Never The Less.... by George Golla Leonie Smith

We recorded five songs in about 45 minutes, and out of all the songs on “Sweet Jazz”  the four tunes eventually added to the Album proved the most popular for radio play and download.

George and I then toured to Burnie Tasmania, courtesy of “Stage Door Promotions” once in 2004 and again in 2005.

We also worked as a duo often later and as part of the “Legends in Jazz group” ( me being the ring in new chick!) at the Manly Jazz Festival in 2004. With a line up of George on Guitar, Errol Buddle on Sax, Cliff Barnes on Double Bass (sadly passed away last week) and a special guest Drummer from England, Cyril Bevin.

We also were part of the opening night party band at last years Noosa Jazz Festival, along with Matt Thompson and Paul Furniss on reeds.

George and I decided we would love to record together again for purely selfish reasons... because we like to play music together, and to have something to keep of our time together.

For my own part, George is now a great friend and mentor, and we enjoy each others company, also outside music, and for me it’s the best fun I ever have musically and socially. Those that know George personally, know that he is a wonderful raconteur, and joke teller, as well as being a wonderful guitarist.

Our collaborations are always fun in fact he has me laughing on the floor often! (not a good look in a sparkly gown I assure you)

We recorded our new Album now entitled “Never the Less” (named after a punch-line of one of George’s fine anecdotes) one May 2006 night in John Morrison’s home Studio, on 2 tracks Live, with only two 2nd takes, in about 2 hours, including chatting, laughing with John and various anecdotes being recounted.  

In recording, I wanted an honest portrayal of our live performances, and it was a huge leap of faith on my part, as I tend to want to fiddle with the vocals and am never really happy with them. But I figured that if I can’t live with them, I shouldn’t be singing live! 

Of course I think George with his experience as an accompanists of many vocalists in the past and his collaboration with Don Burrows is the most supportive accompanist you could have, and he really made it very easy for me as he always does. I’m sure he is telepathic !!

This recordings release is also a bit or an experiment, as I am self producing and self releasing it, and basically doing all the artwork marketing etc....I am also only releasing a digital copy available for download from the usual sites. The cost of producing the Album the usual way on c.d. is very expensive for us independents, and with the demise of the shop front c.d. shops (that don’t sell many Jazz c.d.'s anyway) coming soon, I can’t see the sense in spending hard to come by money on c.d. production. Too many of my contemporary’s have huge amounts of c.d.'s gathering dust under their beds, and if they are computer and net savvy selling their back catalogues and new issues on the internet, providing a much bigger audience world wide for our music. I am only running off demo c.d.'s for airplay and promotion only.

If this works I can release a new Album any time I feel I have something new to offer my audience, and not necessarily the same amount of tracks. I could for example release a 4 track “Album” which can be released quicker and cheeper, so that we the artists can actually cover our costs at least ,which is usually very hard to do or at least impossible judging from the tales I hear from my fellow musicians and singers.

I hope our audience enjoys this fine example of  George and my-self's brief history together, as we did recording it.

If you would like to be kept up to date with the release details and gigs and news please send me an email to be added to the mailing list.

regards Leonie Smith

www.leoniesmith.com

sweetjazzbird@leoniesmith.com

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