Recorded May 19, 2016 in a barn studio at Headlands.
Just about my last day on that California trip, I had celebrated John's 69th birthday with him a couple days prior. He and Megan made the drive to the barn studio where I'd had my first residency & we made these recordings together. A few days later I drove north. At the forty dollar motel, there was a dog in the room above me who howled and scratched at the floor all night. Like having my head in a cardboard box while someone rapidly scraped the outside of it with a fork. I wrote that to John when I got home, and then found out he'd had a heart attack the night after we played.
"Had a cardiac arrest Friday nite - two stints Sunday - stress test Monday - life vest today / Lots of drugs - hope to go home today / Still alive / You are great - playing was a lot of fun - hung out in Sausalito after our session"
John says he died I'm in no position to argue. Should have got these recordings published somehow earlier. I've had some excess moments during the corona pandemic and its attendant spectacular failures of civil society & nigh-invisible triumphs of mutual aid. Felt lucky to unearth, mix, & enjoy these pieces. John & Megan have kept in touch these months & we're all doing well enough all things considered. Their playing is a gift and it's my good fortune to have made these recordings with them.
This work was made possible in part with the support of Headlands Center for the Arts.
credits
released May 15, 2020
John Gruntfest: Saxophone, Other
Megan Bierman: Saxophone, Other
Brian Mumford: Guitar, Other
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