BETWEEN DREAMING AND JOY is the latest release on Ear Up Records from saxophonist/composer Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band/Bela Fleck & the Flecktones) with a gigantic group of musicians from around the world. Where else can you find 8 bassists, 6 drummers, 5 guitar players, 4 keyboardists, Middle Eastern frame drums, Brasilian percussion, Moroccan vocals, a turntable artist, multiple horns, an ice cream truck, a Hungarian Tarogato, and an African Ngoni to round it off?

BDAJ features Jeff Coffin, Marcus King, Michael League, Robben Ford, Keith Carlock, Stefan Lessard, Nigel Hall, Kris Myers, DJ Logic, Bob Lanzetti, Jordan Person, Felix Pastorius, Chester Thompson, Buddy Strong, Bernardo Aguiar, Sarah Ariche, Jeff Babko, Mike Baggetta, Jennifer Hartswick, Vicente Archer, Chris Wood, Bill Fanning, Alana Rocklin, Ray Mason, Emmanuel Echem, Chris Walters, Richard Aspinwall, Derico Watson, David Rodgers, Derrek Phillips, Jonathan Wires, & Tony Hall!

This recording is a culmination of 2 years in the studio and is a breathtaking collection of song and grooves from a musician whose music truly knows no boundaries…

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From Jeff Coffin:

This recording wasn’t planned. It was a gift that came from the world essentially stopping in place in early 2020 and not fully continuing again for some time. Most of us went into silent, or stealth, mode and I was no exception. It was the first time in over 25 years that I had the time and resources to deep dive into my composing in a way that wouldn’t be interrupted by going on the road. I ended up with over 30 new tunes, I finished many older tunes, and ended up with 6 or 7 full records to release.

I never imagined I would compose a tune written from a bass line I played on a chair lined with bungee cords. I never imagined I’d have a Moroccan woman (Sarah Ariche) singing and playing an African Ngoni on a record. I never imagined I’d have Michael League (Snarky Puppy Bassist) playing Middle Eastern frame drums on a tune. I never imagined having Brasilian percussion (Bernardo Aguiar) on my music. What i DID imagine was getting the best musicians I know to make music together and I imagined it would be awesome - and it is!

The very first tune I wrote during this time is the title track, Between Dreaming And Joy. It’s an unusual tune for me, as are most of these, and I think it reflects what I was going through and the feelings around me and my family. Marcus King absolutely SLAYS me on this! His vibe and musicality really shine through and he was a joy to work with, as were all the musicians involved - an embarrassment of riches!

Another unusual aspect of this is that no one recorded in the same place. Usually there are at least a few of us in the same sonic space but not this time. To get the music to the musicians in a way that made sense to them was a challenge in itself and the order in which to record the parts was a jigsaw puzzle due to it’s many pieces and intricacies. But, we made it work and the results are stunning and I couldn’t be happier with the way everything turned out. I’m excited to share the rest of music with world as we move forward and I think you’ll find it’s every bit as unusual and interesting as this recording is. I don’t have a favorite tune or a favorite moment. It all holds my heart equally.

I listened, explored, improvised, sang, re-wrote, meditated, breathed, yelled, cried, balked, waited, and most of all, learned from this experience. I am deeply thankful for the time I had to compose and work on all this music. I am also profoundly grateful to have an incredibly strong and loving partner in my wife, Ryoko. She is amazing in every way. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all these heroes and heroines of mine who are part of this music as well. I felt like I was alternating between dreaming and joy the entire time and these incredible spirits were all there with me as we found our way forward, together from different places…

Releasing yesterday and circling overhead

The wind carries us with no clear place to land

Up over the treetops we have an ariel view

Gaining perspective and creating as we go

Not knowing which direction will the wind will take us

Strong, Sharp, Cold, Hot

Fierce, Calm, Agitated, Harmonious

The currents of life are akin to sound

Commonality binds us all in concert

Sharing unknown vibrations

And whether awake or asleep

We find ourselves in every moment

Between dreaming and joy

- jc