Veteran bandleader Tim Duffy of Colorado has honed his unique approach of pushing a rhythm section and ensemble to his stop-on-a-dime conducting......always surprising the players......and for years he has dared players to take bigger and bigger chances.....audiences are riveted to the rapport between skilled improvisational players and the boss wearing the turban on stage. Over the years, his blue eyed vocals have come to a place - urgent and sublime - can we put both those words in the same sentence? Now this showmanship is matched by notable elan in arrangements. Tim is forever eager to point out that, in The Explorers, arranging reflects the caliber of players he conspires with. The Rocky Mountain players have adapted to the "surprise" challenges after decades of gigs ("what's he gonna try tonight?"), the New York players roll with it, liking the results, and his west coast buddies turn up the knobs, taking it as a dare. Press clippings of the 70's that consistently refer to an amalgam of James Brown, Zappa, and Van Morrison make some sense. But it all comes from one dynamic these days, the surprises seem nonchalant. Can I say that? As an assistant in project operations for 3 years now for the JE, it just seems de rigeur. I guess I've adapted to the wide scope of sounds the maestro wants and gets for his palette. Here's some notes I've gathered from some of the players during the recording sessions, and some notes from Tim D are also noted: "I learned a world by seeing how this was put together!" ~Ethan Cohen (operation mgr. for Topaz Studios and Jazz Explorers 5/5/11) 1. Mister Z I was directed to used Zawinul's flavor of chord voicings 2. I Want You ....use the violin and the santour in the same space? On a Marvin Gaye tune? 3. Joie de Vivre "11/8 sounds pretty natural with this bass player...." ~TD 4. Comfortable Shoes "Patrice submitted the title, and dared me." ~TD 5. If 6 was 9 "I saw a documentary based on all the postcards Jimi would send his father, and wondered out loud... 'Jimi, you're like me, so many questions.....'" ~TD 6. The Champ we played that as a break tune, as early as '74 i think. 7. Oh what a Beautiful Morning George Cables' intro I thought was Satie first time.......... 8. Hot Spot ...so many ways to say 1 2 3 4........... 9. Elena 2 takes, wow 10. The Swan Tim used go to the home where pregnancy was underway, and play this for mothers to be, a long lengthy improv, for over ten years easy...... 11. The Blonde Situation Cecil drove this one....... 12. Neptune the horn player was in town from NYC, saw the pictures of ancient and dropped into a bliss thing....