About this project

Hello and welcome to my kickstarter page,

In September of 2011, I went into the studio for two full days to record 12 new original compositions of mine, with my favorite band, and my favorite engineer. This album (Green Dream) will be the third release of the Jeremy Manasia Trio and the second release with Charles Ruggiero and Barak Mori. Two world class musicians of there ownright; (among others, Charles has played with Jane Monheit, Larry Goldings and Chuck Mangione, and Barak has performed with Anat Cohen and Peter Cincotti and currently plays with Madeleine Peyroux) my two records are the only records that they have recorded together... thus far. Charles and Barak have a very special musical connection that I am honored to document on my recordings.
It is also the second time that the three of us teamed up with engineer and  sound guru, Glen Forrest.  And an 1899 Steinway B was rented for the session!

The record has already been recorded. It sounds incredible, and I can't wait to get the ball rolling and have it released!

The songs on Green Dream are primarily dedicated to, and named after, visions and events from my childhood. I grew up in the woods, in New York City! Yes, it USED to be possible... maybe it still is in very rare circumstances. But I grew up in an area of Staten Island, NY that was heavily wooded, filled with trees, trails, streams, waterfalls, hills; quite a paradise actually. My family moved when the land had been bought and was scheduled to be destroyed to level the woods to build housing. The woods I grew up in no longer exist. Such is the way of things, that everything is always changing, and so this album is dedicated to those woods from a time past. Titles like Rusty Nova Romp, The Old Red Barn, A Refuge of Repose, Golden Wind, and Rockland Ave, are musically painting an image of my childhood memories. Thus, Green Dream is a dream of the past green...

Green Dream, the song, was originally written for guitarist Grant Green. While the album isn't a direct dedication to him personally, it is a dedication to the musicians from his era who have greatly influenced my music, and all the music of our new generations, whether it is apparent or not. Musically, the compositions on this record may allude to many artists of the past, like Duke Ellington, Ahmad Jamal, Bud Powell, Bill Evans and Sonny Clark, as well as Grant. This record is dedicated to all the musicians, remembered or forgotten, from the past who have made the music of today possible.

Green is also a term used to describe the dignity of ones actions. When we do something green, we are showing awareness of consideration for things that we may do that can indirectly harm another. Green is surely the color of our age, describing the hope we have for the future of our time. Being a modern record, this artistic expression can only reflect this.

These connections in the title Green reflect the interconnection of all things, including YOU. And now with kickstarter you can actually be a part of this album!

If you look over to the right side of the page, you can see the different pledge amounts and rewards packages that come with them. Browse around and see what fits you, and with simply clicking a button, you can actually become a part of Green Dream!

You can be a part of this in two ways - First, by making a pledge of course :) Second, by spreading the word. If you believe in this project, spread the word on facebook, twitter, email, or the old fashioned word of mouth method!  I can exceed my goal, but if it is not reached I don't get anything!

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and check out the video if you haven't already. I can't wait to get you a copy of Green Dream!

-Jeremy