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"Night Garden" (originally from the album I LIKE THE STREET).

Donald Fagen said that he sometimes wrote lyrics because they suited his voice. He didn’t necessarily always know if the lyrics had meaning. I’m the same way—I write lyrics to suit how my mouth moves. I don’t always know what the words mean till later.

Such is the case with “Night Garden.” The title came from an airline magazine article about botany and flowers that only bloom at night. Many elements coalesced to make this recording. The lyrics mix Biblical metaphors (“manna from the sky”) with a sequel to a “dream song” I made years ago, called “Last Ride.” It was Brazilian in theme, even though I never made a proper recording of “Last Ride.” “Night Garden” is an update, even though, when I wrote it, I didn’t know there would be a story. As it turns out, it’s about a couple who are on the lam, wrestling over some incident that forces them to cross the border out of the USA.

The music grew from a bass line that, every time I played it, people would start jamming to it. The best way to describe this song is “psychedelic Cuban.” Cuban and Caribbean music has always appealed to me as the rhythms and harmonies seem confident and strident, or alive and comfortable, moving ahead despite it all. The bass and drum lines of “Night Garden” emanate from that center.

The music bed was recorded in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Williamsport PA with the indespensilble aid of Eric Biondo a.k.a. Beyondo (whose music has my undying support) and the bombastic piano work of Mike Garson--best known as David Bowie’s pianist and author of one of rock music's most outrageous piano solos on "Aladin Sane." The final recording was mixed at Mind’s Eye Studio in Williamsport PA by Scott Francis.

credits

from HALFWAY TO DAKOTA (limited edition EP), released January 29, 2013
Eric Biondo: drums, keyboards, percussion, trumpet
JJB: bass, keyboards, percussion, lead & harmony vocals
Mike Garson: piano

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Johnny J Blair "Singer at Large" image

Johnny J Blair "Singer at Large" San Francisco, California

"Johnny is a virtuoso"--Brian Wilson
"Pop music with a conscience.”--Goldmine
“the Harry Houdini of rock and roll.”-- Spotlight. Listen to Johnny's fast-paced mix of old school soul, psychedelia, punk/new wave, & classic pop/rock. Singer-songwriter in his own right, he was also a sideman for Davy Jones and The Monkees + performed with David Cassidy, Al Stewart, Buddy & Julie Miller, & others. ... more

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