Synaptic Studios

Old Dog New Tricks MP3 Bundle Now Available

Gil Namur — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:53:19 +0000

The Old Dog New Tricks CD is now available as an MP3 Bundle which includes all the songs from the CD and the cover art for $5.00 CDN!

Pop over to gilnamur.com to take advantage of this great offer!

If you are not familiar with this music, there are 4 free downloads here.

My Top 10 Most Influential Albums Of The 70s

Gil Namur — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:20:31 +0000

Influenced by the music of others, my journey as a musician has taken many interesting turns. Recently, I wondered what 10 albums from the 70s were the most influential in my development as a guitar player and song writer.

Read this and please comment At Life As A Human

Ian Shipclark: Tall Ships

Gil Namur — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:26:03 +0000

One of the great things about having a website or blog is the ability to share what others have done, what they have achieved and what they have overcome. I have known Ian for over a decade. Right from day one, we connected at many different levels and he has become a very important friend in my life.

A while back, Ian told me he was working on his song Tall Ships which he had often spoken about over the years. Last week when he told me it was finished, I told him I really wanted to hear it and that I would be more than happy to post it here at Synaptic Studios. I asked him to include a narrative about the song when he sent it to me. I really enjoyed Tall Ships .. but what I didn’t expect was this wonderfully written piece that offers a glimpse into the heart of a very good man. The song link is at end of the article. Thank you Ian for sharing this with us!

Tall Ships – A true story of a song and of one soul’s journey home.
By Ian Shipclark

This song came out of a convergence of two events; a tall ships festival in Victoria’s inner harbour, and a mid-life crisis in Ian’s inner soul.

I was heading into the office very early on a Friday morning and decided to detour down to the harbour to get a look at the big sailing ships, minus the crowds and lineups.

My life was, on the surface, ‘on track’. I parked my Jaguar XJ in the lot and stepped my Gucci loafers out onto the tarmac. I was wearing a thousand dollar suit, and my IT consulting business was bringing me a fat six figure income every year. I was a ‘success’, and I was absolutely miserable.

It was just past dawn, still working on the morning’s first grande latte, and already my Blackberry was nagging me with the day’s commitments. I wanted to pitch it into the harbour except that I had paid five hundred dollars for it. Instead I threw it onto the seat of the Jag, automatically grabbed my date minder out of habit, and walked over to the ships.

They sat serene and majestic in the soft morning light, safely secured with hefty docking lines the evening before by their human caretakers. The smell of wood, canvas and rope filled the salty harbour air and evoked tales of adventure on the high seas.

Standing in front of a full rigged ship, I looked up at her masts reaching to the heavens. The broad yardarms with neatly furled sails, the white wind-engines that give her life, and the precise maze of rigging holding everything together. The crow’s-nests beckoned me up with the promise of an unobstructed view, not just to the distant horizon where sea and sky meet, but to the true path that my life was supposed to be on. A view to that place on the horizon where body, mind and spirit meet; in harmony and in balance. The two very things that my life was completely devoid of at that time. Staring up at the tall ships, something stirred deep in my soul, and in that moment my entire life changed.

I sat down on a harbour bench, opened up my date minder, and wrote this song in less than an hour. Though the lyrics speak of a life in crisis, it is in the end a song of redemption, and of hope. Of a man finding his bearings, and of a soul coming home to itself, rediscovering the true path it had wandered away from so many years before.

The Jaguar is long gone, as are the Gucci’s, as is the Blackberry. I still work, but now I wear Hawaiian shirts to work. Haven’t worn a suit since, and no longer own one. The executive haircut morphed over time into a pony tail that now stretches down the middle of my back. ( Editors note .. I am bringing my camera next time I see Ian so we can show you what he means!) My left ear sports pirate gold along with a diamond stud. I bought the boat I had dreamed about in my youth; and I now live on her. And I’ve never been happier.

That day on the docks, staring up at the tall ships, was the beginning of a multitude of changes in my life, too numerous to list here, and most deeply personal. Some were outward positive lifestyle changes, towards a simpler and far healthier existence. But the most profound changes, the really important ones, began deep on the inside, and slowly over time with the help of yoga and meditation have manifested themselves in a radically changed human being.

Do not fear embracing what others may label as your ‘mid-life crisis’. It may be just what the doctor ordered. It may turn out to be for you, as it was for me, the best thing that ever happened. Just listen to your heart. Get quiet, and really listen. You will know what is authentic truth, and what is just ‘noise’ – mostly from your head. As the saying goes, don’t believe everything you think. You just might re-discover yourself, who you really are without the masks and without the compulsive need to play the roles. And in the process find that the real you, the person you are completely comfortable with and at ease in being, was actually never very far away at all; it just seemed like it at the time.

My hope is that Tall Ships speaks to you in some small way that is meaningful in your life. If nothing else, may it be just a wistful little sea shanty that you can tap your foot to.

