John Raymond Pollard: Notes

What a week it has been for pop music in Brazil!

On Saturday the Rolling Stones played for an audience of 1.2 million on Copacabana beach. Then U2 played two concerts in the soccer stadium in Sao Paulo – over 70,000 in the sold out house each night – plus a national broadcast of the first concert on the largest Brazilian TV network. Bono even sang a song in Portuguese.

Carnaval is already under way in Bahia – dozens of bands are playing atop tractor trailers, or trios, that move slowly along three routes in the city of Salvador daily from early afternoon to 4 AM – much of it is broadcast nationally. Bono et al are here to enjoy the largest party in the world according the Guinness Book of Records. Rumor has it that he will be singing tonight on the trio of Grammy winner Gilberto Gil, who is currently the Cultural Minister of Brazil. I plan to be in the street listening.

And here am I, am American – John Raymond Pollard – who has released his 4th CD, titled Map of the AmericAs Linhas da Mão in Brazil. I have been playing for small audiences of friends and acquaintances. They especially like my songs with Portuguese lyrics including Umbu and Porto da Barra and some have asked when I plan to record his foreign language version of Kris Landherr’s Serotonin Song.

My tan will be back in NY with me in a few weeks. Until then, beijos and a joyous Carnaval!

Hello, all. During January I have been based in Salvador, Bahia Brazil. As summer has firmly planted itself in the southern hemisphere, the daily high temperature has moved close to 90 degrees F 32 degrees C; lows are in the mid 70’s F (23-25 degrees C).

I have a few songs that are just about finished, one in Portuguese. Here is the chorus:
“Curtimos a brisa na praia
Pintado por raios do sol
Água de crystal desta capital
Abençoa o amor.”

The other, in English, an upbeat pop number, is a bit edgier. Lines include:
“I never asked for a hit of crack,
A vat of acid, or a whiff of smack.
Look at my arms; you’ll find no tracks.
My only vice is you.”

February in Bahia should be filled with more warmth. Carnaval is Salvador is special: over a million people dancing in the streets to the music of dozens of bands staged atop tractor trailers that course slowly along three routes in the city. I’ll keep writing and playing. I send you very warm wishes for blessings.

As the year ends I must count my blessings. During the year, songs from Body Politic, especially King George, received airplay and I released a new CD, Map of the AmericAs Linhas da Mão, with a concert at Rockwood Music Hall in August. My music has been featured by NextBigHit.com. Recently I escaped the New York transit strike and cold.
I introduced a new song called Amazing Grace (no, not that one) when I last performed in Manhattan on December 5. Now as the year winds down I am once in again in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, which has become my second home. Since arriving I previewed a few new songs at a house concert. It is a pleasure to sing where English is a foreign language.
Over the next few months I plan to work on some new material and release the new CD in Brazil.
I wish everyone a very happy new year.

That is the title of a new song (well, it is still in progress) I previewed to freinds and colleagues at Rockwood Music Hall last Monday. I promise to learn all the words to this one before I next perform at Rockwood!

Recently I attended concerts that featured two of my favorite artists, Milton Nascimento and Amanda Miguel.

Grammy and Latin Grammy winner Milton Nacsimento brought his band and a few musical guests from Brazil to the Allen Room at Lincoln Center in Manhattan on October 23. The wonderful evening reminded me why Milton has been called “the voice of God.” Afterwards at the reception, I was fortunate enough to chat with the band members. I was happy to see Milton back New York. Something must have rubbed off, because I have started a new song with Portuguese lyrics.

On November 2 I heard Amanda Miguel with her spouse/collaborator/producer, Diego Verdaguer, perform for a largely Spanish speaking crowd at S.O.B.’s. The couple enthralled the crowd in the intimate setting with their solo and joint performances. Amanda’s voice is bigger than her hair and, on stage, it was clear that she did not take herself too seriously.

I listened to a lot of music with lyrics in Spanish and Portuguese when I was learning to speak these languages. So, I have come to appreciate the talents of wonderful Latino and Brazilian artists, including Amanda Miguel and Milton Nascimento. I recommend listening to songs as an adjunct to language lessons!

For the past two months proceeds from sales of my songs, New Orleans; After and Apocalypse; and Angels Watch Over have been donated to hurricane relief efforts. I plan to continue this practice through the end of November as an expression of Thanksgiving. And I think my fans and listeners for their support.

What a nice surprise! Marle Becker from WBAI radio (99.5 FM, Pacific Radio in New York) just called to say that he played King George and listeners responded very positively, so he plans to air the song again.

Thanks to everyone who came to the show at Siberia last Friday evening. I enjoyed singing for you. I'll be at an open mic at Rockwood Music Hall tonight, October 3 to play a song or two.

