Every once I take a hiatus.

No piano, keyboard, band in a box, or horns.

After one to 6 weeks, (sometimes I'm away) I walk over to the piano, put a piece of music on the stand, (Someone to Watch over Me, or Satin Doll) and wow, stuff I never dreamed of comes out of my fingers. Stuff that would not happen even if I spent hours a day at playing.

I don't know why, but I always listen...to music. Gregorian chants to scat. Lutes to bagpipes. Matters not.

Inspiration might come from a sunset, the stars, or an old Ginger Rodgers movie. Or Bogey....who knows.

Snowstorms and Sibelius, a flying butruss and JS Bach. A seagull and JL Seagull.

A beautiful woman and Roy Orbison....

I don't pretend to understand, but it just happens.....

This afternoon I was listening to Diana Krall and Besame Mucho. I've played that song for years, but as soon as my chops are back I'm putting that in her key, cueing the song, and imitating the phrasing......

It's all good.............but time off is sometimes time in a bottle.

John Conley
Musica est vita