OUTRE TURNS 5 – TIME FOR NEW SCHMIDT SOUNDS
My solo bass CD Outre turns 5 this month and all that does is remind me how long its been since I’ve released music for it’s own sake.
Can you really be an “artist” if you’re not making art? Me thinks not.
To remedy that, here’s news on a few projects which will deliver new Schmidt sounds.
First -ASH ON DUST
Ash On Dust is a collaboration between myself and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Steve Uccello
I really like what Steve has been doing musically with his SUNG and CLARIFIED BIRDS projects (make music with his bass that’s not “bass” music) and wanted to explore what we could do together.
While we’re both bassists, we’re not approaching this as a “prove what the bass can do” type project. There’s plenty of that out there already and honestly, even as a bassist, I no longer care “what the bass can do” as a driving concept. I only care about what kind of music I can make.
This project is about mood, sound and vibe. It’s shaping up to be cinematic and textural. In other words, folded armed seekers of the bass shred will likely cringe with furrowed jazz/fusion sour puss face.
Since Steve and I both have a lot of other projects going on – we decided Ash On Dust is best suited for releasing single tracks – rather than an entire album or ep all at once. Ash On Dust will have it’s own Bandcamp page where tracks will be released as they’re completed.
There may be a total of 3 tracks. There might be 30. It may end in 3 months. It might go on and on and on. The tracks may all congeal into a thematically linked “collection” – or sound random and unrelated. We have no idea right now. We just want to make music and let that be the guide as to how much and how often. I’ll also invite other musicians to pop in to play on tracks and contribute where appropriate.
We should have the first Ash On Dust track ready for you on August 1st.
I’ll post/email about it here, and on the Ash On Dust site. So will Steve.
Next,
APOTHEOSIS
My Solo Bass piece “Apotheosis” only exists outside my mind as the most viewed Jeff Schmidt video on YouTube.
It was never intended to be part of Outre, but lots of people ask why it’s not on the CD. So, it’s time to record it and put it out.
Compositionally, the newly recorded version will be mostly the same as in the video, but I want to make a few minor changes.
The release will also include a handful of fancy Apotheosis re-mixes.
As difficult as Apotheosis it is to play, it’s just as difficult to re-mix. I’d like to get one more re-mix on this release. If you’re a competent and creative producer and into the challenge – let me know.
Serious inquiries only. I’ll need to hear samples of your production/remix chops. I’m trying to keep the quality high. This is not a good track for your first attempt at a re-mix.
Watch the video and ask yourself, “can I do a really cool re-mix with this?” If so, lemme know and we’ll get ya started. You won’t be remixing the video version, but the newly recorded version.
The project is tentatively titled APOTHEOSIS: DEVIATIONS
It will be available for download from my Bandcamp page around the end of summer.
Price: PBOAOSICIYT. (Pay Based On Amount Of Spillage It Creates In Your Trousers) Seems fair.
All proceeds donated to a local music education charity. Details to follow.
I’ll hit the email list and post about it here when it’s available – shooting for early September.
Finally,
SOLO BASS
I’ve been writing new pieces and will definitely begin to record and release them this year. I’ll have more details on that soon, but want to get these other 2 projects moving first.
That’s all that’s worth mentioning right now.
It feels good to be productive again and can’t wait to share with you!
word
–jeff
Glad to hear it Jeff and looking forward to hearing the new pieces!
SO. PSYCHED. You’ve just made my month.
Absolutely delighted to hear this news! I have a weird question, though. I’m a pianist, so I doubt any remix I do would be relevant for you, but I’ve been interested in trying to adapt “Apotheosis” to piano for some time. I have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to sound like Prokofiev, but who knows. At any rate, like you I work a day job, so there is no guarantee this will get done 1) before the end of the summer, or 2) at all. However, I’d love to give it a shot, and it would at least cut some time off for me if you could tell me if “Apotheosis” is a standard minor mode, Dorian, or Phrygian … or something else I’m not noticing. FWIW, I’m hearing it in Fm.
Thank you, and again — I’m really happy to learn that you’re still writing!
Hey Janis – I’d totally love to have a piano version!
It’s in F Phyrgian mostly. There’s only one section outside of that – the part on the video where it get’s all slo-mo 3/4 of the way in – in does an F, F# D, Eb pattern. If you’re seriously going to do it – hit me up on email.
I’m serious about wanting to, but I have to poke around a bit before I can tell if I’m serious about actually doing it.
The time issue is a thing, but there’s also the issue of translating the piece for piano while not losing its basic character. It’s a toughie — the area where fretless bass really shines is the same area where pianos are at their worst: thirds and fifths in the bass. I’ll keep you posted, but it’s probably going to take a while.
if I had piano chops, here’s how I’d approach Apotheosis. Play it at half tempo, make it more atmospheric, more beautiful.