{"id":3815,"date":"2013-12-22T19:03:04","date_gmt":"2013-12-22T15:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blogblog\/?p=3815"},"modified":"2014-01-18T02:44:03","modified_gmt":"2014-01-17T22:44:03","slug":"improvising-with-prestons-new-band-koo-eex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/improvising-with-prestons-new-band-koo-eex\/","title":{"rendered":"Improvising With Preston’s New Band “Koo.eex”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Preston’s new band tentatively called “Koo.eex” L to R: Gene Tagaban, Clarissa Rizal, Bernie Worrell, Skerik, Stanton Moore & Preston Singletary<\/p><\/div>\n

Back in October on a Friday night, out of the blue, I received a text from Preston:\u00a0 “…will you be a back-up singer in my band?\u00a0 We will be recording a CD this coming December.”\u00a0 — \u00a0 “Huh? Like who does he think I am; a singer?\u00a0 What makes him think I can sing?\u00a0 He’s gotta be kidding….” —-\u00a0 So, I didn’t answer him.\u00a0 Four days later on the following Monday I got a call from Preston:<\/p>\n

“Well hey, Clarissa, uh,…did you get my text?”\u00a0 —<\/p>\n

“Yes.” —<\/p>\n

“Uh, well, what do you think? (and like how come you didn’t answer…!?)<\/p>\n

“What am I supposed to think?\u00a0 I do not recall ever indicating that I am a singer to nobody, like what makes you think that I can even sing, much less be a back-up singer in a band that is going to record it’s first CD!?”<\/p>\n

“Hahaha.\u00a0 Hey I remember those songs you sang around the campfire at the end of the two-week work session completing the glass and wood totem pole at Pilchuck…you blew everyone away…!”<\/p>\n

“Preston, that doesn’t count…those were dirty songs…!”<\/p>\n

“Yeah, well…it’s how you presented them,…it’s the way you sang.\u00a0 I want that kind of energy in my band…will you join us?”<\/p>\n

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One of Preston’s bass’<\/p><\/div>\n

Preston’s first love is music.\u00a0 Not glass blowing.\u00a0 How can I tell?\u00a0 He gets that look in his eyes.\u00a0 It’s that true musician’s look as if they are in another time and place; smiling inside out. \u00a0 I grew up with a musician.\u00a0 I’ve been around musicians.\u00a0 Some of my best friends are musicians and although some don’t necessarily “make a living” creating music, there’s that “way of being”….So for those of you who think Preston is a hot glass blower and that is his first love, you got it all wrong.\u00a0 I don’t care if the dude makes thousands on his work and thousands of art collectors have a piece of his work, his true love is music.\u00a0 Bottom line.\u00a0 —\u00a0\u00a0 But if you must check out Preston’s glass blowing website:\u00a0 www.prestonsingletary.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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Bernie Worrell on keyboards – check out Bernie Worrell website at:\u00a0 http:\/\/www.bernieworrell.com\/\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0 This guy is no ordinary keyboard player!\u00a0 He is all over the board!<\/p><\/div>\n

So Preston gathered together his friends, Gene Tagaban, Skerik and I along with two big name musicians (that at the time I didn’t know were big names), Stanton Moore and Bernie Worrell.\u00a0 For the past eight years, Preston had imagined putting together a jazz\/funk rock fusion band to record a CD.\u00a0\u00a0 He saved up money to do so; this December with the help of us buddies, he made his dream come true.\u00a0 The sound that came out of this band was so fantastic and fun, it blew all of us away!\u00a0 The music had become so much a part of me in just three short days, I barely slept.\u00a0 I began to understand why musicians “move to a different drum.”\u00a0 I began to understand why they stay up late into the wee hours of the morning.\u00a0 I also understand why some become drug addicts or are alcoholics or at least have a stiff drink before they go to bed.\u00a0 IT IS HARD TO GO TO SLEEP AFTER FEELING THE MUSIC IN YOUR BONES AND EVERY NERVE OF YOUR BODY!!!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holy cow!<\/p>\n

