A World To The Wise (liner notes)

A World To The Wise (2013) liner notes-

I'm very proud to present my second solo album. It's been six years since my first record, and I would have loved to make this record sooner, but life can take you on unexpected detours. One of the benefits of the long wait – the brilliant musicians that grace this recording knew the music backward and forward, allowing us to record 10 of the 11 tracks in the first take, with no backup take. Generally you record as many takes as necessary but, as we started carving through the tunes, I just kept saying, "Yup, that's it. Done. Next." I honestly feel like that immediacy and energy is captured here. This record was captured, not manufactured.

The record was brilliantly co-produced, recorded, and mixed by the one and only Tony Shepperd. It was mastered by Stephen Marsh. The CD’s photos are by the multi-talented Larry Steen. The CD design & layout are by my dear friend, Jay Matsueda.

Special thanks: My mom for all her amazing love and support, Tony Shepperd (all i can say is THANK YOU!); All the magnificent musicians: Dennis , Dan, Louis, Gene, Chris, Steve, Andrew, Alvin, and Judith- can't thank you guys enough for your incredible artistry and patience helping my bring my music to life; Everyone at D'Addario Woodwinds, Ben Wendel, Bob Sheppard, John Daversa, Sara Andon, John Yoakum, Keith Davis (for the kind use of his penthouse apt for the album photos) and so many more. I play and endrose D'Addario Woodwinds Products.

Track 1: "The Spider of the Matrix"

I know i'm in tune everyday that I can breathe and see through the tangled web we weave and play tricks

Chorus-

the spider of the matrix I'm told is what you see is what you get but that line's old what you get is what you can see without a blindfold

If you can't find the time and you're blind to sight stop

open your eyes and look at the clock

The water becomes calm and still as long as a promise will a song will fill the void that I once felt in tune with the universal attitude but all of my life it was rhetoric and just a platitude you serve up words in big doses disappear like a ghost in the mist and now I know that i was fashioning a noose of problems fear is a goblin dissolve them whatever you call them a brick in the great wall a personal fall between the cracks and break sink in the eight ball I'm glad I went through it cuz in the end I learn to discern stand firm and I smile again i know i'm in tune everyday that I can breathe and see through the tangled web we weave and play tricks

Chorus-

The spider of the matrix I'm told is what you see is what you get but that line's old what you get is what you can see without a blindfold

If you can't find the time and you're blind to sight stop

open your eyes and look at the clock

Katisse- Tenor Saxophone, Vocal

Dennis Hamm- Keyboards

Dan Lutz- Bass

Louis Cole- Drums

Judith Hill- Vocal

Track 2: "Law of Attraction"

let's mix it up for those visible foes i duck the miserable in the throws of a sack of woe i consider thee low grade negativity don't play the epitome don't claim exclusivity on the energy it belongs to everybody in earshot and all that we fear not thoughts are things that can move matter can prove that what ever you focus on grows and the room shatters all that we've known to be true soon scatters and the journey through the universe is off again the snake pulling off his skin the opposite of what you call a sin these are the days of expansion the oppressed rise up and embrace the oppressor a large miracle grows out of a small gesture then many locks can open with one key clearly the wisdom of the hundredth monkey theory focus and concentration keeping it hot gravity works whether you believe it or not so where's the wisdom in an outdated belief system

That's the law of attraction, every thought is an action

I notice the apotheosis of focus i follow the hypothesis to what causes this

instead people see dead people in an empty room i see hindsight in my mind's eye and it led me though I just choose to pay attention either that or i'm blessed with a mind of retention never been big on selective amnesia self medication anesthesia cause all that matters are thought patterns your whole status is static? the law of attraction is automatic the small man panics with the power you hand him the way that we can move from A to B isn't random rejoice with the sound of my voice only you can avoid twice making the same choice complain in the name of inane ploys it's upheaval if you say that i'm worried about the proverbial needle in the haystack i layback and find the needle with a magnet if i had a tail i'd be waggin' it not standing on the bevel knowing full well the universal field is level

That's the law of attraction, every thought is an action

Song notes: Dan Lutz lays into a super funky and gritty bass solo on this one that could not be more appropriate for the vibe of the tune. His contribution to the record was seamless and invaluable!

