Scott's FootNOTES BLOG

Small Town, America is now a work in progress

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:52:13 GMT

Just posted that video yesterday on Kickstarter's website. It feels great to be back in the saddle and working on a new project. Kickstarter allows creative projects a way to seek funding from individuals. It hasn't been 24 hours yet and I'm very pleased that we are 1/3 the way to our funding goal for this project. I have 20 more days to reach that goal and the project only gets funded if the goal is met. I'll remain optimistic! I've always said that the folks who buy my CDs and support me are good people. Over 20 years in business and rarely a problem with theft, bad checks, bum credit cards, etc. Thank You! Please visit Small Town, America at Kickstarter and learn about this new CD which is slated to come out the first of July, 2012. I'll be reporting on progress along the way and hopefully posting some samples of these new tunes. I think it's a strong collection of material and I can't wait for you to hear it! Scott

I get by with a little help from my (full time artist) friends....

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 06:40:00 GMT

     Last year, my daughter, Courtney knew how much I was interested in the sociology class she was taking, so last Christmas, the gift I got from her was her old sociology books! One of those books was called “The Myth of Individualism”. In a nutshell, the author argued that there really is no such thing as individualism in the human game. We are social beings in every way. We rely on others to help us get through this life. I’m no exception to that rule, so I’d like to share just a few of those folks who have been key to my music career. So, I’m going to do a little bragging here and would encourage you to visit their websites to find out a little bit more about these friends!

       My biggest supporter, no doubt is my girlfriend, Nancy. She listens to my ideas. She tells me she likes my half finished songs and goes to almost all of my shows. I couldn’t do it without her. Allow me to tell you a little bit about her. Nancy Schindler is a true artist in every sense of the word. She is a professional potter and jewelry maker with a background in Art History. Her work can be seen in numerous jewelry publications and two forthcoming books from Lark Publishing. Nancy finds inspiration in found objects from eras gone by and incorporates them into her work to create modern day heirlooms. I am the kind of person who finds inspiration in large things. I marvel at a mountain range and a hundred mile view. Nancy sees the beauty in detail. When I am with her, I see things I don’t see otherwise. Her creations show her meticulous attention to detail. If you visit her website, you can view close-up photos of her hand made jewelry. I think you’ll be impressed. I know I am.

       My longest-running musical partnership is with my good friend, Tom Rasely. In 1986 (I think??), Tom & I brainstormed the idea of doing an instrumental Christmas album. Shall we say the rest is history? Tom and I have collaborated on and off ever since with our latest CD, Beaten Paths, Country Roads, being released this year. (Lakeside Christmas 1995 is the oldest that is STILL in print) Tom is a musical jack-of-all-trades. But, unlike the rest of that saying, Tom IS a master of many! He has written orchestral arrangements for orchestra appearances. He has arranged numerous CDs and plays many instruments. I must say though, the nylon stringed guitar is where he shines the greatest. I know of very few guitar players who can play with the feeling and expression of Tom Rasely. In addition to all his musical accomplishments, Tom has earned the nickname “Mr. Squeaky” (as in the squeaky wheel gets the grease…). His persistence led to our White House gig and numerous other accomplishments. Check out Tom’s site and find out some of the other things Tom has been up to.

      When Eric Aceto visited my first recording studio location in 1992 to record some violin tracks for Blue Canvas Sky he had to be careful not to get his bow caught in the low ceiling. I had heard Eric’s playing and loved the way his style seemed to defy categorization. Eric’s playing combines Jazz, Rock, Country, New Age, and World music influences and never fails to mesmerize an audience. He has always been first call when I needed any sort of violin or mandolin parts. Eric has played on dozens of CDs and performs live as 1/3 of the Scott B Adams AcousticEnsemble. In addition to being a very busy performing musician with groups such as Djug Django and the Djangoners, Eric is world renowned as a master craftsman of violins, guitars, and other stringed instruments. To see some of Eric’s amazing work as an instrument designer/builder, visit his website.

In 1995, I asked Doug Robinson if he would play acoustic bass on the albums, Celtimorphosis and A Lakeside Christmas. I’d been impressed by Doug’s playing and attitude towards his craft and thought his playing would compliment what we were trying to accomplish. Indeed it did. Since then, Doug has appeared on many Orchard Beat Records releases and also joins me at live shows as part of the Scott B Adams AcousticEnsemble. I often hear people comment how enjoyable Doug is to watch live, because not only is he a great player, but it is obvious he loves what he is doing. He too is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. He works as a producer and as a full time session player. He works with a wealth of artists and groups such as Johnny Russo, Djug Django and Sally Ramirez. Doug is another one of those people I just can’t do without. See all the other things Doug is up to by visiting his website.

And as a thank you to YOU for reading this blog post about my good friends, I’d like you to click here to
download a free copy of “I Saw Three Ships” featuring Tom, Doug, Eric, and myself from the 1995 release, a Lakeside Christmas. Just scroll down the page to A Lakeside Christmas and you'll see the Three Ships cut says "FREE". Happy Christmas!

Scott

Our 14th December Concert and a Little History

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:35:00 GMT

This will be the 14th year we've hosted a holiday time concert in the Finger Lakes. The first was In 1998. Tom Rasely and I had just returned from playing at The White House. It took place at the Orchard Park Acoustic Barn Recording Studios in Ovid, NY and Tom and I were joined by Doug Robinson on Bass and Joel Smales on Percussion. The stage was tight, so Joel was set up in one of the studio's windowed isolation booths behind the audience. We squoze about 70 people into the studio for that concert which indeed, was maximum capacity! The show was even taped and was broadcast on some local radio stations around Christmas time.

The concert has moved around a handful of times. Knapp Winery hosted a couple of years. The Lodi Historical Hall, a gorgeous old church building was used for a few years. The Boght Arts Center near Albany hosted our "eastern" location show and our l atest Finger Lakes home has been Hector's Presbyterian Church. It's been a long-standing tradition to offer Finger Lakes wine and home-made desserts at intermission. This show has turned into a holiday tradition and it's wonderful to see some folks return year after year!

When the record label was first formed in 1988, the first "tape" we released was called "Midnight Clear", a Christmas album featuring Tom Rasely, Dan Lovett & yours truly. The thought was that the holiday season is hectic and perhaps people would appreciate relaxing renditions of Christmas music that were melodic, yet different enough to sound like something new and refreshing. The annual December Evening Concerts brought that same idea to a live concert format. These shows certainly have plenty of upbeat moments, but the goal is that the audience leaves relaxed and with a smile.For most of these last 14 years, Violin player, Eric Aceto and Bassist, Doug Robinson have joined me. This trio makes up the Scott B Adams AcousticEnsemble. Eric, Doug, and I always have a great time doing this show. We'll feature stuff from our holiday CD Tidings as well as music from Adirondack Wild and much more. As always, we'll have a couple of suprises up our sleeves too. If you haven't had a chance to come in the past or if you've come every year, we'll be just as excited to see you there. If you can take a couple of days off, the Hector area has some of the finest wineries in the Finger Lakes. Hope to see you on December 18th, 3pm at The Hector Presbyterian Church for our Winter Solstice Concert! Reservations highly recommended!

All the Best,

Scott

P.S. If you have a favorite tune from one our CDs, let us know & we'll try to include it!
scott@orchardbeat.com

Good News for the World Economy!

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:34:54 GMT

Two words: CD Sale. Is that two words? In any case, I've decided to discount our latest CD Beaten Paths, Country Roads and our Bestselling Christmas album, Christmas Reflections through the end of November. "Why?" you ask... Well, I feel this is my contribution to jump-starting this sluggish economy. You see, if everyone buys these CDs and gives them to their uptight bosses, it will make the work place less stressful which will, in turn, lead to brilliant thoughts, which will, in turn, spread such cheer and optimism among the masses that economic recovery is sure to follow. Don't you think?

Scott

SALE PAGE

Autumn in New York...hmmm...sounds like that could be a song

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:35:00 GMT

I've been putting a few miles on the Ford Explorer lately. New York is certainly a beautiful state (and especially when it's NOT raining!). Each year we assess the fall foliage. Are the colors bright or dull? Will the leaves stay on the trees long or will the wrath of the Fall storms strip them early. I've seen some beautifully bright reds, oranges and yellows this year. We've still got some great colors happening in the Finger Lakes Region, but my path through the Adirondacks a few days ago made me realize not only is that region past peak, but most of the leaves are gone. Still beautiful though. It's nice to have views where there were none when the leaves were on the trees. Did an after dinner show for the folks at Sagamore Great Camp and got time for a nice stroll through the woods with Nancy the next day. Gotta love the smell of the woods this time of year...

Beaten Paths, Country Roads, the latest CD from Tom Rasely & I continues to be met with enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to getting back in the studio after the holiday season. I'm overdue to put out a new release with Eric Aceto & Doug Robinson. We'll be off tonight to play at Ventosa Vineyards in Geneva and be sure to order your tickets for annual Winter Solstice Concert in the Finger Lakes on December 18. I'm stil firming some other December dates in other areas to be announced soon. Hope to see you soon and don't forget CDs make great Christmas presents!

Acoustically, Scott

Web Site Update

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:30:00 GMT

Today was as good a day as any to go through the website and spruce things up. As tropical storm Lee picks up where Irene left off, I figure I'm safe on the second floor at the top of my little hill in Hector, NY. My heart goes out to those who have already been battered and are in for more with all this rain.

The good news is I think you'll find this latest revamp of the website a nice improvement. Hopefully things are a little easier to negotiate. I've added a bunch of new photos as well as new audio players to many of the pages. For the musicians in the crowd, I've updated the Studio Services pages and have got some special Fall/Winter rates for my production services.

There is also information on booking myself and/or groups for concert and events. Visit the event calendar often. It's going to be a busy fall for live music.

