What I like about Tai Chi…

Tai Chi has provided me with the tools to train my body, mind and spirit in a gentle, subtle yet profound way. I have been taking regular classes now for about a year and Tai Chi continues to present new challenges each time I practice.

For those who doubt the workout benefits of Tai Chi, I would just recommend taking classes for a month. You will certainly see that you get a workout from the practice of the art form. I really enjoy the mental workout each practice presents. There are an infinite number of things you can focus on each time so really it’s more about picking one or two things to keep steady in your mind while going through the movements. Every session shortens the mind body gap as you get better awareness of your movement and more conscious of the choices and decisions you’re making with each movement. It’s really an exciting journey.

Then spirit…Tai Chi provides so much opportunity to cultivate that which can’t be seen. I think we can all agree that there is much inside of us that cannot be seen. How do you see an emotion, a thought, a dream? What we actually do and express each day is a tiny fraction of what is going on inside of us. Tai Chi allows you the opportunity to meditate while moving. Each practice gives you a chance to quiet all of that “stuff” that’s going on inside of you and either focus on some aspect of “the stuff” or leave it all behind and be present with the motions your body is going through at that moment. Generally, I choose the latter. It’s a wonderfully calming and peaceful experience to be so focused on the movement, the practice, that everything else is just background to what “is” right now. What I’ve found even more fascinating is the power of the mind. That while I am so focused on the present, my mind is still working in the background. I’ve come away after a class with answers to questions I didn’t even know I was contemplating!

If you’re up for something new and have ever contemplated taking Tai Chi, I couldn’t recommend the practice of Tai Chi highly enough.

All the best to you and your wellness,

Chris Burton Jácome
Flamenco Guitarist
www.CBJFlamenco.com

PS…I practice Tai Chi at Phoenix Shaolin. Sifu Robert Gardner is a great teacher of the art.

I thought these 2 groups were 1…

My apologies go out to Climax Blues Band and Little River Band…I never heard these 2 songs back to back before so I always attributed both songs to the Little River Band. I was WRONG!!

These are 2 of my favorite classic rock songs:
“I Love You” by Climax Blues Band

&

“Lady” by Little River Band

I could listen to both of these songs over & over. I hope you get as much enjoyment out of them as I have over the years. Amazing songs, amazing performances and amazing production to the recordings!

HUGE OLE!!!

Chris Burton Jácome
Flamenco Guitarist & Composer
www.CBJFlamenco.com

The wonder that is Mark Knopfler…

One of the best musicians of this era…HANDS DOWN!!!

I hope to one day get the chance to collaborate with Mr. Knopfler. That would really be a dream come true! Until then, I’ll just keep loving his music.

Thank you for your incredible gift of music, Mark Knopfler!

Your fan,

Chris Burton Jácome
Flamenco Guitarist & Composer
www.CBJFlamenco.com

Comedy in Music??

I have yet to make a song that had comedic elements in it…what do you think about songs with some humor in them?

I have had some ideas for songs with some comical elements but I’ve never actually completed one. These two songs below are a couple of my favorites.

#1: Brad Paisley (who is actually a PHENOMENAL guitar player if you don’t already know) has this song “I’m Gonna Miss Her” about fishing that just cracks me up every time I hear it. I hope you enjoy it:

#2: Lynryd Skynrd came out with a song called, “Gimme Three Steps” several decades ago and the story-telling is absolutely magnificent. I had actually heard this song dozens of times and enjoyed it just musically when one day I was sitting in traffic and actually LISTENED to the lyrics and I was rolling with laughter. My favorite parts are when he says, “Excuse Me” and when he says, “You could hear me screaming a mile away”. VERY FUNNY STUFF!

Enjoy, and please let me know if you have any comedic songs that I should be aware of.

Ole!

Chris Burton Jácome
Flamenco Guitarist & Composer
www.CBJFlamenco.com

Facebook is TOO full of itself!!

Today, I logged in to my Facebook account and lo and behold, FB has decided to completely change the News Feed AGAIN!!!

Admittedly, I wasn’t a big fan of the last change they made to the Newsfeed but this time they’ve gone far enough to warrant me writing something about it. My question:

Who in the H*&% does Facebook think they are?

I know you’ve gathered quite a bit of information about my life and about every user on FB, but again, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE to decide what news is relevant to me!?!

Here’s a bit of news for you, Facebook…

YOU DON’T KNOW ME AT ALL!!!

