MP3 Sample | RealAudio Sample
 |
|
Alan Munde and Pete Wernick
backstage at the Paramount
|
Alan Munde had sent a tape with four songs to consider for his contribution to this project and this one jumped out at me right away. As Alan suggested, "there just aren't enough happy banjo tunes out there" and this one seems to suit Alan's personality perfectly. Everyone played beautifully on this song - a lesson in taste and appropriateness from several true masters.
Four Leaf Clover really came alive during the recording. The session took on a very light, jaunty spirit and it was reflected in all the performances. I especially like the interplay between banjo and mandolin during Wayne's solo and Rob's little rhythmic "pushes" during the first part of the final banjo break.
 |
|
Alan Munde and Wayne
Benson at Monkey
Finger Studio
|
Of course, Alan's marvelous sense of humor surely played a part in the feel of this cut. He had everyone in stitches while they were rehearsing and recording this tune. When we got back from lunch later that day after Alan had left, we found that he had left a voice message suggesting that we had better go go back and listen carefully to his track because he was afraid that he may have mumbled a profanity when he muffed a note. Of course, there was nothing there but he had us rolling on the floor at the prospect.
"Bill Monroe, or maybe it was Ernest Hemingway, said 'there will always be an audience for a good tune well played.' 'Four Leaf Clover' certainly qualifies as a good tune, and the performances of Wayne Benson, Rob Ickes, Tim Stafford, and Jason Moore far surpasses, as a good listening will detect, the level of well played. It was an extreme pleasure to participate in such musical merry making with such high caliber players as this. Yippee!"
"Getting to record on this project was a lot of fun. I've been a big fan of Alan Munde's, so it was a real treat for me to work with him for the first time. I also really liked Scott's tune; he is always a blast to pick with! I get to work with Tim regularly in Blue Highway, but it was fun to play with him in a different group context - he is a monster!"
back to top
|
