Equinox, September

I had a pretty good jam session today with my friend, who plays the alto saxophone. Check out this track here, its a cover of Coltrane's Equinox. It's a minor blues with a swing feel. The autumnal equinox is among us and right around the time of my birthday. Enjoy, and thank you for listening. 

Recorded 9/16/2020

Orlando Figueroa, Guitar

Jason Thomas, alto saxophone

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/equinox-quarantine916

Impressions & Feedback

Howdy, yall. I'd like to share a track from yesterday's jam session that I thought sounded pretty cool. I really like the ending here, as it's a Hendrix move, where I shove the guitar into the amp, producing sonic fury, distortion. It's a rather unorthodox way to end a typical straight-ahead jazz standard, Impressions, but it's nice to break out of ones' shell and try something different, more rock and roll. Enjoy Impressions. 

https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/impressions-feedback 

Orlando Figueroa, guitar
Jason Thomas, alto saxophone

Surviving the Zombie Apocalype Virus pt. 7

Salutations, good people of the internet, and of the ofigueroamusicblog. I haven't written in a long time, and for starters, let me say, that it's good to be back writing blogs again. For those of you that were wondering where or what I have been doing, feel free to check out my plague journal, located here.

Moving on, to the current events. Covid-19 has ravaged the lands. America is described as a failed state by other nations that feel pity for us and periodicals in op-eds state the same. Today, 2,000 people died from the virus in the US.

I'm still on hiatus from work, on a leave of absence. This has been ongoing since April but I think when my time is up in June, I will go back to work, and just pray to God that I don't get COVID. I need the money and the stimulus isn't enough. I wear gloves and a mask as a safety precaution. I think everybody should wear gloves and a mask if they go to the grocery store.

I've been bunkering in my room. I've been playing a lot of video games and reading a lot. Right now I'm focused on finishing Plutarch's Lives, a history/biographies book by an ancient Greek named Plutarch, and the book focuses on the lives, achievements, and virtues of famous Greeks and Romans. It's a heavy-duty book, consisting of 1200 pages, right now I'm almost to page 400! I find that reading ancient history really puts me in a different universe, one where I don't have to worry about the woes of the present predicament. It's a sense of freedom, that's what I enjoy about reading the book in particular.

Before that, I finished a science fiction short story hall of fame collection. That one was very impressive and I learned a lot about the science fiction genre from it. It focused on stories from the 1940s to the 1960s, aka the golden age of science fiction. I can see where a lot of sf ideas came from and noted that none of the new sf movies/shows/short stories/novels are original. "It's all been done before." 

I also read two great science fiction pulp novels from the 1940s and 1960s. The first one was The Day They H Bombed Los Angeles, a wonderful zombie apocalypse wasteland story, probably the first of its kind. The writing was only okay but it was a fun read. Want to know how a zombie apocalypse wasteland is created? An H Bomb. There's a twist. These zombies become sentient, enough to the point where they can shoot guns and call others for help in firefights.

In addition, I read Slan, a novel from 1940, the first mutant novel. It's very pulpy writing, meaning its not very literary at all, however, there's a great twist for an ending that is very endearing. It turns out that the woman the main character, a young mutant man loves, she's also a mutant, her father is the villain of the novel. But that's not all. The villain was known for being a bad guy that hates mutants, and not a mutant, completely human. Well, it turns out that he's the father of the woman our hero loves, AND a mutant, AND our hero doesn't have to kill him because he's allowed him into his shadow government organization where mutants have infiltrated human society. How nice. 

Aside from books, I did start writing a beginning for a zombie apocalypse virus novel but haven't made much progress. It has the same name as my zombie virus short story, entitled Human, Ghoul, Zombie, which you can read here.

Lastly, I've been playing a lot of guitar. I play acoustic guitar on my balcony most afternoons or evenings. As a result, I've become a much better guitar player. Acoustic forces you to work on your chords and timing, leaving the fancy solos in the dust. My jazz improvisation is at its best its ever been and I'm still doing my jazz duo with my friend Jason, who plays the alto saxophone. In my plague journal, you can hear some of our recordings. Check out our latest free form improvisational track The All Wizard.

Tonight I jammed outside on the balcony and my neighbor across the way came out with his acoustic and we did a short jam session. It was a lot of fun. He played chords and I played lead over it. We had one really good number but the rest wasn't so hot. Still, I give Chris props for coming out and bringing out his guitar, him knowing that I practice guitar outside almost every day and have a lot more chops. There was a sensational moment as a result of this; both his family and my neighbor's family next door came out, and we all talked for a bit. The power of music really brings us together!

I plan on going back to work in June. But in the meantime, I'm reading Plutarch and taking the news day by day. If you read the news nowadays or watch the news on TV, it's very scary, and it's very real. Welcome to our nightmare. 

But don't fret. The best thing we can do is keep calm and stay undeterred from our goals, our plans, our lives, our families, our jobs, our hobbies, our fortunes and virtues, or lack thereof. The strongest skill of this time period isn't wealth or even happiness, perhaps not even health, rather it is the ability to stay focused on the things at hand, that truly matter. 

Don't let up.

