Between Dreaming and Joy
Artist: Jeff Coffin
Release Date: August 26, 2022
Catalog Number: EUR0440
RELEASE DATE: 08.26.2022
TRACKLIST:
01) Vinnie the Crow [4:20]
JC - flute, bass clarinet, tenor sax, electro-sax
Jordan Perlson - drums/tambourine
DJ Logic - turntables
Michael League - electric bass
Nigel Hall - clavinet
Chris Walters - wurlitzer keyboard
Richard Aspinwall - electric guitar
02) Ruthie [4:04]
[Dedicated to Ruth Bader Ginsburg]
JC - flute, bass flute, soprano sax, tarogato, clarinet, bass clarinet, keys
Kris Myers - drums, cowbell, shakers
Jeff Babko - fender rhodes, prophet 5
Jonathan Wires - electric bass
Bob Lanzetti - electric guitar
03) Tip The Band [5:37]
JC - tenor sax, soprano sax, bari sax
Robben Ford - electric guitar
Keith Carlock - drums
Tony Hall - electric bass
Emmanuel Echem - trumpet
Ray Mason - trombone
04) In The Belly Of The Whale [5:18]
JC - bass clarinet, alto flute, bass flute, melodica, piccolo, clarinet, claps, percussion, shakers
Chester Thompson - drums
Felix Pastorius - electric bass
Bernardo Aguiar - brasilian percussion: pandeiro, berimbau, caixa, shakers, iron effects, surdo, timbal, seed pods, bass drum, sub drum, repique
05) Between Dreaming And Joy [6:15]
JC - tenor sax, soprano sax, bari sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, melodica, vocals
Marcus King - slide guitar
Stefan Lessard - electric bass
Keith Carlock - drums
Buddy Strong - B-3 Organ
Jennifer Hartswick - vocals
The Ice Cream Man - ice cream truck music
06) Spinning Plates [3:03]
JC - flute, bass flute, C whistle, soprano sax, bass clarinet, shakers, percussion
07) Behind The 8 Ball [5:03]
JC - tenor sax, soprano sax
Bill Fanning - muted trumpet
Derico Watson - drums
Vicente Archer - upright bass
Jeff Babko - echoplex, juno, MOOG, wurlitzer, ARP
Bob Lanzetti - guitar
08) Busting Out All Over [4:19]
JC - alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax
Derico Watson - drums
Alana Rocklin - electric bass
David Rodgers - fender rhodes, B-3 organ
Mike Baggetta - guitar loops
Jordan Perlson - congas, tambourine
09) When Birds Sing [4:12]
JC - bungee chair bass, clarinet, bass clarinet, vocals
Sarah Ariche - vocals, ngoni
Alana Rocklin - muted electric bass
Michael League - frame drums: riq, sumbati, moroccan, daf, doholla, buzz back
10) Bird & Magic [3:36]
JC - flute, bass flute, coke bottle, claps
Derrek Phillips - drums, shakers, tambourine
Chris Wood - upright bass, clapstick
Nigel Hall - fender rhodes, B-3 organ
TOTAL TIME: 45:47
All compositions by Jeff Coffin
Except Vinnie The Crow: Written by Jeff Coffin & Alex Clayton
PERSONNEL:
JEFF COFFIN:
SOPRANO SAX, ALTO SAX, TENOR SAX, BARI SAX, ELECTRO-SAX, TAROGATO, PICCOLO, ALTO FLUTE, BASS FLUTE, C FLUTE, CLARINET, BASS CLARINET, MELODICA, VOCALS, PERCUSSION, COKE BOTTLES
BASS: Vicente Archer, Tony Hall, Michael League, Stefan Lessard, Felix Pastorius, Alana Rocklin, Jonathan Wires, Chris Wood
GUITAR: Richard Aspinwall, Mike Baggetta, Robben Ford, Marcus King, Bob Lanzetti
DRUMS: Keith Carlock, Kris Myers, Jordan Perlson, Derrek Phillips, Chester Thompson, Derico Watson
KEYS: Jeff Babko, Nigel Hall, David Rodgers, Buddy Strong, Chris Walters
TRUMPET: Emmanuel Echem, Bill Fanning
TROMBONE: Ray Mason
BRASILIAN PERCUSSION: Bernardo Aguiar
MOROCCAN FRAME DRUMS: Michael League
VOCALS & NGONI: Sarah Ariche
ADDITIONAL VOCALS: Jennifer Hartswick
TURNTABLES: DJ Logic
RECORDING INFO:
Produced By Jeff Coffin
Mixed by Neal Cappellino & Dan Rudin/Nashville
Mastered by Adam Grover @ Sterling Sound/Nashville
Artwork by Jeff Coffin
Package Design by Robert Hakalski @ Visual Machinery
ALBUM NOTES:
From JC:
This recording wasn’t planned. It was a gift that came from the world essentially stopping in place in early 2020 and not fully continuing again for some time. Most of us went into silent, or stealth, mode and I was no exception. It was the first time in over 25 years that I had the time and resources to deep dive into my composing in a way that wouldn’t be interrupted by going on the road. I ended up with over 30 new tunes, I finished many older tunes, and ended up with 6 or 7 full records to release.
I never imagined I would compose a tune written from a bass line I played on a chair lined with bungee cords. I never imagined I’d have a Moroccan woman (Sarah Ariche) singing and playing an African Ngoni on a record. I never imagined I’d have Michael League (Snarky Puppy Bassist) playing Middle Eastern frame drums on a tune. I never imagined having Brasilian percussion (Bernardo Aguiar) on my music. What i DID imagine was getting the best musicians I know to make music together and I imagined it would be awesome - and it is!
The very first tune I wrote during this time is the title track, Between Dreaming And Joy. It’s an unusual tune for me, as are most of these, and I think it reflects what I was going through and the feelings around me and my family. Marcus King absolutely SLAYS me on this! His vibe and musicality really shine through and he was a joy to work with, as were all the musicians involved - an embarrassment of riches!
Another unusual aspect of this is that no one recorded in the same place. Usually there are at least a few of us in the same sonic space but not this time. To get the music to the musicians in a way that made sense to them was a challenge in itself and the order in which to record the parts was a jigsaw puzzle due to it’s many pieces and intricacies. But, we made it work and the results are stunning and I couldn’t be happier with the way everything turned out. I’m excited to share the rest of music with world as we move forward and I think you’ll find it’s every bit as unusual and interesting as this recording is. I don’t have a favorite tune or a favorite moment. It all holds my heart equally.
I listened, explored, improvised, sang, re-wrote, meditated, breathed, yelled, cried, balked, waited, and most of all, learned from this experience. I am deeply thankful for the time I had to compose and work on all this music. I am also profoundly grateful to have an incredibly strong and loving partner in my wife, Ryoko. She is amazing in every way. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all these heroes and heroines of mine who are part of this music as well. I felt like I was alternating between dreaming and joy the entire time and these incredible spirits were all there with me as we found our way forward, together from different places…
Releasing yesterday and circling overhead
The wind carries us with no clear place to land
Up over the treetops we have an ariel view
Gaining perspective and creating as we go
Not knowing which direction will the wind will take us
Strong, Sharp, Cold, Hot
Fierce, Calm, Agitated, Harmonious
The currents of life are akin to sound
Commonality binds us all in concert
Sharing unknown vibrations
And whether awake or asleep
We find ourselves in every moment
Between dreaming and joy
- jc