Jazz in Reverse

[Rick Schmidt]

Hey all.... here's something I just put up on Facebook. I know this isn't in a lot of ya'lls wheelhouse.... and trust me, I'm doing mostly hard country on a few gigs this month...but I'm proud to be on these "out of the box" recordings!
https://beatntrackrecording.com/air-cd- ... -blackburn
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"Jazz in Reverse".....
Or so my dear friend Dave Blackburn called it...
Last month lucky me got to be a part of a beautiful project at Dave's studio, Beat and Track Recording in Fallbrook California!
Dave is a fantastic guitarist, composer, producer, engineer, and probably one of the foremost authorities on Joni Mitchell's music...and her MANY unique guitar tunings!
He just put out his new album "Air" yesterday, and get to be a part of 4 songs!
https://beatntrackrecording.com/air-by-dave-blackburn
I've done overdub sessions for Dave's clients for a few years now, playing steel on singer-songwriter, jazz and country. Also doing live Joni Mitchell tribute shows with him and his uber talented wife Robin Adler in their band "Mutts of the Planet"
This one is different though. I guess what I would call it woulld be "ambient jazz", maybe meditational, soundscapes etc., with a definite leaning towards early ECM recordings of the 70s, Weather Report, Miles, Joni Mitchell etc.
I would highly recommend paying it forward to Dave and purchasing the CD for your personal collection, but you can also listen to the whole album at his website. Just scroll down.
I got to play out of the box Pedal Steel on 4 tracks: "Corridors", "Blast", "Robin", and "Joni", but please listen to the other cuts as well! Just beautiful!
I'm so proud to be on the album!!! Thanks Dave!

[Earnest Bovine]

I enjoyed these a lot. The steel is employed tastefully. I like your free modal melodies, and wonderful chord voicings.

[Mike Neer]

Beautiful stuff, Rick. I dig everything I've heard. Some Weather Report vibes on Blast. And I totally get Hillage.

[Dale Rottacker]

Pretty tasty Rick ... really nice playing and production ... thought I was listening to radio ready Jazz.

[Slim Heilpern]

Sound great Rick! Cool album.

[Rick Schmidt]

Thank you my friends!
I just asked Dave about how the song "Blast" on his record was done, because I vaguely remember doing it? All I do remember was that I just played some of my more more unusual C6 pedals, that I rarely get to use on gigs' with a phase shifter (added later) over a drum solo as a last minute afterthought, after the other 3 E9 overdubs.

His reply:

"Yes, it was a drum solo - actually the last half of a 4min drum solo, originally. Then you laid down improv steel takes over it but I think it was take 2 that seemed to lock perfectly with the drums…amazing feat. Then I transcribed what you played as best I could and had Kevin come up with a bass part under your changes. He also added a signature Jaco lick at the front and back. Then I had Tom play the top line of your voicings.

That’s how that one was born. Pure fluke. No guitar track. Just drums, steel, bass and tenor"

Wow...studio magic at it's finest! The phase shifter is what threw me off.... thinking a Rhodes was added? Who knew it was all me?

[Susan Alcorn (deceased)]

Really nice, Rick!

[Mike Neer]

Thank you my friends!
I just asked Dave about how the song "Blast" on his record was done, because I vaguely remember doing it? All I do remember was that I just played some of my more more unusual C6 pedals, that I rarely get to use on gigs' with a phase shifter (added later) over a drum solo as a last minute afterthought, after the other 3 E9 overdubs.

His reply:

"Yes, it was a drum solo - actually the last half of a 4min drum solo, originally. Then you laid down improv steel takes over it but I think it was take 2 that seemed to lock perfectly with the drums…amazing feat. Then I transcribed what you played as best I could and had Kevin come up with a bass part under your changes. He also added a signature Jaco lick at the front and back. Then I had Tom play the top line of your voicings.

That’s how that one was born. Pure fluke. No guitar track. Just drums, steel, bass and tenor"

Wow...studio magic at it's finest! The phase shifter is what threw me off.... thinking a Rhodes was added? Who knew it was all me?

That’s amazing, man! It’s so great, thrilled to hear that’s how it happened. It’s like Gil Evans listening to tapes of Miles and then composing new tunes from someone’s improv. And the phase shifter really is the perfect settings to get that Rhodes Suitcase through a phase shifter.

I really enjoyed listening.

[Andrew Frost]

Great sounds Rick...listening now on headphones.
This record really breathes...

[Jan Jonsson]

Hi Rick,

Impressive! It feels to me that this music is the perfect setting for your style of playing. I particularly like your steel guitar contributions to "Corridors".

The Songs of Joni Mitchell seems like a great band project to be part of. Wish I could be there to hear you and them.

/Jan