Well now. It’s October. How did that happen?
So what do we have for you this month you are wondering no doubt?
Item #1. There’s a new TD and the True Olympians project – Lisa and the True Olympians – “Frozen Darling” b/w “Crazy on You”. All-new versions of PNW classics by The Telepaths and Heart, featuring our beloved Lisa Ceazan on vocals. One plain weird and one just plain sultry.
What’s the scoop? Last January, coming off the marathon that was “Olympia: A True Story”, I was thinking what next? Hadn’t written a song since the previous May (a long time for me) and was not feeling inspired. At the same time, I figured I needed to do something to keep The True Olympians busy. I decided to take on a project I have contemplated for a few years, History Of Northwest Rock, Vol.2 (1970 – 1986), my follow up to 2015’s History of Northwest Rock Vol. 1 (1959-1968). I made a list of my favorite obscurities from that period, picked a few of those and started rehearsing the band to record them. I quickly lost interest and set the project aside, except for two songs. The Telepaths’ “Frozen Darling” and Heart’s “Crazy on You” (ok – not so obscure!), for which we cut basic tracks. Those two languished as I got involved in some other studio projects and the True Olympians prepared to play what were probably our last two shows (we are currently on an indefinite sabbatical). I finally got around to finishing them and here they are. I am most pleased with them. I think Lisa is fabulous on them. I am so pleased with them that I have decided to slowly resuscitate Vol.2 with Lisa as lead singer for the whole thing. That said, it will be a pretty casual approach to recording – there will probably be the occasional single or two before it ever becomes an album. I am hoping to complete a video for “Frozen Darling” this week.
Item #2. Strongbow. Strange Cathedral, the final Mystery School release, from 2013. As hasbecome my custom, I am listening to it for the first time as I write this.Here’s what Jon wrote about the album.
Life itself is a Strange Cathedral! This is a companion album to Secret Teachings. These two albums were developed together & they are linked thematically as well, but Strange Cathedral is the most eclectic of the two albums, featuring music from 5 different groups of musicians and work from 4 different studios! It was co-produced by the amazing Patrick Donicht (check out Unusual Tales) who also engineered all but 6 of the pieces. Patrick also plays most of the drums.Be sure to track down his amazing woodwind-driven jazz band Pocket Monkey. You will be glad you did! I’m also proud of the versatility of my other amazing engineer, Mehedad Azadi. He sat down and pounded out the rhythms necessary to complete 4 tunes, 3 of which appear on the album. Strange Cathedral was mostly put together at Patrick’s woodsy studio on Camano Island. Also of note is the great drum work of Scott Severson and the eccentric bass presence of Bill Bainbridge, and all hail the masterful fretless bass stylings of the mighty Martin Sutlovich. Long may he finger the fretless! Yours in service: Jon Strongbow
I asked Marty to bring this series home for us:
Mystery School was a unique group of individuals who came together simply for the love of music. Jon approached me with the idea to create a band to play his eclectic and electric instrumental music and there were no boundaries to what we could do. We shared a love for modern composers like Ennio Morricone, Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Many of our songs resembled soundtrack music for a movie. We routinely sampled sound effects such as camels snorting while crossing the Sahara desert and the Amazon rainforest with birds and creatures squawking and the sound of waves and ropes rubbing on the sides of a sailing ship. For example I wrote a piece called ‘High Noon’ which had the sound of lonely wind and actual tumbleweeds blowing down the street of some long forgotten ghost town in the Old West. It was all about creating a mood to take the listener on a journey to another place. We mixed most of our projects in surround sound which really creates an amazing experience through a good pair of headphones.
Some of the bands that inspired us were Weather Report, Shadowfax, Pat Metheny, Mark Isham, St. Germain, Thievery Corporation, King Crimson, Return to Forever, Frank Zappa, Mile Davisduring his ‘electric era’ and many more. Jon and I were in perfect sync in our tastes in music which were wide open. We listened to everything and wrote music with Middle Eastern flavors, Latin grooves, Afro beat rhythms, dreamy electronica and more. Jon’s music was like one of his giant stir fry dinners with a multitude of flavors and a blending of many different ingredients. The band would eat together before we played. It was really like a family when we were together. The music always flowed and there were amazing rehearsals that veered off in all different directions! We recorded every practice on cassette tapes. Jon’s flat had great acoustics and a natural reverb quality. So go now and enjoy our dream jazz and immerse yourself in it.
much love, Marty Sutlovich
This concludes our Strongbow series. We are most pleased to present it and hope you dig deeply into it for years to come.
That’s all I’ve got for you this month. Have a lovely Halloween!
td 10-5-23