This past month I’ve been experimenting with the combination of my music and sampled nature sounds, with HD videos I capture from my handheld video recorder. Here are the experiments I’ve created to date.
Surface tension:
The omen:
Crawfish march:
Spinner fall:
Last weekend I spent some time with Leanne on Mason Lake in the Adirondacks. The weather forecast was questionable but we went anyways. I’m very glad we did since we had the place to ourselves, other than the immense wildlife we encountered, specifically a pair of Loons.
We canoed our gear in, along with my best friend and protector, Chase, my 5 year old shepherd. After camp was set up and the sun got lower in the sky, a pair of Loons came out to feed right on cue. They just happened to be nesting and feeding in the very cove we were camping in. I was very excited and grabbed my handheld video camera hoping I could capture their sound for this very site! The pair of Loons called in the morning as well, and we paddled right by them on our way out the next day. Sometimes things just have a way of working out. We even sighted a bald eagle in the Sacandaga Valley on our way home. The mountains, rivers, and streams I live for remind me that there are still places in this world seemingly untouched. Places you can empty the mind by a late night campfire, and fall asleep to the peaceful, yet haunting sound of the Adirondack Loon.
The Loon soundscape captured from the shore of our campsite:
On April 8th, Leanne Phillips and I were featured artists in the Emerging Artist Rehearsal Series hosted by Louie Bird and Desolation Road Studios in Altamont, NY. I played solo for the first set and Leanne joined me for the 2nd. Afterwards, an open jam transpired and everyone there had a lot of fun. A gentleman named Tim from the audience played harmonica on a few occasions, and he sounded great. Vocal harmonization from the crowd at the end of Tale of The 20 Inch Trout was one of my favorite moments from the night. Thanks to all who supported us.
Download high quality audio I recorded from the show:
Set 1 (Karel solo) | Set 2 (with Leanne) | Open Jam
View videos from the show on my YouTube channel.
Tale of The 20 Inch Trout:
If you love percussion, check out this group, BoorBaar, from LA. Mike Robbins(centered in the video below), a friend of mine from my days in Rochester, started this group. Mike is the most brilliant musician I’ve ever known.
This week I continued work on a couple of songs that I started during the end of a tumultuous relationship that is thankfully over! These grooves helped me feel good when times weren’t. Enjoy!
You Didn’t Love Me:
She’s Gone:
Here are 3 songs performed last friday, March 25th, at Jim Miller’s Desolation Road studio in Altamont, NY. I highly recommend visiting Desolation Road. I’ll be playing a full set April 8th. Come join us!
I’m A Train:
Baby What You Want Me To Do:
Get Your Drink On:
I brought out the Wurlitzer last week for a couple of new songs. It’s going to be a while before it gets to come out again. Too damn heavy.
Oh When The Saints Go Marching In:
The Tale of The 20 Inch Trout:
This past Saturday I had the chance to hear the 2nd set of The Resonators. It was their debut and they didn’t disappoint! However, it took me 24 hours to recover from the festivites.
My favorite from the 2nd set(Hoochie Coochie Man):
A new ballad I’ve been playing around with in C Maj:
I spent the last week working on adding some percussion to my performances. I chose a classic Latin jazz tune, Blue Bossa, as a starting point:
