(From the CD 'Contrasts')
Midi based recordings. All sounds generated from my keyboard. Used a sequencer to record all the tracks.
For Interlude and America the Beautiful I recorded the piece on a midi keyboard and then we used the midi file to trigger the notes on a Yamaha acoustic grand using Yamaha's diskclavier technology (a 'player piano' approach in effect).
A Couple of Things
Used a loop recording device to create a rhythmic groove and a symphonic sound bed. (What's a loop recording device? - It's a device that allows you to record a phrase. The device then plays the phrase back as a continuous loop and you can record as many new layers as you want on top of that.)
Then I put the loops on my recorder and overdubbed some improvs and added segues.
Mosaic - The Journey Begins
Used a loop recording device and then assembled them together with an audio editor. Didn't change notes or sounds. Just trying to get the timing between loops right. Then took the result and put it on my recorder so I could add a few overdubs and the segues.
The intro is all acoustic. No sampled sounds! :) Though I did add reverb. Bells, clay drums, melodica...wow, real instruments (not generated from sound samples) sound like real instruments! That's more than stating the obvious I guess...
Solar, The Nearness of You
Tenor saxophone and Piano
Straight up recording. No overdubs. Both were 2nd takes.
A Storm of Blue
Used a loop recording device for the bass line. Put the bass line on the recorder and then overdubbed 2 tracks of drums/percussion (played on the keyboard) and a track of pads and a track of organ. Then Alex and I, together, overdubbed tenor Saxophone and piano on top of that.
Misc...
Where did all the recording happen? Well that would be at Majacl Studios in Lafayette, CA. The garage like atmosphere and the preponderance of wrenches and screw drivers adds to its charm.
What language is 'Majacl'? Majacl is simply the phonetic equivalent of 'Magical'. A little presumptious, yes, but I couldn't help it. 'Ma' - Mariel, 'ja' - Jasmine, 'cl' - Claire. The first two letters of each of my daughter's names. See what I mean. Hard to ignore! :)
Best Regards -
Mark