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A FEW FREE THOUGHTS: Moonshine
by Ken Hurley

Let’s begin by asking, “Does this sentence remind you of sex?” Take a moment. Think about it. Sensual. Yes. Yeesss. Just a little longer. Ok, let’s continue.
     Her name is Moonshine. Her birth name was Amy but she changed her name in college to reflect her clandestine hobby of sipping bathtub gin at night with the boys in the rough near hole nine while star gazing and giggling over hedonistic leanings. By hedonistic leanings, I mean, the boys. I know. I was one of them.
      We dated for awhile in college but our arguments over which one of us was more disappointed with the other caused us to break up.
      Moonshine was a self-confessed  hyperbolic, histrionic, bloviating, boorish, boneheaded, ill-informed, exagerating, argumentative, status seeking, loud, mistrustful yet a fascinating libertine and vulgarian who was so skeptical she couldn’t even believe in herself. Piercings, tats, Kools, and leather. She’s a free spirit and yes, she is a friend.
     She wasn’t always so self-aware that she could offer such a harsh critique of herself. It took decades. She still struggles with self-identification.
     She didn’t have a pleasant manner when she realized she wasn’t getting her way. She was so self-absorbed and blinded by her ill-formed ideology that she stumbled through every pit a pure ideological approach to life has to offer. She had zero concept that the world or her friends could have different opinions than she. Yet, she was desperate to change the world.
      She worked hard at the arguments she enjoyed as long as she felt in the end she was right. She was like shampoo, only for yelling. She would yell. Repeat. Yell again. All to get her way often over the most insignificant issues.
     She thought she was right even after it was clear she was merely rationalizing to protect her hurt feelings. Like the Fox in the Fox and the Grapes fable.
    One day after she and I got into a little brouhaha (mosty ha ha for me) over who would win in a fight: Probiotics or Antibiotics? Moonshine realized the art of relaxed communication was preferable to her ways and stopped dancing with her anger. Overnight she stopped her maddening quest to change the world to fit her needs. Her dubious and doubtful outlook eased as she began to embrace the joys of life without being overly critical. She became remarkably accepting of others. She even developed an enriched sixth sense of humor. She changed herself and found what she describes as tranquility of mind. Others might say inner peace. She taught herself how to experience fully the present moment. She finally settled on a laissez-faire approach that resembeled an Epicurean Socratic Marxist. And by Marxist, I mean the Groucho variety. Her stuggles with the world ended when she learned to release, relax, let go, and laugh.
     Moonshine is an illustrative example of how one of the greatest attributes we humans have is the ability to change our mind. To do so we need to understand our own thoughts. We don’t always have to be right. And, it’s likely, most of us are not. 
     We must learn how to change our mind before we can change the world.
     Still, just as the sun rises and sets, Moonshine may indeed one day change the world. I know she tries. 
     The question remains, does this sentence remind you of sex? Take a moment.

    

