It really felt like I had no other option than record an album this winter. All summer I was searching for the things that I usually filled my time with: gigs, rehearsals, writing projects, and wedding gigs. But those were all mostly gone and I found myself sitting on a good collection of original music that I was really proud of and nothing but time to get the wheels moving on rehearsing, recording, and producing my first record.
In a little over a month myself and my amazing band are going to 12th Street Sound to record 11 songs that I've written over the past 2 years.
This record will feature the talent of my great friends
Thad Bailey-Mai on trumpet,
Ben Parker on drums,
Wynston Minkler on bass,
Cindy Dai-Thiessen on vocals, and
Gavin Grochowski on tenor saxophone
The picture at the top of this page is a field on HWY 11A that is just 1 kilometer west from my home in Sylvan Lake, Alberta where my parents still live. I think I took this picture in 2013 on my mom's old Minolta film camera (which is still the only camera I own). This was the year I started going to school at Capilano University in North Vancouver and really the starting point of so much of the music that is going to be on this album.
I love my Alberta roots and in a round about way I think this album is a bit of a gift to that place and those people who took care of me.
The count down is on! What's next?
NOVEMBER 20th, 21st, and 22nd are the 3 days that we are spending in the studio.
Over the next month I'm going to be sharing with you some of my personal insights on the music we are going to be recording. I'm going to choose a couple of my favorite songs and tell you how I composed them and where the inspiration came from. I will also introduce my wonderful band to you in greater detail and sing their praises. And I'll bring you behind the scenes to our rehearsals leading up to November 20th so you can see how this music all comes together.
I am making this album so I can give my music to you so it is really important to me that I share the progress of creating this album with you so you feel like you are a part of it. Because you really are. Please continue to read my emails and blogs and follow me on Facebook and Instagram if you like those platforms.
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