It is multi-tracked as I am playing all instruments except percussion, therefore deep-hearted thanks is due to my buddy Jeff for his endless patience and amazing skill in engineering and mixing it in his Sidney studio. And to my buddy Gil – a true renaissance man – for putting it up on his site, free for anyone who cares to listen to it. From the very beginning I always heard Valdy’s voice in my head singing this tune as kind of a ‘song of the Salish Sea’. Maybe he’ll give it a listen. Not important either way as it’s not mine any more; it has already served its purpose to me in blessing my life; it belongs to the cosmos now.

Namaste,

Ian Shipclark

Listen To – Tall Ships – By Ian Shipclark

Ross Holloway – Mankind’s Attitude

Gil Namur — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:49:38 +0000

I was speaking with my good friend Ross Holloway yesterday who called to fill me in on what has been happening with his latest project.

Ross is a gifted singer/songwriter who last year released a few new songs. One of them is called Mankind’s Attitude the other, How Long. They are dedicated to the troops in Afghanistan and indeed all of those who serve our country to keep it safe whether here or on foreign soil. His website has the following dedication to them:

“To all of the men and women who have volunteered to put themselves in the “LINE OF FIRE” for all of us, and to all of your families, I wanted to say most sincerely “THANK YOU” from myself and my family. We are grateful.”

Ross was telling me how excited he is about the exposure his music has been receiving and was happy to hear it was being downloaded by the men and women who he had hoped would be moved and inspired by his music. Now, he has decided to make these songs available to all of us for free and encourages us to share them with our friends and family.

So without further ado, check out these 2 excellent songs from Ross Holloway!

Listen To: Mankind’s Attitude

Listen To: How Long

Ross has also provided us with links to an excellent download package. This package includes:

The 2 songs plus the 2 TV versions which do not have the lead vocals so you can sing along to them. The download file includes all the songs in WAV & MP3 formats as well as a convenient zip file to e-mail your friends and family.
The music charts for the songs in .PDF format.
All of the covers for the Commercial CD in .JPG format. If you or others would like to make a cover for your CD cases, Ross suggests the “Left Inside Cover” and the “Back Cover” because they have all of the information on them.
One document titled: “Information & Copyright Permission Document (MA & HL – Dec, 2010).doc” which states you have his permission to share the download with anyone you would like to share it with. It also explains the TV Versions.

Click on either of the following links to download the package. If your browser does not open a save screen, just right mouse button click on the link and choose Save Link As or Save Target As to save it to your computer.

Main Download

Mirror Download (if you are in the UK this one might be faster for you)

I hope that you enjoy Ross’s songs as much as I have and that you will share this with your friends. Remember to use the share options at the end of this post and spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and Stumbleupon!

Now .. here is a bit more information on Ross!

About Ross Holloway:

Ross Holloway has been in the music industry for over 35 years as a Singer/Songwriter, Musician, Recording Engineer, and Producer. As a Concert Performer, Ross has had the honour and pleasure of opening for PETER FRAMPTON, J.GEILS, EDGAR WINTER, ROXY MUSIC, ROBERTA FLACK, SUPERTRAMP, JOHN MAYALL, and THE BEE GEES to name just a few, and has been on and off the concert circuit for many years.

Ross has performed across Canada from the “FORUM” in Montreal and the “NATIONAL ARTS CENTER” in Ottawa, to the “SOUTHERN JUBILEE AUDITORIUM” in Calgary, “NORTHERN JUBILEE AUDITORIUM” in Edmonton, and the “QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE” in Vancouver. He has also performed in many other venues across Canada.

If you would like to contact Ross, you can visit his site at ONTRAC MUSIC LTD.

You can also send him a message via his contact form.

It’s Never Too Late to Learn the Guitar

Gil Namur — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:53:07 +0000

As we head into the New Year, many of us will be making those familiar New Years resolutions. Why not make one about engaging a passion, like learning to play the guitar?

A while back I wrote an article suggesting that it’s never too late to embrace our passions. In it, I mentioned how when I used to teach guitar, some of the students’ parents would tell me how they had always wanted to play the guitar but felt they were too old to start now. Fortunately, some of them changed their minds and came to me for advice. Over the years, many of my friends have asked me for similar guidance.

So, if you have always wanted to play guitar, here are some tips to get you going in the right direction.

Read the rest of the article at Life As A Human

John McLaughlin: Remember Shakti – Giriras Sudha

Chris Finch — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:00:18 +0000

Regarded as one the worlds finest jazz fusion guitarists, John McLaughlin’s extraordinary guitar playing has inspired professional and aspiring guitarists for decades. His musical and spiritual path has led him to play in a depth of styles ranging from Jazz Fusion to Classical and Indian Music.

Some of his early session playing can be heard on Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. In his dynamic career John has also collaborated with a staggering range of brilliant musicians, such as Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams, James Taylor, Carlos Santana, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea.

As a solo artist, John garnered success in the early seventies through his acoustic album My Goals Beyond. Shortly following this release saw John form the groundbreaking electric fusion group The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Through this band John created highly developed compositions delivered with unforeseen virtuosic ability. Later collaborations with guitarists Paco de Lucia and Al Di Meola are great examples of his acoustic abilities.

