John Raymond Pollard: Notes

A number of cuts from Character have been aired on internet radio broadcasts: Guantanamo, Family Values, The Recidivist (Hoosegow), My Only Vice Is You (I’m Addicted to Your Kiss), Non Sequitur, Fool on the Hill, and At Stake. Thanks to all the radio program producers and DJ’s for sharing the music with their listeners. I am enthused that so many songs are considered worthy of broadcast.

Last weekend was cold in New York as I was finishing up my most recent recording project. I arrived in Salvador, Brazil this afternoon, where the temperatures are in the mid 80's F.

While in Brazil I'll release Character for the South American market and I plan to work on a number of compositions.

Guantanamo (the song) -- the single from the Character album -- has been well received. It has been played on a number of radio broadcasts. I am pleased to announce that the single is now available from iTunes.

Meanwhile, the Character album is now available from CD Baby. The entire album as well as individual songs are also available from CD Baby and DigStation. In the future it will be available from other on-line retailers, including iTunes.

You can heck out sound clips of all songs at this site http://johnpollard.com/hostbaby/merge?stage=music and at CD Baby http://cdbaby.com/cd/pollard5

The entire album as well as individual songs are now available for sale from DigStation. In a few days CD's and digital downloads will be available from CD Baby. Downloads will also be sold by iTunes and a host of other on-line sites, so that people around the world will be able to buy the songs easily.
Download our music at DigStation.com

I left Bahia on Tuesday. Back in New York now, I worked with Michael Gilboe yesterday and today mixing songs for an album with the working title "Brasilience" planned for release during the second half of 2008. Things are sounding good to my ears. Fans who enjoy the my Brazilian and Latin influenced work will like this one.

Back in Brazil I await the manufacture of Character. In Rio de Janerro, master percussionist, Frank Colon ( http://frankcolon.com/ ), has completed recording the percussion for the final set of songs I have been recording over the past 6 months. When I get back to New York we'll continue recording.

Character is almost ready! We finished the mastering session with Mark Biorn Christensen of Engine Room Audio yesterday. You may have seen Bonnie Bartow Davis' cover art on the splash page as you entered this site. Justin Winslow (www.JustinWinslow.com) has designed the which includes lyrics to all songs.

Character, a soon to be album with 13 cuts that add up to 50 minutes of music, has been mixed. The next step is mastering, planed for November 7. And once mastered, the album can be manufactured. Graphic design is in process with a striking image by Bonnie Bartow Davis planned for the cover.

Recording for the soon to be album, Character, is complete. Now the m&m’s: mix, master, manufacture.

Most of the material was recorded in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan at Hell Studios. The Guantanamo track was recorded in Manhattan at Season of Light Studio, and percussion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at Music Solution Studios.

I thank all the talented artists who have added their fine work to make the songs come alive.

We are in the home stretch of recording for the new album, Character. In New York at the Hell Studios (named after my neighborhood, Hell’s Kitchen), Isabella Rose and Mary Edwards have added their vocal talents to a number of tracks. Way down south in Rio de Janeiro Frank Colon has been laying down percussion tracks at Music Solutions Studio.

A CD single, featuring two versions of Guantanamo is ready. Steve Sandberg produced a hard hitting (no pun intended) electronic version. an acoustic version was produced by Michael Gilboe.
You'll be able to get the songs digitally from iTunes. CD's will be ready this week.

Guantanamo will be included on the album, Character, planned for release late in 2007.

Labor Day weekend offers a welcome 3 day break form the routine for many Americans.

The unofficial end of summer offers an opportunity to reflect on what has happened during the past 3 months.

On the music front I have been recording a number of songs. They are shaping up with nice work from a number of talented musicians.

Hopefully we'll be ready to start mixing songs for the new CD in October.

My last two albums were Map of the AmericAs Linhas da Mao, which takes listeners on a one-hour vacation of the Western hemisphere, and Body Politik, which, a collection of songs with political themes.

Did these two albums do something when I was not watching? Their love child, a song titled “Guantanamo” is in the later stages of embryonic development and will soon be born as a single. The track, produced by Steve Sandberg, musical director of Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, carries a harsh, industrial tone – perfect for the theme. Please be patient as the new creation comes to life.

Since returning to New York from Bahia last month I have been working 3 days a week in the studio recording a number of songs for the next 3 albums. Bass and drum tracks have been recorded and I should finish my guitar parts next week.

Again I am blessed to work with talented musicians. Toshio Mana, who played bass on Body Politic and Map of the Americas, is back. David Acker is adding some wonderful lead electric guitar word. And Chaim Tolwin has done the drumming.

