The X sessions continued

The first session at X went without a doubt, beautifully. Matt, Josh and I were pleased as punch to hear how two songs could come together with little to no practice time for the band. In the tracks we could hear each musician’s first impression to the band playing together and it was magnificent. With two songs down we thought the next move would be to gather the funds to try are hands at another session.

As the summer began to wane Matt, Josh and I began brain storming the songs and the musicians that we would be putting together for an August session at Studio X. We were lucky enough to get Kanaan back up from Portland on the drums. This time around we added Ryan Smith on the piano, Katie Scheoflin (always misspelling this) on the bass clarinet, and my cousin Tyler Jensen on the bass.

The session was long and a bit tiring at points but the soundscapes created by this group of musicians was no doubt amazing. It is incredible to hear a handful of brilliant musicians reacting and adding to your not so brilliant song.

With the session done we await the genius of Josh Evans to mix the six songs. This fall there should be a release.

We love you!

The Beginning of the Black Swedes

So it has been awhile since I have been involved in music in the proper since. Months ago sea.mine took in its last few breaths before it slipped silently into its coma. The silence was not as much from the lack of music but more so due to the fact that no one really talked the other members about why we were not playing together. In fighting and outside interests seem to be common causes of the demise of groups and ours was no different. But as our group's passing seemed unavoidable I began to write for a new group called the Black Swedes.

I did not know who the Black Swedes were at the time and still have only a outline of an idea but the songs began to flow for this unborn group without precedence. No other group I had been a part of had been able to bring out the music that I had been hearing in my head as well as this group that sadly was still unable to find residence outside my mind.

The first inclination that the Swedes would be able to feel the light of day was a show at the downtown YMCA with bass clarinet player Katie Scheoflin (never know how to spell) and guitar player Josh Evans. At the time I had a hard time knowing where it would go but within a few weeks we were able to get into Josh's studio to record a few demos.

Through the passing months of spring Josh and I spoke of the Swedes often and began to make plans for our first adventure into Studio X for a day of experiments. The idea was that the Black Swedes would be a collection of great local musicians whom I had known or worked with previously and who did not know the songs very well.

Matt Benham from local stalwarts Argo, became the newest piece of the Swede's foundation right before this session. After two practices with him and then one with sea.mine's former pianist Tonya Sedairous (this one too) we thought that we were ready to bring in the drummer. Not knowing who might be able to pick up two songs with only one hour of practice I was forced to shoot for the best I knew, Kaanan Tupper.

The Friday before our Saturday session Kaanan drove up from Bend, OR to practice in my cousin Peter's basement for the only our I could get the four of us together. Having played Sugar Cane three times and Sue Me once we felt that both had been worked to perfection. The next day behind the steady hand of Josh and his assistant mike on bass the first Black Swede session was worked and finished with a kind of fluidity only know before in episodes of behind the music.

So the Swedes are here and they (who ever they end up being) will finish an album soon.