Album Notes

There's always a story.

Story goes that when Thelonious Monk was once asked by an interviewer what he listened to and he replied, "Everything." The interviewer said, "No, really, what do you listen to?" Monk, annoyed, turned to another musician and said, "Is he deaf? I said everything."

That's not just how I feel about “One Riot, One Ranger” - It's how I feel ALL the time.

Classical and Fingerstyle, yes, But also Flamenco, Jazz and Rock/Blues, drawing on my influences of Leo Kottke, John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, Bill Frisell and Jeff Beck.

For me, these releases are not polished monuments to my craft, but snapshots of my journey, influences past and present. Postcards from faraway adventures.

“Slim Pickings”, my first CD in 2006, was recorded and mixed over an intense week in the studio. I tool a very different approach with “One Riot, One Ranger” and wanted to capture more of my “live” energy and excitement, mistakes and all. I recorded in a few sporadic sessions over a period of five months, focusing on strong individual takes and then moving on to the next song, without looking back.

I recorded only when the songs were ready for the studio, not when the studio was ready for the songs.

"One Riot, One Ranger" is my postcard to you. Wish you were here.