Pliny the Elder
by Ken Hurley
Pliny the Elder was first called Pliny the Elder by a respectful eight year old boy when Pliny the Elder was a nine year old elementary student cracking wise with his weary old grammaticus.
      “The only certainty is that nothing is certain!” Pliny the Elder would shout in Greek then Latin as he yanked the teacher’s tunic to his ankles. Embarrassment for the teacher. Giggles for the children.
      Pliny the Elder was born Gaius Plinius Secundus (23 to 79 A.D.) but insisted that he always be addressed as Pliny the Elder to differentiate from all the other Pliny’s, most notably his nephew, Pliny the Younger. Lessor known Pliny’s are: Pliny the Middle Aged, Pliny the Retired, Pliny the Kid, and Pliny the Pleb (no relation).
      There is lots of obstinate and pervasive misinformation among historians and gossips regarding the great Roman scholar, historian, officer, lawyer, author, naturalist, corpulent and affable, Pliny the Elder. I’m here to set the wobbly record straight.
      Pliny the Elder was as respected and accomplished as one could be living under the chaotic and tyrannical rule of Emperor Nero. Take a moment to remember Nero chose suicide at 30 years alive after being declared a public enemy by the Roman Senate in Absentia. I have a friend who lives in Cognito which is close to Absentia. Nero stabbed himself in the neck. Efforts by others to stop the bleeding failed while Nero gurggled his last words, ‘Too late’.
      Wikipedia is a dominant free global online information source founded in 2001 that is often our first reference search but should not be considered a definitive source because it can be updated by any boorish schlub at anytime with good information, misinformation, or disinformation.
      Wikipedia is a portmanteau from “wikiwiki” which means ‘fast’ in that old Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family now known as the Hawaiian language; and “pedia”, which I suppose somehow relates to learning.
      Before Wikipedia, all the facts we wanted were found in heavy physical page turners like Encyclopædia Britannica, The World Book, and Funk & Wagnalls. The later was sold volume by volume in American grocery stores.
      Reverend Funk was a Lutheran Minister, a prohibitionist, and a renowned lexicographer. Coincidence has his last name evoke a state of depression, odious smells, and a music genre through a mixture of soul, jazz, rhythm and blues. The envelopes with the questions for Carnac the Magnificent were “kept in a mayonnaise jar on the porch of Funk and Wagnalls.” You could, “Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls.” And, next time you’re in Lithopolis, Ohio, please visit the Wagnalls Memorial Library. Funk doesn’t have his own library. He does have a porch.
     Our man of the month, Pliny the Elder compliled, Naturalis Historia (Natural History), an encyclopedia of 37 books into which he collected all the knowledge he could remember or revise with proficient pedantry informed by Stoic natural philosophy paired with sips of the fine fermentation of Fiano di Avellino grapes that Pliny the Elder noted were “beloved by bees” due to the honeyed aroma and the subtle flavor of hazelnuts.
       Some historians consider Naturalis Historia  to be the first encyclopedia ever written. Other historians disagree. Of course the gossips wish it included a gossip section.
      Pliny the Elder wrote that his subject matter would be “nature, that is life.” For Pliny the Elder, “Nature is the world, both as a whole and as its separate components; she is both the creator and the creation.” He offers little to nothing relative to his speculation regarding the nature of nature.
      Unlike one of his Roman buddies, a former tutor and speechwriter for Nero, Seneca the Younger was a Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and occasional satirist, who couldn’t stop pontificating regarding his every thought. While Pliny the Elder had an aversion to blabby philosophical arguments.
       Seneca the Younger, you’ll recall, is famous for repeating one of his all time favorite piths every chance he could to anyone who would listen:

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful!

Pliny the Pleb was often seen in his tattered tunic along Appian Way shouting a familar reply:

Religion leads to duplicity!
Duplicity leads to doubt!
Doubt leads to fear!
Fear leads to death!
Death leads to Religion!
And, again . . . whoopee!

Sadly, Seneca the Younger, also took his own life after the accusations over his alleged involvement with the efforts to assinate Nero became too much to endure.
       Pliny the Elder didn’t care to discuss the nature of nature in Epicurean or Stoic terms. He instead leaned toward particular pedagogy with entries like: 

The best kind of emeralds come from Scythia.

It takes six European trees produce pitch.

There are three kinds of lettuce.

Rocket [Arugula] is an excellent aphrodisiac.

