Left Turn... The Album

Jeff: We began recording the first Left Turn At Albuquerque album this weekend. Joe, Kat, Sarah and I spent about nine hours over two days getting eleven songs tracked for Kat's drum parts. There will be a twelfth song, it just needs more TLC in rehearsal before we can track it. Kat has been working feverishly (almost literally, she's been pretty sick) getting her parts just so on the recordings. I should explain that Chris is on vacation for the next few days, and as lead guitarist, he will be tracking his parts once the foundations of the songs are laid down.

We are recording this album under the auspices of the incredible Michael Teach, the impresario responsible for Chicago Acoustic Underground, the podcast series that is in its fourth year, and which has over 250 episodes devoted to Chicago and touring musicians who play original music (i.e. their own compositions). I've been fortunate enough to record two podcasts for CAU, episode #27 as a solo performer, and episode #141 with the precursor to Left Turn..., The Hawk In October. CAU has branched out to include benefit concerts and other live performances, and now, via its new label, CAUdog Records, has begun recording local artists for CD release. Left Turn... finds itself in the very happy position of being the fourth full-length recording project for CAUdog, which, as with the previous three, is being produced by Chicago musician and producer Ellis Clark. Ellis has been a prominent fixture on the Chicago music scene for many years, with the bands Epicycle and The Handcuffs, but he also runs an excellent home studio, and works with students at a North Shore high school as well to teach them sound production.

I want to make sure I write down impressions of the studio process. It's been seven years since I last did any serious recording (for my solo CD, "Clandestiny"). That time, I hired musicians to play and help arrange my songs. But Left Turn... is a band in its own right, and we're all responsible for arrangements. In addition, I am not the only songwriter, not the only creator who is looking to hear his vision come to fruition. Sarah has written three of the twelve songs we'll be recording, each strikingly different from the others, and all excellent fits with my own compositions. It's fun to help someone else realize her musical dreams, and an experience I'm very happy and lucky to have.

Another impression: it's hot in that studio. No air conditioning (because you'd hear the blowers), and of course, we started this project at the solstice, so summer is just getting underway. We're all having to remember to stay hydrated, and it takes very little excuse to get us all huddled in the control room (where the A/C is on).

Now that we have the drums laid down, the rest of us can begin building up the songs, layer by layer, instrument by instrument, and voice by voice. My guitar parts, which are the foundation of most of my compositions, will come next for all but a couple of songs, both Sarah's, one of which was a piano composition, the other a collaboration of guitar parts between Chris and myself. So guitars next, then likely Sarah's piano and Joe's bass. Then Chris's lead guitars, Kat's hand percussion where appropriate, and finally vocals. There are also likely to be some guest performances sprinkled throughout.

All for now. You know, I think I may actually be having fun.