The Quarantine Recordings pt. 2

Hello, good people of the internet. Here's part two of a series I'm calling the quarantine recordings. We did a bunch of jazz standards today in my backyard, just jamming out. A lot of people stopped by in the front yard to listen. It was cool. The songs are in the order they were performed live. Check them out below. Thanks for listening!

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/untitled-tune-qiuarantine
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/autumn-leaves-quarantine
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/airegin-quarantine
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/four-quarantine
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/all-the-things-you-are-quarantine-2
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/impressions-quarantine

Guitar/effects, Orlando Figueroa 
Alto Saxophone, Jason Thomas

The Quarantine Recordings

Here are the latest recordings, calling these The Quarantine Recordings. What with this historic worldwide pandemic it's sometimes easy to forget about the little things in life, like music, and watching musical performances, and/or hearing musical performances. Enjoy our music, if you like, leave a like and/or comment on Soundcloud or the blog. 

Thanks

Orlando Figueroa, Guitar/effects
Jason Thomas, alto saxophone

https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/all-the-things-you-are 
https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/four 
https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/freddie-freeloader-latest 
https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/untitled-composition-latest-331 

New Recordings 2020

Hello all. I just wanted to update my Soundcloud with some new recordings. Here are six new tracks from my jazz duo. We've been practicing together for about a year. I've definitely learned a lot about jazz and improvisation through the project. How to truly improvise, given on the time of day, your mood, your heartbeat, the lunar cycle, the sun's position in the sky, [lol, you get the idea].

Basically, it's been good mutual musical growth. Enjoy the tunes.

Orlando Figueroa, Guitar
Jason Thomas, Alto Saxophone 

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/voice-0063
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/voice-0043
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/voice-0044
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/voice-0054
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/voice-0055

Weekend Update

Greetings everyone! Thought I'd do a weekend update, unfortunately not SNL style, but rather a vlog style summary of what's been going on in my life. Alright, alright. 

I've been working a lot at the retail gig. Forty hours or more every week. This upcoming Halloween week I only have one day off. That's kind of a bummer. But if I learned anything from the first episode of Futurama, "you gotta do what you gotta do." I've found that at a job such as mine you really have to stay positive and keep a good attitude. This is where all my improvements in thinking [from literature] come to the rescue. 

I've stopped drinking soda and energy drinks at work. Now I'm not nearly as tired when I get off work at one am, nor am I as tired during the beginning or middle of my shifts. Overall, I feel a lot healthier and better. I've lost a few pounds already only after a couple days. My body feels like it's going through some sort of detox from all the sugar I've been ingesting all these years. I have withdrawals and crave the sugary rush but when I actually have a little bit of soda I find that I'm not satisfied by it anymore. Ain't that a bitch? That sudden realization that I was drinking too many calories and in fact not overeating all the time that contributed to my weight. That hit me like a lightning bolt.  

I'll probably have to cancel my weekly jazz jam session, unfortunately. I haven't had as much time for music as a result. I haven't even been listening to as much music either. Oh well, things happen. I haven't done the open mic sessions for two months now. Sometimes I think about giving it up for good. I've done it for about two years straight and I would say that it's run its course. Thankfully, I got a lot of great recordings out of it that you can hear on my Soundcloud. 

In terms of reading and improving the mind, that's been my number one goal. Today, I'm going to go through some Jack Reacher short stories before work. Within the last couple weeks, I've read Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag, Tractatus Logico Philosophicus by Wittgenstein, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, and now I'm halfway through The Outsider by Colin Wilson. I've been reading a lot in my living room on the couch, but I also read a lot at Starbucks, where although it's noisy [damn indie rock music], it gives me an opportunity to get out of the house. I really love the coffee there as well. 

I've been thinking a lot about writing [thinking about writing a second novel, I finished my first one a while ago] but haven't had the time to really do much writing on my usual subjects: literary criticism/synopsis, my main and favorite subject the last couple of years. I'm sure I'll get back to it, in due time. I really want to write a review for Colin Greenland's space opera from 1990, Take Back Plenty. Now that is a true science fiction gem. However, as you can see from the recent posts I've been writing, just not about books. Not a lot but I'm keeping a flow, a gestalt if you will. Lately, I've been writing posts like these, going into my thoughts, my meager life [lol]. This goes with all the books I've been reading, as they've influenced me in my life heavily, more so than my friends and colleagues. So when you see me writing about the dialectics of the modern proletariat [a recent post] that is definitely an influence from philosophy and extended readings. 

Lastly, I want to say that reading doesn't just help with my writing but also with my social interactions. I always experience status inconsistency wherever I go but I've also learned that when you get to the heart of the matter and really use all your social skills to max capacity, you will end up having more friends than enemies. 

Have an excellent end of October weekend. Happy Halloween! Free candy for everyone! 

Lullaby

Here's a recording from within the last two weeks that I really liked. It's essentially a two-chord vamp, Cmaj/G7. We called for a jam in Cmaj, and this is what turned up. Not bad. 

