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We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Family Values (Plus)

by JD and the Sons of Rhythm

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1.
Did you Record That? 06:40
2.
Michael's Angels 11:09
3.
Peach Jam 06:04
4.
Frank Enters 21:25
5.
Julio 04:47
6.
JD's Raga 08:15
7.
Rick's Rag 12:11
8.
Tammy's Song 11:20
9.
Ozone 10:09
10.
Carlos 07:28
11.
Sunset on the Bay 16:04
12.
Midtown Nights 07:52
13.
Skabone 05:43
14.
Tim's Doodle 05:58
15.
Goodnight 13:03

about

Beginning with Jammin' at Midtown, spontaneous music was the objective. To achieve this, experienced players were put on unfamiliar ground. They met new players, with hard-drive spinning and no charts to follow.

Chops were flexed.

Musical discussions in notes took place.

The objective was achieved in FAMILY VALUES, 15 tracks of music.

********************

"Last year Jayson, Rickie, Keith and I got together with Sean and Dan of the Soul Crackers and invited them to come into the studio with us to jam for 2 days. Those sessions were released on the 'Jammin at Midtown' CD. Later we decided to do it again with various musicians. In every session most of the musicians never met let alone played together. There were no rehearsals, second takes or knowledge of any song structure other than the two songs with Julio. These sessions were products of improvisation, a high degree of creativity and technical expertise stirred by a huge degree of listening capacity and respect of each other. On a couple of songs you can hear someone yelling out a chord change, that's how immediate those sessions were. It was an honor and a pleasure for my family and I to work with such a great group of people coupled with great creative talents."

J.D.

******************

Silently,
Precisely,
Swiftly,
The Artist
Strokes
The colorful canvas
Beautiful

Poem by Jordan Hopkins
- from the cover

*******************

Album Review:

Long time drummer and entrepreneur JD Hopkins has put together his own all-star collection of local Erie musicians for this 2CD release. It seems that JD is out to prove that musical talent can be passed on genetically, as two of his sons (Jayson and Rickie) play drums on Family Values and his son-in-law (Keith Homerski) plays electric drums and co-engineered this release. Homerski also co-produced along with JD.

The music is jam based, somewhat funky and often jazzy in flavor. A couple of the tunes have a Spanish or Latin feel, while other pieces give a nod to Reggae. This release is the newest in a series of JD's jamming experiments at Midtown Recording. Every so often JD calls up all of the musicians he knows and invites them down to record. Later JD and engineer Randy Hetherington sift through the improvs and put together a cohesive whole.

For these sessions JD brought in a couple of ex-Erie area natives. First was Jim Norstrom from New York City on bass, and from New Orleans Tim Smith came in to add electric guitar. Some of you may remember that Nordstrom played with Erie's Stabilizers, both here in Erie as well as after they were signed to Columbia Records and moved to Los Angeles. Also, both Nordstrom and Smith worked with Trent Reznor in the Meadville based Option 30, before Reznor moved on to Cleveland and Nine Inch Nails.

Now, about that all-star collection of musicians... sixteen players contributed to this recording. On electric drums were JD, Randy Hetherington, Keith Homerski and Jayson Hopkins. Rickie Hopkins handled all of the acoustic drums. Bass players included Jim Nordstrom, Kenny Cornelius, Tammy Johnson and Doug Phillips (who also contributed piano on one track). Guitarists were Tim Smith, Mike Ohm, Scott Cravener, Pat Vahey, Jeremy Quesada with Randy Hetherington and Frank Singer on one track each. Singer also played piano and Julio Quesada added acoustic guitar on two tracks.

Disc one of this set is a bit more jazzy in feel while disc two leans a little toward the spacier side. If you want to hear some of Erie's finest musicians jamming on extended instrumentals then Family Values is for you. Bravo to JD for taking the risk of just letting the music happen in the studio, and following wherever it might lead.
- J.Trevethan

credits

released January 1, 2004

the players

J.D. Hopkins
Frank Singer
Kenny Cornelius
Scott Cravener
Tim Smith
Jim Nordstrum
Tammy Johnson
Mike Ohm
Doug Phillips
Pat Vahey
Julio Quesada
Randy Hetherington
Keith Homerski
Jayson Hopkins
Rickie Hopkins

credits

production.....J.D. Hopkins
& Keith Homerski
engineering.....Keith Homerski
& Randy Hetherington
mix.....Keith Homerski
& Randy Hetherington
cover photo: Autumn Hopkins-Homerski
cover design.....Mark Saunders
recorded at Midtown Recording

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all rights reserved

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about

JD and the Sons of Rhythm image

JD and the Sons of Rhythm Erie, Pennsylvania

Between 2003 and 2009, Richard Carl "JD" Hopkins produced a series of improvised recording sessions, joining his two sons, Rickie and Jayson, and 32 other musicians to collectively improvise 13 Double Albums. The history of the band is presented at jdhopkins.com, along with original art and literature. JD left us on April 4 2016. His inspiration, generosity and friendship will be missed. ... more

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