My latest cd, Red Ripe Apples, is a combination of fine musicianship (how can you go wrong with the likes of Gary Everett on sax, Martin Scudder on electric violin, Tom Williams on acoustic guitar, Randy Anders on drums,Jack Bagby on bass, Joel Venditti on electric giutar, Sharon Fuery blending vocals , Janiah Allen on Percussion, Abe Gorsky on mandolin, Erica Lipps on cello and more ) and my writing in songs that share simple passions and personal reflections of life. The music moves from simple phrases to large textures with my baritone voice and funky/smooth piano pointing the way. This is my tenth project and my first with live studio performances on several songs. There are 10 new songs and 3 songs revisited including Bad Back Blues, Warriors of the World and Bring Peace to the World. Here's the lineup and a little about each track: numero 1. Cup of Coffee. I got the idea for this song from Sally Walker and her wonderful establishment Cafe Del Sol and the fact she's putting together a coffee cd.. thought she might use a tune by a local writer (we'll see about that). It's got a 20's feel with Randy pushing us all along! And i haven't had a cup of coffee in almost 30 years! Fancy that! 2.Medicine Wheel. A straight up rockin tune with a big finish! “Life's a medicine wheel turning round and round with what you feel, every chance you get make the best of it” 3. Some of you are familiar with The Bad Back Blues.. i have always wanted to do a more kickin version and here it is with some great harmonica (Wes Chapman) and saxophone getting down and dirty. 4. Are You Dreaming Now is as close to new age as will be revealed on this cd and yet has a large textured cello and drum thing happening.. The lyrics came to me from 3 to 6 one fine morning last winter and has a overtone of archetypal references (one verse about warrior energy,then priest energy and then lover energy).. Are You Dreaming Now? 5. Then there is this little love song to everyone and everything called Heaven's Sweetest Part. (guess where that is!) A simple song that i have been sharing out for a few months and audiences seem to love. 6.Red Ripe Apples is a bouncy tune that has been grabbing folks in live performance for over a year. I wrote this song for Flo (my partner) and sometimes she gets up and sings it with me! By the time the last verse gets around you can taste them Red Ripe Apples! 7.Warriors of the World was written (or should i say received in a dream) back in the late 1980's and has been part of my repertoire ever since. When i woke up with this song running in my head the first two verses and refrain were already done. It basically wrote itself! There is some fine violin work done here by Martin Scudder who played this tune with me for 15 years in Grace Note and this is basically a live performance in studio, with a reggae feel. We had fun! 8.Then we take a lyrical break with the instrumental Breezin in Blue featuring a cross melody with the piano and cello. Erica Lipps was a trooper working late even though she was 3 ½ months pregnant! The baby is due any day and i know a lot of folks are wishing her and the baby well! 9. And then Running from the Blues came along this late winter and as often happens another song got added to the project! I immediately envisioned this song with saxophone and keys leading the way. Gary Everett did a fantastic job in feeling out what i was looking for and his saxophone sets the tone of this song from the very first notes! (there's a whole nother story about this song involving Tascam and their equipment blues and software rewrites for which i was a rat in the cage, eventually emancipated!) Many people have already mentioned this song as a favorite! 10. Last fall somewhere around October as the stock market plunged and many of us were feeling the tides turning in so many ways this song came pouring through. While Rome Falls is a satirical look at the socio-political environment we are living in. It's also a fun little tune. You can view a literally down home version of it on Youtube. Abe Gorsky and Martin got some nice licks in on this cut. 11.Turn Around was written a few weeks after the events unfolded at Va. Tech in the spring of 07. “We can turn around the damage , turn it into love, take a chance to see another way”. The cello and violin add to the atmosphere this song creates. I hope we can find ways to turn around the energy of these kind of tragedies , man made or otherwise. 12.Bring Peace to the World is a chant i received while singing up at our pond one afternoon some 25 plus years ago. It is often song acappella, but Tom Williams and i had begun sharing this as a latin flavored call and return a few years ago and i really like this interpretation. This is basically live in the studio. Sweet and simple! 