photos and descriptions of what makes our world a pleasure
emphasis on Florida and the Tampa Bay area but also far beyond

MUSIC

Work o’ the Weavers at St. Pete Palladium Theater

February 25, 2011

Work o’ the Weavers at St. Pete Palladium Side Door   A few nights ago, a friend called and said, “We’re going to the [Work o' the] Weaver’s concert Thursday night at the Palladium. I know you like that kind of music. Do you want to come, too.” I said yes immediately. Although I’m not [...]

Super Bowl Surprise

February 5, 2011

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl. Therein lies a tale: Back in 1991, as usual, I was supplementing my income as a college prof by moonlighting as a church musician, playing organ and conducting a volunteer choir. That particular year, I happened to put on a variety show with the choir, doing a number of sets [...]

I should have known better

August 3, 2010
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Hilton’s first “song”–age 3 For young (and old) composers, there are no books that really help you understand the process of composing music. I mean that word, “no,” quite literally. There’s not a single book that I know of that really deals with the process. The books that purport to be about composition are really [...]

Behind the scenes at the Arbors Records Invitational Jazz Party

January 24, 2010
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Gary Baldassari, Incorporated Magi audio engineer, instructing Full Sail interns on microphones Teachers and students   The tagline for Inkwatu is “Delights, near and far.” Less poetically put, that simply means that this blog is about things that I find delightful: people, places, things, food…and also the good I see some people do. One such [...]

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Vintage Sheet Music Covers

December 28, 2009
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My sister and I were fortunate as kids because our parents were good amateur musicians who, in the days before TV, would often play together as a way to end the evening: our mother on violin, our dad on piano. I have multiple memories of falling asleep on the couch as a child listening to [...]

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Oktoberfest

October 3, 2009
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If you are looking for something fun to do tonight—especially if you’re a family—go to the final night of the German American Society of Pinellas County OKTOBERFEST! (8098 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, FL 33781). They serve food from 6 pm-8:30 pm and the event (and beer!) continues until 11:30 pm. Admission is $6, food [...]

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Echoes

July 10, 2009
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  Long ago, big downtown department stores would let you take a record (these big old things) into one of a number of small soundproof rooms. In there would be a record player and a set of headphones. Those devices were nothing like the sophisticated gadgets we have today. There was no foam on the [...]

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SPIFFS 2009 International Folk Fair

April 4, 2009

click here for larger image This past weekend, March 27-29, was the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society (SPIFFS) 34th annual International Folk Fair at the Vinoy Park on the waterfront. The weather was beautiful but very breezy, but that just made for great surf to watch when taking a break and feasting on some [...]

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Arbors Records

February 25, 2009

click here for larger image FIRST ANNUAL ARBORS RECORDS INVITATIONAL JAZZ PARTY   Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph backstage at the Arbors Records First Annual Arbors Records Invitational Piano Jazz Party at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort on Clearwater Beach. There’s a lot of jazz in Florida and a lot here in the [...]

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Yule & Saturnalia Feasts

December 27, 2008

Please see definitions for Yule and Saturnalia. Two brief quotes: “Yule is a winter festival identified with Christmas in modern times. The pagan Germanic peoples celebrated Yule from late December to early January on a date determined by the lunar Germanic calendar. When the Julian calendar was adopted in northern Europe, Yule was placed on [...]

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Season’s Greetings

December 24, 2008
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  As if you haven’t already endured an unrelenting lashing of holiday music in stores and from the media, here’s three more free selections from my pipe organ mp3 album on Amazon of carol arrangements of mine published by Concordia, “Cherry Tree Carol”, “What Child Is This,” and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful.” Hope you [...]

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Quick Breads

December 20, 2008
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click here to see larger image BANANA BREAD A couple weeks ago I caught the holiday spirit and started making quick breads to give friends as gifts. I’d never really made them before and I was delighted to discover that they’re very easy to make. They make the home smell terrific and people love it [...]

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Cafe Mozart German Bakery

November 15, 2008

Cafe Mozart Bakery (6754 4th St N Saint Petersburg, FL 33702; 727-521-1333) has a long history and an excellent reputation in St. Petersburg. It’s a quality bakery. It’s difficult to discipline oneself to eat only small portions of their black bread—pictured above—which is marvelous. I can’t recommend this place and their baked goods highly enough. [...]

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