More about the people involved with this project!
Armadillo Swing Band
In April 2017, a sax player I knew invited me to audition on bass for a swing band of about fifteen musicians, including saxophones, trumpets, trombones and the rhythm section. All the songs had written arrangements. Although it had been a long time since I had read music, they invited me to join them. It was a big step for me, I improved a lot as a bass player and entered a world of talented jazz musicians. And I realized the power of written arrangements to quickly learn new music, without a lot of rehearsing.
Michael Brown - Keyboards
I really like Michael’s expressiveness, particularly on the piano. I’m disappointed when I go hear a band and I feel that the musicians are holding back. Michael brings a lot of creativity to his playing, especially on the songs that are piano features like « Chita » and « I’m Still Loving You ».
Frank Cano - Keyboards
Frank Cano is an Austin-based keyboard player originally from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. With a bachelor’s degree in choral studies and classical piano performance, as well as a master’s degree in jazz studies, Frank has flourished into a multi-faceted musician whose expertise spans a wide spectrum of genres, including Latin pop, salsa, and Top 40’s. A talented freelance musician, his skill set includes piano, bass, music education, choir direction, arranging, and music production. He has a deep understanding and appreciation for the diverse facets of the art, and brings a certain intensity to the music he performs.
Ulrich Ellison - Production, Guitar
I first saw Ulrich when he was playing with the singer Patricia Vonne at the Continental Club in Austin. I had written a song and was looking for someone to help me with the recording, I talked to Patricia and she recommended Ulrich. He had a studio in a sort of bungalow near a train track, but it was quickly evident that he was a musical genius. Originally from Austria, he now lives in Ankara, Turkey, but I continue to work with him and rely on his deep knowledge of music and his talent in production.
Eric Hargett - Saxophone
While Eric Hargett’s main instrument is saxophone, this versatile musician is also proficient in piano, bass, clarinet, flute, guitar, and vibraphone. He can play in an array of different genres as well, with a master’s degree in jazz composition and experience playing rock, pop, classical, and ‘70s jazz fusion. A native Texan from Houston, Eric’s professional journey took him to Austin where he joined drummer Gerry Gibbs’ Thrasher Sextet and Big Band, a pivotal mark in his career that led to his affinity for the baritone sax. His commitment to innovation, coupled with his palpable passion for music and technical prowess, contribute to his success as a dynamic instrumentalist and composer.
Brennan Howell - Drums
Brennan Howell has called Austin his home since 2015. Born and raised in Colorado, Brennan’s career as a percussionist began after his original career path in rodeo came to a halt following a bull riding accident that made him reconsider his future. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in music, Brennan moved to the live music capital of the world: Austin, Texas. He has crafted a reputation as an electric and versatile percussionist, navigating diverse musical styles with ease, including jazz, rock, pop, and country. Having performed on stages around the world, Brennan has settled in Austin to not only further his career as a musician, but to also become a leader in musical education, turning his students into talented drummers garnering high marks in several acclaimed competitions. When he isn’t working, he is adventuring with his impressive pack of 17 dogs.
Justin Douglas - King Electric Recording
Justin Douglas is a seasoned audio engineer and owner of King Electric, a renowned music studio in Austin, Texas. He discovered his passion for recording while in high school in Jakarta, Indonesia. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Justin’s career took off in Montreal, where he worked on big pop records under the mentorship of some of the industry’s biggest producers. His unique approach involves identifying and manipulating the relationship between sound and emotion, putting the song at the forefront. His portfolio includes thousands of recordings, several that became Grammy winners and multi-platinum records. Beyond his studio work, two significant achievements include being a contributing writer for Tape Op magazine, where he strives to reflect music’s positive impact on health and the world, and being a dog owner to Penny and Nola, who enjoy making appearances at the recording studio.
Barry Joe Birch McCreary - Drums
I know him as Joe – he has been on the drums since I started this project. An amazing reader, he really keeps it together, across any kind of time signature change. He doesn’t just follow, he leads, it’s like having a conductor !
Much2Much (Erin Thelen and Angie Holliday)
Angie Holliday is a swing dancer, that’s how I got to know her. I learned that she was a singer, along with her partner, Erin Thelen, and that they had a band called Much2Much. At that time, I thought I would mostly write and produce songs, that I would record with different singers. I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for. When I heard the clarity and sweetness of their voices, and their perfect intonation, I found their tone to work very well with what I was trying to do musically.
Trippiesteff - Images
I found Trippiesteff by chance on the web site Fiverr, where you can get various types of artwork done by contract. He’s based in Berlin. I find his images amazing, and that they really fit with the songs that I write.
In his own words: “I grew up in the 90s in a small village in southern Germany near the Swiss Border and went from there to Berlin where I studied Illustration. Since then I’m working as a freelancer, travel a lot, play guitar myself. I did motor bike drive from Colombia until Bolivia. My art is influenced by 90s cartoons I watched as a kid, 60s psychedelic art and comic magazines. “
Tiery F - Loïs & Clark - Music Production
Tiery F is the music side of Loïs & Clark, a production company based in France, who I was introduced to by a French friend.
From artistic direction to the creation of specific musical content, Loïs & Clark anticipates and responds to a multitude of needs in terms of sound and musical design, and advises and designs global musical strategies and supports its clients in their deployment both artistically and technically.
Marco Antônio Santos - Guitar
Marco Antonio Santos is a guitarist, composer, and music educator from Minas Gerais, Brazil. With over 15 years of professional experience as a guitarist, Santos seamlessly blends jazz, funk, pop, and Brazilian music, drawing inspiration from diverse influences like Radiohead and Milton Nascimento. While earning his doctorate in jazz composition and a master’s in jazz performance from UT Austin, Santos contributed greatly to the success of the school’s jazz ensemble, who won Downbeat Magazine’s Award for Best College Jazz Ensemble in 2017. He has collaborated with an array of great artists, including Grammy-nominated Brazilian drummer Nene, vocalists Di Mello and Hilda Maria, and Austin’s own big band CWBB. Santos also chairs the guitar panel at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) as a passionate and dedicated educator of the arts.
