Road Trip Part 3
01/26/10 12:36
I spent most of
this day (Monday) re-recording some of my solo
piano tracks for an upcoming project. (Watch this
space for more info about this project when it
becomes available.) Having recorded
Impromptu
on a digital
piano, it was an absolute joy to hear these songs
coming out of a seven-foot Kawai grand piano. They
have a new life and richness in their sound that
almost makes them into new pieces!
However, it is incredibly challenging to record on an instrument that is unfamiliar. I laid tracks for all three songs this morning, but then spent six hours re-doing them when I found that I had finally “bonded” with the Kawai and my interpretation of the music improved ten-fold. By 10:30 tonight I was ready for dinner and a stop to the recording. I think you’ll like what I’ve done, and I hope you can hear the fruits of my fingers’ labors soon.
By the way, many thanks to my cohorts this weekend: To Joe for the use of his glorious piano and studio equipment, as well as the excellent food and a place to stay for the weekend. And to Scott for hanging with me today, sharing our lives a bit and for the ever-important critical ear and encouraging word as I figured out what to keep and what to toss in the studio. Blessings to you both, my new friends…
So in a way, I’ve been able to play at being a piano star for 48 hours. Kinda fun, kinda challenging, and quite illuminating. After laying some extra tracks in the morning, I’ll be ready to go home and see my family again. I miss them. Though I’m glad to get to visit this part of the musical world occasionally, I’m glad I have a home to return to with my best friend and my children around me.
Soli Deo Gloria…
However, it is incredibly challenging to record on an instrument that is unfamiliar. I laid tracks for all three songs this morning, but then spent six hours re-doing them when I found that I had finally “bonded” with the Kawai and my interpretation of the music improved ten-fold. By 10:30 tonight I was ready for dinner and a stop to the recording. I think you’ll like what I’ve done, and I hope you can hear the fruits of my fingers’ labors soon.
By the way, many thanks to my cohorts this weekend: To Joe for the use of his glorious piano and studio equipment, as well as the excellent food and a place to stay for the weekend. And to Scott for hanging with me today, sharing our lives a bit and for the ever-important critical ear and encouraging word as I figured out what to keep and what to toss in the studio. Blessings to you both, my new friends…
So in a way, I’ve been able to play at being a piano star for 48 hours. Kinda fun, kinda challenging, and quite illuminating. After laying some extra tracks in the morning, I’ll be ready to go home and see my family again. I miss them. Though I’m glad to get to visit this part of the musical world occasionally, I’m glad I have a home to return to with my best friend and my children around me.
Soli Deo Gloria…
Road Trip Part 2
01/26/10 12:35
It’s been a busy
couple of days, and it’s midnight as I’m typing
this.
Yesterday (Sunday) started with a great time at Seven Lakes Baptist Church in Stanwood, WA. The worship band played and sang well, and I enjoyed just being a part of their team for a day. I performed two of my own pieces (First Steps and Who Am I) and the pastor asked me to close with another song at the end of the service (Dave Lubben’s Lay It Down was a perfect fit). I met some warm and caring people who were encouraged by the music and the time of worship. I look forward to coming back there in a couple months for my cousin’s wedding.
After lunch and a bit of wedding music planning, I headed on to Kenmore and finally met Joe Bongiorno and Scott D. Davis, my partners in crime for the weekend. There is nothing like meeting accomplished musicians who know their craft, who take it seriously, and have no ego about it. I’ve watched these guys from afar via their websites and musical postings, but now I got to see if they were the real thing. They are.
Our Piano Haven show at Joe’s house was sold out, and it was a blast. Joe is one of the most sensitive players I’ve heard, and his melodies are simply perfect. Scott has developed a dedicated following due to his incredible playing and his ability to take metal anthems and turn them into solo piano showcases. His performance of Metallica’s Master of Puppets was amazing and had me singing along quietly behind the audience. (Didn’t know I knew those songs, didja?) I was somewhere in the middle bringing some lightning and some grace as my music took me where it wanted. And, as we usually do at shows featuring Whisperings artists, we ended with a jam with all three of us on the piano at the same time. A standing ovation is always nice to receive…
In addition to seeing some old friends, I met some wonderful people who were hearing us for the first time. I’m always amazed when I hear another story of how my music, which I merely created for my own therapy, has touched someone. It’s very humbling and encouraging to know that God can use these musical loaves and fishes to bring healing and encouragement to people I may never see again.
I’m very grateful indeed to be an instrument in His hands…
Soli Deo Gloria…
Yesterday (Sunday) started with a great time at Seven Lakes Baptist Church in Stanwood, WA. The worship band played and sang well, and I enjoyed just being a part of their team for a day. I performed two of my own pieces (First Steps and Who Am I) and the pastor asked me to close with another song at the end of the service (Dave Lubben’s Lay It Down was a perfect fit). I met some warm and caring people who were encouraged by the music and the time of worship. I look forward to coming back there in a couple months for my cousin’s wedding.
After lunch and a bit of wedding music planning, I headed on to Kenmore and finally met Joe Bongiorno and Scott D. Davis, my partners in crime for the weekend. There is nothing like meeting accomplished musicians who know their craft, who take it seriously, and have no ego about it. I’ve watched these guys from afar via their websites and musical postings, but now I got to see if they were the real thing. They are.
