The Mackrosoft
9th Annual Jazz Album Nominee
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Genre: Jazz Mackrosoft, LLC www.mackrosoft.com
HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Seattle, Washington, USA
ALBUM NOMINATED: S.E.M.E. (Self-Evolving-Mechanized-Elves)
WHERE WAS ALBUM RECORDED? The Mackrosoft Roving Studio in Los Angeles and Seattle
WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Jazz-Funk
IS THERE A THEME TO THE ALBUM? Yes, “Self-Evolving Mechanized Elves” is a musical metaphor for the fairy tale of “the cobbler and his wife.”
WHAT UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS OR TECHNIQUES DID YOU USE ON THIS ALBUM? The album was improvised in a non-traditional format, every song layered with only one musician recording at a time
WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? Most digital retailers, e.g., Mackrosoft.com, Waxpoetics.com, ITunes.
DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Yes, in the sense that the album was funded entirely by its earlier sales success in Japan.
WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? A diverse mix of tastemakers from the various arenas I’ve worked and played in: film and TV directors, traditional Jazz fans, funk audiophiles, musical scholars, students and psychedelic album designers.
WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? The broad spectrum of people! We have young children who enjoy the album, Flash and Snowball and LP collectors who enjoy the earlier Mackrosoft vinyl releases like 1st Mack to the Moon and Life Imitates Clouds. The Aja West video for the song “Mackrosoft” has even been recently featured in the NY Times crossword section.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Schools, from the rock arena atmosphere of high school assemblies to the intimate feel of the pre-school classroom. Students have consistently been the far most fun, appreciative, and active audiences we’ve ever played for!
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Remixing rappers E-40 and Method Man and producing musicians from Herbie Hancock, Parliament and James Brown on The Mackrosoft albums.
WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? “Heart Failure,” a really unique project featuring lead Jazz organ in the vein of Jimmy Smith or Jack McDuff. Also, I’m very excited about contributing to a music book, a visual tribute to the LP covers of Jazz, Funk and Soul being published by Waxpoetics.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… A chance to breathe life and creativity into the field that has always given me my greatest joy.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Making sure those people that might enjoy my music know about it and have access to it in as many arenas as possible.
WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? 60 hrs of Terence McKenna speeches.
NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: The Cheebacabra, 9DW (out of Japan), and Steve Black with the Sea-town Players. Lastly, I find myself championing the many Jazz-Funk musicians that originally inspired me to strive for creativity in my music such as Mike Clark, Paul Jackson, Fred Wesley and “Money” Mark Nishita.