John, Thanks much. It was a labor of love.

Geoff, Yes, Michael reminds me of Seals and Crofts, Christopher Cross and Steely Dan. This cd will be a remake of the best 10 or 12 songs from his earlier cds. Michael did most of his previous work playing everything or nearly everything. He makes up chords that are lush and full, often using tone clusters...combination of notes that defy the word "chord." I kept as much of his character as I was able.

Vic, Thanks, we've been doing this one song at a time for quite a while so I have no idea when we'll finish, but I will certainly announce when we do.

Colin, yes Michael wrote and sang this for his father.

Michael's songs all reflect his life, his ministry for the homeless, love of the ocean, and his relationship with God.

We work long distance. He and I decide which song from his previous albums we'll do. I do an arrangement with acoustic guitars, he sends back a scratch vocal. Then it goes to a friend's studio for basic tracking of drums, keyboards, bass and electric guitar. That comes home where I'll add other guitars, maybe re-do the bass and bring folks out for overdubs. On this song jpf member John Heinrich did three tracks of flute and two tracks of oboe. The oboe just didn't make it tonally. From the three tracks of flute, I pick and choose. The flute instrumental, for example, starts with a phrase that was played at a completely different part of the song and was moved a beat over in the measure. I'll also do things like that with the guitars.

Once finished, the tracks go back to Michael and he'll send me a vocal track. Sometimes I make suggestions and he'll send a new vocal track. In this case the first track did the deal. Then his track get's mixed in, processed, eq'd and given reverb and/or echo. Michael arranges his own harmony parts with rare input from me. Sometimes we add other vocalists for harmony or choir parts.

We work in mp3s over the net for all the work tracks. He sends me vocals on cd throught the mail. With other folks I'll send tracks through YouSendIt, DropBox, etc.

Thanks All,
Mike

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music