CS: Yeah, yeah. And it was just what the track needed, you know?
Smitty: Yeah. Man oh man. When I listened to it, I said “Now, I know this song.” I said “How did Dino get in there?” I said “Man, this guy is something else,” and I said “I’ve gotta ask Chris how Dino found his way into this song,” because it blends well, but I would not have expected to see him there.
CS: Well, he asked to play. I mean….(laughs)
Smitty: And, you know, that’s the mark of a great musician, a true musician….
CS: Right.
Smitty: ….because he always wants to play.
CS: Yeah, yeah.
Smitty: Let’s talk about some of these other cats on the record, man. Andre Berry…what a bass player!
CS: Yeah, he’s pretty much the funkiest boy out there.
Smitty: Yeah, man. He’s got the funk. He’s got it workin’.
CS: He sure does, yeah.
Smitty: Yeah, and I was happy to see Larry Steen, man.
CS: Oh, you know Larry?
Smitty: Yeah, man. What a great player.
CS: Yeah, we had him play upright bass on this album. I’ve always been a huge fan of his upright playing. I think he’s just absolutely world class.
Smitty: Yeah. And Stan Sargent is one of my favorites.
CS: Yeah, another great player.
Smitty: You just really stacked the lineup here with these great bass players and, you know, you got Rodney there, of course, and it just really rounds out the project, a lot of maturity and just some great grooves.
CS: Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
Smitty: Yeah. How many guitars did you use on this project?
CS: Boy, that’s a good point. Let me think. I probably used one….my main guitar was the Benedetto jazz guitar, and maybe some acoustic guitar on that….I can’t remember, I think there’s some, yeah.
Smitty: Yeah.
CS: Yeah, yeah, there is. There’s still some acoustic stuff. That might be it for this record. I don’t even know whether there’s anything else on it.
Smitty: You’ve got a nice tour coming up too, man. You’ve got some dates out there and you’re gonna really promote this record.
CS: Yeah, well, the nice thing is the record….the song’s going up the chart nicely.
Smitty: Yes, it is.
CS: And I’ve put this tour together with Jeff Lorber and Jody Watley.
Smitty: Yes.
CS: And we’re starting to get out there and do some dates and it’s still early days, you know?
Smitty: Yeah.
CS: It’s finding its feet, and I think before you know it, it’ll be a hot thing across the country.
Smitty: What was your reaction when you first noticed the record on the charts?
CS: Well, very happy. (Both laughing.) I mean, it’s just, the whole radio game is touch-and-go, and if you don’t play your cards right, you can really die there or you can zoom to the top of the charts.
Smitty: Sometimes people sort of frown on artists making radio friendly music. I think, like we were talking about before, I think diversity in music includes that as well, and quite frankly, radio is an avenue to get your music out….
CS: Right.
Smitty: ….to the listener and some people like those tunes, so you want them to hear your music….
CS: Yeah.
Smitty: ….and that’s what it’s all about. That’s a part of this whole world of making music. I think it definitely can improve, no doubt. Because we want it to reach as many people as possible, you’re expressing yourself….
CS: Right.
Smitty: ….and you want people to know what you’re feeling, and hopefully they will feel what you’re feeling, so it’s all a part of that, so I think it’s just, you know, it’s a beautiful thing to have a diverse CD that people can enjoy from the radio and from their own car or from their home.
CS: Yeah. Well, I mean, it’s the way to get to the masses. And a lot of people, especially straight ahead jazz artists, they either frown upon it or don’t take it seriously. I mean, at the end of the day, I understand it, but if you’re gonna do something for radio, it has to be honest. You can’t pander to it, you know what I mean? And there’s a lot of artists that are a little bit jaded and bitter because they can’t get on radio when they’ve tried, but it’s not them, you know what I mean? They’re not being honest about who they are, and I think that’s the ticket, you know. The people aren’t stupid. And, it’s gotta be you at the end of the day. And if it’s not, it’s not gonna work.
Smitty: Yeah. And I think honesty in music is the key ingredient.
CS: Yeah, it is.
Smitty: So what else is happening with Chris Standring? What’s going on?
CS: Well, boy, what else is going on? I mean, going out for this tour, having meetings with managers and, you know, trying to move things along but a little bit quicker, and practicing. I’m playing like an idiot, so I’ve gotta (Both laughing) I’ve gotta get back to it and get my chops back up.
