Matt LaRocca and I are founding members of Freeway Clyde.

We also then assembled the acoustic version called Driveway Wilson.

And now, naturally, we have Carport Annie.

Annie is the brainchild of Matt LaRocca. “Carport Annie plays Freeway Clyde” is the new album and it’s out today. It is a collaboration unlike any I have known. I don’t play a note! (well, one note but it’s a secret one).

Matt reimagined, arranged and orchestrated ten of my pieces that we have been playing together for these past five years. He also included a piece of his own called “Lusaka” which is where he worked on this music.

Matt brought in his string cohort from the VSO – Brooke Quiggins, John Dunlop and Stephany Taylor – all players that he has worked with closely for the various Jukebox concerts and his work with the VSO doing special projects like Grace Potter and Guster. Sadie Brightman plays piano. The founder of Middlebury Community Music Center, she with the magic touch on piano, and a dear friend and Lincoln neighbor too!

There are pieces for solo piano, piano four hands, string quartet, quartet with piano, piano and cello.

Recorded at the Tank in Burlington with Ben Collette at the desk.

This is a massive honor for me. We got some full circle going on here. And Matt got the rare: arranging, decomposing music he has played inside out and shredded on for five years.A collaboration unlike any we have known.

We are madly excited to share this with you.

We wish you and your loved ones a safe and warm time. We both thank you so much for listening!

With love,

Michael and Matt