July 24, 2011 – Even though most people seem to believe that Amy Winehouse died of an overdose Scotland Yard is saying, so far, her death is “unexplained.” 
July 23, 2011 – It’s sad to say that many saw this coming. According to reports Amy Winehouse was found dead in her home today. Sky News and BBC reported police sources as confirming the 27-year-old singer's death. 
- While in deep hypnosis I lifted her arm and with suggestion told her to go back to her most current past life. When her arm plopped down she found herself in a tent. 
As Raymond Charles Barker wrote in his classic book Treat Yourself To Life: (paraphrased) I have discovered that the rules laid down for the good of humanity and its progress work only when they are interpreted in terms of the inner person, not the outer person. 
- For many years now I’ve consciously, actively been on my spiritual journey. It’s been a twisty, curvy kind of off road track, meandering here and there, sloughing it up hills, careening out of control down hills. 
- Myth 1 - "Tarot cards can predict the future." Predicting the future is not difficult we can all do it. If for example you know someone who is consistently spending more than they earn and paying for it by building up a credit card debt then it's not hard to predict where that one is heading. 
- I’ve heard it said that holding on to unforgiveness is like taking poison while hoping the other person will die. The truth is, unforgiveness punishes you far worse than the person who did you harm. Chances are they have gone on about their life, clueless to the fact that you are still suffering and full of anger. 
- Grammy Award-winning vocalist Sade has announced her highly anticipated return to the live stage, and fans in North America will see her first. Her tour begins on June 16, 2011, in Baltimore, MD, at the 1st Mariner Arena. 
- As a teacher of how to use one's mind to manifest the things a person wants, I very often get the objection, "But what if what I want isn't what the Universe, my Higher Self, wants for me?" 
- The Sanskrit for Horoscope is “Kundali”. The birth chart or natal chart in Sanskrit is then called “Janma Kundali”. By definition a horoscope depicts the position of all the planets in heaven for given date, time and sun sign. This date and time is critical because planets are in constant motion and their positions are continuously changing. 
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REVIEW - Ken Navarro – Dreaming of Trains
The new CD “Dreaming of Trains” by Ken Navarro (releasing nationally on March 16th 2010) is a dazzling display of multiple talents by the versatile guitarist. Navarro’s 19th release in a prolific and acclaimed career sparkles with innovation and delight at every turn. What struck me almost immediately, and kept on striking me throughout the disc, is a fearless sense of movement. Navarro leaps from tone center to tone center with joyous abandon, changes meter with deft ebullience, changes tempo midstream, shuffles mode at will. What might seem to the casual listener to be an overly cerebral, self-absorbed tactic, it is really nothing of the sort; to me, it is a gleeful statement of personal ideas that invites you to follow along; and rewards your tenacity with dimension, harmonic complexity, and textured nuance. The title cut is a tension-filled, ethereal piece, that demonstrates not only Navarro’s micrometered set of chops, but also showcases his deft arranging sense and atmospheric production sensibilities. I’m thrilled to hear such incredible attention to detail in the drum and percussion tracks; so often neglected on albums by solo instrument artists. The sound field is deep, wide, and focused, with a clarity that will startle you. Drummer Joel Rosenblatt (Manhattan Transfer, Spyro Gyra) is a true craftsman, and his work on this disc crackles with energy, and yet is settled, effortless, and compelling; while Navarro’s presentation of the percussion is upfront, deliberate, and meticulous.
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Navarro’s signature smoothness and even-handed playing is a joy to behold throughout the disc. His versatility in migrating from clean nylon string work to funky distortion and back in “The Buzz” is especially noteworthy. “Brazilian-phase” Metheny-esque influences can be heard in “Dream So Real”, but Navarro makes it his own with chordal movement and arranging density that creates a lush and precipitating atmosphere. The gentle giddiness of “Self Propelled” is leavened by a wonderful, modal planing eleventh/dominant harmonic sensibility that makes the resolutions truly satisfying. True Stories is a multi-movement tour de force with a riveting doubled melody and global feel that once again harkens the best of Metheny/Mays. “Shared Air” has a relentless throb, a fascinating counterpoint to the gentility of the melody. The subtlety of the drummer is brought into focus again on this piece. “Everything Being is Dancing” just flat boogies. A little clav feel, laid-back and funky drums, suddenly ornamented with a dense harmonic palette, with nuanced and sensitive bass work by Tom Kennedy (Al DiMeola, Dave Weckl), and perhaps the most spirited and inspired Navarro soloing on the disc. Breathless work. “The Stars, The Snow, The Fire” makes beautiful use of odd-meter’s levitating effects on a groove. Seamless transitions into swing and then into 4/4, then back punctuate the symphonic nature of the song. Keyboardist Jay Rowe (Special EFX, Marion Meadows) is particularly mesmerizing in this piece. The closer, Erik Satie’s “Gymnopedie No. 1” is an interesting counterpoint to the rest of the CD. While it is flawlessly executed, expressive, and interesting, I couldn’t help but wonder if the continuity of the album wasn’t compromised just a tad by this piece’s inclusion. I wasn’t bothered by it, but I did notice. A minor blemish at most (and I really had to nitpick to find this fault) on what is a genuinely riveting CD. If this is not up for Grammy® consideration, I shall be truly astounded. Get it. Now. Review ©2010 Philip G. Traynor KEN NAVARRO – DREAMING OF TRAINS - Purchase tis album at http://www.kennavarro.com
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Reviewed by Phil Traynor
