Once again, my old friend George Braun entered the picture with a phone call and an offer to compose some music for three Folon digitally-animated commercials for Tokyo Gas of Japan. Obviously, just to be involved in a project with Jean-Michel was an honor to which I could not say "No." Knowing that making a 'commercial' for Japan is not the same as in the U.S., I felt that this was a great creative opportunity. So, I submitted a cross-section of my recorded work
including
selections from the just recorded "LOCAL COLOR." After some
consideration, the Japanese production company responded
and said that they wanted new compositions which, in spirit
and attitude, resembled "Candles"(from "ARROWS"); and "Tafiya"
and "The Blue Rose"(from "LOCAL COLOR"). The titles for
these three pieces, like many song titles from earlier tunes,
came from my view of what a Folon painting looked like to
me. And, I saw images that suggested: "Tree of Building"(because
there was a tree and the leaves were all concrete structures);
"Warm Blue Town"; and "In a Star's Arms." You should understand
that Folon was trying to project an image of a gas and electric
company trying to work hand-in-hand with nature. In principle,
an environmentally sound concept. What's nice about the
recording process is that they want you to just go in and
do what you'd normally do. So, we went in and just played
and, as usual, the tracks were long. The Japanese production
company then edited together the pieces they needed to make
commercials which were :15, :30 and :60 in length. At the
time, my entire old catalog from "EVIDENCE" forward had
been picked-up by Polydor K.K. of Japan, and they decided
to take these three new tracks and make a "Best Of" package
to be titled "HELPING HAND." In the end, it was such
a thrill to hear the music with the beautiful computer-animated
Folon visuals.
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[1] Tree of Building(Steve Khan)(10:06) [2] Where's Mumphrey?(Khan, Jackson, Jordan, Badrena)(7:26) [3] The Suitcase(Khan, Jackson, Jordan, Badrena)(5:01) [4] In a Silent Way(Joe Zawinul)(4:49) [5] Warm Blue Town(Steve Khan)(7:47) [6] Blades(Steve Khan)(10:47) [7] Infant Eyes(Wayne Shorter(4:23) [8] Dr. Slump(Steve Khan)(8:22) [9] In a Star's Arms(Steve Khan)(4:37) [10] Penetration(Steve Leonard)(6:16) |
Graphic:
Folon poster from 1980
Folon Tokyo Gas Original Storyboard from 1987
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