Artists:Gary Yerkins

Gary Yerkins

I started getting a good bead on a direction in 2005 and hooked up with producer, songwriter Pete Droge. I’d been an admirer of Pete’s work and his recent recordings, particularly his Skywatching record, were in the direction of a lot of the stuff I was working out. So of I went to Vashon, WA for a series of sessions at the Puzzle Tree.

I wanted to make a leaner set than in the past with songs and arrangements that would find their intensity coming from a different direction and energy. Sort of heat without the flash.

The CD will be out in early 2007 and features Rob Brill on drums and Dave Hull on bass. Both of these guys played in the Sinners with Pete and it was great watching them get it done together. Additional drums and bass features Ben Smith and Andy Stoller. Ben is the current drummer for Heart and Andy records and tours with a bunch of people, including Tracy Chapman.

Elaine Summers adds some fine background vocals and my old friend and partner Grant Tye threw down some of his usual stellar guitar when he was in Vashon with the Robbie Fulks band. My good pal and favorite singing partner Cathy Richardson added a background vox on a song or two and the great Art Hoyle played a killer trumpet track. Otherwise pretty much everything else is played and sung by me and Pete.