Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Hat Tricks From Heaven: The Story of an Athlete in His Own Prison of Addiction



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 Kate Genove's fourth published book, Hat Tricks From Heaven:  The Story of An Athlete Trapped in His Own Prison of Addiction" is a precise - and supportive - story, an important story, which lays bare the quote, The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic."  

    Christopher John "Geno" Genovese is a tragic story which is told by a registered nurse who knows "Geno" better than most, his own mom.  
    Though Kate's previous books touched upon family issues, Hat Tricks from Heaven, goes the deepest, and it has to.  As a message and a memoir.

     The placement of Geno's birth chapter next to the chapter on his passing was a jolt for this reader. To me it made clear how precious, and short, life is. It's a wonder how an author is able to come up with such a distinctly different approach under such stress? 

     Let's look back at Kate's published work to get an understanding of where this new work fits in the chronology:


1)Thirty Years in September

Kate Genovese’s first published book, Thirty Years in September: A Nurse’s Memoir –  a chronicle of thirty years of Kate’s nursing career, is a sad, funny and political romp that focuses on her patients, personal stories, anecdotes and demise of our health care system. Drawing from her vast life experience, Genovese talks frankly about her own past drug addiction, loss of nurse’s license and recovery.  Keep in mind this was published in 2000, nine years before actress Edie Falco’s celebrated Showtime TV series, Nurse Jackie.

2)Loving Joe Gallucci

Loving Joe Gallucci is the second book from Kate Genovese, released in 2003 and now the basis for a film script.

3)Two Weeks Since My Last Confession

The third book from Kate Genovese, a fictional story about the O’Brien family focusing on Molly O’Brien and her brother Sean, covering thirty years of Molly’s tumultuous life; the damage of her Catholic upbringing, teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and eventual drug addiction portraying a strong woman who overcomes the obstacles and returns back to the roots of her family’s religion.

http://kategenovesebooks.com/books-by-kate-genovese/


If someone passes at 30, or someone passes at 100, there just doesn't seem to be enough of life.  Death from old age is a tragedy too that we are forced to accept, but this Opioid crisis 
is having a devastating impact on society.  Kate's journey with the book has introduced her to people who have also lost loved ones, and others trying desperately to help those they care about from this epidemic.  She touches upon very private details of her own life, marriage, travels, and  makes the reader more comfortable with a story that is very uncomfortable.  And that's part of Kate's gift for speaking plainly and resolutely about life situations.







































Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Steve Dennis 5 Song E.P.

Steve Dennis E.P. 
Review by Joe Viglione 

Spotify 
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The Swell 
Real Love 
Quick Sand 
As Much As I’ve Loved You 
Try Me On 

May 30 2017 TMRZoo published our first review of the fine music from Steve Dennis including the titles “Reboot,” “Dubhe,” “Your Garden,” “The King,” and “Any Time Now” …while noting that “the tunes innocently show themselves to be complete in this simple setting.” 

Fast forward to this December 2018 release, the self-titled Steve Dennis 5 song extended play offering more production polish on the exquisite “Quicksand,” light, simple and very radio friendly. It will catch your attention immediately - “Baby, I don’t know, where it went wrong…your emotions never show, maybe it’s been too long” almost a psychological self-study.  Doesn’t matter that at 4:45 it pushes the airplay envelope, it is an attractive melody with grooving instrumentation that calls for repeated spins. 

“Real Love” has the same folksy charm that made the 2017 songs so moving and heartfelt.  Guitar and harmonica blend to give an overall feeling of hope tucked inside this blues/pop ballad that floats down a river as introspection falls into place. 

“As Much as I Loved You” will tug at your heart – it did to this writer – especially if the love affair you have is in some sort of conflict, short and sweet and effective, a powerful quick statement on the state of emotion. 

“Try Me On” has a dance beat and dominant guitar work and is a stark change of pace from what we’ve heard from Steve before.  The artist knows how to pitch a catchy chorus with dangling musical sounds embellishing the story. 

“The Swell” seems drawn from the musician’s time in Hawaii, a bit of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground’s “Ocean,” in the minute plus opening.  I thought it would be an instrumental but the voice of Steve Dennis sings at 1:08 in over the simple strum and slow-motion splashing of the cymbal, a nice vibration that closes out in a most hypnotic way.  Along with being very musical the five songs elegantly capture feeling and heart in a beautiful and compelling way. 

Previously on TMR Zoo 

Steve Dennis Links: 
Spotify 

Apple iTunes 

YouTube 

Monday, January 28, 2019

John Lennon Imagine


Gimme Some Truth

The Making of John Lennon's  IMAGINE album

 A study by Joe Viglione



When one's memories are only of the audio of this set of recordings of the Imagine album by John Lennon, you have to prepare yourself for a new thought process of a dear and important work, a thought process that actually gives for a renewed appreciation for one of the great solo Beatle epics.


The imagery that folds over and embraces the songs that we know so well - John and Yoko all dressed up and in a canoe while "Crippled Inside" is playing - imprints new impressions over the reminders of John's voice and the eclectic playing of the musicians, all coming back like a resurrection.  Hearing the instrumentation with a new clarity is the obverse of what you once knew, and it's a delight.

Seeing Phil Spector - and knowing the outcome of the iconic producer's life - is a bit of a reality check, but one has to trade off his dark side for Spector's brilliance.  And that is exemplified by my favorite track on Imagine, "Jealous Guy."

Lennon appreciates Spector and tells him so sincely. 

 While singing "Gimme Some Truth" the nuances of the rock star's vocal patterns, the body language while recording this now familiar music, it's as fascinating as it is important.  

"That's the nasty one" John says to George Harrison playing him "How Do You Sleep."  It's audio revenge porn and Lennon is delighted to play a song about his old pal.  Hearing and watching Lennon go through the creative moments on such an epic piece is masterful of the filmmakers (Produced and directed by Andrew Solt from the original 1971 Imagine movie directed by John and Yoko.)

The digital soundtrack mixed at Abbey Road Studios, London by Peter Cobbin and Allan Rouse.  "Making of Imagine" May 1971 (oh to go back in time!) Ascot, England. Producers - John, Yoko and Phil Spector. 

John Lennon - piano, guitar and vocals

 George Harrison - guitar

Nicky Hopkins - piano

Jim Keltner - drums

Klaus Voormann - bass guitar

Allan White - drums

"Don't confuse the songs with your own life," Lennon says outside the studio. "I mean, they might have relevance to your own life but, a lot of things do."

Seeing John Lennon look so young, hearing the blues in his voice for this pop song/ballad,  and watching so much footage of  this particular rock star in casual moments outside the studio, serious moment at the microphone, just so important for posterity, so important for context, so beautiful to experience.

As the one hour, seven minute and fifty-four second   film concludes, John's angelic voice is singing "Oh My Love" a capella. It is tremendous.  Then it snaps back to the DVD home page to Imagine.

 

 

JOHN LENNON’S IMAGINE – THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

The Legendary Singer/Songwriter’s Most Celebrated Solo Album Honored With A Number Of Special Audio Releases 
Six-Disc Imagine – The Ultimate Collection Includes Brand New Remastered Stereo Mix, Raw Studio Recordings, Outtakes, Extras and Audio Documentary That Explores Evolution Of Each Song Plus New Surround Mixes On Blu-ray And Updated Quadrasonic Mix
For The Ultimate Deep Listening Experience
Imagine and Gimme Some Truth Films Restored and Remastered With Exclusive, Never-Before-Seen Extras