The western quartet of Todd Geer, Timothy LeFebvre, Peter Sicilian and myself was modeled after the Sons of the Pioneers. Our years of performing together helped create a unified sound, and made for some lively recording sessions. The project expanded to include some of the most versatile singers I know: Phyllis Pancella, Stephen Powell, Dean Elzinga and Raul Melo. They were able to sneak away between gigs at NY City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera to spend a little time out on the open range (on the western side of Manhattan). Richard McKee, a wonderful singing actor, was able to juggle time between singing, directing and running the Syracuse Opera to join in the fun.
It was a real pleasure to work with instrumentalists from many musical worlds in the course of this project. Symphony players joined jazz and western swing experts to make music together. As you’ll hear, we chose many different styles of accompaniment- ranging from big “Hollywood” arrangements to simpler guitar-based renditions. If you listen carefully (and know the operatic repertory) you’ll hear operatic quotes within several of the numbers (courtesy of arranger/ composer Mark Simon). I owe all of the performers a huge debt of gratitude and special thanks to Peter Chwazik and Chris Jennings for their flexibility and strong musical support.
When I first heard these songs, they made me smile. I hope our renditions will make you do the same.
Steve Stull, singer and producer
Opera Cowpokes songs and performers
RIDERS IN THE SKY - Stan Jones
Edwin H. Morris and Co., Inc.
Steven Stull, baritone
Peter Chwazik, bass, guitar; Gordon Stout, marimba; Hal Reynolds,
trombone; Jane and Kim Dunnick, trumpets
DON’T FENCE ME IN - Cole Porter/Robert Fletcher
Harms, Inc.
Stephen Powell, baritone
Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, bass; Laurie Hart, violin
RAGTIME COWBOY JOE -
Lewis Muir/Maurice Abrahams/Grant Clark
Steven Stull, lead; Todd Geer, tenor; Timothy LeFebvre, baritone;
Peter Sicilian, bass
Dave Davies, guitar; Eric Aceto, violin; Peter Chwazik, double bass; Mark Simon, clarinet
I WANT TO BE A COWBOY’S SWEETHEART -
Patsy Montana
MCA Music Publishing/ A Div.
Phyllis Pancella, mezzo soprano
William Moulton, piano; Liisa Ambegaokar Grigorov, flute
COOL WATER - Bob Nolan
Music of the West
Steven Stull, lead; Todd Geer, tenor; Timothy LeFebvre, baritone;
Peter Sicilian, bass
Dave Davies, guitar; Eric Aceto, violin; Peter Chwazik, double bass
SAN ANTONIO ROSE - Bob Wills
Bourne Co.
Timothy LeFebvre, baritone
Dave Davies, guitar; Eric Aceto, violin; Peter Chwazik, double bass
JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE - Joseph Lilley/ Frank Loesser
Paramount Music Corp.
Steven Stull, baritone; Dean Elzinga, bass baritone
Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, guitar, bass, percussion;
Laurie Hart, violin; Steven Stull, percussion
BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN - Gene Autry/ Ray Whitley
Gene Autry’s Western Music, Katielu Music
Steven Stull, baritone
Dave Davies, guitar; Eric Aceto, violin; Peter Chwazik, double bass
GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORRAL - Clifton T. Crofford
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Richard McKee, narrator; Duane Skrabalak, Ike Clanton; Gary Race,
Wyatt Earp; Steven Stull, Timothy LeFebvre, Peter Sicilian, back-up
voices
Peter Chwazik, guitar, bass; Jane and Kim Dunnick, trumpets
BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS - Ben Peters/ Vivian Keith
Shelby Singleton Music, Inc.
Dean Elzinga, bass baritone
Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, bass; Bob Carlucci, pedal
steel guitar
TEARS ON MY PILLOW - Gene Autry/ Fred Rose
Milene Music, Inc., Gene Autry’s Western Music
Todd Geer, tenor
Dave Davies, guitar; Eric Aceto, violin; Peter Chwazik, double bass
I CAN’T STOP LOVIN’ YOU - Don Gibson
Acuff Rose Music Inc.
Stephen Powell, baritone
Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, bass; Bob Carlucci, pedal
steel guitar
COWBOY BLUES - Gene Autry/ Cindy Walker
Golden West Melodies Inc.
Steven Stull, baritone
Dave Davies, guitar; Eric Aceto, violin; Peter Chwazik, double bass;
Bob Carlucci, pedal steel guitar
BLUE BAYOU - Roy Orbison/ Joe Melson
Acuff Rose music, Inc.
Phyllis Pancella, mezzo soprano
Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, bass; Margie Cooper, violin;
Elizabeth Simkin, cello; Liisa Ambegaokar Grigorov, flute; Jane and Kim
Dunnick, trumpets
KING OF THE ROAD - Roger Miller
SONY/ ATV SONGS LLC
Richard McKee, bass
Peter Chwazik, double bass, percussion
WHEN I STOP DREAMING - Ira and Charlie Louvin
Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
Phyllis Pancella, mezzo soprano
Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, bass; Bob Carlucci, pedal
steel guitar
I FALL TO PIECES - Hank Cochran/ Harlan Howard
SONY/ ATV SONGS LLC
Peter Sicilian, bass
Dave Davies, guitar; Eric Aceto, violin; Peter Chwazik, double bass,
Bob Carlucci, pedal steel guitar
LONG BLACK VEIL - Marijohn Wilkin/ Danny Dill
Cedarwood Publishing
Steven Stull, baritone
Peter Chwazik, guitar, bass; Bob Carlucci, pedal steel guitar
VAYA CON DIOS - Larry Russell/ Inez James/ Buddy Pepper
Beachhaven Music Corp.
Raul Melo, tenor
Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, guitar, bass, percussion
WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT - Alan Bloch/Don Hecht
Acuff Rose Music, Inc.
Phyllis Pancella, mezzo soprano
William Moulton, piano; Chris Jennings, guitar; Peter Chwazik, bass,
percussion
HOME ON THE RANGE - trad. arr. Mark Simon
Steven Stull, baritone
Bill Pelto, conductor; Matthew V. Baram, piano; Peter Chwazik, double
bass; Sera Smolen, cello; Linda Case, violin; Liisa Ambegaokar Grigorov,
Christina Fenn, flutes; Mark Simon, clarinet; chorus: Carol J. Buckley,
Jeanne Goddard, Kristen Park, Robin Booth, Beth Ray, Scott A. Miller,
David Parks, Grant Best, David A. Greenman, Colin Ryan - Recording Engineer
- Sam Godin, REP Studio
HAPPY TRAILS - Dale Evans
Famous Music Corp.
Steven Stull and friends at the BBQ
Carol McAmis, piano; Margaret Flowers, cello; Linda Schwab, saxophone;
Pablo Cohen, guitar
All songs licensed through Harry Fox Agency
Produced by Steven Stull
Mastered by Jon Hilton - Hiltronex, and Steven Stull
Recorded 9/97- 5/99 in Ithaca, Spencer and NYC, NY