icon tact

Nashville gets Street View imagery

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:42:37 -0600

Google has just updated Nashville Maps with street view imagery. Check it out here. Look for the streets with blue highlight. Click the Street View tab at the top. Move the little man around and rotate the image that pops up. Full 360 degree views. LP Field is a good look. Check out Opryland Hotel too.

Music in my head

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:03:46 -0600

My first Watercooler Wednesday entry is about a book that takes a fascinating look into the ways in which our brain interprets and remembers music. The subtitle is "The Science of a Human Obsession." Daniel Levitin was a former musician/producer who later studied the physiology of the human mind. Why is it that certain songs immediately bring us back to a place in our past as vivid as if it were yesterday? What is it about some songs that grab our attention while others appear flat? From the book:

Music communicates to us emotionally through systematic violations of expectations. These violations can occur in any domain -- the domain of pitch, timbre, contour, rhythm, tempo, and so on -- but occur they must. Music is organized sound, but the organization has to involve some element of the unexpected or it is emotionally flat and robotic.

This book isn't for everybody, because at times it can be a little dry. And don't read it to be a better listener of music. It is not designed for that. But if you are fascinated with the how things work (like the brain, for example), you'll really be amazed at what that small mass of substance in our head grapples with each time you listen to your iPod. The author includes many different songs and styles from his year of working in the business. As he writes he'll include a song title to make a point about a bass line or a type of phrasing. If nothing else, it will bring back some memories of your own. Enjoy.

Google Maps - gone too far?

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:12:17 -0600

Perhaps one of the funniest takes on intrusion.

Elf Yourself

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:10:43 -0600

Every year someone comes out with a fun way to share your photos with others. This years funniest is from OfficeMax. it's called Elf Yourself and you can find it HERE. Also, don't forget to vote for Denver and the Mile High Orchestra tonight on FOX. Vote, vote, vote.

Vote for Denver and the MHO

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:09:14 -0600

Make sure to watch Next Great American Band this week. I have some friends in Denver's band. They are close to winning the whole thing with only a few weeks left of voting. Vote during the whole two hour show at the new time, 9/8C on FOX.

Russia trip makes the local paper

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:33:43 -0600

I had the chance to be interviewed by the Spring Hill Advertiser this past week about my trip to Russia. The paper came out yesterday and I really enjoyed the article. Melissa Webb of the Advertiser wrote and submitted it. HERE is a link to the article if you don't get the paper at home.

New blog

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:59:59 -0600

My latest endeavor is a job change to a Nashville based GIS firm called GEO-Jobe GIS Consulting. I'm managing sales for the firm and I'm having a great time. We just got "The GEO-Jobe Blog" up and running and it is one to check out if you are at all interested in maps, GIS, and GPS.

Titans game celebration

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 13:45:00 -0600

Titans game celebration
Originally uploaded by icon tact.

Today is veterans day and the Titans did show a great recognition ceremony for all of the veterans in attendance. I'm here with my brother in law Daryl. We are both Navy veterans and had a moment to share with others with the Navy color guard at half time. Looks to be a great game. Titans are behind but are looking to make a second half comeback.

JSE at Henpeck

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:32:35 -0600

I finally got some pictures of John Scott Evans and me playing out a few weekends back. This pictures features the band (Glenn Williams on percs, Me, Rich Eckhardt (Toby Keith's guitarist), and John. We are playing at a really neat restaurant/grocery store/gas station/hangout called Henpeck Market. It was the first time John and I played together in a few years and it was good. Rich made it out and put in some great licks. Here we are pictured with Henpeck owner's Don and Jackie Gregory. Also pictured is friend and dobro extraordinaire Chris Joslin who sat in on a bunch of tunes. All in all, it was a great night. For more info on JSE or to purchase a CD, visit John's MySpace page HERE.

John Scott Evans to play Franklin/Spring Hill this weekend only

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:32:38 -0600

My friend John Scott Evans will be playing at three locations this weekend only. John's music has touched many around the world. He is currently causing quote a stir in the LA jazz scene with his latest CD called "Above the Sun". We've put a small combo together to back him up which includes some great local players. You can get a sample of John's music at his MySpace page. Here is the local tour info: Friday Night, October 26th - Henpeck Market, Franklin, TN 6-8pm. This is a very intimate setting so get there early and come hungry because Henpeck owner's Don and Jackie Gregory cook up some fantastic meals. HERE is a link for info and directions to Henpeck Market. Saturday Night, October 27th - Saxby's Coffee shop, Spring Hill, TN 7:30-9:30pm. Saxby's has become a great friend to local musician's in Spring Hill and they've opened up the evening to JSE's music. Saxby's will fill up quickly so come early. They have a great mix of coffee and other cafe drinks. Saxby's is located on Rt 31 on the right just as you enter Spring Hill from the north. Sunday Morning, October 28th - The People's Church, Franklin, TN - 9:15am and 11am. John will be playing at both services and doing a few of his own arrangements of some classics. HERE is a link to The People's Church.

Russian Jazz Clubs

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:44:35 -0600

We were fortunate to play some prominent jazz clubs. American's playing jazz music is always a big draw. We just happened to have a very tight band that blew the doors out wherever we went. More than the music though, our new friends on more than one occasion used the Russian term pronounced "svyetli" to describe us. It is a word which means radiant light. So it was more than the music. Mission accomplished with delayed fruition. Here is the Art Club in Tomsk. A small restaurant bar devoted to jazz music, they gave us the floor for a few hours. It was smoky but we had a great crowd. People payed money to hear us and all of the proceeds went to a local children's charity. We all signed our name on the brick wall. Here is the club manager, also a fellow bass player. Don't recall his name. In Moscow, we played at the Union of Composers jazz club on two evenings. This place had a really cool vibe and a great sound system.

A beautiful rainbow on I-40

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:30:11 -0600

Back from Russia

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 06:15:04 -0600

Got back late Tuesday. Still recovering from jetlag, but a great trip overall. More to come in the following days. Here are a couple pictures.

Off to Russia

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:38:39 -0600

It is finally here. Tomorrow I travel to Russia for 12 days playing with a jazz/swing band. We'll be in Tomsk, Moscow, and a special reunion with my good friend Vitaly from last year's trip to Volgograd. Keep me in your prayers.

Ever wonder what an NFL field prep team does?

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:29:18 -0600

I was at a conference at Invesco field this week and Sunday is the home opener for the Denver Broncos. We were given access to the field and I watched it go from all green to a nearly finished, neatly painted official NFL playing field. Amazing what these guys do here. They mow the grass every day and paint the field every week before a home game. It takes about 3 days to completely paint the Broncos logos, yard lines, and hash marks. A referee must also inspect the lines down to about 1/8th of an inch for regulation play. Here are a few pictures of the transition.