You think you know me because of the tiny little posts I put on my wall every now and again? Because I “Like” certain businesses/bands/artists? Because I “Like” my friends’ posts?

WRONG!!!

You know a teeny, tiny, infinitesimally small Facebook part of me and that is all. You, Facebook, have gotten WAY too full of yourself to presume you know me and what’s important to me. I don’t want anyone telling me what IS or ISN’T relevant to me. 

Facebook…you’ve become pretentious. You’ve gotten full of yourself. You think you have all the info when you don’t know anything substantial about anyone.

Here’s wishing you come back to reality,

Chris
www.CBJFlamenco.com

Saigon Kick & Christina Perri…

Is it just me, or does Christina Perri’s new song, “Jar of Hearts” sound very similar to the chorus of 80′s Hair Band, Saigon Kick’s song “Love is on the Way”?

You be the judge…I’m comparing chorus’ here…
Saigon Kick’s song (wait for the chorus, it’s catchy!)

Christina Perri’s song

I think they’re close…not close enough for copyright infringement or anything…just close!

Have a wonderful day,
Chris Burton Jacome
Flamenco Guitarist & Composer
www.chrisburtonjacome.com

Financial Guru…

I know a LOT of musicians that could use a little help with their finances and overall business acumen. I just came across this blog post today and think it’s wonderful. Kudos to Tien Wong’s blog!

Hey, if you’re going to learn about $$ and business…it would be wise to be taking tips from one of the wealthiest dudes on the planet!

Warren Buffett’s TEN RULES FOR WINNING….

Thanks again, Tien Wong, for posting such positive and powerful info!

Here’s wishing MUCH financial success to all of you dedicated musicians and artists out there!

Your amigo,

Chris Burton Jacome
Flamenco Guitarist & Composer
www.chrisburtonjacome.com

El Kabong!!!

Ok, so I have a new hero and his name is, El Kabong!!

As a kid, one of my favorite cartoon characters was “Quick-Draw McGraw“. El Kabong is like Quick-Draw mixed with Desperado.

Just in case you didn’t know, we guitarists LOVE Danger!!! Enjoy this video, I know i did.

Ole! from your amigo,

Chris Burton Jacome
Flamenco Guitarist, Composer and…
“The Most Dangerous Guitarist in the World“…who sheds a tear every time he sees the movie “Rudy“.
www.chrisburtonjacome.com

“Ritmo-Canix” wins the Lennon Award!!!

What a journey!

Last May, about this time in fact, I submitted my song “Ritmo-Canix” (from my latest album LEVANTO) to the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

And then…

Promptly forgot about it.

Was it intentional? I actually think, YES! As a professional musician I have created, out of what I believe to be necessity, a tortoise shell of protection for myself so that I won’t get my hopes up too high for any given opportunity. I can’t tell you how many times in my career I’ve heard:
“This person knows so and so, and they really like your music and are going to get you a record deal“
or
“This gig doesn’t pay anything but it will provide you tons of exposure“
or…
well, you get the idea.

I’m not saying that the people who have told me these things throughout the years were insincere. I have no doubt they had the best of intentions. However, because of the nature of the game, it’s just so rare that any of these things actually do happen the way you think they’re going to happen.

So, when I received the letter from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in September that “Ritmo-Canix” had actually WON the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest World Music Category…well, I was freakin’ stunned right out of my safe little tortoise shell!!!

Honestly, as you get further in the business of music, it gets harder to stick your head out of your shell and risk your neck. However, I am starting to realize that it’s that much MORE important every day that goes by.

I have to GO BIG! If not now, when??

I feel so fortunate that I have the amazing fans that I do, and because of their support and their votes “Ritmo-Canix” was the recipient of the Lennon Award in the World Category on May 1st, 2011.

This has been such a lesson in “going-for-it” for me. I’ve stretched my neck out further this past year than I have in my entire career and I have been rewarded by the universe for my efforts. I am going to take that as a sign that I need to continue to stretch.

I know this tortoise is going to win the race!

I’m going to continue to search for ways to GO BIG. I hope you do too! We only get one run at this. This isn’t a “trial run” we’re on right now. This is THE REAL DEAL! Are you in it to win it?

Your amigo,
Chris Burton Jácome
www.chrisburtonjacome.com

I love this scene!

In case you never saw this movie, I thought I’d post the best scene from the whole thing. You have to watch this clip until the end…that’s where the best line is.

Enjoy!

Your amigo,
Chris Burton Jácome