News the terse version:

Still waiting to master the tracks.

Am working on the Cover Art.

Am beginning to plan the CD Release Party, with one of the great events planners in the midwest. (I'll save that offficial announcement for later.)

The Stick Boy video is done (those backer can see it right now).

Preparation to tour will start soon.

Groove Duke

I did 2 more songs this week. I have two more mixes to go including the remix of Stick Boy.

Then I'll master it and release it. The CD release party will be scheduled soon. Rewards for all my backers will be following shortly. Hurray!!!!

The first part of this project is almost done. I have a product and I think a very good one. Next the promotion and tour phase. Stay tuned and tell your friends.

Mark
Groove Duke

I have 4 more tunes to mix. I should be able get back into the studio to mix next week. Then I need to master and I'll ready to try to get some airplay.

Anybody know any promotion agencies?

Mark
GD

I've been sick this weekend. But assuming I'm better tomorrow, I start mixing.

I've been looking for a track I can post that won't give too much away. So I decided to post the title track. The idea of this album is: it is my love letter to rhythm & blues and horn bands.

The title is "Heavy Mariner" which is a inside reference to one of my early bands. This is the opening track to the album. This is the rough mix from March 1st.

Enjoy!

Mark
Groove Duke

At last. all the little fiddly parts are done. I've sifted through every track and taken out every random bit of studio noise possible (with the exception of Larry, who sings while he drums.) But I got nothin' but love for you man, It adds a little flava!

I've been tightening up the screws and burning the midnight oil. And now I'm ready to mix everything down, apply effects and do all the studio magic that will sweeten this project up.

Thank you all for hanging with me.

In the meantime, I've also been teaching Jazz 3 at edison Middle School, teaching private lessons (my kids are giving a recital tomorrow and they have solo contest on Saturday).
Jazz 3 did the big fund raiser concert. Friday I See Kaitlyn in a main role in a play. Saturday is contest then I hope to take the boys to see the wrestling show in Springfield.
Sunday I leave for Texas and I'll be back Monday. I'll be planning the CD release party soon.

Thanks again for your support. and here's a cut that won't make it on this album. remember it's not a final mix, just an almost final edit. This song is still missing something, but I'm not quite sure what it is yet.

So things are really busy!

Well folks, if you hadn't been checking in, my video funding project met its goal 3 days ago and closed at 12 Am this morning.

The video is to promote the album and the album is very close to complete. The incentive gifts will be ready after the album is completed. Depending on the the schedule of my guitar players and vocalists, I should be all done tracking next week. So I should be ready to mix soon. I've tentatively scheduled those sessions for the second week of February. It should take about three days.

I'll be living with that mix for a while before I release it. But, you folks who signed up for the "white label" copies will get it. Aything that gets mailed will all be mailed together, as I didn't get enough pledged to cover multiple mailings. I'll be sending out messages to get everyone's address soon thereafter.

I currently have "my people" working on the CD release party. So those of you who have seats as part of your package can look forward to that. Tentatively planning for late March, early April.

I'm very excited. Things are coming together

Very Productive week, so far. I recorded some guitar yesterday. Have Chris Taylor scheduled to come in and lay down some tracks tomorrow night. Jeff Helgesen came in and laid down another trumpet track tonight. Peter's gonna come in and do another take also.

I'm doing my own engineering for this phase of the project. That's a little bit of a drag. But I'm getting pretty good sounds.

I expect to finish tracking in the next two weeks. Mix down will be a couple weeks after that. I've take so long that I don't want to rush it now. I want to live with some rough mixes and make sure that there is nothing I want to record over.

I see now that when you fund a recording project, you should already have the album recorded. i thank you folks for being patient, most of you know me personally and may not be worried. People who don't know me might get worried.

Those of you who can make the CD release party (and those of you who got seats there for pledging) will be in for a treat I think. I hope to do the entire album with full band and vocalists.

Don't forget. I have 4 more days left in my video project. Let your friends know. I talked to Jesse again by email and he is still a week away from finishing his short film "Kingdom of Frogs" and hopes be able to show me something by the end of the month.

That's the update for now.

Thanks

Groove Duke