Tom Mac has spent about 25 years playing guitar and started his own group five years ago, but for his first solo release he had to take a few trips around the country just to find his own sound.
With last fall's release of Upper Palette, Mac said he was able to get more of his personal music visions on record.
"What I was able to do was to put my own music on there," Mac says. "I was able to bring out the ideas I had going on in my head and I was able to hit a little deeper level of creativity than I have in the past."
The album features Mac's own arrangements and words on songs such as the acoustic and emotion-laden "Song for Jack" that share space with reworked takes on songs such as "Norwegian Wood" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" In order to accomplish this, Mac needed a little help.
Mac first was able to get Paul Wertico, a long-time drummer for the Pat Metheny Group, to provide the percussion. Mac then was able to get bassist Larry Gray and electric guitarist Stanley Jordan on board to help realize his solo debut.
"I was fortunate to get those guys," Mac says, though it took a good amount of work.
Mac spent three days in Austin, Tex. to record with Gray and then recruited Jordan after meeting him after one of Jordan's shows and, after much persistence, recorded with him in Arizona.
"Something was really pushing me to get this record made," Mac says.
Mac, who also produced the album, says he greatly enjoyed having the freedom to make Upper Palette the record he wanted to hear.
"It's nice to be in control of everything," Mac says. "Major labels kind of dictate what music needs to be. Some of the guys (who recorded the album) remarked how nice it was to get away from the studio system."
Some of that freedom has included keeping a variety of musical styles on the record for Mac, who is trained in classical guitar and plays jazz, folk and rock.
"The sound on the record complements my philosophy on music," Mac says. "I don't want to limit myself to just one kind of certain style."
His upcoming live performances feature most of the musicians that assisted Mac on Upper Palette, which Mac hopes will further enhance his musical development.
"When you play with guys like I had on the album, they can really pull a lot out of you and your performance because of their experience and their musicianship," Mac says. "They can really get inside me and dig deep."
Mac hopes to continue self-producing albums and has already started work on an album of classical pieces. But while the Rockford, Ill. native prepares for his Marquette area appearance, he isn't the only member of his family returning to Milwaukee: His father will also be celebrating his 50th anniversary reunion from his graduation from Marquette's law school in May.
Tom Mac will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 790 North Van Buren St. Tickets for the show are $7 for the general public, $6 for students.,”Matthew T. Olson”
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