Monday, June 18, 2007
Report on Recording Trip Part One
I've been back from NY for about 30 hours so I guess it's time to report. As promised. I was unable to even look at a blog while I was away. A combination of a hopelessly hyperactive computer in my host's home and the severe lack of time to deal with it. I've always been a Mac guy and Windows plus a touch pad that fires on the very aura of my finger, kept me off the thing. Now I have a week to catch up between the ongoing prep for my recording Part Two.Part One went better than I could have imagined, actually. I work by myself almost all of the time so having instant feedback and collaboration from somebody you love and trust musically is quite an exhausting joy ride. Helen Avakian is clearly a terrific collaborator and producer. She gently insisted I use Scott Petito's NRS Studios, in the Woodstock area. I certainly know and trust Scott but I was reluctant because he is so busy with actual famous people, I didn't think I'd get enough time. And I might not but the time I get with him, he is 100% involved, helping with production decisions and contributing astounding bass, guitar, piano and organ so far. He's like having a second producer that has worked with everybody from The Band to the various Taylors (James, Livingston, Kate and Ben) to the Dave Brubeck Quartet., to name a few.
So, yeah, the CD is gonna be my best work. We did five songs and will do at least five more in July and August. Scott thinks we can be selling CDs by Christmas. But I won't rush it if I don't think it's ready.
Helen and I spent thirteen hours the first day I was there doing two demos with her amazing husband, Terry Champlin. Terry plays classical guitar but definitely has rock roots and contributed some terrific variations on my licks. He and Helen played a beautiful duet on a love song called Can't Leave My Mind. Then he unleashed a very cool backing on the medium tempo rocker Let Me Go, which they all feel will be the hit of the album.
We spent a lot of time fine tuning a few lyrics and a few chord and melody enhancements. It made my vocals much more challenging to deliver so I just put down scratch vocals. I'll do the keepers when I get back in late July. Typically, my best vocal was done in Helen's basement on Let Me Go but Scott won't use tracks done outside. He's that protective of his sound. I won't argue about it. He has ears that the rest of us think of as fantasy.
A surprise late addition song is Meltdown, a rocker written by my student James Braha and me. Helen and I restructured it a bit and now we're having great fun with it.
I learned a lot and so I'll spend all my time between now and my return to NY tweaking words and music, practicing vocals. Cathy and I are going on a cruise next week with her family. I might possibly get to work between various Cathy inspired events. I have one gig and a bunch of students to work around too.
Now I must catch up on everything in Blogland.
posted by Bud @ 7:34 AM
Comments:
Bud: I read and re-read this great report. Helen sounds just amazing. It certainly sounbds like you covered a LOT of ground! I am very excited about this project and the collaborative spirit this Blog Post conveys!
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