It's a solo album, and so has fewer moving parts to manage. Except for a couple of tracks that will include percussion, everything else is just me and my large guitar. That, and the fact that I have lived with these songs for quite awhile, at home and on the road, made the process of recording them really flow when compared to when I recorded my previous two albums. Not that it was "easier" per se -- just that I did so much of the work of getting the songs into my hands and heart well before I went into the studio.
The Map Room is an intimate recording studio in southeast Portland, and Josh Powell (co-owner and lead engineer) is basically a genius with gigantic ears. He can hear things that I cannot, and gently offers suggestions for small changes that make a big difference in the playback. Working with him is a warm, goodhearted and easygoing experience and we were both glad for the chance to work together again.
Here are some more photos from the first day of recording, taken by my friend Melisa Crosby on very short notice. I'm grateful to her, and to all my contributors who made the recording and production possible.
(Unless they've asked to remain anonymous, all of my Indiegogo contributors will be thanked by name when the liner notes for the album go live here at the web site.)
Mixing will take place in bits and pieces over the next couple of weeks, and I'll meet with Josh for the final mixing between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Then we'll send the final mix over to Stu Fessant for mastering, and hopefully that will be finished by mid-October. Right after that, it's off to Saturn Duplication for turning into CDs, which I hope to launch in late October or early November -- ahead of schedule!
Stay tuned! This album is building momentum like a downhill mountain biker without brakes.
I can't wait to share it with all of you!