Scott Archiblad project part 2: The Melksham sessions
Scott Archiblad project part 2: the beginning…
Scott Archibald, a Canadian musician contacted Simon just before COVID, looking to come to Morocco and study Moroccan percussion and meet and jam with local Sufi musicians. Some recording in Simon’s studio was also envisaged and the outline of an exciting new collaboration was set out.
Covid struck and for obvious reasons the project was put on ice. Then, in 2022, Scott contacted Simon who was now living in France and the project was re-launched. After a trip to Essaouira in Morocco to study gnaoua music, Scott came to France and with both Simon and Mouna they did a week’s recording in the Sans Reserve Studio with the in-house engineer and producer Arthur de Cossette.
The weeks recording finished as the “Sentinel Machine” EP.
Who is Scott?
Scott is a multi genre bassist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and bass instructor from Vancouver, currently based in Montreal.
As a bassist he has toured throughout Western Canada, the USA and Southeast Asia and performed in venues such as The Center for the Performing Arts (Vancouver B.C. ), Richards On Richards (Vancouver), the ACT Theatre (Maple Ridge B.C.), The Cloverdale Rodeo(B.C.), the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the Surrey Fusion Festival (B.C) and a house gig at Chilkoot Charlies (Anchorage AK USA).
He plays world groove, funk, jazz, blues, soul, rock, folk, R&B, pop. Music for TV, films, theatre and art projects.
The Melksham sessions
In April 2025, Simon re-joined Scott in Melksham, UK at Steve Evans’ new studio “The Fortress” for the next part of the adventure, the recording of a new album.
Simon tracked drums for the first afternoon and then they were joined by Justin Adams (Jam Wobble, Sinead O’Connor, Robert Plant), John Baggott (Massive Attack, Robert Plant) and Howie, a talented young drummer and producer currently based in London.
The first day was taken up with rehearsals and jams in Steve’s immense live room. The second day, three tracks were recorded live and filmed.
It was a highly successful and fun session to have been on and it will be exciting to hear the results of this collaboration between the musicians and Steve and his team. Watch this space for the album, videos and who knows what else!!
The next step….
The next step will be happening in the week starting the 21st of April 2025 where Scott, Simon and Mouna will be back in the Sans Reserve studio in France for another week of writing, recording and jamming.
Again watch this space for sounds and images from this week of studio in France and for the final cut of the album and videos.