MP3 from my CDs.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 24 Feb 2003 4:09 pm

In the thread about players who played other kinds of music besides country, I posted links to 2 MP3s from my West Side Story CD, which turned out to have been removed. They have now been restored, and 2 more have been added from my Firebird Suite CD. (Afternoon of a Faun and the Gershwin Prelude.}

http://www.pembroke-rise.com/Stringman/DebussyAfternoonofaFaun.mp3

http://www.pembroke-rise.com/Stringman/GershwinPrelude2.mp3

http://www.pembroke-rise.com/Stringman/Track10.mp3

http://www.pembroke-rise.com/Stringman/Track14.mp3

I hope you all enjoy the music.
[This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 28 February 2003 at 09:15 AM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 28 Feb 2003 1:37 pm

Nice work, Mike!

Junior Knight · Post by **Junior Knight** » 28 Feb 2003 2:59 pm

Nice work Mike!!!
Even a *Hick* like me likes other stuff. This just proves that the steel can do ANYTHING! Great job Mike!

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 28 Feb 2003 8:18 pm

"L'apres-midi d'un Faune"

Thanks for the heads up Mike. Good stuff but I need time to study it to come up with an answer to your question. Maybe that's more than you're looking for. In short, the hours and hours I'm sure you spent, and the musicial talent/knowledge, are reflected in those pieces.

Wonderfull job.
Ken

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 1 Mar 2003 4:34 pm

Thanks guys. I've always maintained that the pedal steel guitar is not a country instrument. It is a MUSICAL instrument, capable of playing all styles of music.

If only 10% of the worlds steel players would make a concerted effort to play different kinds of music as I have, we could break the stereotype of the steel as a strictly country instrument once and for all.

I know some people here will not like what I've done at all, and some will not like it at first but will appreciate it more with repeated listenings. I invite everybody who is reading this to listen and voice their comments, pro and con.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 1 Mar 2003 9:47 pm

I'll have to agree with that , Mike. Very true.

But the producers have to let the steel players stretch out and show the variety of Music the steel guitar is capable of playing. Sadly they are not willing to take that chance....al

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 2 Mar 2003 8:33 am

To Al Marcus--As I've said before, Mike has done a great job and taken a big step forward. In answer to your comment: Shyrl Crow said it well on a recent interview--that record producers are NOT interested in ARTISTRY, but in sounds--noise (monkeys, etc--provided that they have a lawyer) that the public like and which will produce revenue, and which are exploitable. That's but one reason I chose to create and produce CD's on my own and do my own promoting. It may be a small category, but there are still plenty of people out there who like good instrumental music (Kenny G. has broken all records for instrumental recordings--30 million albums world-wide). ....Hugh

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 2 Mar 2003 10:53 am

Mike, very good. However, I would use a bit more reverb to make the steel sound bigger.
Also, have you started writing and recording you own music yet?

GB

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 2 Mar 2003 11:01 am

Mike,

As you know, I'm neither a fan or critic of non-country music (including most of what country radio plays today). I did enjoy your musicianship and the diverse styles you exhibit on just these 4 cuts. I like the 4th one the best-- maybe it's the faster tempo-- and the delayed appearance of the rhythm section in Gershwin was a nice effect.

I would offer 3 key points on your displayed works.

1. It ain't country, so you beat that stereotype.
2. It ain't Hawaiian, though more hints of Hawiian than country

; another stereotype gone.
3. You're not trying to do what is routinely done on a standard 6-string or 12-string guitar.

I think #3 is the largest compliment to your music. I've heard some efforts aimed at expanding the horizons of steel--beyond country -- and, to me, they sound like what a lead guitarist would play.

Thanks for sharing your work with us.

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HagFan

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 4 Mar 2003 12:11 am

Thanks guys for all the kind words.

Gary, I've attempted to write music. The results fall somewhere between lame and pathetic.

I've always said that the greatest strength of my recordings is the choice of material. The great French composer Maurice Ravel, (of Bolero fame) called Afternoon of a Faun the single greatest piece of music ever written . I'm not sure I'd go that far, but it is a great piece. There is a tremendous amount of wonderful material outside the usual Country or Hawaiian or Swing genres that lends itself to the steel guitar. I'm barely scratching the surface.

