MoreBork

Local video producer Mark Bork called us a few weeks ago to write some music for "A Magical Valley Christmas", a Christmas special that he produces every December for his old hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho. He asked for original classical Christmas-y music, and my boss was busy with some other things, so I wrote it, Mark said it was perfect, and I'm psyched! My first original music used in multimedia! I can't wait to see the completed video. I joined ASCAP, and now when that sucker is broadcast, they'll send me a little check in the mail that they get from the broadcasting TV station- my first residual. Does AOL send them money when people download (or stream) it? This I don't know.

Anyway, I can't play that music for you, since it belongs to Mark now, but you can listen to the discarded 60-second sample that he didn't use. It's not too bad either, though I think he picked the better one.

The Bron Tapes Tapes

A few months ago, we got a visit at the office from a video producer named Mark Bork, who had recently moved to Phoenix from Idaho and found our name in the AZ Production Association book. Mark hired us to write music for a promotional video he was producing for a tape company called Bron Tapes. We wrote a few samples for him in different styles. They ended up picking my boss David's first inspiration, a techno track which works perfectly. To see the video, just click here, and then on the bottom of the page click on "New Promotional Video".

Anyway, I finally got around to posting my two unused samples on Productiontrax, so enjoy:

Funk Factory
Mark asked for "industrial" music, which means "slick, motivational, and corporate" to people who do a lot of these. I thought he meant "sounds like a factory". Oh well, I have to make every mistake once! I kind've wonder what's supposed to happen on the bridge, since I stopped writing just as it got there.

Stadium Rock
This has a fun vibe, but again, wasn't right for the project. I had fun tweaking the digital guitar amps, getting the distortion just like I wanted it.

See, this is why my job is so great. I can make all the mistakes I need to, and still have a job the next day. That's a luxury you don't get freelancing.

Sonya Kitchell

My old friend and Inner Orchestra buddy Emiliano Garcia used to teach jazz to a young singer named Sonya Kitchell. She came a few times to a jam session he used to host in Northampton, and they let her in with her mom even though she was underage. I think we (the I.O. horns) may have played with Sonya's band at one of her first club dates- I remember rehearsing for it, anyway.

Fast forward a few years. Sonya is now signed to Velour, touring the world, and quickly becoming a famous singer/songwriter. Last year, your neighborhood Starbucks sold two CD's at the counter- the Will.i.am-produced Sergio Mendes album, and Sonya's first full-length. I love her music, and I'm really excited for her.

Herbie Hancock's new album River is all Joni Mitchell songs- with vocals. For the album, he got a bunch of superstars to do one song each- Tina Turner, Norah Jones, Corinn Bailey Rae, Leonard Cohen, one track by Joni herself- but Herbie picked Sonya to be the featured singer with his band for his album-release tour. This is maybe the biggest possible compliment in the entire present-day musical universe.

They did a night in Phoenix, but I had a Friday night gig myself, and when I added my lost gig pay to the price of a ticket, I simply couldn't afford to go, and I felt like I don't know Sonya well enough anymore to ask for comp tickets. I was really bummed. Money is a wonderful thing, and needing money is a terrible thing. Anyway, if you see this, Sonya, I'm sorry I missed your show, and congratulations!

Pete's New Album

Guitarist/singer-songwriter/bandleader Pete Pidgeon is a friend of mine from Boston. He did some gigs with the Inner Orchestra, and I did some gigs with his band, Arcoda. He has a great new album out, Doubt Is For Losers, a sprawling stew of rock (orchestral/pop/hard/hippie/funk/etc.) And my friend Taka from the Hot Tamale Brass Band plays tuba on the album. I've probably listened to it twelve times in the last three days (yes, I've spent a lot of time in my car), and I like it more and more. Congratulations, Pete!

Current Commuting Album

Guitarist/singer/songwriter/bandleader Ryan Montbleau was one of my and Sarah's favorite acts to go see in Boston, plus our friend John Adams does his album art, and my friend Matt Gionarros plays bass for him. I used to like Ryan's solo shows better than with his band, but the band sounds amazing on his new album, Patience on Friday. Definitely his best yet- been listening to it for two weeks solid.

New at Spiritrax

A month ago, we got a visit from a wonderful, classically-trained soprano named Melissa Guiley. Guess I forgot to post them here at the time.

Wonderful Peace
I didn't know this song before I arranged it, but it's my new favorite. I feel like I managed a nice natural build through the arrangement.

Oh Chanukah
Just in time for the CCCCChhhhhhholiday.

S'vivon
For the klezmer kiddies. Melissa's Jewish, so we got her to do these Chanukah tunes.

And Mandi Leigh did two more of my Christmas arrangements last week:

O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
Pretty traditional.

Jingle Bells
When I put this on, Mandi said, "Oh, I'm in Disneyland!" I guess that's sort've what I was going for.

Lots more, but I'll post them once they have vocals.

Silly entertainment

Today I was thinking about how sometimes when I'm bored, or worried about time, I check the clock over and over again, waiting for time to pass, and at these times time seems to move very slowly. And other times I forget about watching what time it is and the day just seems to flow on by.

I was also thinking of the phrase, a watched pot never boils.

And it occurred to me- if time was enclosed in a pot of ignorance, then looking at a clock would release the pressure, and time would actually pass more slowly. Since pressure exist in three dimensions, there's no reason it shouldn't in the fourth as well.