Description:
This CD is an homage to the “road trip”. Not only the literal road trip, but also the metaphorical “road trip” of life. We’ve learned a lot on both so far, but mostly we’ve learned that it’s never about the place, but always about the people. Much of this music was written and arranged on our cross country tour in the spring of 2004 and draws from the sights and sounds that we absorbed as we crisscrossed the US. We hope you’ll enjoy the ride...
"Chasing the Sun" also includes collaborations with, mandolinist, Butch Baldassari and, pianist, Robin Spielberg.
Liner Notes:
1. Tunnels - by Jonathan Adams
As a young boy, my family would travel from South Carolina up the east coast to visit my grandmother in West Virginia. Along this stretch of highway there are several tunnels as you pass through the mountains. As I would pass the time in the car I remember listening to the repetitive "bump, bump" on the road as we traveled. Now as Jenn and I travel I think back to those early trips when the road seemed to stretch on forever. This is dedicated to Nan Adams.
-Jonathan
2. Gringo Flamenco- by Jonathan and Jennifer Adams
Gringo Flamenco came from jamming and having fun playing flamenco/gypsy music. Some folks in Santa Fe said they wanted to hear more of our “flamenco” music; so, we started exploring this style of music and discovered that even two gringos like us have a bit of flamenco in our souls.
-Jenn
3. House of the Rising Sun -
guest artist- Butch Baldassari, Mandolin
“House” is one of the earliest, and most popular American standard blues tunes. On our cross-country tour, Jenn and I were lucky enough to hear a blues band playing this one in Memphis! We’ve enjoyed jamming on this one ever since. Here’s our take.
- Jonathan
4. Soulstice 21- by Jonathan Adams
Soulstice is my love song for Jennifer. We were married on the winter Solstice in December of 1997. I used to play this song for Jenn as a guitar solo, but I realized it wasn't really complete without the cello's voice.
-Jonathan
5. Xeroscape- by Jennifer and Jonathan Adams
The title Xeroscape comes from a type of garden. A xeroscape is a term used to identify a very minimalistic garden that doesn’t usually require much water and is often found in desert climates. These gardens are stripped down to very structural elements and each plant is important in the design. An example of an xereoscape could be a Buddhist meditation garden, which are sand with patterns formed in it and rocks and plants interspersed. I named this song Xeroscape because it is a very meditative song and the music is simple in some respects and very moving in others just like a xeroscape garden.
- Jenn
6. El Gitano- by Jonathan Adams
El Gitano is “The Gypsy” in Spanish. The gypsy music of the Iberian peninsula is a fusion of musical elements from the Arabic, Judaic and European cultures. This ultimately created the gypsy sound of the "flamenco". This is our take on that beautiful music. This song is in honor of the Gypsy in all of us.
-Jonathan
7. Message in a Bottle- by the Police/arranged Jonathan Adams
Any good road trip needs a great selection of music. Sting and The Police are a constant fixture in our player. “Message” is one of our favorites.
- Jonathan
8. Chasing the Sun - by Jonathan and Jennifer Adams
Are we there yet? Well, that’s the million dollar question isn’t it... Maybe it’s best just to enjoy the ride and keep chasing the sun.
-Jonathan
9. Canarios - by Gaspar Sanz
This popular tune for classical guitar is one of my favorites.
-Jonathan
10. Three - by Jonathan Adams
guest artist-Robin Spielberg, Keyboard
About a year ago, we started working with the pianist Robin Spielberg. Three was one of our first pieces for our trio. Probably the only thing more peculiar than a "guitar/cello" duo is a "guitar/cello/piano" trio! Needless to say there is not a wealth of "ready made" repertoire for this combo; so, I decided to compose this piece for our first rehearsal.
-Jonathan
11. Altman Boogie- by Jonathan Adams
guest artist-Butch Baldassari, Mandolin
My steel string guitar was made by Bob Altman of Colbert, GA. This is my ‘hats off” to Bob and was the first tune that came out of this guitar. Our friend Butch Baldassari sat in and added a bit of “mando groove” to this one.
-Jonathan
12. What are You doing the Rest of Your Life?- by Michel LeGrande
My grandma suggested this jazz standard to us, and boy am I glad! It is an ‘old standard’ that never gets old to me.
-Jenn
13. Ashokan Farewell- by Jay Unger
guest artist-Butch Baldassari, Mandolin
Jay Unger wrote this song for the fiddle at the end of the Ashokan Folk Music Festival as a goodbye to all his students and friends. However, Ashokan Farewell is almost synonymous with the PBS special called ‘The Civil War’ by Ken Burns.
The song was used throughout the special but in particular during a poignant reading of the letter from a solider to his wife at home before he died in battle. Ashokan Farewell worked it’s way into the hearts of all who saw the special, including me. Knowing that I liked the song, one day Jon bought me the fiddle music as a present and we have been playing it ever since.
-Jenn
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Credits:
Recording and Engineering by Jonathan and Jennifer Adams
mastering by Glenn Schick
Thanks to:
To Butch Baldassari and Robin Spielberg for sharing their musical talents.
To our parents Diane and Lloyd Packard and Andy and Catherine Adams for always believing in us. To my father Michael Thomas for the beautiful back cover photo he took. To Bob and Eileen Altman for their shared devotion to great music and the craftsmanship to make such a wonderful guitar. To Larry Kosson, our agent, for pushing us to be our best and supporting us. To Steve and Helen Corbin for keeping music a fun ‘business’ to be in.