The Green Sparrow
Encyclopedia
The Green Sparrow is the second solo album from Phish
bassist Mike Gordon
, released August 5, 2008. It is his first solo album in five years (since 2003's Inside In
). Gordon has also released a pair of studio albums with acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke
, a live album with the experimental Benevento-Russo Duo, and a live DVD with Grateful Dead
offshoot Rhythm Devils
.
Gordon dedicated all of 2007 to writing The Green Sparrow while taking a year long hiatus from touring. It was recorded at the end of 2007 and into 2008 in his home recording studio in Vermont
and features guest appearances from Bill Kreutzmann
, Trey Anastasio
, Chuck Leavell
, Page McConnell
, Ivan Neville
and others. A 2008 Summer Tour to support the album began in July 2008 and stretched into September with Gordon backed by Max Creek
guitarist Scott Murawski
, keyboardist Tom Cleary, drummer Todd Isler, and percussionist Craig Myers. Only Murawski remains from Gordon's original 2003 touring band.
All songs written by Mike Gordon
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
bassist Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
, released August 5, 2008. It is his first solo album in five years (since 2003's Inside In
Inside In
Inside In is Mike Gordon's first solo album and was released August 19, 2003. This album was wholly produced during and after the movie, Outside Out and uses aural tracks from it. Included in the liner notes are lyrics to some tracks, art and design by Andrew Cunningham, photography by David...
). Gordon has also released a pair of studio albums with acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke
Leo Kottke is an acoustic guitarist. He is widely known for his innovative fingerpicking style, which draws on influences from blues, jazz, and folk music, and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies...
, a live album with the experimental Benevento-Russo Duo, and a live DVD with Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
offshoot Rhythm Devils
Rhythm Devils
The Rhythm Devils are a band led by founding Grateful Dead drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart.-Grateful Dead:The Rhythm Devils had their origins as an informal but frequent fixture in the Grateful Dead concert repertoire...
.
Gordon dedicated all of 2007 to writing The Green Sparrow while taking a year long hiatus from touring. It was recorded at the end of 2007 and into 2008 in his home recording studio in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and features guest appearances from Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
, Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
, Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
, Page McConnell
Page McConnell
Page Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
, Ivan Neville
Ivan Neville
Ivan Neville is a multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of Aaron Neville and nephew to members of The Neville Brothers....
and others. A 2008 Summer Tour to support the album began in July 2008 and stretched into September with Gordon backed by Max Creek
Max Creek
Max Creek is an American rock band that was formed by Dave Reed, John Rider and Bob Gosselin in 1971. Scott Murawski, then aged 15, joined the band in the spring of 1972. Murawski left after two months, but returned in 1973. Mark Mercier the keyboardist joined in January 1973. Dave Reed left the...
guitarist Scott Murawski
Scott Murawski
Scott Murawski is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the electric guitar. He has achieved fame primarily on guitar with the American rock band Max Creek. He is a member of Phish bassist Mike Gordon's solo band, and BK3, a trio led by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann.-External...
, keyboardist Tom Cleary, drummer Todd Isler, and percussionist Craig Myers. Only Murawski remains from Gordon's original 2003 touring band.
Track listing
- "Another Door" - 3:40
- "Voices" - 5:20
- "Dig Further Down" - 4:01
- "Pretend" - 4:09
- "Traveled Too Far" - 4:33
- "Andelmans' Yard" - 6:13
- "Morphing Again" - 3:38
- "Radar Blip" - 5:05
- "Jaded" - 3:08
- "Sound" - 4:38
All songs written by Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
Bonus tracks
- Doing It Anyway (at iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
) - Be Careful What You Wish For (at Rhapsody)
Personnel
(appearing on various tracks)- Mike GordonMike GordonMike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
- Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Hi Hat, Tambourine, Drum Programming, Piano, Clucky - Trey AnastasioTrey AnastasioTrey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
- Guitar - Doug Belote - Drums, Cowbell, Shaker, V-Drums
- Russ LawtonRuss LawtonRuss Lawton is a drummer from Vermont. He is best known as the drummer from the solo band of Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio. Lawton also performs with the Vermont jam band Strangefolk and The Chrome Cowboys...
- Drums - Ivan NevilleIvan NevilleIvan Neville is a multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of Aaron Neville and nephew to members of The Neville Brothers....
- Organ - Page McConnellPage McConnellPage Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
- Organ - Nadine LaFond - Vocals
- Jared Slomoff – Vocals, Cowbell
- Joe Russo – Drums
- Chuck Leavell – Organ
- Steve Ferraris – Bongos, Danmo, Cowbell
- Bill KreutzmannBill KreutzmannBill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
- Drums - Scott Murawski – Acoustic Guitar
- Ken Lovelett – Tambourine
- Aaron Johnson - Trombone
- Jordan McLean - Trumpet
- Cochemea Gastelum - Saxophone
- Julee Avallone – Flute
- Marie Claire – Vocals
Credits
- Produced by Mike GordonMike GordonMike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
, John Siket, Jared Slomoff - Recorded and Mixed by John Siket
- Mastered by Fred Kevorkian
- Cover Illustration/Hand-Lettering by Mike GordonMike GordonMike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
- Design/Layout by Julia Mordaunt
- Management by Jason Colton for Red Light Management