No vocals (except for background vocals) to allow the listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals, no background vocals, and no instrumental melody line in order to allow the listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

A song about a guy singing the praises of his wife who he finds beautiful.  It’s about no one in particular and is total fiction.

Sung by Jim West of Sparta, TN and arranged by Ethan Hyatt of Philadelphia, PA.  Nino Chikviladze of the Republic of Georgia (formerly of the Soviet Union) played the violin.  The recording, mixing, and mastering was done by Mike Clark of Amherst, NH.

No vocals, no background vocals, and no instrumental melody line in order to allow the listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

An expression of faith and hope in the innocence, goodness, and promise of a child.

Sung by Jim West of Sparta, TN, arranged by Renzo Martinez of Asuncion, Paraguay, and recorded by Mike Clark of Amherst, NH.

This song is for those interested in scriptural accuracy.  It’s a “Hail Mary,” except that I call it “Most Exalted One.”  I do so because it is more scripturally accurate.  In the second Catholic edition of the revised standard version, Gabriel addresses Mary not by her personal name but by a title – “Hail (or rejoice), full of grace.”  The expression “full of grace” is rooted in Catholic tradition and traced to St. Jerome’s translation in the Latin Vulgate.  Although fundamentally accurate, it lacks some of the depth of the Greek original.  Luke could have described her with the words “full of grace” (Gk. pleres charitos) as he did of Stephen in Acts 6:8, yet here he uses a different expression (Gk. kecharitomene) that is even more revealing than the traditional rendering.  It indicates that God has already “graced” Mary previous to the annunciation, making her a vessel who “has been” and “is now” filled with divine life.  Alternative translations like “favored one” or “highly favored” are possible but inadequate.  Because of the unparalleled role that Mary accepts at this point in salvation history, the best translation is “most exalted one.”  I found this information in a footnote on Luke 1:28 in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 2001 edition, page 105.

Marco Atanackovic, aka Nemesh and from Serbia, did the musical arrangement.  The recording engineer is Mike Clark from Amherst, New Hampshire, and the wonderful singer’s name is Michaela Catapano from the NYC area.

A light jazz song sung by Trish Costa that expresses exactly what the title says, that she is much better off on her own as opposed to being in a relationship with someone who is less than honorable, to put it kindly.  Words and Music by Bernard Leclerc and arrangement by Shahe Sinanoglu.

A high energy contemporary sounding song sung by Trish Costa.  It  expresses the foolishness of thinking that she could have been in love with somebody when in reality she was just deceiving herself.  Words and Music by Bernard Leclerc and arrangement by Shahe Sinanoglu.

No vocals or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

A cry on behalf of the unborn.  A cry for help to be allowed to live when, in the minds of many, one’s address, i.e. a womb, one’s level of development, and one’s inability to defend oneself apparently diminish one’s value and, as a result, constitute sufficient cause for one’s murder.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Arranged and performed by Jim West.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Instrument replaces vocals.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Written with my sister Louise in mind.  After the loss of her husband, Constantine Taleas, she needed to downsize and to move elsewhere.  This proved to be very difficult for her and was in need of a little divine intervention, hence this prayer/song.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Sung by Patty Vellucci and arranged by Joe Laquidara.

Instrument replaces vocals.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Instrument replaces vocals.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

A tribute to Armand Dumoulin, a member of the Knights of Columbus,  a man of patience, fairness, generosity, compassion, high moral virtue, and truly a very noble man.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Tears of the Heart is about the loneliness and sadness that some people never overcome due to the loss of a loved one.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Instrument replaces vocals.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

A touching song about this composer/author’s older brother, Marc, who is living with terminal brain cancer. Despite many obstacles and uncertainties during his life, he had the courage to pursue and accomplish his goals – educationally, personally, financially, and professionally.   His odyssey began in a paper mill town in western Maine and it eventually took him to the San Francisco area where he currently resides with his lovely wife, a woman of courage herself who escaped Vietnam back in the 1970s and made her way to the USA.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Instrument replaces vocals.

No vocals or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Based on images of refugees fleeing their country during war stricken Kosovo back in 1999, this instrumental expresses the despair and sadness of people having to leave their homes and all their belongings because of the killing and destruction.  At the same time, however, it evokes a bit of hope for something positive to arise from the ashes.  Arranged and performed by Bill Cronin.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Based on a dream the author/composer had a few months after the passing of his mother.  In the dream she was being waked in a funeral parlor, got up from the casket looking perfectly healthy, and went over to her son, i.e. me, who was talking with someone to tell him that she was okay.   Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Country/Pop tune with great female vocals.  The song questions at what point a relationship is over. Is love an illusion? A game of pretend?  The singer would prefer to be alone rather than be involved in a lukewarm love affair.  Arranged by Shahe Sinanoglu and sung by Trish Costa.

A warm, touching song based, with some changes, on a poem of an unknown author.  The song is not a farewell, but rather a “see you later” type of song.  It expresses thanks for the love and joy he was given in life and a sense of consolation for those mourning.  I first heard this poem read at the funeral of my brother-in-law, Constantine Taleas, and was truck by the tenderness of the words.  From these words the composed melody just seemed to flow.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Lush and elegant children’s song, male vocal, wondrous synth work.  A song about a dad talking to his daughter trying to find out why she is so sad.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Tender and heart warming song of thanks to one’s mother for the gifts of life, love, and family.  Originally sung at author/composer’s mother’s funeral by Lorraine Louvat in December of 1982.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Easy-going, folk song about a childhood friend who passed away from lymphoma. He was the class clown who always made people laugh and brightened up their day. He had joined the military, sobered up, straightened out his life, married, and had young children at the time of his death.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Somewhat of a folk song, this is a warm, nostalgic tribute to this author/composer’s father who was alcoholic, a very hard worker, lived for his family, and showed his love through his works, not his words.

Arranged, recorded and performed by Jim West of Sparta, TN.