"As far as guilty pleasures go I have to admit that Toxic is on the top of the list. On the Britenay Spears version the bass line grabbed me like a 3 year old on a ferris wheel. Despite my best efforts and numerous trips to a life counselor the only way to rid my conscionsce and sleep was to play it in 7/8 and beat it out of my soul. Peter took ahold of this song and really brought something out of it that was never there before....
I have spent my entire life in awe of The Beatles and their music so doing a version of Blackbird was an easy choice. The bass intro was inspired by Brad Meldau's version and the drum groove came about through the exploration of some very intensive New Orleans drum rhythms. The drummers role is a traditionally supportive one and I thought it would be great to throw in a nasty groove that I wouldn't normally get away with while singing over top. Chad's rhodes playing is stellar and really captures the Billy Preston vibe.
Ahmad Jamal's version of Poinciana is a legacy into itself. His drummer at the time, Vernel Fornier played a typical New Orleans parade style groove underneath this Jazz trio interpretation and revealed to the world the uniqueness of the New Orleans sound. Rather than trying to remake an all ready flawless perfromance we instead opted during the verses for the fuel that 7/8 brings and the grooveability of a 4/4 bridge. Definately inspired by the Vernel's work and the drummers Vinnie Caliuta's playing with Sting and Eric Harlands work with Jacky Terrason. This track was a lot of fun to play.
After a very inspired gig playing in Peter's own trio I decided his tune Train To Somewhere would be a great vehicle for my next recording project. The melody has a real positive message and the doubled bass line figure really builds its own momentum. We did a lot of takes on this tune. These latin inspired feels can be very illusive, Joey's solo is so lyrical and you can hear the time that Peter spent studying this style of music in Cuba come shining through.
For years I have been actively trying to get every singer I know to perform Comes Love. There are many great versions of this tune and many ways to play it. Again it is a combination of the musical oddities in my life. The lyrical phrasing I stole from one of my favorite pop bands Cake, and the drum groove from an inspiring lesson I had with one of New York's finest drummers Greggory Hutchinson. Joey keeps the pulse strong and Peter's rhodes work here is killin'
There was a period in my life when I had moved back to my Dad's and my wife was away in Europe. I had no gigs, felt a bit lost and had grown tired of being the host of my own pity parties. Under the advice off a fellow musician I started working on a book called "The Artist's Way" through it and as part of some of it's exercises I decided that I would write a song everyday. Whether it was good or bad I would write it and record it. Some days many more songs would come. I wouldn't judge or criticise just create and after the end of about 3 months well I had over 100 tunes completed. Everytime is one of those tunes. I now have recorded it a good 4-5 times but this version is my favorite. This is the second take and what you hear is it in it's entirety. I have played it with Chad before and we briefly talked over an arrangement with Peter then pressed record. This is some of the most fun I have had playing my drums and I am glad that it was able to see the light on the album. Peter's bass solo is wicked and the interplay Chad setup behind it and the solo preceding it is nothing short of pure inspiration.
Thank-you is a song originally recorded by a young pop artist named Dido. Most of my favorite Jazz songs were originally just pop songs from their day reinterpretated by some amazing jazz performers into new works and are what we now call "Jazz Standards". It is important to remember that at their point of conception they may not have been considered high works of art. They were just songs with great melodies that people could relate to. And those are the kinds of songs that get played for years. In 70 years will this be a "Standard"? Time will tell. For this reinterpretation I had been working on playing in 5/4 and trying to make it feel as smooth as 4/4. It definately has a nice flow and Chad's playing and touch on the piano add new depth and dimension to the piece.
The JT Shake Down is named after a fallen comrade. James Taylor possessed the greatest enthusiam and devotion towards music that I have ever witnessed. It was humbling. The last time I saw him he was in command of the stage and musicians around him with his total commitment to the music he served. No one lived the moment like JT. Since his passing I can't pickup a tambourine or shaker and not think of his all encompassing big smile. He's all over this track.
Allen Town is another drum solo performance inspired by a great teacher and mentor Buff Allen. Buff has been playing on the West Coast for years and played a pivitol role in me becoming a professional musician. His musical approach to drumming is nothing short of pure inspiration and his attitude towards life and his fellow man is something I still aspire to."