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/lullaby 

Orlando Figueroa, Guitar
Jason Thomas, Alto Saxophone 

Enjoy

Jazz instrumental Track

Here's an instrumental original track we recorded this past week. For lack of a better name, [but keeping the changes in mind], I've called it The Beautiful and Her Complications. The idea is using minor changes, resolving to major chords, and throwing in some dominant 7ths for flair, but of course, the theme is in a minor key. Enjoy. 

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/the-beautiful-and-her-complications 

Orlando Figueroa, Guitar
Jason Thomas, Alto Saxophone 

Equinox, in September

I had a good jam session today with the jazz duo. Here's my favorite recording from today's session, from September 17th. Trane's Equinox, with a lot of improv.
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/equinox

Orlando Figueroa, Guitar
Jason Thomas, Alto Saxophone 

Mr. P.C.

Our rendition of the standard, Mr. P.C., Coltrane's tune written for Paul Chambers, who played with him for years. The tune was on Giant Steps, played with a fast swing feel. It's a minor blues. Enjoy.
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/mr-pc-paul-chambers

Impressions

Here's our latest rendition of the John Coltrane staple, Impressions. Enjoy. 
https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/impressions-latest-version 

Cole Porter tune

Here's our rendition of the Cole Porter standard entitled "Every Time We Say Goodbye." Definitely gonna add this one to the songlist. 
Enjoy!
https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/every-time-we-say-goodbye-cole-porter 

Blue Monk

Here's our rendition of Thelonious Monk's Blue Monk. 

Orlando Figueroa Guitar
Jason Thomas Alto Saxophone

https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/blue-monk-thelonious-monk

Impressions

Here's our rendition of John Coltrane's modal classic Impressions. 

Orlando Figueroa Guitar 
Jason Thomas Alto Saxophone 

https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/impressions-trane 

Untitled Tune

Here's an Untitled Tune my friend and I have been playing in our jazz duo format. It's basically a minor blues, but I use the Freeze pedal to sustain some notes over a melody in the beginning and outro. The Freeze pedal is basically a piano sustainer pedal for electric guitar. I used my Jackson Dinky 7-string guitar in addition with the Digitech Whammy Pedal here and there. Enjoy the music. 

https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/untitled-tune 

End of May Jam Tracks

Hello everyone! Another month has gone by, and I've been playing a lot of guitar. Here are some tracks from the last open mic I played, at the end of May. We're doing the same material I've been doing, however, I like to think I've improved all these tunes a lot. I'm proud of my vocals, not because they are great or anything, but because I've learned a lot about performing rock and roll live through singing whilst playing guitar. We did the Wayne Shorter jazz standard entitled Footprints, and the usual Hey Joe [Hendrix] and Sunshine of Your Love [Cream]. One of the keys to singing slightly better for me was realizing that I should never hit those high notes [lol]. This was a better jam than usual because I got to play with this old timer, a great blues/rock guitar player. Enjoy the music. 

https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/footprints-live-may-20 
https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/hey-joe-live-may-20 
https://soundcloud.com/orlando-figueroa-17/sunshine-of-your-love-live-may-20 

Orlando Figueroa: Guitar/Vocals
Jim X: Drums 
Dan: Bass
Ken: Tambourine
Dave: Harmonica  
Old Timer: Guitar

Jazz Trio Recordings

Well, how-day! How's life been treating you all? I've been playing a lot of music lately. Here are a couple of jazz trio recordings from last week. I managed to find a bass player to join us but it turned out to be short lived, a one time jam session. Still looking for a bass player. They are very hard to find! However, I dig manage to get some good recordings out of it. Here it is. 

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/freddie-freeloader-jazz-trio-1 
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/blues-in-f-jazz-trio 
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/footprints-jazz-trio 
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/blue-bossa-jazz-trio 
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/all-blues-jazz-trio-1 

Guitar/Harmonica Jazz Quintet Performance

Greetings everyone! I'd like to share some tracks from last week's open mic I played at Petie's Place. I'm a regular performer there as I've played there over 40 times, over almost two years now. This was an unusual performance in the sense that I basically did a jazz set [other than Hey Joe-Hendrix] with a harmonica player. He asked to sit in with us and it turned out to be a great idea. The sound of the harmonica is like a human voice, very soulful, very human. I think my solos are becoming more melodic and thematic in a way. I'm getting a lot more confident about playing jazz. It's a rock and roll bar but its also cool being the one guy who can jazz up the joint, feel me? I wish I gave more solo room for the harmonica player, he sounded great. When he took solos I stopped playing and layed out like a true jazz performance :D
Enjoy the music.

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/footprints-live-at-peties
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/mr-pc-live-at-peties
https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/hey-joe-live-at-peties

Jim-Drums
Art-Bass
Dave-Harmonica
Orlando-Guitar
Ken-Tambourine, Shaker

Purple Haze [Live]

Here's a live rendition of Purple Haze, played and sung by yours truly. With the Petie's Place open mic house band. Petie's Place is a bar in Tarzana, CA that hosts open mic sessions every Wednesday night. This is the first time I've ever done Purple Haze live. Enjoy!

https://soundcloud.com/user-294063763/purple-haze

Orlando Figueroa-guitar, vocals
Art-bass
Jim X-drums 
?-keyboard