Autumn Nights: These Dreams

January 16, 2022January 15, 2022 / David / 3 Comments

Written by Elizabeth Ksenia Ramos

A Saturday evening in November.

The concert, three and half hours. The encore set, twenty minutes. It was a magical night. One you wished would never end.

The evening came to an end with a song of dreams. One full of emotion. I keep mine close to my heart, but wear on my sleeve. I could feel the tears welling in my eyes as the intro played. The words carry a truth in my heart, those I can identify with so deeply. Dreams that I only wish would come true.

The concert montage, this video montage, says it all. Both of my family. Mom and dad, Deborah and Kyle. We were once before. My dream, my wish, to become once again. I asked Laurie and Tara for their blessing since neither appears in the montages. They were ever so kind to grant their approval, especially Laurie. My love to them both.

This video is best viewed in full screen 1080p HD, best heard in HD surround audio.

May your dreams, your wishes, come true.

On the track –

Lead vocal: Elizabeth Ramos
Lead guitar: David Ramos
Keyboards, piano, backing vocals: Andrea Kanakredes
Acoustic guitar: Blake Dylan
Acoustic guitar: Cassandra Ellis
Bass: Barry Dylan
Percussion: Michael Evans
Drums: William Edward O’Brien
Backing vocals: Rachel Michaela Landers, Linda Mozier, Ronnie Ellison
Strings: Wendy Stills, Sarah McNeal, Jen Harrison, Constance Riley, Lisa Reed, Steve Blake
Woodwinds: Melody Reynolds, Stacy Hollander
Horns: JD McClain, Perry Cortes, Vernon Lerner, Mike Dozier

Written by: Bernie Taupin, Martin Page
Arranged by: Andrea Kanakredes

Recorded live at Front Range Concerts.
© Copyright 2021 – Team KRW. All Rights Reserved.

New Member

January 12, 2022January 12, 2022 / David / 6 Comments

Team KRW is rather exclusive, consisting only of Deborah, Elizabeth and Tara. While others have asked if they could become a team member, their request has been politely declined.

We are proud to welcome Megan McOwens to our ranks.

Our relationship with Megan has been a longstanding one. We’ve known her since she was a teen. Megan mentored the daughters when they were novices. She said once, “It’s not a bad idea to keep an eye on your potential competitors, particularly those coming up from the lower ranks behind you.”

Megan is immensely talented. She won her first Grand Prix when she was 14. Her ascent in the junior ranks was widely noticed, winning nearly half of her starts. There were whispers of Megan becoming the future of American women in showjumping. She shied away from such talk. “It’s quite presumptive to say so-and-so is the future. Our sport is very dynamic.”

All changed when she suffered a near catastrophic leg injury sustained during a training session. Her orthopedic surgeon said it was the worst sports injury he had seen. Returning to the sport Megan loved so much would be highly unlikely. First, she would need to learn how to walk again. A year and a half later, she was back on the saddle. Megan, however, was not the same rider she once was.

More surgeries would follow.

Megan needed to learn how to ride again. It would not be easy. Trish pushed her hard. More than any other rider she taught, more than any other rider she coached.

Her return to competitive showjumping has been long and challenging. While she had her doubts, she did not quit.

Bringing Megan into the KRW fold makes sense as she embarks on her most ambitious campaign. For a rider, structure is important. It allows them to focus on riding.

Megan is ready to ride.

Easy Like Sunday

January 9, 2022January 9, 2022 / David / 15 Comments

From Colorado connected to Hawaii, a retreat from the everyday …

A beautiful video from Beach House/Surf Kawela Hawaii.

Winter Fire

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022 / David / 12 Comments

A week ago, the most dangerous kind of wildfire occurred. It is the kind that is continually warned during winter – dry conditions, low humidity, high winds, dried vegetation. It may be “winter,” but it does not mean the the fire risk is lower. On the contrary, the fire risk is higher.

Last week’s fire is also indicative of the greater problem occurring in the west, rapid growth and not enough fire protection to support that growth. Five, ten, twenty, thirty years ago, the area was farmland. Now, it has undergone transformation with new subdivisions. Fire protection in most new subdivisions, particularly in Colorado, is inadequate. Where the growth has been the most expansive and rapid, those with fire protection, maps are a necessary tool for responding units answering a medical emergency or fire call.

While the fire was tragic, it could have been worst. The losses could have been more horrific from the fast-moving wildfire. More recently, human remains have been discovered among the ruins.

In ranching and farming, fire mitigation is a year-round activity. Controlled burns are the preferred choice. Conducting such burns in winter is more unpredictable with the variable weather conditions. In Colorado, the weather becomes drier beginning in October. Add drought conditions, already dry conditions are drier.

One fire professional said last week’s fire was as close to a nightmare scenario that can happen. “We lucked out this time. The loss of life was limited. Next time, we may not.”

Autumn Nights: Leave Me Now

December 30, 2021January 7, 2022 / David / 4 Comments

A Saturday evening in November, with Elizabeth in concert.

When she first heard the song, Elizabeth loved every part of it. The music. The words. The sound. The vocal range. The very romantic Russian back melody.

The song is one of uncertain love, carrying deep emotion. He wants to stay, but isn’t sure if he wants to stay. She says stay, but I’m not going to beg. “If you want to go, leave now.”

The video is best viewed in full screen, 1080p HD and the volume set to high.

Andrea says, this song and another few, our daughter is a woman.

