Roger Bourland
writes about music and life

Japanese Drums from kedarvideo on Vimeo.

Friends have asked why I am so comfortable sharing my thoughts, fantasies, and life on a blog. I assure them and you that you don’t get them all, although it would be a more popular blog if I did.
It is probably related to my desire to teach, more specifically, to share what I have learned [...]

Michael William Lafferty died this month after a long struggle with various life threatening illnesses. I photographed his marvelous apartment before it was taken down. You’ll see a special person reflected in the things he’s collected. The music is from the FOUR LAST SONGS of Richard Strauss sung by Jessye Norman.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Howard got a choice box at the Bowl last night and invited Del, Larry and me to join him. We zipped into valet parking, dropped off the car and walked in, and afterwards walked to get our car and exited quickly. That by itself made the concert a thrill. The LA Phil sounded [...]

Our old friend Mike died last Monday. Angus, his former partner of many years, came down to help out and spent the week with us. Having guests always throws business as usual out the door, but it was a pleasure spending time with him. A requiem mass was held at the Gnostic church where Mike [...]

Tellemachus and Penelope
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In this scene, Telemachus, “Telly” is at his computer desperately trying to find his father, Odysseus (”O”).

“Finding Poppa”
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Athena appears on one of his screens who, masquerading as a cyber-hooker on hotgodesses.com only to offer tips on where his father might be. Telly promises her to stay off the porn sites and stay true [...]

B (see “Friends III“) died this week. H was named the executor of his estate and he has done an excellent job. I only overheard part of the phone calls he made and received and see what an incredible effort and a labor of love it has been. B was H’s sponsor in AA and [...]

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“My Favorite Things” by Rodgers and Hammerstein
John Coltrane - soprano sax, tenor sax
Eric Dolphy - flute, alto sax
McCoy Tyner - piano
Reggie Workman - bass
Elvin Jones - drums
1961 in Baden-Baden Germany

The most stunning film I’ve seen in a long time is Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in the West.” Ennio Morricone provides mystic cowboy music for the score with haunting, unforgettable leitmotivs. Every shot in the film is one I would be proud to blow up and hang on my wall. Every shot has [...]