This clip features John Mclaughlin playing with his group Remember Shakti in 2000. This is a reunion of his 70’s group Shakti, which drew from Jazz and traditional Indian music. This piece is particularly inspiring as it shows John’s remarkable technique while also remaining melodic and engaging.

Visit John McLaughlin

Freddie King: Ain’t Nobody’s Business

Chris Finch — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:10:58 +0000

Known as one of the “Three Kings of Blues Guitar”, along with BB King and Albert King, Freddie emerged from Texas as one of the most influential and powerful blues guitarists. A dynamic stage performer, Freddie had a command on both vocals and guitar. A move to Chicago in 1950 allowed him to see blues legends such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. These electric players would prove to be very inspirational to Freddie, who grew up listening to country blues players: such as Lightnin’ Hopkins and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Through the 1960’s Freddie became a major part of the modern Chicago blues scene. A few of his hits, which include: I’m Tore Down, Hideaway, and The Stumble, are considered blues guitar classics.

Freddie was a passionate musician and had an aggressive approach to the guitar. He played with thumb and index finger picks, which were a large part of his rhythmic sound and tone. Popular blues rock guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, were all influenced by his playing. Freddie King passed away on December 28th, 1976 at the age of 42.

This clip is from a live performance in South Carolina in 1972. This is excellent footage of a powerful singer and one of the best blues guitarists.

Visit Freddie King

Peter Gabriel’s Secret World

Chris Finch — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:12:10 +0000

“Sometimes, when you look around, everything seems still and calm on the surface. And then you detect a little disturbance and you know for sure that underneath the surface lies some other secret world.” — Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel is an extremely passionate musician and songwriter who has earned international acclaim, not only for his music but also for his human rights work and his promotion of world music.

Born on February 13, 1950, Gabriel grew up on a farm in Woking, Surrey, England.

His childhood was full of outdoor exploration, which greatly fueled his creative imagination … read the rest of this artcile at Life As A Human

Derek Trucks: Desdemona

Chris Finch — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:11:45 +0000

Few guitarists have achieved the level of notoriety that Derek Trucks has at such an early stage in their career. Born in 1979, the Grammy nominated guitarist began playing at age 9 and by age 11 was performing gigs. It was at this time where he was invited to sit in with The Allman Brothers Band, in which his uncle Butch Trucks was a founding member. Derek received a genuine music education through touring and sitting in as a special guest with the band. Throughout his teens Derek was introduced to some music’s finest, sitting in with legends such as Bob Dylan and Buddy Guy. In 1999, he officially became a member of the Allman Brothers Band.

Derek is a truly gifted guitarist who toured extensively through his twenties. In 2006 he juggled schedules with The Allman Brothers Band, The Derek Trucks Band, and a world tour featuring him alongside Eric Clapton. Through his dedication he has emerged as one of the finest guitarists in contemporary music. A master of the bottleneck slide guitar, Derek incorporates blues, jazz, and world music into his southern rock style. Both with and without the slide he produces incredibly pure and vocal sounds on the guitar. Derek commonly plays with only his fingers, which allows him to create naturally flowing phrases with a distinctive rich tone.

This is a clip of Derek Trucks performing with the Allman Brothers Band in New York City in 2003. It’s an outstanding example of his playing and the expressive power of the guitar.

Visit Derek Trucks

Lenny Breau: You Needed Me

Chris Finch — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:49:48 +0000

Born in Auburn, Maine to a musical family, Lenny Breau began playing the guitar at age 8. His parents were both professional musicians who played together in their touring country band, “Lone Pine and Betty Cody”. By age 14 he was the lead guitarist in their band where he first performed and recorded professionally. The family eventually moved to Winnipeg when Lenny was 16, where he branched out on his own and developed a keen interest in Jazz music. Throughout his career, Lenny worked in many aspects of the music industry, teaching and writing for Guitar Player Magazine. However, live performance was always a focus as it allowed him to be artistically expressive and develop his depth of guitar techniques. Lenny also received significant exposure through his session work with CBC radio and television, even landing his own television show. It was a recording of The Lenny Breau Show which caught the attention of guitar legend Chet Atkins. Their mutual respect and ensuing friendship led to two Lenny Breau albums released thought RCA records.

While Lenny never attained success on a mainstream commercial level, his virtuosic jazz fingerstyle technique was groundbreaking. A player with an eclectic taste, Lenny incorporated country, flamenco, and jazz into his creative and unmatched sound. His highly developed picking hand and left hand facility allowed him to comp chords and play melodies for himself simultaneously. He also developed the ability to produce complex passages using harmonics.

Lenny’s life was tragically taken on August 12, 1984. The circumstances surrounding his death were unclear as his case still remains unsolved. These two clips are an example of the growth and diversity in Lenny’s playing. They truly show why he still remains a strong inspiration to some of the world’s greatest guitarists.

Visit Lenny Breau