Reflections on Disc 1 - Track 1+2 "Music Box"

"Music Box" - Peter Mayer (lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett, singer/songwriter, guitar hero)


In this opening pair of tracks, first an introduction and then a 7 minute expanded song, the incomparable Peter Mayer sets a tone and a high bar for the rest of the double CD.

My first exposure to Peter Mayer was some incredibly tasty "hired gun" work on the first Dave Weckl CD, drummer for Chick Corea. My brother is an incredible drummer, and he was turned onto the Weckl CD while studying with latin percussionist Gary Sosias. My brother and I spent 6-8 hours a day practicing our instruments growing up- me on keyboards and him on drums. We spent a lot of time listening to CD's together as well. The Weckl CD was of course jam packed with syncopated and dazzling drum information, but also featured some really great writing and some really great playing by guys like Peter. The strat tones were beautiful and soulful, and the articulation and melodic sense was downright lyrical. And he was trading fours with Michael Brecker, so he was as "legit" as could be!

In the years to come, I would pop on the Weckl CD many times while trying to communicate my hopes for one of my songs to whatever guitar player I was working with at the time.

Many years later, a good friend of mine in Sweden, Mikael Engstrom, was suggesting music I might like, because he knows my taste and shares it. He asked if I'd heard "the singer/songwriters Peter Mayer". I wrinkled my brow and typed back "you mean the session player?" via email. It turned out it WAS the same Peter Mayer. I instantly ordered 2 or 3 CD's from CDBABY of his music.

Over the next few years, I can honestly say I listened to very little music other than Peter's vast wealth of original songs. When I first moved to Maine 5 years ago I grabbed a quick paper route job, delivering to 300+ houses 6 days a week, and the soundtrack to all those 3am adventures was Peter's CD's "Romeo's Garage" and "Music Box". I had discovered a true musical genius.

Peter's sense of harmony and musicality was right up my alley- sophisticated and clever from a musician's point of view but never at the expense of the accessibility of the song to the non musician. The best of both worlds. His lyrics and singing were inspiring and thought provoking, and the musicianship was tops throughout the CD's. My first true love musically was Sting's 'Brint on the Night' double-CD, which did the same thing, unleashing world class musicianship upon singable, accessible songs.

The day finally came that I was ready to approach Peter about playing on one of my songs. I was working on "Songs for Autumn" and once again I was asking guitar players to play like Peter... :-) so I looked up his contact information and sent off a request. Fortunately for me, we were able to work out the timing and details to make it happen. He is featured on my song "Underneath the Stars" with an incredible guitar solo similar in tone to the Dave Weckl tune that first turned me onto his playing.

I first heard the song "Music Box" when Peter played the Palace Theater in New Hampshire. It was a breathtaking moment... meaning that it literally took my breath away. What a universal concept- finding a trinket in the attic that brings all the ghosts back to haunt you and change your course forever.

It was very important for me to get Peter to be the debut artist at my venue when it opened, and we were able to get him for this special event on September 6th, 2007. The Maple Room was launched with the help of this master artist.