My Childhood Recollection

A Jazz & Fingerstyle Guitar Album

I had been wanting to make a guitar album since long time back, but it never happened until 2018, my first music album ever, but yet it's a ukulele album...not a guitar album.

For this one, it all started from a plan in 2016 as I did some recording with some songs scatteredly, but never really worked on it to the completion as I did many other works too. I really thank God that my first guitar album is now finally out. I want to thank my buddies, Joel Zhou & Tuck Weng who have helped me recording, mixing & mastering the album, also talented Kevin Pieter on double bass, Yason Gunawan of Jazz Centrum Surabaya who lend us his place for recording, my friend Onggo Susilo who has helped us recording & lending his cafe for recording.

The guitar for album picture is my Butterfly headless 7 stringed guitar , https://www.dpurnomoconcept.com/buterfly-guitar, taken at Heirlooms Music. This guitar is featured in many of the songs in this album. You'll hear the "lower than usual guitar bass notes" in some tracks. Check out Heirlooms Music, awesome guitars, friendly and helpful staffs, cozy shop. Some of my guitar designs are there too.

I've been a fan of solo guitar and jazz since my teenage years. I always liken playing guitar in 2 approaches, "playing guitar in the band" or "playing band in the guitar". The first one is like playing guitar together with some band mates, that could be a bassist, a drummer, a vocalist, a keyboardist, a saxophonist, etc. in various format (duo, trio, and so on), so the guitar just focus on his/her own part; where else the latter one is playing the simulation of the band in one guitar where you could hear more than 1 part played simultaneously (chord, melody, bass line, etc).

If you asked me which approach I prefer, my answer would be "Depends on the mood". I love wagyu beef as well as lamb rack. I could enjoy both at different timing as each one has it's own virtues.

Through this album I want to share some of my personal "growing up" memories through music, that includes some jazzed up version of nursery rhymes, hymns and some original compositions. Some are solo guitar, some are duo guitar, some are duo guitar - double bass (Kevin played the double bass).

My story's coloured by my personal believe that might be different from yours, nevertheless I believe that these songs will minister joy, peace, love, healing & restoration to you in one way or another. And if you feel so drop me some email, I'm happy for you too as you celebrate your breakthrough :)

This album will set a good mood back ground to accompany you doing your various activities, that could be dining, working, chatting with family & friends, jogging, driving, having some coffee or wine, reading, relaxing, shopping, getting some inspiration, or you purposely sitting down to enjoy the music. It's a mix of smooth jazz, blues, funk, jazz waltz, swing, bossa nova, cha cha, some chill fingerstyle & groovy pop feels.

This album is available in many major online medias, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and so on. But you'll get a bonus track when you download from this website.

For you who share similar growing back ground with me, may this album bring a good memory to you, otherwise I hope you'll still enjoy it as relaxing, playful, sweet & inspiring music. And LET THE FUN BEGIN :D

1. INTRO

It's an improvisational tune I made over some chill grooved chord progression to set your mood up for the "story". You could enjoy the whole album anytime, but you could imagine that the songs are telling some event story sequentially from Saturday evening to Sunday evening. May all your day be filled with restful spirit and enjoy the refreshment.

2. AMAZING GRACE is groovy

It's basically a classic hymn Amazing Grace, but I put some bluesy funk groove flavour in it with my 7 stringed Butterfly guitar. You'll hear some "heavier than normal guitar" bass pattern in this song.

Contrary with the conventional believe, I learn in life that God's love & favour are unmerited. No matter how good I try to be perfect I'd just fall short of God's standard. I don't deserve to be loved & favoured but condemnation instead. But He Himself took my condemnation & impart His righteousness for me. Now I'm forever blessed. "Grace" means I receive good I don't deserve. It's a comforting truth to know that God's love to me is based how perfect He's redeemed me, a good night meditation...a groovy one.

Romans 3:23-24

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

That's indeed an amazing news...amazing grace is groovy.

3. TEA FOR TWO

When I was kid I often heard this song at some wedding parties in some Chinese restaurants that had their own home band. It's a very catchy and playful song that I liked it since the first time I heard it. Years after that my first jazz guitar teacher taught me this song and I was so happy. It's a classic Cha Cha song written in 1924 by Vincent Youmans for some broadway musical.

4. SLIDE SLIGHTLY (Original)

Sometimes in the evening I ponder to some mistakes I've done, "I should have done bla bla bla....", or I worry about the future,"How if.....?" But do you realise that we live in the "not so perfect" world? There're always some "slides" slightly (which I symbolised with some sliding notes in this composition). Nevertheless we need to guard our heart with joy. It's not the joy from the circumstances outside, instead it's the joy that springs out from the inside of us.

This composition pictures some country man/woman enjoying his/her bicycle riding & city viewing in the big messy city. In the midst of heavily trafficked street with cars that always honk each other, rushing people going to somewhere, big and tall skyscrapers he/she just slowly enjoying his/her ride and manoeuvres (sometimes get to jam brake his/her bike, turn around, pace up, etc) happily between the gap. While his/her existence might obstruct people from rushing, he/she wonders why others are so rushing & impatient.