Katisse- Flute, Vocal

Dennis Hamm- Keyboards

Dan Lutz- bass

Louis Cole- Drums

Judith Hill- Vocal

Track 3: "Those Who Do Good"

I was inspired upon seeing a CNN clip of Narayanan Krishnan, a gentleman who feeds and cares for the very poor, destitute, and ill in India. First I donated some money to his cause, then I wrote this tune :) I wanted this tune to feel transcendent; like you're flying...

Song notes: the opening and closing exchange with myself and Louis is one of the highlights of the record for me and Dennis's lovely piano solo truly helped me achieve the transcendent energy i was going for on this tune!

Katisse- alto flute

Dennis Hamm- piano, keyboards

Dan Lutz- Bass

Louis Cole- drums

Track 04: "Rhinoceros"

Chorus-

Hold me, holy, are we…. only take what you need, plant seeds

What does it mean to be strong? and feel the earth shake under your legs at the billabong survive on instinct alone and try to remain calm without a liaison I live without a trace or a place of analysis put down your cowardly weapon and feel helpless brotherhood compels us not token gestures but most of us sleep with the 3rd eye open lest you're all in… prepare to be one step ahead of the fallen in a constant state of potential energy iron out the kinks in a world down trodden a place to hang your hat or 18 links on the sod and a mini mall it's all i can do some days not to crawl thru life when my mood is dank i have you to thank for the heat closing in on me now it's harder to find water we're not trying to be famous where dreams run ahead of attainments in a constant race i concentrate on what i was what i am and what i'm prepared to be i look for clarity midst the disparity convoluted the meaning of Maya delusion inclusion of a near life experience was i alive or an eerie sense of timelessness i find this mess is one of my creations pages of matter scattered across the width of my capacity to comprehend it never ceases a constant flow interrupted by the breath and man became a living soul a cold sojourn so "Joe" can learn the lessons confessions of a spirit captive in a body sought he salvation the mason of jail cell bail sell yourself in an infinite pattern incarnations and traces of a thread before you can remember you're dead and back again as a man in the Serengeti did you forget he used to be a CEO with expense account and a tenth the amount of humility

Song notes: I had written this tune quite a while ago. Upon revisiting the first half of my lyrics (my vocal section) i didn't feel that they reflected the burliness of a Rhino. I dialed up some pics of various Rhinos and tried to channel what they might say :) Steve Hass (drums) made this tune happen for me. He referred to the drum sound we achieved as "perfect" and one of the best of his career. I love it!!

Katisse- Tenor Saxophone, Vocal

Dennis Hamm- Keyboards

Dan Lutz- Bass

Steve Hass- Drums

Andrew Synowiec- Guitar

Judith Hill- Vocal

Track 05: "Love for the Mother"

Love for the mother every day only pays to see the beauty in her face let our women age gracefully with vision of youth as the truth falling under the spell don't feel compelled to succumb to the sum of all fears the rest of your life you'll be miserable and single if ever there's a visible wrinkle the physical form will be torn because its transient erode like sandstone make a clone and we fancy it the moment you rest you've earned the respect statuesque abate the state of visceral fear by the way there's no need to wear purple and hideaway the lives you gave us the words that save us nothing can compare to the warmth and compassion shared temped by temptresses and patience when tempers flared we live in your debt and regret can be palpable to stay with the in-crowd the scalpel will cut through the lines and horizon of pavement that lines all the guys heads turn but still you forgave men's many transgressions indiscretions thanks for waiting while we learn the lessons

Love for the Mother

The gentle blue marble that we call home relaxes as she spins on her axis along the last month the vast mother protects me from annihilation like a close friend she holds me as i float in the ocean and lose contact get lost in the mountains and i never want to come back she's hurt when we assert that the earth in inert she feels pain the tears rain in the form of a tropical storm before we can form a committee she'll bury a city we board up the windows and brace ourselves disgrace ourselves and try to retreat but the fire is lit when you spit where you eat we breathe the smog that clogs the pores of her beautiful skin the obese eat three courses of resources and begin to see the curve it to match the urban sprawl embraced in her cradle but the cradle will fall under the weight of the winter and we'll never see spring and never cease to bring shame to the apostles she will live on when we are only fossils

