Inara George and Van Dyke Parks on MBE!

Today’s live performance with Inara George and Van Dyke Parks was a walk down memory lane in a lot of ways. Van Dyke Parks was here at the opening of our studios in 1984, along with the Manhattan Transfer and Ry Cooder. Tom Schnabel stuck his head into soundcheck, with one of Park’s records in his hand, and they exchanged a big hug.
 
Inara George has known the famous composer since she was a child – he was a friend with her father, Little Feat frontman Lowell George. Inara has appeared on KCRW many times – as a Guest DJ on Gary Calamar’s show, with the Bird and the Bee and multiple performances as a solo artist – and her comfort in the studio was evident. Before the set there was lots of laughing and clowning around. You can always tell when bands are having fun here -- and when they are nervous and/or sleepy…9am is a tough call time for the rockers. But this crew was buzzing on coffee and one of my favorite moments was after Inara sang “ Tell Me That You Love Me” and one of the band members shouted “I love you!” It pretty much summed up the whole morning.

In fact, Van Dyke – who’s worked with everyone from Joanna Newsom to Brian Wilson -- declared this project his “favorite arranging opportunity because of the attitude of the songs” He loves Inara’s expression of the “urban female dilemma.”

Hmmm. I’ll let you chew on that one for a bit. Check it out here

RR