Amazon

[2018]

"I wanted to post this song because of what’s happening in Seattle right now. It came about by going downtown one night to take a look at the new “Amazon Spheres,” and all the cranes and all the building. I love this city in a deep resonating way and I see a history that Amazon is at odds with, that Bezos and all of clones would like to disappear – using that word like a verb. I got here in 1971 and fell in love with the climate, the water, the mountains, the ease of the pace, the spontaneity, the music scene, all of it. And I swam in it for years. Still there was a clique of people who yearned for a greater and shinier city, with a celebrated upper class, and banks that would proudly welcome the likes of Boss Tweed. I played everywhere – the bus station, the TV station, all the bars and cocktail lounges, but I couldn’t get into the Rainier Club because that was private space for money and it’s friends. And I knew that given the chance that money would grow – not for all of us, but for the select few. And it has. So after seeing those “spheres” I slowly went back home and dove into my thoughts, coming back up with a rant that became a song – a song that was written in a particular style. I knew that I would be playing at the Moisture Festival and that my long time associate Mark Ettinger would be there. I also knew that Jessica Lurie would there. So I wrote something that has holes in it made for the instruments, the saxophone and the bass. It was brand new and we barely rehearsed. So bear that in mind – it’s a little raggedy here and there, but it gets the point across. I post the lyrics here as well because I choked on a few of the lines, having to fill in with whatever came to mind on the spot. I hope it makes sense."Fonte