| 11/04/05 - The inspiration
behind Spread Love Like Wildfire
Can't believe I've completed my sixth album . I never
would have guessed that I could have come this far . I am especially
proud and happy with this album because I feel it marks a turning
point for my music. I feel I am getting closer to the direction
and sound that I have wanted to take the project in since I first
started.
I have learnt so much more and am now able to work with so many
more ,talented, musicians than I had ever dreamed of. I am continuing
to grow more , as a producer and communicator, with each album evolving
with me , as I continue on what I see as, my musical journey.
Because of this I am more confidant with the direction I am going.
Which is a much harder , funkier and energetic sound. I hope this
album , along with the others , will show how passionate I am about
this music and I hope I have been able to communicate that a bit
more with each release .
I am able to use a much stronger horn section encompassing the talents
of Richard Wargent - sax , Mike Kearsey - trombone and Jon Scott
- trumpet , to give a more powerful punch . Something I have continued
from the last album , and the 'New Jazz Hustlers' project I did
a few years back.I have also been able to incorporate live drums
on this album as I am able to call on the talents of Neal Wilkinson
and Adam Riley , to integrate their drum skills with the programmed
grooves to give an overall tougher style , whilst adding movement
to the tracks they have played on .This is something I hope to use
more of on future grooves.
I have worked with Tony Remy more on this release , using his funky
guitar to drive more of the grooves , so he has played more of a
lead roll . Which I will also expand on with future releases .
Neil Cowley has played more of a roll on this album with his keyboard
playing , he was prominent on the Urban Grooves album and played
a part on the Cellar Funk release too .
I have continued to introduce special guests to my project, something
that continues to amaze me as I never dreamed I would be able to
work with such talent. One of my favorite legends of the flute ,
Jeremy Steig , has contributed to two tracks , 'Wildfire Woman'
and 'Memphis Groove' , whilst organic soul singer N'Dambi has added
her singing and writing skills to her titled track , 'Angel Baby'.
A lot of my influences come from the Jazz/Funk , Jazz/Fusion era
of the 60's and 70's and I hope I have been able to show this ,
once again , on this album. Hopefully people will also hear my love
of some of the 'Blaxploitation' soundtracks of that era and ,of
course, the Brazilian/samba influences , that I love so much.
I am trying to inject some of the energy and passion that people
had for this music into what I am doing now. Something I hope will
crossover to others , as there is such a lack of it in what I hear
on radio today .
The title 'Spread Love Like Wildfire' , along with tracks like 'Wildfire
Woman' and 'Memphis Groove' are meant to create a certain , overall
feel. Tied in with the album cover , are meant to encompass the
passion, daring and slightly risqué traits that people used
to take that they don't today , within this format .
'Wildfire Woman', for me , has that groovy Funk/Folk feel that
used to come out of the West Coast , especially San Francisco's
'melting pot' , of the 60's/70's. Where Rock elements where also
infused within the amalgamation of sounds .'Memphis Groove' is partly
my acknowledgment to the Herbie Mann sound from his 'Memphis Underground'/'Memphis
Two Step' titled tracks .A groove that I love. Put this together
with the retro/club/dance influences of today and you , hopefully,
have the sound that I am trying to create with DTTB. Without trying
to sound too pretentious , with this album I have found a new energy
to inspire me to come up with loads more ideas for future grooves
, so watch this space , there is much more to come.
I am constantly fighting to get people , within the business ,
to understand and believe in what I am trying to achieve with DTTB
. I am constantly trying to get the band taken seriously within
the format, without people attempting to manipulate or change my
sound .Someting I will continue to do and because I have so much
passion for what I do I still have a lot of determination . Because
of this I still feel that DTTB , both with the music and the live
act , has a long way to go yet . I feel there is a huge potential
to 'crossover' to a much wider audience.The band . on stage, continues
to impress and given the chance , should be playing continuously
to an expanding audience. The potential is there it just needs the
right people to grab hold of it and utilize it properly .So I'm
hoping this can be worked on for the future too .Worldwide , we
have still , only reached a very small part of our , potential ,
audience .
On the live side , the next stage is to sort out rehearsals for
the new album , so that we can start 'dropping' the new tunes during
the sets .With each release it gets more and more difficult to play
all the tunes I want to feature, as old ones are taken out to make
way for the new . Which is always a tough decision , as people always
want to hear their favorites .As these always seem to differ you
are never able to please everyone all of the time . But I try to
give an all-round show and stick to the more funky/party tracks
to add to the 'party' vibe we try to give on our shows .
I am more excited about the future of DTTB , musically , than ever
before. As long as I have the backing of a record label , like Narada
, who will believe in me and my music , then I know DTTB will continue
to grow . There are new ideas on the go already .It never stops.
Stuart
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