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Gene Tagaban on Native flute, Skerik on sax<\/p><\/div>\n

Who is that drummer, Stanton Moore?\u00a0 Gawd, the guy can drum.\u00a0 Like I thought my friend D.C. Duncan could drum and for the past 20 years I’ve always enjoyed D.C., but man, this Stanton guy is something else!!!\u00a0 When I got back home after the recording sessions, I saw D.C. and asked him if he knew Stanton Moore.\u00a0 He said “well, hell yeah, I have bought his CD’s and have made myself a better drummer through his instructions over the years, the dude is goooood!\u00a0 The guy is THE drummer of all drummers – like he is #2 in the entire world –\u00a0 Why do you ask?”<\/p>\n

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Stanton Moore on drums — check out the Stanton Moore Trio on youtube and if you are a drummer or wanna-be-drummer, this is the man to hang with; New Orleans born and bred – check out his website at:\u00a0 www.stantonmoore.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

So, we spent three days improvising songs.\u00a0 A total blast.\u00a0 These songs were based on traditional Native songs of the Northwest Coast; we started out with the chants, then the band would slide on in and take off! \u00a0 It was a honor to play with these guys; thanks for the invite, Preston.\u00a0 I have appreciated every moment in actual time and now in memory!<\/p>\n

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Preston begins with a traditional tune – notice the child-size Chilkat robe in the background – I’d weave when I wasn’t singing…<\/p><\/div>\n

Gene Tagaban has definitely made his way in the world with his storytelling and musical talents.\u00a0 I had no idea the extent of his talent until this recording session.\u00a0 He topped off these songs; he added so much depth and meaning.\u00a0 His contributions rounded everything out, like bringing the entire fusion together full circle.\u00a0 These are just my opinions folks, you do not have to believe everything I say here.\u00a0 Just make sure you buy the CD when it comes out by the Fall of 2014; it’s nothing like you’ve ever heard!<\/p>\n

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Gene Tagaban adds a story of Raven…walking along a beach…check out Gene’s website at:\u00a0 http:\/\/www.storytellingraven.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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Preston Singletary on bass<\/p><\/div>\n
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Bernie Worrell’s keyboarding hands<\/p><\/div>\n

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After the excitement of the first song the entire band played, Stanton and Bernie vigorously shook hands, honored to play with one another<\/p><\/div>\n

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Skerik on sax – this guy rips — Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed saxophonics.\u00a0 Check out Skerik’s\u00a0 FB page at:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/skerik<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

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In the sound room, Gene Tagaban, Bernie Worrell and Preston Singletary listen to the second day’s improv recordings<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sound engineer, Randall at the 1969 “board”<\/p><\/div>\n

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In the dining room kitchen, sound technicians and band members share home-made squash pie and baked apples hosted by Stuart, the owner of the “Avante!” recording studio – YUM!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Dinner at the Bitterroot Restaurant<\/p><\/div>\n

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After a fine day and night of playing together, and sharing a late dinner, Bernie Worrell and Preston Singletary share a bench and a smoke already reminiscing the “old days”…and the next project!<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Back in October on a Friday night, out of the blue, I received a text from Preston:\u00a0 “…will you be a back-up singer in my band?\u00a0 We will be recording a CD this coming December.”\u00a0 — \u00a0 “Huh? Like who does he think I am; a singer?\u00a0 What makes him think I can sing?\u00a0 He’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,20,19,29,50],"tags":[62,303,300,98,16,302,301],"class_list":["post-3815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-concerts-and-plays","category-travels-adventures","category-honoring-others","category-latest-art-projects","category-tlingit-cultural-events","tag-alaskan-artists","tag-bernie-worrell","tag-gene-tagaban","tag-northwest-coast-tlingit-native-art","tag-preston-singletary","tag-skerik","tag-stanton-moore"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3815"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3833,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3815\/revisions\/3833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clarissarizal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}