'After All...' was recorded in 6 studios on 3 continents by a cast of 13 musicians. The CD features material composed over 5 decades, not a bad trick for an artist who recently turned 50. Nordstrom celebrates 35 years as a singer/songwriter with this recording. Edmonton-based Jeremy Sagar oversaw production & co-wrote the title song with Monte, during one of the sessions with drummer Pat Steward at Helicon Studio in Crofton. Sagar & Nordstrom mixed the project with engineer, Stew Kirkwood in Edmonton at Sound Extractor Studio. ![]() Part one features recent and new compositions while the second premieres previously unproduced Ptarmigan material from early 70s. "The Waiting" is a suite composed in 1969. The reference to Ptarmigan (Nordstrom's first recording, produced by Paul Horn on Columbia Records) represents a return to form for Monte as an artist. 'After All...' features Monte's powerful vocal range, supported by background vocals by Nick Jarvie and by Edmonton's Mike & Michelle Sabourin, a creative & dynamic father/daughter combination. ![]() There is a distinct retro vibe to the album, orchestrated by Monte's use of a vintage Mellotron. This provides an eerie, majestic ambience; at times recalling Procol Harum or an earthier Moody Blues. While the recording could also be compared to a modern band such as Coldplay, there is no mistaking Nordstrom's rich vocals & guitar. Many solo passages feature Monte's fluid harmonica, at times supported by the soprano sax of Doug Rhodes. Jeremy, Monte & Maryann Nordstrom contributed hand percussion, while a digereedoo performance by James Batchelor adds a mystic quality to the Dias/Lithgow composition "Song to the East". ![]() Peter Gustavsson contributed guitar & vocal tracks, translated the song titles & sang a chorus of the song "Abandoned Memories" in Swedish. He recorded in Varberg, Sweden. ![]() The songs' titles were translated into 10 languages, referring to the universality of their message. The CD is beautifully enhanced with Kanji translations by Jiho Kongo, a Japanese zen monk. Longtime friend & promotor, David Pite, introduced Monte to "Hosan" during Monte's tour of Kyushu in 2001.
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![]() Ptarmigan 1974 LP on CD Catalog |