-party. His sweat was pure amaricana. He played a sloppy guitar and loved old things. Listening to him play was like tapping into the past.

His songs are beautifully ackward, a balance of sense and nonsense, where his only audience is himself. to watch him is to be inspired, to know him is inspiring.

part 3

He can play anything. He came from a musical family like a mini partrige christian. It was in his blood. For years he let me play with him, and much of what talent I have is owed to him. I loved being a part of his musical realizations. He has vision and this vision will make him great. But, know doubt, I will always miss being a part of it.

genius part 2

Dr. Sneid was my 8th grade math teacher. He was a dentist, who got tired of teeth and decided to teach. He loved my brother, my brother loved math. Dr Sneid loved to tell stories to the class about how smart my brother was. I loved to hear them. That year I decieded that I liked math. Meanwhile, my bro was getting bored in calculus. The next year I moved to California and my brother went to some smart school in upstate New York on a smart scholorship. As math got harder, I decided I didn't like it any more. ...Still like my brother though. And secretly, in some ways, I still want to be like him.

genius part 1

My grandfather was a great musician, I suspect. He doesn't play a lick anymore. He got scared off by all the Jazz. I don't know this for sure but, like I said, I suspect. He loves to talk to me about music. And when he does his brows raise and his eyes smile. I think he misses the simple joy of playing. He tells me stories of playing piano in the navy until someone suggested, "take it, kenny!"
"Take what, where?"
And as it is with grandparents, I hear this story often. He didn't get it. Improv? He needed direction. Chords. Melody. Notes. But does that mean he wasn't a musician? Does that justify leaving music behind?
In his case, I'm not sure it mattered much. They say he's a genius. And so it began...