13.To complete this cd i wanted to share a favorite of the last few years called Angel Eyes. This was the first song we recorded and we did it in two takes. It is Tom, Jack and i with Randy on drums and i left it at that. With the release of Dance When Your Soul Brings You Near,in late 2006, Bob has put together a compelling group of songs centered on the experience of love in this world, with great performances from many of the finest musicians living in the mid-Atlantic area. This project was completed over six months with Bob working with the Awakened Studio group in Roanoke Va. The songs on this cd reflect Bob's maturing musical capabilities and diverse styles that continue to be expressed in his songs. These songs have a richness and depth that calls in the listener to his or her own inner experience and prompts many a smile or tear. Some more about my other cd's , Red Ripe Apples is my 10th recording! Bob's main instrument is the piano which he has played since his youth. His funky/smooth, spontaneous style has a distinctive character that has emerged over the years as he has grown as a player/writer. Bob often plays lengthy spontaneous selections and has "channeled" music for others during healing ceremonies, both vocal and instrumental. Rivers From The Sun", released in 2005, is a compilation of instrumental selections that he has written or "channeled" in the past year. This cd is receiving great praise from those who have purchased it. Bob performs all the tracks except for Nightshades which is a live track with his group Grace Note including Martin Scudder on electric violin and Tom Williams on acoustic guitar. Bob is a certified massage therapist and works with developmentally challenged individuals. His work as a massage therapist gave him understanding of what musical expressions enhance healing. The music on Rivers From the Sun came surrounded by the intention to be of use for relaxation, inspiration, meditation and during massage and energy work. Praise for Rivers from the Sun: We listened today and just love it. The CD is perfect background music for making a spiritual connection. Good ol' serenity. - Lou and Brant It's really beautiful. It is so much more musically interesting than other things in the genre, and I love your playing. - Betsey Alexander It's great; I really like it...very meditative. I play it at the office and also in the car. I really appreciate the breadth of your talent. I think I"ll play it right now. - Celeste Bob, I got your CD and think it's GREAT. Very nice work. Ambient easy listening instrumentals are candy for my soul, so thanks. - Frank Dieter I played it for 2 straight days and meditated to it the second morning. I love it! - Amy Adams As a singer/songwriter Bob Grubel has appeared in many venues over his lifetime of song. As early as 7 years old he began singing in church and local choirs. He appeared with choirs in Carnegie Hall and St. John's Cathedral in New York City. Throughout his twenties and thirties he sang with several several folk/rock bands and began to explore writing music. Bob began recording in 1987 releasing three early albums on cassette only. In 1991 he released his first cd titled Lifetimes and Ages. This cd contains beautiful, full arrangements with soaring vocal selections and rich tonal qualities enhanced by great acoustic performances. In 1994 he released his first cd with Grace Note, the trio he plays with, titled I Always Dreamed of Flying. Bob has performed with the trio since 1991 in many venues across the middle Atlantic states. Bob and Grace Note have performed at many Unity Churches throughout the southeast as well. In 2001 Grace Note also released The Fragrance of the Rose. About this cd a recent listener said: "I have recently discovered Bob Grubel's CD "Fragrance of the Rose" and recommend it without reservation. This compilation of a delightful musical tapestry and of diverse and deeply spiritually inspiring lyrics has filled my life with joy. I listen to it often, and it is always a refreshing experience. I confess that I actually did find myself thinking that I was amazed that a man could manifest such heart-resonating lyrics (!). The harmonies are wonderfully synchronized, and the instrumental pieces exquisitely performed." Christine Behrens, Stewartsville Va. Grace Note's style had become very recognizable in large part due to the soaring violin work of Martin Scudder and the rich harmonies created by the blend of their three voices. After 14 years together Grace Note returned to duo status. BoB and Tom Williams continue to perform rendering a more folk/rock blend of material. In 1997 BoB released another solo effort, Keep the Light Burning. This cd has many guest musicians and three tracks with a choir. What some have said about this cd: "I love your music. Like wings it lifts and carries" Kay Robbins, Roseland Va. "Bob, your music is a gift. As it fills my spirit with the light, it reminds me to laugh, live, and love." Linda Crist, Lynchburg, Va. His lyrical content has always been chosen to uplift the listener and many songs come as if a gift of greater understanding is being offered for Bob as well as the listener. Sometimes profound, sometimes simple the lyrics will open tears, laughter and familiar smiles. During the last thirty years music and song have come to Bob in many different ways. He has received 7 songs in his dreams all of which contain powerful lyrics about how to live in this time of challenge and change.