Happy Jazzy New Year!

Happy New Year 2012!

Blessings to you from Zach, Faith, Laila, Zane, Takesha, Zach II, and D'Angelos

We are here! The year 2012! May this day mark the beginning of new territories enlarging for you! Or, perhaps this is your opportunity to step back, re-evaluate, and revisit a particular challenge with a fresh perspective, a renewed strength, and new wisdom. In everything, let this year be one of encouragement, thankfulness, and joy…

Namaste,
Zach


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I Hear The Sound…of Jazz Organ

Hammond B3 with Leslie 122

Hammond B3 with Leslie 122

Hello dear Readers,

It has been some time since my last post in September…hectic schedules and a series of unfortunate events had my attention lately. Nevertheless – I’m still standing!

As a fresh start, let me share the most recent post from my Jazz Corner blog on the WKSK “The Heat” website. If you enjoy jazz organ, or any Hammond organ playing, this one’s for you! You’ll find it at www.wksktheheat.com/wksktheheat2/2011/10/12/i-hear-the-sound-of-jazz-organ; or, simply click the “Jazz Corner” button on any WKSK webpage.

And while you’re reading, enjoy the best R&B and Smooth Jazz radio station on the ‘net, WKSK “The Heat” at www.wksktheheat.com. Just click on the “Listen” banner.

Namaste,
Zach

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The Healing Power of Music – Part II

Tonight I spent some more time researching the arts’ benefits to therapy, healing, and quality of life in healthcare, particularly in long-term care settings. Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases seem to be the overwhelming maladies in senior care situations. However, I am learning that in many cases, dementia sufferers have unimpaired memories and skills safely tucked away that can unlocked and activated with the right stimuli or with “redirection” (changing focus while still acknowledging a perceived need).

For example, a San Francisco-area elder law attorney blogged his experiences as a jazz musician playing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities (“Does Music Help Alzheimer’s Patients?”). He shared that many residents could tell him the name of tunes he played, and how the tunes related to their own lives, despite their apparent loss of cognition. He also referenced a study about four New Orleans jazzmen in their 80′s who had played together for over 50 years. At the time of the study, they did not recognize each other or know each other’s names. However, on the count of three, they all picked up their instruments and played “When The Saints Come Marching Home” perfectly.

As another example, Marlina Teich is a Bay Area jazz guitarist and singer who understands and pursues serving Alzheimer’s patients with her music. In fact, she started an organization called Jazzheimers to accomplish that mission. You can find press related to her efforts here.

My friends at Norfolk, Virginia-based Tidewater Arts Outreach maintain a blog that discusses the arts in healthcare. There is a wonderful video posted there which I’d like to share here:

This video is actually a trailer for a DVD documentary I Remember Better When I Paint: Treating Alzheimer’s through the Creative Arts which is narrated by legendary actress Olivia de Havilland.

As you can see, arts is a very viable and complimentary alternative to pharmaceutical-based Alzheimer’s care. By the way, if you enjoy timeless jazz standards, Marlina’s My Love Waits There is available for your enjoyment!

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The Healing Power of Music

“Greet each day with your eyes and ears open to beauty, your mind open to new ideas, and your heart open to love.” – Anonymous

For as long as I can remember, I have felt that music and the arts were powerful in affecting – and even changing – the mind, the heart, and the physical body.

Because of the many words of encouragement I received over the years and, more recently, my first-hand experiences with Tidewater Arts Outreach (TAO), I am convinced that I should further my musical interests, research, and practice into areas of “[promoting] human interaction, happiness, and healing for people who have limited access to the arts because of health, economic, or social circumstances” (quoted from the TAO website).

So for starters, here’s a link to an L.A. Times article I came across tonight. I’ll be sharing more of my findings and personal experiences in the days and weeks to come.

Peace & Blessings,
Zach

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What’s New?

What’s new? For starters, it’s a new day. A new day of new challenges and new triumphs.

First day of school...

The kids' first day of school 2011-2012.

Sometimes we smile. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes it takes an inner strength – or other people – to help us to smile. No matter what though…smile and keep smiling. It could be worse.

Do what it takes (legally and ethically, of course) to find the joy that really does exist. Find your purpose in life – I think that’s at the root of it all. I can list a lot of things that I wish were different in my life…but applying the old cliche “count your blessings” trumps them all.

So what’s new for you today? If you’re reading this, your lease on life here on earth has been renewed. You can smile on that one.

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New website is “LIVE”!

My new zachbridges.com site is now live. The domain no longer points to the ReverbNation profile, but to an externally hosted site/blog.

-Zach

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Still workin’…

I’m still working on my new website (this one)…tweaking things before taking it “live” with my domain address (zachbridges.com) – which currently points to my ReverbNation profile.

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This Is The Year Of…

So here we are, once again at the dawn of another new year, 2011. And of course, this is the time when many of us think of, utter, and/or write down new resolutions, plans, and promises.

How will you fill in the blank and complete the statement, “This is the year of…”? Like you, I have my own personal thoughts on that. But at the forefront of all that I desire to do and accomplish is “love.” In all my dealings with people, business or personal, I will endeavor to be kind, honest, and humble; in other words, treating others as I would like to be treated.

Love, and be loved; serve, and be served. Everything else will fall into place, and no good thing will be withheld from you!

Blessings to you,
Zach

(References: Matthew 22:38-40; 1 Corinthians 13:3-5; Romans 13:8-10; Psalm 84:11)

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Progress!

It’s been almost a year, but the CD project is coming along very well. However, in anything, the whole journey is often more enriching than the swift running of the race. Circumstances and roadblocks along the way carry great value in the way of lessons learned, making the end result so much more meaningful. New friendships, creative partnerships, and continuous learning in my craft are some of the benefits I have experienced and will continue to experience.

Progress…I’m thinking of it in terms of a “progression” more so than just “checking the blocks.”

In all you do and work toward, enjoy the ride!

Z

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