Dark Eyes (solo guitar, recorded February 7, 2012) One of the very first songs I learned when I took up guitar at the age of ten was the Russian folk song called Dark Eyes (also known as Ochi Chernye or Les Yeux Noirs). The song dates from the Ukraine in 1843 and is now in the public domain. Daek Eyes is generally done in D minor (especially by practitioners of Gypsy Jazz) but I learned the tune in E minor and that tonality is so ingrained in my mind and fingers that D minor just doesn’t feel right. Also, the shape of the melody, as I play it, has become idiosyncratic which suits me just fine. Over the more than forty years that I have played this song I have developed certain variations based on what were originally improvisations. Consequently, a formal arrangement of the piece has evolved even though in live performance I still improvise on the changes. What is presented here is the more arranged form, which slowly, through the years, has evolved through countless improvs on the theme. I am fairly certain my Polish/Czech ancestry plays a part in my affinity with this tune. A faint strain of melancholy is found in most Slavic music. There is a some Django in this rendition (in the “Flight of the Bumblebee” finale) and some Pat Martino as well. Having played this song my entire life it basically encapsulates my entire musical endeavor thus far in three minutes or less. The superimposing of Jazz elements on what is essentially a Folk song is very appropriate for me because from the beginning I sensed that this combination was natural. And my own pieces (the better ones at least) reflect this inclination, as well. If I have inherited anything from my family, it has been a strong work ethic and fierce tenacity. There is a Polish motto (often quoted by Arthur Rubinstein) that applies well: "Nie Dam Sie." Loosely translated this means " I shall never give in" or “I won’t give up”. I have often seen this undaunted attitude in my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles when they approached their work. It’s an attitude I try to apply to my work as well. Reynold