Alan Darragh :: | I've Watched The Smoke

the making of I've Watched The Smoke

2009 - Alan Darragh on piano
John Abreu on drums
Stephanie Abreu on electric bass

AVAILABLE AT SHOWS

Three weeks into Alan Darragh’s newest CD, I've Watched The Smoke, drummer John Abreu burst out into "Pinky and the Brain," the theme song from a favourite childhood animated cartoon. His sister Stephanie instantly joined in with a reminiscent "Narf." They quickly initiated Alan into the fun. The trio of young musicians might as well have shared one brain. They had instant rapport from day one of their collaboration.

Sixteen-year-old Stephanie Abreu is the least experienced musician of the three but she has unerring intuition. Before the second session ended, she was completely into the music, knowing instinctively what was needed, her electric bass adding its rich tonality to Alan’s piano improvisation.

*I've Watched The Smoke*
Track#	Song Title	Composed by	Length
1	Absorbed In Perfect Illusion	Alan Darragh	8:07
2	Half Awake From A Dream Of You	Alan Darragh	5:45
3	Half Hoping For Trouble	Alan Darragh	9:10
4	In A Schismatic Mood	Alan Darragh	7:59
5	What Kind Of Love Does It Take	Alan Darragh	6:00
6	I've Watched The Smoke	Alan Darragh	8:37
7	I Saw A Man Coming Over	Alan Darragh	7:00
8	Making An Island Inside Myself	Alan Darragh	8:22
9	Beautiful Lying Things	Alan Darragh	6:39
10	No Foolish Pride	Alan Darragh	6:08
11	The Stone Came Cool	Alan Darragh	7:01

Alan Darragh is a member of SOCAN and ASCAP

John Abreu, with more experience, albeit in a metal band amongst other genres, put his brushes, sticks and mallets to use creating the raw sonic material which makes Alan’s piano improvisation vibrate with tension. From the beginning, he understood that his role was more than marking time and tempo. He bridged comfortably the unpredictability which exists when improvising freely in a collaborative setting.

I've Watched The Smoke is a kaleidoscope of exuberant creative energy. It marks Alan's first foray into improvisation in a piano trio setting. Drummer John Abreu and bassist Stephanie Abreu kept pace with intuitive ingenuity.

Recorded at Despot Studio
Toronto, Canada