COLOGNE, GERMANY
Sept 1

i was invited to Cologne Germany in August to record for the next Secret Rhythms album with
drum master Jaki Liebezeit (can) and Burnt Friedman (flanger, nonplace). i contributed guitar and composition to the last Secret Rhythms 2 album from a few years ago. Those sessions famously went on to David Sylvian’s studio and became a major part of the Nine Horses – Snow Bourne Sorrow album released by Samadhisound and featured one of my songwriting collaborations with Burnt and David – ‘The Day the Earth Stole Heaven’. All of my guitar parts for those two records were recorded in my studio in Philadelphia. So it was amazing to finally play live in the rehearsal studio with Jaki and Burnt. This was a first. During the 10 day visit, besides two rehearsals in Jaki’s drum studio for the Jazzsaalfelden Festival in the alps of Austria, I managed to track guitar parts and melodies at nonplace for two of the new tracks for the forthcoming record. Three more are now in my studio back in Philly in multi-track format waiting for me to add guitars this month. It was an amazing and fascinating 10 days working on the micro-rhythms in odd time, and delving deeper into subdivisions. Jaki was kind enough to share his ‘system’ of rhythm with me which is based on the morse code – the dot = 1 beat, while the dash = 2. all his beats can be notated using this system very easily. he feels this is the best system for notating rhythms. because of his system, it led me into seeking out additional information on the konokol system of indian music which i am now studying. there is a tremendous amount of insight to be found in both systems, as i feel they are related as well. the thing about konoko, is you can practice anywhere, and you don’t need your instrument, as it’s about singing the syllabic rhythms.
check it out.

meanwhile, our first performance together in Saalfelden was well recieved and was reviewed as one of the highlights of the festival. we are working towards touring in europe in 2008 after the release of the new album. more to come.
(((00)))