Music

As the songs were selected and the basic tracks recorded over a 6 month period, the overall feel of the album began to emerge from the songs.  It was not anchored in one genre such as folk, country, pop or blues. I have travelled through all those places in the past.  Always restless to move on to see what else was out there I never felt the need to take up residence.  What I hope you hear are glimpses of contemporary adult life well examined.  A tall order but I present it to you for your consideration and indulgence.

I have been writing songs since I was 12 years old when, after a year of guitar lessons, I got tired of playing the set practice pieces. I will though always be thankful for toughing out the long bus ride into Sudbury on freezing, snow blown winter nights to trudge up the hill under the red lights of the water tower to learn to read music and play guitar in the basement of Don Reid’s house.  I can’t say I recall ever wanting to sound like anyone other than myself.  This included how I wrote, sang and played guitar.  I have listened and loved almost everything I have heard. From my first Gordon Lightfoot and Elton John albums bought in vinyl from a local department store to Tony Bennett singing Hoagie Carmichael classics to Elvis Costello missives spit out with garage band brio to the chorale harmonies of Vivaldi, Rutter and Reinberg. The great thing about music is there is always someone new and some new sound to be discovered just around the next bend in the road.

This solo album is an odyssey that I set out on many times but then turned back from as the existential questions mounted.  Why am I doing this?   Who cares?  Is this any good?  As I sing somewhere on the album, this is the “gentle nagging of the undertow” of a creative life.  What made a difference in moving ahead were the people who travelled down the road with me. Over the year and half this project took, I have been blessed by with some great travelling companions.  To one and all, thank you.  Safe travels to your next destination.

First and foremost I must single out Ray Dillard.  As producer he mentored me through the recording process.  Always professional, always attentive, always there to take the wheel when I was bound and determined to head us into the ditch.  The path between head and heart and a recording worth sharing is a long and winding one and Ray’s patience, technical virtuosity and good taste along the way was unflagging.  He was the glue that seamlessly cemented the performers we brought in to breathe life into the album.   I learned a lot from Ray about the art of recording, arranging and collaborating to bring the best out of people.

I also would like to thank my wife Liz.  There has to be a special place in heaven for spouses who must put up with the highs and lows of the aspiring artist.