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On May 1, 2008 at Jazzway 6004, one of the hippest and most inviting venues in town. (www.jazzway6004.org), my quartet and I live-recorded the ten new songs I'd written since the release of MEMOIR (2007). Here are some videos from that date.

Also below are the lyrics. For me, the words of the song simply must come first. Sometimes it's just a phrase or a couplet that randomly arrives in my imagination...and then takes anywhere from a few hours to a few months for me to develop into an entire story/song. But once I have a sense of at least those first few words and concepts, I start to get a feeling for the rhythm, tempo, and harmonic "attitude," if you will, of the entire piece. It's a thrilling process, very much driven by my intuition.
  • "Petting Zoo" by Sandy Asirvatham
    S.A. piano/vocals, Frank Russo drums, Amy Shook bass, Chris Kennedy guitar LYRICS: All those open mouths at the petting zoo All that naked yearning reminds me of you Days of desert dry, no sign of morning dew Years of empty gestures, of motions gone through HOW CAN I FEED YOU? HOW CAN I FEED YOU? HOW CAN I FEED YOU? I'M STARVING, TOO. Hungry little creature bites the hand that feeds. Dribs and drabs of nurture fall like precious beads. Innocent and woolly still nows how to bleed. When did mere survival start to look like greed? HOW CAN I FEED YOU?..... Picture just a dropper filled with what we dream. Memories of abundance, honey golden cream. Something to sustain us or we'll lose our steam. What was once a trickle is now a rushing stream. HOW CAN I FEED YOU?.....
  • "The Neighbors" by Sandy Asirvatham
    S.A. on piano/voice, Frank Russo drums, Amy Shook bass, Chris Kennedy guitar LYRICS: She's not sure about the neighbors They laugh a little bit too loud And they seem awfully complacent About the massing of the crowd She's not sure about the neighbors They're always waltzing on the lawn And while the towers burn around them They sleep contented way past dawn She's not sure about the neighbors When they smile at her and wave Do they see an actual person Or just another soul to save? She's not sure about the neighbors And wonders what will come to pass When the sun falls on this empire And melts the sands of time to glass She's not sure.....about the neighbors.....
  • "Innocent" by Sandy Asirvatham
    S.A. piano/vocals, Frank Russo drums, Amy Shook bass, Chris Kennedy guitar LYRICS: I don't want to know, don't want to talk about it Even hear it all debated on the television show Can't abide discussion, tolerate dissension, Analyze progression, or come up with alternate scenarios I want to live my life like an Innocent, unburdened of the need to know Done with contemplation, sick of rumination, Tired of trying to figure out what makes This topsy turvy world go. GERTRUDE STEIN IS IN THE CITY OF NETS TONIGHT SHE AND ALICE B.
  • "Ode To Nick Drake" by Sandy Asirvatham
    PERSONNEL: S.A. voice/piano with Frank Russo drums, Amy Shook bass, Chris Kennedy guitar LYRICS: Every man dreams the sun belongs To him and him alone, Guiding him through his days, Restless star But not me I presume no one will Reach that telephone No one pull me back when I've gone Too far I AM I, ALONG THE PERIPHERY I AM I, AMONG THE MENAGERIE I AM I, SPECK OF SALT IN THE BOUNDLESS SEA I AM I, ALONE IN MY SKIN Every man sees the sky and feels His heart fill up with love Warms his yearning eyes with Brilliant light But not me I can only see the Emptiness above Echo chamber of my darkest night. I AM I...... Every man thinks this world will sorely Lack him when he's gone Carve his name and deeds in the rock Of Time But not me I assume these bones will Vanish with the dawn Dust to dust was once Primordial slime I AM I.....
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