Pliny the Elder gathered knowledge from his personal observations, his own prior works (such as his big book about Germany), and extracts from other works that were collected through the use of a servant who would read aloud while another servant would rewrite the extracts as Pliny the Elder offered edits and snarky remarks like, “In wine, there’s truth!” as he sipped from his terra-cotta jar a mega-pint of vintage amber-colored Falernian vinum made from Aglianico grapes grown on the slopes of Monte Massico then soaked for a week in the Mediterranean Sea. This pleased Bacchus, the Roman party god of wine, vegetation, fertility, festivity, ritual madness, ecstasy, theatre, and general whackiness.
      Which brings me to a botanical entry found in Naturalis Historia, Lupus Salictarius, today known as Humulus Lupulus, commonly known as hops. Pliny the Elder enjoyed his fine wine daily and occasionally a beer or two.
     Beer lovers take note. There is a delicious Double India Pale Ale brewed with nuggets of Amarillo, Centennial, Simcoe, Columbus, Tomahawk, and Zeus hops. Slightly bitter with a fresh hoppy aroma of floral, citrus, earthy dankness, and pine named, Pliny the Elder!
     Pliny the Elder of ancient Rome achieved everlasting fame due to his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who wrote about his uncle’s heroic, sad, and untimely death when he succumbed to gaseous fumes, volcanic ash, and smoke during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. during his attempt to rescue Pliny the Younger and others from the explosion. Some historians (who shall remain anonymous) believe Pliny the Elder died of a heart attack while on his valiant rescue mission. The gosspis have another story that I’ll leave for another time. However, it does involve wine.
    Before Pliny the Elder was found belly up he left us with some memorably terse aphorisms like: “Home is where the heart is.” And, “Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man.” And, “There is always something new out of Africa.”
     “Out of Africa” sounds like a good title for a classy memoir about early 20th century life on a coffee plantation in the Ngong Hills of British East Africa (now Kenya). Am I right Karen Blixen?
     La fine. Arrivederci miei amici!
Please send questions or comments to Ken Hurley the Elder
###   

Destiny
By Ken Hurley

First of all, let’s clear up one thing, I am not a hero. While I may have a humanist sense for the well-being of others mental and physical strength, and at one point in life I may have been a real looker, I am no hero.
    Nor am I a teatotaler. I enjoy a small sip of bourbon which people in Kentucky still believe is the nectar of the gods. They might be right. The people in Tennessee might disagree but that’s a story for another day.
     It all happened late on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. It was a peaceful scene by the lake where the willows reflected as the smell of honeysuckle wafted through my nostrils while I walked through the park in my boxers, bathrobe and slippers, feather boa around my neck, smoking a short stogie, with a small bourbon in hand, belting out Cyndi Lauper’s, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”. When fate, as I suppose you might call it, brought Destiny to me.
    “Pardon me, sir, but could you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?”
      I thought this must be some kind of a joke. Did she just call me sir? I stopped singing to gather my thoughts as I stifled a belch. I looked her over and knew this lovely person was the stuff dreams are made of. Not nightmares. The vivid good dreams. Her immense pulchritude turned my eyeballs into two big red throbbing hearts. And she needed help. She was lost. I do at least know the way to San Jose.
     I guzzled my last sips of bourbon as I squashed my cigar butt under my slipper and put the whiskey tumbler in my robe pocket and tied my robe closed. After all, I am a gentleman. I straightened my spine and said with a smile, “Well, hello gorgeous!” A line I borrowed from Barbara Streisand’s Fanny Brice.
    She returned, “Hi” with a sultry voice that could launch a thousand billionaires into space.
     And so our pithy conversation began. I offered my name and asked for her name in return. Something I learned in junior high school etiquette class where we balanced a copy of Amy Vanderbilt’s Complete Book of Etiquette on our head while we walked in circles. We would have learned more if we actually read it.
    “I’m Destiny,” she said with a look that made our chance encounter seem as inevitable as a GOP lie.
     I almost said, “Pleased to meet you, Destiny, I’m Ron Dayvous,” but nah. Spare her the pun.
     Stunned by her beauty, my thoughts raced yet were stuck inside my head. As I struggled to find a seamless sequiter to demonstrate I’m more than just a boy in a bathrobe. I babbled, “Leonard Bernstein sure could parry a baton!” Oh, dear.
     Fortunately, as chance would have it, Destiny was not put off by my appearance or lack of coherence. I circled my thoughts, cleared my mind and said, “Yes. I do. I can walk you there. It’s not far.”
     “That’s very kind. I’m late and not sure how to get there from here.”
      I gulped, took a deep breath and we began our walk through the park.
     Destiny carried a tattered violin case and a canvas shopping bag with a picture of Karl Marx on the side. Or, was it Jerry Garcia?
     Our conversation ranged from our shared inability to discern the difference among the Brontë sisters, to wondering how many Warner Brothers were there?
     She asked, “Do you believe in life after death?”
     “Of course! Lot’s of life after death. Just not yours or mine.”
    She then wondered, “Do you believe God exists?”
      “Sure! Similar to the way Mickey Mouse exists. Created to makes us feel better about ourselves.”
     “What’s the difference between “should” and “must”, she blurted.
     An odd question. But ok, I’m enjoying the walk.
    “Must” is used to express an unavoidable requirement or obligation; while “should” is used as a suggestion  that may also include, hopes, dreams  and aspirations.
     She even asked what I thought about Freethought.
     “It’s great!” I said. “But I prefer to get paid. There was a time when you could get a penny for your thoughts. And, that’s my two cents worth!”
     As we giggled through our chit-chat over the hierarchy of angels and the distinction between a seraphim and a cherubim, Destiny stumbled and fell hard. Her violin case smashed to the ground snapped open as her violin bounced out and up toward the sky. The contents of her Marx Garcia shopping bag scattered while Destiny lay moaning on her side holding her ankle.
     Despite my small bourbon intake, my reflexes were faster than a one-percenter spotting a tax loophole.
     Just before the violin crashed back to the pavement I swooped my pinky around the G string and avoided disaster.
     I turned to Destiny, “Are you alright?” She looked at me like Lois Lane looked at Superman and gushed, “You saved my violin!” Then groaned, “My ankle. I don’t think I can walk.”
     I gathered the items that fell from her bag. Put the violin back in its case. Then scooped up Destiny and held her in my arms as if crossing a threshold and carried her to Carnegie Hall where she played first chair. We made it just in time too.
     Destiny was filled with gratitude. Gratitude, a rare commodity these days. “You are my hero, thank you!”
     “Awe, I’m no hero. Just a guy out for a stroll in his bathrobe. Anyone would have done what I did in the same situation.”
    “Oh, no” Destiny protested. “You are special. And, one day with a little practice, practice, practice, you may learn to accept that you are my hero.”
     Hero? Time for a stroll to the Carnegie Deli.

