Album Notes

I might refer to this as "Classical Music for people who don’t like Classical Music"- which, I realize sounds like I’m hopping on THAT bandwagon- but this isn’t all dumbed down like those things that add a “rock beat” to Schubert, or some foolishness like that…. It’s just that the stuff on here is very accessible; sometimes very pretty; sometimes sort of @$$-kicking, and in at least one place (I think), pretty funny. But not very artsy, or particularly edgy, unless you think the sudden and startling appearance of a digeridoo in a Brahms jazz-jam is edgy.

BTW- the last chorus of solos in the Brahms is in tribute to Alan Sherman, not to Spike Jones (much as I love the Spikester- I learned the tune from Alan)

The title’s just descriptive…Vignettes, cuz there are 22 tracks, none over 6 minutes, which is like a minute in Classical music. Warponies, cuz they’re too short to be warhorses.

So, I play guitars, clarinet, soprano sax, mandolins, balalaika, uke, tenor banjo- I think that’s it… Amy Gillingham on cello most tracks… Plus around 3 tracks each of: Paul Patterson, violin, Jennifer King, flute and piccolo… Holly Attar, viola… Tina Raymond, drums and stuff…….. and my very own son, Andy, on the digeridoo. (HatPony drawing by my lovely wife, Susan).

A few guitar solos, half a dozen Guitar/Cello duos, various trios, some of them with Me, Amy, and Me again, and a few parties.

My first gig- I was ten, playing clarinet in a rock and roll band. I’m still not any more focused than that…. I’ve been rock n roll, sax, guitar, classical guitar, clarinet, mandolin, “early music”, lute, cornetto, krummhorn, recorder, homemade PVC flute, jazz (at a hack level) guitar, clarinet…I don’t tend to get bored…

Thanks for production advice to Roger Klug and Bill Gwynne - I may be the nominal producer, but I know less about recording than I’ve ever forgotten, and, consequently, relied heavily on brain-picking.

And everyone who lent their time and talent …. Amy’s unfailing musicality, simpatico, and open-mindedness about MOST of my dingbat whims (on live gigs, we’ll play Tchaikovsky, Tango, Aerosmith, and Johnny Cash in a 15-minute span)… Paul’s jaw-dropping abilities…. EVERYONE’S (except mine) ability to get it right the first (or second) time; …...Andy’s startling minimalism on the digeridoo…I am truly blessed.