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Signal Meridian is a passion project for Kirk Pasich, co-founder of acclaimed Los Angeles indie label Blue Élan Records. He has brought together a collective of notable musicians and vocalists to reinterpret the songs of underappreciated bands, starting with Signals in Autumn, the first chapter in a four-part series, this one devoted to U.K. band Strawbs and their 1973-78 core songwriting team of David Cousins, Chas Cronk, and David Lambert.
Said Pasich. “I wanted to reintroduce great songwriters in a contemporary way, with world-class players and singers.” Formed in the ‘60s as a bluegrass duo by co-founder Cousins, the Strawbs went through several phases as a folk-rock outfit (featuring Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny), a progressive band (featuring future Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman) and, in seven albums from 1972-78, a rock band with orchestral leanings.
Pasich asked Blue Élan artist and keyboardist Sasha Smith to join in producing the project, knowing Sasha’s varied experience as a member of Everclear and from his work with the likes of Cat Power, Ariana Grande, the Wallflowers, and Ann Wilson. They are joined in this collective by guitarists Val McCallum, Jackson Browne’s longtime collaborator, and Nashville-to-LA transplant Adam Gimenez, who has played with Paris Jackson and 3OH!, and Billy Idol keyboardist (and Blue Élan recording artist) Paul Trudeau. Bassist Kurtis Keber and drummer Jordan West, who form Grace Potter’s regular rhythm section, perform similar honors here. Blue Élan recording artist Bernie Barlow (Moody Blues, Sarah McLachlan), Vanessa Bryan (Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, The Killers), Holly Palmer (David Bowie, Gnarls Barkley, Allee Willis) and Jordan West (with a solo album upcoming for Blue Élan) round out the four female vocalists.