Christian Rock
By Ken Hurley

There are moments when I yearn for the days before there was Christian rock. When Elvis was King and analysis of the leitmotifs regarding the tonal significance of what the bassoon was saying at the New York Philharmonic was a fun Sunday afternoon.
    The churchy charlatans of the days when rock ‘n’ roll began still live amongst us. If not them, certainly their offspring. (They breed.) These pulpit pabalum spewing chuckleheads decided that rock ‘n’ roll must go because Satan was behind it all. Their hatred of rock ‘n’ roll as a savage jungle display of human vulgarity was rooted in their sense of self-supremacy.
      Apparently, the Supreme Devil himself could jive tap his foot to The Andrews Sisters, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, but shouldn’t act allTutti Frutti or wiggle a toe in Blue Suede Shoes.
    Yet it was the “holy spirit” that moved so many Christians to gyrate with uncontrollable jackhammer intensity at their Southern Baptist church services. The preachers thought wiggling to Little Richard was blasphemy but shaking to the spirit of the Lord during church by someone who looked afflicted with an epileptic seizure was God in glorious action.
     Elvis (anagram: Evils) when asked to explain what he did on stage when it was seen as scandalously licentious said, “I just sing like they do back home.”
     Ray Charles deserves a whole lotta lovin’ for intentionally merging “sacred” and secular music. He modified gospel songs into R&B wonders. He changed a few words, went upbeat, added a touch of human sensuality and turnedTalkin’ ’Bout Jesus into Talkin’ ’Bout You; This Little Light of Mine became This Little Girl of Mine; It Must Be Jesus became I’ve Got a Woman.
   Yet rock music owes some of its success to the Christian faith even though later the Christian faith co-oped the musical style as another way to appeal to believers who might also add a few shekels to their coffers.
     It’s the drumbeat! “A backbeat you can’t lose it . . .” as Chuck Berry sang. Many of the rhythmic notations began in Africa; became work songs, blues, gospel, rock, then Christian Rock. Eventually, most of the fearmongering from the pulpits regarding the evil demons of rock ‘n’ roll subsided.
      The hippie craze helped inspire the “Jesus movement,” where Christ was portrayed as a bearded, long-haired, sandal wearing, tie-died, peace and love, activist dude, who wanted to be your personal savior. Jesus Christ became a Superstar. And, just like that, lots of Christian congregations were rocking and rolling. Even Bob Dylan became born again.
      Like a ship at sea named Beauty Rest, rocking and rolling is still good. As Duke Ellington wrote, “Music is My Mistress.”  And, as MC Hammer sang, “It’s all good”.
     So what was all the fuss about?

