tag:isamumcgregor.com,2005:/blogs/newsNews2019-12-02T13:47:03-08:00Isamu McGregorfalsetag:isamumcgregor.com,2005:Post/66348962021-05-19T16:46:47-07:002021-05-19T16:46:47-07:00Spring 2021: What a Year<p>There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said about the last 15 months. We are definitely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and I couldn't be more thankful that live music is slowly starting to come back. It will take some time before the music community is at full strength, and we lost a big LA venue when the <strong>blue whale</strong> closed its doors at the end of December. But I am very excited to see how the music community will respond, and what new venues may appear to help fill that void.</p>
<p>Once you are comfortable, I urge you to go and see live music. Experience live music. We have never been more starved of what live entertainment provides, and I don't feel that we will ever be more appreciative than we are right now. The sense of community and brother/sisterhood that live music fosters is something beyond words, and I can't wait for all of you to jump back in.</p>
<p>As for me, I am slowly starting to pick things back up in finishing the album I was recording in January + February 2020. Lots of work left to do, but I am hopeful that I can release the record before the end of the year. Thanks as always to Steve Markarian and Ghost Note Records for being in my corner and keeping the engine moving.</p>
<p>Enjoy yourselves this year as best you can. Live music is back. And that's music to my ears.</p>Isamu McGregortag:isamumcgregor.com,2005:Post/62413992020-03-07T19:57:28-08:002021-04-21T09:34:34-07:00SPRING 2020: 4 Recording Sessions Down + Spring 2020 Baked Potato Residency<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/62536/ce604ce7d726e427f69a5ee79596a7a03d13f2ee/original/img-6725.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_medium" alt="" /></p>
<p><span class="font_large"><strong>THE RECORD</strong></span></p>
<p> Progress is being made on the new album, and my excitement just keeps growing exponentially with each recording session. Two LA sessions, one NYC session and a piano duo session in Montreal are all in the bag. 11 musicians have been included on the album, with 3-4 more left to go! One more NYC session is on the books for April, and then all the tracking will be finished.</p>
<p> I'm particularly excited to explore the editing process with this record. I know that in this day and age, it's more en vogue to focus on singles, soundbites, earworms - anything that is quickly and easily digestible. But I've always wanted to make a studio record that feels complete from top to bottom. Not just putting the songs in the right order, but crafting transitions, interludes, and the like. I know that there are still people out there that want to listen to and appreciate a record as a body of work, not just a collection of singles. And I look forward to hopefully meeting those expectations!<br> </p>
<hr><p><span class="font_large"><strong>THE BAKED POTATO</strong></span></p>
<p> In other exciting news, I'll be playing a 3-month residency at the Baked Potato, one of the coolest jazz clubs in LA (if not the world!) and a venue that has been dear to my heart since childhood. I grew up going to shows at this place, and when I was lucky enough to book my first show there in 2012, I recorded it for posterity - and it became my first album. I couldn't be happier to finally be setting up a semi-regular engagement at this club! We'll be there the last Monday of the month in March (30th), April (27th) and May (25th).</p>Isamu McGregor