200 Posts and 2 songs

I picked up my repaired M-Audio board tonight, or should I say brand new board, which was a relief. When I brought it in for repair under warranty the good news was that the fellow at Long and Mcquade said hat he had never sent anything in to M-Audio before. He was actually referring to the fact he did not know how fast their service levels were, but I took it to also mean he rarely saw their product go south. I was a little nervous though, because if even a good manufacturer can have a lemon, and I did not want to suffer after the warranty was out with a machine that was serviceable but not overly reliable on a fluke.

Well the good news is they replaced the board all together, so hopefully I will have no future issues, as I have big plans for this thing. Four or five Cd's worth or more if I can!

Needless to say, I was very pleased with both Long and McQuade and M-Audio. I feel well treated and taken car of in the process. Always a good feeling.

And 2 songs! In the end I only missed one mini-session, and I have rough mixed the second track we captured drums on. It too sounds amazing, so I am looking forward to the next session which will hopefully net us at least 4 songs, maybe more.

Oh yeah, and this is my 200th post. I am slow, but what can you do.

Woo Hoo!!

So I had a successful drum tracking session on Saturday - really successful. I am using a loaner board (same model as the one I have in for repair M-Audio Project mix I/O - picture in previous post) Obviously there is some fear and trembling as I go deeper into this project. Drums will be the hardest thing I do in terms of capturing sound. I have a limit of 8 inputs so choosing the placement of the mics is a big deal, and with a little experimentation and a drummer with some studio experience knowing how he has found great sounds from his drums in the past, it was a real treat. We did some things that I haven't seen before, but to be fair I haven't paid a lot of attention to how drums were mic'd in my own studio experiences.

It was a short session, something we won't do again because the set-up and tear down time is intense, but we still got two tracks in the can. Listening to them over the last two days I am getting more and more excited. They sound really great. My drummer has a great kit which always helps. I have some serious learning to do on the editing side of things, but now it is play time. Create some back-ups and learn - I am having a blast. As the beds go down instrument by instrument this thing will start to sound really different. I remember that being an amazing process with Noticing the Sky as songs went from an idea to a produced sound.

I am really enjoying be the producer this time. I think I have been blessed with solid producers over the 5 projects I have done. In some respects one of my first and the last being the strongest of those. It was time to grow into this role though for both artistic, desire and logistical reasons, and did I mention I am loving it.

I will keep you posted - pardon the pun.

Minor? Setback

Like so many Canadian musicians I am a moonlighter. You take some of your precious "personal" time and you work away at creating something. Unfortunately that puts an emphasis on high productivity to get things done when you do have the time.

Last Thursday night was my first session recording the drums for my new CD. Unfortunately, despite my testing and preparation, I had equipment failure. My new M-Audio Project Mix I/O just quit. Now I have been incredibly happy with this board through pre-production and love it as an interface, but was obviously dissappointed. Drums set-up, sounding amazing and then - system failure.

It is still quite new, so warrantly should get me back on my feet and Long and McQuade will lend me one until it is back, so hopefully minimal down time on the project, but man a disappointing night.

Back at it soon, I will let you know how the next session goes.

The Cliff Cline Jazz Club Gig

So the Club is playing this Wednesday night. Really excited about that. We have played less than we would have liked up to this point but the gigs have been evolving more and more into who we are. This Wednesday should be an amazing progression from Christmas as we continue to develop our sound. You can still get tickets I think. Click on the FTC link on the bar to the right and contact them if you are interested.

I think this year is going to be a very interesting and promising one. We will definitely be hosting another Christmas gig, but we will need a bigger venue, and it will be much more of a concert. We will also be hosting one or two other concerts in yet to be determined venues so you will have to keep posted.

This year is supposed to be the year for my next solo "pop" release. Next year should be the Jazz Club's turn for a CD, so over time we will let you know how those plans are building.

Anyway, trying to write once or twice a week these days. I hope to see some of you out at the FTC gig. Good cause and it will be a great night.

Simplicity

I have been wrestling with this topic for years. I think I have made some spiritual progress in growth along the way, but I am amazed at how slowly my understanding and successful implementation of Biblical principles on this matter has been.

I certainly think it can be over-simplified into a discussion about how much is too much, what is necessity and luxury, but that quickly becomes a discussion about rules or opinions and boundaries (legalism) and stops being about why one should approach life, Biblically with simplicity.

