The Forefront will make its official debut at the Canvas 4 Art Premier at The Element Church in Tampa, this Friday September 26th. The whole shindig kicks off at 8:00pm and we will be playing one long set from 8:30pm to 10:00pm. The group has been working on a recording to be released in early 2009 and will be debuting some of the music from this recording as well as various other pieces. For more information check out www.theforefrontjazz.com

Canvas is in their second year and exists as a biannual art premier. This is an excerpt of their purpose statement: “Canvas exists simply to promote a community of inspiration. Our idea, our dream, was born to provide a springboard for up and coming artists, in such a way that would benefit both their craft and career.”

On another note, my wife Bonnie, a graphic designer and painter, will be showing some of her work at the show.

Click here for directions!

Other Bands on the bill include RELO and Lush Progress.

Originally posted here!

“On August 18, we recorded 5 tracks for our upcoming release. The sessions went really well and we are very pleased with the out come. The tracks are mostly original compositions as well as a couple of deconstructed/reconstructed arrangements with a variety of diverse styles. We all felt that the recording successfully captured the essence of the group’s personalities and abilities through the many diverse varying elements of the music.
However, this session was bittersweet as it marks the end of our drummer and close friend, Mark Feinman’s current tenure with the band. Mark has been playing with all of us for the past four years and he is now moving up to New York to continue his schooling at SUNY Purchase and start a new chapter in his musical career. We are always truly inspired by his hard work and dedication, and his attention to detail that allows his creative voice to be heard loud and clear over everything that he does with us. He will certainly be missed and we wish him all the best in all that he does!”

Originally posted on www.theforefrontjazz.com

On Monday July 14, we finished mixing the recording and finally decided on six tracks that we will use for the final release of the record.  The session was great and Elm Street is definitely set up as a place to hang and relax while mixing. When we revisited the tracks, we were discovered that we got a excellent capture on all the instruments up front and really didn’t have to do too much in the mix and finished it in one day. The room we recorded in had a great natural reverb to it and so the recording has a nice presence and genuinely clear sound.  Overall we are very pleased with the recording and look forward to a fall release.

Last night we finished up the second day of recording in Holland. The first tune we put in the can was a gorgeous jazz waltz written by Lee called “Blue Tuna Boulevard,” which was reminiscent of the Bill Evans trio recordings of the 1960’s tastefully mixed some of some Frisellesque styles and phrasing. The first of the other two tunes was a street beat/funk version of the Charlie Parker classic “Scrapple from the Apple,” and the second, an arrangement of Wayne Shorter’s ”Footprints” with a double-time feel reminiscent of the Scofield Uberjam Band recordings.

We’ve been delighted to be working with engineer, sound guru, and owner of Elm Street Recording in Lansing Michigan, Ryan Wert. Ryan, Lee, and I went to College together and it has been great to catch up and continue working on such a highly professional level. No matter what curve ball we throw at him, he has already taken care of it!

The project has been a great experience for everyone involved and we look forward to mixing it down on Monday July for a hopeful fall release.

As many of you know I am currently up north on vacation and recording with Holland Michigan based Guitarist Lee Heerspink over the next couple weeks for a record release later in the year. So far we’ve finished recording about half of the record and we’re quite please with the outcome. At this point the record seems to be seems to be unfolding into a groove oriented record with a whole lot of back-beat.

Yesterday we were able to put 5 tunes in the can Giving us a lot of freedom over the next week. First we recorded “Softly as a Morning Sunrise,” only the melody has been tweaked and superimposed over the changes from Wayne Shorter’s “Black Nile,” giving it it’s own fresh flavor. The second chart was an original composition of mine entitled, “Ray’s Blues,” dedicated to the late, way beyond great Ray Brown that features West Michigan’s own Charlie Hoates on Bass. The third is a simple rhythm changes calypso, fusing motives from “Oleo,” and “Cottontail,” to cleverly disorient the average jazz aficionado (something I think most of us have considered doing at one point or another). We also recorded an interesting version of my arrangement of the Herbie Hancock 80’s hit “Rockit,” that will also by appearing on my upcoming quintet record to be released in early 2009. The last tune is an original of Lee’s dedicated to a mutual friend John Rodriguez, which I am personally hoping will end up being the title track for the record entitled, “Pull Your Stinky Face.” This track consists of groove meats, Americana, meets just plain nasty!

More to come soon!