The Blackbird Newsletter (Fall 2020)
The BlackBird Newsletter: Fall 2020
Welcome! I'm opening my quarterly newsletter here to keep everybody up with all things Blackbird.
It's obviously a complicated time now and we are all working to find our way in the changed world we are facing. I have been spending the past months working through many of my older projects which had been left in various states of disrepair, and giving them the attention they deserve. Lemonade, from lemons, as the saying goes.
The Blackbird Singles:
1. So Full Of Love
The Blackbird: Voice, Ac. Guitar, Keyboards and Percussion * Paul Keeves: Bass & Backing Voice * Leonardo von Papp: Brushes
Alba Plaza: Single Cover Icon * Jörg Surrey: Mix & Master * Greg Dinunzi: Producer Music & Video * Anna Knaifel: Camera
Recently, I have changed from releasing CDs to releasing individual singles. Eve, The Washer of the Ford, So Full of Love, and Grand Ol' Time. I have relatively chaotic work patterns, always jumping between projects. I have found this to be good for keeping my mind fresh, but not in line with the usual releasing of material, so my videos are always out of sync with the release of the songs. It seems that this is my way. So even though my last single release was Grand Ol' Time, I am now about to release a new video for the previous single: So Full of Love.
Here's some background on this song.
As many of you know, I enjoy writing in many different styles of music. My background as a session player and studio musician means I am often called to perform in “the style of...” something or another, and often tasked with playing guitar “like” Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, or Brian May for a show or a session. I love working out what makes each style individual, and then translating that into my playing and songwriting. This is all a labor of love for me, and a side effect of this is that I am drawn to players, composers and styles of music which are highly individualized and unique.
What I enjoy doing in my songwriting is then drawing on these unique elements, and using them as a palate from which I create my own music. This is not an original method of composing or playing, to be clear, imitation is always the highest form of compliment. My works sometime tribute specific artists, for instance Strawberry Kisser tributes both the songwriting of Chuck Berry and the guitar playing of Brain May of Queen or Completely On My Side is written in the style and spirit of the Beatles. At other times, the influences are more subtle.
With So Full of Love, the song grew out of a few lines of poetry, which emerged from an experience I had, and the nature of the text seemed best handled as a delightfully schmaltzy flower-power ballad - a style I do not write in often! But, I took it as a cheerful challenge, and here we are. If “Delightfully Schmaltzy” becomes a style of it’s own someday, remember you heard it here first!
So: the first announcement: The new video for So Full of Love premiers on Sept. 27 on YouTube. I'd appreciate as many clicks as possible, so do spread the word for me and let me know how you enjoy it!
The footage is live from the Teldex Studios in Berlin where we recorded the song. My lovely wife was the camerawoman on the job.
2. Grand Ol' Time
The Blackbird: Voice, Guitars, Organ, Percussion * Paul Hetherington: Bass * Michael Kersting: Drums * Tom Lynn: Mix * Jörg Surrey: Master * Greg Dinunzi: Producer * Alba Plaza: Single Cover Icon
Next I’d share that I released the single Grand Ol’ Time which can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and all the streaming services.
Grand Ol' Time was originally one of the songs I pitched to a German horror movie called “Du Hast Es Versprochen” in 2012. All horror movies need at least one “feel-good” moment to start things off. The gang piling in a car and “singing-along-to-the-radio-as-they-drive-into-the-horror-which-awaits-them” moment. They did in fact use a different one of my songs for the film which you can hear HERE, and Grand Ol’ Time became a footnote in the movie. However, because I liked it too much to leave it on a cutting room floor, I decided to produce it for myself. If you hear the ghost of the Traveling Wilburys in it, I would agree. Also some of the electric guitar work tributes the guitar style of the Byrds.
There is no video yet, but perhaps in time something may appear! The artwork from Alba Plaza captures the essence of the song, which paints a somewhat ironic picture of where we find ourselves at the moment.
Live Concerts
In the times of Covid, of course, there has been very little live music to talk about, but I did have two wonderful open air concerts. One with The Blackbird Trio, where we played Blackbird songs along with other American music: Blues, Rock and Country. The other with a project called The Silent Flask Orchestra which is a Swing Jazz tribute project, also in trio with Sousaphone, Banjo and Clarinet/Sax.
Here are some video links to quick glimpses from those concerts:
The common thread in these projects is great songwriting. I love to find great songs of every era, and keep them alive in anyway I can. It was great getting the Swing music in front of a live audience and watching the spirit of that music just lift people’s moods up and fill them with joyful energy. Highly recommended!
The House Concert Series
Aside from that, I'm experimenting with YouTube a bit, and created one short set of cover songs with me on acoustic guitar and singing, and explaining a bit about the songs, and why I keep them in my hands. I'd love any feedback on this, to see if it warrants further development. I'm not indigenous to the YouTube culture, so I'm working to find my way around there too. Click the picture to find the set.
Upcoming News
In the coming months there will be a few new works coming out to look for:
The Blackbird: Music for Theater & Dance:
Seven new instrumental songs which were all written for theater or dance productions, including “The Bacchae”, “Hamlet”, “Antigone”, “Oedipus the King”, “The Immortal Hour” and others.
The Blackbird & Tom Lynn: Music and Songs from “The Immortal Hour”:
Tom and I are working on a new classical crossover project with instrumental soundscapes and songs from Fiona Macleod's amazing Celtic drama: “The Immortal Hour”.
Perhaps with some very special guests. Stay tuned.
The Blackbird’s “Retro: The Graphic Novel”
I'm also excited to say Alba Plaza and I have been developing Retro: The Graphic Novel. Alba has been doing some amazing work, and has a great feel for animating my music. This is a large project, and we have a way to go still, but I hope to invite people into the process soon. It represents one artist's journey through my “Retro” CD.
Closing
So, I'm hoping this finds you well. This is a time for taking care of each other to the best of our abilities. I'm hoping my music can give you some good food for thought and brighten your coming days.
The Blackbird
To sculpt a cloud requires stillness, patience and grace.
Let the wind blow outside your garden
In here we are all friends
-An offering from interested co-workers.