All That I Got

The first month of a new year and I'm already finding the project difficult. This is a song I've had for years. I've always had a very clear vision for this song. I have saved this tune because I have always seen it as the first song on a CD, the first song in a live set or a January Calendar Song. I pictured it being very folk. A sparse recording with a live feel. I wanted the song to serve almost as an intro to the song I plan to do next month.
I've been toting collaboration as a guaranteed "super fix" of my stuff. This year started off as a lesson that that is not always the case. No fault of Bluesman Jay's of course. The song has been around so long and I had such a clear vision of how it sounded in my head. I think this song would have been more suited for a calendar year I do solo. There was no way of conveying what I was thinking to Jay. It's hard to describe a sound. He tirelessly reworked the ending several times and we still ended up scraping it. His harmonica is great, his vocals are great and his guitar playing is great. We just couldn't get that F***ing outro.
My initial take was slow. I play a bum bass note. I goofed the lyrics. The reality however, is nobody ever heard the song in my head. Nobody will think it sounds "off" because I'm the only one who ever heard it "on." Bluesman Jay did great. The other lesson is I need to enjoy what it became, even if it wasn't my original vision. The end product is still a nice Calendar Song. I'm ready for a years worth of lessons collaborating with my best friend. I'm posting this song in it's new "realized" virsion because it tought me a lot. Not just because it's the end of the month and this is "All That I Got."

All That I Got

The Calendar Project 2011

Year Five!
It's hard to believe. Time really does move very fast. I want this year to be special. I really thought 2009 was great. That year I collaborated every month and it made for a better project. My favorite parts of 2010's posts were other peoples contributions. So quite simply, to make 2011's Calendar Project special I need to collaborate.
I don't want to just rehash 2009. I need to collaborate differently this year. Having said that this years approach is to collaborate with the same person every month. I will share the project this year. I'm giving my partner equal creative control. By staying open and given my collaborator an equal voice I'm hoping to get a better product in the end.
I also want to show more of behind the scenes. Using the rest of the website I plan to post videos and pictures of the process. That includes writing, recording, and correspondences between us.
My collaborator had to be somebody that not only do I work well with but someone who has a vested interested in the Calendar Project. My partner this year has appeared on every year of the blog. I'm excited to announce that this year the Calendar Project will be a joint effort between myself and none other than...
drum roll please...

Jeremy "Bluesman Jay" Halsdorff

Jay will bring not only his music sensibility, which includes his skills as a producer, arranger, song writer, guitar player, vocalist, harmonica player, and drummer, but also his deep commitment. Our 30 year old friendship is at the heart of this collaboration. His involvement renews my drive making a monthly deadline possible for the fifth year straight. I'm looking forward to the best Calendar Project ever.