We received some good exposure. KQED did a piece on us for the Independent View TV show where we played to films and were interviewed. I still hear from people who saw it, even strangers. (Talk about the ripple effect!) We added Tom Nunn on bugs and other inventions. He was our first “guest” and one who could never over stay his welcome. The quartet played The Exploratorium and Yuerba Buena and actually got paid.
George Cremaschi was asked to play and added some deep bowed bass to the mix. At this point Andrew thought he would be leaving town and the band. I went to Phillip Greenlief’s “birthday” show with champagne in hand and asked him to play with REEL CHANGE knowing he was the busiest man in the world. Phillip agreed and was a nice complement to Andrew (who didn’t leave) adding some great “voices” singing and growling through his clarinet and other reeds.
We recorded while watching the films usually 2 or 3 improvised takes for each. I would later line these “takes” up side by side synced to the movie. I would decide which take was best and then add some spice from the others. The results were often organized or composed but with a spontaneous and sometimes wild feel to them. Our feet were on the ground while our heads were in the sky. At one point George asked, “Why all the recording?” I wanted to document the band. Once Phillip asked us to be on his Evander music label I set my sights on a CD release. Joe Sabella set his sights on teaching and in time called it quits. I took a bigger role in directing the band and worked hard at becoming a better lap steel player. I began to recognize that wry smile on Andrew’s face when I played something good. “You’re getting a lot better,” Joe would say, “We wouldn’t be playing with you if you weren’t.”
The improv scene reminded me of the film scene in the late 1970s. I was thrilled to be involved but the audiences were dwindling. I was used to over 100 people at the film shows and now we’d be lucky to get half that many. After 9/11 it got worse. I decided it was over. No more film shows. I felt too much good work was going unnoticed. This phase didn’t last long. News of my friend Ben Lindgren’s sickness put things in perspective. Ben was a great abstract expressionist painter and inspired by his work, I offered to make a film using his paintings. I wish he had lived to see it. The group came back together to record the soundtrack for it minus Joe who was replaced with a cello player, Adam Hurst. Adam revitalized the band, adding cello to many of the tracks forming a unique chemistry with Andrew and George. Adam could take the music anywhere. I was always amazed that more musicians didn't pick up on his playing and use him. He fell in love and moved to Portland but not before we did more recordings as a quartet, with Tom and Andrew. I found myself left with enough material for 2 CDs!