JaZzArt en València

Esta parte del mundo donde las islas griegas del norte del Egeo se aproximan tanto a las costas turcas me fascina. El mar tiene un color intenso y las aguas son frescas, mucho más que las del Mediterráneo. Da gusto lanzarse desde el barco y darse un chapuzón y sentir esa agua fría refrescar el cuerpo… El cielo de estos Deus lares también es muy interesante. Bueno, yo diría que todo por aquí tiene su misterio y a la vez su encanto. Después de todo estas aguas fueron las que vieron navegar a tantos heroes y escena de tantas batallas. Por aqui navego Jasón buscando el vellocino dorado…

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This part of the world, where the Greek islands of the North Aegean come so close to the Turkish coasts, fascinates me. The sea has an intense color, and the waters are cool, much more so than those of the Mediterranean. It’s a pleasure to jump off the boat for a dip and feel that cold water refreshing the body… The sky in this land of God is also very interesting. Well, I would say that everything around here has its mystery and charm at the same time. After all, these waters were the ones that saw so many heroes sail and so many battles unfold. Here, Jason sailed in search of the Golden Fleece…

GRACIAS – CHEERS

Los pobres también tenemos derecho
a sentarnos a cenar frente a las aguas,
y a comernos la paella con conejo,
y a tomarnos unas cañas bajo palmas.

Y gozar de trópicos ibéricos calientes
sin que nadie nos aleje de las brisas,
ni que nos obliguen a cenar con prisa,
es derecho elemental de nuestra gente.

No todo puede ser para los ricos.
No todas las costas son Marbella.
Son para todos, playas y verdes riberas
No nos toca bailar con la más fea.

Nosotros los pobres del mundo,
Enajenados, olvidados, enjaulados,
Sufrimos los estragos de los vicios
De los ricos rimbombantes y malcriados.

No es que me pase el tiempo renegando,
Ni quejándome de mi bella pobreza*,
Tengo clara las ideas en la cabeza
Cuando pido la igualdad para los hombres.

Por eso digo, afanado y muy contento,
tenemos el derecho de quitarles
los bienes mal ganados, y los impuestos
que nos zampan por el culo ya rajado.

Seremos pobres pero no somos esclavos,
queremos nuestras mesas con manteles
como las que les sirven a los ricos en hoteles
pues somos también dignos
de ser tratados como los seres humanos.

Los pobres también se merecen una mesa junto al mar,
Refrescarse con las brisas
Amar, bailar, cantar,
No todo lo bonito es reservado para ricos,
Los pobres si que tenemos el derecho de gozar…

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Los pobres también se merecen una mesa junto al mar,
Refrescarse en limpias playas,
Amar, bailar, cantar,
No todo lo bonito puede ser para ricos,
los pobres también tienen derecho a soñar.

* Bienaventurados los pobres de espíritu porque de ellos es el Reino de los Cielos. Bienaventurados los que lloran porque serán consolados. Bienaventurados los que sufren porque heredarán la tierra. Bienaventurados los que tienen hambre y sed de justicia porque serán saciados. Bienaventurados los misericordiosos, porque obtendrán misericordia. Bienaventurados los limpios de corazón, porque verán a Dios. Bienaventurados los que trabajan por la paz, porque se les llamará hijos de Dios. Bienaventurados los perseguidos por causa de la justicia, porque de ellos es el Reino de Dios. (San Mateo, 5:1-12)

Esmirna, Turquía, 2024, Francisco Bravo Cabrera/01/09/2024 – Derechos Reservados

In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the land of submarines
So we sailed on to the sun
‘Til we found a sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine

This is now the lyrics to the first stanza of «Yellow Submarine» written by Paul McCartney and credited, as usual to Lennon/McCartney. It was recorded by The Beatles in 1966 and Ringo sang the lead vocals. But there is something extremely wrong with the lyrics as I see them today.

This song was one of the first that I learned to play on the guitar probably 1968. I knew the song to be «In the town where I was born lived a man who sailed the seas and he told us of his life in the land of submarines…«. Now the lyrics…and the recording…says «…sailed to sea…«. What!!??!!

Reality is a strange dream… Perhaps a lucid dream that we do not know how to control. If we did we could easily choose the life we live and make it as we want it. But we are sleeping… However, some of us are slowly opening our eyes and beginning to wake up. These little changes, like the lyrics to a song you’ve known all your life and sung a million times, are jarring us awake. Or are they? You tell me, I’ve no clue.

All I know is that some songs from back in the 60’s that I have heard, known and sung all my life are now being sung with different lyrics. Yes, the changes are subtle and sometimes the pronunciation of the singer/s might confuse. Take for example, «California Dreaming«, a song written by John and Michelle Phillips in 1963 and performed by The Mamas & the Papas in 1965. As I have always remembered it and sung it…and played it many times as a lad…the second verse was not like this:

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)

For me it was «Well I got down on my knees and began to pray…«

And lastly, one of my favourite songs from the techno-pop 80’s era, «Sweet Dreams» by The Eurythmics, has also now changed. I remember the song going like this: «Sweet dreams are made of these who am I to disagree, travelled the world and the seven seas…«. But now, both Eurythmics and Marylin Manson (who covered the song) sing it as «Sweet dreams are made of this who am I to disagree, travelled the world and the seven seas…«.

