The Keeping Still

A look at our stats on Number One Music this first week of 2026... I'm pleased to see we're doing so well...

In spring of 2020 I finally had a piano setup and part of my practice involved using an exercise I took from a song I had written in 2005 or thereabouts... The song, Reflections, closes our first album "Of Water and Spirit". I played arpeggiated chords with my left hand and played an improvised lead with my right. I decided to record my exercise and see how it sounded. I am using Boz Digital's Master Keys as my piano using an Arturia Keylab essential 49 to play it. My piano of choice is a 2021 Ningbo upright, a dark and intimate instrument. I decided to add Arturia's Sustained Strings to the mix as well as Sonora Cinematic's Refraction Piano to fill out the sound. I'm calling this version Ruminations in Em. Happy New Year from Zak and I. We're still working on Another Dead American Dream and hope to have something to share around April 2026... Enjoy, and thanks for listening... If you listen to this all the way through the next track that will play is Reflections, The original mix...

Ruminations In Em Listen to Ruminations In Em by The Keeping Still on

This song was originally recorded in around 2010 by Doug and I. Doug plays drums and I did the guitar work on it. It had some issues and was shelved for a few years until Zak and I were putting together Two Steps Back. Zak did the piano, we fixed some problems and it was slated for inclusion on Two Steps Back. Originally written as an improvisional guitar piece, I realized at one point that the improvisional part only comprised one verse, and I rerecorded the entire track for the album. Recently as part of the Cakewalk Sonar debacle, I was prompted to revisit the track. I was able to fix any problems, lengthen the track significanthy, and changed the leads from guitar to... well, check it out... I like what Zak did with the piano here and brought that forward in the mix some... Enjoy, and thanks for listening!!!

Quietly Crawling 2025 Listen to Quietly Crawling 2025 by The Keeping Still on

Wanted to share this with you again... Enjoy your weekend, and as always, thanks for listening!!!

Listen to Coney Island Baby by Jackson Hawk on

Coney Island Baby Listen to Coney Island Baby by The Keeping Still on

This particular track from Lou Reed is a favorite of mine. I first started playing it when I was jamming with Laurin and Richie D back around 1991 or 92. There was a 4 track recording of it done around that time. I do recall the session that produced the basic tracks, but don't recall anymore how exactly it came about. Mike was the drummer in Fishkill, a band I played bass in. He was high energy, a real kick ass drummer who had to work to slow down for this one. I think he did an excellent job. Originally, I played rhythm and lead guitar and sang, Mike played drums. I've cleaned it up a bit and added Piano and bass. Enjoy, and thanks for listening... 😉

Coney Island Baby Listen to Coney Island Baby by The Keeping Still on

Good morning and Happy Sunday... It's been a while since I posted any updates, so I thought I'd share some information with you. We've taken the summer off after Abigail's arrival in June. Zak and I worked on some tracks the day before she was born, and he's been pretty wrapped up since then. I did some traveling spending some time in Costa Rica, and an extended weekend last month visiting friends in Maine. We are planning to start back up in the next few weeks. I've done some writing in sporadic bursts finishing up some tunes in May, and again in July and August. I've a few new songs for possible inclusion in ADAD. I also just wrapped a cover song I started working on back in around 2005 featuring former Fishkill drummer Mike Williams. Some of the tracks I've completed will find their way here for you to listen to. I've no idea when ADAD will see the light of day, and updates may be few and far between, but rest assured we're working on it and I hope to have some songs and anecdotes to share moving forward.