Saturday, March 15, 2014
Monday, December 23, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Bessie Lee Henderson
My mother passed on September 9, 6:00am CST. I miss her dearly.
I'm so grateful for the concert we had at the funeral. There wasn't much crying. Why? I wanted to celebrate her life. We had glorious singing by Kisma Jordan, awesome playing by John Douglas, Maurice Draughn, Nate Winn, and the Gabriel Brass Band. All my aunts said they had never been to a funeral like that before.
I'm ready to get back to blogging regularly now. She always said "I talked all day!" hahahah! Love you too, Ma!
I'm so grateful for the concert we had at the funeral. There wasn't much crying. Why? I wanted to celebrate her life. We had glorious singing by Kisma Jordan, awesome playing by John Douglas, Maurice Draughn, Nate Winn, and the Gabriel Brass Band. All my aunts said they had never been to a funeral like that before.
I'm ready to get back to blogging regularly now. She always said "I talked all day!" hahahah! Love you too, Ma!
Monday, July 8, 2013
Dream Come True: Maurica
I haven't blogged in a while. My mother has been sick. She's been situated. AMEN!!!
I recently recorded a great singer last month. She nailed the part of Pearl to a science on a song I wrote with Marcus and Steve called "Dream Come True" as if it was written just for her. You'll love her! Her name is Maurica Roland and SHE IS A BEAST!!!!!
I guess you'll want this blog to be a little longer.
Well, I needed a singer, I gave her a FB message. She said she''ll do the song. I drove to Nashville from Detroit (8 hours via Cinci). Recorded at 11:00am and we were done at 1:30pm.
That was it.
Love ya girl! I look forward to working with you in the future!!
Special shot-out to my brother, Dr. Bradford Mallory, for helping me pick the awesome takes on that song "Dream Come True"!
I recently recorded a great singer last month. She nailed the part of Pearl to a science on a song I wrote with Marcus and Steve called "Dream Come True" as if it was written just for her. You'll love her! Her name is Maurica Roland and SHE IS A BEAST!!!!!
I guess you'll want this blog to be a little longer.
Well, I needed a singer, I gave her a FB message. She said she''ll do the song. I drove to Nashville from Detroit (8 hours via Cinci). Recorded at 11:00am and we were done at 1:30pm.
That was it.
Love ya girl! I look forward to working with you in the future!!
Special shot-out to my brother, Dr. Bradford Mallory, for helping me pick the awesome takes on that song "Dream Come True"!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
How to write a composition or story Part Three
Really, this should be called,"Don't have an ego"
Preface:
I'm an emotional artist. I put some much into every note I compose, every phrase I arrange, and every word I write. Therefore, I become attached to everything.
Blog:
With that being said, GET AN EDITOR. Better yet, get an editor THAT WILL
1) Tell you the truth
2) Change words around i.e. reword a phrase THAT BETTER suits the audience
3) has an eagle eye!
A Pass is everytime the editor goes through it. You'll need MANY passes. AT LEAST FIVE!
That's right, FIVE. I've lost count. I've had to add backstory (Thank you, Althea) and more backstory (Thank you, Earl) and even MORE back story (Thank you, Dr. Amber V!)
I prayed for my editor. She was in my lap the whole time, my cousin Jasmine. She uses so much red ink we have to go to three different stores to keep it in stock. But guess what? She's GREAT at what she does.
Truth be told, I had people look it before Jasmine. Kanika, LaKindra, Earl, Shiron, and MANY others. DO THE SAME!! (If the Avengers, which earned a BILLION dollars [and they thought it would have made $500,000,000] can go through a rewrite, your manuscript can do the same!)
With this all being said, set a deadline. I've set a deadline for my birthday. No more rewrites. That's it.
But guess what, I had an ensemble of EXCELLENT previewers that caught things that made Jasmine's job a lot easier.
Remember, leave the Ego at the door.
Preface:
I'm an emotional artist. I put some much into every note I compose, every phrase I arrange, and every word I write. Therefore, I become attached to everything.
Blog:
With that being said, GET AN EDITOR. Better yet, get an editor THAT WILL
1) Tell you the truth
2) Change words around i.e. reword a phrase THAT BETTER suits the audience
3) has an eagle eye!
A Pass is everytime the editor goes through it. You'll need MANY passes. AT LEAST FIVE!
That's right, FIVE. I've lost count. I've had to add backstory (Thank you, Althea) and more backstory (Thank you, Earl) and even MORE back story (Thank you, Dr. Amber V!)
