Albums, Evensong, music, new release, New Single, Newsletter, Podcast, Poetry

How Well Do You Know Za?

I’m dropping another single from the Trio album this month and wanted to share a little background on it’s conception.

The song has a metaphorically smiling lyric that prayerfully will challenge the listener a bit. The title was actually from a magazine article that I had stumbled upon. When I first saw it, I immediately recognized a lyrical idea that could be light in a comical sense, but at the same time thoughtfully spiritual. History has demonstrated to me on more than a few occasions how wonderfully guard-dropping this approach can be.

I’m always looking for a way to stir up the listener’s imagination, and hopefully conjure up some emotional response from them. In this case, maybe even some abstract thinking.

Musically the composition was once again a reaction to the Blicher, Hemmer, Gadd album called Omara, which dominated my playlist throughout the early months of 2022.

Lyrics:
Early in the morning, any time of day
Any time’s a good time, any kind of way
I can take it cold, any time at all
It goes down easy, in the local church hall
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

If I had my way, I’d always have more
More than may be normal, a note of folklore
Some cry, ‘oh no!, you can’t do that!’
Preaching to the misfit, like some green-eyed cat
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Oh won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

Don’t give me substitutes, don’t give me theories
No hypothetical miniseries
Just give me a slice, a verse or two
Yeah, I’m a greek guy, but any version will do

Album: Trio
Video Credit: E.M. | Pizza by Alfredo (dafont.com)
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Albums, music, new album, new release, New Single, Poetry, Video

How Well Do You Know ‘Za?

‘Za is the fourth single release from December’s Trio album. A sparse reimagining of the tradition trio setting.

This song has a metaphorically smiling lyric that should challenge the listener a bit. The title was actually from a magazine article that I had stumbled upon. I immediately recognized what I wanted to say, or maybe play with is a better explanation. I’m always looking for a way to stir up a listener’s imagination, and hopefully conjure up some emotional response from them. In this case, maybe even some abstract thinking.

Don’t give me substitutes, don’t give me theories
No hypothetical miniseries
Just give me a slice, a verse or two
Yeah, I’m a greek guy, but any version will do

I go traditional, I go New York
I go with fold it, or a knife and fork
I don’t go judging, so don’t judge me
Just offer me a bite, and let my manna be
So tell me?
Tell me, please?
Won’t you tell me?
How well do you know ‘Za?

© 2022 Eddy Mann
Hissongs | ASCAP

Album: Trio
Video Credits: EM | Pizza by Alfredo (Dafont.com)
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Albums, music, new album, new release, New Single, Poetry, Video

The DReam

A combination of things brought this song to life rather quickly. It was a year ago February (Black History Month), when I was inspired by the poem, ‘As I Grew Older‘ by Langston Hughes. The softening of time touched a nerve within me and I felt the need to comment on it, and so I did.

Musically as 2022 arrived I had been taking a deep dive into the organ trio Blicher, Hemmer, Gadd and their album, ‘Omara.’ Recalling a season quite a way back where I played 300 some dates in an organ trio, this arrangement became an outcome of the many smoke filled nights from that different world. I truly believe that when we write, perform, and listen to music it seeps deep into our soul and often needs some time to brew down there before creatively rising up in a new form.

The studio process was seamless, it really was uneventful other than my rather large grin that continued to grow through the sessions. There’s no excess on the whole Trio project, just the essentials.

I should add as a clarification that I included the DR in the title, ‘The DReam’ to honor Dr. Martin Luther King.

Lyrics:
A long, long time ago
So long ago I’ve forgotten
A notion filled my mind
A dream divinely begotten
But suddenly a distance appeared
Vanquished, the dream disappeared

A long, long shadow
Grew ever longer every day
In the darkness I struggled
Contentious in my way
But nothing by chance impressed
The dream dimmed and was suppressed

My credence, my steadfast credence
Strengthened my enchanted moonbeam
My journey will not be abandoned
Providence will shelter the dream

A long, long tomorrow
As long as the aim can see
Good fortune will indwell me
I’ve been reassured lovingly
That in the cards works a love supreme
A love that’ll ascertain the dream

Album: Trio
Video Credit: E.M. | 愚木混株 Cdd20
YouTube Link
Available at http://www.eddymann.com

Albums, Art, Art Work, music, new album, new release, New Single, Poetry, Video

For the Love of Art

We are by nature creative beings. We’re wired to be imaginative, to be innovative, and to be resourceful. Regardless of what we do for a living, we’ll do it better if we’re thinking as a visionary.

The title of this song was inspired by a random magazine article entitled For the Love of Vinyl, It grabbed my attention immediately and I found the lyric to be an easier than usual creation.

I had just read an inspiring Rich Kirkpatrick blog on our need be creative so I found myself within the creative flow very quickly.

We are created in the image of our Creator… so dare to be a dreamer.

