About Me
"Mystic Merlin" delivered three recordings for Capitol records from 1979-1981. A funk/pop/R&B band, we had a bigger fan base in the UK and Europe than in the States. Some of our old stuff has been popping up on youtube, and there are some wonderful fan-based web sites like http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Mystic%20Merlin.htmI am a lawyer in New York these days, but still find the time to write.I have reserved some space here for featuring old tunes from "Mystic Merlin’s" days, this time it’s "Goddess of the Boogie" and "Get It for Yourself." The other three songs on the mp3 player (slide the arm down for the fifth tune) range from new country, try "True" , performed by Peggy Lea-Keuler; traditional country like "One More Last Kiss", jazz-pop like "Things that Last" and even Pop/Broadway stuff like "Timelines". The artwork accompanying "True," and "The Things that Last" are by the muralist Lincoln Perry. More of Lincoln’s work can be seen at lincolnperryart.com
"The Things That Last" highlights Carolyn Leonhart, a jazz vocalist, who may be more familiar to you as a featured back-up singer with Steely Dan, or as the lead in the progressive/pop band Lyn Leon. Renowned bassist Jay Leonhart is playing bass on the tune along with piano great, Ted Rosenthal. The trumpet solo and arrangement is by composer-arranger-instrumentalist Randy Sandke."Standing Tall" is an original 9/11 remembrance tune that was recorded at Fox Studios in Rutheford, New Jersey, by Dave Blake. The studio’s address, by coincidence, is 9-11 Union Square. The tune itself is probably best categorized as contemporary Rock/R&B/Gospel, and is an uplifting driving mid to up-tempo tune which is at once a metaphor for two people coming back together, and at the same time, a musical promise of national healing. The female lead singer, Barbara Roberts, at the time was a postal worker in the main post office in New Jersey that had had some anthrax scares. The male lead was performed by Gregg Hollister who has toured with the likes of Vicki Sue Robinson, Phoebe Snow, Ben E. King, Al Kooper, and Richie Havens. Standing Tall was introduced at Town Hall in Flushing, Queens in 2002 as part of special 9/11 remembrance concert.Sadly, on January 13, 2007 an old friend of some forty years and legendary saxophone player, Mike Brecker died. I have posted a few photos of my recent visit with Mike, and dowloaded two beautiful mixed-media tributes to Mike. In the first one he is playing "Common Ground" with his brother, Randy Brecker on trumpet. I have also posted a great EWI solo from a 1995 concert in Tokyo, Japan. ("Song for Barry" is a different Barry) "Just Can’t Give You Up" and "Mister Magician" were top twenty dance classic in the U.K. and throughout Europe. Merlin incorporated magic into its performances and "Mister Magician" is an example of the thematic writing we were always after. "Mister Magician" was penned by guitarist Jerry Anderson and was the perfect vehicle to introduce the world to the vocal talents of the soon to be R&B superstar, Freddie Jackson. The Youtube embeds take you to those tunes, as well as "60 Thrills a Minute" and "FullMoon" -- one of my favorites. I was the sax player (and occasional keyboardist) in the band, and the co-writer on a number of tunes.
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