Second details on an upcoming new album called “Progress”. Calculus or just derivative? Chaplin vs. Lucy and Ethel. Jon Anderson. Fusion guitar shredding. Guitar quartets at 120db. Self-driving cars and a total loss of control.

Roger CortonIn our last action-packed episode, we started talking about your new album progress, and the concept behind it. You said that you thought that “progress” was inevitable, or at least that we all think it is inevitable. We are so indoctrinated to the idea that progress is good that we can’t imagine life any other way. You even compared it to gravity; a hidden force that we all assume is ever present.

JCHWhat a concise summation, dear friend. I salute you.

RCAnd I salute your salutation. You also hinted at the music. Care to comment on that?

JCHSure. When I started thinking about this record, I fretted and fretted and fretted and fretted.

RCAnd not on the geetar.

JCHCute. As I was saying, I […]

First details on an upcoming new album called Progress. Genesis 1:28. Star Trek. The Organians. Klingons. Nietzche. Chinese island builders. Brave New World. The irony of a static music culture in an ever-changing world.

Roger CortonSo it’s time to start talking about the next record? I seem to recall you first hinting at this way back last July.

JCHYes. It’s a concept I’ve been thinking about for a looooong time. The working title is “Progress”.

RCAnd is that title ironic? I also seem to recall you going on about how much you hate how sarcastic and ironic the world has become. First the price hike and now this. The hypocrisy of it all.

JCHPerhaps you’re right. I’m less argumentative than I used to be.

RCYOU?

JCHMe. Perhaps it’s age catching up with me. But the idea of the record is definitely to question the idea of progress.

RCExplain, please.

JCHIt dawned on me one day that my […]

Actually a coda to our last conversation. Glenn Frey. David Bowie. So much death in rock and roll lately. Every artist has multiple lives. More on aging gracefully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-utsqR7zdyM

Roger CortonBowie last week. And now Glenn Frey?

JCHTransitions! (laughs) Yeah, they’re droppin’ like flies, baby.

RCAny thoughts?

JCHLook, the world isn’t waiting on baited breath for anything I would have to say about these guys.

RCBut that never stopped you before, so…

JCHSo, I will say I was never a huge fan of Bowie. I have probably actually enjoyed more Eagles music over the years.

RCSeriously? I’m surprised. I thought you dug T-Rex and Roxy Music the most so I guess I just assumed…

JCHYOU ASSSSSSUMED!!!? No, I never dug ‘glam’ all that much. Great songs? Always. But all the androgyny and especially those honky guitars? Naaahhh. But with regard to Bowie, all the different personas seemed a lot more important than the actual notes.

RCAs […]

Why all that classical jazz? Lenny Bruce does Father Flotsky and a prison break. Sting. Pete Townshend. Keith Emerson. What should prog guys do when they (finally) grow up?