John Raymond Pollard: Notes

Two new recordings, "Yoga" and "The Law of Desire" are scheduled for release November 25, 2015. Enjoy them throughout the holiday season and beyond.

The new single has arrived. Depth of Love Depth of Love features Francine Saltares on lead vocal. Francine, Jay Anderson, and I do the backing vocals and I do the spoken/rap part. Michael Gilboe (Copperhead Production) gets credit for the instrumental track.

Yesterday David Pearl and Laura Kenyon had their first session with the five songs that Drew Paralic and I authored. They identified keys best suited for Laura's vocal range, so now Laura can let the songs work their way into her bones in anticipation of the November recording date.

Get set for a new single, The Depth of Love, scheduled for release September 1, 2013.

Jazz composer, Drew Paralic, and I finished five songs that we plan to record in November. We expect to release an EP in 2014.

This Thursday people in the United States will celebrate my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. Celebrating our blessings with family and friends while sharing a meal is an excellent use of time. I wish a happy Thanksgiving to all.

Superstorm Sandy, also known as Frankenstorm, Slammed New York and much of the US eastern coast last week. My building lost power for over a day, so I got to climb stairs insead of take the elevator. More than a week later some of my friends in New Jersey and Long Island are still without electricity and heat.

Today another storm hit, bringing the season's first snow. The inclement weather is supposed to continue through tomorrow.

Helping those in need is an amazing gift, so I salute all the volunteers and paid workers who are attending to those affected by Sandy.

Recently Len Rogers and Tym Moss recorded interviews with me for their radio programs.
You can hear my interview with Len at http://www.rainbowworldradio.com/
Tym's program is being broadcast at a number of sites from October 20 to 22.

The frenzy of Carnaval in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil is winding down. Tourists are heading home. Locals are sleeping late and will return to work tomorrow.
I have been working on new material.
I hope to have my computer fixed soon. I feel lost not having the combination of local files and access to the internet! A technician promises to work on the machine today, so hopefully all will be well soon.

Sadly, today marks the tenth anniversary of the US prison at Guantanamo. The song I composed attempts to make a point from the perspective of a common person caught up in a system of injustice.

2012 appeared a few hours ago in Asia and will arrive in Salvador in about 7 hours. Before I head out to celebrate the new year, let me thank my fans and listeners for their support throughout 2011.

May you have a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

The line from the Greatful Dead's "Truckin'" describes my trip to Brazil. I was planning the trip and booking my travel to Brazil during Hurricane Irene. After working on the task for hours, I booked a flight from New York to Sao Paulo using frequent flier miles. The drawback was that I had to fly to Canada on my way to Brazil if I wanted to use my miles.
A few weeks later I noticed that the departure time for the initial flight was changed. I feared that I would not have sufficient time to make the connection in Toronto, so I changed the flight and airport of departure. Weeks later I learned that the departure time for the flight leaving Canada was changed; then the flight from Sao Paulo to Salvador was changed.
When I arrived at the airport on departure date, I checked in and almost immediately noticed that the display listed my flight as canceled. The replacement flight was late taking off as were the two connecting flights.
Door to door the trip stretched across 28 hours, but now that I am in Salvador I am enjoying daily temperatures that range from about 75 to 85 degrees F.
My thinking has yet to adjust to Christmas and New Years in summer. But I am reminded by Christmas lights.

The new album, Perfect, is now available for consumption.

Perfect is released for consumption.

Thanks to Keith Brown of WWUH for featuring Angels Watch Over on his program commemorating the 10th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. Keith also played Weatherman on his program a week earlier as Hurricane Irene approached!
Thanks also to Arizzona (Unashamed Faith Cafe) and Bill Northrup (Pride Showcase) for previewing the new single, Time,with their liateners.

One September 1, 2011 a new single, titled "Time" is set for release. Despite the recent earthquake and soon to hit hurricane, "Time" remains on time.

Watch and listen for a new single titled "Time." The planed release date is September 1, 2011.

Perhaps news about phone taping by part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire shows that my 2008 single, Not on MY Space, hit close to home. Enjoy the song!

Graphic design for the next album is progressing well. It is the final piece to be completed before CD's can be manufactured.

I worked today with Mark Christensen and Raphael Fiorda of Engine Room Audio to master songs for the next album. The reference copy sounds good. Soon we'll press the master.

Back in the USA and listening to mixes of songs for the next album. A few more minor adjustments and we'll be set!

On March 9, Ash Wednesday, an end came to the Carnaval celebration that began the prior Thursday. I was fortunate to escape and relax at a friend’s beach house on the island of Itaprica for the initial three days of Carnaval. But after returning to Salvador, I joined a few million others in the streets for Carnaval’s final three nights to revel in the sights and the sounds of live music emanating from stages set atop tractor trailers that inched along three parade routes. The energy of the crowds and their ability to consume beer and other fluids is amazing. People from all around the globe must have brought their germs with them, because immediately after Carnaval many fell victim to a virus that is being called “criptonita,” Portuguese for the substance that made Superman weak. That seems a fitting epilog to a Carnaval with the theme of superheroes.

When in Brazil I miss participating in the 21st Street Sessions songwriters' group. Last night, via Skype, I connected with other group members who were in New York. It worked pretty well. We'll do it again in 2 weeks.

Each February 2 in Salvador is special. People celebrate the feast of Iemanjá, goddess of the sea. Having heard of this special day and having seen a post card image years ago, I wrote the lyric, Flesh and Spirit, which begins:
"Feast of flowers, rhythms, wreaths give witness.
Worshipers flock to the beach
bearing offerings to Iemanjá.
Jangadas set out from the shore.
As mocha arms move the crude oars,
the sea heaves with blossoms brought for this holy day."
This afternoon I'll join friends among much larger throng to join the celebration. The easy blending of a religious feast with a secular street party is typically Bahian.

Many thanks for e-mail and other inquiries about my well being in Brazil. Fortunately, in the city of Salvador I am far away from the flooding that has taken so many lives. I remain thankful for your concern and for each precious moment.