Spacebomb: Blau and White make records

Karl Blau rocked out with Matt White (R) and the Spacebomb rhythm section for our launch party at Balliceaux / Photo by Cameron Lewis

The two week adventure that was Karl Blau’s sojourn in Richmond is over, and Spacebomb Records 001 and 002 are recorded. What a blast! It’s been a week since this whole thing has wrapped up and I’ve spent all 7 days in a bit of a haze of disbelief that it’s over. I’ve tried hard to reflect on the past couple weeks and discern what we did well and what we could have done better. Since this is a photo spread that celebrates a wonderful experience and not my journal I’m going to cut to the chase and tell you THE most exciting thing about my last two weeks and let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

…and here it is…

Before now, Spacebomb’s proposed methods have been based on conjecture and hypothesis: methods that have, no doubt, worked in the past, but haven’t really been used too much in the last 50 years. We thought that if we had a knock-out rhythm section that had prepared material, imaginative and talented arrangers who could write material, and skillful musicians who could read it, we could make an excellent record very quickly.

Now this all sounds good on paper, but what if it failed…we would really be up a creek without a paddle as they say. Turns out, it worked! We made two great records in two weeks! (Now, if you don’t make records often, as I’m sure most of you don’t, you’ll just have to trust me, it is not normal by any stretch of the imagination to make two excellent records in two weeks.) Anyhow, to me and maybe to you, this is all VERY exciting! We can build great things from this foundation and I can’t help but look forward with great anticipation to our next project. I just can’t wait to try it all again!

With that said, please take a look at some of the things that transpired over the last few days. It was all very inspiring to me and reminded me again what an amazing time it is to be living and making music in our city.

Trumpeter Bob Miller and trombonist Bryan Hooten joined in / Photo by Cameron Lewis

Karl Blau / Photo by Cameron Lewis

Karl captivated the audience with a solo set / Photo by Cameron Lewis

At Minimum Wage Studio, Trey Pollard directs the string section through his beautiful writing / Photo by Sam Allen

Trey rehearsing the string section before recording / Photo by Sam Allen

Viola player Matt Jewell was one part of the eight-piece section / Photo by Sam Allen

Engineer and studio owner Lance Koehler was an integral part of every session / Photo by Sam Allen

Bass trombonist Reggie Chapman and trombonists Toby Whitaker and Bryan Hooten rehearse White’s horn arrangements / Photo by Sam Allen

Trumpeter Marcus “Cyclops” Tenney / Photo by Sam Allen

Spacebomb presents Fight the Big Bull with Brian Jones at Balliceaux on Wednesday, March 2, at 10pm. Free, 21+. Balliceaux is located at 203 N. Lombardy St. in Richmond, VA. Visit balliceauxrva.com for more info.