The Kajitsu Playlist

Ryuichi Sakamoto (Nathan Bajar for The New York Times)

In heavy rotation in my studio, this is an excellent 3+ hour playlist by musician Ryuichi Sakamoto – contemplative, spacious, introspective, varied.
Here's the Spotify link: The Kajitsu Playlist

It comes with an interesting back story, here’s the full article by Ben Ratliff, New York Times.
"Annoyed by Restaurant Playlists, a Master Musician Made His Own"

Thanks to writer and artist Austin Kleon for this - check out his website and subscribe to his newsletter, always good stuff there.

Free play

I recently read 'Free Play - Improvisation in Life and Art' by Stephen Matchnanovitch, an improvisational violinist, author, computer artist and educator. Published in 1991, it's not a new book, but the right book at the right time for me. Much resonated. Two of many sections highlighted: "One of the many catch-22s in the business of creativity is that you can't express inspiration without skill, but if you are too wrapped up in the professionalism of skill you obviate the surrender to accident that is essential to inspiration. You begin to emphasize product at the expense of process." And on patience with one's work and process: "If we operate with a belief in long sweeps of time, we build cathedrals; if we operate from fiscal quarter to fiscal quarter, we build ugly shopping malls."