George Wesley has been a fixture on the NEPA music scene for as long as many of us can remember, but such longevity isn’t simply handed to anyone. You’ve got to work hard, and you’ve got to be good. And though Wesley’s sound has always been anchored by a heavy Caribbean/reggae influence, he’s also a crafty guitarist, a soulful vocalist, and has always been willing to pepper his songs with some rock, blues and even R&B.
For his new CD, titled “Hold On” — Wesley’s eighth album and his first in three years — he’s changed things up again. For this record, he wanted a more simple production process, yet later, when he played the songs live, he also wanted to be able to incorporate his latest musical exploration: looping.
“The whole idea is that we just did everything live in the studio, with no overdubs,” says Wesley. “A lot of the songs were first time, first takes. We didn’t even rehearse them. I just threw them at the guys, and what we got was what we got. And it was magic.”
The CD was recorded at WVIA-FM studios and was produced by George Graham. Performing on the album with Wesley are Chris Condel on drums and Peter Fritz on bass. In the past, Wesley has recorded albums that were produced using a layered, multi-track format, but for “Hold On” he wanted the songs to feel live.
“That’s kind of the whole vibe of the whole album,” he says. “It’s all based on loops. If I wanted to go out and do the entire album by myself, I can loop the entire thing.”
Songs on the new CD include “Hold On To Your Dreams,” “Ain’t No Trouble,” “Long Time,” “This Is The Sound,” “Don’t Use Me” and “Fading Away,” which Wesley describes as an improvised song “that I wrote on the spot at the wine festival up at Split Rock, on a rainy day.” He says that, musically, he keeps on evolving.
“Every album that I’ve done, I’ve learned from,” he says with a laugh. “Just when you think you know it all, you haven’t got a clue. There’s always something around the corner to surprise you.”
Despite Wesley’s intent to strip down the sound, don’t think for one minute that “Hold On” is a garage-style low-grade recording. The production is excellent, the songs boom and the music shines. It also brilliantly captures the Caribbean feel for which he is best known.
“I think this is even more roots-reggae influenced,” he says, adding that some tracks also come with a touch of R&B. “There’s a lot of guitar on it, of course, but it’s a trio. The sound is bigger than the band, and by looping, I can create a 10-piece band if I want.
“With my last album, I was really just exploring looping,” he adds. “Now, I understand it, and it’s become a real big part of my sound, and I’m lucky enough to have two guys that understand what I’m doing. It is not easy to play with live loops. They can be off a little bit, and you’ve gotta go with it. I’ve even heard this from (jazz great) John Scofield. When I first started getting into loops, he played at River Street, and he was talking about how sometimes there’s a train wreck in the middle of the loop, and everybody has to know where it is, and that it happens at the same place every time. If you’re not shook by it, you can ride with it.”
Wesley’s seen a lot in his years of gigging in NEPA and beyond. He’s seen clubs come and go, but says he’s always been fortunate enough to find new ones to play. He says he’s appreciative of his longtime followers and the new ones he picks up each year and adds that the recent deaths of a few friends and musicians with whom he once played have given him an even greater perspective on life.
“The most important time is now,” he says. “If we’re having a good time, and we’re healthy, and everything’s in order, we can’t really ask for much more.”
Wesley will hold a CD-release party on Saturday at the River Street Jazz Caf�. In addition to his band, he’ll be joined by Angelo Miraglia on keyboards and Annette Miraglia on vocals and percussion. He says life in general still inspires his work and that much of his music is still inspired by his spirituality.
“It’s constantly tested, as with everyone, but I’m trying to be positive,” he says. “The world is full of stuff to crush people right now, and music, to me, and everyone in general … I think music is more important than ever. People need something to hang on with, and to hold on to.”
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Go:
What: George Wesley’s “Hold On” CD release party
Where: River Street Jazz Caf�, 667 N. River St., Plains
When: Saturday, May 10, 10:30 p.m.
Cover: $5
Info: 570.822.2992, myspace.com/georgewesley