Out on a Limb
Bill's first solo release
Produced by Jody Stecher
with
Scott Nygaard
Chad Manning
Avram Siegal
Sharon Gilchrist
Jody Stecher
& More
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(Jody Stecher)
1. Hurricane Creek
Bill’s first tune, composed in 2006 and later named for a creek in the Wallowa Mountains of eastern Oregon.
2. Terminal Jam
One way to deal with delayed airline fights.
3. Southside
In Bill’s native Maryland, the mixed drink called Southside is based on rum and a secret formula. On Bill’s mandolin, the tune called Southside is based on the beauty of the key of B major. The secret formula is knowing how to use the fingerboard to bring out the unique tone colors of this key.
4. Mother’s Day
One fine Mother’s Day Bill began spontaneously whistling a new tune. He discovered that he had been whistling in G major, and that it fit happily in that key on the mandolin. I think that’s amazing.
5. Going Home
In his vocal debut recording Bill channels Elvis and plays the mandocello. Who else can claim that?
6. Back to Sleep
Composed via whistling, to pacify his daughters in the middle of the night. It works every time.
7. Ragtop Ford
Bill’s idea was to put characters from songs, stories, and movies into a Ragtop Ford and see what they do. I took the ball and ran with it. Bill says I got in the Ragtop Ford and drove away with it.
8. Gravity Car
Imagine a large Keystone Cop Car careening down a winding mountain road. No brakes. Wheeeee!
9. Minorwood
Bill’s musical ideas and mine are thoroughly intertwangled in this three part tune in the ungodly key of Eb minor. Bill wanted a trumpet. I wanted maracas and shakers. Strings Only worked best.
10. Fast Track To Richmond
Bill was shopping for a chicken and began singing about it. By the time the song was finished we had puns, chairs, and mandocellos all in the same song.
11. Snapdragon
A snappy tune with a snappy title in the snappy key of F.
12. Walk With Me
Bill channels Maurice Chevalier and tells a true story in a sweet love song while playing the mandocello.
13. A Lively One
A spontaneous joyful arrangement for tenor lute, mandocello, mandola, mandolin, violin and bass. Look Ma, no guitar!