Organissimo is in the studio...

[Jim Alfredson]

Just cleaned it. Sorry! Try again please!

[A Lark Ascending]

Thanks, Jim.

[mikeweil]

I'll sign up as soon as I have enough dough on my PayPal account ... Great! Looking very much forward to listening!

[sheldonm]

...payment has been made!

[AfricaBrass]

Mark,

You should go into Organissimo's recording session and do a Francis Wolff impression. A bunch of your black and white shots would look great for their new album, especially when Blue Note finally signs them and issues the album.

[sheldonm]

Mark,

You should go into Organissimo's recording session and do a Francis Wolff impression. A bunch of your black and white shots would look great for their new album, especially when Blue Note finally signs them and issues the album.

.....I guess they don't think enough of my work to ask me !

[Jim Alfredson]

More like I'm afraid you'd be too expensive!!!! I was excited about the prospect of you coming up to Baker's!! That would be awesome.

If you want to come all the way up to Lansing, we'd be honored. Maybe we can work something out. We'll be in the studio tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday.

[catesta]

Paypal cash sent.

I signed it.....

Love,

couw

[sheldonm]

More like I'm afraid you'd be too expensive!!!! I was excited about the prospect of you coming up to Baker's!! That would be awesome.

If you want to come all the way up to Lansing, we'd be honored. Maybe we can work something out. We'll be in the studio tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday.

....well, I'm not sure I can make it to Lansing in the next few days; maybe on your third release!!! I see you've got a professional working on your new cover; you're in good hands !

I hope to make it to Detroit (5 hours from Indy!!!) though. I have a ton of shoots and almost every weekend is booked. I'm catching a little heat from the little lady !

m-

[couw]

Paypal cash sent.

I signed it.....

Love,

couw

nice, your graciousness

[connoisseur series500]

Will be sending $$ soon. Just thinking about the amount. I'm leaning towards $100, but I insist my name be above Chuck's!

[Jim Alfredson]

If we go alphabetically by last name, it will be!!!

[connoisseur series500]

That sucks!

"C" for Chuck comes before "P" for Paul.

[PHILLYQ]

Nice pix, Jim and best of luck with the new disc. I'm in, just sent my $$. This is one release I'm eagerly awaiting. I played some Organissimo at my weekly handball get together a few times and it was very well-received. Most of the guys I play handball with are not big jazz fans, but they dig their Organissimo!

When you guys play any gigs in NYC, please announce it-I'l try my best to make it and even bring some people.

[JohnJ]

Just sent my contribution from Japan by PayPal.

Good luck with the recording.

[GregN]

What's it like being in the studio with Organissimo?

In a word, Awesome!

The new songs: Smokin'!!!!!

The console: Muscle Shoals/Neves what more could you need?!

The Monitor Speakers: Kid Rock and Eminem have had Glenn (the studio engineer

on Organissimo's project) build them some.

The Finger Sandwiches: uh, o.k.

The Vibe: Very cool!!

Their evolving style of multiple-nods is the furtherest thing from contrivance. They play and write in a way that transcends genre, yet pays homage to the jazz, funk, soul, and R&B greats of yesterday. (Just wait till you hear Jim's foot evoke the spirit of James Jamerson) In short, they just play and write this way. And it is beautiful. The new songs are heads above the last ones, AND the last CD was pretty darn good.

In other words, to this seasoned music professional and lover of music, the musicality of Organissimo's present project is beyond anything I could have ever expected.

Frankly, I am jealous as hell.

To everyone who has contributed, Thank you very much. You too are now a part of it. And it ought to be mentioned that I won't see a penny of your contribution. It is to directly defray the studio costs. And at just under 1000.00 a day, you can probably imagine why it is so greatly appreciated. Organissimo is not just a bunch of working stiffs with families, and other serious obligations. They are also

a very talented group of guys breathing life into the world of music.

Your contribution gives on so many levels. It is deeply appreciated.

Greg Nagy

Organissimo Mgt

P.S. Jim, I just received an email suggesting that we tier the categorizations. Evidently, there are some wealthy jazz lovers out there.

Thus, I recommend that we add a Gold and Platinum benefactor categorization.

500.00 For Gold

1000.00 For Platinum

So three levels of benefactors.

Platinum: 1000 and up

Gold: 500-999

Bronze: 100-499

On the CD jacket list in order of contribution.

That is, and for example

Platinum Benefactors:

Joe Smith

Steven Mazeratti

Gold:

Joe Mama Besser

Bronze:

Bette Davis

and so on

Edited April 7, 2005 by GregN

[Claude]

This contribution system is an excellent idea.

The german experimental rock band Einstürzende Neubauten did this too:

What did Phase I supporters get?

- an exclusive supporters' CD

- exclusive download of double live CD "Gemini" plus some other tracks

- over 140 hours of webcasts of the band at work

- a couple of live concerts from the bunker

- an active forum that racked up 33,000+ posts over the year

- Christmas presents from the band for 60 lucky winners

- virtual spaghetti dinner with the band on April 1st, 2003

- email accounts @neubauten.org

http://www.neubauten.org/details.php?PHPSE...bf6490bd5790f79

Maria Schneider is also financing her projects with contributions from fans:

http://www.artistshare.com/artist_project_...D=6&selection=1

[Joe G]

To everyone who has contributed, Thank you very much. You too are now a part of it. And it ought to be mentioned that I won't see a penny of your contribution. It is to directly defray the studio costs. And at just under 1000.00 a day, you can probably imagine why it is so greatly appreciated. Organissimo is not just a bunch of working stiffs with families, and other serious obligations. They are also

a very talented group of guys breathing life into the world of music.

