Two-time Grammy winner Paul Brown produced the vulnerable album chronicling the process of growth.
Indigo is a natural plant-based hue produced through a transformational process that unfolds over time. R&B/jazz keyboardist Jeff Logan has been going through his own transformative process that inspired the title of his long-germinating second album “Indigo,” which will drop on April 12 via the Fire and Ice Network label. Two-time Grammy winner Paul Brown (Boney James, Norman Brown, Al Jarreau, Bob James) produced the ten-song set written by Logan who opened his heart to reveal intimate moments, introspective reflections and personal stories of love, heartbreak and hope culled from the process of real life.
Logan has always been a prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, constantly composing and recording new material in his home studio, playing all the instruments himself. As a composer, he has an innate way with melody. However, he hasn’t shared any of his recordings publicly since his 2011 debut album, “Black Tie Affair.” Since that project, he went through a painful divorce, was distanced from his daughters, and logged innumerable high-stress hours serving as the Chief of Population Management for Prince George's County, Maryland Department of Corrections.
Daily, Logan found solace sitting at his keyboard, strumming his guitar, and thumping his bass to create new music, amassing a catalogue of over four hundred songs. The creative outlet enabled him to remain hopeful and optimistic while his spirituality kept a bright smile on his face through the tumult. But to grow as an artist, Logan had to take a leap of faith: surrender production duties to someone else and bring in additional musicians.
“Anyone who knows me, knows I try to do everything myself. I can be a control freak and will always try to figure out things for myself first before asking for help. Artistically speaking, I learned how to play multiple instruments and to self-produce. However, I was encouraged to consider collaborations, including working with a producer. I didn't think Paul (Brown) would oblige me, but he graciously agreed to work with me, initially for one song. One song became a few songs, and a few songs evolved into an entire album. Paul helped to craft the songs, production-wise, into masterpieces that I believe will stand the test of time,” said Logan.
With Brown in the producer’s chair while adding guitars and percussion to the “Indigo” tracks, he brought in his A-team of veteran session players to elevate Logan’s vibrant piano and keyboard harmonies. Shane Theriot is virtually a one-man band who played bass, drums, guitar and keyboards on the album. The rhythm section consisted of drummer Gorden Campbell and bassist Roberto Vally. Multi-horn man Ron King and saxophonist Greg Vail completed the lineup.
Recalling hot days spent with family and friends, Logan opens the album by serving up thirst-quenching “Lemonade.” Sweet piano melodies stir the drink of a chill R&B groove poured over horns aplenty as a refreshing chaser.
“During an unusually sweltering day last spring, I heard a rhythm and melody (in my head) begging me to get to my piano. The lead melody came first and then the bassline quickly followed. As I sat at the piano, memories of summers gone by, and summers I hope to be blessed to spend with family and friends, flooded my emotional space, and the song wrote itself,” recalled Logan.
“Chill Factor,” which will be released as a single in April, began when Logan heard in his head a guitar riff playing in unison with his piano.
“It's hard to get good melodies out of my head once the creative process starts. So, I picked up my guitar and worked on the riff until I thought I had perfected it, and then I played the piano part against the guitar part. However, Paul Brown is not only a top-shelf producer, but he is a top-tier guitarist thus I was really stoked when he added his signature style by playing the lead guitar riff. The collaboration of his guitar against my piano riff is magical to me. The perfectly titled song creates an atmosphere of being able to relax from the troubles of my life by sitting back and being moved to a simple place of tranquility via music,” Logan shared.
The elegant jazz sounds heard on “Tears of Hope” belie the intense introspective feelings Logan delves into on the track that evokes the influence of the late great contemporary jazz keyboardist Joe Sample.
"I wrote ‘Tears of Hope’ several years ago during a period when I questioned if I would ever reconnect with my daughters in a way where they would still love me and want to spend time with me after their mom and I divorced. I wanted them to live with me for an equal amount of time as with their mom, but the court said no. As I sat at the piano working on the song, it took on a greater meaning. There have been instances throughout my life when I've experienced not only sad tears of hope but exhilarating tears of hope at seeing situations in my life turn out for the better. It's definitely a reflective piece of music on which I made myself totally vulnerable,” revealed Logan.
Varying the lead instrumental voice, Logan adds warm flute sounds atop his keyboard hooks and melodies on “Let It Go,” the album’s preview single that was soft launched in January. It’s another track that King and Vail filled with muscular horn section parts under Brown’s skillful direction.
