This project has been a long time in the making. Though I’ve been composing and producing music for over thirty years, this is one of the first sincere efforts I’ve made to create an artistic statement of my own. It was inspired by my having observed the struggles and successes of many wonderful friends as they pursued their own paths in the arts. They have taught me that to be an artist is to let others have a close up look into your soul, and that is no easy thing to do. But like countless others, I have learned that in doing so one receives far more than one is able to give. I hope that this music will give you some of the joy that I felt in making it. I hope it will bring a little light into your day and that it will perhaps move you to pursue art on your own terms. I believe that we are all capable and deserving of having that in our lives at some level, and that very few things can reward us with the deeply felt satisfaction that comes from that pursuit. I hope that one day you pick up a pen, or a brush, or a guitar, or sit at a piano, or sing, and allow yourself to discover something new about your self and your world. I hope you enjoy it to the fullest and never look back. Remember Well is about those defining moments that come along unplanned and unexpected and leave us changed forever: the embrace of a lover, the loss of a cherished friend, a teacher's greatest lesson, the love of a favorite animal, a memorable family gathering, or perhaps the joy of climbing a trail or skiing down a freshly powdered mountain with lifetime friends. All these things and countless others like them mold us into who we are. They provide the richness in our lives, which without them might prove to be bland and sterile. So take a few minutes with this music and remember the moments and the people that made your life a little richer - a little brighter. Remember well. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Irish Prayer – My family has Scotch and Irish roots, having come to America in the 1700’s. This is the only song that ever came to me in a dream. It is the song of an Irish mother from days gone by who sat in her humble cottage at night and prayed for the safety of her son who had gone off to war. It starts with single notes that sing all by themselves – something I learned from a truly special teacher a long time ago. You Were Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson made this a chart topping hit in 1982 and went on to sweep the 1983 Grammys with Song of the year, Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance. It was only recently that I discovered that the song was written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson and first released by Brenda Lee in 1972. Willie’s version made a big impression on me, and after a lot of attempts I came up with this version. I hope that Willie and the writers will be pleased. On Golden Pond – I’ve been a fan of Dave Grusin and his brother Don longer than I can remember. When I first heard his theme for On Golden Pond I was completely captivated by it. His beautiful melodies, sophisticated harmonic language and elegant use of space created a tapestry that perfectly fit the film and made it a piece I’ve always enjoyed and wanted to play. When I finally got around to it there was nothing I wanted to change – just a few adjustments to adapt it as a solo piece. Thanks Dave, for a lifetime of inspiration and great music. Spring Song – This was a piece I toyed with for a decade, and finally discovered the ways I wanted to develop and expand it to completion. It has moments that are light, some that are stormy and others that feel like things are finally looking up. After a long struggle for a title I realized that it reminded me more than anything of our springtime Colorado weather. The Very Thought of You – Beth Avedis delivers a stellar performance on this, the only vocal cut on the album. Beth is a tremendous singer, an artist, entrepreneur and friend, and I’m so pleased she could lend her time and talents to this 1934 standard by Ray Noble. Beth’s husband Steve is co-producer and engineer of this record and one of my oldest and dearest friends. A big thanks to them both for the contributions they’ve made to my work. Everything I Do, I Do It For You – Canadian rock singer Bryan Adams co-wrote this song with “Mutt” Lange and the gifted and prolific Michael Kamen for the 1991 film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The song spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard 100 and was also a huge success in the UK and Canada. It seemed to fall under the fingers well and I had a good time coming up with this rendition. Il Postino – This is a very simple but irresistible melody from the Italian movie of the same name. The movie tells the story of the Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, and his friendship with a simple postman who comes to love poetry. “Writer/star Massimo Troisi postponed heart surgery so that he could complete the film. The day after filming was completed, he suffered a fatal heart attack.”(Wikipedia) Maybe that tells you something about the allure of art. Portrait of Gretchen – A long time ago I was tasked with doing an underscore for a film that included a scene with a beautiful painting of a number of a girl’s personal articles – her brushes, combs, hair ribbons, mirror, ballet slippers, etc. This piece was my response to the painting. Some time later I was able to meet the artist and asked what the meaning of the picture was. The story he told me was that he had a daughter who was mentally unstable, and one day she simply vanished without a trace. The painting was his method of dealing with his grief. Wherever you are, Gretchen, I hope you are still dancing. Homeward – This is the oldest of my compositions in the collection, and in truth, one composed for a corporate show. But it was, nevertheless, for a subject that was both tender and hopeful and I put my heart into it. Few things I have ever written have elicited as much of an emotional response from listeners as this piece. Roundup – I have lived for many years in Colorado, a state known for mountains and skiing but also for a rich western heritage of cowboys and cattle. I wrote this piece to capture my vision of those days of riding herd on the prairie. It’s also an homage to two of my heroes, Aaron Copland and Dave Grusin, who in large measure defined the “sound” of the old west.