Black Beret 

I had an idea for a tune, mapped it out in simple terms, then harmonized it, and finally brought it to my guitar teacher. We spent a few weeks on it, I went back and revamped it, and here's what I came up with. It started as a simple marching rhythm in memory of my Dad, who served in the engineering corps in the Second World War. The final result is named after the headgear of the corps: the black beret. As a side note, "Black Beret" has been getting excellent reviews on Garageband.com. Click on the Garageband "Track of the Day" icon to see details.

Sunrise on the Mississippi

Not sure why or how this happened. I stopped playing this tune a long time ago and then resurrected it this past January to see if I could still play it. I liked it so much I polished it up, recorded it to see if it would sound any good, and was so impressed I had to include it here.

Great Dream from Heaven  

A classic tune of times gone by: I think it captures a lot of what those of us from a "previous" generation felt we may have left behind. I'm sure my Dad felt this way.

Spanish Fandango

My guitar teacher always said that there is nothing better than a simple piece played very well. This is for him: a simple piece that Chet Atkins recorded back in the 50's or 60's. I'd known it for a long time but never perfected it until now. So much for "simple" pieces.

Feather Fingers

"Never record a piece unless you can improve on the original or give a different and original interpretation." This was sage advice from my teacher that I'm not sure I followed. It was simply too good a piece not to attempt. So here is my interpretation of one of his pieces.

Angie

I'll probably offend all the traditionalists with this piece. I know how Paul Simon and Bert Jansch play this piece, but it's not how I hear it. For better or worse, here's my version of the classic Davey Graham tune.

One Last Look

I came to my guitar teacher with a tune I had composed long ago. It was a reasonable tune, but not outstanding. He took the original theme, reworked the rest of the tune, worked with me on the result, and here's what we came up with: a very haunting story of loss, regret, what we can never get back, but what we would like to see just one last time. As a side note, "One Last Look" has also been getting excellent reviews on Garageband.com. Click on the Garageband "Track of the Day" icon to see details.

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

This is my sole attempt at a classical piece. My Dad was a big fan of classical music, and my brother caught the bug as well. I simply never ventured very far into that territory (and maybe all classical music fans are quite relieved). In deference to one of Dad's great loves, here is a Bach standard.

On the Tip of the Tongue

This was a deceptively simple tune that was fiendishly difficult to play well. After three years of tearing my hair out (figuratively, of course), practicing incessantly, running it by my guitar teacher to learn I had it ALL WRONG, practicing more incessantly (you get the picture), I had finally come to appreciate the diabolical complexities of the piece. One year after realizing all this, I finally recorded what I hope is a faithful interpretation of what it is to experience a dear loved one who is fading away from the sad complications of old age and terminal illness.

Echoing Wilderness

I don't know if I'll ever get there, but here is what peace and serenity sound like to me when I'm far out in the quiet snowy whiteness of a deep forest on a very cold winter's morning.