This month I have been busy in the studio helping Jars (of Clay) with the beginning stages of their new project. They decided to do some work in their rehearsal space for the month before they head over to Sputnik down the street. This means that they are still writing, pre-producing, working things out…recording along the way. I have been there helping them set up the space as a recording environment and acting as engineer so they can focus on being creative. These are artists/musicians whom I have grown up around, but I have never been so close to their process. It’s inspiring to see a band who has been together so long (15 years) continue to find new approaches to making music together and continue to have fun doing it.
“A Deeper Green” the new “quote” recording is finished and mastered. I’m really excited about the way this record turned out even though there is a bitter-sweetness attached to its release. This record signifies the last recording as “quote.” Both Justin and
Me and the Quote guys after finishing the record
Jamie will continue to make music in some form but they, for their own reasons, have decided to disband. I think this record does a great job of summing up what they do best as a collaboration. The closing/title track in particular is a perfect closing statement to their case as brilliant artists and unique collaborators. The stark guitar/vocal duet arrangement brilliantly showcases their ability to compliment each other vocally as well as instrumentally with even the simplest of instrumentation.
Another project on the horizon is the new “Choir at your Door” album. This is the name for the collaboration between Nathan Phillips (Winston Jazz Routine) and Aaron Roche. They recorded the record themselves over the summer when Nathan was living with Aaron in Riverside, California. I mixed and mastered it over the last couple of weeks. If you are familiar with the first “Choir” record (a Christmas project), you will find this project a little lighter and sunnier feeling. Something really special happens when these two brilliant songwriters work together, which is represented very well on these new recordings. Aaron has a knack for effortlessly crafting songs that sound as if they could have been written 50 years ago, while Nathan is a brilliant arranger, producer, experimenter. They’re respective talents meet to create something both accessible and dense. Check out their website for info about obtaining these new recordings.