Chit Chat: Jim Green to host CD release party in Geneva

Jim Green will perform in a perfect setting for his new nature-inspired CD – the Geneva Park District's Peck Farm Park Interpretive Center.

The Wayne resident will play from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at the Peck Farm Orientation Barn at 4038 Kaneville Road in Geneva as part of a CD release party for "True North." Tickets can be purchased online for $20 at www.jimgreenmusic.com or for $25 the day of the show. The price of admission includes a copy of "True North," a gift bag, food and refreshments.

From 1999 to 2013, Green recorded under the name The Wandering Endorphin. "True North" is the first album Green has released since dropping that name, and it is his first all-instrumental album.

Kane County Chronicle reporter Eric Schelkopf had the chance to interview Green about the new CD.

Eric Schelkopf: I guess it's appropriate that you are going to be releasing the CD at Peck Farm, because "True North" is a nature-inspired album.
Jim Green: I just thought that if I am going to throw a CD release party, I should go with that theme. I don't feel like the songs are appropriate for most bar settings, where you might have a sports game on and guys rooting for their team.

That's all great, but I'd rather be able to talk and play the songs and create some kind of mood with those songs than have all these distractions in a venue like a bar. I just thought I'd find a really quiet place where people can look at nature as I play.

Schelkopf: Why did you drop the name The Wandering Endorphine?
Green: It's just easier for people to remember the name Jim Green. I just had to do it.

Some people were quite upset that I dropped The Wandering Endorphine because they really liked it. They still want to call me that.

It just made sense to drop it, which is tough, because I've been promoting that name for a long time.

Schelkopf: Any meaning behind the album's name?
Green: Yeah, actually there is. It's a record that I've been wanting to do for a long time, but I really didn't think I had the songs yet.

I'm known for my finger-style approach to playing the guitar. I love playing that style, and I just feel like these songs are more of where my heart is.

Schelkopf: So, the record is more "true" to your heart. What about "North"?
Green: I guess I'm playing off the nature aspect of it.

Schelkopf: What do you like about the fingerstyle approach of playing the guitar?
Green: I like seeing people's reactions. I'm introducing something that they've never seen before.

To me, it's very full sounding. I love the aspect of how I can use all these different tunings.

You are just going exploring. It's like you're musically just exploring something.

It's a great way to come up with new material, just change the tuning. You don't get stuck in a rut.

Schelkopf: So, the style has allowed you to become more musically innovative?
Green: Yeah. I never thought I would be an instrumentalist. I always saw myself more as a singer-songwriter, and my focus was on lyrics and having a nice melody to sing with.

Schelkopf: Does it feel strange that the songs on the album are all instrumentals?
Green: No, not at all. I guess I'm confident enough in the songs.