Affable Maynard Nexsen lawyer Jim Pool, a lifelong musician, releases a new instrumental album called Morning Prayers.
You titled your album Morning Prayers. Why? Years ago, I started waking up early for journaling/prayer time. That has morphed into me sitting down with the guitar each morning and seeing what happens. All these tunes came that way, so it feels like morning prayers to me.
Where was this recorded, and what guitars do you play? Unlike my first two albums, I recorded all these songs at my house. Most are played on Taylor guitars, with a couple played on a Lowden. All are fabulous guitars but with a very low tech set up.
How long does it take you to write a song? Occasionally, a tune will compose itself in one sitting. Usually, though, a riff or motif appears, and I will play around with it for a month or two as a song grows from it. It takes longer overall when several of those riffs occur during the same time frame because they each need space and time to develop. It’s so much fun!
This is your third album. Are you thinking of going full-time and hitting the road? Nope. Just enjoying playing.
Who are your main inspirations? I have listened to Leo Kottke since I was young, and David Walbert taught me classical and flamenco guitar (and David writes and arranges beautiful music). I don’t think my music sounds like the tunes played by either of those guys, but I would certainly be happy if it did.
Morning Prayers is available on Apple Music or Spotify.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/morning-prayers/6783016991
https://open.spotify.com/album/2f5EnQkso889vCpAgmppTm