Lyrics:
Life is a bohemial existence
With a disregarding tenet or two
With non-conventional thoughts and reason
And behavior that some might misconstrue

Life is a juvenescent sandbox
Where building roams beyond confines
Where boundless minds can wander
Coloring where there are no lines

Welcome to the splintered aggregation
Where odd resolve to get even
Curious for the love of art
And the courage to brave the unbelievin’

Life is a poetic string of ramblings
Written in the margins of the day
Multicolored snap-shots in couplets
A work of acrobatic wordplay

Life is a whimsical pallet
Daring you to conjure the extreme
Releasing your inherent rhapsody
For the love of art must venture to dream

For the love of art; write the unspoken
For the love of art; paint the unseen
For the love of art; voice the unheard
For the love of art

© 2022 Eddy Mann
Hissongs | ASCAP

Album: Trio
Video Credit: E.M.
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/RZZURiRreqs
Available at http://www.eddymann.com

Albums, Gifts, new album, new release, New Single, Newsletter, Poetry

The Great Dance Realized on ‘IHS’

Believing on the promise
Denying all happenstance
Prayerfully among the Three
Banding in the great dance
~ E.M.

With the release of ‘IHS,’ my eighteenth album, I’m overwhelmed with the journey I’ve been blessed to partake in. One never knows when life will unexpectedly create a turnabout, and all things common become the stranger, but as I realize this project coming to life, I’m resting in a niche that feels like favor.

Excitedly, I’m looking forward to seeing how these songs resonate with the world. Often in life we are asked to wait on His word, and this venture will no doubt require some patience on my part. So I take a deep breath and relish in the moment of quiet, because there’s still work to be done.

The great dance continues as this period of downtime has been abundantly fruitful. There are a number of projects in various forms of completion that are beckoning my time, and so as I return to my Loft sessions I pray you’ll be enlightened, energized, and entertained by ‘IHS.’

Moving about through the dawn of light
A ghostly luminary
Dancin’ around my stumbling tongue
Shuffling through the dictionary
Framing the flow in perfect love
The poetry of romance
Invited to coalesce the divine
Converging in the great dance
~ E.M.

Pray on,
Eddy

Albums, music, new album, new release, New Single, Video

Sons and Daughters

There is nothing that replaces family. We have an inherent need for kindredship. Our earthly tribe offers us comfort, understanding, and security. It’s the one place that we prayerfully are excepted just the way we are. But lost in our limited worldly existence, is the truth that we actually share in a much larger spiritual brother and sisterhood. The Author of all we know calls us sons and daughters. The Creator of the universe knows each of us by name and we are his children.

‘Creation’s not His final act
Beyond the wind and waters
Redemption is his final work
When in Christ we’re all sons and daughters’
E.M.

The inspiration for this song was from a meditation on 2 Corinthians 6:18 where we hear God saying, ‘… I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.’ This is actually a quote from 2 Samuel 7:14, and Isaiah 43:6.

My mother never knew her earthly father, but very early on she was blessed to embraced her heavenly one. Over the years that relationship grew to be unbelievably strong. She found in her earthly brokenness, a healing bond, a heavenly Father that she would never be separated from. She really was going home as her life here came to an end. She was going home to be with her ever loving Father in heaven.

It’s that kind of love that we’re all invited into. It’s that kind of endless love that our Father pours out on us each day. It’s that kind of unimaginable love that we’re capable of as his children, made in his image, created as family here and for eternity.

‘Surrender your heart
Surrender your life
Surrender your bark
Surrendered your bite
Peace released from the heavens above
Misery ceased
In the arms of love’
E.M.

I wanted the soundscape to be a driving force. To negotiate through this life requires a deep spiritual strength. The darkness that surround us can be daunting if not downright demanding. So I stepped into a different sonic space to create what I felt was a strong supporting platform for this timeless message.

It’s certainly a return to some of my early roots, and it was actually quite a bit of fun to crank up the volume again. The early response has been very favorable and I’m looking forward to the moment when we can bring it to life in a live setting.

Until that time please feel free to share your thoughts on the song and on the entire album which is dropping February 19, 2021.

Pray on,
Eddy

Albums, music

IHS

In His Service (IHS) will mean something different to each of us. Naturally there will be some over lapping, but the actual act of serving will look and sound different just as each of us look and sound different. That being said, a life of servanthood is the backdrop for this particular project. The songs within were written from a grateful place of giving. A realization of what has been called my life, and what my participation can bring in return.

In doing some soul searching I found my most pleasant experiences in life were of the giving sense.
E.M.

In doing some soul searching I found my most pleasant experiences in life were of the giving sense. They were times and places where I stepped out of the crowd and gave something of myself. It didn’t have to be financial, in fact I believe the acts of personal involvement and the offering of time and place were of greater reward.

When I say reward I’m referring to the feeling of contentment that surrounds one’s self when they help someone out in some manner. Sacrificing my time and gifts has never been anything less than enjoyable. Especially in hindsight when I see the response on the recipients faces.

So this album took root as a season of reflection. It took hold of me and led me down a path of reminiscing with friends, looking back through photos, and prayerful discernment. The actual writing and recording went by very quickly without much re-writing and distraction. Being cooped up and isolated for the past year made for an abundance of time to create, so I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I found something positive in the experience.