Love for the Mother

She is the beginning she is the end the love behind the arms that hold us the warmth of the sun on the coldest day she's with us in the silence when we fold our hands and pray with OM and Amen she's the notes from Mozart and the flow of the robes of the shaman put all the great masters of the past in a room and soon they'd have a meeting of the minds but we find if we did the same thing with their followers it's easy- they would have a battle till the last man wasn't breathing but there's a man who can see things i wish to be a Mahavishnu with you it's true soul rebel knows we're connected at the soul level not just in the temple the church the mosque inside you get lost like i do get beaten mistreated and cheated and lied to i advise you to hold her close when darkness tries to find you you may call her by a different name but i remind you: we come from her and with her we find truth

Love for the mother

Song notes: This song is a tribute to my mother, all mothers, and mother energy in general. In the 2nd verse I expand the mother theme to "mother earth" then, in the 3rd verse, to "divine mother" (cosmic energy, the vibration of the universe, God, or whatever term one chooses).

Katisse- alto flute, vocal, programming

Dennis Hamm- piano, keyboards

Dan Lutz- bass

Steve Hass - drums

Judith Hill- vocal

Track 06: "Original Ray (feat. Judith Hill)"

In the world of the blind the one eyed man is king forsaking everything

It's a lovely fountain can you save me from my Countenance?

If i show up on time he tells me i'll be saved and that the road is paved

But only with permission can we stop and listen

All the while....

The copy that i hold is marred with finger prints i've had it ever since

A man who once recited died so unrequited

He spent another lifetime only praying that he pass thru the huddled mass

Hungry lame & cold, not seeing that he's framed in gold

All the while......

I am a slice of the original ray

Jump in the water's fine, there's no need to be afraid

All i recognize is what i can relay (that)

I am a slice....of the Original Ray

Looking through the stained glass window trying hard to see the son who died for me

Sometimes i feel so all alone searching for a way back home

Why should i fear a wrathful being floating in the sky? i believe you told us why

immersed in blessed water emerging cold and dry. All the while......

if i follow my crusade and slaughter in his name then i can turn the page

I'll find an explanation and feel the exaltation

i woke up on the wrong side of the bed and i behaved so vile and depraved

abrogating what occurred by reciting empty words

all the while....

Chorus

Serious lyrics both large and mystic I'm never one to wallow in misogynistic nonsense check the contents a spiritual constant for those who lost it divided we fall provided we all feel the loss is the same attract all of that like a moth to a flame or flat on your back all exhausted in pain the fact remains the plaque the stains a map of veins that connect us all I won't sit through a sermon of fire and brimstone retire that notion reach inside yourself and search don't recognize the ties of a church where lies of the worst kind our first line of defense our senses lead us away from our natural state I am a slice of the original ray

Song notes: of the vocal tunes i've written, this is one of my favorites. Judith does a magnificent job of bringing it to life! I was on the fence about having a "full vocal" tune on the record (I generally have one live to feature the vocalist), but everyone has a little featured spot on the record, so why not the vocalist? Plus- it's JUDITH!!! :D The marvelous Gene Coye steps in on drums on this one and adds his one-of-a-kind energy and groove!

Judith Hill- vocal

Katisse- alto saxophone, vocal

Dennis Hamm- keyboards

Dan Lutz- Bass

Gene Coye- drums

Andrew Synowiec- guitar

Track 07: "Lifetimes"

Once again I hover above my lifeless body earmarked to depart to the astral plane as always I call out but you can't hear me stuck in the cycle of mourning performing last rites and rituals the visuals stunning as they may be you lower the coffin down and nothing can save me the person that they used to know etched in stone I'm the bodhisattva I roam where the soul could only dream of going the hectic lost being officially rejected the best is I sing the body electric on the other side time is elastic lifetimes goes by in a breath there's nothing left stopwatches stop watching the ref the aches and pains of age fade away replaced with omnipotence in an instant as quick as you can blink I return as an infant in the arms of a mother many miles away I grow up to be the same

man with a changed hat in a country you couldn't spell or find on a map juggling life and profit and loss with non-attachment the life that an honest man spend perfected they're all connected while still in pieces the cycle of life ends when you release it

Chorus- Lifetimes go by….Lifetimes go by in a breath there's nothing left stop watches stop watching the ref

