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“12 Songs” Departure OPM 50001-4
Gordon Stevens (one of my partners at Open Path Music ) band, Departure. I’m drawn to Gordon’s music and the bands eclectic styles.
Recorded and mixed at Open Path Music studios. Nelson Braxton engineer.
“Heartwind”
“Seventh Heaven”
“Many Places” Open Path Music OPM5001-3
It’s my second cd and my last as a leader. I got to the point where I couldn’t stand the music biz anymore. It was taking a toll on my sanity and creativity.
This being my last cd I wanted to have all my favorite musician friends play on it. I had a variety of music to be recorded. So the name of the cd is “Many Places”.
I asked Russ Ferrante to come and play piano. Russ is such a great talent and a wonderful person.
Stan Poplin and John Shifflett played acoustic bass. I’ll just name everyone!
Irina Mikhailova (check out her vocals on “A Stitch In Time”),
Renata Bratta cello,
Katrina Wreede viola,
Kristen Strom tenor sax,
Darin Neasham synth,
Hafez Modirzadeh tenor sax,
Dann Zinn tenor and soprano sax,
Bob Adams Hammond B3,
Jason Lewis drums,
Wally Schnalle drums,
Peppe Merolla drums, vocals and trumpet,
Recorded at Soundtek Studios with Robert Berry
I was very pleased with the music that was made in a short amount of time.
“Many Places”
I’ve always liked the melody and the mood of this piece. Russ plays a beautiful piano solo.
“Seven Pools”
I wrote this tune because I wanted to use drummer, Peppe Merolla’s vocals. I think this piece has flavors of the Mediterranean.
“A Stitch In Time”
Russian vocalist, Irena Mikhailova chants a feeling of loss and longing. My attempt at an Eastern European folk song.
“Choice”
A decision that you make now, can effect a lot of people and things later on. The burden of ones decision! I think this song has dense
agitation. But the melody sets a positive feeling.
“Always In My Dreams”
I like this tune a lot. It just floats on a bed of air.
“With A Prayer”
Most people like this tune. The melody and chord progression have a familiar sound.
“Tay's Groove” Taylor Eigsti
I think Taylor was like 14 or 15 years old when we recorded this project. Taylor is a very talented pianist! I was hired to produce this project.
“Now And Then” Gail Dobson (vocalist) Open Path Music OPM5001-2
I’ve known jazz vocalist Gail Dobson for a many years. I’ve played many a gig with her. We always laugh at the absurdity of the music biz.
We once played an upscale Adult Toy Store (XXX) in San Francisco, a New Years gig in Syracuse that got us snowed in at the Chicago Airport
and a gig in L.A. during rush hour and I was given the wrong directions!
I was honored when she asked if I would help her on a cd project. I arranged, played guitar on some tunes and helped produced. One of the
highlights of this project was getting to better know Gail’s husband the late Smith Dobson. Recorded at
Soundtek Studios with
Robert Berry and Thom Duell.
“Never Let Me Go”
This is the first time I worked with a cellist. Renata Bratt played beautiful cello and Stan Poplin takes a wonderful bass solo.
I really enjoyed arranging this piece.
“Estate”
Stan Poplin on bass
Peppe Merolla drums
Royal Hartigan percussion
This is one of my favorite tunes. It has a nice bossa feel.
“Nature Boy”
Gail and I arranged it. It starts out rubato and goes into a 6/8 African feel.
Smith Dobson V plays vibes.
“Unspoken Words” Open Path Music OPM5001-1
It was my first CD as a leader. I was very lucky to be able to record with some fine musicians.
Chuck Mackinnon is a wonderful lyrical trumpet player. He has such a beautiful tone.
Bassist, John Shifflett
and percussionist, Jason Lewis, they are a great creative rhythm section
and really good friends. Recorded at Soundtek Studios with
Robert Berry and Sonic Images with Tao and Jeff Lewis
“The Circles Edge”
This piece seemed to have a feeling of floating. In a circular motion. So that’s the name I gave it!
“To Remember To Forget”
I believe in the Yin and Yang. I’m sure we all have things we’d like to remember, to forget!
“Distant Voices”
I had been listening to a lot of gamelan, Chinese operas and Korean music. The organic depth, mystery and beauty of
this music always moves me. I feel this song has a little of that mystic.
“It Rhymes” Wally Schnalle
It’s always great to play with Wally! A smacking groove drummer! You can just let loose and go crazy!
And a really great person!
“You Got We Got”
“Can't Fool The Moon”
10 songs Dann Zinn (site not up yet) (saxophonist) ZM 100
We recorded at Mesa Recording Studio in Sebastopol, CA. I had a great time
playing on this recording. Nice tunes and a very comfortable environment. There’s never a doubt where time should be when you play with
drummer, Paul Van Wageningen and his brother, electric bassist, Mark Van Wageningen.
John Shifflett also played beautiful acoustic bass on this CD.
“Zaria Z”
“Ten Or One”
“For Leonard”
“Djakarta”
“I-EWE-WE”
“In Chromodal Discourse” Hafez Modirzadeh DI-002-2
Hafez is a major player in the movement of improvised music. Through his studies of music he has devolved his own voice in writing and playing.
On these two CD’s, I played with some really fine musicians: woodwinds, Jim Norton, percussionist,
Royal Hartigan and bassist,
Ken Filiano.
Hafez and I had many heated conversations about retuning my guitar strings to quarter tones. He won, I lost!
And I’m glad I lost because these tunings really open up the guitar to some very interesting and beautiful
sounds. I used these tunings on Mended Wings, Irama and Sama.
“Mended Wings”
retuned my guitar to quarter tones.
“Infernal Tongues”
this song has a lot of density.
“Night Witness”
(based on T. Monks “Round Midnight”)
“Spirits Undivided”
I included this song because of its beauty.(based on J Coltrane’s “Giant Steps”)
“The Peoples Blues” Hafez Modirzadeh DI-016-2
“Irama”
retuned my guitar to quarter tones.
“Native Paradox”
It swings in its own way.
“Mashhad”
This song is hard driving with a lot of mystery.
“Sama”
retuned my guitar to quarter tones.
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