I've a new CD out
The Beth Custer Ensemble Roam
we are:
Jan Jackson, drums
David James, guitar
Graham Connah, piano
Lisa Mezzacappa, bass
Chris Grady, trumpet
and me, voice/clarinets.
The great singer, Diana Mangano will be joining us singing backups at our CD release party on October 19th at Yoshi's in SF.

Roam is my tenth release on my tiny label BC Records, and The Beth Custer Ensemble’s third release having released the My Grandmother DVD and Respect as a Religion CD earlier this century.

Roam is a bit more introspective than earlier efforts and shows off the great lyrical writing of Octavio Solis as well as my own poetic efforts. We've collaborated on four musicals and some of the songs are included here. Other the material was written in Italy during my Civitella Ranieri residency last year and some written this year at Montalvo Arts Center.

The fabulous Jeff Cressman, trombonist for Santana and recording engineer extraordinaire recorded and produced the disk. He captured us live with very little over dubbing so you get the real deal!

The CD is dedicated to the great actor Luis Saguar whom I worked with in Campo Santo Theatre last year on the musical June In A Box. And to an old friend and true gentleman, Miguel Angel. Both passed suddenly this past summer. Here's to you, Luis and Angel.

The photos on the release were taken by my mate Federico Cusigch. The cover is in Saline Valley where I've been going for over 20 years on camping/hot spring sojourns, both solo and with Fedie.  It's a place that is very difficult to get to but once you're there, it fosters awe of nature and introspection. The waters are very healing and I've made some great desert rat friends out there. There's a bird on a air conditioning unit photo taken at the Armagosa Hotel in Death Valley Junction.

Peace, love and in hopes that you enjoy  my latest effort.

B