Brent's travels & friends

I am thrilled about the TRUTH regarding this mess in IRAQ coming out in the WORLD press. We get a different "slant" on American politics from down here and it is most amusing as well entertaining and frightening. It seems this administration is like a spoilt brat bully teenager, that has too much money, too big of a body and TOO MANY toys, only knows how to lie and cheat to get more of what it wants and does not know how to get along with others! Last year my holiday was ruined because of this war. Every minute of every day it was on media and the crap behind it. ALAS. Finally some balance.

PEACE & LOVE and most of all hope you are well and safe. Love from BJ

Some thoughts reflecting back on the attack on Sept. 11^th--

I was stunned as I witnessed over the television the collapse of the World Trade Center. This was an attack on a city that I love. Being a musician one must have respect for NYC as it is one of the most important "MUSIC CAPITALS" on the planet. I usually fly to NYC every November and receive some invaluable musical coaching from two of the finest musical minds in the world - Seymour Bernstein and Carol Montparker.

As always, I turned to my constant healing and restorative source during any crisis in my life, music. I sat at my piano and began sorting through music that was strewn on the floor, under the piano and folios that were laying on the desk of this "black whale." One piece seemed to leap towards my open hands, the Beethoven Sonata, No. 8 Op. 13 "Pathetique". The screaming crash of the opening C Minor Chord opened a door wide enough to release my anger and painful emotions. As I lashed out the last C minor scale I truly felt a sense of relief. I rested my head on the keyboard cover and relished in a kind of meditation only musicians can experience at special moments. The second movement is written in the key of A flat, a magical key to write or play in as it vibrates toward the solar plexus, our emotional center. This movement became a prayer of hope and loving phrases of sound that had deep meaning to unanswerable questions. With the last movement I felt the joy of Major and Minor keys, tension and relaxation, hot and cold, hate and love. Amazing and so beautiful how Beethoven created a blueprint by which I could do some spiritual, mental and physical healing. Making music is a physical event and by focusing the energy one expels at the keyboard it can be a wondrous physical exercise.

After September 11^th I say we all should attempt to do the simple things we have always longed to do. But because of obligations, debts, commitments, we never take the time to create. Attempt to write the book you always said you would, try to read a poem every day or listen to a great piece of music. Take a walk every day. Stay home and COOK a nutritious, meal. Send a homemade card with a verse you create to someone you care about. Henry David Thoreau said : "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest."

In closing I would quote Pam Brown: "Music speaks of Platonic truth - the ideal river rather than the polluted reality, love as we dream it rather than we experience it, grief noble and uplifting rather than our distracted weeping. It is necessary to our survival and our sanity."

NEW PHOTOS of this year's trek with Rutha can be viewed below. Pictures from years past of friends, family and travels are below those. May all your dreams come true! Brent

(This page has lots of pictures, so please be patient
while they load!)

Below--Me at the Carrack Winery. Cromwell is about a half hours drive by car from QT. The entire country side is nothing but fruit trees, and acres of vineyards.

Carrack Winery, New Zealand

Above, Lake Ohau.

Mount Cook. The highest mountain
in New Zealand. I have watched the
sun set and rise on this mountain
every year I have been coming to
New Zealand. (14 years)

At a winery in the wine country.

A rainbow outside my studio window.


	Thank you for visiting my website! Brent at Curio Bay South Island, New Zealand.

Our trip to Italy in the fall of 1999: With my sister, Teresa, who is an artist, in Florence, Italy, and Michelangelo's statue of David in the background. We took this trip in the fall of 1999. Below, at the Vatican in Rome during its 25th Jubilee (occurs every 25 years). Bottom, right - Teresa & Brent, Florence Plaza


At the Vatican	Florence Plaza


Below, Michael & Brent in Tuscany before going into the Catacombs.		Brent & Michael at the Forum in Rome.


Welcome to my Studio in Queenstown, New Zealand I have designed work out T-Shirts. They are $15.00 each.

I still have some catalogs for "MEN OVER 40" available. The booklet is free but you pay the postage and handling.



Rutha Pryputniewicz is one of many soul mates in my life as we share a love for the outdoors, cooking, good music and laughter. We met up in New Zealand this past season (2001) and did the Banks Peninsula hike. Four nights, four days, four beaches, four bays. PLUS lots of walking and uniting with nature. Enjoy some of the photos. By the way, Rutha cooks at Phantom Ranch in the bottom of The Grand Canyon. *GO SEE HER!*

On the 2001 Banks Peninsula Track Tour

Brent at "The Food Shack" with Billy

At The Food Shack with "Billy"

"No Billy Boiling"
"NO BILLY BOILING, etc"

"IS THERE ANYBODY IN THERE-"	*We had all the modern conveniences...*
	"NICE POOL TABLE!"

I have admired David Lanz's piano artistry for years. He composed Chisophorie's Dream, which has haunted and soothed my troubled heart and mind over the years. Chisophorie invented the piano! I went to his birthplace when I was in Italy two years ago. Talk about a holy shrine! For me it was divine sacred ground. My life is expressed in piano playing. I met David in Boise, Idaho, last year.

Brent with David Lanz & friends

Here is a photo of me with some of my dearest soul mates: L to R, Shirley Taylor (one of her oil paintings graces the walls of my restaurant), Brenthoven, Willa, David, and Gary W. Hardin, who authored such best sellers as The Messengers and On the Wings of Heaven.