Search - Buddy Greene :: Simple Praise

Songwriter, harmonica virtuoso, guitarist Buddy Greene has created an inspired instrumental recording that combines the most personal, best-loved hymns, gospel songs and worship & praise music with superb, deceptively simplearrangements and exquisite playing from a few close friends...some of Nashvilles finest players. Aptly titled, Simple Praise was one of the five final nomineess for the Gospel Music Associations Dove Award as Instrumental Album Of The Year in 1998. A word from Buddy Greene
This recording began as an accident. I spent a day in the studio with pianist, Dave Huntsinger, and engineer, Brent King, making a work tape of some ideas for a long-overdue follow-up to my 1987 instrumental album, Praise Harmonica. We recorded seven duets and frankly, I didnt know if I had accomplished anyting or not. I went home a little diappointed. A couple of weeks later, I played the taped roughs from those sessions and, to my surprise, liked what I found. The simple duets brought to mind a small town Sunday afternoon, gathered around the piano in the parlor; a nostalgic, perhaps hopelessly romatic thought, but a refreshing one, nonetheless, in the midst of the confusions and complications of contemporary life. After playing the tapes for a few other tired and too-busy friends whose opinions I value, my suspicious were confirmed--the songs and the way they were presented did have a welcomed and soothing effect. I became convinced that, with the right treatment, great hymns and gospel songs could live well in simple settings. I decided to continue with the project as time and money allowed. It was very apparent, after working with David, that a first rate accompanist was a necessity. He had set a high standard on those first selections with brilliant playing that proved not only his command of practically any style, but also his total sensitivity to both the lyrical and traditional aspects of the song. Also, playing with a musician of Davids caliber inspired me to do my best. However, a little more instrumental variety would be nice, so over the next year, I arranged two more sessions with my friends, John Darnall and Don Potter, both excellent guitarists. John, a gifted musician, arranger and producer, played beautifully on three tunes and engineered them as well at his studio. Don, who is well known for his warm, distinctive guitar work with everyone from Chuck Mangione to Wynonna, and who had co-produced the Buddy Green & Friends--Live album, played impeccably well, as usual, and also engineered our four duets. Towards the end of the project, I asked bassist, Craig Nelson, and percussionist, Eric Darken, to play on a few numbers. They fit right in, tastfully enhancing things in a supportive, unobtrusive way. Some last minute overdubs were engineered by Brendan Harkin (who also threw in a nifty little guitar harmony at the end of How Majestic...); and my old friend Brent came back in for one last session with David and Craig, and for the final mix. What I hope to have accomplished is this: create a simple sanctuary for these old familiar songs to inspire the listener to relax and pull aside from the clutter, busy-ness and noise of modern existence; and to read the lyrics--maybe even sing along--and hear the Gospel again; hopefully to be encouraged to join all creation in simple and pure praise of the one true, triune God--Eternal Father, Our Great Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Life.