This album features a bunch of Bozeman's finest musicians playing on thirteen tunes... ten by Duke Sharp, one that was co-written by Tom Murphy and Duke Sharp, one by Jim Averitt and one spontaneous blues jam. Some of the recordings were made in living rooms and home studios, and some were recorded at Basecamp Recording in Bozeman.

Several of the songs are 'contrafacts.' It's a compositional device that essentially consists of writing a new melody and arrangement for an existing chord progression. I Got Rhythm, The Thrill Is Gone, Russian Lullaby, Fly Me To The Moon, Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out and Girl From Ipanema are songs whose chord progressions are the foundation for songs on Contrafactually Yours. Many of the charts that the band used to record these tunes are in Garage Band Theory, Chapter 11 - Chord Progressions.

Three tracks, The Till Is Gone (The Thrill Is Gone) Rouse & Rasputin (Russian Lullaby) and B Flat Chulent Blues are first-take, unrehearsed, improvised jams. The musicians playing on these tunes have been friends for years (decades!?!?) but all play in different bands and had never all played together. The basic idea was to get these great improvisers in the same room together and let them jam on some cool progressions. I handed out a chart, we'd talk about it for a couple of minutes, and then record it. Next. Except for B Flat Chulent Blues. No chart for a blues jam, Craig just said "B flat", counted it off and jumped in.

It's a live studio jam featuring Mark Dixon, Mike Gillan, Craig Hall, Bob, Nell, Duke Sharp, Eddie T and Rick Winking at Basecamp Recording, Bozeman, Montana. Video by Tom Murphy.

When you download this CD for $ I split $10 between two outstanding local non-profit groups!

Bozeman Friends of Music was established in 1985 with the goal of supporting music in the Bozeman Public School District No. 7 above and beyond the ordinary, enriching the lives of students through exceptional musical experiences. BFOM is the "booster club" for choir, band and orchestra in the Bozeman Public Schools.

The Bozeman Friends of Music Board meets monthly throughout the school year, and organizes two main events – The Instrument Swap and Hawks Night Live.

The Instrument Swap is a consignment sale, providing access to used beginner and step-up instruments to both students and the general public. Hawks Night Live is a highly competitive talent show for Bozeman Public Schools students in grades nine through twelve. The show continually sells out both nights, featuring approximately fifteen acts each night. In addition to giving students the chance to perform on stage in a professional setting, Hawks Night Live produces about half of the funding for BFOM for the year.

The proceeds from Hawks Night Live combined with memberships, proceeds from the Instrument Swap and our raffle allow us to fund the following each year:

-Student scholarships that can be used for lessons, instruments or music camp
-Teacher scholarships to help with continuing education, thus enriching the experience of students in the classroom
-New instruments for the schools
-Resources for music classrooms from Kindergarten through Twelfth --Grade including new music, instruments and supporting technologies
-Assistance for the high school traveling group
-Gift certificates for middle school music program awards
-Assistance for the Fifth Grade Band and Orchestra Festival each year
-Scholarships for graduating seniors in music
-Donations of time, energy and finances are always welcome. You can learn more about Bozeman Friends of Music by visiting www.BozemanFriendsofMusic.com.


Hand Me Down Some Silver based in Bozeman, MT, was created to provide young musicians the education, tools and opportunities to more fully experience the life-enriching benefit of music, as well as explore the many aspects of music.
The lyric "hand me down some silver, watch me make it shine" from the song "Someday, Sometime" was written for Jake Fleming by his father Bill when Jake was an infant. The song speaks about the importance of passing down the legacy of art, music and life´s lessons to the next generation. Through his own private practice and the HMDSS programs, one of Jake's most important life practices is handing down the legacy as it has been handed down to him.
Hand Me Down Some Silver organizes activities and provides the following services:

Funding or supplementing funds for kids to take private music lessons, attend music camps, workshops, etc.
Scholarships to help kids purchase instruments
Financial, educational, logistical and technical support for young musicians´ ensembles
Educational seminars, workshops, performances specifically for the benefit of young music students with a goal of instilling a richer culture within the community
Recording projects with local professionals such that the young musician learns many practical aspects of the music industry and gain a more intimate understanding of their own expression
Since it's inception in 2006, HMDSS has granted over 100 scholarships for instruments and lessons, assisted in financing at least 2 workshops or educational performances per year, produced professional recordings for 50 original young songwriters through the Footnotes program, provided a summer music camp attended by roughly 100 students over 5 years, and provided performance opportunities for young artists and bands as they arise.

If you'd like to learn more or support Hand Me Down Some Silver, visit www.handmedownsomesilver.com.