Jack Nimersheim: Six Decades of Music
It is, concurrently, a humbling, yet strangely satisfying, realization: My love of music, which
began when I first picked up a guitar and started performing on-stage in 1965, has now
spanned six decades. During this time I've alternated between actually making my
living through music and using it primarily as a creative diversion, while
concentrating on other professional pursuits.
Still, the music has always been there. And I'm more fortunate than most. My music always will
be there. Access to decent recording equipment -- initially, tape; more recently, in digital
format -- has allowed me to create an audio "legacy" of my musical accomplishments.
This Web site may be the ultimate ego trip, but it's also my attempt to share with others some
of the joy music has brought me, through the years. If nothing else, it will provide my son,
Jason, an opportunity to roll his eyes and snicker, as he's forced to endure a permanent
record (pun intended) of his "old man's" creative endeavors. Once something is
launched into cyberspace, it tends to drift out there forever...and ever...and...
"Take that, World!!!" he exclaimed, accompanied by maniacal laughter.
(Click on an album cover, below, to access the associated songs.)
"Transoceanic Railway"
Gypsies in Cyberspace (2012)
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I told y'all it wouldn't be long before we started working on the next Gypsies' CD, "Transoceanic Railway". Kev's been on a creative tear, recently. Consequently, we've already begun laying down the initial tracks for six Sweeney Songs. (The man's amazing!)
As we have in the past, we'll be posting songs as they're "in-development"...letting it all hang out, musically, so to speak. We hope to have this new release ready for distribution sometime in mid-2012. Follow our progress here. |
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"Someone Else's Window"
Gypsies in Cyberspace (2011)
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Another Gypsies' collection is "in the can". "Someone Else's Window", our third CD, is available for digital download on our Bandcamp page.
And here's the best news of all: The first 200 folks who download "Someone Else's Window" from Bandcamp get the entire CD for free. FREE! These 12 songs would be a bargain at twice that price! So, head on over to Bandcamp, get your download mojo working, give our latest musical efforts a listen...and let us know what you think. |
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"Music in the Key of Friends"
(2011)
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I've encountered some amazing musicians, from all across the globe, since I dusted off my instruments and started playing music again, a while back. In various combinations, we've written and recorded a number of songs together...and become friends, in the process.
I decided it was finally time to gather together in one place these various, and varied, collaborations. And so, I give you "Music in the Key of Friends". |
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"Mad Bad World"
Gypsies in Cyberspace (2011)
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The Gypsies' second CD, "Mad Bad World", is in the can. Click on the nifty cover art to the left and give it a listen.
We're proud of these twelve songs. We tried to stretch our creative muscles on this one, experimenting with new musical styles and studio techniques...pursuing a unique Gypsies' "sound". As the old saying goes, however, the proof is in the pudding. So, let us know if we succeeded. |
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"Too Old to Rock & Roll"
(2010)
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"Too Old to Rock & Roll" is the second solo CD I've completed, since setting up my basement studio. The title track on this CD really was inspired by Jason's comment, one day, that "Dad, you're never too old to rock & roll." Thanks for the inspiration, son.
This CD also gave me a chance to reunite musically with two of my long-time friends and ex-bandmates from Heather. (See below.) It was great, singing and playing with De and Jim, once again, after so many years. Friendship and music, it appears, really are forever! |
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"Keep Love In Your Heart"
Gypsies in Cyberspace (2010)
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Here's a fascinating concept: Six musicians from three continents, coming together to create a "virtual" band we call "Gypsies in Cyberspace". None of us has ever met, in person...but we have managed to form a musical bond that transcends geographic dispersement.
Throughout 2009 and into 2010, the "Gypsies" collaborated on a dozen songs...each created, discussed, arranged, recorded, refined, mixed, and mastered exclusively over the Internet. More will be forthcoming, I'm sure. |
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"The Basement Songs"
(2009)
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In 2008, after an extended "dry spell", I dipped my toes back into the shallow end of musical creativity. "The Basement Songs" includes ten songs recorded in a studio that modern technology allowed me to cobble together within the comfortable confines of my own basement. Ain't progress amazing?
This CD features a song written and recorded with my son, Jason...an incredible experience I'd recommend to any father who also happens to be a musician. |
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"Chronography"
(Heather, 1971-1977)
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I spent the majority of the 1970s in a country-rock band called Heather. That's us, to the left, in a promotional picture taken in 1975, when we all had a lot more hair...and a lot more hair was a lot more fashionable.
I recently used my digital "toys" to restore as best I could...from singles, albums, acetates, and demo tapes...fifteen Heather recordings dating back to those early days. Given the age and condition of the source material, these restorations sound surprisingly good...and the music still holds up pretty damn well, four decades later. |
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"Journey's End"
(Heather, live, 1993)
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In 1993, sixteen years after we'd last played together, Heather reunited for a live concert to benefit the historic Hoosier Theater, in Vevay, Indiana. By dumb luck, I managed to make a pretty decent recording of our final ride into the musical sunset.
As was the case with the "Chronography" tracks, above, I recently spent some time restoring and "tweaking" 12 songs from this performance into an audio archive of Heather, live...just a few more musical memories I thought I'd share. |
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"Many Countries, One Sky"
Peace Partners (2010)
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In early 2009, I became involved with an amazing project. The goal of this project, called "Peace Partners," is to bring together musicians from around the globe to write and record songs based on the twin themes of peace and freedom. To date, more than 60 musicians from a dozen countries have collaborated to produce over 40 Peace Partners' tracks.
In June, 2010, we completed "Many Countries, One Sky", the first of three Peace Partners' CDs scheduled for release in 2010. I'm proud to have produced and contributed musically to this project. |
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"Rock For Peace"
Peace Partners (2010)
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Peace Partners released its second CD, "Rock For Peace", in July, 2010. This one contains a slew of "Gypsies" songs. (hmmmm...how many songs are in a "slew"?) No surprise, there, given that Peace Partners was the project through which we first encountered each other.
There are, however, other International artists represented in this second collection, as well. Once again, I'm extremely proud of my contributions to this CD, as both a producer and performer. |
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"Vision of Peace"
Peace Partners (2010)
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Peace Partners released its third CD in September, 2010. There's more Nimersheim production than performance on this one. That doesn't mean I'm any less proud of it, however.
"Vision of Peace" is the most eclectic of the three 2010 Peace Partners CDs. It runs the musical gamut from alternative ambiance...to the beautiful vocals of Selena S...to unique African rhythms...to Rap and Hip Hop...to the haunting intonations of Chris Nurse's soaring guitar work on the title track. Regardless of your musical preferences, chances are there's something you'll glom onto in "Vision of Peace". |
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