Romans 15:13

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

5. YES, JESUS LOVES ME

It's an evergreen Sunday school's song I did in blues. Sometimes I didn't really pay attention on this kid's song, but it's got actually a great powerful message. The lyrics reminds me about Jesus' love for me. My confidence's not in my love for Him (which is shaky), but in His unshakeable love for me.

1 John 4:10

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

I learn that children are so dependable. I feel it's so meaningful to meditate on this song with a "childlike" faith. No matter what have happened during the day I'm learning to meditate over this truth before sleeping.

6. TWISTY TWINKLE LITTLE STAR

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is probably the most well known nursery rhyme. I took it as a material to "cook the dish" differently. It's a duo piece with Kevin Pieter on double bass. You'll here his steady groove that inspire and push me to create my melody lines. In this version I arranged it with some minor scale "herbs", swing groove "ketchup" and seasoned it with some improvisation to make it more playful. After all nursery rhyme's supposed to go together with playfulness, isn't it? I think you'll have an exciting night with this.

7. MORNING DEW (ORIGINAL)

Imagine you woke up in the morning in the country feeling fresh, you heard the birds' chirping, saw the beautiful sun ray, felt the breezy and cooling weather, smelled the fresh flowers...what a peaceful morning. Get ready to enjoy the brand new day, new hope, new breakthrough, new blessing :)

Hosea 6:4

“O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away.

8. HAPPY SUNDAY (Original)

I was always looking forward to this best day of the week, and now Sunday's here. It's a happy day...no school, I could just play with friends, watching video. At that time me & some friends had a weekly video renting after Sunday school...yes, at that time it was a VHS video. I draw this through this song with a catchy melody and some simple chord progression. There's some "minor" feel in the bridge of the tune, but it eventually comes back to major. It comes with some good surprise just before the happy ending in the song. With this I wish you a "Happy Sunday" spirit in all days of your week, even in your work. Be restful & joyful inside even when you're busy outside.

9. PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP (Original)

As a kid sometimes I was jumpy over something that made me happy, like new toys, going for some family holidays, or playing with some friends & running around in the field. It's a chill happy song. But when I've grown up I learn that joy is a decision. We can't control the situation around us, but we can guard our heart by choosing to be joyful. Let this song be a reminder to "put a spring in your step".

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

It's interesting to know that it says "in everything", not "because of everything". I can't give thanks because of the bad things, but I can give thanks despite of the bad things as God is good all the time. His character doesn't change according to the circumstances. I'm learning to worship Him as Who He is, not according to the circumstances I'm in. When I agree with the truth that He's always good to me by giving thanks to Him, it means I let Him work in my circumstances and eventually it will turn good.

10. WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

We sang this classic hymn in Sunday school, it's got a meaningful lyrics about a friend Who has suffered to bear our sins and made us righteous. I did this version in swing.

John 15:13 (NKJV) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

Just for a fun fact, in Indonesia we know this tune as "Kulihat Ibu Pertiwi", one of the national songs.

11. BURUNG KAKAK TUA

It's a famous folk song of the region originated from Malay culture. I listened to this song a lot when I was growing up in Indonesia. It's a waltz playful nursery rhyme that depicts cockatoo bird (burung kakak tua) and a grandma...now when I think back I find that the lyrics is hilariously smart.

12. ROMANCE D'AMORE & MORE

I imagine myself practicing this piece on a classical guitar back then just before sleeping time. This could be the most popular classical guitar piece for beginner (if you're a guitarist you probably agree with me). I myself learnt this when I took classical guitar course back then. But this one is just "more" than "Romance D'Amore" as I re-harmonised the chord progression & use some jazz waltz groove. Nevertheless it's a nice piece to practice improvisation.

13. IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

It's been a day that had some challenges as well as well as some breakthroughs. All in all...it is well with my soul, not because I've solved all my problems, but I know that God's for me. I learn to walk with Him in the rhythm of His grace. Btw, I think this song sounds good in funk groove...more pumped-up, what do you think?

14. TWINKLE TWINKLING LITTLE STAR

After all the activities, by now it's a night time again. You could see the stars in the sky again. Do you agree that stars are magnificent? I'm thinking how much more their Creator is. I'm learning a habit to be thankful and mediate on God's goodness over the day I've been through just before taking some rest.

Psalm 8:3

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place

That's about my childhood recollection, it wasn't a perfect childhood as I guess we all have been experiencing ups & downs. Mistakes and success, challenges and victories. they're all parts & puzzles of life that continue to now . But I'm learning the truth that I'm not defined by my circumstances, I'm who the Lord says I am. It's very encouraging to know the truth that there's Divine Person Who loves me & takes a good care of me affectionately whom I call Daddy God.

My life goes on strong and so is yours...you're AWESOME & PRECIOUS too.

15. NOCTURNO (Carl Henze) - Bonus Track only for website download

It's a classical guitar piece I learnt last time that tells a story about night time and I think it's a nice relaxing piece for resting. I played this on Island Series Maestro Guitalele as I made some youtube video reviews (check out youtube.com/dapur777) and recorded directly with only a handphone in my room. So it's actually not a "studio standard" recording as you hear a natural big room reverb, but I feel this piece's pretty soothing and bring remembrance to my classical guitar learning last time.

Thank you for reading, listening and enjoying this album. I hope you have a great time.

God bless you dearly,

Daniel Purnomo