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Finkelstein who is the owner of Shining Stone Records. I asked Jesse if he would ask Walter to play
    on a tune. I sent a rough MP3 with me singing to Walter, he liked the song and said “sure”. I’m
    honoured that he’s on the recording. One thing I would like to mention, the cover art is by a
    Georgian artist named Alexander Varvairdze. His town is currently occupied by Russian troops.

    He’s an exceptional artist. Check him out!


    LL: The album is very “live” sounding. Did you record the tracks with the whole band live or
    was it done mostly with overdubbing?


    AG: I like to record “live” as
    much as possible. We recorded
    on 2-inch analog tape.

    Remember that! Jack Gauthier
    our engineer at Lakewest Studio
    in Rhode Island has been doing
    this a long time. He really knows
    how to capture a live
    performance. The horns were
    overdubbed. Walter recorded his

    part at his home in Los Angeles,
    and other than a few solos, it
    was all live.


    LL: Did you arrange and write
    out all the musical parts for
    the songs on ‘Daydreams In
    Blue’, or did you rely on
    spontaneous improvisation

    from the players?

    AG: I’m very methodical in the

    studio. Time is money! About a                                          Anthony and Monster Mike Welch
    month before the session I
    started sending the core band my tunes. I wrote 10 out of the 12 songs on Daydreams. We had a few
    rehearsals and then we went into the studio. I had a list of songs, the order I wanted them played,
    and everyone had the list the week before the session. I like starting early! 11 am - be at the studio,
    loosen up, tune up… and let’s play! I always make sure my friends are well fed and have anything

    they need to drink. That’s important! I arranged all the songs. The horn part on “Tomorrow May
    Never Come” was a very specific “soli” part, so I sent Scott Arruda, who did the horn arrangements,
    what I wanted on the piano, and he did the harmonies, etc.


    LL: You only sing on one track on the album, which you handle marvellously!  Are you
    uncomfortable in the singer role?


    AG: When you spend 40 years listening to Sugar Ray sing every night, that can be a bit
    intimidating! I’ve been singing in the “shower” my whole life. I actually have been working on my

    vocals for the last few years and finally felt confident enough to put it on a record! I think the tune I
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