Mass of Universal Peace

My high school (Alleman ’61) classmate and friend Proco Joe Moreno Jr. was already a musician when he was a teenager. He played the saxophone, sang and wrote songs as a member of the Tracers, a rock and roll band. Several years ago he composed and sang a "Mass of Universal Peace." I’ve enjoyed the time I've spent working this video of the Mass with visual images reflecting its spiritual themes. I am grateful for the opportunity to make this video for Proco Joe’s "Mass of Universal Peace." Proco Joe’s enchanting and memorable music for this folk mass is full of faith, hope and love, virtues needed to raise our spirits in troubled times.

Thanks to visual artists for permissions. Details found on YouTube Channel

Goodbye Brother Bob

I made this video to honor and celebrate my brother Bob Jackson, who died in December 2019, after bravely battling a long illness. Bob lived in Rock Island, Illinois, and was a potter and owner of Jackson's Antique Shop. He is much beloved by his family and friends. I made this video in our memory of him.

At Loose Ends

This video is about the song "At Loose Ends." Lyrics and Vocals by Zimson Smift.

Thank you to The PassionHiFi for the beat “The forgotten Truth Free” Thomas C. Jackson for oil painting of man’s face wearing glasses William J. Jackson for collage artworks. Wikipedia Commons for photos of famous people The storm that scrambled the digital screens for cubist impressionism

The Grace to Cry

This video is about Black Lives Matter & Say Their Names. I made this video of some of the lives lost to violence, both recently and in the past.

During my brother Bob’s last years of life, as one way of being in touch with him and sharing ideas (besides the telephone) I wrote a bunch of songs and used Mac’s “garageband” feature, using instrumental music sources like Free Music Archive and “Looperman” to sing vocals and record the songs. Then every few months, during Bob’s long illness, I sent him a CD of songs I was experimenting with. I used the pen name “Zimson Smift” as writer and singer of the songs.

The lyrics were inspired by a story in the news of a man who lost his son to violence, and a news story about Pope Francis’ teachings regarding the spiritual importance of experiencing weeping, a belief I hold.

The Urge to Splurge

This video is about The Urge to Splurge. In the 1800s, potash makers burning logs, and loggers cutting down trees, and sailors working on whaling ships worked very hard. When they had a break from their labors, they would celebrate, drinking in New England taverns and inns. The images are from old phhotos from the 1900s, The music composer for the background song is named Bandris. The lyrics writer and singer is Zimson Smift.

Nature’s on a Rampage

This video is about Nature's on a Rampage The imagery is of tornadoes, lightning, floods, volcanoes, trees, a sculpture of a yakshi (nature spirit in Hinduism). The song is a jazzy melody "New York Cab Ride" courtesy of PurplePlanet, with lyrics sung and written by Zimson Smift.