freedom fighters

This album is a collection of twelve collaborations - for which I wrote the music for - with lyricists Julie Tawse, William Chin and David Van Camp. We meet on the songwriter's website "50 Songs in 90 Days" back in 2004 and 2005.

I revisited my rough "work tapes" of these songs in 2024 and starting in April of this year, 2025, I commissioned the first vocalist and guitarist to demo "freedom fighter" - lyrics by Julie Tawse.

Originally, I heard all of these songs as simple "singer-songwriters on guitar or piano - performing with an open mic vibe" - but that first guitarist I commissioned was Jesse Rivest (here on airgigs), and he broadened my view to the song's possibilities. After working with him on several others in the collection - I changed the direction of this work - incorporating the musical talents of several airgigs artists* - to give, I hope, the songs more justice.

I took the title "freedom fighters" for this album from Julie's song - third in the playlist - as it seems to best summarize the group's collective muse: people struggling for freedom in relationships, within society or within themselves.

An interpretive hint for the last song, Julie's "dingoes at the door", is the "Azaria Chamberlain disappearance case" in Australia from 1980. The "dingoes" represent the public's and law enforcement's treatment of Azaria's mother, Lindy.

Each song has a story to tell - and for my part I hope the music draws in the listener to consider what's being related.

*Contributing airgig artists include:

Vocalists:

Azul Schenquerman (lead, backup and harmonies)
Believer Baeha (lead, backup and harmonies)

Musicians:

Marco Cremaschini (piano, wing tack piano, accordion, electric guitar, Hofner Violin bass, Hammond Organ, and whistles)

Jesse Rivest (acoustic and electric guitars, drum tracks)

Cesar Valbusa (live drums and percussion)

Andy Warner (electric bass)

Jason Lloyd Kendall (saxophone on "questions")

Nigel Cuff (lead guitar solo on "kitchen sink blues")

Sound engineering:

Marco Cremaschini, Jesse Rivest, and Christian Codenotti

many thanks to all!

blessings always
John Taylor