Your contribution gives on so many levels. It is deeply appreciated.

Yes! Many, many thanks.

[GA Russell]

The check is in the mail!

[Jim Alfredson]

UPDATE from Thursday's session:

We got started today at 4pm because Randy had a hit up in Interlochen Wednesday night. Our good friend Bill Vits, who is a percussionist with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, came in to play percussion on some tracks.

We also had our friends Mr. Mike Scott from WYCE and Kurt Enger stop out.

We started the session doing an old tune that we actually recorded for the last album, but it did not make the cut. It was originally a tribute of sorts to John Patton, that we called "Patton Pending", but it has gone through several groove-ectomies in the last few years. We finally came up with a whole different way of playing it a few weeks ago... a sort of New Orleans second-line feel, but with a twist that obscures the "one". If you don't know what that means, don't worry about it! Just know that it be funky!

We also changed it's name. It is now called "Greaze Monkey". Bill laid down some nice latinesque percussion on this one and Randy played the funky second-line feel like a native New Orleanean.

Next up, we tracked a fan favorite that we've been doing for awhile, and probably the only "standard" that will be on this CD, "Tenderly". Joe came up with a beautiful solo guitar intro and we added some stuff to the arrangement (for those who have seen us play it live). Bill did some really tasty percussion work on this one as well. The groove is DEEP!

Finally, we tracked an original tune of Joe's called "Cross Country", which Bill played congas on. This tune reminds me of something Metheny might do and is fun to blow on.

All in all it was an enjoyable afternoon/evening and we're heading back into the studio tomorrow morning to cut some more trio stuff. Here are some pictures from today's festivities:

Wide shot of the control room. In the foreground, with his back towards the camera, is Bill Vits. Glenn Brown sits at the controls (notice the beautiful Neve 8068 console!!) Joe and Randy (obscured by Bill's head) are on the couch.

"Oooooo, did you just hear that awesome organ solo?!?!?!

Joe's babies, for the guitar nuts on the board.

Our friend, Bill Vits. Great job today, Bill! The tracks sound FANTASTIC!!! :tup

[tjobbe]

.....

Finally, we tracked an original tune of Joe's called "Cross Country", which Bill played congas on. This tune reminds me of something Metheny might do and is fun to blow on.

....

Hi Jim,

as you know I already pretty much enjoyed your last "Metheny like tune" so I might already be able to nominate my new favourite

Cheers, Tjobbe

[connoisseur series500]

Payment sent.

Will be a real pleasure to have my name on the credits for what looks like a great set of music.

In addition, it will mark the cd debut of an artist (Noj) whose work will eventually get recognized.

I'm the lucky one...

[brownie]

Paypal finally accepted my contribution

Waiting for the next Boogaloo...

[Jazz Kat]

We started the session doing an old tune that we actually recorded for the last album, but it did not make the cut. It was originally a tribute of sorts to John Patton, that we called "Patton Pending", but it has gone through several groove-ectomies in the last few years.

Just think of it this way. In 40 years, it will be a bonus track on a reissue.

[Jim Alfredson]

I have a gig, so I'll be quick. This morning we got started at around 10am. We began by tracking an original called "Play Nice" which is mainly in 7/8 (for the most part) and is really funky! We did a few takes of that and then moved on.

Up next was our sequel to "Clap Your Hands" from our first record, called "Stomp Your Feet". We'll track this one again tomorrow with Johnny Gist on tenor and see which version we like the most. The alternate could end up as an mp3 download. The groove is very Meters-esque, like "Clap Your Hands" and this one has been a real crowd pleaser live.

We then decided to torture ourselves and record another original, "Smokin' Section". It's a fast (very fast) jazz waltz... actually, more of a 6/8 or even 3/8 feel. Did I mention it's fast?!? It kicks our ass almost everytime we play it. But we did only three takes of it today and pretty nailed it.

What was really funny is that Glenn's studio is next door to a hair salon. He has never, in his 10+ years of being in that location, had any complaints from the folks next door. After our third take of "Smokin' Section", however, a nice looking young lady (hair stylist, I assume) popped in and asked us to please turn it down! Glenn was flabergasted!!!

You see, he's got my Leslie and PR-40 cabinet mic'd up in the hallway (with only one wall separating them and the salon) and "Smokin' Section" is very high-energy and high-volume. But here's the weird thing... he's had full-blown Marshall stacks cranking away in the hallway before and never had a complaint.

Our theory? Women don't like that tune. I swear to God. My wife doesn't like it at all. Every time we practice it here at the house she tells me how much it bugs her after rehearsal. BUT... every guy I've played it for loves it, including Glenn, Greg, my dad, and I think even Chuck Nessa commented on it when we were at the Firefly last month. So it must be a "guy tune".

But as Joe pointed out, that's why we also recorded "Tenderly". "One for the ladies!"

Joe had to leave at 3pm, so Randy overdubbed some rippin' harmonica on "Brother Ray". I am now just relaxing before my gig tonight with my r&b band in Grand Rapids. We're back in the studio tomorrow morning with Johnny Gist to finish up the tracking!!