posted 09-19-2003 05:30 PM on FG's forum
I have two more days of recording to go.
I think this is going to be a landmark album....Chick Corea is a GENIUS of music and the keyboard....I am constantly humbled by him.
Some of the music represented the BIGGEST challenge of my entire career. 15th notes for example at quarter note = 265...for 4 bars of 4/4....that was a HELL of a coda in a song called Check Blast.
There is one more piece to record tomorrow called Alan Corday 10th Class ( all these titles come from a sci-fi novel called To The Stars - which is the album title, by L.Ron Hubbard. ) I read the novel and quite enjoyed it...no scientology in it just a pure sci-fi novel written I think, in the 50's.
Anyway, Alan Corday is Spanish flavoured and acoustic and some of the most rhythmically and physically challenging pieces I've ever had to learn. When I first listened thru to the demo, I had to have a lie down!!! My original thought was...no way am I ever going to play this. Weckl called that night also because we all received this last piece 2 days before rehearsals started, and we were comiserating as to how hard the music in general is, and this piece in particular.
But, as usual, after listening to it back to back 10 times and begininning to chisel away at it, the light was definitely at the end of the tunnel. I'm confident I will nail it tomorrow.
Let me say that the level of musicianship in this band is mindboggling. We had more the half the album in the can before the end of rehearsals the fourth day....it was so fast we were ALL surprised. We were so far ahead of schedule that Chick decided to have us record some of the older music as we play them now from the tours...in general, longer versions with cool solos from everyone. We will probably have enough music for a second album as well!!!
NO ONE writes music like this.....it raises the bar way up. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but this music NEEDS to be made simply for reasons of upholding the art of music at it's finest.
I believe we're in the DARK AGES when it comes to music and what is considered good. There is so much medicority out there that I believe that this album IS a counterweight and a piece of Renaissance art in the face of these dark ages.
Anyway, I'm rambling. This album will be one of my personal greatest achievements for simply being able to play the stuff. I know not many will be able to appreciate the complexity....but who cares. I love this stuff and I can't wait to play it live next year.
Not all the music is intense, there are some beautiful light pieces on the album also......anyway......I'm off To The Stars....
Later,
FG
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