Sean Franks Interview Page 4

SF:  Yeah.

Jazz Monthly:  And I could write a book on the stories of musicians that he’s helped in such an amazing way and going out of his way as well to contribute to a record.  Like you said, even if it’s just some advice or stopping by the studio to help you with a particular track or all kinds of things. He has always been that golden dude that comes out and lends his help in any way he can.  He’s just a great contributor to music in so many ways.

SF:  Yeah, I agree and even if it is advice, advice is huge, advice is everything.

Jazz Monthly:  Yes, yes.

SF:  Even if he doesn’t play on it, even if it’s just an idea or something.  Yeah, I agree.  He’s gotta be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met and he’s always been very open and very receiving so, I mean, it’s been a pleasure to know him and hopefully we will do something in the future.

Jazz Monthly:  Absolutely, and what a talent.  Man, that guy can bend some strings, some thick strings, like nobody’s business too.

SF:  Yeah, he’s a good keyboard player too.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, man.

SF:  So he’s like kind of a non-stop talented, talented person.  He’s out with the Yellowjackets.  I’m assuming they go out a lot because he’s never here.  They must be out like nine months out of the year and then he’s producing several artists, so he’s operating at a pretty high level.

Jazz Monthly:  Yes, he is and everything is always topnotch no matter what he puts his hands on.

SF:  Right.  Yeah, that’s right.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, so I just wanted to give him some props because I hear his name as much as I hear anyone’s name in the business and it’s always a very cool story.

SF:  Yeah, and positive, you know?

Jazz Monthly: Yeah, exactly, so you always want to recognize those cool people like that.

SF:  Absolutely.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, well, man, listen, you gotta book some dates, my friend, because people have got to hear this record, and pull Papa out and tell him “Hey, man, come out and hang with us.”

SF:  Yeah, I’ll have to get on that because that sure would be a fun thing.  I would like that to happen so we’ll see if we can slow him down.  I don’t know if I can, but I’ll try.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, I know he’s a busy guy in his own right, I know.  So what are you working on now?  What’s happening?

SF:  Well, right now, we redid a couple of songs and then we wrote quite a few new songs and I’ve got some more songs, so I think I’m gonna put another record together.

Jazz Monthly:  Sweet!

SF:  And we’re kind of just right now waiting for my engineer—his schedule is a little tight right now—and that’s about it.  Everyone’s kind of in limbo but not bad limbo.  Just limbo to get back to the project. But yeah, I think we’re gonna put together another—I always say we’re only gonna do four or five songs and then it turns into like nine or ten or eleven, you know?

Jazz Monthly:  Well, speaking of engineering, Charlie (Bouis), man, what he did with this record is just incredible, some great stuff.  He put a lot of personal touch, I think, on this record and please pass that along to him for me.

SF:  I will.  Charlie’s a great guy and that’s who I’ve been working with this whole time, and we did most of the stuff live so it gives you an idea of what a talented engineer he is to be able to record four or five guys live and make it sound so sweet—I mean, obviously we’re on a budget, but it sounds pretty darn good.

Jazz Monthly:  Yes indeed, man, and you can feel that in the music, I can tell, he really spent some time and really put a lot of passion into engineering this record.

SF:  Yeah, he’s a good guy.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah.  Well, I look forward to your next record as well and you know I’ve already put my two cents in with you that Papa’s gotta do at least one song on this new record.

SF:  Well, you know what?  I will forward that to him and see if we can get him off the road and see if he can do something.  That sure would be a pretty awesome and cool thing.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah, because, man, that would be slammin’ to have that kind of thing working on the new record.

SF:  Well, I don’t know if he’ll do it, but I am probably gonna go ahead and record another one of his songs, so I think it’s gonna be “B’wana – He No Home” and we’re gonna go ahead and hit that up.

Jazz Monthly:  Yeah! I can totally see you doing that one.

SF:  So I kind of had an idea how that groove was gonna go because I was listening to it the other day and it was like, you know, it was cool back in the day, but we kind of want to put a little stank on it.  (Both laugh.)

Jazz Monthly:  That’s what I’m talking about.

SF:  You know, it’s like “Don’t you ever write your boyfriend Ken,” you know.

Jazz Monthly: Man, that was cool.

SF:  And so I wanted to kind of like put a little bit of—I don’t know if you can use this, but a little bit of romp in there, you know?  (Both laugh.)  So we’ll see, we’ll see.

Jazz Monthly:  But I totally get it, my friend, and you know what?  That might be just the thing to pull him in.

SF:  Yeah, we’ll see.  We’ll see if we can—“Wait a second.  What’d you do?” So we’ll see, we’ll see how it comes out.

Jazz Monthly: Yeah, well, Sean, I totally dig this record, man.

SF:  Oh, thanks.

Jazz Monthly:  It has got some seriously cool grooves, the lyrics are fantastic, and I think that you have not only your own audience, but I think you will develop a brand new audience with this great record because it’s totally appealing across the board.

SF:  Well, thank you so much and for your support as well and also it’s been a fun interview.  It’s been easy.

Jazz Monthly:  Well, that’s what it’s all about, man.  Having fun and doing your thing, you know?

SF:  That’s right, that’s right.

Jazz Monthly:  Absolutely.  Sean, all the best to you with this great record in all of 2009, my friend, and hopefully we’ll get back together again when the next record comes out.

SF:  I would really like that and it’s been a pleasure.  Thank you so much.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit  www.seanfranks.com