Tomorrow I have to go deeper and preach on the topic at church. Link through here mid next week and the mp3 should be there for a listen if you are interested.

I think it will be an interesting time of reflection.

The Load

There are a few things I have been trying to do more of lately. I would say this year, but the way things have gone with work and family and music I didn't really have a, "oh now it is 2007" kind of start. The beginning of December marked some significant changes to normal life, the November before that was a great social time with many cool milestones, and January this year has been a transition into different things. One of the things I am doing more of currently is preaching. You can check that out here.

We have been visiting more and more people, as well, new friends, old friends etc. I am constantly amazed by how busy we all are. Work with everyone is busy, whether it be homemaking, career work, or both for some. Combined with home renos, other hobbies or interests, dedicated service at church and beyond it is a heavy load. But is it bad?

Maybe I am justifying, but I think not. I think it is all about balance.

Incredibly short and incomplete context: I write this from the perspective of someone who thinks that God is real, created the universe, wrote a book to reveal who He is to humanity, through real, mystical, and symbolic means provided one way to have a real interaction and relationship with Him through Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction.

So, with the balance that priorities based on a relationship with God begets a certain work ethic and enjoyment of the creation that God has given us by placing us in the middle of it, I think hard work, a kind of busyness that allows relationships to grow in love and thrive in an environment that is about being someone who increasingly follows the the Bible with all this in balance isn't really foolish busyness, but worship in all things.

The load, it is heavier, but I thank God for all that it is.

American Idol

I don't know why, but I haven't really been that interested in this show - really ever. Truthfully, I am still not. I definitely would go out for it if I wasn't such an old dude, but that is an old story.

The funny thing is that the last couple of nights I have been like a deer caught in the headlights. I actually can't believe the stuff I am seeing, and I get that it is about TV, but man. It is hard to watch, I don't know how the judges can stand hours upon hours of mediocrity, that much awful stuff. Anyway, it is wild.

Flip side is I am taking a vacation day tomorrow and working in the studio all day trying to get phase one (pre-production)done. Should be fun.

Fun Times

Into the New Year and we are off. Some more responsibility at work these days and trying to keep everything in the air. Getting back into running huge, not enough time in the studio, but it is coming. The next two months are huge in the production schedule for the new CD.

Anyway, just wanted to break the silence. Talk to you soon.

The Break

It has been a very busy couple of months for gigs and work and social things. The social stuff has been amazing, starting with a friends 40th birhtday party and ending with our friends annual, now Burlington, Christmas party, it has been great.

The Cliff Cline Jazz Club is starting to gain some great momentum (with and without me!) an I am looking forward to making tonnes of music with the guys this next year. The CD, as expectd, has slowed in December but will have to resume on the break week and into January.

With some transitional things at work, the CD, The Jazz Club and the hopefuly more gigs in general this year should be very busy in a good way.

An Interesting Season

Ironically I am not talking about Christmas, although what I am pondering is related - closely. Life throws many different things and experiences at you. I would have to say that I have not experienced anywhere close to the harsh or tragic things others I know are dealing with or have had to deal with just to survive.

Have I had a easy life? No, I don't think so, but everything becomes very relative quickly, and really it is not a contest. What I do know is that being able to go through life with others and do more than survive, indeed to thrive and grow, is a blessing.

Now you do get into the issues of what is surviving, growing etc., but I think if you read this blog at all you realize that, although I may struggle with materialism and the like, I uphold the ways of God as the ideal, and try to follow what the Bible teaches in that regard.

The mystery is in this. The Bible is simple enough that a young child can grasp and believe its fundementals, but complex enough to keep one pondering its meaning for a lifetime. Moreover, it seems as we get older, living those fundementals becomes more difficult to do, not easier. And yet, the basic concept never changes. Truth about life and its "keys" are given to us through the Bible. Christians believe that the Bible is the supernatural (although strikingly simple by today's standards) method by which the Creator of the universe has revealed everything we need to know to survive this chapter of existence. 1 Peter 1:3

What strikes me as most important as a person who believes in Jesus and in God (Yahweh, the name that the Bible uses to describe the God of Israel) is that I live a life that is defined by my submission (a dirty word today) to what the Bible teaches. A life that truly seeks to learn what the Bible says, to do what the Bible says and to teach others what the bible says. That progression can be seen well in the life of a teacher of Israel from the old testament times Ezra. Ezra 7:10

I think the opposite is true as well. It is important not to be defined, if one calls oneself a Christian, by thoughts, actions or proclamations that do not help others see the truth of the Bible more clearly. In the end, too much time spent on ideas or thoughts not aimed at doing what the Bible teaches as the keys to life is simply a waste of time.

