“The Question” Liner Notes
My new album “The Question” is released today. Here are the album’s liner notes:
“The question is more important than the answer,” is an aphorism whose meaning regularly renews itself. At least once a decade, it seems.
In the “wisdom” of my twenties I would laughably reflect on the massive, but generally harmless, misunderstandings of my teenage years, only to abruptly turn thirty and face a whole new set.
This time, however, lacking the safety net of youth, and adding the responsibility of family and a wife expecting, these misunderstandings left unaddressed would have consequence. It was time so shape up, and fast. But forget about answers - for the past thirty years, it dawned on me, I wasn’t even asking the right questions.
About the music:
The Question - see above
Backstep - This bright waltz is based on Coltrane changes going in a backwards direction.
Smoke and Mirrors - A reflection on the illusory nature of everything we see on social media. Musically, the bass line of the second half of the tune is a mirror of the first.
Strange Meadow Lark - this arrangement of the Dave Brubeck classic combines elements of the old and the new. In the spirit of reflection, I wrote this arrangement when I was an 18 year old student at the Brubeck Institute (along with Lucas), and this year would have been Brubeck’s 100th.
Subterfuge - First written as an experiment in color, with a diatonic melody and “deceptive” harmony underneath it. Realized most colorfully in a nonet, this tune has been in the book of Lucas Pino’s “No Net” nonet since our earliest years.
BK Bossa Nova - I had written a handful of bossas while playing and traveling with the great guitarist Yotam Silberstein, who is an expert in the genre, and this one stuck out to me. Fortunately Yotam was able to join us on this track and add his signature guitar playing of soul and depth.
Road Life - A classic written by the great James Williams, this melody captures the joy and the blues of the road.
The Answer - is The Question.
-Glenn
Brooklyn, April 2020
Massive thank you to:
Adam, Lucas, Desmond and Allan for breathing life into this music beyond what I ever could have imagined.
Yotam for the inspiration and amazing playing on BK Bossa Nova.
Alex, Nick, Andrew G. and Andrew. R for playing Subterfuge so well and making it sound easy (which it’s not!)
Dave S. and Dave D. for their generosity, ears, and audio brilliance.
Francois for believing in this music.
YOU, the listener for taking the time to listen to and support this music - without you there is no music.
This album is dedicated to my wife Tomoko and son Allan (who was born three days after this music was recorded). I may not always be asking the right questions, but I know that you are always the answer.
