I’ve been busy lately with several sessions for the CHRISTmas album – those are loooong but VERY interesting days. Joey Stuckey is a joy to work with, the equipment at Shadowsound is excellent, and it’s overall just a great atmosphere.
It’s interesting that this album is the most personal AND the most terrifying that I’ve worked on. personal because it really is the piano in the spotlight much of the time – and although I’ve had albums-full of my arrangement before [tom&co’s Brethren and Seasons, for example] this one just feels more like I’m on the line.
Plus I’m in that state that every “creative” gets when working on a project. You’ve been working on it a long time in private – the public production part is taking place – and you are constantly faced with the clash between the vision in your head [perfect] and the reality of the production [not so much]. So there are tons of questions:
- Is that take good enough – is there enough “magic”?
- Can I do better with another take?
- Should I change the piece so it works better?
…and on and on and on.
Still, it’s FUN – and I get to work with some excellent people as well. Last night was Miguel Castro on percussion and Chet Burchfield on bass. I wore my “Old Guys Rule” tshirt – sadly, Miguel’s arm covered it over in the picture below. Oh, well – that’s what I get for getting Joey to take the picture! Click each picture for a larger version.
Old Guys Rule, indeed!
Tom Rule, Miguel Castro, Chet Burchfield
Chet Burchfield: “Glad I am not reading your handwritten score!”
Miguel Castro, master of the percussion. If you can hit it, Miguel can play it.