Basic tracks for Day to Day Dream were recorded live at Kampo Studios in New York City in 2 days. Songs 1-10 on June 15 & 16, 2009 and Song 11 on May 6th, 2009. It was always a dream of mine to record live with a great band, and even better to record with talented friends. On a lot of the songs we used the very first take, with intros/endings/solos improvised on the spot. Almost all the lead vocals were recorded live with the band.
Real, live music by real, live musicians, including bassist Eluriel “Tinker” Barfield (Luther Vandross, Ashford & Simpson), drummer Kevin Johnson (Curtis Mayfield, Cassandra Wilson, A&S), guitarists Robin Macatangay (Lizz Wright, Cassandra Wilson) and Ann Klein (Kate Pierson, Joan Osborne), percussionist Bashiri Johnson (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston), and vocalists Alfa Anderson (Chic, Luther Vandross), Keith Fluitt (Nona Hendryx, Roberta Flack, A&S) & Clayton Bryant (A+S, Freddie Jackson) who joined me on background vocals; plus Dennis Moriarty (Bone Dog) on harmonica, Steven Bernstein (Levon Helm, Sex Mob) on trumpet and Paul Shapiro (Jay-Z, Frankie Knuckles) on saxophone. Also featured are Francis Mbappe (bass, guitar, backing vocals), who added his Camaroon flavor to Run Run Run and Booker King (acoustic bass) who brought his beautiful tone & feel to He’s My Man.
Originally I was planning a double CD set – we recorded 20 songs, ten songs with the band and another ten solo piano/vocal. Gradually it became clear that the songs were destined to be two separate but intertwined CD’s: Day to Day Dream and Muse. Click HERE to listen to Muse.
Valerie Ghent – vocals, piano, organ, keyboards
Eluriel ‘Tinker’ Barfield – bass
Kevin Johnson – drums
Robin Macatangay – acoustic guitar
Ann Klein – electric guitar, dobro
Bashiri Johnson – percussion
Dennis Moriarty – harmonica
Steven Bernstein – trumpet
Paul Shapiro – tenor saxophone
Booker King – acoustic bass on He’s My Man
Francis Mbappe – guitar, bass, backing vocals on Run Run Run
Alfa Anderson, Keith Fluitt, Valerie Ghent, Clayton Bryant – backing vocals