The cliché that time flies is certainly true here…More than a little burnt on the ‘industry over art’ reality of the otherwise vibrant city of Los Angeles, the Quartet finally wrapped up our fourth full-length album in late 2005. Jack Faith (lead guitar and some gorgeous back-up voice) and his family were moving to Maine of all places, and my wife and I had decided to pack up and head north with our daughter. My intent at the time was to get settled in the small town of Mendocino, and then set my sights on finding a label to release this album which I had aptly named “Round About Way.” Innerstate Records, Evangeline, and Trocadero, the labels that had release Volume 2 and Tercero had shut their doors (a sign of things to come in the independent label world). I did the due diligence of sending the record out and about, but to no avail. Some interest here and there, but nothing concrete, and usually involved more of a financial investment from me than I could muster (having come off the credit card financed recording – the quartet records analog (on tape) which is pricey to say the least). Then…time flew. Each year would come and I’d think “OK, I’ll put the record out this year.” Then the struggle of raising a family, an emerging ‘other career,’ and next thing you know almost seven years has gone by. Over the years, however, I have many a time reflected on the honor it has been to work with such talented and passionate musicians – the quartet: Mike Taklender (drums), Jim Cheydleur (Bass) and Jack Faith (guitar/vocals); not to mention Neil Halstead, Raymond Richards (guitar, pedal steel, and a whole bunch a-other instruments), as well as players Greg Vincent, Ken Baggott, Phil Sparks, Joe St. John, and a host of others. Throwing honest art into the world is no small task, and rarely ever done without a group of like-minded artists who can dive in full-heartedly into what they do.
So. Here we are, 2013. The quartet website has been completely re-vamped for the first time since the release of “Tercero” and the design of “Round About Way” has begun. My life has taken some odd turns over the last few years. I apprenticed and learned to be a letterpress printer, and run a business with my wife and graphic designer, Lisa. My family expanded with the birth of twins in 2009. I became a certified nutritionist/weight management coach (Transitioning to Health) and, I wrote a book which got published and just hit stores this week. And yet….I may have left music for a while, but music has definitely not left me, nor will it ever. Words and music still come to me whenever and wherever, and a new song is in the works for the first time in a while. My children are a bit older now and I find myself with more time to think, create, and play. Mike, Jim, and Jack (who returned to LA) are still in Los Angeles, and we are talking about doing some shows around the release of our fourth album, so stay tuned. I am proud of “Round About Way.” It is the manifestation of a group of artists who have grown together and achieved an authenticity that rings true in the words and music we created.
Here are a few tracks from the forthcoming album …