Bubblegum Blues

In this track I'm playing cross harp in B (a Blues scale) against a backing track in B minor. The more major feel of the blues harp scale of the solo creates a tension against the minor backing track, and the harp is one of the higher pitched harps - so that when played at a faster tempo, like in this track, it creates an edgy, nervous kind of feel.

It's like what a kid would want to hear after drinking a 12 pack of Mountain Dew. This can be effective after a slow, "throaty" song. I call this stuff "Bubble gum Blues". It's for the kids more than us old folks. Myself, I'm like " you can't dance to that".

Anyways, I'm just jamming, then turning it into a MPEG file, and downloading it to this page. I was having too many problems with the movie making software, so I got some new software, Sony Vegas Studio.

Hopefully, this means I can cut down on how long it takes to make make a clip - it's ridiculous to spend 10 minutes practicing a track, 3 minutes recording a track, and 3 hours trying to get it in a movie format - this only took about a half hour to put together after I ran the setup program.

The Black Keeshond is Casey, and I'm doing going to be recording a memorial album for her (Casey passed away at 14 on Oct 1, 2007), and I have a number of dog-related songs I'm going to put together to make this CD.

Anyways, I have a web page, if your interested: http://glennbowen.biz/index.htm

and an email: glennwbowen@hotmail.com

Later,

Catfish

Still Jamming after all these years

Like I said last time, I'm going to use a rhythm machine for the
backing tracks on a CD I'm going to record - so I'm just playing
around with it -to get used to it, and sort out some recording issues
(not that I'll ever advance much beyond hit record and hit stop -but
I can play around with the audio quality of what gets recorded).
So here is my latest effort - total time to make (including slide show -under 2 hrs
(to quote Arlo Guthrie - I'm not proud, or tired).
I'm recording from the rhythm machine direct into a digital recorder,
and playing the harmonica right into the recorder too, using the old
Turner/Schure mic that I always use plugged into an instrument jack.
I'm playing in A
As always - email glennwbowen@hotmail.com
website: http://glennbowen.biz/index.htm
Later,
Catfish

Another Solo CD

So I'm going to make another solo CD, and to pick up the tempo, I bought a new DR-880 Rythm machine yesterday. I'm just jamming on a tin whistle, and using a hand held tape recorder, so the audio quality is pretty miserable -but for ten minutes effort - what the heck. It's energetic, at least.

I wanted to just upload it as a .wav file, but that's not an option on this blog (it has to be a picture or a movie, not an audio file) so I spent the next four hours figuring out how to make the damn thing into a movie - anyways I don't think Hollywood's going to be calling any time soon.

The black Keeshound is Casey, my old dog -she passed away back on October 1st, and the CD is going to be a memorial album to her life, mostly, along with some other stuff.

I've given up on getting other musicians to record on my solo CD's. I know drum/bass track machines are totally bogus, but hey, unless you're a drum or bass player who want's to record on the CD, don't give me grief about how I get some backing so that I can do what I do - Jam.

I haven't stopped playing the Blues harp, but sometimes, like on this track, I screw around with the tin whistle.

Anyways, I had fun with it. As always - you can contact me at glennwbowen@hotmail.com

web page: http://glennbowen.biz/index.htm

Later,

Catfish Bones