Album Notes

This CD started out more as a means than an end. When I used to live in Seattle I usually played guitar with one or two other guitarists. It was mostly extemporaneous stuff that we would play until something would coalesce into a groove. (As a guitarist, those are the moments I live for.) Then we'd build on that by tightening up our respective parts yet always leaving room to be in the moment and improvise.

When I moved to Japan, this was the part of guitar playing I missed the most, so I decided to lay down some tracks that exemplify the kind of music I like to create and use them as sample to help me find other musicians to collaborate with. I love the sound of harmonic and rhythmic interplay of two or three guitars. Whenever I play one part on a guitar, I usually hear one or two more parts in my mind that should go with it, so I decided to record those so I could convey what I really envisioned for my songs. As I got into the project, I found myself enjoying the creative freedom of playing all of the parts. As I started sharing some of my compositions along the way with friends, I got requests for a CD.

So here it is. My take on 13 of my original songs and an interpretation of one of my favorite jazz standards, Round Midnight. I hope you enjoy my music.

If you are a musician in the Nakatsugawa area and you want to collaborate, my original goal still holds true.

Blane Ebersold