This project actually began in 1996 when guitarist Mike Stern agreed to record a track for me. Two years later, saxophonist Bob Berg also agreed to record for me and this album project was truly underway. A year after that the project was put on hold and remained that way until 2012. 

​

In the intervening years relationships had begun and ended, children were born, lives had ended and I moved countries.

​

On returning home to Australia I decided to revisit and complete this project and here it is, finally!

​

​

About the tunes

 

Her Neck of the Woods

 This song swam around in my brain for several years before it saw the light of day. It eventually emerged as a cowboy song of sorts and features the beautiful harmonica playing of Patrick Bettison. His solo at the end of this tune is one of my favourite moments on the album.

 

Seeds

This is another tune I hummed to myself for years before I put pen to paper. When I could actually hear this piece outside of my head I liked it even more. On the day of recording this track I decided to add a guitar and drum duet at the end as an afterthought. Glenn Cannon rose to the occasion. 

 

Brick Lane

This tune was written during the time I lived in London. It actually began as an experimental double-tracked drum and bass groove that I recorded on a Tascam 688 several years earlier.

This piece is dedicated to all things London in its style and instrumentation. The sitar encapsulates the spirit of Brick Lane in East London, and if you listen carefully, you’ll hear my homage to the Beatles in the B section of Luke Howard’s beautiful piano solo.

 

Monkey’s Wedding

“Monkey’s Wedding” is a folkloric African term which refers to a sunshower and seemed like the right title for this one.

Originally written some time in the mid 1990s, the inspiration came for this tune came from the music of Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack Millennium: Tribal Wisdom and the Modern World and the album Secret Story by Pat Metheny.

Phil Turcio’s piano solo is stunning as is Patrick Bettison’s harmonica solo.

This was also my first attempt at writing for a string quartet – I think I got away with it!

 

Too Out

The title is a play on words for the term two out which, in jazz parlance, refers to an improvisation by two members of an ensemble. My favourite versions of these are the sax and drum duets – notably those by John Coltrane and Elvin Jones. I just love the intensity and passion of Bob Bergs playing on this track. One of the great saxophone players of our time.

 

Just Another Rumour

I’ve always been a fan of how Mike Stern plays ballads and when the opportunity came along to record a track with Mike in 1996, this tune, written by Colin Hopkins, came to mind.  Mike plays this tune so beautifully – all in one take!

 

Making Joseph’s Coffee

This is another piece that was written and originally recorded in the 1990s as part of the original sessions for this album. It’s a tune dedicated to my Mediterranean heritage and to my grandfather, Joseph Pulis who, amongst other talents, made amazing coffee. The use of the acoustic guitar on this track pays homage to my other grandfather, Joseph Farrugia.

 

The Chase Scene

This piece, as the title suggests, was inspired by music I heard in a chase scene in a late night TV police drama. When Bob Berg agreed to record for me this tune felt like the right one for him to play. It also has the only solo I get to play too.