Harvest

75 for the 75th

in·flec·tion

/inˈflekSH(ə)n/

noun

1. 1.

   Grammar

   a change in the form of a word (typically the ending) to express a grammatical function or attribute such as tense, mood, person, number, case, and gender.

   "a set of word forms differing only in respect of inflections"

2. Music The simple act of pressing a piano key, plucking a string, or the striking of a drum will affect a number of different aspects related to meter, velocity and duration. As listeners we perceive these changes as inflections communicating the emotional content or ‘message’ of the performance.

Modulation is a term intrinsic to sound design. Modulation in its simplest aspect means change. Whether harmonic or rhythmic, changes or adjustments made over time apply across a spectrum of parameters available to the performer or sound designer.

This is my 75th post since starting my IWC experience January 1st of 2024.

To My Paid Subscribers: I’m a writer so I can’t say something like “I don’t have words to describe my gratitude to those of you who have shown faith enough in me by subscribing to My Integrated Life.” Heck, the whole reason I became a writer was to know the appropriate words to describe the “who, what, when, where and why” of life. For those who ‘follow’ me, you have my sincere thanks. As a jazz musician, I expect to have to prove myself before you consider becoming a paid subscriber. If the comments from my paid subscribers are any indication, adding yourself as a paid subscriber will be well worth the subscription fee.

As I prepare for YEAR TWO of My Integrated Life, there will be more original music, interviews, stories, archival episodes, brushes with fame, and real-slices-of-life I’ve documented in 5 decades as a teaching artist both here in Iowa and around the United States since the 1970’s.

As with music, so with life. It is “harvest season.” Having just begun my 75th journey around the sun, I’m looking back on My Integrated Life now feeling as if the focus is currently being modulated by more primal inner promptings (something like the same ones that tell the geese when it’s time to fly, or the bears it’s time to hunker down).

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When I began posting to Substack, I resolved to refrain from judging or thinking too much about the numbers. Just reportage from my reality using My Integrated Life as the source material.

After a year of operation I can say that Substack is, for me, the best way for me to express what comes to mind. As a writer, an entertainer, an educator, an active community observer, a journalist, a wayward-youth whisperer, and, not incidentally, an African-American Jazz musician, I’m happy about how the year has progressed.

Thanks to Julie Gammack for the invitation to join IWC. Got me off the couch and out into the world and boy did it expand my ‘friends list’. To all of you, the IWC community of fine truth tellers, journalists, poets, musicians, songwriters, screenwriters and screedwriters(!) big love and respect to you all. What a crew to cruise into my 75th trip around the Sun.

Incredible Iowans All.

As I said on opening day, I’m not publishing as a daily news hot-take-machine, I’m more of a poor man’s Saturday Review. From Brown’s Black History Channel to The League of Extraordinary Iowans to some great live music archives. The variety and depth of offerings we’ve planned for the new year are unique and unavailable elsewhere.

Since it is our first anniversary coming up I do feel as if now is a great time to speak to My Free Subscribers..

The fact that Substack exists to support and encourage paid subscriptions was highly attractive to me, especially as a creator of words and music whose (modest) mortgage motivates me to maintain professional output. With that said, I’ve kept the door open for everyone to come in, look around, read, listen and comment since day one.

To me, our relationship (me the content, you the reader/listener) is the same as if you came to my live show. Of course there are a lot of shows I’d like to attend, but I don’t have the time/resources to do them all. It’s a significant decision to become a paid subscriber.

Free subscribers (especially those who’ve recently arrived) should know that had it not been for the support of my early Founding and year-long subscribers, I might have questioned the purpose of spending the time I do preparing episodes across spectrum of topics covered here. As I review my 74 previous posts, I know our time has been well spent.

Enough with words for now. Let’s reconvene over at RadioDartanyan for an impressionistic musical walk at dawn. As always, sincere thanks for your attention.