Living a life akin to that of Ezra harvests a God honouring crop as it were. That is a narrow focus I admit, and one which I am striving to regain. Simple, focussed and true. It is hard to vacate the mind of the wisdom of this world which can seem all too enticing and logical in favour of the wisdom that is contained in the Bible. 1 Cor 1:20 All to often techniques and thoughts that the world reveres are the exact opposite of what the Bible would teach.

The simple focus is that success will come with a life lived in the truth of what the Bible teaches. John 17:17 Jesus was clear on that. Success of course looks very different than what the world thinks is successful. That concept is true, but very unpopular, cliche, unrealistic and trite to many. But it is a simple truth to dwell on and study. Look at Matthew 5: 1-13, Jesus' teaching is simple but completly counter to every human instinct it would seem. I am looking forward to preaching on that Dec 31.

So what is so interesting about this season? Well at a time when I could wrongly try to conjure up all that I think is right by the standards of this world to aid in succeeding in the eyes of many who may be watching, I am prfoundly pleased that I don't have to rely on my own wisdom, or the wisdom of other men, but to jointly rely with other trusted friends on the wisdom of God to stay focused on this simple truth: I need to learn more of what the Bible teaches, do more of what the Bible teaches and teach others more of what the bible teaches everyday. There may be other strategies out there, but I think that is a simple way of describing what Jesus would have us do for life. John 8:31.

KISS

Do you ever feel that for all of your striving, you are ever failing? A walk around the block is a circle, not a journey, and a debatable amount of exercise.

Sometimes I relate too much to the movie It's A Wonderful Life. By that I mean, I can't see the good stuff. It might be there, but I can't see it. As some other movie said, after a while the bad stuff is easier to believe. (because it is just way more prevalent)

I have been reading several blogs lately. Quite a few of just folk, linking through a friends blog to their friends etc., not artists or intellectuals, not "thinkers" or writers, just folk.

There is so much criticism in our society. It seems that many many people feel judged, not good enough. Like they don't measure up. I am there. How can you not be. Almost everyday I/we are told how we do not measure up to someone's standard.

Ironically that is a message that can too often come from the people who bare the responsibility to pass on the message of God's hope for the world. The hope that the world would try and know who He is and hat He's about. I know I mess up with this all the time.

So what is the message of God. On one hand, yes you don't measure up to God, but.... you can. As has been said often, it is not easy, but it is simple. KISS, keep it simple stupid. Man do I need to remeber that. Just be the truth that is in the Bible. When you fall short, just try and be more the next day, knowing that the very exercise (humility, repetence, trying to live the truth, not just know it) is success in God's eyes. Following the teachings of Jesus and the Bible (accepting and following them) allows us to live in this positive and hopeful reality. We are better than ok with our creator God.

Yes it is incredibly difficult to keep that simple focus, but I write this to remind myself, and I suppose others - Just Do It.

Had rehearsal tonight with the Jazz Club. Quite a blast. Drums, piano, stand up bass, sax and vocals all in my basement. I was blown away by the fact that my kids just fell a sleep. It was not quiet by any stretch, but they were out. Thought that was a neat experiment gone right. A little jazz to put them and keep them a sleep!!

The band itself, although behind schedule in our aspirations, is starting to realize our vision in some of our repetoire. (not all yet) We are doing standards, but are starting to out our own spin on several, with the goal of doing that to all plus starting to wrtie our own jazz tunes etc.

Anyway, our Christmas jazz party is next Thursday night December 14th at Not my Dog link to link. Love to see you there. We can't wait to make music and enjoy everybody's company!!

Just One Thing

A lot of reflection lately on many things. One of the things that has been bubbling to the surface again is purpose in life. As a middle leader in an church I often have to consider how am I doing at conveying the one important thing that all members of this community need to know and do. What is that thing. I think the answer is simple, the process is also simple, not particularly easy, but simple.

We are to make disciples of Jesus Christ Matthew 28:19 and of course be disciples by following the teachings of Christ, The Bible John 8:31. That is very Christian sub-culture language, but I do not know how else to say it.

