Hey there! If you’re reading this you must love getting your hands on new music. Fantastic! Well, a handful of these songs are anything but new. Most were written and performed live with my band, Shady Groove, during my college and early post-college years in collaboration with my brother John, and two classmates: Josh Sternberg and Barry Karsh. These songs do, however, have timeless qualities to them insomuch that they cannot really be categorized into the pop or “Top 40” genres. They engender a distinct identity all to themselves. Styles such as the blues, groove-based funk, “trop-rock”, country, Western, acid jazz and hard bob could all be associated with this body of work. So, why record and album where different styles are all thrown together in which no one specific audience or listening group is targeted? Simple: For the very reason that these songs have a right to exist. This obviously goes for anyone that is involved in expressing their inspirations via the creative process. Whether it be painting, sculpture, metallurgy, stage performance, glass blowing, writing, film, photography, dance etc – all are outlets that drive the human imagination to new planes of creation and expression. The medium and formats may be different but that essence that is found deep down in every one of us has its chance to shine through at any given moment in our lifetimes. This is what I’ve attempted to capture – a snapshot of my inspirations at a certain point in my life where musical influences, confluences, emotions and life events were all seemingly swirled together in this primordial stew boiling in the ether. What can inspire us? That answer is different for everyone. I’ve found anything that can stoke our inner fire for even a second is worth tipping your proverbial cap to. A place, a meditation on a theme or 3rd person’s point of view, women (and with that heartbreak), a college roommate, a close friend, paradise, living for the present moment and letting your spirit soar, or a beloved family Golden Retriever: these songs are about all of the above. Shady Groove was a quartet with a few sporadic periods in which we were fortunate enough to have a keyboard player join us. I always heard these songs in my head with more instrumentation but never had the opportunity to work into our live performances. With that being said, I enlisted the assistance of local musicians that I’ve been fortunate enough to perform with over the years or had been recommended to me from trusted sources. I’m a gambler and typically take people at their word. So luckily, the musicians that were recommended to me did a stellar job and got pretty damn close to the sound I was hearing in my head for so long! Where did the title Manifest Destination come from? I can tell you it’s not based on a 19th century political ideal of American expansionism. I first heard the phrase (and was later debated upon) from a close friend of the band at an outdoor party we played up in Lake Hopatcong in which it was aptly named. Throughout the years this theme subconsciously took root and grew on me. Of course, it’s open to anyone’s interpretation but simply put I like the notion that it’s been predetermined that we are where we are in the universe or “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.” Music is the most divine and universal of all languages. I hope you enjoy my idiolect!