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| Laith Al-Saadi records at Ocean Way Studio. (Photo by Barry Holmes) |
Every musician has
envisioned a dream session, where he jams with his all-time favorites.
For blues musician Laith
Al-Saadi, his dream became a reality when he recorded his new EP “Real” in Los
Angeles.
Producer Jeffrey Weber saw
the Ann Arbor native performing at an L.A. club and was impressed by Al-Saadi’s
songwriting and performing talent.
“He said he wanted to do a
record with me,” said Al-Saadi, who performs Friday at the Magic Bag in
Ferndale. “I got done with the gig at 2 a.m. and had to leave at 5 a.m. to fly
back to Michigan. When I got back that morning, I already had an email and two
phone messages from him, so I knew he was serious.”
Weber suggested recording
the session live to two track and Al-Saadi loved the plan.
“I was excited by that
idea and totally up for it. There’s not enough music recorded without a net
these days. I asked him ‘who can I ask to be on the record?’ and he said to ask
whoever I wanted, and that the worst they can say is no.”
Al-Saadi ended up with a
backup band of legendary session musicians.
Bassist Lee Sklar has
performed on over 2,000 recordings, and has worked with James Taylor, Jackson
Browne, Neil Diamond, Hall & Oates, and Linda Ronstadt.
Drummer Jim Keltner has
worked with John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, and the
Traveling Wilburys. He played on Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” and
George Harrison’s “The Concert for Bangladesh.”
Organist Larry Goldings
has worked with many jazz artists and pop musicians including Tracy Chapman,
Walter Becker, Leon Russell, John Mayer and Norah Jones.
The horn section included
jazz saxophonist Tom Scott, who has recorded with such diverse artists as
George Harrison, The Grateful Dead, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Rod
Stewart, the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Whitney Houston, and Frank Sinatra.
Baritone saxophonist
Brandon Fields, trombonist Nick Lane, and trumpeter Lee Thornburg also have
impressive credentials.
“I didn’t go to the Paul
McCartney level, but I picked the studio cats whose records I love, and
everyone said yes,” Al-Saadi said.
Al-Saadi’s parents did not
listen to rock ‘n’ roll music in their home. His mother preferred classical and
spiritual music and his father, who is Iraqi, listened to Arabic music. Laith
was exposed to classic rock ‘n’ roll by two older sisters.
“I started listening more
when I started playing guitar and discovering music on my own,” he said. “I
learned more about the individual performers, and these guys played on so many
records I loved.”
Knowing he only had one
day to work with these great artists in famous Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood
put pressure on the 36-year-old singer-guitarist.
“It was really exciting
and scary at the same time,” Al-Saadi said. “Knowing these guys so well, I was
not worried about their ability to get it, but it was still intimidating
because they had never heard my music before.”
According to Al-Saadi, the
first take was the initial time the musicians heard the song. Most cuts were
finalized between 2-6 takes, he said. There was no mixing, editing or
overdubbing.
“It was a really fun,
interesting experience and the guys had a blast. They don’t get to record like
that often enough.
“In the 1950s, ‘60s and
‘70s, it was normal to cut a song several times in order to get a good take.
The improvisational nature of blues and jazz was an influence on the record as
well. I really wanted to capture the music of the moment and the right
treatment captured the right vibes for the tunes.”
Weber was impressed.
“Laith is the real deal,”
Weber said in a release. “He has jaw-dropping technique and an evocative vocal
character that captures the unbridled passion of his lyrics. He made a believer
out of every one of us.”
The session was scheduled
for four songs, but the group ended up knocking out six — five originals and a
cover of The Band’s “Ophelia,” as a tribute to the late Levon Helm.
“I’ve
always been a huge fan of The Band,” Al-Saadi said. “Levon Helm passed away in
2012. I wanted to dedicate the album to his memory and the song ‘Ophelia’ is a
fitting tribute.”
Jimmy Vivino, best known
as the leader of the house band for late night talk show host Conan O’Brien,
played resophonic guitar on “Real.”
“Jimmy Vivino was so
generous,” Al-Saadi said. “The producer asked him to rearrange his schedule to
record one song that I needed resophonic guitar on called ‘Complete Disgrace.’
(Vivino) said, ‘If Laith wants anything else, I’ll do it for free,’ and he
ended up playing on the whole record.”
Vivino, who is scheduled
to perform with The Beatles tribute band The Fab Faux on Saturday at the
Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, will join Al-Saadi for the concert at the Magic Bag on Friday. Also performing will be bassist David Stearns and
drummer Mark Damian.
The Magic Bag show is sure
to revive memories of the “dream” recording session for Al-Saadi.
“It was intimidating, but
I was in ‘go mode’ all day,” Al-Saadi said. “We had so short a time and I knew
the recording was on the line. They were consummate professionals and
incredibly nice.
“It was so much fun to
make. I love it as a testament to that moment in time.”
LEARNING
TO LOVE THE BLUES
Like
many musicians, Al-Saadi started playing as a teenager, learning to play guitar
so he could accompany himself on tunes by The Beatles.
It
only took about 6 months before he started playing the blues.
“It
always has appealed to me,” he said. “It’s the visceral and emotional quality
of it.
“I
always gravitated to Ray Charles and Louie Armstrong and a lot of musicians
with a blues influence, before I really got into the blues. It is one of the most
expressive musical forms out there in this country and the common denominator
for all types of music I like – jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, bluesgrass and
most forms of American roots music.”
For more on Laith Al-Saadi, click laithmusic.com.
To send info to JB Blues, please email Joe.Ballor@dailytribune.com
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