Wednesday
Mar212007
Ben's dare
Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 02:35AM
I have a sleeping baby in my arms, so I'm doing the one-finger type. This will probably be a short post.
We were working on a piano part today. Josh was playing wonderfully, as he always does. We got to one section that required some delicacy and he informed us that he was going to "channel Ben Shive". Ben, as some of you may know, is best-known as Andy Peterson's sidekick, but he's one of the best piano players I know (and songwriters, but that's another post). Most piano players I know wish they could play like Ben.
A few minutes after Josh's take was done we heard a knock on the door. It was Ben, dropping by to say hello. We decided to give him a dare. We handed him Aaron's chart, basically shorthand music notation, and said he'd get two takes, without hearing the song beforehand, and we'd see how amazing it was.
It was very amazing.
Not only was it beautiful and brilliant, but he and Josh played THE EXACT SAME MELODY in the chorus. It was freaky. We all got chills. We decided that on the record we're going to use both Josh's and Ben's parts and pan them, one all the way to the left, one all the way to the right. I can't wait to dig into editing that stuff. You won't believe it when you hear it.
In other news, Derek Webb, a former member of the band (the one I replaced) came to the studio today as well. It was good to hang out. He just finished a new record and it's sounding really great.
All right, it's almost 2 am, my gear is finally all back home in my own studio and tomorrow I'm taking Ella to the zoo. I love that year-long Family pass. I think we'll try and see the tigers this time.
We were working on a piano part today. Josh was playing wonderfully, as he always does. We got to one section that required some delicacy and he informed us that he was going to "channel Ben Shive". Ben, as some of you may know, is best-known as Andy Peterson's sidekick, but he's one of the best piano players I know (and songwriters, but that's another post). Most piano players I know wish they could play like Ben.
A few minutes after Josh's take was done we heard a knock on the door. It was Ben, dropping by to say hello. We decided to give him a dare. We handed him Aaron's chart, basically shorthand music notation, and said he'd get two takes, without hearing the song beforehand, and we'd see how amazing it was.
It was very amazing.
Not only was it beautiful and brilliant, but he and Josh played THE EXACT SAME MELODY in the chorus. It was freaky. We all got chills. We decided that on the record we're going to use both Josh's and Ben's parts and pan them, one all the way to the left, one all the way to the right. I can't wait to dig into editing that stuff. You won't believe it when you hear it.
In other news, Derek Webb, a former member of the band (the one I replaced) came to the studio today as well. It was good to hang out. He just finished a new record and it's sounding really great.
All right, it's almost 2 am, my gear is finally all back home in my own studio and tomorrow I'm taking Ella to the zoo. I love that year-long Family pass. I think we'll try and see the tigers this time.
Reader Comments (21)
Yay, first post! Not exactly slashdot but i'll take it.
In certain societies people believed that they could "inhabit" an animal or even another person by wearing a mask (or head, in the case of an animal) and imagining themselves to be that animal or person. Maybe Josh tapped into this.
Of course, peyote or other hallucinogenics were often involved. Perhaps you should send Josh down to the clinic to take a little test...
Good grief I really have to go to bed now -- I didn't think I was ever up later than Andy!
Have fun at the zoo. Might even see you there.
Can't wait to hear that tune derek played on the new record! :-)
whatta collaboration
AO
I'm looking forward to picking your newest record!
I've been playing the piano for 20 years and yeah, I wish I could play like Ben. Now I can't wait to hear that song and see what Josh and Ben did with it.
oh, and I'm looking forward to hearing Derek's stuff, too.
I'm shocked that the DW fanboys, who spotted his guitar from miles away, aren't salivating like Pavlov's dogs now that you've run the bell, Andy.
Or maybe it's just that they're slobbering too much to respond.
Hehehehehehehehehe.
Hey man,
The community (venue) I'm a part of called Emmaus in Gettysburg just booked Derek. He's coming September 9. We had it in the works to get you to come a while back, but communication broke down.
I want you to come play (seeing as how every time someone asks me who my favorite musical artist is I reply [without hesitation] Andrew Osenga)! What would be killer is if you could come play September 9 with Derek! If not, it'd be awesome just to have you any time you have an avail.
Thanks man,
You can respond at ryan@thisisemmaus.com
I channel my "inner Ben" everytime I look in the mirror. so far, so good.
"We handed him Aaron’s chart..."
Aaron who?
Sensman
Andy. Did Derek sing on the song or did he just play guitar?
This is so cool. One fingered typings, New records, Bshive arrivals, Dwebb arrivals, "DW fanboys" salivatings, the zoo... What else could there be that is awesome?
I thought Yanni was Josh's favoirte pianist...
Aaron Sands, the bass player. He's doing half the record since Jeff can't be here the whole time. Should have clarified, sorry Mike!
I assumed that sensman had written the song since he had written on other albums. Sorry for the mis-information
For those that may not know, Ben has been working on his debut CD. Hopefully, he'll continue doing great studio work and playing with Andrew Peterson, Dave Barnes, and others in live shows, but it will be nice to hear what Ben crafts on his musical project.
Speaking of channelling, I think Ben may have been channeling Chris Cross, the pop star from the late 70s and early 80s with the song called, "New Year." And I mean that in a good way. You may not have thought so, but I thought Christopher Cross wrote and released some great songs, they we may never hear them on radio again--they sounded GREAT at the time.
Already Ben's better than Chris in the lyrics department, but see if you don't hear shades of Christopher Cross in "New Year," a hit record if ever I've heard one. And ya gotta love the lines, " ... it's a new scene in an old play ...," and " ... a new line in an old song ..."! We'll forgive him for the heart/start rhyme. :-) Seriously, Ben is awesome. And just so you know, about 1/2 of those 1,000 plus listens on that song are mine, I think.
Oops ... I forgot the Ben Shive link:
http://myspace.com/benshive
did anyone else really wish that Andrew's answer to Mike's question would be Tate???
dang i miss those days. but i look forward to the days to come.
no offense to Mr. Aaron Tate, but i would much rather see a record with half Randall Goodgame songs on it than half Aaron Tate songs. Cause...Randall's a beast.
personally, I'd prefer at least 80% AO songs on the next CC album...you just can't beat the simple beauty of his lyrics...
Mother India has been greatly used of God to humble and encourage me recently...I'd go as far as saying it is the best CC song I've heard.
I grew up playing piano, and played for about 15 or so years of life. I saw Ben play music with Denver & MHO and Dave Barnes in Nashville. His talent overwhelmed me at BTLOG show at the Ryman at Christmas. the fact he jammed on the piano,then keyboard, then lap dulcimer, then auto harp, then acoustic guitar, in a matter of about 10+ measures, made me sick with his talent.
good stuff.
Dude, it's been almost 10 months, but I was just thinking about this the other day - curious if this song made the cut onto Overdressed, and if so, which song was it?