CRYSTAL SHORES: About a year or so after my dad passed away from a 17-year-battle with MS, 
I was sitting quietly one Sunday evening, when all of a sudden I got this overwhelming surge of emotion simultaneously combined with a rush of musical ideas. The emotion part was related to my dad. I felt 
he was there, letting me know he was ok where he was. The song I was hearing was a gift and I felt 
it showed me a glimpse of what it was like there. It was pretty overwhelming and almost too much to 
sort out, but I managed to pull myself together and went right into the studio and immediately started 
recording Crystal Shores. Coincidentally, just two days prior, I had this strong desire to completely 
revamp and rewire my studio so I could walk in, flip on a couple of switches and instantly be ready 
to record. Then 48 hrs later, Wham!! The song pretty much came together right away, as you hear it. 
It was amazing and nothing like that has ever happened before or since. So, there is a lot of emotion 
and feeling tied to this song. It's special.

DREAMS TO REALITY

CRYSTAL SHORES

CRYSTAL SHORES - (30 Sec)

PARTY FAVORS: The idea for this song was born as I created the staccato harmonized horn 
stabs on the guitar synth heard in the mid-break section of the tune. It reminded me so much of 
the fabulous Brecker Brothers. Then I thought about my days during the 1980’s when I lived and 
played in the French Quarter of New Orleans. After the gig we would go down to the Old Absinthe 
House to hear ‘Luther Kent and Trick Bag;’ a slammin’, multi-piece horn band with a great rhythm
section topped off with Big Luther on vocals. Think Bobby Bland and Blood Sweat and Tears and 
you get the idea. I would always try to get a front row seat in order to let the sound of the horns 
and tight rhythm section blow me away! I was hooked on horns so it was natural for me to want to 
create a song that was reminiscent of these horn bands. Actually meeting Randy Brecker just about 
the time Dave and I were completing production on the tune was amazing! Having Randy and 
Gary Meek play on the tune was another dream come true!

PARTY FAVORS

PARTY FAVORS - (30 Sec)

MR. MYSTERIOUS:  Picking the tempo back up again. This song is based on the sound of ‘stacked 4th’ interval chords that Miles would use to create a particularly unique sound. It opens up a whole new canvas of notes you can play that might not necessarily work as well over a diatonic chord structure. Add to that a continuous hard-driving rhythm section and you have the 
essence of what I loved about many of Mile’s tunes. He would wander the stage fearlessly going musically wherever he wanted. The song (jam) for the most part was improvised in one take, with the middle “b” section added later.

MR. MYSTERIOUS

MR. MYSTERIOUS - (30 Sec)

AFTERGLOW:  Suggestive of a symphony, the guitar synth allowed me to wander into a bit of vintage Gino Vannelli territory.

AFTERGLOW

AFTERGLOW - (30 Sec)

LATENIGHT:  An intimate, sensual, romantic vibe was in mind here. Dave and Ric played a really nice groove that allowed me space to solo with the guitar synth creating a sound that pays homage to Lyle Mayes and Pat Metheny.

LATENIGHT

LATENIGHT - (30 Sec)

FIESTA de la GUITARRA: Imagine being at one of the many vibrant and energetic street festivals in Spain filled with lots of color, dancing and guitar. While not true Flamenco, this song is meant to give you a taste of that vibe. If you feel exhilarated and maybe even a little out of breath at the end, you will experience how I felt playing it. The ideas kept coming so I kept playing.  I hope the physical feeling of ‘going-for-it,’ as I tried to get all I could out of this song translates to you the listener. Dave and Tom are really driving it so enjoy and don’t 
forget to b-r-e-a-t-h 

FIESTA de la GUITARRA

FIESTA De La GUITARRA - (30 Sec)

WESTWIND: When he first heard this song, my brother-in-law commented it made him think of a ship sailing over the waves.  I began visualizing a huge yacht sailing over the high seas, crashing through the cresting waves created by the west winds. I personally get that visual during different sections of the song but especially at the end when the guitar and Eric Marienthal’s gorgeous sax are sailing, soaring and singing together. I feel the alternating Rhodes piano and drum accents symbolize the “crashing through the cresting waves.” This one is all about melody over a real nice groove from Dave Weckl and Ric Fierabracci.

WESTWIND

WESTWIND - (30 Sec)

DREAMS TO REALITY: A nod to the Contemporary Jazz genre. This song was conceived while driving across the Mid-Bay Bridge into Destin, Florida for a solo gig. As I topped the bridge and looked out over the bay into a gorgeous twilight sunset, the bumps in the pavement supplied the groove while the chords and melody all began to play in my head. I got to the gig early and recorded the drum and bass groove. On breaks I added keys and more tracks. Took it home, worked it out that night and played it as a full song the next night. I included a few staple elements popular to the genre while having Jeff Lorber in mind. Amazingly, I actually got to meet Jeff and have him play a gorgeous piano solo on the tune. I also met Kim Stone and 
Ramon Yslas from the Rippingtons; all great players. Adding Kim’s bass and Ramon’s percussion to Jeff’s piano and Dave’s drums - another Dream comes true!

DREAMS TO REALITY - (30 Sec)

FESTIVA:  A feisty and energetic Latin groove that played in my head for awhile until I finally recorded it. While I couldn’t swing a real horn section, it’s so cool to be able to play piano and horns on the guitar synth. I love the authentic percussion from Ramon and Dave. Fun!

FESTIVA!

FESTIVA! - (30 Sec)

UPTOWN:  Listening to the first opening electric piano phrase takes me back to when this all began. These are the very first notes recorded on the very first song on the quest to complete an entire CD of originals. As the other instruments come in, it reminds me of the feeling I had that with this song the project was off and running. I didn’t know what lay ahead and it’s been quite a ride! Speaking of a ride; hold on while this tune takes us Uptown. This is a nod to the “Chick Corea Elektric Band,” one of my favorite bands ever. Actually having Dave Weckl and Eric Marienthal, two of the original members, play on it is a Dream come true!

Stuart Redd Music