About this project
ABOUT ME AND THE BAND:
Chris Greene - saxophones, Damian Espinosa - piano, keyboards, Marc Piane - double bass, Steve Corley - drums, percussion.
"Greene continues to evolve as one of the best young players in the city..." - Brad Walseth, JazzChicago.net
"...a saxophonist highly deserving of your attention." - Neil Tesser, The Examiner
"There's nothing better than listening to music performed by musicians who aren't afraid to take a chance, but who also treat the music with respect. Such is the way of the Chris Greene Quartet." - Bridget Arnwine, Allaboutjazz.com
THE PITCH.
On Thursday, October 27, 2011, my band - the Chris Greene Quartet - gave one of its most memorable performances at one of the most beautiful, prestigious, and sonically advantageous venues in the city of Chicago. The Mayne Stage. We performed nine selections - 5 original compositions, 4 cover songs - for a highly energetic and attentive audience of 100 people. The performance was expertly recorded and mixed by veteran engineer and producer - and longtime friend of the band - Joe Tortorici. (Btw, Joe has worked with more legendary producers and musicians then he'd want me to mention here.)
Of the 9 songs recorded, 6 made the cut for our next CD release, titled "A Group Effort." The album was mastered in December, 2011 by Todd Carter at Bel_Air Sound Studio. The disc (scheduled for release in spring, 2012) contains:
- 2 of my compositions: Bride of Congeniality and Future Emperor of Evanston)
- 2 compositions by Damian Espinosa (Shore Up and Three & Six)
- A composition by Marc Piane (Stat)
- A high-powered arrangement of a classic song by Kenny Dorham
- A riotous introduction by one of my favorite local musicians, William Kurk.
- Liner notes by Neil Tesser.
- Photography by Ozzie Ramsay.
So the album's all mixed, mastered, and sequenced. And quite frankly, we think it's our best work so far. (It's certainly the most accurate document of a live CGQ concert.) And here's where we need you, dear friends, to help.
We've teamed up with Kickstarter.com, an incredible and unique service for independent artists. Through Kickstarter, we artists can finance our projects
through donations from friends, fans, family, and anyone else who
catches the buzz. And in return, you get something very cool for your donation. The more you donate, the cooler and more expansive - your gift will be.
There's one interesting caveat with this whole arrangement, however: if the money that we are trying to raise is not
COMPLETELY funded in full by the deadline then NO
transactions are processed. In other words, if you donate $50 to the
project and we have only raised $3099.99 by the midnight hour then you
will not be charged, we will get no money, and there will be no
recording. Everyone loses.
However, if you find it in your heart and wallet to donate to the cause, you'll get everything from (pre-release) digital and/or signed physical CDs to free t-shirts to being listed as an ASSOCIATE OR EXECUTIVE PRODUCER in the album's liner notes to perennial guest list status at any CGQ show to having a song composed or arranged in your honor to having CGQ perform at a private concert in your home!
WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING:
- $650 - graphic design
- $2500 - press and online promotion.
- Any overage will go to to offset other production costs and a special charity of my choosing.
I certainly couldn't have done any of this without the the friendship and amazing musicianship of my bandmates, Joe T's wealth of experience and knowledge, the great work of publicist/vocalist Linda Solotaire, my awesome wife and son, our friends and fans and the Mayne Stage staff.
Donate what you can to help, and make this "A Group Effort."
Thanks in advance for your support.
Chris Greene (chrisgreenejazz.com)
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
1 free mp3 + a Tweet in your honor. Every bit helps. Thanks for the support!
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
A Tweet in your honor + a digital copy of the new live album by CGQ 1 week before the official release date.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
All of the above + a physical copy of the new live album by CGQ (personally signed by me, Damian, Marc and Steve) 1 week before the official release date.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
All of the above + plus the 3 bonus tracks from the Mayne Stage show that weren't included on the CD.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
All of the above + a high-def DVD of the Mayne Stage show + a personalized thank you video + a shout out on our Facebook fanpage.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
All of the above + a CGQ t-shirt + a "thank you" mention in the liner notes and on my website + my personal pledge to support your Kickstarter project.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All of the above + digital copies of all my CDs (On the Verge, Jazz, Soul and Science Volume One, Soul and Science 2: electric boogaloo, Merge, and Playtime) + our previous DVD release (Based on a True Story) + I'll perform on 3 selections (or for 5 hours) on your next studio project.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
All of the above + credit in the liner notes as an "Associate Producer," and a 60-minute private lesson via Skype, phone conference or in person (in Chicago).
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Hot dang - that's a lot of money. All of the above + credit in the liner notes as a "co-executive producer" plus Guest List status for you (+1) at ALL CGQ CONCERTS FOR LIFE. Or if it's a place where no cover is charged, I'll get the 1st round of drinks for your and your +1.
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
All of the above + Choose OPTION A: A 3-hour long CGQ concert in your home, or at a venue of your choosing within 150 miles of Chicago. OR OPTION B: We will compose and/or arrange and record a tune in your honor, and send you a birthday card or holiday card of your choosing every year, for the rest of my life.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
Holy [expletive]. All of the above + a private 3-hour concert by CGQ for you and your friends at your home or in the venue of your choosing anywhere* in the continental US - AND our undying gratitude. (*Includes 48 contiguous states, in a location accessible by motorized ground transportation within 1 hour of an airport served by a major airline.)
Project By
Connected as Chris Greene (3702 friends)
As soon as the Chris Greene Quartet takes the stage, jazz and rock audiences alike notice something different – something besides the fact that they’re seated next to each other. The jazz crowd can’t help but sense the charisma and electricity, not always seen in a jazz band, that emanates from the quartet even during the saxophonist’s most committed solos. And those fans accustomed to the high energy and loose hi-jinks of a rock band suddenly find themselves diving deeper into improvised music than they might have thought possible. At a time when jazz continues to seek new audiences, the Chris Greene Quartet sits poised on the future’s cusp. In much the way that classical composers have historically used native folk elements as the basis for their art, the CGQ uses familiar modern materials – the funk and hip-hop he heard growing up – as a bridge between jazz and other genres.
It’s that ability to retain that tradition, expanding it at the same time, that makes the Chris Greene Quartet something different on the modern jazz scene.
