Alec Schulman - Light That Slips Away (Ropeadope)

What Your Ears Sy & The Cover Looks LIke

---

what We Say

It's an insight into how lengthy the creative process often is, that this & other 2020 inspired documents of those(these?) seismic social upheavals are only just coming to light, but this musical memoir from Alec Schulman for Ropeadope was well worth the wait. There's an extended Bandcamp version of the LP with the second half being more solo piano diaries but the real gems are the classic and classy, Americana infused jazz & folky singer songwriting collaborations on the first half. Sublime.

---

What The Release Notes Say

Music, at its essence, is an offering. An offering to those who have come before—to family, friends, collaborators, fellow listeners, and ultimately, to ourselves.

This record began in 2020 as solo piano songs and improvisations, but the heart of it kept expanding. The music on this album holds a collection of stories that have marked my life during the pandemic—moving between homes, the California wildfires, the cinematic nature of time, the bridge of solitude and loneliness, the energy of night, the meaning of friendship and success, and the open road.

Thank you to all my teachers in life, as well as all the people who have contributed in big and small ways to help bring this vision to reality and without whom, this record would not be possible. Thank you to my parents, my brother Matthew, Virginia Russell, Cindy Frey, the Mandell Family, Lauren Congelli, Howard Banchick, Dan Radluer, and Mathew Scheiner.

Thank you to the incredible personnel on this record for their exceptional performances and heartfelt playing. My friend, the brilliant Aaron Parks, saw this record from its inception to the very end. His counsel and ideas were all instrumental in the process. It was a terrific creative experience to share the role of co-producer with him.

Greg Leisz’s playing and personality are both so similar and generous. His intuition and lyrical playing from the soul are truly beyond description. I am thankful for his suggestion that I keep my vocal on fire song.

The masterful Larry Klein oversaw much of this record. His expertise, wisdom, and playing are like nuggets of gold, and I’m thankful to call him a friend and mentor. I'm grateful to him for reminding me of Nietzsche’s advice to write in your own blood.

I hope this music finds a home with you, perhaps while traveling, as my favorite records always seem to find me.
This record, Light that Slips Away, is dedicated to Joni Mitchell, whose music has left an indelible imprint on my life, and whose shadows and light always bring me home.

CREDITS
Personnel
Alec Schulman - Piano (tracks 2,3,5,6, and part 2), Fender Rhodes (tracks 1,4) Synths (track 5) Mellotron, (track 1) Hammond B3 Organ (track 3), Vocals (track 2)
Emma Frank - Vocals (tracks 1,4)
Jessame Berry - Vocals (track 6)
Greg Leisz - Pedal Steel (tracks 2,3,4,6)
Gilad Hekselman - Guitar (track 3)
Roy Ben Bashat - Guitar (track 1)
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Violin, Viola (track 6)
Larry Klein - Bass (tracks 2, 3, 6)
Ethan Moffitt - Bass (track 4)
Aaron Parks - Synth Bass (track 1)
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums (tracks 2,6)
Christian Euman - Drums (tracks 1,4)

All music and lyrics by Alec Schulman (BMI)
Produced by Alec Schulman & Aaron Parks
Recorded and Engineered by Pino Russo at Doghouse Recording, Los Angeles
Piano recorded by Hussain Jiffry on a privately owned Steinway D
Additional Engineering by Aaron Parks
Mixed by Chris Allen of Sear Sound, NYC
Mastered by Nate Wood at Kerseboom Mastering
Special Thanks to Larry Klein

Album layout and design by Maria Jarzyna
Back Cover Image by Alec Schulman

---

For more great alt-folk & singer songwriting head over to the Slow Folk Playlist: