New Hawk Arps Record Aims to Bring Back Spirit of Jazz
Vibraharp player Hawk Arps has released a CD of fresh and lively jazz.
By Leta Currie Marshall, special to the Island’s Weekly
Nov 20 2007
"Take a group of musicians, throw some music at them, and see what happens."
Lopez musician Hawk Arps, master of the vibraharp, said that's the basic formula behind his new CD, Vibra Cum Laude.
It wasn't quite as haphazard as it sounds: the musicians, dubbed The Laureates, are among the best in the West. And while it's not easy for seven busy performers to coordinate schedules, they did manage to rehearse together -- once.
Arps has been working on his second CD since July 4, 2006. He wanted the best musicians he could find to record the songs he wrote in honor of his family and friends, so he started by mentioning his plan to guitarist Don Peake during a gig. Peake wanted to be in on the project and even offered the use of his L.A. recording studio, but in the long run Arps figured it would be cheaper and simpler to record in the Northwest.
When Brazilian pianist Jovino Santos Neto came to perform on Lopez, Arps listened to his music and in particular that of his drummer, Jeff "Bongo" Busch.
"He sounded like he was right where I was, musically speaking. He's the best drummer I've ever worked with." Santos Neto and Busch joined the project, and Busch recommended a Brazilian guitarist, Kiko Frietas, and bassist Tim Carey. Arps found an organist on the Internet -- Joe Doria, whom he considers the best Hammond B-3 organ player on the west coast and "as good as anyone, anywhere." He also enlisted Gary Haggerty, an old friend from Lopez who now lives and performs in Berkeley.
Arps had his musicians -- now they needed his music. In March of this year, downed by the flu, he spent days figuring out the bells and whistles on a new keyboard bought by the Lopez Islander Resort, where he plays regularly in the house band. While he was at it, he arranged and wrote out -- by hand -- the music for all the parts for the CD.
The twelve songs were recorded in two days at Seattle's Contact Create studio, most in one or two takes. Arps said, "Most of the songs came out pretty close to the way I heard them in my head." What happened in the studio is what you'll hear on the CD: fresh and lively jazz, with the easy groove of a patio jam session. There are shades of samba, bossa nova, and R&B, sprinkled with "Stardust" and a celebration of "Lush Life" (two classics given new interpretations). The music is a statement against the intellectualism Arps feels has characterized jazz since the 1950s.
"One of the missions of this CD is to get the spirit of jazz back into the music," he said. "I'm particularly proud of the physical aspect -- the way it makes you want to move your body."
Arps credits his wife Heather for supporting him through the inevitable obstacles and delays on the way to this recording, and says, "Every step of the way had to be faith."
Vibra Cum Laude will be available at the Lopez Preschool bazaar at Lopez School on Saturday, November 24. You can also find it at HawkArps.com, LiveMusiconLopez.com, or CDBaby.com, or just call Hawk Arps, 468-3163. A release party is planned for early next year.