10k Hi - Philippe Saisse

FULL DISCLOSURE: This is in no way intended to be a “tribute” to Al Jarreau… such monumental task should be a joint effort by all who had the joy and privilege of working with him, which are many, sharing their experience and own talent in unison to celebrate Al’s genius. “10k Hi” was written by Al Jarreau and myself and appears on Al’s Heart’s Horizon 1988 album. The album was produced by George Duke and Jay Graydon except “10k High” which I produced, recorded by Eric Calvi and mixed by Erik Zobler. For the original recording, I had thought of sampling Al’s vocals mimicking drums and percussive sounds, and create a drum template on the newly released Linn Drum machine. Those are the sounds we used as drums sounds almost exclusively on that track. Staying true to that concept, I decided to use my Steinway as a drum kit, using mallets and brushes. Al’s wonderful original scat solo, which I had harmonized and orchestrated with sampled flutes (taking a cue from Claus Ogerman in HIS harmonizatio