With the recent release of our album titled Quarantunes, we wanted to share some of the back story and give some insight as to the inspiration for the album. Read on to hear from the lady herself, Angela O’Neill.

How  the record……Quarantunes came about… OCTOBER 19TH        

 March 13th 2020, is the day that the world of music, as we know it…and the world at large, in California…stopped on a dime.

 I’m sure history will perhaps write a different  tale…but one second we were working full time…and the next…we shut our doors and are sheltered in place.

 The Outrageous8 Jazzy Big Band Octet and I…really could NOT figure out what to do.  The music union was closed (still is)…all possible rehearsal areas closed…and moving around from place to place…NOT recommended.    Once we all figure out Zoom?  The Whole Band…and Al Timss and Jackie Gibson and Kathryn Hopkins, our Marketing Manager….all put our heads together…Making sure that everyone was  keeping safe and had the food and supplies that they needed.  Through the Zooms we started talking about the mechanics…of what it would take to record a tune…NOT being able to be anywhere near each other??  It truly was a challenge like none we had ever faced.

 Rocky Davis…had just put together a beautifully heart wrenching arrangement of  a great song called FOR ALL WE KNOW…and we started to look at each other on the zooms and say …CAN WE DO IT?  Through the technical acumen of our super genius, Michael Rosen…and  a couple of  other bands releasing videos of songs they had recorded on social media…we thought…LET’S TRY IT!

 Our very first tune….the we all recorded separately, in our houses….was FOR ALL WE KNOW…then we continued on with  remixes  and a fresh new arrangement from HARRY SMALLENBURG…of Hallelujah , I love you so….The Outrageous8 and I recorded ENTIRELY sheltered in place….and then Al Timss and Da Boyz recorded one of my favorite songs that Al sings…called Autumn Leaves…

 As I’m writing this, I realize that how INCREDIBLY difficult …and TIME CONSUMING this process has really been…it’s really difficult to put into words. ( It took 5 weeks to mix the Audio of For all we know…and another 5 weeks to cut the video)….all of it …on the most basic of recording tools…a lot of times…recorded onto our Iphones! 

 We have managed, thanks to the generosity of Al Timss and his Cul De Sac…to have OUTDOOR Safetly Protocols and Social Distancing followed SUNSET BLOCK PARTIES….and again thanks to the generosity of founding  member Al Timss….we have a beautiful open air backyard to rehearse in…we even get a clap or two…when the neighbors like our tunesJ

 We also managed to record an entire Christmas Album…in the self same backyard…can’t wait to have that ready for our music buffs…by the Holidays.

Most of all…thank you to our friends and families and music fans.  You helped us with our fundraiser and you amaze us with your support…thank you so much for everything you do…xooxo  Angela, Sam, Harry, Paul, Rich, Ron, Michael, Phil and Rocky…Al Timss and Jackie and our Kathryn Hopkins…  Stay Well. xoxo