If you get a chance, take a few minutes and poke around and let me know what you think!

The Sounds of Silence & Confessions of a Gig-Nazi

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:50:00 GMT

Artists of all kinds (musicians included) speak of dry spells; times when inspiration just does not seem to strike. I've learned to enjoy those periods of time. A younger writer might tend to panic, wondering if good ideas will ever return. I guess I've learned that those dry spells are very much like those in this natural world. Even when forests burn, they return many times with new invigorated life. This is apparent on some of the mountain trails in the Adirondack Mountains where great fires of 30, 40, 50 years ago that left mountainsides charred and uninhabitable are now places where lush plant life and young forests take root and leave little trace of the moment in history that changed the face of the landscape. With a writer/musician, sometimes it's a good burn or drought that clears the way for new inspiration. I've found that to be true in my own writing. At this point in time, thankfully, I find I am in a time of new growth. I'm finding inspiration through varied styles of music and different instruments as well. I am enjoying a time when performing live is something I find invigorating and rewarding. For me, it may be a partial letting go. Operating as an independent artist in a shaky industry, I am always thinking of the "business side" of every decision. This poses an interesting dilemma for those of us who consider ourselves artists AND business people. The creative side finds itself at odds with the business side many times and when the decision effects our ability to survive, many times, the business side wins. But this year, I've decided to give the artistic side a chance. When musicians make a career out of selling recordings, in most cases, they become "locked" into the genre/style that has made them popular. There are certainly exceptions to the rule, but in most cases, straying too far from your "sound" is a no no. When I buy a new James Taylor CD, it doesn't matter that it's been 40 plus years since he released his first CD. I liked that sound and I am expecting it on a 2011 release as well. If Taylor strays and puts out a Hip-Hop album, he'd be looking for a new fan base. Sure, it can be done, but it's not easy. Now, for a "little guy" like me, it works much the same. I am mainly known for nice acoustic, instrumental music. Now, I love the music I do in this style, but the artist side of me hates being locked into it. I've strayed a little, but for the most part, if you like one of my CDs, you'll like most or all of them. I am not going to change the style of CDs I am releasing too much, but what I have done is expanded the kind of music I am playing live. When I perform concerts I still concentrate on my original instrumental and vocal music. For many years, I have been playing this material almost exclusively. I also have concentrated on "concert" situations and have shyed away from clubs, bars, restaurants. Truthfully, they don't pay well and the business side of me has told me not to do it. When people say I should perform someplace for "exposure", I usually would cite this analogy: That kind of exposure is the equivilent of standing naked in a field with a wind chill of 40 below zero. There are plenty of reasons NOT to and I could probably go on for a long time about it, but instead I'll explain why I have decided to change my stance. This year you can find me playing at local clubs, wineries, and bars near my home town of Hector in the Finger Lakes region of NY. For most of these kind of gigs, I don't push the fact that I have over two dozen CDs available and I don't wear my last 20 years of musical history on my sleeve. Instead, I just play. I play my music. I play other people's music. I play some jazz. I play some rock. I play instrumentals and I sing A LOT. I love to sing and my instrumental music career has squashed that part of me because my instrumental CDs sell so well! Now...I don't get rich playing at these small places, BUT I am meeting great new friends, tasting some of the Finger Lakes finest food and drink, and I am truly enjoying performing music. This is, in turn, keeps my creative side alive with varied musical ideas. So, it's win win. I feel like playing, which gets me writing more and hopefully makes me better at what I do. If you live in an area more than 30 miles from Hector, you probably won't see me performing these kinds of gigs. I'll be doing concerts elsewhere as usual. BUT, I do extend an invitation for you to stop by and visit my corner of the world...and if you do...I promise I'll pick up my guitar and play you a song. Scott 8-18-2011 Shhhh....(click here. It's Scott's summer fun band: A2Z Band!)

Changing Seasons - Holiday Shows

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:35:00 GMT

Okay. I may be jumping the gun a little here, but in this music biz, I am always planning a season or two or three in the future. It's double-digit August and that means Christmas is just around the corner. The Scott B Adams AcousticEnsemble will be doing our annual Solstice Concert on Sunday December 18th in Hector, NY. I'm thinking this is our 14th annual "December Evening Concert" here in the Finger Lakes. I am looking for a capital district venue interested in hosting an Eastern NY show also.

I am currently planning a series of solo holiday concerts throughout December. For the past dozen plus years I have helped out the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra by providing and running the live sound for their holiday pops concerts. Unfortunately the Syracuse Symphony went bankrupt earlier this year. The good news is that this frees me up to do more concerts of my own over the holidays. If you are associated with an arts council or church that may be willing to host a holiday concert, let me know! I'd like to cover as much of upstate New York as possible. Contact me by email: scott@orchardbeat.com and I can fill you in on details!

I've been getting some nice feedback on the new CD from Tom & I. If you've picked up Beaten Paths, Country Roads, let us know what you think! It's always great to get feedback so we know if we are on the right track!