Album Notes

Scott Bakalar made his radio debut at the age of 4, singing "In Heaven There is No Beer" on a local station Polka show. By the age of 7, he had formed his first "garage band", with Scott on "air guitar" as they pantomimed the current hits of the day. After pestering his parents to the point of breakdown, Scott received his first real guitar and guitar lessons at 9. He played his first gig at age 10, and was already performing original music in a band by the time he hit the fifth grade. Needless to say, the man has been at this for quite some time. Scott has always been influenced by a variety of musical styles; from jazz and blues to rock and alternative to classical, "Broadway" and world music. Scott was named the "outstanding jazz guitarist" at the 1979 Elmherst Jazz Festival in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He has performed in Toronto, Toledo Ohio, Indiana, and all across his home area of Cleveland Ohio - both as part of a band and as a solo artist.

He has 3 albums to his credit: "Res Ipsa Loquitor", "analog hum" (with the band Word of Mouth) and most recently, "irrelevant"; a trans-atlantic collaboration with British composer, musician and producer Neville Meredith. This unique partnership literally began with an e-mail. "early on in my internet music career, I was a member of several music communities", states Bakalar, "I had many songs for this album already written and partially recorded, and wanted to get some collaborations going with a few of my very talented on-line mates." Bakalar was extremely impressed with the music of the critically acclaimed British band "ukCrisis", and especially the work of its frontman, Neville Meredith. "So I wrote Nev, and told him what I had going", reports Bakalar, "Nev was familiar with, and liked my earlier work, so he responded that he would enjoy producing a new track of mine."

Thinking that Meredith would not find any of the new material worthwhile, Bakalar forwarded 6 roughly mixed new songs via air mail to the United Kingdom. "I wanted to give him a choice, hoping he'd find one that he liked", Bakalar said. Much to his surprise, when he finally heard back from across the Atlantic, Meredith had replied that he liked all the tracks so much, he would be producing all 6 tracks. Then Bakalar received an email requesting more tracks, "Nev wanted to make this an entire album project".

What resulted from this partnership fills the soundfiles of "irrelevant", an album that encompasses an entire year in its making, and a lot of overseas airmail stamps. The project has already spawned two internet #1's: The tracks "Word of Mouth", and "Carol Said So". An album of classic rock with an alternative/crossover twist, destined to be heard and enjoyed for years to come. Listen for yourself.