Portal to Paradise

These improvisations revolve around a bunch of poems I have written, some old, some quite new. Two of the poem/improvs are based on melodic themes and tunes created AND recorded by Peter Biedermann on a few of his solo recordings. All of the work on this recording was, again, created spontaneously in one take at Jamman studios and dutifully recorded and mixed by Maestro James Manno.

Crawl – Sadomasochism taken to an extreme of pathetically “Judeo-Christian tradition” guilt wracked mewling.

Omne Animal Trieste Post Coitum – Loosely translated from the Latin – “All animals require multiple cigarettes and a muscle relaxant after this sort of excitation.”

An American Anthem – This is a ball’s to the wall poetic scoop of imagistic and symbolic mashed potatoes that touches on multiple aspects of the American Scream!

Honey Honest (Fifty Dollar) – A pathetically flailing attempt at human contact after new technology burn-out. This is NOT auto-biographical. Self pitying whimpering is my usual modus operandi as foreplay! And oft times after play too!

Fun House Curving Into Space – A portrait of the artist as a young girl with a “re-animator” teddy bear’s emotionally complex investigation into his newly found, strange attractiveness to his owner. Does that make sense? It doesn’t to me either.

No! – Have you ever been in a conflicted emotional relationship? And no matter how you try to explain yourself, it always seems to come out tongue tied and twisted? Me neither! Honest honeys.

The Beach – There is a puzzle to this piece. This is a quiet reflection on a perverted individual’s desire to spontaneously become one with “nature.” Was it the warm salt air? The sensual shapes of the driftwood and seaweed washed up on the shore? The dead body entangled in the flotsam and jetsam?

Eastern Front – Thousands of years of European muddling in the Middle East drilled down to haiku like mental meanderings and caterwauling vocalizations. This is another P. Biedermann musical magnum opus.

Portal to Paradise – We all have to find our own path to spiritual transcendence and emotional fulfillment. Here’s our musical offering. This is one of Peter’s two original compositions which he graciously deigned to allow us free rein with.

I am humbled and thankful for being asked to write the notes to this second Serious Fun recording. Consequently I will not fail to mention the astonishing musical contributions of Peter and Anthony. These men inspire me on so many levels both musically and personally that it is impossible to count the ways.

Of course not one of us, and I believe I speak for my two musical compadres in arms, would be one tenth the men or musicians we are today without the support and love of our greatly significant others. Joanna Biedermann; Tia Aery and my very own beautiful Carmen Christiana Wiles of Baltimore, Maryland!

Last but not least, in the immortal words of my hero Satchel Paige - "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" Live by that adage and prosper long!

John Hammel & Serious Fun!