April 23, 2012

Hello everyone, hope you're all in good health and spirits. With deep sadness I, along with all of us, am feeling the great loss of my friend Levon Helm.

Here is a brief remembrance.

I discovered Levon through The Band and grew up being inspired by his music. I first saw them live at Constitution Hall in the late '60's, and was taken by Levon's grace, soul and the effortless way the music poured out of him.

I love to be in great bands and in1989, I spent about four months with Levon rehearsing and touring with Ringo Starr's first All-Starr Band. It was one of the greatest times in my life. As a cherished friend, he graced my 'Silver Lining' album in 1990, with duet vocals on "Trouble's Back," a song I wrote for him, "Gun and Run" and "Silver Lining." Our friendship continued and every time we spoke on the phone--or the too rare occasions when our paths would cross--I felt honored and blessed to count him as a friend.

I loved Levon Helm. I still love him. I will always love Levon Helm.

His loss is devastating to me, to all that is music, to our entire planet.

Regardless of my state, professionally or personally, he never judged me, always encouraged, mentored and welcomed me with his soulful, salt-of-the-earth wisdom, his beautiful, inclusive smile. He graced my life and our planet with his extraordinary gifts of music and soul through every note and beat he played and every word he sang.

I know you're singing now joyously Levon, in no pain and in great Peace. Still, a bit of all of us is gone now with your loss. A price to humbly weather as we remember and take comfort in the massive gifts and life's work you leave with us, forever.

Sing on brother Levon and God bless you! We miss you, we honor you, we love you.

         Peace and Believe - Nils


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May 4, 2011 - BLIND DATE JAM!

   Now on to a brand new musical project we're ready to share with you. I've had this idea for a few years and have finally gotten around to trying it.  Let me attempt to explain it. Over the last 42 years, I've been involved with many different musical productions for TV , video, and film. Traditionally and appropriately there is always a great degree of organization, rehearsal, preparation and pre-production detail that goes into these endeavors. All of us continue to enjoy a well crafted live, musical performance on TV, video, film, etc.. During the rehearsals for these musical productions there are inevitable breaks and down time while technical issues are sorted out. Often these require the musicians to stay put on the set, instruments in hand and wait. Occasionally one of the players will start a cool, off the cuff riff and others will join in, in an impromptu  jam session that can be quite inspired. Of course, the audience never hears or sees this. Not burdened with arrangements, beginnings, ends or any type of required structure, these jams can be inspired, free, reckless and fun. A few years ago I was in a fantastic band that Patti Scialfa had put together to do some live TV show performances. We were promoting a great album of Patti's songs that we had recorded with her. I was playing some B-3 organ which was big fun for me. Along with Steve Jordan, Willie Weeks, Mark Stewart and Cliff Carter, all fabulous musicians, we seemed to be quietly jamming a lot on TV sets while waiting for the next run-through. I was thrilled to be a part of such impromptu, special musical moments and it reminded me of many other moments like these, gone un-recorded and never shared.  I kept thinking in the back of my mind that music fans would enjoy seeing this kind of interaction amongst great players. 
       So I started planning the "Blind Date Jam" sessions in the back of my mind.  Where players get together with no rehearsal, no plan, no pre-production, and challenge themselves to jam on the spot and rely on years of musical experience and instinct to create something special.  Just show up with your instruments, no plan but to improvise inspired music with friends for a couple hours, play free with no rules but to be your creative self, enjoy and express your musical gifts and go home. Not all musicians are comfortable with that type of jamming but I know many who are, including me.
     So, I finally got it together to start this "Blind Date Jam" project out in our home garage studio in Arizona. I did some demos years ago with Mike Smith who is an extraordinary musician and has remained a good friend. Mike's pedal steel playing is magnificent. During these old demo sessions I had challenged some local players to learn and play some new songs quickly (which they all did well)  and it seemed like Mike might enjoy the "Blind Date Jam" format. We discussed it in advance of course and he seemed open and excited about it. The "no homework or rehearsal" aspect of it is bound to appeal to almost any musician, myself included! Anyway, I put a team of friends together to do a basic home recording and video taping of two impromptu hours of jamming with Mike. Jamie Weddle and John Ramirez handled the recording and Tony Hartman did a three camera shoot and the digital editing to put it all together with Jamie's mixes. I bounce between acoustic, piano, electric and singing while Mike jams along on his pedal steel.  I had hoped to get 40 to 50 minutes of inspired playing and interaction to present to you, the audience.  Turns out we got an hour and 20 minutes of what I think is inspired, impromptu musical jamming that represents the concept as I've explained it.
      You'll see me presenting ideas on the spot to Mike, talking through the chords briefly and launching in to each piece. It's primitive, rough and inspired jamming that I feel and hope you as music fans will enjoy. I hope some of you decide to check it out. I'm very proud of this first, "Blind Date Jam" session and hope it leads to more of them. If you try it and enjoy it, please spread the word for us as this is an extremely grass roots, homegrown endeavor.  Thanks again to Mike Smith, Tony Hartman, Jamie Weddle, John Ramirez and Dick and Linda Bangham for their great help in getting this idea from my musical mind to our website to share.

CHECK OUT THE FIRST BLIND DATE JAM SESSION HERE 

         Peace and Believe. -  Nils  

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