What band is crazy enough to make a 'live' recording the first time they perform in front of people? Well, this band was crazy enough to do it. There was a great reaction to the release of "EYEWITNESS" in Japan and the group was immediately booked for some gigs at the famous PIT INN in Tokyo. We were advised by George Braun
that
fans would not really believe that we were, in fact, a 'group'
until we had released three recordings. So, we thought we
could immediately make record #2 while we were there in
Japan. When we arrived in Japan, the 'group' had no name
and "EYEWITNESS" had been released under my name because
none of the other guys wanted to sign the contract. So,
as we walked into the PIT INN for the first show, the poster
outside read: STEVE KHAN & EYEWITNESS, and from that day
forward, everyone has just referred to us as: Eyewitness.
People often ask why was the same recording released with
two different titles? Well, initially the recording was
to be titled "MODERN TIMES"....period, end of story.
But, before we could find a label to release this recording
in the U.S., Steps Ahead had just released their own LP
titled, "MODERN TIMES." So, in order not to be confused
with their recording, I changed the title for the U.S. release
on Passport Jazz. A 'miracle' release because NO ONE wanted
a recording with four tunes, each over 10-minutes in length.
In truth, IF this recording had been done during the height
of the CD era, each tune would have been about 17-minutes
long, and we had to do some serious editing to make it even
fit on an LP! The only release of this recording as a CD
was in Japan, and sadly it's been out-of-print for sometime
now. Highlights for me include: the drum/bass duet during
the 'Intro' to "The Blue Shadow"(one of the best recorded
examples of the ESP-like chemistry that exists between Steve
and Anthony); the texture Anthony and Manolo create at the
beginning of the guitar solo on "Blades." Steve Jordan's
unique approach to the drums, to music-making, to the sound
of each drum and cymbal makes this recording so sought after
by drum nuts everywhere. My nightmare about the sound of
this recording is that none of the wonderful Japanese recording
technicians told me that one of my two Roland JC-120s was
completely distorted during the entire recording, and that
track became useless! Often times, it is mistakenly thought
that all American musicians know exactly what they're doing
at all times! In the end though, it's my responsibility
to make certain these details are correct. So, I was stuck
with a sound which, to me, is not representative. Monstrous
bummer! I also made the huge mistake of recording myself
with too much 'live' digital reverb....and, of course, once
that's committed to tape, you're stuck with it!
|
[1] Blades(Steve Khan)(10:47) [2] The Blue Shadow(Steve Khan)(11:46) [3] Penguin Village(Steve Khan)(11:49) [4] Modern Times(Khan, Jackson, Jordan, Badrena)(11:02) |
Photo: Eyewitness live at 7th Ave. South, New York City - by Masato Hashi
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