Sunday, August 30, 2009

"Mock One" album by Don Mock

(Available on I-Tunes and AmazonMP3)

1. You Choose One (Don Mock) BMI
Don Mock - electric guitar
Ken Cole - Rhodes piano and Oberheim Synthesizer
Paul Farnen - electric bass
Dave Coleman - drums
Tim Celeski - congas and percussion

2. Song to a Seagull (Joni Mitchell) BMI
Arrangement - Don Mock
Denny Goodhew - saxello and tenor saxophone
Don Mock - acoustic guitar
Ken Cole - Rhodes piano
Ron Soderstrom - trumpet
Luis Peralta - samba whistle and cuica
Tim Celeski - congas
Dave Coleman-drums and percussion

3. Stellar Stomp/ Waltz of the Stratus Dancers (Don Mock) BMI
Don Mock - electric guitar
Ken Cole - Rhodes piano and guitar synthesizer
Paul Farnen - electric bass
Dave Coleman - drums and percussion
Tim Rock - siren
Jim Bredouw - cabasa
Stacy Solberg – viola

4. Stephanie's Peace (Don Mock) BMI
Don Mock - guitar and 360 systems/Oberheim Guitar Synthesizer, percussion
Tim Celeski - percussion

5. Theme to Dream (Don Mock) BMI
Ron Soderstromfluegal horn
Don Mock - guitar
Ken Cole - Rhodes piano
Paul Farnen - electric bass
Dave Coleman - drums and percussion
Tim Celesti - percussion
Stacy Solberg -viola

6. Entrance of Heather & Transition of Heather (Ken Cole) BMI
Ken Cole - acoustic piano, Rhodes piano, Oberheim synthesizer
Don Mock - electric guitar, 360 systems/Oberheim guitar synthesizer
Paul Farnen - electric bass
Dave Coleman - drums and percussion
Tim Celesti – congas


Produced by Don Mock
Associate producer - Jim Bredouw
Engineer production assistant - Tim Rock
Mixed by - Jim Bredouw
Assisted by Don Mock, Tim Rock, Ken Cole
Recorded at: The Music Farm - Seattle, Washington
February - April 1977
Art direction and cover design - Kathy Adolphsen
Cover photo - Bill Johnson
Photography by Mead Powers, Paul Farnen, Mary Jane Cody

Special thanks to: Roger Hutchinson and REH publications, Howard Roberts, Jim Wolf, Judy Strawn
My many supportive students and friends and of course the musicians that played on this project.

1978 Wolf Records – 2007 Mock One Productions


Mock One was recorded in early 1977 right during the time I had moved to Los Angeles to help start The Guitar Institute of Technology with Howard Roberts. I flew back to Seattle a few times to complete the recording. The band was made up of great Seattle players and was called “Marbles.” We performed regularly in the area either as a quartet or with the added horn players and percussionist. The music was deep rooted in Jazz and Fusion popular at the time. I wrote most of the compositions and the arrangement of the Joni Mitchell tune “Song to a Seagull.” Ken Cole, our fine keyboard player, contributed his suite “Entrance/Transition of Heather.”
On a few cuts, I played one of the very first guitar synthesizer’s; 360 Systems had developed a pitch-to-voltage converter which I ran through an Oberheim synthesizer module. The tracking was pretty rough with lots of glitches but the system was the forerunner of current systems such as the Roland GR series. I played my trusty 1971 Les Paul and my ‘60’s L-5 for the rest of album except for a borrowed Martin acoustic for the Joni Mitchell tune.

During the 1970’s, mainly thanks to John McLaughlin, writing compositions in odd-time signatures was all the rage. Drummer Dave Coleman and bassist Paul Farnen, who I had been playing with since high school, spent hours working on every weird odd-time feel we could. The result was three pieces for this album. The opening cut, “You Choose One” is in 6/8. “Stellar Stomp” is a funky groove in 7/4 that transitions into the 14/8 “Dance of the Stratus Dancers.”
There is some great playing at times by all the talented musicians that still holds up today.
Denny Goodhew’s sax solo on “Song to a Seagull” is a high point as is Ron Soderstrum’s “out” fluegal horn solo on “Theme to Dream.” The core quartet also turned in fine performances. Although I’d love a chance to go back in time and have another shot at some of the guitar solos.

But, there’s a few moments of decent ’70’s fusion guitar playing. Ken Cole, the burning keyboard player, and I used to have lots of fun with the ripping solo trading sections. And I still love the energy and colors our two percussionist Luis Peralta and Tim Celeski brought to the music.

Dave Coleman, who I still perform and record with, showed why he is one of Seattle’s top drummers. In fact, Dave and bassist Paul Farnen joined me in LA later on in 1977. We rented a house together in North Hollywood and continued the band performing at most of the top Jazz clubs in the area.
The “Mock One” album brings back lots of great memories of my early career and I hope you discover tunes or performances that you enjoy. So, thanks for re-visiting the amazing late ‘70’s with me. It was quite an exciting and musical time!
-Don Mock

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