On the track –

Songwriters: Serge Kapustin, Allee Willis
Arranged by: Andrea Kanakredes

Recorded live at Front Range Concerts.
© Copyright 2021 – Team KRW. All Rights Reserved.

A Megan Update

December 28, 2021December 28, 2021 / David / 9 Comments

It took a little longer for Megan to close on her new place. Strictly paperwork issues. When you have those issues, it affects the moving plan by introducing uncertainty into the equation. Once they were resolved, Megan began packing up her household in earnest. What didn’t change was her move out date.

For a single woman, her roots are deeply set. She has a lot of stuff. I thought we had stuff when we moved to North Ranch. Megan seems to have more. The plan is to have most of everything ready for the movers by Friday. Megan is on a very compressed schedule. She is scheduled to begin full-time training for her 22 season on Monday, January 3, with her first show in early March. Viceroy and Contessa have already been transferred to RRC. Her other two horses, Maddox and Lacey, will be stabled in the performance barn at RRC while she is away for 12 weeks.

Both Megan and I are dead tired from the hours spent packing everyday, for six days straight. What didn’t help was getting her phone and internet service transferred to the new place. That took most of Monday afternoon, time we couldn’t afford to give up but did.

We’re keeping our fingers are crossed while packing.

Autumn Nights: This Guy Is In Love

December 26, 2021December 26, 2021 / David / 7 Comments

Written by Elizabeth Ksenia Ramos

A Saturday evening in November.

Before intermission, a five song, Bacharach medley began and ended with this song. The featured performer, my dad. He prefers the role of backing vocalist when it comes to singing.

At our very first rehearsal in March, I asked dad if he could do this song. Since I was asking, he agreed, with mom playing the piano. They have a chemistry when it comes to the Bacharach songbook. When Tess heard, she looked up from the charts on her stand. She watched and listened intently. Tess was quite taken. When dad noticed, he locked eyes with her. Tess just couldn’t stop smiling. For the remainder of the session, whenever she looked in his direction, Tess smiled even more. It was like she had fallen in love with him.

This video is best viewed in full screen 1080p HD and the volume set on high.

If you’re wondering, maybe he is. Mom and dad still have that connection, that spark. He also has that connection, that spark with Laurie.

On the track –

Lead vocal: David Ramos
Keyboards, piano, backing vocals: Andrea Kanakredes
Acoustic guitar: Blake Dylan
Acoustic guitar: Cassandra Ellis
Bass: Barry Dylan
Percussion: Michael Evans
Drums: William Edward O’Brien
Backing vocals: Elizabeth Ramos, Rachel Michaela Landers, Linda Mozier, Ronnie Ellison
Strings: Wendy Stills, Sarah McNeal, Jen Harrison, Constance Riley, Lisa Reed, Steve Blake
Woodwinds: Melody Reynolds, Stacy Hollander
Horns: JD McClain, Perry Cortes, Vernon Lerner, Mike Dozier

Songwriters: Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Arranged by: Andrea Kanakredes

Christmastime

December 24, 2021December 24, 2021 / David / 11 Comments

It will be a quieter time here. Part by choice, most by work. It is Christmastime.

When a friend asked about my best Christmas memory, hands down, 1989. “Wasn’t that when …” It was. I loved what I was doing then, and still do. “Would you do it again, same choices, same actions?” Without a doubt, I would. There was a simplicity, an order. “What about now?” It is a different life, with a different kind of simplicity and order.

On this eve, I’ll be enjoying a new guitar, a nice fire and the quietness of the night. A simplicity, an order.

On this eve, Laurie and Andrea are hoping not to make the call, but likely will. Deborah, Elizabeth and Tara are continuing to learn the demands and responsibilities of the profession. A simplicity, an order.

In the end, Christmastime is just another arc of days.

Many blessings to all.

Autumn Nights: No Ordinary Love

December 21, 2021December 21, 2021 / David / 6 Comments

A Saturday evening in November, with Elizabeth in concert.

A song of complicated love. A complicated romance. A song of strong emotions. It has you thinking, “You’re too good for him.” But, she is hoping, wanting, crying to give it another try.

A jazzy, sophisticated song, beautifully written by Sade.

This video is best viewed in full screen 1080p HD and the volume set on high.

On the track –

Written by: Sade
Arranged by: Andrea Kanakredes

Autumn Nights: Opening Movement

December 19, 2021December 19, 2021 / David / 10 Comments

“They are evenings of feelings and romance kept warm and close in our hearts.
They are Autumn Nights.”

A Saturday evening in November, with Elizabeth in concert.

Chilly and damp outside, inside was warm and inviting. The romance. The feelings. The senses. The anticipation. To begin, an orchestral fanfare to conjure and bring forth the waiting passions. The vocals and music, rich and evoking, to follow.

The live, opening movement, from the concert, is best viewed in full screen 1080p HD and the volume set on high.

On the track –

Lead guitar: David Ramos
Keyboards and piano: Andrea Kanakredes
Acoustic guitar: Blake Dylan
Acoustic guitar: Cassandra Ellis
Bass: Barry Dylan
Percussion: Michael Evans
Drums: William Edward O’Brien
Strings: Wendy Stills, Sarah McNeal, Jen Harrison, Constance Riley, Lisa Reed, Steve Blake
Woodwinds: Melody Reynolds, Stacy Hollander
Horns: JD McClain, Perry Cortes, Vernon Lerner, Mike Dozier

Composer: Dennis McCarthy
Arranged by Andrea Kanakredes