It’s always exciting to see what Chris & Adriana Schlarb are coming up with from their Big Ego Studios. Lately, they just announced the releases of some new works, one of which includes an interesting trio that doesn’t exactly align with jazz (though what from Big Ego exactly does?) but does manage to fit the chill vibes that you would definitely dig. One of those releases comes from a trio led by guitarist Mike Baggetta performing alongside drummer Jim Keltner (who has played with John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Steely Dan) and bassist Mike Watt (of The Minutemen, and also Psychic Temple from time to time). Wall of Flowers will explore all kinds of musical directions for this group, delving into surf rock, ballads, and all sorts of improvisations that are definitely worth some rumination. They just released the first single, “Hospital Song”, to kick things off. Check out video of their studio session below and be on the lookout for Wall of Flowers when it drops next month on Big Ego.
Wall of Flowers, the upcoming new album from Baggetta / Keltner / Watt, is out March 15th on Big Ego. You can also get it as part of Big Ego’s Record Club.
Mike Baggetta – acoustic & electric guitars, live processing
Jim Keltner – drums & percussion
Mike Watt – electric bass
Produced by Chris Schlarb
at BIG EGO, Long Beach, CA.
Recorded from May 31st – June 1st, 2017
Engineered by Arin Mueller
Assistant engineering by William Caleb Parker
Mixed by Chris Schlarb and Devin O’Brien
Mastered by David Torn
Additional recording in Knoxville, TN.
Additional engineering by Mike Baggetta
Cover art by Michael J. Hentz
Back cover photography by Chris Schlarb
Layout by David J. Woodruff
Written by Mike Baggetta
Nextbop Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dean-Harris hosts the modern jazz radio show, The Line-Up, Fridays at 9pm CST on 91.7 FM KRTU San Antonio and is also a contributing writer to DownBeat Magazine and the San Antonio Current.
