Caleb Quaye has a new instrumental album called “Devotions” which is available on iTunes — Caleb is a well-known name in rock circles going back to the days of Reg Dwight (Elton John) in pre-fame mid-1960s London and later with Hall & Oates. In recent years Caleb has become what he calls a “musicianary” – a musician on a mission. I caught up with Caleb recently to ask him about his new album.
JP: I think this is my favorite of your albums, and I have them all. It’s very easy to listen to, very calming. Yet, it has all of your signature elements. How do you rank this album up against your other work?
CQ: I also think it contains some of my best work primarily because it was done over a period of about a year without any pressure whatsoever, no deadlines or anything like that.
JP: Could you tell me a bit about how this album was recorded? I take it this project did not involve your band “The Faculty.”
CQ: That’s correct this is entirely a solo project. it had been in my mind for a number of years to do something like this because in my travels during a soundcheck or rehearsal i would play some improvisational stuff on the guitar and people kept telling me that I should do a CD of that kind of music featuring my guitar playing. Often I am asked to play some “special music” in church for communion or prayer times and this is the kind of music that people were requesting so it was done entirely at home during times of inspiration!
JP: Well it certainly is a peaceful album. Do you have a favorite track on the album?
CQ: Wow that’s difficult because there are favorite moments on each track, but if I had to pick one I think it would be track #3 “Be Still And Know” because it is a very calming piece that takes you to that place of faith and inspiration. it’s also my humble nod of acknowledgement to J.S. Bach whose music I love!
JP: Well I love that track as well. It’s the kind of track that if i heard it while driving in my car, I’d probably want to pull over to absorb it completely. You travel so much as a musicianary. What is that like?
CQ: It is a lot of fun and great joy to see people inspired by my God given ability to sing into peoples hearts with my guitar playing. It is the essence of the blues in that an exchange takes place; that is when people who have the blues hear someone playing the blues the end result is that they don’t have the blues anymore! I have always believed that music is a gift from God for the purpose of blessing and lifting people up. It’s for this purpose I make music and play the guitar!
JP: Do you have a message for young musicians out there? What do you want them to know?
CQ: I would want them to know that they have been given a gift by God who loves them greatly, and we are to communicate that love and hope to others through the gift that has been given to us!
JP: Well Amen to that. Thank you Caleb for talking to me. I’m looking forward to finishing the album you and I started!
CQ: Yeah let’s do it!
(Jack Phillips is working on a blues album with Caleb Quaye)