Go Home

Here is the first record on my new label, BAG Production Records (BAG 001). The band is Charlie Hunter, seven string guitar Scott Amendola, drums Ron Miles, cornet and G Trumpet Ben Goldberg, clarinet Charlie, Scott, and I had been talking for a few years about recording together, and saw an opportunity when Scott and I would be at the Jazz Standard in New York for a week in April, 2008. Ron Miles was in town with Bill Frisell, and he joined us for two days at the Bunker studio in Williamsburg. I provided the tunes and a lovely time was had by all. Later, when I was thinking about it, the name Go Home came to me because the sound of the group is so direct and honest that for me it goes back to when I was little and music hit me so hard. Also, in Get Back on Let It Be, which I listened to a lot back then, I believe Paul says "go home." This CD combines the studio session with some tracks from a live recording made by Jeff Cressman at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, California in the fall of 2008. I think the cd captures the unique spirit of the group, with inspired performances, unstoppable grooves, and a beautiful sound throughout, thanks to Mark Orton's mix and mastering by Jon Cohrs of Spleenless Mastering. Molly Barker took the photograph on the cover and Lynda Nakashima designed the package to create a lovely debut for BAG Production Records.