Back in August I had the sublime pleasure of playing an improvised show with two of my favorite musicians: Blair Sinta and Steve Moore. Blair was on tour and had a day off in Seattle, and the stars aligned that Steve was in town as well. I had played with both of them separately and had a hunch that it would a good thing for the three of us to improvise as a trio.
I don't think I was mistaken. It was a beautiful experience. I could go on for quite some time about Steve and Blair's depth as musicians...and maybe I should! Blair is one of the most beautifully dynamic drummers I've had the pleasure to play with. There's a breadth and width to his groove, a beautiful inhalation and exhalation that I find intoxicating.
Photo: Chris Harvey
In improvisational comedy there's a concept that I think is called "Yes, and...", which means basically that whatever idea your fellow performers present you with, you always respond with the positive "Yes, and..." because it cooperatively moves the narrative along. Steve is a "Yes, and..." musician of the highest order. Wizardly in both musical and beard-growing abilities, he's continually supporting and contributing to in profound ways that feel magical.
...which is a long-winded way of saying that I am really pleased to announce that Steve Moore, Dan Phelps, and Blair Sinta "eighttwentytwo" has just been released by Oceanographic Records. To quote the official text regarding the album:
"On August 22nd 2016 Steve Moore, Dan Phelps, and Blair Sinta improvised together as a trio for the first time in front of an audience in Seattle, WA.
This is a document of what occurred as they traveled into the very depths of the unknown, peeled back the veil of mystery, and exposed the ancient secrets of the universe."
You can find this recording (and my other work!) at Oceanographic Records's Bandcamp page, where you can stream it in it's entirety, or download the file type of your choice (I'm a fan of .WAV files...FIDELITY!).
I guess that about sums it up. I'm thankful beyond belief the moment was captured. I hope you enjoy it!
Time to get on the road to Portland. I'm playing at Fly Awake Tea Garden this evening. Come say hello! And please check out my upcoming tour dates.
My Warmest Regards, Dan.
