This should catch the eye of several people around here: impnow.com

It's an artist-specific networking and promotional site. Their music "genre" selections alone are impressive to a superficial scan. Need a bagpipe player, what about a countertenor or a crumhorn player? They're all options.

Lest I throw you non-music related people off, there's sections for visual arts, writing, acting, video, fashion, and even fans.

So the other night (Monday), I was listening with J. to the "'Dr.' Rick Blues Pro-jet" at JavaMonkey--probably the last time I'll get to hear them. I enjoyed it very much. It was...exhilarating to hear the improvisation taking place on stage. Just inspiring to hear three guys who are so in tune with their art, and enjoy doing it so much.

It made me recall Kurt Vonnegut's statement that "all music is sacred." I liked it when I first heard it (surprised as I was that a non-musician held that much respect for the art, as well as the fact that I still hadn't read any of his works and he had just died), and I like it still.

I pondered that quote for most of the second set. Yesterday I caught a bit of the Colbert Report, and heard Simon Schama describing art as bringing beauty to the world. It provided a nice bit of resonance to the Vonnegut quote.

I started a small revision on my SATB arrangement of O Magnum Mysterium, and am still stuck with David's Lament, but I think I may have a solution to part of my problems with the latter.

Also, the new website will probably launch soon, so stay tuned.