The album drops Friday, February 19, 2021. It’s my hope that it’ll bring some color to what often has become a very black and white world. In His Service (IHS) means getting involved on your level whatever that may be. Being IHS means serving those around you whatever their needs may be. You have the ability to change a life with very little effort, with very little time , and with very little inconvenience. I challenge you to do your part. I know you’ll feel good about it in the afterglow.

Pray on,
Eddy

Albums, Gifts, music, Newsletter, Video

Listen and Love

We probably don’t listen as well as we’re designed. If we did, then scripture, and the lessons within, would produce much more love and compassion in the world. It exists, but it probably pales in compassion to our creator’s hopes. So when I wrote this, I was doing a deep dive into what nature offers us each day in the way of invitation and inspiration. The Kingdom is in constant conversation with us everyday. It never truly sleeps, it is fluid in that it is alive and changing continually. Loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) requires us to hear that conversation and to be a part if it. It’s only in that neighborhood that we can genuinely listen and love.

On September 25, I’ll be releasing my seventeenth album ‘Pray On.’ It’s my prayer that these songs will enable you to find some encouragement and optimism as you journey forward.

Pray on,
Eddy

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Lyrics:
There’s a bird in a tree, and it’s chirping at me
Listen and love
There’s some moss hanging free, and it’s swaying at me
Listen and love

There’s a breeze from the sea, and it’s hailing me
Listen and love
There’s some shade that’s sincere, and it’s inviting me near
Listen and love

Listen, Oh listen
Listen and love
All across the universe
Listen and love
Oh won’t you, listen and love

There’s a mist in the air, and it’s raining somewhere
Listen and love
There’s a cloud hovering by, and it’s whispering why
We should… listen and love

There’s a leaf floating free, and it’s winking at me
Listen and love
There’s a stillness about, and it’s calling me out
Listen & love

There’s a full moon tonight, and it’s making things right
Listen and love
There’s a flower in bloom, and she’s making me swoon
There’s a rain pouring down , and it’s flipping’ my frown
Listen and love
There’s a rainbow above, and it’s promising love
Listen and love

There’s some wind in the trees, and it’s buckling my knees
There’s a tide rolling in, and it’s late again
Oh we should, listen and love
Oh won’t you, listen and love
Why don’t we, listen and love

Albums, Gifts, Mannerism, music, Newsletter, Poetry, Video

Pray On!

Those of you who know me well, know that I’ve been using “Pray on!” as a farewell for twenty-plus years. So I guess it was only a matter of time before it became the focus of a song. A short while ago, I was meditating on Proverbs 1:33 when this evolved into a song idea.

‘Peace lies in the heart of the believer
Calm lies in the hands of compassion
Love lies in the words of the one, who’ll pray on, so pray on’
~ E.M.

It seemed timely when I first wrote it, and now today it feels even more fitting as we find our way forward through this time challenging season.

Though it hasn’t seen the light of day as of this writing, I’m excited about introducing it here in video form, and looking forward to unveiling it live in the near future.

Album: Unreleased

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Lyrics:
Peace lies in the heart of the believer
Calm lies in the hands of compassion
Love lies in the words of the one
who’ll pray on, so pray on

Quiet’s in the heart of the believer
Grace lies in the hands of compassion
Love lies in the words of the one
who’ll pray on, so pray on

Fair is the lone star that smiles amongst the clouds
Bright’s the tiny light amongst the darkness
When love shines in the midst of judgment
Hope is the one that’ll pray on

Joy lies in the heart of the believer
Mercy’s in the hands of compassion
Love lies in the words of the one
who’ll pray on, so pray on

Pray on
Pray on
Pray on
On and on

Albums, Gifts, Mannerism, music, Poetry, Video

All Are Welcome

‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians 3:28 ESV), and there you have it, in God’s eyes we are one.

There’s a church not far from my northern home, which looks like, and sounds like, the harmony, and color of the world. I believe it’s exactly as God had imagined. All are welcome in His house.

This was written as a gathering song for worship, it has brought my ministry into places that I never would have imagined. It is impossible to understand the hand of God and how he uses our gifts, but every once in a which we catch a glimpse, and when we do, it’s divine.

Pray on,
Eddy

Album: Something Beautiful & New

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Lyrics:
All are welcome to gather as one
All are welcome to worship the Son
All are welcome every color and creed
All are welcome whatever your need

So rise up and praise the King
Lift your voice to Him and sing
All glory to the risen One
To the Savior, God’s own Son

All are welcome to hear His voice
All are welcome to shout and rejoice
All are welcome to hear His word
All are welcome to share what you heard

All are welcome here
All are welcome here

All are welcome as sister and brother
All are welcome as one another
All are welcome across the land
All are welcome God’s Kingdom’s at hand

Works

One Mann's wandering thoughts…

Category Archives: Albums

The DReam

For the Love of Art

Sons and Daughters

IHS

All Are Welcome