SounDoctrine

An ENDURING Reflection by Jere B

Endurance began as a follow up to SounDoctrine's debut album "PERSEVERANCE." The band & music were much different, being more a 'Quincy Jones' like production featuring nine different lead singers with only three instrumental tracks. The album garnered great reviews so I immediately began compiling other songs I had written which would tie in as a natural follow up.

Meanwhile, we'd put together a BORDERS TOUR and traveled throughout Northeastern Ohio & Western PA with most of the original singers and musicians, broadening the musical pallette of the original compositions. However, because most of the vocalists were wives and mothers, they could not make the gigs consistently, so at times we (the band) found ourselves on stage having to do instrumental arrangements on the spot! Over time, we began to rehearse this way- just in case! Our former production director Kim Hines had captured most of these shows and "SD LIVE!!!" was born. Released in June 2003, it showcased several versions of the songs (no less than 3 of "YOYO"!) The BORDERS TOUR also led to a documentary "THE ROAD TO PERSEVERANCE" produced and directed by Art Byrd, which became a Featured Finalist in the 2004 Hollywood Black Film Festival, taking our sound to sunny LA in June of that year.

Meanwhile, the band's line up was changing constantly. Music Director, Cliff Barnes left to play with the likes of Pieces of A Dream (with whom he still tours), David Sanborn and Phil Perry among other notables. Composer & Keyboardist Jim Couchenour joined the group and our sound took on a more contemporary flavor, while retaining our Funky Jazz roots. Eventually saxophonist Jaymie Herod left the group to pursue other interests and Mike Austin (who had traveled off & on with the band) stepped onto the pitcher's mound. All the while, I had been whittling away at what I hoped would be the perfect follow up, while simultanously honing the ever emerging compositions coming from Jim C & Phil the Beat. I guess I really never looked up to notice that by now (early 2005) the band was completely instrumental - most of tunes I had sank my teeth into were written for vocalists.

It was around then I realized I may be making a huge mistake! See, I had prayed and told The Lord that this was 'HIS' band, 'HIS' music and 'HIS' project - Whatever HE wanted to do was cool - yet all the while keeping my hands on the steering wheel! Even though we had began rehearsing and incorporating Jim's great tunes into our set (SACRIFICE & SMALL MOUTH BASS among others) and had long introduced PTB's KICKIN STICK, I was still writing lyrics! When we played THE HOBO (now titled BLUES CROSSING) at the 05' New Year's Eve First Night Youngstown Show and saw the crowd reaction, I knew My Plans were futile. But since original vocalists Janis Jones, Angie Jones & Tara Amill had also performed several songs with us that evening, I kept plugging away. In fact, I even pursued additional vocalists and musicians whom I felt would retain the original vibe I had intended.

I began making copies of the new material for everyone to listen to - AND LEARN - but nobody did! So I began doing the next best thing (or so I thought!) - DOING IT MYSELF! But having to put the project on hold as Jim was ready to go into production on his debut " LIVING COLOUR," we went to work on his grooves. LIVI NG COLOUR was a very cool, exciting and different vibe I was blessed to be a part of and learned a lot from. One thing we knew for certain about this record making business is that you cannot just MAKE the darn thing - you actually have to PROMOTE it - even SELL it to people! So that's what we set out to do! Not surprisingly, SACRIFICE (featuring Mike Austin on sax) began receiving a ton of airplay locally (Legendary DJ Frankie Halfacre played it on 102 JAMS every chance he got! Thank you Sir!) and we were even approached by a National Radio Promotions firm to pick it up for placement on major stations, but we happened not to be multi-billionaires and refused to pay two arms, a leg, one of our own children and a nephew!

But we knew we were on to something so we kept hacking away at not only Jim's music, but the songs that Phil kept bringing to the table - These included what ended up being ONCE UPON A GROOVE & LEGEND of PTB. Phil also introduced a great song entitled SMOOTH JAZZ RADIO that we played live several times. In the middle of all of this , we were having these jam sessions (which were supposed to be show rehearsals) which yielded REALLY COOL & the aforementioned BLUES CROSSING and several others still waiting their turn at bat. It was then when Jim (whom we began calling 'The Balladeer) unleashed the sultry beast that became SOUL SONG - Now it was clear that I was all wrong with what I was trying to do with this new release and I freely admit, although I had released a montage of the material in one of our newsletters - When you tell GOD it's in HIS Hands - LEAVE IT THERE! So I obediently conceded.

Then things really took off!

We played The Flip Flop Fest July 17th, 2005 and ran into Paul Douds, who I had mey briefly about a year earlier at a local church. His wife Karen is a great singer and worship leader and his son Nate is a fabulous drummer who played in the Teddy Pentelas Trio with Cliff on Tuesday Nights at Cedars. I knew that Paul played guitar but I did not know that he PLAYED the guitar!! He and Karen ended up staying to see our set and we traded numbers. One conversation led to another and I invited him to sit-in with us at Anthony's on The River on August 12. When he hit his first two (2) chords we knew we had bitten off more than we could chew! I'll never forget the look on Mike's face as he turned around to express his enthusiasm - what a great night of music!

