The first real recordings for the album project were a few drum tracks by Bill Maxwell, with Bill playing against temporary guide tracks. Listening to Bill's drum parts, we were impressed with how joyful and fluid just the drums themselves were... this led us to ask Bill to record an improvised drum solo.
Bill asked if we had any direction on what to play... we told him to play in such a way as to "tell people about Jesus." Bill selected a pair of cloth-covered mallets rather than traditional drumsticks, and played for three glorious minutes.
I was in the recording room with Bill during this time. We went back into the control booth to listen to the playback of the tracks. We all sat in silence listening to this beautiful, powerful music... at the end of the playback, Abraham said, "Bill, your playing has summoned the favor of God."
So listen and be blessed by Bill Maxwell playing Liquid Joy...
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Track Tidbits: In Moments Like These
In Moments Like These was a last-minute swap the night before our group recording session at New Earth Studios. We had been planning on recording a different song, but it just didn't seem quite right. My dad and I sat in our hotel room eating In-n-Out hamburgers and looking over the various lead sheets that I happened to have stored on my laptop, hoping to find a song that would fit better with the rest of the project.
We eventually settled on In Moments Like These, which happened to be one of the songs that Tom Brooks recorded on his (first?) instrumental album in the early 1980's. However, unlike the rest of the songs we were recording, we had no arrangement charts nor guide tracks. I was able to produce the arrangement on my laptop that night, but there was no plausible way for us to record a guide tracks... so Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell and I recorded the bass/drums/electric piano tracks all live together in the studio.
Later we recorded Justo Almario on flute, my dad on acoustic guitar, and I added some additional acoustic piano. All in all, it turned out to be a very beautiful recording.
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We eventually settled on In Moments Like These, which happened to be one of the songs that Tom Brooks recorded on his (first?) instrumental album in the early 1980's. However, unlike the rest of the songs we were recording, we had no arrangement charts nor guide tracks. I was able to produce the arrangement on my laptop that night, but there was no plausible way for us to record a guide tracks... so Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell and I recorded the bass/drums/electric piano tracks all live together in the studio.
Later we recorded Justo Almario on flute, my dad on acoustic guitar, and I added some additional acoustic piano. All in all, it turned out to be a very beautiful recording.
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Track Tidbits: On My Way Home
On My Way Home, composed by Harlan Rogers, was the last track on the first Koinonia album. I first heard this piece in 1999, nearly twenty years after the original recording. Now, approaching thirty years later, with the Koinonia album very out of print, we got together with some of the original players to produce a new-yet-familiar arrangement.
Sitting in the control room at New Earth Studios in Laguna Niguel, preparing to record this track, Abraham Laboriel began to reminisce about the days of Koinonia, prompting Tom Brooks to predict that we'd get the bass/drum tracks recorded on the first take. He was right, and the result was wonderful.
Especially listen for Tom's rockin' B3 organ solo, and Abraham's tender, contemplative bass guitar solo.
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Sitting in the control room at New Earth Studios in Laguna Niguel, preparing to record this track, Abraham Laboriel began to reminisce about the days of Koinonia, prompting Tom Brooks to predict that we'd get the bass/drum tracks recorded on the first take. He was right, and the result was wonderful.
Especially listen for Tom's rockin' B3 organ solo, and Abraham's tender, contemplative bass guitar solo.
--
Buy a copy of the album!
Production Notes: Getting Started
We started out on this project with the idea that we'd play the instruments ourselves, record it ourselves, and mix & master it ourselves. But God had other plans.
It really did start out simple, but grew into so much more than we could imagine. I had stayed in contact with long time friend and musical mentor Tom Brooks since playing with him in the worship band at Grace Church - St. Louis. Trevis had the idea that perhaps we could get some advice or help from Tom as we started down this road.
When we contacted Tom, he was very gracious and willing to help, offering his studio, and access to any of the studio Guys he has worked with in the past -- people like Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, etc. That is when we knew that God had something more planned for us than we could ever imagine.
Track Tidbits: More Than A Feelin'
More Than A Feelin' was the first song on the first Koinonia album, and we had a grand time recording this new rendition of it along with several of the Koinonia players.
