About four years ago, a saxophonist from Peoria, Illinois distilled his rich experience (Fred Anderson, Al Jarreau, Rufus Reid, Hamid Drake, Exploding Star Orchestra) into an amazing debut album that we called “coherent but sweeping in scope.”
South Side Story was Greg Ward’s brilliant musical concept, but he also put together a tough, nimble band to execute his game plan to perfection. Rob Clearfield (keyboards and piano), Jeff Greene (electric and upright bass) and Quin Kirchner (drums) have been backing up Ward since ’06 and helped to make South Side Story our choice for the Best Fusion Jazz record of 2010. (The Chicago Tribune likewise made it their “Record of the Year.”)
Now the quartet wants to make the follow-up album. The songs are written, and band’s been rehearsing them. All that’s needed to make Fitted Shards’ No. 2 album a reality is $12,000. And that’s why Greg Ward, who currently resides in the New York City area, is reaching out to fans and supporters for help through Kickstarter.
Twelve grand will take care of the studio time, mixing/mastering, physical production, and the PR for this new recording. That’s a lot for a little money, but also there’s little time left; the campaign ends Friday morning, December 19. If the funds are raised, look for a May, 2015 release.
Pledges for budgets of all kinds can be made here. Need more convincing? OK, here ya’ go…
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