Steel Guitar with Chamber Group

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 4 Jul 2011 8:40 am

This post was originally titled "For Mike Perlowin"

Here's the recording with the chamber group that you asked about, Mike. Composed by my good friend John Smith for local modern dance company Body Vox as the opening track for a recent performance series. There is an arrangement of this piece with no guitar in the mix but I like this original better.

I particularly like how he blends the sound of the flute with the sound of the steel.

Hope you enjoy this...

http://www.pdxaudio.com/bvoxopen.mp3

Title edited as per Mr. Blake's most excellent suggestion...

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 4 Jul 2011 8:50 am

For those inquiring minds that may want to know, this was recorded with my stock '78 ShoBud Pro I, Ernie Ball VP, '05 Fender Blues Deluxe Reverb with 12AX7's and a JBL K120, mic'd with an old, gold, Sennhheiser MD409, into ProTools, etc...

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 4 Jul 2011 11:56 am

EXQUISITE

YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 4 Jul 2011 12:05 pm

Dave, that's awesome!

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 4 Jul 2011 12:47 pm

That was a very beautiful arrangement and Steel Guitar playing. However being I was trained early on in Hawaiin music, as soon as I heard some of the slides my mind envisioned surf, sand, and palm trees.
Will the Hawiian effect ever be separated from Steel Guitar music ?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 4 Jul 2011 1:59 pm

It doesn't sound Hawaiian to me. Very nice orchestration.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 4 Jul 2011 2:49 pm

Wow Dave. Bravo. That's great. In fact, if it's OK with you and the composer, I'd like to play the piece myself with my trio when we resume playing together.

This is not just for steel players or members of this forum. This is for everybody everywhere who appreciates beautiful music.

I hope the project for which this was done is a huge success, and thousands of people will hear this wonderful example of how beautifully expressive our instrument is, and how much it fits in so many different genres.

Duncan Hodge · Post by **Duncan Hodge** » 4 Jul 2011 3:57 pm

Mike, I don't think you should let b0b get away with the hair comment. I'm not sure what his comment has to do with pedal steel...unless b0b is of the opinion that all steel players should have a full head of hair. In any event, I am often confused as to what the whowahey is going on anywhere, and am now wondering if I should have posted this under the other thread where he mentioned something about a certain "follicle challenged steel guitarist".
Dave, please excuse my digression, but I have been listening to Exile on Main Street (with some nice steel on it...at least on one song) and am feeling a bit feisty. Anyway, Dave, that was a beautiful piece of music playes on a "hillbilly" instrument.
Duncan

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 4 Jul 2011 5:58 pm

Duncan, two of life's great truths are "Bald is beautiful" and "God made only a few perfect heads. He put hair on the rest to cover up his mistakes."

Besides, who here would not happily sacrifice their golden locks to be able to play like David Wright.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 5 Jul 2011 12:34 am

Bravo!!! Dave. I am giving you a standing ovation at this time. Great orchestration. Great arrangement. This once again proves that the steel can adapt to any type of music. Jody.

Gordon Borland · Post by **Gordon Borland** » 5 Jul 2011 8:14 am

I really enjoyed that.
Gordon.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 5 Jul 2011 8:23 am

Thanks for the kind words, guys, it was solely due to John Smith's creative muse that this came to pass, he specifically asked me to apply some of "the hawaiian effect" in the piece, although he did not call it that at the session. Other than that he mostly gave me freedom to make art on my own terms, very cool!

Some of you may remember John as the bandleader/songwriter for the 80's pop group NuShooz. He has spent the past couple of decades writing music for Nike and other well-heeled clients but he and his wife Valerie have also found time to revamp and re-launch the NuShooz Orchestra - http://www.nushoozmusic.com/ - a laid-back, jazz-inspired "James Brown meets James Bond" sort of sound, not like anything anyone else has done before. I'm just happy to get in on the fringes of this flurry of activity

Mike, I can put you in touch with John to inquire about charts, etc. - I'm certain he would be delighted to have your group play with it.

Russ Blake · Post by **Russ Blake** » 5 Jul 2011 8:50 am

Nicely done, Dave! Beautiful touch and tone throughout. I think you should change the topic heading or start this on another thread titled something like "Steel guitar with chamber group". It would be a shame for folks to miss it!

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 5 Jul 2011 10:43 am

Very nice! Reminds me a bit of Daniel Lanois' "Panorama" album done with a chamber ensemble

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 5 Jul 2011 12:48 pm

Yeah, I got a Lanois-y vibe too, but cleaner

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 5 Jul 2011 1:41 pm

Getting back to your query, Mike, here's what John has to say this afternoon about your trio:

Sure, it'd be fine for him to play it. Probably the parts don't exist anymore, but a score does for sure. He could make his own trio arrangement from that, or just transcribe it. Let me know if you want me to try and find it.

jrs

So I guess you are clear to get down with your bad trio...

Bill Stafford · Post by **Bill Stafford** » 6 Jul 2011 6:04 am

THAT is the REAL music. Gorgeously done. Jerry Byrd would love this, I know! This is appreciated so much. Thanks for giving it to us.
Bill STafford

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 6 Jul 2011 7:06 am

Dave, I enjoyed that about as much as anything I've ever heard played on a steel guitar. Special on many levels.

Steve Alcott · Post by **Steve Alcott** » 6 Jul 2011 9:31 am

I'd love a copy of the score as well if it's possible. I'll cover whatever costs are involved.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 6 Jul 2011 12:38 pm

Wonderful. Our Interplanetary Steel Guitar Re-Education Task Force sends out yet another scout - resistance is futile...

Golly! They're popping out of the woodwork. As I've said before, pedal steel guitar is just too versatile and too beautiful to be stuck in a rut forever.

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 6 Jul 2011 2:34 pm

Fantastic

Its our limited thinking that restricts an instrument - not the instrument. Well done to all.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 8 Jul 2011 8:48 am

I played a show with John last night, he says he is making copies of the score to be available for any members of the forum who are interested. Film at eleven...

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 8 Jul 2011 11:32 am

Very nice indeed.