"Kelly Dean - The Garage Tapes"

Available only here, and absolutely free......"The Garage Tapes." Check out what we've been doing out in the garage, using The ProTools Digi 001 on a G4.

Rhino Wino: Listen
Personnel: Me-tenor sax; John Calderon-guitar; Keith Vivens-bass; Vernon Daniels-drums

The Story: I wrote this song back around 1982 for a band I played with in Dallas called Palladium (it was Pentagon & Prism before that...) Palladium was a group of guys from my high school, Arts Magnet.

The bass part reminded me of a rhinoceros who'd had too much to drink, and was trying to walk home.....thus the title!

The computer we use belongs to John, and we play all the time with Vernon, but this particular day in August 2001 we were fortunate to get Keith to join us. Keith played on my demo, and is the co-leader of TKOh!....and he's one smokin' bass player!

Ferma: Listen
Personnel: Me-tenor sax

The Story: Summer of 1982, I was working in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as a puppeteer at Magic Harbor Amusement Park (maybe someday I'll add a page about my "previous life" as a puppeteer!) After the park closed, I'd go into the theatre, set up a couple of microphones, turn out all the lights, and play solo sax for 45 minutes (when the cassette ran out!) Then, I'd mail the tape to my mom, so she could have the sound of me playing around the house.

Regarding this recording: I got home one evening in August 2001, and I was feeling pretty lousy. I had played a job, and I wasn't happy with how I'd done, and there were other things bothering me. I hit the record button and played for almost half an hour (I guess I can't last 45 minutes anymore!) My mom was ill at the time, so I made a CD of this "Fer Ma!"

Mambo Inn: Listen
Personnel: Me-flute; John Calderon-guitar; Keith Vivens-bass; Vernon Daniels-drums

The Story: Part of the August 2001 session when Keith Vivens came by. Besides this and Rhino Wino, the trio did a couple of tunes while I was feverishly looking for a sub so I could play Smokey Joe's Cafe w/ Gladys Knight. Maybe I can get John to post the other tracks on his website. Their warmup jam is especially nasty......

Inevitable: Listen
Personnel: Me-drums, keys, vocals; John Calderon-bass, guitars

The Story: The "hit single!" I wrote this for my then-girlfriend/now-wife Rhonda in July 1990.

I was on the road with a band called Flyer from August '84-January '92, playing hotels all over this great land of ours. One night in July 1990, we had just finished for the night at a Holiday Inn in Austin, Minnesota. I was walking back to my room when a I spied a grand piano in the walkway. I had to doodle a little bit, and a half-hour later this song was written.

Five--G-Jam: Listen
Personnel: Me-tenor sax; Vernon Daniels-drums

The Story: One of three duos Vernon & I recorded in August of 2001. Vernon suggested the title, since we recorded in the garage.

We started with a medium-tempo groove, morphed into a double-time feel, and wound up gettin' funky at the end. Vernon has a great ability to see where the music needs to go before it gets there, and that makes doin' stuff like this a lot of fun...

Doesn't Matter: Listen
Personnel: Me-tenor sax; Vernon Daniels-drums

The Story: Me & Vernon again. We started off with a medium-up tempo, got funky with it, and then went latin from there. I love the way the music changes like a kaleidescope, with little changes sneaking in and gradually making a big transition. Big fun!

540ops: Listen
Personnel: Me-tenor sax; Vernon Daniels-drums

The Story: Our third track together. We decided to play in 5/4 time. It didn't take long for us to realize how much we depend on having a bass player there! Anyway, after turning the time around four or five times, we finally locked on it, and it was pretty cool after that.

Just a Closer Walk: Listen
Personnel: Me-tenor sax

The Story: I played this at a man's funeral. He had played sax in his younger days, and his family wanted a solo sax at the ceremony. It was very emotional for me, and I was really proud to be a part of their memorial. I came home and tried to capture the same feeling, and I got pretty close, but the church performance had the sound of 200 people sitting in absolute silence, and that's hard to recreate....

Happy Birthday: Listen
Personnel: Me-tenor sax

The Story:Hey, I recorded it for my mom when she was in the hospital. I figured they wouldn't like me barging into her room with a horn, so I brought this recording and a jam box! She listened to it, Closer Walk & Ferma all day....