Logan said, “I was trying to create a song that would beckon me to let go of anything and anyone that was and/or is bogging me down. Life is short, so the message in this song is that we have to let go of things impeding us from being a better us. I wanted to write something that would have a subtle flute as a lead, creating an echo effect in my mind that I wouldn't be able to escape, much like a loop. It's not often that a song comes out the way you hear it in your mind, but ‘Let It Go’ is one of those songs for me.”
“Bread and Wine” exudes a calming sense of joy, which Logan said emanates from nurturing his spirit via cherished time spent with family and friends.
“It's my life's blood and sustenance to be connected to my family and friends. It means everything to me, so I spend a considerable amount of time trying to match my creative side to music themes that embody the spirit of being connected to family and friends. When we get together, we break proverbial and literal bread and wine together,” shared Logan.
On “I Love You,” another melody rich expression of affection spoken through his keyboards and flute, Logan ties together the themes underlying the entire album into one song.
"‘I Love You’ is a simple, poignant and honest expression of affection and appreciation for my family, friends and listeners. There are several themes that are interwoven throughout this album: family, friends, hope, communing with one another; loving those we call family, letting go of some people and things keeping you down so you can have more of your time to spend meaningfully with those who truthfully matter to you. Moreover, if you love someone, show them. And one of the best ways I can show my love for those I profess to love is to make myself vulnerable by sharing my music,” said Logan.
Not only does Logan share his music, but he also shares his emotional journey and the difficult inner work he did to heal and learn to love again on the gentle “Fall In Love.” His sensitive keyboard seems to gain reassurance from Vail’s soothing sax.
“It’s a song that I wrote for me, to me, about me, on which I give myself permission to love again. The track is supposed to feel like a crisp breath of fresh air that I am breathing in, filling my spirit. I spent years doubting whether or not I had the capacity to love again at the level I had once committed myself to loving my then wife. I gave everything I had, but unfortunately it still wasn't enough. But I did the work on myself, and I continue to work through the hurt, the pain, the regret and the self-loathing. I've worked through all the stages of matrimonial grief that accompany the severing of a marital relationship. Going through that process, I've realized I still do have the capacity to love at that level and perhaps even deeper,” Logan disclosed.
In the process of creating the album, Logan did what he calls “a heart audit.” He set his soul-searching to music on the gorgeous mellifluous piano reflection titled “If Only.”
"‘If Only’ embodies me taking an inventory of my life. I am reflecting on some opportunities missed, loves lost, and family members who are no longer with me on this journey of life. I challenged myself not to waste God's time. I am determined to minimize procrastination and spend my time creating, loving, and being there for those in my life who matter the most.”
The foundation of the uplifting title track is a funky R&B groove, bouncy, hopeful and feel-good, cleansing and purifying after the intense feelings, emotions and revelations Logan examined and stirred up.
“I wrote ‘Indigo’ while reflecting on the process, how most things go through a time continuum in order to become aesthetically pleasing to the heart, the mind, the body, and the soul. I came up with the concept of writing songs for this album several years ago that I knew was going to be titled ‘Indigo.’ The indigo plant is used to create a deep blue-violet color that is so beautiful, but there is a process involved that takes time to create that unique color. The indigo color is a metaphor for my life and the process that I go through to reveal my musical art,” said Logan.
The album closes with the contemplative “A Soul’s River,” an existential rumination on which Logan ponders his impact.
"Our time on this earth is fleeting and none of us truly know how much time we have to make an impact. Who did I touch? How did I touch them? How did we flow? I want to flow beautifully into as many people as God had intended for me to do, and in such a way as that I added to their life in a positive way before I evaporate and return to the source that created me.”
Logan’s growth – artistically and professionally as well as personally and emotionally - in the nearly thirteen years since his last album is nothing short of remarkable. No doubt it took a lot of challenging work and nurturing self-care. The time-honored processes that he’s been through over the years served to develop and hone his craft. “Indigo” is the product of a composer-keyboardist who has evolved into a uniquely gifted and expressive instrumental voice capable of communicating powerfully via distinctively colored musical hues.
Logan’s “Indigo” album contains the following songs:
“Lemonade”
“Chill Factor”
“Tears of Hope”
“Let It Go”
“Bread and Wine”
“I Love You”
“Fall In Love”
“If Only”
“Indigo”
“A Soul’s River”
For more information, please visit https://www.jeffloganindigo.com.
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