Moreno, Moreno, from my new release, Map of the Americas, is included as part of Next Big Hit’s podcast volume 13. To get the entire podcast as well as earlier volumes go to www.nextbighit.com and select the volume 13 podcast; or you can subscribe at iTunes at http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73802161 . The podcast includes a wide variety of musical styles.
Please vote for my song, Moreno, Moreno and show Next Big Hit that there is support for “out” songs. Go to www.nextbighit.com . If you are not already registered, you need to register. Fill in a name, password, and e-mail address. After you submit the data wait for an e-mail which will provide a link that completes the process. If you are registered, login, in necessary, and click on “Community Forums!” .
Then click on the Recent tab. Find the topic called Vol 13. Sept. 27, 2005 - Find Info and VOTE! Check the box 10 to vote for “Moreno, Moreno.”
Voting ends Sunday evening, October 2nd, and the winner is revealed in the following podcast on Tuesday, October 4.

1. An entire special episode podcast is devoted to my new album. DJ Copperhead hosts an interview in which we discuss the album: the songs, recording process, musicians, etc. It is a great way to check out the new CD. To listen go to www.nextbighit.com and look for the CD cover under the Special Episodes Podcast heading on the middle right of the panel. Click on the image of the CD Cover. You can download the file directly or subscribe. It is a big file, so only attempt to download it of you have a high speed internet connection.

I was getting ready to head to the recording studio in Brooklyn to work on my second CD, Passion, Poison, & Politik. It was a beautiful Tuesday morning, sunny with blue skies – a gem of a late summer day in Manhattan. So, I thought it was strange that I should hear thunder. Of course, soon thereafter I learned that the sound I had heard was that of a jet barreling into a World Trade Center tower.

Earlier in 2001 I worked across the street from the Twin Towers. The Tuesday before September 11, I was seated between them enjoying a program of dance, featuring one of my favorite troupes, Ron Brown’s Evidence. Thank heavens I was a few miles away when the planes crashed into the buildings.

I was shocked and saddened. Manhattan was sealed off from the rest of the world. No one knew what might follow. The sound of flights patrolling the skies at night was not comforting – it reminded me of how terror had struck.

Fortunately, New Yorkers seem to be at their best when faced with adversity. Eventually I returned to the studio and began recording a song which bears a lyric that was written in the wake of the attack – Angels Watch Over.

Fours years later, suffering continues and a hole remains in the ground where the Twin Towers stood. Let us hope that those now suffering in the wake of hurricane Katrina do not have to wait four years to see their lives rebuilt.

Like so many I have been affected, albeit long distance, by all that has happened in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Looking to do my part in assisting those people whose lives have been disrupted, I have made donations to a few charities. I invite you to help do more by purchasing music. You do not have to buy an entire album, although it would be great if you did. If you purchase even one song, that will help.

If you have a PC or an iPod, I ask that you purchase at least one of three songs:
1) New Orleans (from Map of the Americas)
2) After an Apocalypse (from Body Politic). One of the lines is, “And waves had wiped out all the costal towns.”
3) Angels Watch Over (from Passion, Poison, & Politik), which was written in response to 9/11/2001.

When anyone purchases any of these tunes via iTunes or any other service over the next few weeks, I’ll send the proceeds to a charity that is helping victims. (I have a few charities in mind, but if you have a suggestion, please let me know.) Similarly, whenever anyone buys any of my CDs from CD Baby or any other source during the next few weeks, I’ll make a donation to a charity involved in the relief effort.

Thank you very much!

Today I got a note from PM Magazine's Jed Ryan, who was at the show on Sunday night. It begins, "The music was superb. The audience was quite mesmerized!"

Thanks, Jed!

Wow, what a wonderful celebration. Thanks to all of you who came out to the release concert for Map of the Americas Linhas da Mão last night at Rockwood Music Hall. And thanks to the musicians who made the songs come alive: Dionisio Santos, Jorge Amorim, Mike McGinnis, and Toshio Mana. Response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many thanks to all!

Mark your calendar for a very special show on Sunday August 21, 2005, when I celebrate the release of my fourth album, Map of the Americas Linhas da Mão. The show will allow you to get away for a one hour vacation as summer moves into its final weeks.
I’ll be joined on stage by a number of very talented musicians:
Steve Sandberg, wind synth and piano
Toshio Mana, bass
Díonisio Santos, cavaquinho and electric guitar
Jorge Amorim, percussion and drums.

Please join us Sunday, August 21 at 8PM at Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street (just south of Houston -- take the F or V subway to 2nd Avenue and exit at 1st Avenue and Allen). 212.477.4155.

During the next few weeks be on the look out for a podcast featuring music from my new CD, Map of the AmericAs Linhas da Mão. I'll serve as your tour narrator, making comments and responding to questions. More details to come.

A performance marking the new CD is set for Sunday, August 21, 2005 at 8PM. Join the celebration at Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen St. New York City, New York.