I prayed for my editor. She was in my lap the whole time, my cousin Jasmine. She uses so much red ink we have to go to three different stores to keep it in stock. But guess what? She's GREAT at what she does.
Truth be told, I had people look it before Jasmine. Kanika, LaKindra, Earl, Shiron, and MANY others. DO THE SAME!! (If the Avengers, which earned a BILLION dollars [and they thought it would have made $500,000,000] can go through a rewrite, your manuscript can do the same!)
With this all being said, set a deadline. I've set a deadline for my birthday. No more rewrites. That's it.
But guess what, I had an ensemble of EXCELLENT previewers that caught things that made Jasmine's job a lot easier.
Remember, leave the Ego at the door.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Production 101: Rhythm Section
The most influential album in my life is arguably Quincy Jones' Sounds and Stuff Like That. In the liner notes (written by Alex Haley) Q calls Anthony Jackson, Eric Tee, Phil Upchurch, and Grady Tate the greatest rhythm section in the world.
As a youth, this was the first time I had ever heard the term "rhythm section". And truth be told, this was an amazing rhythm section. I even learned how rhy. sections would record first in EVERY studio section. This means they have to be tight.
Things to remember:
1) Pick your rhythm section wisely. They MUST gel. If they don't, your recordings will reflect.
2) If you aren't rehearsing, make SURE they can READ!!!!!
3) Make sure they can play with a click track. Yes, I have played with some that can't. AARGH!
4) Make sure they can play the style you want to record. (Yes, some people try to get a church
drummer to play afro-cuban and songo and they've never heard of it..)
I have recorded my rhythm section with NO rehearsals. They came in a sight-read the charts to highest degree. I believe I have been blessed with the greatest in the world! Time for shout-outs:
I was blessed to have keyboardists Demetrius Nabors and Al McKenzie appear on four songs on "A Tale of Two Fools." Man, they are phenomenal!!!
Guitarists Duane Collins, Sandy Love, Wayne Goins added that flavor that every album needs! My wife's cousin, Don Vappie, will be recording soon.
Bassists Ibrahim Jones, Marcus Belgrave Jr, Bobby Scharmann, and Freeman Spills laid the groove done HARD. People will be copying your licks forever!
The last two people were crucial to this projects:
Damon Warmarck aka Basso Profundo: My friend since 1992. My brother, thank you for your musical expertise. You coming by to the house to record while I was taking care of my mom was priceless.
Last far from least, my friend forever, I thank you Nate Winn. Out of eighteen songs with drums, you are on fifteen. There is no way this project would be done with you. You are a complete drummer. No style is out of your league. You came in when it was just a piano, you, and a click track. We even came up with songs on the spot! Superb musicianship. The pocket is amazing. The fills were immaculate! This is why you'll forever be "Tightus Pocketus!"
As a youth, this was the first time I had ever heard the term "rhythm section". And truth be told, this was an amazing rhythm section. I even learned how rhy. sections would record first in EVERY studio section. This means they have to be tight.
Things to remember:
1) Pick your rhythm section wisely. They MUST gel. If they don't, your recordings will reflect.
2) If you aren't rehearsing, make SURE they can READ!!!!!
3) Make sure they can play with a click track. Yes, I have played with some that can't. AARGH!
4) Make sure they can play the style you want to record. (Yes, some people try to get a church
drummer to play afro-cuban and songo and they've never heard of it..)
I have recorded my rhythm section with NO rehearsals. They came in a sight-read the charts to highest degree. I believe I have been blessed with the greatest in the world! Time for shout-outs:
I was blessed to have keyboardists Demetrius Nabors and Al McKenzie appear on four songs on "A Tale of Two Fools." Man, they are phenomenal!!!
Guitarists Duane Collins, Sandy Love, Wayne Goins added that flavor that every album needs! My wife's cousin, Don Vappie, will be recording soon.
Bassists Ibrahim Jones, Marcus Belgrave Jr, Bobby Scharmann, and Freeman Spills laid the groove done HARD. People will be copying your licks forever!
The last two people were crucial to this projects:
Damon Warmarck aka Basso Profundo: My friend since 1992. My brother, thank you for your musical expertise. You coming by to the house to record while I was taking care of my mom was priceless.
Last far from least, my friend forever, I thank you Nate Winn. Out of eighteen songs with drums, you are on fifteen. There is no way this project would be done with you. You are a complete drummer. No style is out of your league. You came in when it was just a piano, you, and a click track. We even came up with songs on the spot! Superb musicianship. The pocket is amazing. The fills were immaculate! This is why you'll forever be "Tightus Pocketus!"
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