Category: Music & Concert Specials
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42 Years Ago, in a High School Not So Far Away (A Tempus Fugit Gig)
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Billy Joel, Blogging, Cold War (1945-1991), Computers, John Williams (Composer), Life in Florida, Life in Miami (1972-2016), Life in South Florida, Personal History, Personal Thoughts, Personal Thoughts, South Miami Senior High School, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Tempus fugit, U.S. History42 Years Ago, in a High School Not So Far Away…. Late Morning, Tuesday, June 17, 2025 — Miami, Florida “It was only high school, after all—arguably one of the most bizarre periods in a person’s life. How anyone emerges well-adjusted is nothing short of a miracle.” — E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly A…
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Where Time’s Winds Blow: The Scene That Started It All
Every story has a beginning. Sometimes, that beginning is clear and deliberate—a spark of inspiration that feels undeniable. Other times, it sneaks up on you, a seemingly small moment that quietly takes root, only revealing its true significance years later. For Reunion: A Story, that moment came in the late 1980s when I was a…
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More Musings for Mother’s Day 2025: Of Mothers, Sons…and Music
Evening, Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Miami, Florida Mother’s Day always brings a mix of emotions. The ache of missing my mother is ever-present, but today, I choose to celebrate the memories—the quiet, joyful moments that defined our bond. Mom and I shared an unspoken connection through the things we loved: books, films, dogs, and…
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Saturday Serenade: Some of My Favorite Piano Pieces*
Midday/Early Afternoon, Saturday, January 4, 2025, Miami, Florida * Including piano transcriptions of orchestral compositions. Hi, everyone. I’m feeling a bit better today, but still dealing with a persistent cold. I’m exhausted from the symptoms and medication. Instead of my usual long blog post, here are some of my favorite piano performances. Enjoy!
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Evening Reflections in Madison, NH
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Autumn 2024, Creative Writing, Donating “Reunion: A Story” to the Conway Public Library, John Williams (Composer), John Williams in Vienna, John Williams Live in Vienna (2020 Album), John Williams: Live in Vienna, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Madison (NH), Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Music & Concert Specials, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: CodaOn the evening of September 28, 2024, in Madison, New Hampshire, a chill settled in as night fell. After visiting the mailboxes with Patti’s husband, Marc, the narrator had a relaxing day, enjoying pizza and a brief walk. They listened to John Williams’ film scores while contemplating the fate of their novella, “Reunion: A Story,”…
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A Late Week Musicfest (Inspired by a Facebook Exchange with Frank)
On a Thursday afternoon, my friend Frank and I discussed Taylor Swift’s music on Facebook. I respect her talents and support for Kamala Harris, but her music isn’t my thing. I prefer older pop/rock, jazz, Broadway, classical, folk and country, and even international tracks like “La vie en rose” by Edith Piaf.
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Narrative Threads: A Conversation on Crafting the Reunion Duology, Part the Fourteenth
Music and Emotion: Maddie is a concert pianist for the New York Philharmonic. How did you use music to enhance the emotional depth of the story? Are there specific pieces of music that played a significant role in the narrative? Music is a huge deal in the Reunion Duology, and it shapes the story in…
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Narrative Threads: A Conversation on Crafting the Reunion Duology, Part the Thirteenth
The author of “Reunion: Coda” drew inspiration from Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” to implement a dual timeline approach. This allowed for a seamless transition between early 1980s South Florida and early 2000s New York City. The story features Jim and Marty’s high school journey and Jim’s romance with Maddie, presented through alternating…
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May the Fourth be With You: Music to Help Fans Celebrate ‘Star Wars Day’
Today is May the Fourth be With You Day, so instead of a usual blog entry, here are music videos featuring themes from the space fantasy series “Star Wars.” May the Force be with you.
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More of My Top Fives: A (Hopefully) Self-Explanatory Set of Five ‘Favorites’ Lists
More of My Top Fives: A (Hopefully) Self-Explanatory Set of Five ‘Favorites’ Lists For my friend Patti Aliventi. Music Albums – Movie Soundtracks Music Albums – Classical Music Albums – Pop/Rock Music Albums – Jazz/Standards Music Albums – Miscellaneous
A Certain Point of View, Too 