In my opinion, all of the various instrumental parts really gel together on this track better than on any other, but none of us were recording at the same time! I started with recording some basic guide tracks which ultimately were deleted. Atop the guide tracks, Bill Maxwell recorded drums... then Abraham Laboriel recorded bass guitar... then Tom Brooks recorded B3 organ... then I recorded electric piano & synthesizer... then Justo Almario recorded flute... then Carl Albrecht recorded percussion... all over the space of about six months!
Listen especially for the outstanding flute playing toward the end of the piece. Justo really makes that flute sound awesome!
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Buy a copy of the album!
In my opinion, all of the various instrumental parts really gel together on this track better than on any other, but none of us were recording at the same time! I started with recording some basic guide tracks which ultimately were deleted. Atop the guide tracks, Bill Maxwell recorded drums... then Abraham Laboriel recorded bass guitar... then Tom Brooks recorded B3 organ... then I recorded electric piano & synthesizer... then Justo Almario recorded flute... then Carl Albrecht recorded percussion... all over the space of about six months!
Listen especially for the outstanding flute playing toward the end of the piece. Justo really makes that flute sound awesome!
--
Buy a copy of the album!
Track Tidbits: A Merry Heart
A Merry Heart is a piece in 7/4 time that I composed over eight years ago. Musically, it was inspired by listening to the odd-meter jazz of The Dave Brubeck Quartet, with spiritual inspiration from the book of Proverbs.
I almost tossed this one from the project plans, as the composition itself is fairly simple. I am very glad we went ahead with it though -- Abraham Laboriel & Bill Maxwell put so much life and energy into the music, making it sound far better than I ever thought it could!
Listen especially for the alternating bass and drum solos between Abe & Bill. Magnificent!
This track also includes Tom Brooks on Hammond B3 organ, Justo Almario on alto saxophone & flute, Carl Albrecht on percussion, and myself on electric piano.
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I almost tossed this one from the project plans, as the composition itself is fairly simple. I am very glad we went ahead with it though -- Abraham Laboriel & Bill Maxwell put so much life and energy into the music, making it sound far better than I ever thought it could!
Listen especially for the alternating bass and drum solos between Abe & Bill. Magnificent!
This track also includes Tom Brooks on Hammond B3 organ, Justo Almario on alto saxophone & flute, Carl Albrecht on percussion, and myself on electric piano.
--
Buy a copy of the album!
Track Tidbits: Believing Side of Life
The song Believing Side of Life was written by Phil Driscoll at the 2002 Southwest Believers' Convention, hosted by Kenneth Copeland Ministries. We had the honor of being at the convention and heard Phil sing the song for the first time.
More than any other song I've heard, this one had a huge impact on me... it was so encouraging and full of faith. I wanted to record this song to share it with as many people as possible, in hope that they would be blessed by it as much as I was.
It was an immense honor for us to have Phil's help on this track. His contributions raised the recording to a level of quality beyond our imagination.
Also on the track are Abraham Laboriel on bass, Bill Maxwell on drums, Tom Brooks on Hammond B3 organ, Scott Allen on guitar, and myself on electric piano. Phil provided the vocal, as well as acoustic piano & trumpet.
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Buy a copy of the album!
More than any other song I've heard, this one had a huge impact on me... it was so encouraging and full of faith. I wanted to record this song to share it with as many people as possible, in hope that they would be blessed by it as much as I was.
It was an immense honor for us to have Phil's help on this track. His contributions raised the recording to a level of quality beyond our imagination.
Also on the track are Abraham Laboriel on bass, Bill Maxwell on drums, Tom Brooks on Hammond B3 organ, Scott Allen on guitar, and myself on electric piano. Phil provided the vocal, as well as acoustic piano & trumpet.
--
Buy a copy of the album!
Believing Side of Life Album Complete!
Atmosphere Control Productions is delighted to announce the completion of our first major recording project, Believing Side of Life.
This album features outstanding musicianship from some of the finest players around, including Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, Justo Almario, Tom Brooks, and more.
We will be using this blog to share thoughts on the album and experiences from producing it.
Buy a copy today! Better yet, buy a thousand!
This album features outstanding musicianship from some of the finest players around, including Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, Justo Almario, Tom Brooks, and more.
We will be using this blog to share thoughts on the album and experiences from producing it.
Buy a copy today! Better yet, buy a thousand!
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