As with anything it goes much deeper. Look at these thoughts on leadership:
link 1
link 2

One of them talks about Marcus Buckingham who talks about the need for clarity from a leader. I like the picture in the other article that shows the "one thing" a leader needs to be.

Nevertheless, I think this underscores some of my thinking and learning. You must be known for something. One thing. You must lead people towards one thing. That one thing may have incredible depth and breadth, but it must be clear and you must lead people towards it.

Simply, I need and want to be someone who follows the teachings of Jesus and helps others, who want to, do the same with passion and integrity. Not just a Christian nominally, not from the Christianese perspective a disciple because that's the right term. In the end someone who says what they will do and be (this is part of that) and then outside the blogsphere (the hard part) actually does it. Oh yeah with depth and breadth.

A Long Week

Hey Guys,

Sorry again for the lack of blogging. It was a great week, but incredibly busy.

The FTC gig went great in Burlington last week. There I played with Ali Matthews and also warmed up with a little set. Moreover, I had a jazz practice and a board meeting at church, two "gigs" last weekend and a tonne to do at home and work.

I spent a little time on the CD today after the service this morning at church. I am still optimistic that I can get this thing done "on time" (lot of ""'s today eh?) but I need to find time to press through December so I am ready for some heavy recording in the New Year.

Anyway, more as it comes. Thanks for reading and keeping up. Hope to see you at a gig or church or something soon.

Gigs a Coming Come on Out

Hey it's been a bad week for blogging, sorry. Lots going on.

I had a rehearsal this week with Ali Matthews who I am warming up for and playing with 4 times this Christmas in the FTC Christmas shows. I have done very little playing for other people in my life and this is a great experience. So fun to be able to "sit back" and have fun in the background. The whole band is great and the music is all Christmas and fun. You have got to see this!! We wil be playing in Hamilton first Nov. 30th at the Royal Botanical Gardens, sounds cool non! Then a few days later in London at the Lamplighter Inn in London on Dec 3rd.

For tickets call FTC 1-877-382-2262. Hope to see you there!!

The Cliff Cline Jazz Club Christmas Party

So mark your calendars Dec 14th, 2006 and come out to Not My Dog for our first annual Christmas bash. Love to see you there. We will have lots of the Jazz Clubs guys out that night, should be a casual hoot!! Come by and say hi, love to hang for a few hours.

Computers - Yeesh

So I am not technically much of a computer geek. I know enough to be dangerous and generally right a wronged ship, but I am not energized by the process. I run the computers at church - three went down last month. Without boring you with the details, it si also crucial in a small environment that all of computers work, well all of the time. There is no pad. Needless to say I have been wokring like crazy to make us ready for this weekend and the staff able to do their respective jobs. Now they are back to normal, I better go and catch up!!

The Cliche Police - A Tribute

I was recently cited and fined (rightly) for cliche (Christianese to be exact) use on my blog, something I try very hard to avoid. I was reminded by this fine, payable with remorse and apologies, that sometimes trite sayings or expressions get in the way for what you are actually trying to say. I will take better care in trying to write with more intelligence and clarity in the future. In fact, I will definitely put my best foot forward and give it 110%, take it one word at a time, and leave nothing on the keyboard, put my sholder to the computer, and not accept cliches as an answer.

Phew, now that I got that out of my system, maybe I will stay clean for a while.:)

Joy In Work

I definitely think it is a struggle to keep constantly motivated. I also think it is tough to stay totally positive in the midst of high pressure and high goal setting. On top of that I think it is very difficult to keep balance across all areas of life in the midst of pushing on all fronts, positively with great motivation.

That is, however, what I think we need to do. I am reading a couple of John Maxwell books right now. In one of them he cites Edison as an example fo a incredibly positive thinker who succeeded through positive attitude and thought.

Many of the thoughts have caught my attention as I read these books. The one thought recently is this: Remain positive, hopeful, persevere, don't give up.

I am totally pumped by the work I am doing both at church (and at home for the CD and book etc.) I am working out, trying to do even more with and for the kids, and the decision to keep it positive is helping me get up in the morning. When you decide life will be good, it tends to agree - even when all of the circumstances you ind yourself in are less than ideal.

Technical Difficulties

I have been having some technical difficulties as of late. I think I have figured out it is FIrefox and/or the Mac OS. Alas, I have put in a couple of backdated ones that you may have read when I publihed a couple of posts in iWeb format, or maybe not. Just letting you know.