Jamaican Vacation Anyone?

I've never been anywhere so acoustically rich. From the second myself and Charlotte stepped off the plane in Montego Bay until we were up in the air again Jamaica was never quiet. The insects, the animals, the people even the land itself never stopped making sound. This is actually a bit of an archival post since these recordings were originally made in October of 2010 when Charlotte and Myself managed to catch a cheap flight out of rainy Vancouver to sunny Jamaica. We had a really great time exploring the island and especially the warm waters around it. So, if youre in the mood to get away have a listen to any of the recordings below and get a slice of Jamaican life.. c'mon mon, take a break!

- Almost There, West Jest Monitor, The Caribbean, 2010.

 - Flight Attendant preparing for take off, Connecting Flight, Toronto, Canada (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Airplane toilet Flush, Midair, USA (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

 - Jamaican Sunset, Montego Bay, Jamaica, 2010.

 - Charlotte Swimming, Negril, Jamaica, 2010.

- Prayer Session and Invocation at Mount Salem Church, Montego Bay, Jamaica (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

 - Bethel Court Guesthouse, Montego Bay, Jamaica, 2010.

- Waking up at Bethel Court Guesthouse, Montego Bay, Jamaica (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Rainy Night at Bethel Court Guesthouse, Montego Bay, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Swimming with the Crocodiles in Black River, Jamaica, 2010.

 - Fixing our rental car's tire.. local style, Montego Bay, Jamaica, 2010.

 - A wall with some the Idols, Near Falmouth, Jamaica, 2010.

- Downtown Black River, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

 - Recording "Pistol Style" with the Audio-Technica AT8022 & Marantz PMD661 Field Recorder, 2010.

- Goats in the Hills, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Jamaican Night, Near Montego Bay, Jamaica (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- If you where an insect living in a bush near the ocean, this is what your world would sound like, Beach near Falmouth, Jamaica, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010.

- Listening to the Radio at the Fish Shop, on the way to Black River, Jamaica, (Please use headphones when possible) 2010. 

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Audio-Technica AT8022.

The End.

Shells

So here I sit, 10:15 A.M., a little tired and squinting in the sharp Las Vegas sunlight. My plane will be boarding in the next few minutes, its time to go home. I've recorded, filmed and photographed and most importantly experienced the Western Half of the United States for last two months. Its interesting to try and piece it all together in your head, I think about the people I met, the things I saw and experienced, its very difficult to put into words. But then thats why I love doing what I do, I don't really have to..

- Louise picking up Shells in Buckeye, Arizona (Please use headphones when possible) 2011.

 - COMING SOON, 14 of the 18 rolls of Film that I shot, 2011.

The End.

Young Chavez

I met eighteen year old Patricia Chavez while she was working at a gas station near San Juan, New Mexico. It was at the end of a long day on the road and this lonely Gas station was where we'd be spending the night, parked in a slipway near the store. Patricia shyly agreed to do an interview when the store closed at 9pm. Please excuse all my "hmmmms" & "ahhhs" that punctuate my questions, I was pretty tired by the time I did this interview. We spoke about her plans for the future, being bucked off a cow and the challenges of being far away from her friend.

- Patricia, San Juan, New Mexico, June 30th 2011.

 - Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 1, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

- Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 2, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

- Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 3, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

- Interview with Patricia Chavez Part 4, San Juan New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 30th, 2011.

 Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Rode NTG-1.

The End.

Hunting Cicadas

I've always loved the sound of Cicada's. Whenever I hear them I think of calm summer days, I always get relaxed and in a good mood. We were about half way between Conchas Lake and Las Vegas, New Mexico when I found a quiet section of road with a good Cicada population and I figured I'd hunt one down and record it up close. For anyone who hasn't heard a Cicada they make this buzzing or hissing sound by vibrating their membranes on their abdomens. Its only the male Cicadas that do this to attract a females after spending a couple years underground developing. There are some species such as the Seventeen Year Cicada that spend.. well.. seventeen years underground, yikes! When they're ready they leave the underground scene and go up and make some noise for the general population above, respect. Anyway this isn't National Geographic.

- Hunting Cicada's in New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible) June 28th 2011.

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Rode NTG-1. 

The End.

Bud

We stopped at general goods store named "Country Store" to fill our RV's depleted propane tank. As I walked up to door to speak with the Clerk/Owner met a man named "Bud" who happened to be sitting on a Vietnam era Huey Helicopter seat, now make shiftily clamped to the front porch of this middle of nowhereish store near Snowflake, Arizona. He was contently sipping on a cup of coffee watching passersbys. I struck a conversation and it was only a minute or two later that I grabbed my recorder to get the rest of the conversation. I guess it was rush hour Country Store style since within minutes a swarm of people briskly floated in and out the front door including Hunters, Ranchers, Drillers, Bikers and Native Americans. Bud Powel is just another example of a genuine American, big hearted and full of interesting stories, not to mention he had one of the coolest voices I've heard in a long time. Please Enjoy!

- Conversation with Bud Powel at "Country Store", 13 Miles East of Snowflake, Arizona (Please use headphones where possible), 2011.

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & Rode NTG-1.

The End.