Hi Folks!
A lot has happened since my last post here. Let's talk about the music...
First, I just want to mention how exciting it's been to have my 2022 release, The Crosswinds of Kansas, reviewed in late 2023 by both, Robert Christgau and Tom Hull, with each of them giving the album an “A-” rating and spiking album sales. Tom Hull also added it to his 2023 Year-End “Best Non-Jazz Albums” list! Everyone involved in the making and releasing of this album, which I began recording in early 2020, put so much into it, and it's very gratifying to see it is still being noticed and mentioned with continuing praises in the present, present. Check out the “Press” page on this website for the Christgau and Hull (and other) full reviews.
For the new album I'm working on now, I completed my parts for song # 9, “Open Door,” a few weeks ago and I'm really happy with how it sounds. So far, it's a vocal track and an acoustic guitar track in a singer-songwriter style. It's tempting to let it be just that, and say that it's finished, because it could be, but I think it's going to be too tempting to add maybe a cello part and some light percussion to it when I bring other musicians on board to finish the album after all of my parts are done on these songs. As always, time will tell! I've also begun song 10, which as of today, is also a vocal track and an acoustic guitar track in a singer-songwriter style, but I've added a series of “Zen Bells” (that's what they're called!) to this one, and when I've finished editing those parts, I plan to add some “Zephyr Chimes” as well. These are unique sounding instruments that I'm using for this album and for the first time, and they will be very subtle elements of this song while the vocal and acoustic guitar will remain at the forefront and heart of it. Going beyond that, I may add a Native American Flute part or two but played in a very harmonically resonant way for contrast. Perhaps something else will come to mind. I'll have a better idea of where I might want it to go when I've finished the Zen Bells and Zephyr Chimes parts. I used a torrefied Gibson 1942 Banner Southern Jumbo Murphy Lab acoustic guitar for song # 9 and a torrefied 1942 Banner Gibson Custom Shop J45 Acoustic for song # 10. I've really taken a liking to these two guitars. They sound so good on what I'm writing and recording now, and I've found myself taking them out for live performances more than anything else recently. I'll be pressing on with song 10 today. Check back here from time to time for the latest news and updates on the recording of this album if you are so inclined. I look forward to sharing more about it with you in the days and weeks to come.
With so much gratitude and love,
Bill S.
