Jimmy Valentine received his first music lesson at the age of seven years old from rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis. At 13 years of age he had a couple of intense music theory lessons from jazz legend Maynard Ferguson. Shortly after, Jimmy was also fortunate enough to gain a few guitar lessons from guitar icon Frank Marino.
Jimmy was hired as musical director and guitar player by the legendary Sky Sunlight Saxon of the SEEDS to headline the GOODSTOCK 2007 music festival.
Other venues Jimmy played include: The Rainbow in Hollywood, The Willow Ranch Peace Fest, The Michigan Peace Fest, The Chicago Peace Fest, Swing State, The HOODILIDOO music festival.
In early 2008, Sky Saxon produced Jimmy Valentine's Pisces Rising Album, which Sky played an integral part in the sound and subject matter of this album..
Statements by Jimmy Valentine:
"I think the only thing about Pisces Rising I can think of is that while I was recording it Sky really guided me in the direction of balancing music people want to hear with what they need to hear. Sky was really instrumental in how I presented the topic matter.
Sky asked me once "Now that you find yourself alone in the woods with the torch layin at your feet still burning, what are you gonna do? Pick it up and light the path for others and lead the way, or wander into the darkness like so many others?" I didn't answer him cause it was such a heavy moment, but i hope my answer is abundantly clear upon listening to Pisces Rising.
Sky's overall influence on the disc is unmistakable in terms of the SOUND. But he had a really huge part in the subject matter espc. in songs like "American Dream" and "Nation under One Beat".
He left such a vast musical legacy and I am so proud to be even a small part of it. Even now I continue to be blessed by Sky. I got to do a song on the upcoming tribute and then to contribute a second UNRELEASED Sky tune titled "Who's In the Zoo" recorded with Tom Constanten of the Grateful Dead. Sky had a profound impact on my music and my life. Without Sky Saxon there would be no Jimmy Valentine."
"Thanks again for giving Pisces Rising some much deserved attention. Sky put a lot into this Cd and I know he would appreciate it."--Jimmy Valentine
Review
"Pisces Rising" is an evasive kaleidoscopic labyrinth of improvised eclectric psychedelic rock music with a twilight-edge; that conceals an unfathomable depth of mysterious and infinite meaning. The album is full of intense sound manipulations and instrumental passages with complex waveforms combining multiple sonic variations through a wide range of synth techniques; that inspirits a lucid mind-altering mirage with chilling dusky grunge styled vocals consolidated within both a fiction and non-fiction theme of lyrics, which deliver unidealistic earthly messages. Such as "American Dream" which groans about being oblivious to the crimes in the streets of the cities and freedom not being about hatred, violence or greed. "Lair of The Hollywood Vampire" conveys a warning about the hell fire of the enchanted city and to be aware of the villains lurking in the shadows.. Whilst, "Return of The Hollywood Vampire" casts a simliar message with the stylistic elements of a slight beatboxing hip hop sound. "The Devil Gave Me A Stratocaster" encourages not giving up and finding a new inspiration and purpose. "A Nation Under One Beat" is a hasty song with the modern monastery of rude profanity (intended for a mature audiance) that addresses our tainted society, modern technologies and materialisticworld having destroyed all the freedom, innocence, beauty and all that was sacred, while the people stand by and do nothing about it! "Right Here In America" has a bit of a southern blues and psychedelic rock sound that suggests there's got to be a better way for our children. "Forest of Shadows" has a cultured Greek psychedelic folk-rock sound about walking in the foot-steps of the angels and following the light instead of dancing in the dark with the devil'; as for judgement day will come with a price to pay for your soul!
The album closes with "Maha Mantra" also known as TheHare Krishna mantra. The established transcendental vibration from the song: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, is the method sublime in order to give again life to our spiritual conscience in a sixteen-word Vaishnava mantra which first appeared in the Kali-Santarana Upanishad, and which from the 15th century rose to importance in the Bhakti movement following the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. According to Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, this higher consciousness takes the form of pure love of GOD (Krishna). Since the 1960s, the mantra has been made well known outside of India by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as "the Hare Krishnas").
"Pisces Rising" has a total of 13 tracks, all of which hold obscured positive messages with a couple songs obtaining profanity not suited for an immature audiance. On the other hand, I highly recommend this alluring album to the mature listeners; who are looking for intense and meaningful indepth expressions with ingenious psychedelic improvisations all the way through from start to finish in a unique and staggering environment from the dim light view of the..Hollywood Vampire!!!
Jan (editor)
1. American Dream 2. Lair Of The Hollywood Vampire 3. The Devil Gave Me A Stratocaster 4. Return Of The Hollywood Vampire 5. A Nation Under One Beat 6. The Night Is Young 7. Voodoo People 8. Right Here In America 9. Faded Lounge 10. Margaretann 11. Forest of Shadows 12. Right Here In America (reprise) 13. Maha Mantra
In Loving Memory of Sky Saxon - by Jimmy Valentine
Sky Saxon
In Loving Memory of Sky Saxon - by Jimmy Valentine
I have difficulty describing the influence Sky had on me. And will continue to have on me.
In the few years I knew him he taught me a lifetime worth of lessons. Sky taught me to never give up. Sky showed me the way of forgiveness and true love for my fellow beings of all sorts.
Sky taught me patience. With his help he taught me how to make a great album (Pisces Rising was produced by him over the phone!).
The musical legacy he left us will continue to enrich our lives and the lives of those yet unborn for ages to come!
Right now I just want to reflect on the loss of my friend and teacher...Perhaps at a later time I will get into more detail, but more than likely I won't.
So many people were always trying to ride his cosmic and very long coat tails. For me just having him as a friend and being blessed with having worked with him for a brief time is enough...If Sky taught me anything it was that with my heart in the right place and my mind unpolluted, I don't need to be anybody's side man. I can shine on my own.
So in closing I would like to say thank you Sky. Thank you for seeing something in me that I did not. Thank you for your influence and helping to shape my music. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your love.
I love you and I will miss you my friend...
Jimmy Valentine
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