exposed

The first annual Los Angeles’s own jazz festival lined up with local favorites of musical groups and artists alike. I was excited to go. A lot of people I adore were playing. I didn’t expect to run into so many people I used to know, sorta know, and should have already known. It was a sweet family friendly (but not in a lame way) event. 

Well, I just failed to find any photos from this day. This is incredible. I DID take pictures, didn’t I? I know I did some footage I haven’t gotten around to editing yet. I’ll just install a placeholder here until further notice.

I only heard of this band Xiu Xiu because my dearest bassist friend Devin Hoff had joined them last year. They finally were in town for a show, I was looking forward, as always, to hang with Devin.I wanted to see this group purely in the context of the Devin’s world. So far my view was only limited to his involvement with Nels Cline Singers. On drums/percussion was Ches Smith, the drummer Devin has the Good for Cows band with were also in the band. I met Ches on a couple of occasion but never really acquainted with him personally. Only by associations and word of mouth, I know that Ches and Devin are definitely a force.

The Echo venue has never been an ideal photo location for me. There’s no way for me to get a good angle without bringing a ladder. Even that, the lighting is poor – even at my standard. The most I could do was to only focus on the person with the most lights, usually it’s the leader of the group. Drummers never get any lighting love in this place.

Xiu Xiu - Jamie

Multi instrumentalist Caralee

Xiu Xiu Jamie

Devin Hoff working the merchandise table

sudden duty of watching the merchandises

Nels listens to the playback

Going into this recording session, I knew immediately I was in on a very significant project. With my busy schedule of working full time, training afterward for a few hours each day, I still managed to show up to this most nights except the first one when Jon Brion and a ton of others were on the one day/side A session. But for the rest of 7 days, luckily for me, sessions like this go on a little late.  As long as I can physically reach the studio couch in Burbank, I’d be fine & happy.

Nels Cline in recording session

Nels was commissioned to write 39 pieces of music to accompany a series of painting be Ed Ruscha. It is to be released in 2 CDs along with the reproduction of the paintings in a form of a book. David Breskin – producer/poet – was writing poetry for each piece of painting. Musicians Scott Amendola, Devin Hoff, Alex Cline, Vinny Golia, Dan Clucas, Jeff Gauthier, Jessica Catron, Jeremy Drake, Brad Dutz, were the ones I caught up with. 

It has to be one of my favorite moments of the year.

Jeremy Drake's hand and guitar

Jeremy Drake - guitar

Jessica Catron on Cello

Dan Clucas on trumpet

Devin Hoff - bassist

Jeff Gauthier - violin

Alex Cline - percussion

Scott Amendola - drums

studying the chart