The Clarity of Hindsight
It is with great pleasure, pride, and excitement that I announce the release of my independent solo album!
The project, The Clarity of Hindsight, has twelve tunes written, arranged, and performed by me (with a lot of help from my talented friends).
The release is on CDBABY which also distributes the album to Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and many other websites.
Follow the links below to access streaming and downloads of my tunes.
Keep scrolling to find a full track list, credits and other material related to the project!
LISTEN AT HEARNOW:
https://www.hearnow.com/preview/
Music by Seth Himmelhoch
Produced by Seth Himmelhoch and Louis Brown
Engineers: David Kowalski, Seth Himmelhoch
Recorded at Teaneck Sound
Cover art by Micaela Brody
Program
1) The Clarity of Hindsight
Seth Himmelhoch, classical, 12 string, and electric guitars
Rich Zukor, drums
Andrew Harkin, bass
2) Fifth Sense
Seth Himmelhoch, classical and electric guitars
Jerry Weir, vibraphone
Rich Zukor, drums
Seth Himmelhoch, bass
Carol Shansky, flute
3) Food Chain
Seth Himmelhoch, electric guitars
Rich Zukor, drums
Seth Himmelhoch, bass and keyboard
4) Moon Waning
Seth Himmelhoch, classical and electric guitars
Andrew Harkin, bass
Rich Zukor, drums
Daniel Palkowski, keyboards
5) Light At The End of the Tunnel
Seth Himmelhoch, electric guitars
Rich Zukor, drums
Andrew Harkin, bass
6) Ritmo Del Corazon
Seth Himmelhoch, classical and electric guitars
Jerry Weir, vibraphone
Rich Zukor, drums
Andrew Harkin, bass
7) Valse Bleu
Seth Himmelhoch, electric guitar
Dan Palkowski, keyboards
Rich Zukor. drums
Andrew Harkin, bass
8) Dario’s Journey
Seth Himmelhoch, classical, steel string, and electric guitars, and violin
Rich Zukor, drums
Seth Himmelhoch, bass
9) Electric Counterpoint, Species One
Seth Himmelhoch, classical and electric guitars
Rich Zukor, drums
Seth Himmelhoch, bass
10) Electric Counterpoint, Species Two
Seth Himmelhoch, classical and electric guitars
Dan Palkowski, keyboards
Rich Zukor, drums
Andrew Harkin, bass
11) Electric Counterpoint, Species Three
Seth Himmelhoch, electric guitars
Dan Palkowski, keyboards
Rich Zukor, drums
Andrew Harkin, bass
12) Homage to Jimmy Page
Seth Himmelhoch, electric guitars
Rich Zukor, drums
Seth Himmelhoch, bass
Thank you!
Carolyn Himmelhoch
Dr. Steven Frucht
NYU Langone Neurology Department
Andrea Valentini
Stuart Klinger
Steve Johns
Kenneth Feldman
I’ve known guitarist/composer/educator Seth Himmelhoch for over ten years now and thought of him mainly as a virtuoso classical guitarist playing music of Bach, Mozart, Tarrega, etc. But not anymore. I’m totally surprised to hear these twelve very engaging tracks that display Mr. Himmelhoch’s other side, his wild and creative side! Seth has composed some really clever tunes for his new release The Clarity of Hindsight. The album’s title track is the opening track and here Seth displays his rockish vibe while staying true to his classical roots with the addition of an acoustic 12 string guitar. This hypnotic composition is enhanced greatly by his musical partners Rich Zukor on drums and Andrew Harkin on bass. The second track, “Fifth Sense” tips its hat to the late, great Larry Coryell, and with the addition of Jerry Weir on vibes and Carol Shansky on flute it comes to life. Mr. Himmelhoch pulls out the Celtic folk side on “Dario’s Journey” and it’s very festive. I really enjoyed the three movement work Electric Counterpoint which combines the intricate keyboard work of Daniel Palkowski with high energy power chords, and then breaks into beautiful acoustic guitar work. And what can you say about the final track Homage to Jimmy Page? Killin’!
Thank you Seth!!!!
— Steve Johns, Drummer/Composer/Educator; June 7, 2023
I’ve been involved in music for most of my life. First I was a classical kid playing violin and recorder in family, school, and community groups getting the basic training that would guide me through my musical existence. Then I was a rock guitar teen idolizing guitar heroes like Steve Howe, John McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix, determined to “make it big” and put my stamp on the musical world with my guitar. Next, as a young adult, I went academic and got formal classical guitar training finally earning a Master of Music degree. This put me in a position to make my mark by teaching and continuing the great traditions of the canonic composers like Bach, Debussy, Villa Lobos and the like!
Throughout this musical journey and personal evolution, I was developing a sensibility and vision of my own. My approach to writing, arranging, and playing was fed and nurtured by immersion into all sorts of styles and genres, and all along I have been privately writing and recording music in my home studio. I’ve put some of these tunes out in public as part of other leaders’ bigger projects either in recorded form or played live. And though I got some good feedback and encouragement from these efforts, the music I created went back on the shelf.
But now, for the first time, I have put together a project entirely devoted to my musical vision. The twelve tunes I have recorded for this album comprise several I have recently composed and also stretch back into my musical past even as far as the 1970’s! I have not been scrupulous about adherence to any particular genre, so rock and jazz fusion are coexisting with folk and traditional jazz and Latin influences as well.
I can’t discuss my current musical pursuits without mentioning my struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, which I was diagnosed with in 2012. This disease makes daily life an obstacle course, interfering with the simplest actions such as dressing oneself and walking from place to place. For the musician it’s a disaster, causing technique built up over years of study and practice to crumble and leaving the once accomplished instrumentalist sweating over Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!
So, I must express my gratitude for the partial yet nevertheless miraculous solution: medical intervention with powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I say partial because I have only been able to achieve maybe 80% of the technical facility I had in my prime. And I say miraculous because I know full well that without the drugs and their skillful administration by genius neurologist Dr. Steven Frucht, my ride on the marvelous music train would have been over long ago. I mention all of this in the hope that others contending with PD can see the tangible results of my treatment and my personal struggle to keep going in music and keep their hope alive that they too can reach the goals they set for themselves!
— Seth Himmelhoch
