Interview
John Beaudin -Hi Jay and welcome to Smooth Jazz Now. I want to start by talking about 'Airplay for the Planet' which to me was a catchy Chicago/Toto fest. It mixes a nice California/Smooth Jazz feel. I liked the addition of lead vocal help from Bill Champlin of Chicago and former Toto front man Joseph Williams. How was it recording this album?

Jay Graydon - As usual, writing and recording an album is major work. This being my first solo album, I really busted my ass! The recording process was not typical since this was the transition from analog recorders to digital recorders. I had recorded a few songs using 48 track analog and the rest were recorded using the Alesis ADAT format. Regarding the songs recorded analog, I seem to remember they are 'Walk the Wire,' You're Not Alone' and maybe 'History.'

This may have been the first album ever released using the Alesis ADAT format since I was a consultant for the system and the beta testing happened while recording the album! Of course, there were technical problems with the 8 ADATS I was using and for a while I was getting updated versions often! The good news is I kept making back-up tapes every few hours and never lost any recorded data!

Note that working with singers like Bill, Joe, Warren and Sherwood is very easy since all of these guys sing their ass off! Yeah, I put them through the grind as to get great performances but they know me and realize that the final vocal comps would be great!

John - You know one of my favorite vocalists is Joseph Williams. 'The Seventh One' by Toto is one of my favorite Pop/Rock albums of all time. I never get sick of it and a large part of that is Joseph's writing and vocals. How long have you known him?

Jay - Yeah, Joe is outstanding and a great guy! Even though I am very good friends with all the TOTO guys and have known them since the early 70's I had not met Joe when he was working with them. When I started the writing for my album I got Joe's phone number and called him first as to write. We became very good friends quickly and we had major fun working on the album. I humbly state 'When You Look In My Eyes' is a beautiful melody with a great lyric. Joe sang the song with such emotion I get goose bumps every time I hear his ear candy vocal!

John - "When You Look in My Eyes" is one of those 'melt your heart' melodies and the lyrics are very touching. I love the line "I'm beginning to doubt my doubts and I'm losing faith in my faithlessness." It's a great light at the end of the tunnel tune and we can never have too many of those! I also Love "Walk the Wire" which has a great power/pop/Toto feel.

You are very well known for not being genre specific, case in point the new album 'Negrita' with Jerry Lopez and friends. Recording up-tempo Latin sounds has to be fun?

Jay - My involvement was just a guitar solo for a friend. After the album was completed Jerry asked me to distribute the album through my record company Sonic Thrust Records. Negrita can be found at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jerrylopez

By the way, all of my albums are available though my web site www.jaygraydon.com. Note that we have just made a distributing deal for a great Smooth Jazz CD! The Steven Lee Group, 'From the Ground up.'

Okay, back to not being genre specific, I recorded a straight-ahead jazz album entitled 'Bebop.' I recorded a surf album for fun entitled 'Rake And The Surftones,' 'Surfers Drive Woodies.' In June, we will release a new Planet 3 entitled 'Gems.' This album is 80's pop stuff.

John - I know you were really impressed by Jerry's work. Do you see big things from him?

Jay - Yeah, Jerry is very talented and I think he will have a solid career.

John - I've been a fan of that California sound for a long time and fans have you and David Foster to thank for that. Don't you think a lot of Smooth Jazz derived from the California sound?

Jay - There is no doubt! David and I along with many others like Kenny Loggins, Mike McDonald and Steely Dan got away with using chord changes and melodies that kind of fall into jazz here and there. When the pop sound in the 90's took on a simpler melodic path when rap started happening, the pop artists of the 80's fell into the Adult Contemporary market. In this era such artists fall into the Smooth Jazz market. In any case, the Smooth Jazz sound was surely formed from 80's pop and jazz.

John - What's your take on Smooth Jazz radio?

Jay - I listen to the format quite often since I love melodic songs and great instrumentalists. I am also very happy that the format includes many great singers!

John - I like the 'Airplay' album with you and David Foster I know that neither you guys nor the record company promoted the project. Do you have any misgivings about that one not being a hit? Interestingly, it usually crops up on lists for top west coast albums of all time. If you could do it again would you change anything?

Jay - David and I were so busy producing artists that were successful we did not work this album. The record company is not to blame since we did not support the product by going on the road and we did not pressure the record company to promote. Man, we blew it!

David and I agree that we over produced the album! Until the song 'Bix,' every song has so much in it happening, the air from the stereo speakers blasts enough sonic air pressure to push your hair back! I have a few demos from this album and someday I will put together a package with that stuff and more from other albums.

John - I love the story behind 'After the Love is Gone' and how David started it, you added to it then Bill Champlin came in and was suppose to record it until Maurice White fell in love with it while producing Earth Wind & Fire. Was Bill okay with not being able to record the song? I guess he couldn't lose on this since he has co-writing credit? Also, it's cool to hear it on 'Airplay for the Planet.'