I'm tormented by the aforementioned various thoughts I built a pyramid under myself and carried the rocks I was buried alive in a block of ice till my body thawed then my motto was kill or kill and dog eat dog problem solved been a king a bishop and a pawn while pawns fade thru the bronze age the dawn of the renaissance turn pain of battle to the paint on a palate take out the self doubt won't allow it discard it when you rise above the crowd it makes you an easy target better move when I choose to cruise thru not faded dedicated in the pages of who's who did I lose you then I'll prove true that the warriors thru history punch a hole in the wall till their fist'll bleed it's not a threat it's a promise don't care if the plaque with my epitaph says anonymous the poet with the poetry and thoughts that rhyme to the ruler with the gold and the concubines so many lifetimes will come and go wisdom I compile arrive at the same sentiment you can love it or leave it it never led to contentment

Chorus

I see so many people fret worry and gripe about the afterlife insist that it doesn't exist powerless worthlessness for all intents and purposes they're telling them with no previous development you get Ellington I'm not buyin that Hayden and some random guy are in their first lifetime or you might find with the intelligence you once had you sit in the corner with a dunce cap? little fella you're never given anything that you haven't developed suffice to say advice of religious zealots claiming they speak the word of god is so absurd and odd they sell it with relics like relish on hot dogs package it in cellophane with arcane fables drop a copy in a hotel bedside tables they change hymns according to political whims afraid of the intuition that the people found if they're afraid weak and confused you can keep them down but what's that sound we drink from the honeywell in 2012 cuz up till now living life lavish meant don't change the tradition or question establishment fear is the one commodity that changes policy without an apology the lonely flower rising from the sod and every single living thing is a god

Chorus

Song notes: I wrote these lyrics while travelling around the streets of Beijing in 2009. The rich history and traditions throughout the generations inspired this song about reincarnation. Louis defies the laws of physics with his mind-bending solo on the end of this one. I can not say enough about what Louis brought to this record. His incredibly unique sound and groove, as well as his preparedness and professionalism, made recording with him an absolute joy!

Katisse- soprano saxophone, vocal

Dennis Hamm- keyboards

Dan Lutz- Bass

Louis Cole- drums

Judith Hill- vocal

Track 08: "A World to the Wise"

In light of such a midas touch kaleidoscopes invited us so inclusive a stream of dreams and lucid albeit fleeting moments of bleeding panic ecstatic ecstasy emphatically next to me stand loved ones who have passed on then return for a last song i can build cities with a glance and make sense of the cosmic process when pretense let us off easy in the dream state but you wouldn't believe me so which reality is real? A policy of fallacy when malady volunteers in a blaze all truth becomes deja vu and then we abhor it try to restore it in waking moments of lethargy it seems the astral plane has messaged me but what could the message mean unless it reflects next lives or projectiles it's nonsense if it's taken out of context truly intuiting extruding like a mood ring bringing in the troubles of the day and it's soothing tutoring the conscious coward scouring the galaxy for the newly empowered every great idea exists in the ether eclipsing the far off trips and the research a word to the wise is the word that i learn to be when the gods have heard of me I dream for eternity a word to the wise is the word that i learn to be when the gods have heard of me I dream for eternity

Song notes: this tune is a bit of stream-of-consciousness. I had these lyrics floating around in my head and right before we recorded the tune i asked the guys if i should include them- they said "yes"! It was going to be an instrumental tune but it expanded a bit. I think the lyrics match the vibe of the tune. Later on I wanted to have a solo voice under the vocal section so i noodled out the piano "solo" in that section myself (with apologies to piano players everywhere :)). It's a deceptively tricky tune (in 9/4 time signature with a melody overtop that doesn't really have a specific time signature and lines up in unexpected places). This one called for the one-and-only Chris Wabich on drums who ebbed and flowed thru it with aplomb! You're the man, Chris!

