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May 3

Been awhile…

Greets to whomever is reading this blog…

I haven’t been on in awhile… and I need to get back into the swing of things. It’s just I’ve been discouraged about not be able to complete my recording with Will Ackerman. Of course I WILL at some point, but… presently it is on hold due to funding.

I tried two Kickstarter campaigns and we failed to reach out budget goals.

I don’t know what to do… and of course that is slightly frustrating. So… that’s what is weighing on my heart these days, but I will try to post more often and keep this site moving forward. Thanks in advance for those who do read this blog from time to time!

Feb 18

Avalon Roads

I am a HUGE fan of Ed Gerhard’s music! He compositions are amazingly tender, solid and economical in it’s approach. It’s the “less is more” approach and I am drawn to that type of playing!

Recently I decided to learn his version of Si Bhig Si Mhor. It’s a gorgeous Irish piece often played with rousing approach… but, Ed’s version is tender and slow… “lyrical” as Ed would say.

Anyway… his tuning approach is DADGBD (tuned down a half step).

I tuned my Eastman exactly like Ed’s to match his recording of the song and as I started to “drill” the piece… I started to enjoy this tuning approach. Being an easily distracted musician… I started to play with the tuning and soon I had a compositional idea and I started to write a new piece called Avalon Roads.

It’s FUNNY how that often happens… learning a new song and tuning approach can often lead to a new song!

Well… I am planning to record this piece soon, so… hopefully I’ll have preview for you to listen to within the next week.

Now… maybe I should get back to learning the piece I started huh?

Feb 17

Billy is back!!!

Not much to say… other than I adore the music of Billy McLaughlin!!!  Can’t wait to see this…

Feb 4

The Opening of Windows – Video

Greets everyone…

I put together a simple video for this new piece… hope you enjoy it!

Remember that moment when you open your windows for the first time after a LONG, COLD… DARK Winter.  That’s what I was hoping to capture musically with this piece.

Feb 3

The Opening Of Windows

As many of you know already, I have been having an amazing time recording with Will Ackerman and Tom Eaton, and… of course I cannot wait to share this new music with you all! I believe it will prove to be the best recording I’ve ever released.

But… in the meantime, I need to finish “Spring Reflections!”

Last night… due to reasons unknown, I couldn’t sleep… so I decided to do some recording.  I don’t know about you… but sometimes I do my best recording at night… late at night to be more specific.  Anyway… I had a piece I had written a couple years back that I was saving for this project, so I grabbed my Eastman Guitar and set up my mics and went for it.

Well… I am glad I did!

In about an hour or so… I had recorded my Eastman steel string part, my Martin Gut string part… along with a keyboard pad and fretless bass and this morning, after some light editing… it sounds great!

I am considering some light percussion… but who knows?

The point is… I am thrilled at the effort and I can see light at the end of the tunnel for the completion of “Spring Reflections.”  This would complete my seasonal “reflection” series!

So… let the windows swing WIDE OPEN, let the fresh air fill your house… spring is on the way!

I hope you enjoy this MP3 Preview:

Jan 30

Limitless?

I LOVE how much potential the acoustic guitar has… at times it seems limitless!

Michael Hedges blew the doors off of what the acoustic guitar could do back in the early 80′s (check out Aerial Boundaries)… and ever since then, there have been many guitarists following the path of Hedge’s tapping approach.  I’ve heard some good one’s over the years… but recently I discovered Jon Gomm’s piece “Topeka.”

It’s excellent!!!

Jan 26

Kotaro Oshio FIRST LOVE

This has to be one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve heard in a while… just gorgeous! I want to be like Kotaro when I grow up!

Jan 24

Jeff Haynes at Imaginary Road Studios

As much as I wanted to be in Vermont this week… I was unable to, but… thanks to wonders of technology I was able to be apart of sessions with Jeff Haynes!

Jeff plays percussion for Pat Metheny and our banter through Skype was brief, but… fun!  He’s a good soul… there’s no doubt!

Here’s a peek into the sessions through Skype… not the greatest view and sound in the world, but it will give you an idea of how things are going as this project proceeds.

The track that is featured here is the “end vamp” to my song “Forever.”  Please note that this is raw and pretty bare as there is so much more going on in the track.  As usual… I am excited and cannot wait to share this music with the world!

Jan 23

In the studio… thru Skype?

Today is the day that Jeff Haynes comes to Imaginary Road Studios to add percussion to some the (Will Ackerman & Tom Eaton produced) tracks I’ve recorded for my upcoming release “Drifting Into The Sublime.”

You may have heard for Jeff Haynes… he’s Pat Metheny’s percussionist!

Anyway… what is totally amazing is, since I am unable to be in Vermont this week… I will be present in the studio for these sessions thru Skype!  Oh man… you gotta love technology!

So… more to come as this project progresses!

Jan 21

Day 5 at Imaginary Road Studios

I am back home in South Dakota… what a wild week it was in Vermont and not just wild, but… very productive too!

Tony Levin recorded bass on several tracks from “Drifting Into The Sublime” and that was such a treat!  Tom Eaton who is Will’s amazing engineer added some piano and percussion as well!  Check out the video below…

Tom also added some gorgeous piano to my song “Gravity Of Faith” which is fast becoming my favorite track!!!  Let me also note that Will added some Hopi Drum to this track as well…

Noah Wildling stopped by as well to add gorgeous vocals…

So we’re slowly getting there!  Stay tuned!!!  There’s so much more to come!

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