I am very happy to say we are putting the very last bit of details together and will finally have my new release “Rise” available real soon.

This album has an underlying joyful and festive feeling to it, sprinkled with a few deeper, emotional ballads thrown in.

Apparently I was in a great mood much of the time I was writing for this one:)

If you’re on my Newsletter list you’ll be sure to get an announcement when “Rise” hits the available bin!

I read something recently about “changing your state.” Even though it had to do with a rental car I thought it was applicable:)

It’s great to have the power to change your mental/emotional state at a moments notice if need be to something better; music is definitely one of the quickest and most potent ways to pull that off, in my opinion.

For me, getting into the right song etc. is like tuning myself to more, or less, of something I’m needing to feel at the time in order to balance myself in some way.

The more powerful the music, the quicker I change my state.

I think when someone gets involved with an album, or a specific track it’s because they are drawn to the energy emanating from it. In a way we are just buying some “certain” energy we are wanting when we get an album, or song.

I know I do it that way..how I’m wanting to feel at that moment is why I’ll listen to something- many times over and over again!

Funny as it may sound, really listening to music is sort of like “eating” with your ears; nourishing yourself with that particular energy! (Kind of woo-woo I know..sorry:)

So it comes down to what does the music do for me? Does it inspire me, does it relax me, or do I want it to excite me? Or does it make me want to release, (tears) or let go of some hurt I’ve been holding? Where exactly do I want it to take me??

So next time you are looking for something music-wise, what will it be on the emotional menu for you??

Songs that you love can act as magical doorways that open into other whole worlds within yourself; they actually do “take” you somewhere.

The right music has the power to mesmerize you, ignite your imagination, and carry you away; sometimes as if poised on an eagle’s wings.

The right song provides an instant vacation. That’s something I’ve always loved about music since I was a kid.

So these days during my listening adventures, I simply close my eyes, and go where I need to go! I love the built in freedom of it all. As far as I know we all have it:)

The word is CDs are definitely on their way out as the downloading continues to take over.

Being able to buy single songs is a cool option though for many people..plus you can get the music immediately- that’s enjoyable also:)

Sometimes playing is like praying for me.

I wanted to share this from a fan of mine. How wonderful to be able to be a part of something like this:

…..it was a warm and breezy day in Lahaina. I had a yearning in my heart to drive to the other side of Maui. In my possession I had a new cd entitled , Tender Ritual ….by a pianist
named Jim Chappell. While I got into my car to make the long drive to Hana I thought that once I hit the coast I would pop this cd into the player. Before that I was rocking out to the sounds of Eddie Money…….singing lyric to lyric to , ” Two Tickets to Paradise,” . While driving down the lonely but very beautiful Maui’s highway to heaven…..the road to Hana….
I slipped in the cd……….and never looked back. It was an epiphany in my music . As a rock musican I had never heard such music….the piano was weaving a wonderful mosaic of melodies….I started crying in my car……Blue Racer really touched my soul….the melody
and sound matching every beautiful sight along that rural way. I had to pull over along side a
waterfall to listen to the rest of the cd. I arrived in Hana about 3 hours later smiling ear to ear. My Maui friend Don asked me , ” Hey Brudda…..you look like Heaven’s touched your heart. I quickly replied, “Yes and you gotta hear dis , ” !!!

Aloha and Mahalo Jim

Don

Talking to fans at my recent show near Detroit and enjoying connecting.

This is really a nice balance to all of the cooped-up time I spend in the recording studio etc!

What is it about composer/artists such as myself, that think there is always a better, even more meaningful, song to write somehow/someday?

It’s a good feeling to look at things this way, I suppose. It keeps one’s life fresh:)

Checking through my tunes as far as the notes on the actual page go.

The overall plan is to get most of my material into sheet music form for downloads before too much longer!