Jay - Yeah, David called me and stated that Maurice wanted to record the song. David mentioned that we needed to talk to Bill and explain the logic. We were both kind of nervous since the song may have been a hit for Bill. When we talked to Bill before we got into deep explanation, Bill stated he is not stupid in business land and agreed EWF(Earth Wind & Fire) should record the song.
Regarding the 'Airplay for the Planet' version, I love this version since it falls into Smooth Jazz. Note that the written melody is not the correct melody on the EWF version - in the chorus, the top harmony part stands out as the melody. For any one that cares, check out the 'Airplay for the Planet' version and you will hear the original melody as written.

John - How did you meet David Foster?

Jay - I was working a club gig in the early 70's with a very good band. On a break David introduced himself stating he liked my guitar playing and wanted me to play a record session for a Skylark album. I also told him I was into synthesizer programming as well and David asked I bring my ARP 2600 synthesizer along. So, the session was at Clover in Hollywood. I listened to the first playback of the song and stated, "Who is the piano player! This guy is great!" Yeah, it was David and we became very good friends from then on.

We were both at the point of getting some work as studio musicians and we both recommended each other when ever possible. Within a few years, we were both first call studio players. One thing led to another and we both became record producers, recording artists and record company label owners.

John - Have you heard any demos from the new Steely Dan album, 'Everything Must Go?'

Jay - Funny you should mention that. I am going to hear the album in a week.

John - I loved 'Two Against Nature.' Did you like it and do you listen to a band differently after you've played with them like Steely Dan?

Jay - Negative Girl is a masterpiece! All of the stuff is great as usual. Regarding listening to the album as one that has played on a previous album I have played on so many albums with other artists I respect. I was a studio musician for hire and when the gig is over I moved on to the next gig. The bottom line is I listen to following albums just like a listener and I really want to like the stuff since I have a connection to the artist.

John - Are you watching 'America Idol' ?

Jay - Yeah, I am watching since the singers are typically singing songs that are melodic. This may help the future of pop music educating the young people that melodic songs are a good thing. Hey, I would love to be a judge on the show and may pursue. I also watch to check out a great singer that gets dropped along the way as to sign to a record deal. So far, the only singer that has the voice to be a star is Reuben. The odds are good he will win so that blows off that business concept.

John - I don't usually ask money questions but how big or small was your first songwriting royalty check?

Jay - Man, I do not remember. Yeah, there have been times where the check was sweet and for all of you reading this, I must stress that songwriting is a gold mine if the song is a huge hit! If you are committed, get a publishing deal and keep writing as much as possible!

John - Of all the songs that you've written is there one that stands out the most?

Jay - That is a very difficult question. All are like children. I can find faults and great things about each. Well, maybe great stuff in a few.

John - I know you've written with Steve Lukather of Toto . I'm curious and not that knowledgeable since I'm a drummer but how does his guitar style differ from yours?

Jay - Luke is a great guitarist and can play his ass off in many styles. His feature is Rock. My main style is pop with a side dish of jazz.

John - Where do you keep your Grammy's?

Jay - On top of the fireplace in my Den and I am looking at them now and notice I need to dust them off.

John - It was really sad about Warren Wiebe passing on. How did you find out? He sounds great on the 'Airplay for the Planet' album.

Jay - I seem to remember Bill Cantos called me first. I was shocked and became so very sad. I must say his voice was like liquid gold! Warren was an incredible singer and in this era of smooth jazz he would have surfaced big time!

John - That s very true. I think it's unfortunate that a lot of people don't really know who he is. What were your teen age years like?

Jay - I was destined to be a professional bowler until I discovered the drums and then guitar. I bought a drum set at age 14. After banging on the drums for a few weeks I asked two guitar players (Jr. high school pals) if they would like to jam playing surf songs. We had major fun and after the rehearsal the guitar players left their guitars and amp at my house since we decided to play the following day. After they left, I picked up one of the guitars and figured out all the songs we had played. Within a few weeks, I traded in my drums, bought a guitar and we got another drummer. The 'Veltones' were formed and we played surf and very bad R&B.

John - So there was a possibility for a while Jay Graydon would of been a Bowling champ instead of a music man? How serious were you with Bowling and do you still play?

Jay - As mentioned, I would have become a professional bowler if not discovering music. I still hang out with my old bowling pals often! Just last night I hung out with Barry Asher (PBA hall of fame) and communicate with Rick Lipp. Rick could have been a star on the lanes but got into music for a living.

John - Your father was very musical when you grew up singing and being in radio and TV. So you kind of got an inside view of the industry at a young age?

Jay - Yes! Other than teaching me about the music business my dad graduated from law school and taught me basic law.

John - I know the Beatles influenced you a lot have you ever met any of them? I would think you and George Harrison would have had a lot to talk about?

Jay - Odd that I have not met any of them over the years since I have had the opportunity a few times. Foster and I called Paul once but he was not home. I have a feeling I will meet Paul at some point since we have a mutual friend.

John - Is there anyone out there that you'd love to work with?

Jay - I once told Stevie Wonder I wanted to produce him. Yeah, he does not need my help.

John - Thanks for the chat Jay

Interview from May 2003

All photos copyright Jay Graydon/KEO 1996 - 2003. All rights reserved.