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A mostly quiet and slow week here at TG but I just heard from our friend Dave Nachmanoff that he has a CD release party scheduled next Sunday, August 14 at The Freight And Salvage in Berkeley. Anybody within shouting distance should try to get there if possible. I am about 70% that I can make it right now. The full press release follows.

Lately I have tried to get some practice time in to brush up some pieces that once were in better shape. Today’s update included a few in various states of disrepair, along with a little encouragement to occasionally try to get some songs to a performable level. This is something many folks work on toward IGC and I am trying to take some of my own advice.

There was quick mention of some recent lessons, Perfect by Pink, a FOTW going deeper into Intervals with Ed, and a new 6-pack of Decemberists songs for our artist pack fans.

I also had some comments on our very old Recommend A Lesson section. I was going through it earlier today and was surprised how many songs on the list have become lessons. Try to guess before you get to that part in the update. I do still continue to monitor it so don’t be afraid to add things there.

Other than that, August may continue in the same direction but I have a few surprise lessons in the pipeline and I expect 1 or 2 will be ready soon.

On to next week, although one last summer trip may alter that plan a little.

Neil

Berkeley, CA, — Not many musicians get to realize their early dreams, but in recording “Spinoza’s Dream,” singer/songwriter Dave Nachmanoff has fulfilled several at once. A huge fan of Al Stewart as a teen, Nachmanoff has assembled most of the musicians who played on some of Stewart’s iconic albums in the 70s to back him up here. A former philosophy instructor, he has created a “concept album” with each track connected to a particular philosopher. The album was recorded in Wales by Grammy award winning producer and engineer Martin Levan last summer. With a few excellent special guests, this will be a largely solo acoustic show, featuring Dave on both guitar and piano.

Spinoza’s Dream Video: https://youtu.be/Uyl8zkTZfyM

“Singer-songwriter albums with philosophical themes set alarm bells off in my head, so I confess I approached this one with a bit of trepidation. But Nachmanoff approaches those themes with humor and subtlety, generally opting for communication rather than for showing off how smart he is. He also has an impressive stylistic range, jumping from quietly sprightly folk-pop to Tin Pan Alley jazziness to bluesy rock and back again in the space of the first four tracks. And here’s a fun pop history nugget: the session players on this album are the same guys who played on Al Stewart’s 1976 hit “Year of the Cat.”.”– CD Hotlist

“It isn’t often a concept album based around the theme of classic philosophers comes along. However, that’s the case with this new release from Al Stewart’s guitarist, Dave Nachmanoff, Spinoza’s Dream. Nachmanoff has a Ph.D in philosophy and here he has melded his two worlds and passions to create this interesting song cycle…an interesting and different gathering of songs. Sophisticated but never pretentious or ponderous. A very fine (or actually refined) effort” – ROB ROSS, Popdose.com

Location: Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
Address: 2020 Addison Street, Berkeley CA 94704
Date: Sunday, August 14, 2016
Showtime: 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20 in advance, $22 at the door
Tix Link: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1220049?utm_medium=bks
Website: http://www.thefreight.org
Artist website: http://davenach.com