Steve Sandberg is producing one song titled Guantanamo. Michael Gilboe and I are producing the other songs.

I'll keep you appraised of progress.

A big thank you to everyone who came out last night to the Duplex to listen to me and the other members of the 21st Street Sessions songwriters' group. I had a great time performing, especially with everyone in the songwriter's group singing the W chorus on King George.

After almost 3 months in Bahia I returned to New York and began work on a new recording project in May. I am back in Bahia now, but work be in the studio in New York again within a week if all goes according to plan.

Professor Deçio Torres Cruz of the Federal University at Bahia invited me to speak with his students about my experience as an independent signer/songwriter. Professor Robério Rúbem de Mattos’ class joined the lecture, which provided an overview of composing, recording, and promoting music as an independent artist. I thank the professors and students for their participation and thoughtful questions.

I hope that you are enjoying the summer – or the winter if you happen to be south of the equator. It has been a while since I have written to let you know what is happening.

My focus so far this year has been songwriting. Earlier this year, while I was in Brazil I worked on a number of tunes. For the past three months I have met bi-monthly with group of singer/songwriters who provide feedback about one another’s work. The group is called 21st Street Sessions (named after our meeting place in Queens). Besides me, original members are Morry Campbell, Terry Christopher, Roger Kuhn, and John Manion.

I am thrilled to have written a song with multiple Emmy nominee, Steve Sandberg. Steve performed the piece, New Wind, at his recent concert series at the Side Show Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and has received very positive feedback. So, I look forward to more collaboration with Steve.

I continue to bounce back and forth between the USA and Brazil. I returned from Bahia last week and plan to be back in Brazil in early September.

Voices United for America is proud to announce the release of its multi-lingual recording of the Star-Spangled Banner. The song can be downloaded for free at www.YourNationalAnthem.com.

The recording was produced in response to Senate Resolution 458, which was picked up by the house as House Resolution 793. The title as stated in the Library of Congress is "A resolution affirming that statements of national unity, including the National Anthem, should be recited or sung in English." This resolution was passed by the senate by unanimous consent and without amendment. It currently sits before the House Judiciary Committee.

Voices United for America find the proposed resolutions inconsistent with a fundamental American right, free speech. They can also be seen as depreciating the rich and diverse cultural heritage of immigrants, the ancestors of many Americans, who founded, developed, and have defended this nation. The resolutions fail to recognize that one of the country’s greatest strengths is the diversity of the populace.

The creation of this recording was not motivated by partisanship. Through the project Voices United for America exercise our most basic freedoms and demonstrate that people of all backgrounds can work together harmoniously to create a thing of beauty.

Our National Anthem is a powerful and beautiful statement regardless of the language in which it is recited or sung. Immigrants arriving in our country today seek the same freedoms and liberties as did our forefathers. The talents and diversity of people of all backgrounds do not diminish nor destroy American values, rather they add color and texture to the American Portrait.

Singing the Star-Spangled Banner in ten languages, including English, Voices United for America is an ensemble of ten New York area musicians: Chris Andersson, Danny Katz, Dave Hall, John Raymond Pollard, Lydia Greenberg, Michael Gilboe, Stella Wixson, Steve Sandberg, Susana Dé, and Vlada Tomova.

Voices United for America grant media outlets the right to play this song without any sync fees as long as it is used to raise awareness of Senate Resolution 458 and House Resolution 793.

I have been working full time lately to produce a song. The project brings together some beautiful voices and talented musicians. What is it? It is a surprise! You'll hear more about it very soon. And you'll be able to download the fruits of our labor free! Be patient just a little longer.

If you haven't yet heard the CD, you can listen to it interspersed with bits of interview. Go to NextBigHit.com and click on the Bonus Mixes menu. You'll see it listed as John Pollard Indie CD - Archive. Happy listening.

Thanks to the folks who came out to hear me sing and play at the Fassion Institute of Technology (FIT) last Sunday night. You were the kind of audience I like: attentive and appreciative. I am glad I had an opportunity to chat with a number of you after the show.

The song "New Orleans" from Map of the Americas Linhas da Mão was selected for inclusion on the compliation CD, Oasis Acoustic Vol. VI.

Following up from an earlier item, the guitar had a small crack which has been glued. Even so, the guitar is having a tough time adjusting to the change from very humid to very dry. At least it can rest in a new, even sturdier case.
I have been adjusting to the rush of New York. I look at my tan some days to remind myself I was away.
I started a new song yesterday. Let us hope for an easy birth.

I returned to New York and brought some milder weather with me. My guitar case was pretty well smashed when it limped off the airplane. The contents are in the shop for diagnosis and recovery. Hopefully all will be well by next Wednesday. Fingers are crossed.