Beatles, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Billy Joel, Rolling Stones, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd, Yes, Led Zepplin, Deep Purple, Elton John ... and just about every other great band from the '70's / '80's !!! All things Classical ...
By the end of the summer of '06, Joe "Pajamas" Chiofalo was finished with his latest batch of songs and set off to find a producer that shared his musical taste and sensibility to help record them. His search ended when he and producer / guitarist Stephen Butler had a nice long chat after the two played a Mary Lee's Corvette gig together at nyc's "the Cutting Room".
Of course keys and guitars do not a record make, so Steve got in touch with long time friends Fran Smith Jr., bass player for The Hooters, and studio drummer Greg DiDonato, and the first phase of the package was in place. The guys were great. Everyone hit it off real well and they all had a hand in arranging most of the tunes. Within a couple of weeks they had recorded basics for five of the ten tunes that would soon make up "ORANGE & BLACK".
Working with new people is one of the great things about making records. Every now and then you get lucky and the stars re-align, paths re-cross, and you get to work with some of them again. A few years back Joe co- wrote and recorded the anthem for the local arena football team, the New York City Hawks. Joe joined forces with "Time for Dying" the great Led Zeppelin tribute band consisting of Jimi Bones on guitar, Kurt Stevens on bass, Jean Violet on vox, and Aaron Brooks on drums ..., they pounded away LIVE at Madison Square Garden treating the disillusioned crowds to some awesome classic rock covers. Most of the time drawing more attention to the band then the lame Hawks. New friends were made, and old friendships kicked up a notch. It was clear that if the fates allowed the boys would somehow, someday, work together again. And sure enough, this would come to pass in various places, on various projects, and in various combinations.
This time it would be Aaron's turn to re-hook with Pajamas. On a far too sunny saturday morning, with mind and body still ringing from last night's gig at NYC's Red Lion, Aaron found his way to the awaiting car and crawled in. With his gear checked and Aaron aboard, the gang headed south to Steve's studio. Over the next couple of weeks, in and around very busy schedules, the next four songs were recorded. Steve and Joe agreed that ten songs would be a good count for the CD so on a cold January afternoon the two of them recorded the casual tenth and final track, "Step out of the Nightmare".... bloody symbolic. "BALDWIN DRIVE" is an eclectic collaboration of seasoned players, brought together by Stephen Butler and the cosmos to present to the world "ORANGE & BLACK". The NEW CD IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW on ZIP Records and will be officially released on June 24th. Keep checking our websites for upcoming gigs with a brand new line up featuring Benny Landa on lead guitar ... Cary Scopes ... Allison Jones on bass ... and Aaron Brooks on drums. They'll be taking Orange & Black to the streets this year. The CD pre-release show at the Cutting Room was SOLD OUT and the band kicked ass. There are more shows to be announced so keep your eyes open !! You don't want to miss Baldwin Drive >LIVE< . .
Thanks darling! All is well in my world and I am enjoying that it's finally starting to feel like summer. Hope all is groovy and bright in your beautiful world. :-) Hope our paths cross soon! Have a wonderful night and weekend!! All my Love, Erin