SONG REVIEW: Hey Baby
“Darkly dancing across the keys, Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes’ “Hey Baby” brings a Bluesy, Jazzy sound to life beneath a lyrical depiction of mortal beauty wrapped up in indulgence and fatigue – couching observations of recklessness and self-abuse in the appreciative double-entendre depiction of an angel about to take flight! 

     The feel and flow of “Hey Baby” is mesmerizing! Sparingly applied keys sit well in the mix with walking bass and dutiful drums in order to give rise to Ken Hurley’s uniquely engaging vocal tones – illustrating a portrait of a woman approaching the end of her rope with reckless abandon through characteristically colorful and stylistically gripping deliveries. Ceaselessly moving piano carries the torch between verses, maintaining a brilliant balance between levity and languish in keeping with the theme.  Skillful performances keep the pace brisk and the vibe strong as the nearly improvisational tone of Ken’s lyrical flow holds listeners rapt!

     Flirtatiously darker themes and accompanying musical drives lie at the core of “Hey Baby” – making it easily accessible to fans of more experimental and independent versions of Blues and Rock and especially to those that enjoy well-played piano at the center!

     Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes’ Love and… shows a diverse range of stylistic ability and a genuine creativity at the helm – prompting eager ears towards whatever the artist produces next! Excellent work! – Jon Wright

About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field.

“With charmingly disarming vocal tones and a timeless Rock piano foundation, Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes’ first track from their full-length album, Love and…, takes listeners out for a whirlwind night on the town – describing and fulfilling promises of singing, dancing and sweet whoopee between an entity of established pedigree and the song’s narrative voice, repeating the everyman’s mantra, “I’m Nobody”!

From the first moments to the last, “I’m Nobody” bears a sound and style that simply feel fun!  The initial introduction displays Ken Hurley’s considerable piano chops with levity and grace before dropping listeners into the deep pocket of immortal rock-and-roll piano – with a moving bass line that bounds rather than walks and gives rise to colorfully informed and tastefully executed runs from Ken’s right hand.  The supporting instrumentals do their work diligently and without obscuring the song’s intended focus – Ken Hurley’s bright rich vocals and nimble fingers!  The artist’s warmly engaging voice belies a strong sense of play and serves to enrich the tune with a dose of amiability and color that are absolutely perfect for the style. There’s a lot of talent at work here!” – Jon Wright

About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi- instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field.

SONG REVIEW: We All Live a Life.
Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes has put forward the new tune We All Live A Life. Pulling inspiration from the blues, folk, and British rock, We All Live A Life has something for every type of listener, if they are willing to hang out for a few minutes. The tune features bluesy piano as the primary support for Bunco’s vocals, and moves along at a moderate pace perfect for reminiscing. Bunco sings his thoughts on life, and its absurdity, with a matured tone and witty sensibility. Each lyric provides a snapshot of human life, colliding into one another to create a rough collage of the world around us. With its rolling nature and vivid imagery, the tune would pair well with a night cap and a little Vonnegut. Overall, We All Live A Life by Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes gives listeners ample opportunity to look back and think about life while providing a laid back sound. The lyrics are the stand out with We All Live A Life. The debate between lyrics vs music is common. This tune is a clear example of lyrics first. Fans of blues, folk, and rock will enjoy We All Live A Life by Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes. Nicely done, this is a cool tune. – Zachary Larson

About The Reviewer: Zachary Larson is a professional touring guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Getting his start in high school rock bands, he has since toured as a classical chamber musician, onboard luxury cruises, and with the Broadway musicals Finding Neverland and Escape To Margaritaville. His recorded work spans from classical works and pop tunes, to mind-bending experimental music. His arrangements of orchestral music are published through Clear Note Publications. Classically trained, he holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Denver.