So, is reality changing? Are these glitches in the matrix? Are we in the midst of merging timelines? Who knows. No matter what the «experts» say, neither «they» or us know nothing of our cosmology, of our Earth, of our existence or anything beyond mere physical reality. Quantum physics has advanced to the point where they have declared that particles change according to who is watching. So are we not made of particles? I’ve no clue. Not a fecking idea, but I do know what I see, what I do not see and what I’ve seen.

What do you think? These songs I’ve mentioned are classics, we all know them. Do you remember them as I do or the «new» way?

CHEERS

Bueno en esa foto hay algunas que yo no incluyo por obvias razones, ¿Qué razones? Que no me gustan…

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Well, in that photo there are some that I do not include for obvious reasons. What are your reasons? That I do not like them…

GRACIAS – CHEERS

In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the land of submarines
So we sailed on to the sun
‘Til we found a sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine

This is now the lyrics to the first stanza of «Yellow Submarine» written by Paul McCartney and credited, as usual to Lennon/McCartney. It was recorded by The Beatles in 1966 and Ringo sang the lead vocals. But there is something extremely wrong with the lyrics as I see them today.

This song was one of the first that I learned to play on the guitar probably 1968. I knew the song to be «In the town where I was born lived a man who sailed the seas and he told us of his life in the land of submarines…«. Now the lyrics…and the recording…says «…sailed to sea…«. What!!??!!

Reality is a strange dream… Perhaps a lucid dream that we do not know how to control. If we did we could easily choose the life we live and make it as we want it. But we are sleeping… However, some of us are slowly opening our eyes and beginning to wake up. These little changes, like the lyrics to a song you’ve known all your life and sung a million times, are jarring us awake. Or are they? You tell me, I’ve no clue.

All I know is that some songs from back in the 60’s that I have heard, known and sung all my life are now being sung with different lyrics. Yes, the changes are subtle and sometimes the pronunciation of the singer/s might confuse. Take for example, «California Dreaming«, a song written by John and Michelle Phillips in 1963 and performed by The Mamas & the Papas in 1965. As I have always remembered it and sung it…and played it many times as a lad…the second verse was not like this:

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)

For me it was «Well I got down on my knees and began to pray…«

And lastly, one of my favourite songs from the techno-pop 80’s era, «Sweet Dreams» by The Eurythmics, has also now changed. I remember the song going like this: «Sweet dreams are made of these who am I to disagree, travelled the world and the seven seas…«. But now, both Eurythmics and Marylin Manson (who covered the song) sing it as «Sweet dreams are made of this who am I to disagree, travelled the world and the seven seas…«.

So, is reality changing? Are these glitches in the matrix? Are we in the midst of merging timelines? Who knows. No matter what the «experts» say, neither «they» or us know nothing of our cosmology, of our Earth, of our existence or anything beyond mere physical reality. Quantum physics has advanced to the point where they have declared that particles change according to who is watching. So are we not made of particles? I’ve no clue. Not a fecking idea, but I do know what I see, what I do not see and what I’ve seen.

What do you think? These songs I’ve mentioned are classics, we all know them. Do you remember them as I do or the «new» way?

CHEERS

I got turned on to this band when I was in 11th grade and they came to Miami (where I was living at the time). It was a great experience. They played at the Jai-alai fronton and when we entered the concert the sweet smell of «colitas» was rising up through the air…those were the days…and hippies where everywhere. Then I heard the guitar of Dickey Betts, as Duane had already, sadly, passed away. They blew my mind! I became a big fan and I still am to this day.

The Allman Brothers Band started, and I could not believe it, in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969. Well, many years later when I visited Jacksonville I realised that it was a truly southern city, nothing like Miami… The band was formed by Duane and Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts, with them Barry Oakley, Butch Trucks on drums with Jai Johanny «Jaimoe» Johanson also on drums. The lads moved to Macon, Georgia. Surprisingly one of my father’s cousins also had moved there. I think she was the only Spaniard in town. We visited and, once surpassing the culture shock, we loved the southern hospitality.

In any event I think this is another «all purpose band» like the Grateful Dead. They play blues, jazz and country music. And I love the fact that in concert…and I saw them twice after that first time…they improvised and jammed their bloody fingers off, and they loved…like I do…instrumentals.

Take a listen…

CHEERS

El jazz es tan abstracto como el fondo de esta acuarela que he terminado aquí, hace unos días…

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Jazz is as abstract as the background of this watercolour that I finished here a few days ago…

Instagram: @Francisco_Bravo_Cabrera

GRACIAS –CHEERS

Los pobres también tenemos derecho
a sentarnos a cenar frente a las aguas,
y a comernos la paella con conejo,
y a tomarnos unas cañas bajo palmas.

