Hey guys, check out this new jamb.  Badtouch (Greg Baeza) was awesome enough to get me involved with his project.  He provided me with the main arrangement, groove and instrumentation, and I wrote melody and lyrics and sang and played piano over the mix.  It turned out unique and dark, and really rad I think.  We’re working on another one.

This song is currently unnamed.  Does anyone out there have any good suggestions?  It’s loosely about this Shogun Warrior named Honda.

More on this project as it develops.  By the way, I’m doing a show in NYC at Pianos maybe next week.  Check back later for details. Love, Chris

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here’s a new little demo

I’ve got some other new stuff but I didn’t have time to demo it.  Maybe I’ll throw up some more tunage this week.

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Let’s all go to a virtual Chris Merritt Trio show!!  I picked a few videos from some recent shows for ya:

there’s more ——> Read the rest of this entry »

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Instead of the singer being judged by his performance on an occasion when fatigue, illness or unfavourable circumstances may militate against his perfect success, when the nerve-shattering conditions of the platform probably in any case offend his susceptibilities and detract from the perfection of his performance, he will be able to found his reputation upon the very best performance he is capable of. He will be able to try and try again in the privacy of his study. When he has satisfied himself, and then alone, will he publish his artistic effort to the world.

– T. Baron Russell, A Hundred Years Hence, 1906

We went into the recording studio last week!  We laid down the drums and piano for three new songs (The Times Are Changin’, Radio, Walkin’ On The Water), and piano for a couple other songs (Surfin’, Sarah).  We were at the AWESOME Doghouse Rec. Studios in NYC where owner/head engineer/jazz pianist Nathan did an amazing job.  He became a fan of our band and really helped out.  He has a 1926 Mason & Hamlin grand piano, which is the best sounding piano I’ve ever used on any of my songs.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Hey guys, thanks for all the comments lately!  It’s nice to hear from you.

I got a last minute show tonight at Pianos in NYC!  Come be the only one there!  8 PM – I’m upstairs.  There are two stages apparently. Feel better Shannon Corey!

Here’s a new jamb – been listening to Rimsky-Korsakov (who is a freakin’ genius) and trying to learn something.  This recording is crap but I think the song will be good eventually.

Here’s a great piece - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty8CCHicF40 – at 4:36 I get shivers up my spine.  It’s rock and roll right there.

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Someone sent me this article on the sinking music industry with quotes from Thom Yorke.  His main point is that the music industry will be completely dead in a matter on months, and to new artists, he says, “When the corporate industry dies it will be no great loss to the world.  So, I guess I would say, don’t tie yourself to the sinking ship because, believe me, it’s sinking.”  His band mate Ed O’Brien is involved somehow with the Featured Artists’ Coalition.  I couldn’t really figure out what they actually do, besides feeling good about themselves and being angry at the man.

I agree that the music industry is sinking, but I think it has been mostly underwater for a few years now.  But here’s my main problem with Radiohead’s super-progressive outlook on music and the industry:  even though the old, behemoth music industry is gone, or mostly gone, there’s no system in place that even comes close to promoting a new artist in the same way*. Thom Yorke tells new artists to avoid major labels, but nobody would even care what he says if Creep hadn’t been skyrocketed to super-fame by the major labels.  Read the rest of this entry »

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sketches testing some Surfin’ harmonies

Here’s a new sketch of a song

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Filling in for Chris’ blog tonight as he’s hard at work learning new music for his “Little Maestros” job. (I’m sure he’ll add some very glowing remarks along with mine in the near future!) This super talented a capella group of young men, Nine After Dark, decided to arrange a Chris Merritt medley of “Tower of Sand” and “Madison” — they also made a video of their performance over the weekend, and we had to share it with everyone. Amazing job, fellas!! Also congrats to any of Nine’s 2010 grads, you’ll be great additions to any college a capella groups for sure.

~ Cathy

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You don’t want to miss this show next week!!! The band and I will be blowing the roof off Buchanan Hall, in the most beautiful town in America, Upperville, VA.  And if that’s not enough for you, there will be two other AWESOME groups opening the show, plus, eat some Big Daddy’s BBQ, and drink adult beverages (beer, vino) galore!  Could there be a more perfect thing to do next weekend?  I don’t think so.  Plus, a portion of the money goes to saving the historical site of Buchanan Hall.

Well, in the city world, meanwhile, I saw some rats after the show.  I’m having a blast with my new camera.

But also, I’ve been busy.  Brett and I are working on getting songs ready for the studio next week.  We’re working on one called The Times Are Changin’, one called Radio, one tentatively called Dirty Girl, one called Surfin’, Read the rest of this entry »

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(quickly – I’m performing tonight at The Bitter End in NYC – come and enjoy the music and have a beverage – 8 o’clock!  more like 9)

Yesterday was the best day of my life.

First I went in to my new job playing music for babies.  Seriously.  More on that later.  The I bought a digital camera.  It’s time to Read the rest of this entry »

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