Katisse- tenor saxophone, vocal, piano "solo" in vocal section

Dennis Hamm- keyboards

Dan Lutz- bass

Chris Wabich- drums

Track 09: "Keep the Flow On"

Most struggle, I find it interesting

Closed off

And fight an uphill battle

Woe is me

Who am I all of my life, in that-

I keep the flow on

Past actions will always intercede

Roll by

Don't know the circumstances

I don't mind

I'll arrive always on time, in fact-

i'll keep the flow on

Well being is not contingent on circumstances chance has found me I picked them never played the victim conduct the symphony and soon can see the rules concede to me believe the tree that leaves will share and share alike I could bitch and gripe but I know the fruit will fall from the branch when it's ripe in fact it'll come flying past defying mass compiling trash are you dying fast like an ant getting fried by a magnifying glass if you decide to be well then no one can change that even if you choose malice you'll never get to me I'm fortified like a palace wide is the callous providing the balance that I struck could lead to the end of the maze I never liked much complicated strain it's extraneous don't need pain to explain the fuss I raise my hand and thus I'm called on won't put my attention on what just stalled on the path I walk or it'll grow into an obstacle and then I'd have to stop the flow

Song notes: I had wanted some vocals in the B section (the section with Judith and Alvin) to go with the melodic line but nothing was coming to me. One day I was at the Huntington Dog Beach and these lyrics came to me in about 1 minute. Judith's vocal section was already recorded and i kept hearing a low voice under hers. Tony called his long time friend Alvin Chea. Could we have possibly gotten a better low voice than the gentleman who sings the low voice in the legendary vocal group, Take 6?!

Katisse- flute, vocal

Dennis Hamm- keyboards

Dan Lutz- bass

Louis Cole- drums

Judith Hill- vocal

Alvin Chea - vocal

Track 10: "Innocent People"

Song notes: Of all the instrumental tunes i've written, this is my favorite. This tune went down in one take in a very resounding fashion. It's deceptively tricky (i see a pattern here!) with most of it in 5/4 with a couple of surreptitious 6/4 bars thrown in for good measure. Chris eats this tune for breakfast and is the perfect rudder in the water while still allowing the song to float freely.

Katisse- tenor saxophone

Dennis Hamm- piano

Dan Lutz- bass

Chris Wabich- drums

Track 11: "Waterfall"

Water needs to flow or it stagnates I know the cycle from the rain to the great lakes makes sense without my participation precipitation facilitates a change in the range on the same page the main fence open the torrent spoken inside joke in soak in the radiant losing grown I found my mind crowded a flood that could wipe out a town if I allowed it for those who compose gradient of the highs and the lows creative child of song ability doesn't belong to me concede to the common feel and you can handle the receive channel a parent's dream illuminate the night like a lamp full of kerosene let him breathe like a beacon I'm seeking refuge in the prism of refractive light despite the black of night….like a waterfall

Chorus-

Like a waterfall fall to me just enough is all we can see like a waterfall crawl to me just enough is all we can be

Singing words of wisdom let him grow and change without the ball and chain is all arranged you take your first steps and cost ascension but soon the room you crossed lost dimension the fallen rain will return to the sky I know he'd like to unless he gets ties to the whipping post a living ghost potentially the dead can see most the results a tray full of ice cubes laminated faded in a museum he'll never grow and evolve cause it's a long way for the wrong fate preserved like he didn't deserve the word he heard we'll never get to see accomplishments and accolades he had it made but I'm sad to say that he passed away from the mundane potential can never be measured with the constrains of a stencil…like a waterfall

Chorus

the self proclaimed keepers of the flame stop progressing hold on tight but who claims to be the pundit trying to suppress progression cuz you can fund it the won't relinquish I've seen this flame get extinguished and fade out of sigh putting words in the mouth you return to this house without a gift for the spirits don't think they'll never hear it let me say now in plain English- water, a child, or music can't deny everytime he steps up to attack some will step back out of the sun and say it can't be done but water needs to flow or it will stagnate it must move forward or it will die and if it sits still it only gets ill and then the earth till underneath and may he rest in peace…like a waterfall…..

Chorus

Song notes: My main goal in recording this tune (it almost made it to my last record) was that i wanted it to sound epic. Dennis's keyboard solo (electric sitar vibe!) really dials this one in. Louis's incredible time and pocket lock up perfectly with the drum loops I programmed to give this tune a larger-than-life-ness that was exactly what i was going for.

Katisse- alto flute, vocal, programming

Dennis Hamm- keyboards

Dan Lutz- bass

Louis Cole- drums

Judith Hill- vocal

Stream on Apple Music, or download on iTunes