Y gozar de trópicos ibéricos calientes
sin que nadie nos aleje de las brisas,
ni que nos obliguen a cenar con prisa,
es derecho elemental de nuestra gente.

No todo puede ser para los ricos.
No todas las costas son Marbella.
Son para todos, playas y verdes riberas
No nos toca bailar con la más fea.

Nosotros los pobres del mundo,
Enajenados, olvidados, enjaulados,
Sufrimos los estragos de los vicios
De los ricos rimbombantes y malcriados.

No es que me pase el tiempo renegando,
Ni quejándome de mi bella pobreza*,
Tengo clara las ideas en la cabeza
Cuando pido la igualdad para los hombres.

Por eso digo, afanado y muy contento,
tenemos el derecho de quitarles
los bienes mal ganados, y los impuestos
que nos zampan por el culo ya rajado.

Seremos pobres pero no somos esclavos,
queremos nuestras mesas con manteles
como las que les sirven a los ricos en hoteles
pues somos también dignos
de ser tratados como los seres humanos.

Los pobres también se merecen una mesa junto al mar,
Refrescarse con las brisas
Amar, bailar, cantar,
No todo lo bonito es reservado para ricos,
Los pobres si que tenemos el derecho de gozar…

+++++

Los pobres también se merecen una mesa junto al mar,
Refrescarse en limpias playas,
Amar, bailar, cantar,
No todo lo bonito puede ser para ricos,
los pobres también tienen derecho a soñar.

* Bienaventurados los pobres de espíritu porque de ellos es el Reino de los Cielos. Bienaventurados los que lloran porque serán consolados. Bienaventurados los que sufren porque heredarán la tierra. Bienaventurados los que tienen hambre y sed de justicia porque serán saciados. Bienaventurados los misericordiosos, porque obtendrán misericordia. Bienaventurados los limpios de corazón, porque verán a Dios. Bienaventurados los que trabajan por la paz, porque se les llamará hijos de Dios. Bienaventurados los perseguidos por causa de la justicia, porque de ellos es el Reino de Dios. (San Mateo, 5:1-12)

Esmirna, Turquía, 2024, Francisco Bravo Cabrera/01/09/2024 – Derechos Reservados

Art schools come in many shapes and sizes, and even one size fits all. But are they all the same? What do you expect to learn at Art School? Are you thinking of the uni? Or are you thinking of a small, private academy? Or are you thinking about an apprenticeship with an established artist willing to accept students. All three of these ways of becoming a professional artist exist. It is the choice of the would-be student. Now, you may be asking yourself, what is this guy trying to tell me? And I will…

If you are thinking about going to a college or university, I would recommend that you think again. And I would also suggest that you ask yourself what kind of artist do you want to be. If you are fine with being led on, manipulated, had on, and misguided, go to uni. They will do all that there. They will tell you who you have to love and admire, who you have to emulate, who should be your major…and perhaps only…references. And they will ultimately guide you towards what is known as VIP. This means «V»= Video.»I»= Installation; «P»= Performance. This is what they love. Frankly speaking they are worth nothing to me. I do not even think these «subjects» belong in a university art school. Perhaps in the Theatre department? I do not know…

If you are thinking of a private (small) academy, or a large one, but independent of a college/university, I would say you are probably on the right path. I cannot, and will not recommend any as I have no idea what is out there, but if you look and check some of them out, I am sure you will find what you really need to begin to transform yourself into an artist. And do not be fooled, we are not all artists, nor can, or will anyone become an artist. An artist is a professional, like a pharmacist or an engineer. You must receive formal training and you must also want to be an artist. At least in a private academy you can explain to the professor/owner what you want to do…your specialty…and he or she will guide you in that direction without making you waste time with things you’ve no interest in. Bang on! I truly support this decision.

If you are thinking about becoming someone’s apprentice… Well, if you know the artist and you like his style and you sort things out and arrive at a mutual understanding and agreement, this may work out phenomenally. But be very careful with artists who say they are open to apprentices because there are those that will exploit you, use you as a model and perhaps only teach you about how great they are. So I would be careful with this option.

And one more option that I did not mention, but… The do it yourself (DIY) route so that you can say you are «self-taught». But you know, no one is self-taught. Knowledge comes from something or someone. So if you think that because you bought some «how-to» books or watch some videos you are self-taught you are deluding yourself. You learned from books and videos who were your teachers. In any event, use this method only after a real life, living, breathing teacher teaches you how to draw and how to paint (or how to model and sculpt if you want to be a sculptor).

An artist needs training just like any other professional. And he needs to enrich, re-invent himself continually and continue with his education. And please, do not neglect Art History. Without knowledge of Art History you will never be a complete, rounded out artist.

BEST OF LUCK!

CHEERS

¿No?