Wednesday, November 17, 2004
My Audio Tattoo
How is releasing your first CD like getting your first tattoo? Strange that I never wanted a tattoo but here I am imprinting the auditory equivalent."This is what I tell people when they ask if I regret any of my tattoos," Mark Zampella, my producer, told me in way of explanation for my own feelings about releasing this CD. "I tell them that tattoo represents where I was at that time in my life. Regretting it is pointless. That's just where I was then. You have to look at your music the same way."
The permanence metaphor is right to the mark, Mark. This recording will live forever in or out of infamy. Or until such time as the digital media of this era evaporates. So last night, our wrap up session, we listened and listened. A few parts that made me cringe, he thought were way cool. It must be the age difference although I think of him as my contemporary in many ways. We agreed on one song that others had objections to. We liked it a lot. So I resisted doing another version in a different key. I'll undoubtedly take heat for it from some quarters. Others have already said they like it the best. And therein lies the paradox of performing. Davis Turner warned me long ago that on any given night, half the room may think you're fantastic and the other half may think you really suck. This is coming from a man who can do a more than credible replication of Al Green while watching Monday Night Football across a crowded bar. When Davis says, "I really suck tonight," he probably means he used a chord inversion someplace when he intended a different one. Something NOBODY heard but him. And possibly Pam Turner, his astounding wife and bass player.
I'm no Davis and Pam Turner or Helen Avakian, nor am I a Leslie Ritter. But I learned something from each of them. And although I play and sing in a different league, I'm using everything I have at this time. This is where I am now. I'm better than I was four years because of them. I know my next effort, already underway, will come closer to their level. The age thing may keep me from ever catching up but that won't stop me from trying. They can sing at my funeral and feel good that the old guy looked to their comparable youth as something to learn from.
So I'm back to hoping for a Christmas release. Check in here soon to see about pre-release discount orders!
posted by Bud @ 8:49 AM
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