SONG REVIEW: Soft
Powered by piano and strings, Soft by Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes grooves like an Oldies tune with lilting vocals fit for a lounge. Dimming the lights, the lyrics hone in on touch and desire. The lyrics stand out in Soft as the strongest point. They are slightly coy but leave just enough room so as not to fool anyone. They maintain tasteful suspense carefully and deliberately. Bunco sings confidently with a velvety tone. He is supported by backup vocals in the chorus, reinforcing the notion that this tune is for two people. When compared to his other work, Soft shows a gentler side to Bunco’s music and lyricism. The tune has the feel and patience of something from the Golden age of songwriting, but with a certain flair. Overall, Soft by Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes is a fun new listen that casts a tantalizing mood. -ZL

About The Reviewer: Zachary Larson is a professional touring guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Getting his start in high school rock bands, he has since toured as a classical chamber musician, onboard luxury cruises, and with the Broadway musicals Finding Neverland and Escape To Margaritaville. His recorded work spans from classical works and pop tunes, to mind-bending experimental music. His arrangements of orchestral music are published through Clear Note Publications. Classically trained, he holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Denver. 

SONG REVIEW: The Billionaire’s Song
Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes have been busy cookin’ up toe-tapping tunes, and just recently released their first full-length album “Love and…”. This particular song entitled “The Billionaire’s Song” is a down-home rockin’ groove, a piano based number complete with vocals, a B-3 organ, bouncy drums and bass, with accompanying acoustic guitar to round out the rhythm section. A political ditty that sneaks up on you, and doesn’t really have the feel of a typical ‘protest’ song like one of Dylan’s political songs, but more like Dylan’s rockin’ Bootleg Live in ’68 or Johnny Rivers Whiskey A Go-Go. “The Billionaire’s Song” is the kind of tune that gets your feet tapping and your hips shaking from side to side! “The Billionaire’s Song” is a well written song that develops smoothly, and has a great momentum. The arrangement, musical performance and production are all of professional quality as well. A truly catchy tune that’s hard to deny it’s groovy nature, you just have to get up and dance! Light-hearted and somewhat comical, but Kenny does bring up several good points, similar in concept to Dire Straits’ Money for Nothing. This is a great tune bud, really enjoying your other work as well! Honestly this song is well written/produced.. the mix is balanced (although I wouldn’t mind hearing even more compression on the vocal track, just to keep it in place a little better in the mix) and the musicianship is spot on. One thought I had was that delay may work better on the vocals than the heavy reverb at a few of those sections, but really just an idea, ending reverb is great.. awesome tune man! Funny side note: my bass teacher at Berklee would always say “See everybody next week, same place, same 12 notes” haha took me a bit to figure that one out! Fans of upbeat rockin’ blues numbers should definitely check out “The Billionaire’s Song” by Kenny Bunco and the 12 Notes. If you enjoy this song and want to hear more, you can listen to the full album “Love and…” a wonderful collection of Kenny Bunco’s material.

About The Reviewer:
Erik Anderson is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Production and Engineering and has been managing his own recording studio for almost 20 years. Erik has had a true passion for music since an early age when he took piano lessons, he then started playing bass guitar in his early teens and shortly after started making hip hop beats, just before heading off to Berklee. After graduating, Erik worked at several recording studios in New York and New Jersey, before starting his own studio which spawned his 4-piece experimental indie rock band. Erik is currently writing and submitting his original compositions for sync placements in TV and Film.

Thanks for Listening!
Stay well 😀🎉🎵✌🏽❤