Album Notes

I was first introduced to painting and music by my mother. Even before conscious memory the smell of turpentine permeated the air, with the sounds of Bach and Bird playing in the background,...and I always loved to get (in) to the paint.

Sometime before 1956 I first came across the sound of a piano on the radio. But it was the sound of the guitar in 1962 that captivated me even further. I was struck by the voice-like sonority, fullness and omni-dimensional presence: almost as if it was sculpted. It was this feeling that I connected art and music. I still see and hear correlation within and in each, and I see no separation between art and music. It is with this spirit I foresee and hear the color in music and sound of the artwork itself.

Just as Pianist Bill Evans and Double Bassist Ted Kotick once played at paintings, interpreting them musically, most of the music from "With Open Eyes" was written in this spirit. I wrote the music from paintings. And when I recorded "With Open Eyes," I was conscious of my muses: the paintings. By confronting my dreams in color and sound from an early age I feel I represent them as closely as humanly permissible.

Memory and Fantasy became the same, just as Music and Art did for me. Isolated movements represented Dialogues of greater things Culturally, Musically, and Artistically. Drawing out of my mind: Seqarching for images that have the most meaning.

Therefor these paintings need no explanation and will explain itself to you alone, a certain way, in only the way you see/interpret. Love is a feeling one can have but can't explain, why should art/music spiritual based expresstions be systematicly generated? Certainly remain unguided. An artist first and foremost artist, therefore the music will have sight &/or you can now hear the painting so therefore the art has a substance and means something more. Not that you the viewer dosn't have imagination to interpret what ORPHANOS has pained but to fulfill a true interpretation for yourself - the most important piece in the painting even though spiritually you are there. Music from music. Is an artist artistcally unworthy because; the most important member in the band/group/ensemble/art show is the audience.
Peter Orphanos


"Peter has struck gold here - he has a great rhythm section and every sound speaks of a new beginning."
Archie Shepp


A Multi Genre Instrumentalist Peter Orphanos has incorporated brand new Guitar techniques and assembled innovative musicians for this groundbreaking session.
An innovative guitarist with world renowned musicians, visualizing paintings within music, an extraordinarily deep and inspiring new approach to guitar and composition -well worth a listen.