When Shadows Fall

by Tad Wise

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about

Karl Berger performed with a small troupe of Creative Music Studio musicians at my school when I was sixteen, fifty years ago. As the decades rolled by our worlds overlapped and we became friends. After he composed his groundbreaking string arrangements for Jeff Buckley’s "Grace," I aimed at writing a song worthy of Karl’s attention. Circa 2003 he liked this one. The project stalled, however, until producer, Julie Last, placed Jim Curtin’s bass beneath what felt like a shockingly audacious statement. And so because I’d extended a romantic promise I knew I couldn’t keep I decided not to release it. Twenty years later while writing Karl’s obituary [below] I heard his unique voice admonish me. “You have it all backwards. The higher self creates--the lesser gets out of the way. I suggest you do so immediately.”
That was Karl’s parting gift. What you hear next is his opening one.

creativemusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/KB-Obit-in-HV1.pdf

Supreme among Julie Last's talents as producer is her ability to coax a singer into revealing themselves in a performance which, in this case, was more powerful than I could handle. Nevertheless--twenty years later--thank you, Julie, for what neither of us remembers too clearly but which stands up next to "Strings by Karl Berger." For that is as much as I could ever have asked.

lyrics

When Shadows Fall Words & Music Tad Wise

When it comes time…you’ll know.
If it comes time…at all.
If I come to mind…
At the end of summertime…
When Shadows Fall.

When it comes time…you’ll see.
When it comes time…someone will call.
But it won’t be me…
I’ve called too many times already…
When Shadows Fall.

When the trees moan in the wind…
And hail lashes the Earth with salt…
When it feels too late to dream anew again…
But too early still…to close the night’s vault.

(Karl's Solo)

When it comes time this face…
Realer than your world will appear…
[Spoken:] Yes, it will.
And while you’ve conjured me before…
Something phantasmagorical
Will move you…
When Shadows Fall.

When Shadows Fall.

Grand Adventure Music 2023
BMI

credits

released May 5, 2023
Tad Wise guitar & vocal
Karl Berger strings arranged & performed on synthesizer; piano solo
Jim Curtin stand-up bass
Julie Last produced, recorded, mixed & mastered at Cold Brook Studio
Photo & Design by Stuart Bragg

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about

Tad Wise Woodstock, New York

Tad Wise started writing songs at ten, while raking Bob Dylan’s leaves. He was discovered by John Hall in 2000 who promptly produced Wise’s first CD. Twenty years later Wise returned. First with "For The Record," with Tony Levin & Jerry Marotta. Then with "Mind's Eye." In 2023 he'll release
"The TakeAway," starting with the title track...right now. ... more