AMRAP, the title track on the CD, takes its name from the Cleveland suburb of Parma, Ohio. Amrap is Parma spelled backwards. The reference to the river, the flats, and the tower are all taken from Cleveland area landmarks. The Cuyahoga River, the waterfront, and the Terminal Tower each have their own stories to tell.

“Partying all night long with your white socks on” is my story. Parma is a small Polish community just south of Cleveland. A young teen growing up in North Central Ohio in the 60’s wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of Parmas (white socks with red and blue stripes at the top). It was a sure sign that you were going to get a good razzing from the guys, if not a good old fashion **** kicking if you couldn’t take care of yourself. So the white socks made it into the lyrics as a tribute to all the white sock wearers around the world. Viva La Parma!

When writing “AMRAP,” I looked back to the great musicians playing in the area at that time. The verse “Back with my old friend Joe, back home in Ohio” (Joe Walsh with James Gang) just puts a perspective on the great quality of the music writing and performing experienced in the area during that time. At least, what I can remember of it.

So tap your foot to the beat and enjoy this “Funk 49” revisited number as The Blue Note Project pays tribute to Joe and the boys in “AMRAP.”

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Growing up in North Central Ohio, Chet Atkins’ name was synonymous with the guitar. Belonging to the decade of the 60’s, my friends and I were paying more attention to the rock guitar idols of that time and only had a slight appreciation for other guitar playing styles.

A guitar extraordinaire from Central Ohio and good friend, Pat Wasseman, performed a song for me that he learned from “dropping the needle” on Chet Atkins’ records. He played it note-for-note and my appreciation grew from curiosity to a full-on respect for Chet Atkins and the “Travis finger style.” Moreover, I was in total awe of how Chet Atkins had orchestrated an entire base, chord, and melody into one complete technical setting.