David Waldon: What's New

It's been awhile in the making, but I finally got A Simple Christmas remastered at Crystal Clear Studios in Dallas. Nolan Brett, engineer, finely polished each note and even fixed a few spots and added a bonus track. . I've included the bonus track, Oh Holy Night, as a free download for all of you who have purchased the old version of the album (thank you all!). It's taken me a few years to finish the arrangement of this beautiful song. I hope you love it as much as I do.

I'd like to thank all the good folk who stopped and said hi or bought a CD last weekend at Fredericksburg. What a great little town! I had a good time, and want to thank Beth and all the others at The Christmas Store for making me feel so welcomed and wanted. Thanks!

I took a week off work and finally recorded a new album. It will be a month or so before it's ready for release, but the few that have heard it seem to like it a lot. It has a similar feel to it that A Simple Christmas does, only it's Beatles songs. I'll put some MP3's up here when I get them made.

It's always great when I get requests for more recorded material than just Christmas music, so as some of you may know, I've been looking into recording studios and even bought some equipment and tried to do it myself. The quality was good, but it is too difficult to concentrate on the music and being an engineer at the same time-the music suffers (and so do I :) Tuesday I went to a funky studio in Windom, about 1/2 way to Paris that mainly records Christian music but is excited about my project. We did a 3 song demo on Tuesday which I'll put on this site soon. I'm wanting advice on the tone. I think it's pretty close to what I'm looking for, but then again I've lost most of the hearing in my right ear. I've booked him for the week of October 13th, and hope to record 2 albums worth of material in that week. One all Beatles songs (there's a tremendous amount of pent up demand for Beatles material for downloading since Apple won't release the real thing. The other an album of love songs. I'd also like to re-record A Simple Christmas and add Oh Holy Night-it's taken me over 2 years to arrange! It came out good though-I got standing applause from diners the first time I played it in public.
Wish me luck!

Just got done playing at the winery for the first time. What a nice group of people! I was very impressed with the room, the acoustics, the ambiance, the tipping! It seems like a very good match of place and talent. It was for their wine club members, about 40 came, and we had a blast! I enjoyed meeting Emilio and his family-they have really built an amazing gem in Rockwall. This place would fit right in in any of the fine wine areas, and the cabernet sauvignon was way better than the decaf death by chocolate, although I do miss it!

Well, it's the end of an era for me. I had to give my notice at Cafe Brazil Carrollton and Cafe Brazil McKinney this week-next week will be my last time to play there. Cafe Brazil has been very good to me, and I appreciate their support and encouragement. When I was first hired there, playing instrumental non-Christmas music was new to me-I only had about 1 and 1/2 hours of music mainly from wedding requests. I had to repeat several songs to fill the 2 hours. I was nervous, with my head buried in a music stand! Now I can play 4 hours of material with no notes at all. The reason to give up Cafe Brazil? I've been hired as a resident musician at San Martino Winery, which I think will be a perfect match for what I do. I'm excited for the future, and am grateful for the chance to develop that Cafe Brazil provided. Since there's no schedule conflict, I'll continue to play at Cafe Brazil-Richardson on Sunday nights, and I hope to see you both there and at the winery.
David

Well, the gig went well last Sunday, and they've invited me back on a regular basis! This week, after a year of arranging and learning it, I'm playing Stairway to Heaven in public for the first time. Quite a challenge!

When I first moved to Dallas in 2000, I remember seeing someone play at Cafe Brazil-Richardson, and I thought it was a cool place to play. I was not singing well enough anymore, so I wondered if I'd ever to get to play there. Well I finally am! This Sunday (7-13) I will be playing from 7-9pm. My only concern now is that I do songs that I love, which tend to be older songs. I wonder if this younger crowd will know my songs! Time'll tell. Actually, I've been amazed at how many young people have told me they recognize Stranger on the Shore, or I Need You To Turn To, so you never know... I love those songs for a reason-they are good music and they are ingrained deep in me and that shows. It's difficult to play newer songs with the same depth and conviction. I'll let you know how it goes, or better still, COME ON OUT!

I recently purchased a Korg D-1600 16 track recorder, a focusrite Vocalmaster, and a Rode NT1 mic. The learning curve is steep, but I'll get it. I think I can do it myself-time'll tell! Anyone in the Dallas area with good engineering chops is welcome to offer their help! :)

We're still in pre-production for the all Beatles recording. Tentatively scheduled are: I Should Have Known Beter, This Boy, In My Life, Yesterday, We Can Work It Out, Strawberry Fields, Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds, Something, Here Comes the Sun, Let It Be. The goal has changed to having this completed and for sale by the end of July. It should take about 15 hours to record, with the rights to the songs costing about the same as the recording and printing combined. Oh well, it's well worth it!

well, I put some of the results from the recording test up on the site--not quite the tone I'm looking for-too slick, produced. I want it to feel like there's a friend in the corner playing guitar--a very natural sound. So we're gonna try again now the engineer understands what I'm after (I gave him a copy of Blackbird as a reference). But it's my busy season, so it looks like I'll be too busy until early 2006.

I bid today for a private party on 12/10, and will be booked solid very soon, so if you're looking for elegant, warm, peaceful background music for your party or event near Dallas, now's the time to call. 806 470 2957

What a fun weekend! I met some really good people and managed to get 102 'A Simple Christmas' out into the world! Thank you all so much for your kind words and support! At one point, parents had placed a row of strollers in front of me and I got to watch 6 toddlers seemingly fascinated-it was so cute! I had a blast, and heartily thank The Christmas Store, who kindly invited me back 'any weekend'. I wish you guys were closer!

I confirmed today that I'll be playing Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving with the good people at The Christmas Store (an amazing year 'round Christmas store) in the wonderful town of Fredericksburg. I played there last year and had a blast, met hundreds of good people, and played my *** off! (two 8 hours days). I better start my strength training!

It's taken 3 years, but I've finally figured out how to play this song the way I like. I expect to record it soon, and I'll make it available as an inexpensive single for those who already have A Simple Christmas. I'll add it to the FOURTH printing! Sincere thanks and love to everyone that helped with their love and support through three printings! Tell your friends!

David is in pre-production for his next album, The Beatles-A Simple Tribute, on SLG records! Old High School buddy and good friend Michael Gorton will manage, and Shelley Laine will co-produce! All involved are very pleased with the results so far.

More are planned, with the expectation that four will be released this year. In planning is a volume 2, an album of love songs, and an album of David's original music may also appear - all planned over the next year!