The journey has been a long one. It was supposed to have begun over Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, those plans fell through and were amended to begin three weeks later. We made our plans to go to a new place and work with a new person to complete our plan.
We approached the session with a confidence that we would be able to complete the project and make it available for all our friends by Labor Day. It seemed very doable. We hired our new person to do his best to give us a product that we would be proud to put on our table and termed it a 'do it right' proposition. Little did we know at that point the journey we were on!
The first day was a bit slower than we'd expected. There were some harmony parts that this writer just could not hear correctly. But our project manager patiently (well, as patiently as he could!) plugged along with us. More accurately, plugged along with me.
When that first day was over, I thought back to my high school band days. If the band director was a trumpet player, the trumpet players in the band were typically the ones who caught the brunt of the director. He expected perfection from them. Our project manager / producer / teacher / coach ~~ sings baritone. He was working to pull harmonies out of me that I didn't know existed! I've told people before that I'm a lead singer (one who sings melody) trapped in a baritone vocal range (one who does not sing very high)! I saw this project as a challenge, an opportunity to become a better musician. I saw it as a way to be taught by one of the best!
The second trip to the studio would be better. We just knew it! It was better, but we still were not able to complete the project as we'd hoped. The product being available by Labor Day was quickly becoming doubtful. The third and fourth trips to the studio saw more progress, but there was still that one song that needed to get done. Fortunately, we had already scheduled a concert in the immediate area of the studio in October. Finally, at just about 2 o'clock in the afternoon on October 19, we declared this project a wrap. I don't know who was more excited ~ Trust Quartet or our project manager!
The project was now in the hands of our capable project manager to make it sound as it should. Please understand a couple of things here: first, 'project manager' is not the proper title. Second, a recording project never sounds like it did when it was being recorded. Our 'project manager' coaches us through the whole process. Some of it is recorded literally phrase by phrase. Many times. In fact, a few more than 'many'! Recording an album is a tedious process. Don't misunderstand, I LOVE being in the studio!
Last night, I had the opportunity to sit in a room in Vero Beach and listen to the recording for the first time. Buzz, Rhonda, Beverly, and Jeff were there. Unfortunately, Spence had other obligations and couldn't be with us. Later as I continued to listen, I sat mesmerized at what I heard. Not because I was singing, as much as it was the realization of the hard work being completed. We've been singing these songs for a long time. Don't tell anyone I said this, but it was almost to the point the songs were becoming old. As I listened last night, the songs were fresh again.
On the CD credits, the 'project manager' will probably be listed either as an engineer or a producer ~ or both. That's the technical hat he wore. Rest assured though, Kevin Hunt - baritone extraordinaire, coach, teacher, project manager - could put whatever title he wants on himself as far as I'm concerned! Words cannot adequately nor accurately express our gratitude for what he's meant to Trust Quartet.
I still cannot give a specific date the CD will be available. It is now going to the next step at the duplicator. Friends, its much closer than it has been! Trust me when I tell you this: Going Home is a CD you will want to make a part of your music collection!
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