When I joined the jazz band late in my freshman year in High School, I met an incredible drummer by the name of Brent. This guy was ridiculous. I had only been playing bass a couple of years and I knew very little of what I know now. But I did know, that this guy could seriously play the drums like nothing I had ever seen. What I would learn later, lucky for me that it was not much later, was that Brent was incredible on every instrument. You see Brent is one of the guys with the gift of picking up an instrument and figuring it out pretty quickly. It was the first time I had ever heard of perfect pitch. Basically he hears a note without any kind of reference and can tell you what that note is.
Pretty much the rest of my freshman year, my band mates and I revered Brent and only dreamed of playing with someone of his caliber. Well, not very long into my Sophomore year, I got a call. Actually it was Brent and a Guitar player named Harry, they pulled me aside one morning as we were waiting for the morning bell. They basically asked me if I would join their band for the talent show. I was stunned. I was on cloud nine. I remember walking with my friend Kabuki, who played guitar in my first band, to the pay phone to call the singer/sax player in our band (he was home sick) to tell him that I would be leaving the band. It was tough to leave a band with my buddies, but this was a golden opportunity. And it was the start of a great musical relationship.
Playing in the band with them was great! I was just then starting to learn how to use my ear to learn songs as opposed to reading it off of the music staff, so I often needed help learning parts. Brent was always there to show them to me. That's right, the drummer showed me how to play my parts. I'm telling you, this guy is BAD ASS. I learned more about playing bass from my "drummer friend" Brent then I did from my music teacher. (No offense Jack, I learned a lot from you too).
Throughout the next few years, Brent and I played together in several different versions of the same band. A lot of fusion, some rock n roll. UP until Brent moved away to Atlanta.
After Jr. College, I moved to Athens to attend UGA and low and behold a few months later, Brent had moved there too. Eventually he was filling in with the blues band I used to play with and we were playing together again.
Then eventually I was no longer in that band, and I had moved on to other things. A new band, new drummers........
About two years or so ago Brent contacted me about playing on an an album he was making. I told him I would be happy to play on his songs. I actually thought I would only get to play on a couple of songs and assumed that Brent was going to play bass on others. Nope, I played on every song. I played Electric Bass on most and my Upright on a couple. I had a blast. the studio he was using was great. Andy, the owner/engineer was very cool. I did the recordings in two sessions. half of the songs the first time and the other half the next.
One day I got a copy of the finished cd in the mail and I was blown away. Then I talked to Brent on the phone............ He got signed to a record deal with Marina Records out of Germany. This Saturday is his Album release party. They are even putting out vinyl version of the album. HA! I"M ON VINYL!
If anyone reading this is interested in hearing it, please go to www.brentcash.net or www.myspace.com/brentcashmusic or search iTunes for Brent Cash.
It is one of my favorite projects that I have ever worked on and I am very proud of Brent for making such a brilliant album and I am extremely proud to say that I was able to play bass for Brent's record.
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