Recording Artist David Barrows independently recorded his debut CD House Music at Hounds of Renown Studios on October 13, 1998 in Oakland, California. Executively produced by David Barrows and Mark Schleunes, House Music provides an ideal showcase for the saxophonist’s striking versatility. Barrows released the record in November, 1999 at targeted record shops in the San Francisco Bay Area. This year 2000 Barrows officially releases his recording House Music by targeting major record store retailers, and performing at a series of CD release parties and in-store appearances throughout Northern California.

When jazz station deejay Alisa Clancy of KCSM first heard the disc, she said, "Dave Barrows’ sax sound has a unique, lithe, ever so gritty, ‘touch-n-go’ quality to it. He can sound intense without the histrionics—Opening with a bass groove by Ari Munkres on an original called, ‘Rise and Fall,’ it just started to cascade from there—Latin grooves, great tight quartet, guitar from Jack Gates and ‘Dejonette-ish’ fill and fury with drummer Kevin Mummey— very nice outing overall."

The recording’s 7 tracks covers a wide-ranging variety of moods and styles which stays rooted in jazz, but also explores Afro-Latin,bossa nova, flamenco, free improvisation and the blues. The recording nicely showcases Barrows’ eclectic musical interests. All in all the record makes for very pleasurable listening, and is graced by Dave playing his main horns, tenor and soprano, as well as some alto on Rise and Fall #1 and #2.

The foundation of this "House" is provided by a stellar performance from the rhythm section, with guitarist Jack Gates, bassist Ari Munkres, and drummer Kevin Mummey. Jack's guitar playing is driving, yet translucent throughout. Ari obtains a fluid yet fat sound on the bass, which is captured beautifully by the purely acoustic recording. And Kevin's drumming binds the sound in an extremely dynamic performance. It truly is "a nice mix of originals and standard jazz tunes. Reminded me of Chico Hamilton's records," says Bay Area radio personality George Hughes.

Dave's concept for this recording was to try to follow an idea expressed in pianist Bill Evans' liner notes to the Miles Davis record "Kind of Blue," about how they approached the session like the Japanese calligraphy artists who don't lift the pen off the paper. On the night of October 13, 1998, Barrows called the musicians together at guitarist/engineer David Bell's studio, a place called Bell Boy studios in Richmond, California. Barrows talked briefly about what they would play, and then they recorded nine tunes, seven of which are heard on this record.

Dave later re-worked the sax parts on two of the songs at his home studio, "Hounds of Renown," in Oakland. The two tunes were his original bossa "Tema Para Sandra," and a blues by the great, recently departed vibraphonist Milt Jackson called "Bags' Groove." The rest of the record is preserved as it was recorded live at Bell Boy. Everything was artfully mixed and mastered at Hounds of Renown, by recording whiz Mark Schleunes. Between the two engineers a really warm sound was achieved, which is striking throughout this disc.
 
 

The record opens and closes with a short and long take of Dave's improv piece "Rise and Fall," an idea built on a minor-blues type bass line. Also heard are Chick Corea's "La Fiesta," the Luiz Bonfa standard "Manha de Carnaval" from Black Orpheus, and "Afro Blue" by Mongo Santamaria.

7 tracks (TRT of 50:13) include:

1. Rise And fall #1 by David Barrows (7:42)
1. Afro-Blue by Mongo Santamaria & Mongo Music (5:17)
1. Tema para Sandra by David Barrows (3:49)
1. Bag’s Groove by Milt Jackson & Reecie Music (6:06)
1. Manha de Carnaval by Luiz Bonfa, Antonio Maria, Warner Chappell Music (5:55)
1. La Fiesta by Chick Corea, MCA Music/Litha Music (9:21)
1. Rise and Fall #2 by David Barrows (11:45)

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