what’s bin ‘appening then?

I have mentioned before that I have been involved with a very cool Bluegrass project for a while now and we just released a recording of a five songs for both download and as a hard copy CD. The Band is called The Trips and features some great players and a few ‘guests’ from time to time too. Here’s a link to the band’s website if you are interested in finding out more. THE TRIPS. We are also in the studio recording a full length album which is still in progress.
Buy the Trips CD here:

I have also had the pleasure of producing a couple of great female artists in the past few months something I really love to do. It sure was good to be in the studio with some great players.  One of my passions to to record and I am proud to have been asked to play on a few great country music recordings recently which have done really well. One for a great Duo called Twin Peaks and also for a fine writer and singer called Joanne Stacey. Both these projects were produced by the legend who is Barry Mathers of the Cruzero’s.   It’s been good to hone the dobro skills for those projects and to feature with some of the finest roots music players in BC.

Thanks for stopping by and for your kind interest in my music.

Here’s a clip of me with The Trips performing recently:

Here’s a fun video I made one night especially for my wife.

Brand New Recording

What better way is there to spend a cold winter’s evening in Canada than recording music with a few friends?  I had been asked if I would like to participate in a recording project at Kelowna’s Arts and Tech college (KATO) with young engineer Nathan Peacock.  I called up my good friends Dave Moore (bass) and Dylan Ranney (drums) and they joined me on the session which had to be completed in one evening; quite the feat given that  they had never even heard the tune before!  We went over the song a few times and before you could say funky we were recording.  Time was tight  and we had to overdub the guitar solo in a mad rush before the janitor locked up the place.  Often the best creative stuff happens under pressure eh?

The video I made by turning the laptop upside down using the onboard camera to capture some cartoon doodling.  I went to bed very late that night but what fun it was to do something creative  just because I wanted to.

Hope you like the song.

You can purchase a download of “I’m in Love With You” here:

Harping On

One day our Son Aaron announced that he was interested in learning to play the harp.  At first I thought great, we have a Sonny boy Williamson in the house at last, but no he meant the Celtic Harp! Well even though I was pretty taken a back I did as any good dad would do, I tried to accommodate for his passion to learn an instrument by helping him get a small Shepherds Harp and got him an ‘explorative lesson’ with the best teacher in our area.  It was pretty amazing how quick he picked it up and really got into it.  He has been taking lessons now for about a year and a half and has done a few local gigs and festivals even accompanying touring artists occasionally too.

Building Harps

Along with his interest in playing the Harp Aaron also has a keen interest in building them. His teacher’s husband Daniel is a master builder, and when he offered Aaron a chance to build one with him he jumped at the opportunity.  Working 9 hour days through his school holidays he has come along way with the build.  He busks at weekends to save the money for the hardware needed to complete the build.

Detail - front of the Harp
Detail – front of the Harp

He was encouraged to start a community funding project to help raise the last money needed to complete his harp and at the time of writing this he is 1/3 the way to meeting his goal of $1500.00 thanks to the generosity of others who are inspired by his passion for the harp.  If you are interested in taking a look at what he is doing and perhaps would like to invest in what he is doing you can follow this link Aaron Ord Music.

Aaron's Harp build1
Harmonic Curve of Aaron’s Harp

I am so looking forward to hearing the music that comes out of his own handiwork.  It is so rewarding to see your kids following their passions, especially when they are so positive and life giving.

Thanks for your interest in my music.

www.aaronord.ca 

 

The Trips

The Trips L-R Jesse Padgett, Shamma Sabir, Joshua Smith and Graham Ord.
The Trips L-R Jesse Padgett, Shamma Sabir, Joshua Smith and Graham Ord.

I have been working with a great bunch of musicians in our town in the past few months and exploring Bluegrass music a bit which has been so much fun!  We are writing some original tunes as well as taking some songs we all know and love and giving them a Bluegrass/Alt country treatment.

The band consists of Jesse Padgett on Banjo, Joshua Smith on guitar, Shamma Sabir of fiddle and yours truly on Guitar. Us three lads all play the upright between us too.  Here’s a sample of some of the music we are exploring together. We recorded it at Bottega Farm Inn Studios in Kelowna and we just all played together and pressed record.

 

 

 

The Trips – Hallelujah I love her so.

Elvis is in the doghouse

I Just had to post about this…A while back I got hold of a really sweet Doghouse (upright double Bass). I have been learning to play it as part of a new Bluegrass band I have been putting together with some good friends. The band is called The Trips’ and we are starting to do a few gigs in our area.  Anyway back to the Bass!  Every instrument needs a name right? so I called the bass Elvis!  not sure why it just seemed to fit it’s character.

Elvis the Bass in the early stages of being painted.
Elvis the Bass in the early stages of being painted. (C) HeArt School 2013

One of the guys in the band Jesse Padgett is not only a great banjo player but also a fine artist as well. He asked if he could paint Elvis on the back of the bass. I was a bit apprehensive at first cos I didn’t know what to expect, but after he showed me his vision I asked him to go nuts and paint it. The result is quite stunning. A full size painting of Elvis Presley Singing into a mic while playing the guitar. It is stunning!  We are now looking forward to performing with Elvis and showing him off to more of his adoring fans.  Not many people can say they have been in a band with Elvis, but I can now.

The Bluegrass band “The Trips” consists of Jesse Padgett – Banjo and Bass, Joshua Smith – Guitar and Bass, Shamma Sabir – Fiddle (with no Bass!) and yours truly on Guitar, Mandolin and Bass.  We all take turns to sing.

Jesse Padgett is part of ‘HeArt School’ in Kelowna BC.

Elvis the Bass
Elvis in the Doghouse (or on the doghouse perhaps?)
(C) HeArt School 2013