Our Piano Haven show at Joe’s house was sold out, and it was a blast. Joe is one of the most sensitive players I’ve heard, and his melodies are simply perfect. Scott has developed a dedicated following due to his incredible playing and his ability to take metal anthems and turn them into solo piano showcases. His performance of Metallica’s Master of Puppets was amazing and had me singing along quietly behind the audience. (Didn’t know I knew those songs, didja?) I was somewhere in the middle bringing some lightning and some grace as my music took me where it wanted. And, as we usually do at shows featuring Whisperings artists, we ended with a jam with all three of us on the piano at the same time. A standing ovation is always nice to receive…
In addition to seeing some old friends, I met some wonderful people who were hearing us for the first time. I’m always amazed when I hear another story of how my music, which I merely created for my own therapy, has touched someone. It’s very humbling and encouraging to know that God can use these musical loaves and fishes to bring healing and encouragement to people I may never see again.
I’m very grateful indeed to be an instrument in His hands…
Soli Deo Gloria…
Road Trip Part 1
01/23/10 10:24
Road Trip Part 1
So I finally have a chance to perform some of my music out-of-state. This will be the first time since (I think) 1999. My first stop is in Stanwood, WA, where I’ll be serving a small church in their worship service on Sunday morning.
I love to travel with my wife. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. It’s one of the first things that attracted me to her. However, I had a six hour drive ahead of me. Alone. So I loaded up two CD cases with music to pass the time. I’ve never seen 6 hours go by so fast!
Since I’ll not only be performing some of my tunes, but actually re-recording some of them (more on that in a later blog), I spent some time reviewing my own music. I don’t often listen to it, so it was interesting to hear how these pieces have changed in my mind over time. (Did I REALLY play that that fast? You gotta be kidding me!) It’s strange to hear 11-years-ago-me singing these songs. Like looking at my old wedding pictures: Who was THAT guy? I’m having actual difficulty remembering him.
After that, I enjoyed an Ellis Paul marathon till I reached my destination. If you haven’t heard Mr. Paul’s music, you should. He made an excellent traveling companion, although not as nice as my bride…
Spent an hour rehearsing with the worship team at Seven-Lakes Baptist Church. This is a church attended by my cousin and her family. Fun to play at a church with a real piano. I use a digital at EBF, which I happen to enjoy very much, but there’s nothing like wood and wire and a vibrating keyboard under your fingers. Very fun to play with a team and not have to make any real decisions, other than where to play and where to shut up. It has been very gracious of them to allow me to join them, and I felt very welcome. I’ll even be teaching a new song to the congregation in the morning, and possibly bringing a new song back with me…
Wrapped up the day with a great time around the table and living room with my extended family. I’m staying with my cousin Kris and her family and loving the opportunity to catch up and just be together. My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dave have come over for the weekend to be with the fam and to see me play in the morning. I used to see them twice a year growing up, but the visits get more spread out the older we get.
My aunt recently survived a stroke and a fight with cancer. She’s quite different than the aunt I knew when I was little, yet the old spark is there in her. We talked much about family, music, theology, fun family wedding stories, wedding plans for another cousin who’s marrying in March, and on and on and on.
It’s almost like the music, the original reason I came up, will be an afterthought tomorrow. Maybe I’ll play better as a result. Who knows? After all, music should be about life, not just music for its own sake, and certainly not just for a paycheck.
So much to learn…
Soli deo gloria
So I finally have a chance to perform some of my music out-of-state. This will be the first time since (I think) 1999. My first stop is in Stanwood, WA, where I’ll be serving a small church in their worship service on Sunday morning.
I love to travel with my wife. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. It’s one of the first things that attracted me to her. However, I had a six hour drive ahead of me. Alone. So I loaded up two CD cases with music to pass the time. I’ve never seen 6 hours go by so fast!
Since I’ll not only be performing some of my tunes, but actually re-recording some of them (more on that in a later blog), I spent some time reviewing my own music. I don’t often listen to it, so it was interesting to hear how these pieces have changed in my mind over time. (Did I REALLY play that that fast? You gotta be kidding me!) It’s strange to hear 11-years-ago-me singing these songs. Like looking at my old wedding pictures: Who was THAT guy? I’m having actual difficulty remembering him.
After that, I enjoyed an Ellis Paul marathon till I reached my destination. If you haven’t heard Mr. Paul’s music, you should. He made an excellent traveling companion, although not as nice as my bride…
Spent an hour rehearsing with the worship team at Seven-Lakes Baptist Church. This is a church attended by my cousin and her family. Fun to play at a church with a real piano. I use a digital at EBF, which I happen to enjoy very much, but there’s nothing like wood and wire and a vibrating keyboard under your fingers. Very fun to play with a team and not have to make any real decisions, other than where to play and where to shut up. It has been very gracious of them to allow me to join them, and I felt very welcome. I’ll even be teaching a new song to the congregation in the morning, and possibly bringing a new song back with me…
Wrapped up the day with a great time around the table and living room with my extended family. I’m staying with my cousin Kris and her family and loving the opportunity to catch up and just be together. My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dave have come over for the weekend to be with the fam and to see me play in the morning. I used to see them twice a year growing up, but the visits get more spread out the older we get.
My aunt recently survived a stroke and a fight with cancer. She’s quite different than the aunt I knew when I was little, yet the old spark is there in her. We talked much about family, music, theology, fun family wedding stories, wedding plans for another cousin who’s marrying in March, and on and on and on.
It’s almost like the music, the original reason I came up, will be an afterthought tomorrow. Maybe I’ll play better as a result. Who knows? After all, music should be about life, not just music for its own sake, and certainly not just for a paycheck.
So much to learn…
Soli deo gloria