Immediately we took steps to make Paul a member of the band, yet understanding his personal schedule opted for him being our resident 'sit-in.' What delighted us most was Paul's ability to morph into any style at will. From Funk to Rock to Blues, he had the goods. Once Paul was on board to record the album, we began implementing necessary changes in the arrangements to accomodtae his solos and licks.

In early January of 05, I was sent one of those Power Point 'Slide Show' Emails that had traveled across the world and back from the number of addys attached to the thing. I usually delete then on site, but since the person who had forwarded it to me was my good friend and colleague Edra Frazier, I opened and watched. The photo of the little boy in the midst of the chaos literally enveloped me. I identified with him immediately. Perhaps it was because I was in the middle of an ever increasing personal turmoil spritually, mentally and especially in a particular relationship issue, the fact that this young black man was standing there, in protest, while everyone else was running and falling away confirmed my earlier ideas about entitling this album "ENDURANCE."

Immediately, we began looking for the owner of this photo. Edra helped by researching her sources; my eldest daughter Tejai, (the namesake of our parent company) then a Senior African-American Studies student at Xavier Uninversity picked up the baton to do some additional research, even enlisting her professors to help! Many hours of pouring over encyclopedias in our local library yielded no results, so we posted the pic on our website and offered rewards in our newsletter for the person who could tell us who the owner of this great work was. We are still looking...!

On Thursday, November 11, 2004 Mike was unable to make a gig in Canton due to his work schedule, so we enlisted the help of our old friend Cliff to some and come play the sax melodies on his keyboard. Sometimes you just have incredibly awful ideas - This was one of them! Not becuase Cliff could not handle the new stuff (Quite the contrary!!), but he had not played with us for about a year and was unable to rehearse, so I am literally force feeding him the music during the trip!

It was Disgusting. Really...

Unbeknownst to us, Cliff had called a friend of his to check out the set - I guess he thought we were going to have an 'ON' Night! Nevertheless, he introduced the young man to us as Keith McKelley, a heavy duty sax player. I could see that Keith was being cordial, but I could also see that look of sympathy in his eyes over what had just happened! He was gracious enough to give me his number in case we needed a REAL sax sub again. We did.

With every gig that Mike was unable to perform , Keith stepped in and added some ideas to songs we thought were 'set in stone.' His first opp to really vibe with us was in Pittsburgh and we all knew that somehow he'd be playing a larger role in the months to come. A musician who is truly 'In Demand' throughout NE Ohio, we are grateful that Keith was able to contribute his soul to this project and join us onstage as our premiere lead singer!

There are a few things you should identify as 'good problems' - Having so many great songs to choose from was exciting! There were several tunes that we thought were strong enough to be included on this offering, like Jim's candid LYNETTE'S BLUES (which has been featured on CD 93.3 FM'S 'TANGLED UP IN BLUES' -Thanks Cornel!). We had even considered placing an alternate version of INCIPIENCE on this album as we had beefed up the Live version so well. But there's only so much room and so many songs you can fit on an 120 cm aluminum disc, so these were the final votes. We are very pleased to include these versions of SACRIFICE & SMALL MOUTH BASS as a testament to Jim's enduring songwriting. We are certain that these two will become bonafide standards and will live a long, sweet life in 'Elevator Music Heaven!'

Below Jim & PTB and I share our thoughts on what inspired us when we first composed these tunes and other antedotes as we were going through production.

Phil The Beat Cliff Barnes Keith McKelley Paul Douds This track was something that had been festering for quite some time. I had been playing the line for a while during personal practice and kept saying, “I gotta do something with this groove!” During tune-up before rehearsal with SD, I kept playing it saying, “Guys, we gotta do something with this one day!!” As time allowed for creativity sessions, we started this song and began to add to it and it felt really good! We all vibed on it and said, “we gotta turn the corner!” Hence, the change was added and the rest was just falling into place groove-wise!! So, everyone felt it but at this point we had no title, B said, “I got it! Let’s call it Once…..” Now, in Studio A, several months later, about to lay it down on the 2-track, we had no idea what was about to transpire after John said, “Stand By…” The main tracks were recorded on the first take only thing was that Cliff wasn’t thrilled with his part, which was played on a synthesizer, so he said, “ERASE IT…THE WHOLE THING!!!” Everyone was like, “Man, what are you talking about?? That was sooooo HOT!!” He replied, “Let me do it again with that piano over there!” referring to a Grand Piano that was in the studio covered up…so, the techs miked it up and let him go at it one more time!! So, that searing piano solo you hear was ALSO done in one take!! He was right…it sounds great and he knew what he had in mind!!! I couldn’t believe what had become of my little practice groove!!! Then Paul added his guitar spices…. MAN!!!! WOW!!! Effortless excellence!!! After mixing and adding in a few more ingredients and sprinkles of light seasoning, it really began to blend into a tasty treat!!! So, what you are listening to is, for lack of a better word, a groove-stew at its finest!! We cooked it up JUST FOR YOU! Kick back and chill out, let SounDoctrine tell you a story that starts like this…Once Upon A Groove… - Phil The Beat

Keith	Cliff	Nia & Ayana	Paul Douds

Derek Dixie	Derek & Jere B