Welcome to the summer 2019 Nolan Gasser news update! The past several months have witnessed a whirlwind of new happenings in my musical career, such that a brief update to friends and supporters seemed in order. I hope you agree. Cheers!
WHY YOU LIKE IT: The Science and Culture of Musical Taste —has arrived!
The book that has occupied the better part of the past four years is finally out, and happily making a big noise, so to speak! It is available on Amazon , Barnes & Noble , and bookstores everywhere as a hard copy, eBook, and audio book (read by yours truly). As the title suggests, the book unwinds the full story of our musical taste: its origins, nature, and implications—and how “empowering” our musical taste is a ticket to a happier, healthier life!
I am grateful that the book has already received a slew of great praise—from The Economist , the Washington Post , Kirkus Reviews (starred) , etc.; that plus a whole lot of media attention—on “All Things Considered” , Psychology Today , KQED Forum , and forthcoming from People Magazine, Fresh Air , an LA Times op-ed, etc.
The book also has a very robust website— www.WhyYouLikeIt.com —with audio for all the musical figures, playlists, and lots of supplemental info for the avid reader.
So, go out and order your copy today, and tell your friends!
SAVE THE DATE : And for folks in the Bay Area, put June 23 (Sunday, 7:30pm) on your calendar: I’ll be doing an “Evening of Music and Conversation” at Petaluma’s Cinnabar Theater—discussing the book and playing music. See you there!
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BENNY & JOON: The Musical
My musical BENNY & JOON continues its positive road toward a Broadway run, having just closed its run at the wonderful Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. It was a thrilling (and typically exhausting) experience, and the show is so much the better for this second production. Thanks to great reviews and audience enthusiasm, our journey happily continues with a hopeful next step in New York City or maybe London—so stay tuned for details.
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BORDER CROSSING: A New Album
The last item in this mini go-around is a forthcoming album of original music: Border Crossing —mixing rock, world, and classical influences. It was recorded at the famed Capitol Records (Studio A) and features a stellar group of musicians: Tim Ries, Matt Szemela, Dimitris Mahlis, George Doering, Jamey Haddad, Carlos del Puerto, and Gary Novak. The album is being produced by multi-Grammy Award winner Gregg Field and was engineered by the legendary Ed Cherney.
The album will include 7 instrumentals and 2 vocal tunes (with lyrics by Mindi Dickstein); all the songs are original, except for one arrangement (The Beatles’ “She Said, She Said”). The world music influences are Andalusian, Tunisian, Hungarian, Turkish, Senegalese, Celtic, among others—all defined by a firm groove grounded in rock and roll. Recording this album was a thrill of a lifetime. Look for Border Crossing this summer, with a tour to follow!
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