"Holiday" Top Friends List

Following in the footsteps of songwriter-singer-booker-
recordingartist-worldtraveller and mentor, Tom Glenne, I've ammended my Top Friends list to include a new theme - Those folks who've participated in one or more of Open Concept Productions Holiday Albums.

Every Year we record a holiday album in November-December as part of our commitment to bringing together artists in spontaneous collaboration (see oxford under "art").

It started somewhat as a half-joke a few years ago.  We were aiming for "cheesy" (or I was).  We recorded live in the Salon Musica music room, a two-day effort.  Everything in 3 takes or less.  All on mini-disc.  No idea what we were going to record, often bastardized lyrics, odd instruments, handflute a la Kevin Stock, and minimal practice.  In the end, it all turned out to be something much, much more (I think that's where they stole the name for the network).

The outstanding quality of the first year recording was largely the work of soundtech and bassist Dietrich Sider.  The Salon Musica Band and longtime friends from Uncle Seth also contributed largely to the initial project(s).  Cover art for the first year(s) holiday albums were the work of Mor (www.trymor.com) and Rick Jacobson.

Additional holiday album recordings were recorded live at the Free Times Cafe 2nd home of Open Concept and technical difficulties.

The 2006 holiday album is part brain-child of Open Concept and recordingmaster Myke Mazzei.  Recorded in the living room of Open Concept.

Please check out the artists on the homepage who've participated in the albums.

Ado - Contributing photographer to our 2005 album.  And very sweet.

Myke Mazzei - He generously provided his time, gear, and mastery to the upcoming 2006 album.  As well as some backing parts and an original song on various albums.

Tom Glenne - Another generous artist.  Tom contributed to more than a few songs on the 2006 album as a songwriter and general collaborator.  It's fair to say he had a great time that Tuesday.

Laura Fernandez - The hardest person in the world to shop for.  Laura's keys and vocals and songwriting appears on most of the holiday albums.  Who knew she could play a jazzy "god rest ye..."?

Uncle Seth - Longtime friends and participants in all things of Open Concept Spirit.  Special thanks to Jay for hosting the Open Concept site.

Kevin Stock - The easiest person in the world to shop for.  Kevin is definitely old man Christmas.  He arranged a fantastic train-ride listening version of "take it back" on the first album and surpassed himself with other Christmas classics later on.

Jeff Kahl - We missed his sticks on the 2006 album.  A fine person to have on any recording.

the Brooks Sisters - They sing in English, Francais, Latin and beautifully.  What more could you want?

Graydon James - Sorry about the feedback from that one mic GJ.

Alicia Glenn - Now residing in Edmonton (sorry Oilers, next year), Alicia brought lovely lovely lovely vocals to "the Christmas Song".  She also contributed backing vocals on a number of other traditional and twisted holiday tunes.

the Friendless Youngsters - Geoff, Sarah, Tom, Graydon.  Not so friendless as Geoff would appear (there's a pun there).  They provided their unique country-rock style to old, odd, and original holiday tunes.  We count DVR as an honourary friendless one in this bunch.

Kerri Ough & Sue Passmore - Wow.  We requested a choir for the 2006 album and they provided a two-person choir of the highest order.

Aynsley Saxe - We've had the opportunity to book Aynsley for a "best of" Open Concept artists in 2005 and are happy to have her on our 2006 holiday album roster.  She brings a truly fine voice and style to all her musical endeavours.  And hippos.

Melanie O'Brien - Always fun to work with Melanie.  She managed to rock the living room (and Xmas tree if we had one).

Yehuda Fisher - He runs his own spoken word / music show at the very venue we started off running our own spoken word / music show.... Hope we aren't in danger of being replaced by him someday.  

Jeremy Parnell - A previous year's contributer to the holiday album collection.  He will be remembered for bringing two elves to the party that night.

Kritty - Oh, we dearly hope you get that hippo you asked Santa for.  We'll bring you tons of loaves and fishes to feed him.

Shelley O'Brien - Now living on the west coast of Canada.  Shellest participated in many Open Concept shows and recordings prior to joining our holiday album cast.  Happy waves.

Signe Miranda - One of our favourites to see at any Open Concept event, Signe provided backing vocals to Myke Mazzei's original as well as others.

And honourable mention to:

Amy Campbell - Amy designed the Open Concept website.

the Free Times Cafe - 2nd home to many Open Concept endeavours.

Dayna Manning - We hosted a couple of private concerts with Dayna.  At one she provided a great version of "o holy night" that put the crowd in the Xmas spirit.  She is also quoted as saying Kevin's voice on the Xmas albums sounds like Rufus Wainright.

LeeAnne - She'll be serving us drinks when we listen to the completed album on a Monday soon.

Thanks always for reading this far.
Visit www.musicface.com/openconcept for more on the xmas albums and contact info.

Ryan