To Al, I say you comment about producers is valid only in terms of commercial recordings. There are all sorts of players who, like me, are producing their own recordings and taking the steel into new territory. Susan Alcorn, Joe Goldmark, Chas Smith, Ned Selfe, Bob Taillifer, Dr. Jeffreys, Hal Merrill, Robert Powell, B.J. Cole and Bruce Kaphen come to mind off hand. These players may never have a video played on MTV, but we are all in our different ways pushing the envelope and breaking down the barriers of what the steel can do. The 10 players I mentioned and I have all taken the steel into new areas and introduced it to new people outside of the country or Hawaiian communities. If there were 2,000 players doing this, it wouldn't matter what the producers of top 40 records did or didn't allow.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 4 Mar 2003 12:29 am

It's 2:30am, and the room is dark. I really enjoyed "Maria" and "Overture from WSS." Good job.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 4 Mar 2003 6:25 pm

However, I would use a bit more reverb to make the steel sound bigger.

Consider the source, Mike... Gary thinks reverb is a musical instrument

(one which he plays well, I might hurry to add...)

BTW "Maria" kicks butt!

ok I'll leave now....

[This message was edited by Dave Van Allen on 04 March 2003 at 06:27 PM.]

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 4 Mar 2003 9:21 pm

What!!?? No "One Hand One Heart" mp3?
Mike! I thought you mentioned to me that "one hand one heart" might have been the genesis of the whole project! Folks, you have GOT to here that. Maybe Mike is holding it back for future sales - I would too - what a "made for steel" tune. WOW! That is the KILLER track, IMHO. Please post.

Other Comments: Hey Gary Brandon - My mix would have had a tad of stereo reverb as well. And/but I also appreciate Mike's "dry" mixes because it's so genuine and "in 'yer face".

Best to all, -Dave

[This message was edited by Dave Horch on 04 March 2003 at 09:25 PM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 5 Mar 2003 4:52 am

Dave is correct about One Hand One Heart. It is without question the prettiest thing in the WSS CD, as well as my personal favorite. It is the song that inspired me to record the CD. Like several other songs from the soundtrack, (including America, Somewhere, Maria and The Jet Song) it lies so well on the E9 neck it's almost as if it Leonard Bernstein had the steel in mind when he wrote it.

But I had to make a choice about what to post, and I thought that Maria being the more popular tune would be more appropriate.

These MP3 are being hosted on the web site of a fellow named Jeff Olsen who I really don't know very well, a member of a guitar forum where I also participate. He has generously allowed me to post them, and I don't want to take advantage of his generosity by adking him to post anything else.

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I'm not fat! I'm horzontally enhanced!

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 5 Mar 2003 4:56 am

I should mention that on the WSS CD there is no specific reverb on the steel, but rather a single global reverb over the entire mix. The idea was to simulate a room full in instruments, like an orchestra.

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 5 Mar 2003 11:29 pm

Mike - I'll host your "One Hand" mp3 if you'd like. The world needs to hear it! But how the heck do you get paid, as you should, for your work? Let me know your thoughts. Best, -Dave[This message was edited by Dave Horch on 05 March 2003 at 11:36 PM.]

John McConnell · Post by **John McConnell** » 10 Mar 2003 9:33 pm

Mike, your music opens up the listener to the many possibilities of this wonderfully complex instrument. I have enjoyed listening to these cuts and I hope to hear more from you. Well done.

John McConnell, Yuba City, CA
Sho-Bud Professional

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 11 Mar 2003 6:57 am

Mike I have thought for about 10 years that the PSG had such wide possibilties as you Dr. Hugh and Jeff Lampert, to name just a few, have taken it to. It has motivated me to buy my Sho-Bud and get on the stick. Also I don't have a piano player I like here, so I want it to be me on PSG.

The rhythm section for Maria just kicked in.. Wow! I love it. I agree just a touch more reverb, but not much, so it is in the same environment of the other instruments more.
But it is just nit picking as an mixer/engineer/producer..
Lovely job on a lovely tune!!! great harmonisation.

Mr B. would have liked it. I played in a NYC symphony with one of his students as conductor. She said he had the most open ears of any "classical" composer/conductor she had ever met. Including Von Karijan And Solti.

There are all sorts of producers, some work to niches others to the mainstream. I can understand both points of view.
The GREAT producers let their guys experiment and get the most from what they are starting with. Such as George Martin. Not at all a rockin roller. But Beatles albums still sell and the songs and recordings are wonderful.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 11 Mar 2003 11:05 pm

Thanks guys. I've always said that the steel guitar is not a country instrument. It's a musical instrument, capable of playing any kind of music.

As I said earlier I'm only one of group players who are taking the steel in new directions. I hope more and more players continue to explore new and different kinds of music and bring our instrument to the attention of people who are outside of the traditional country music community.