Four albums. Two decades. One running thread.

I’m Old Fashioned

Most of the story for this record was already told in the liner notes for Ready, Willing, and Able. I’ll spare you the repetition, except to say: “I Could Have Told You So” is the song that started this whole project. Few musical experiences compare to hanging out in New York for a few days with Cory, recording in the hallowed ground that is Rudy Van Gelder Studio, with this calibre of musicians: Ben Paterson, Chris Flory, Neal Miner.

Sequencing was tricky. There are many slower songs, so breaking up the tempos took care. We kick off with just Neal’s bass and the vocal on “You Took Advantage of Me.” “Spring Won’t Be Around This Season” takes things to serious land. “Candy” sits in the pocket. “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” runs straight-eighth on Ben’s suggestion, and felt right from the first run-through. “Surfer Girl,” Brian Wilson’s ballad, is my wife’s and my song. I used to call her my little surfer girl. Every time I hear it, my eyes well up a little. Happy tears.

Shawn Pierce mixed and mastered, as he has on all three Van Gelder records now. Thank you, Shawn.

Ready, Willing, and Able

Years ago, Ben Paterson came to Frankie’s Jazz Club in Vancouver to play with Cory Weeds. Cory invited me up for a tune. I didn’t know Ben personally yet, but at that moment, I knew I wanted to record an album with him someday. This started me being a pain in Cory’s ass for years about producing a record for me.

Late 2021, we booked flights to New York for two days at Rudy Van Gelder Studio. I pitched Cory and Ben on not one but two albums: organ trio and piano trio. Ben agreed. This is day one.

It’s Always You

I had been teaching Logic at Pacific Audio-Visual Institute in Vancouver. Tom Lavin extended the studio to me at a great rate. So much planning went into the recording: different ensembles for different styles, slow songs with string quartet, up-tempo tunes with horns. Three days. Everyone gave all their talent without measure.

Day Dream

The first jazz album. Recorded at Riverside Recording in Burnaby with pianist Chris Sigerson and bassist-producer Rick Kilburn. A trio record, plain and direct, and the start of everything that followed.