|
12-29-2011 NEW WINDSOR THE JDA PROJECT has gone into hiatus. We have been playing local gigs, etc for
a while, but need to figure out our next move. Things are happening in other musical fronts, and Joel Pirard has been concentrating
a lot of creative energy into the JESTER'S PROMENADE group. "JDA has become more of a cover act that plays some
originals, rather than the vison I had for it, and thought my partners had" Joel said recently. "I am not clear on where that
leaves me as far as JDA goes. JDA has 4 cds of original music, but rarely performs more than a small sampling of it, and it
seems to concentrate mostly on the the first and 3rd cds more than the others, ironic since sales for our 2nd, 'Moving Window'
are higher than any of the others. Dropstones has been an artistic success, imo, but we have not pushed it at all. Indeed
we have not pushed original music much lately. I consider us to be an original band first, playing covers in order to get
an audience. This is not the case. I enjoy playing covers, but not exclusively. I would rather play OUR MUSIC to a smaller
crowd that appreciates it , than to a room ful of people who are biding their time during originals to hit the bathroom..."
As
the primary songwriter the future of JDA as a wrting band may be in question. Check back for more developments
on this front. We will update more frequently!!!
4-16-2010 NEW WINDSOR
THE JDA PROJECT is remastering A FINE TIME, the debut cd for a relaunch. So far about halfway through the transfer process
to digital.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also some personal thoughts about Dropstones. ( ed. note: My own perspective-Joel Pirard )
"There was a lot of moodiness about the record.
For example, "Vacant Chair" was actually written by Don about 8-9 years ago, about no one in particular, it was
about loss. Very melancholy. I personally could visualize it very well.
"These Walls So Thin" is influenced a lot
by Beatles/Procul Harum, musically, a romantic, unrequited love thing...
" Mary Come Out to Play" is deliberately done in a HEY JUDE styl' but is a true love song, " Girl Interrupted
"is dramatic, bluesy thing that Arno and I wrote, lyrically it is a true story about a girl he encountered in a crowded
diner, who was so sad, down, etc, she actually was talking about suicde. He spent 2 hours trying to exact a promise from her
to get help, and not do anything rash. He never saw her again, never knew what happened. "...
"AlI I Ever Wanted" is about a guy who has just been dumped, and is totally
in shock. "This Old Box'"is about a guitar that was lying in a garden shack
for years, full of bugs, etc. Arno actually restored that guitar to playabllity, so it is essentially a true story. "Rattlesnake
Bridge" is a story Arno made up, the title comes from an exit off of Rte 78 in NJ. Sometimes an innocuous thing can trigger
a whole tune. Arno worked very hard to get the various guitars, just right. A nod to Johnny Cash on this one. "The Answer"
is a powerful love song, in a traditional prog/psychedelic style. Don wrote the words and melody, I personally love the dynamics
on this.
"So We've Ended As Lovers", is a latin flavored song, but does have a darker element because of a broken
love affair. However it is a character who has accepted it. Interesting use of the mandolin, and accordion in this. The original
demo was a bit more of a rocker, but we went with this feel...
"The Downslide" is Pink Floyd inspired tune that is a defiant rally against aging
gracefully. It is about saying, 'hey we ain't done yet!" ...and we're not!
"In A Word" is also a simple love ballad.
No mystery there. Don came up with a really pretty melody here, Arno and I arranged and sang the backups 'on the fly'. Lots
of fun to do.
"Hope" is the only true rocker, it is a declaration of love. Just bangon' on the 'old piano'.....
"12-21-12"
is a song that has a 2 part message, get on with your life: keep on moving, but always aware that you only go aroud once,
so make the most of it...
"No TIme Like The Present" is inspired heavily by 'Hello-Goodbye'. This is a happy tune about falling in love.
"Thrum"
is an instrumental with a Floyd-like twist, a bit of Robin Trower tossed in.
"Tomorrow Truly Knows" does end on
a happier note, it addresses how we plan our lives, but the message is simple, the only certain answer lies in the future.
This song is more of a proggy feel than any pf the others.
The whole CD is a bit more serious, darker than anything we've
done before.
All of our stuff has had some darker music on it, but this one does jump around stylistically. We never
pigeonhole ourselves stylistically, which may or may not be mistake, but there is nothing contrived when we record and
write.
This disk, our 4th, is simply a collection of individual tunes, unrelated to each other, and covering a variety
of moods, but in a more generally laid back style, bluesy, melancholy at times, but I think we executed each song well.
The hardest part was to select the running order.
I think if you listen to it in the right situation, in subdued lighting,
and just let it move over you, you'll get it. especially with headphones....anyway, I hope so."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have just listed here! for THE JDA PROJECT!
DROPSTONES, CLICK on the image to order.
Also on ITUNES!
THE CREATIVE TEAM OF JOEL PIRARD, DON PITZ, AND ARNO TIETJE return once again to present more great music in what has
become an established sound for the band. 16 new songs to captivate you! DROPSTONES is sure to build on the already
strong tradition that JDA, now THE JDA PROJECT has presented in the past. DROPSTONES HOPE RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE MARY
COME OUT TO PLAY IN A WORD WHAT IF THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT? THE DOWNSLIDE ALL I EVER WANTED VACANT CHAIR THESE
WALLS SO THIN THIS OLD BOX SO WE'VE ENDED AS LOVERS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT THE ANSWER GIRL INTERRUPTED THRUM TOMORROW
TRULY KNOWS Dropstones is available at PEACEWORKMUSIC.net
10/19/2008 NEW WINDSOR
SYZYGY voted one of the top 25 independent CDs!
CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS!
|
