First things first: Happy New Year!!!

Every December since 2011 I’ve put together a personal “Best of…” playlist that I call Discoveries & Resurrections.

The list draws from all of the music I’ve read about, written about, discovered, listened to, heard in concert, performed, taught and – if my Muse has been generous – created over the course of the year about-to-be gone by.

Usually, I get this done in time to burn the playlist to CD and include a copy among the Christmas gifts to each of my children.

However, the 2019 collection was not compiled until December 31st. Better late than not at all!

I like these playlists – as I like my set lists – to begin with an acoustic guitar instrumental.

“Are You Awake?” (Thank you, Muse) kicks off this year’s collection.

[The Best of 2014 started with “Sixstr (The sixstr stories Theme)” and “Before Breakfast” took the lead in 2016.]

“Are You Awake?” got its title from the fact that the opening phrase of the melody did indeed wake me up one morning this past November. Fortunately, I had a bit of time to not only find those notes on my guitar but also capture them in a voice memo recording on my phone. (Ah, the wonders of modern technology!)

Several days and many stolen moments later, my new piece was finished, mastered, properly recorded and transcribed.

So, ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, I give you “Are You Awake?”

I hope that helps to get your new musical year off to a good start.