The Clockmaster
Overview
Embark on a whimsical journey with Clay Wulbrecht's The Clockmaster. A collection of epic tunes that awakens the listener from their dreams to a playful universe with music being the vehicle that transports the listener through multiple dimensions and realities.
Time is never of the essence in the realm proposed by The Clockmaster, different than being chased by the perception of time, The Clockmaster uses it as just another element that threads simple melodic themes with complex harmonies and deep emotions.
From classical orchestral meditative landscapes, bass driven funk moments, rethought easy listening paintings, to progressive rocking chairs of sorts, The Clockmaster never stops grabbing your attention to look outside as you journey through its original musical perspectives.
Highlights
Playlist
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Time to get up! (2:32)
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Hit the ground running (7:47)
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Medieval Love (5:59)
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Cuando nació el mundo (6:13)
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Night Drive (4:42)
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Just a little bit (3:44)
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Though it’s sad and painful (10:58)
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Montreal to Pennsylvania (7:59)
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You think you still have time (5:20)
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The Fawn II (3:59)
Total Run time 59min
Borrowing inspiration from Chick Corea's Return to Forever characters as a title theme, Clay Wulbrecht's “The Clockmaster"doesn't fall short of an updated homage that will inspire the listeners with its unique voice.
Clay Wulbrecht's awe inspiring performances on every single track of this album are accompanied by the wiz drumming of Mateo Ottonello whose talent will undoubtedly make the expert and connoisseurs alike check on the credits to remember the name. In true honor of the name of the album, the rhythm is plentiful and rich.
The work of Ramiro Flores on Saxophones and other woodwind instruments as well as Jeffrey Parker on brass highlight a deck full of solid performances in the featured and additional collaborations cast.
The setlist contains epics, childlike overtures, and the arrangements never taking the task too seriously unless necessary like in the orchestration of "Though it's sad and painful". As an example of making things fun and easy to follow, yet ready to turn the tables upside down with virtuosity, "Night Drive" and "Medieval Love" highlight a stacked playlist full of stardust and storytelling.
Singles
Night Drive (feat. Mateo Ottonello, Ramiro Flores, & Jeffrey Parker)
Out 12/13/2024
Medieval Love (feat. Federico Navarro Trías & Ramiro Flores)
Out 2/14/2025
Credits
All music written by Clay Wulbrecht
Produced by Rodrigo Cotelo with Clay Wulbrecht
Recorded at Instru Dash Mental Records Frankfort, Indiana, USA, Berequetum, Montevideo, Uruguay, Estudio Angel, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Red Rock Recording, Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, Clay Wulbrecht’s home, and multiple mobile locations in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and State College, Pennsylvania by Rodrigo Cotelo and Clay Wulbrecht. Additional recordings by Marco Messina (Electric bass), Ramiro Flores (Tenor sax solo on Night Drive), and Bob Hart (Upright bass). Strings recording (Though it’s sad and painful and You think you still have time) by Juan Pablo Alcaro. Harp recording (Though it’s sad and painful) by Dan Collins. Acoustic Piano recording setup by Kent Heckman.
Audio mix by Francisco Fattoruso
Audio mastering by Juan Pablo Alcaro
Art cover & design by Geoffrey Raker
Featuring:
Clay Wulbrecht: Piano, Keyboards, and Clockmystery
Rodrigo Cotelo: Guitars and Clockmystery
Mateo Ottonello: Drums
Ramiro Flores: Woodwinds and Conducting
Jeffrey Parker: Trumpet and Trombone
Marco Messina: Electric Bass
With:
Summer Kodama: Upright Bass
Federico Navarro Trías: Spanish and Electric Guitar
Bob Hart: Upright Bass
Lee Hinkle: Mallets and Percussion
Additional collaborations
Elizabeth Webb Vocals on “The Fawn II”; Irene Cadario Violin 1, Sarah Ryan Violin 2, Mariano Malamud Viola, Paula Pomeraniec Violoncello on “You think you still have time” and “Though it’s sad and painful”; Ruth Hunter – Harp on “Though it’s sad and painful”; Jeff Brozena – Tablas on “Cuando nació el mundo” and Voices in “Just a little bit”; Joy Reid – Voice on “Intro”; Chris Parker Cymbals, Mandolin, and Percussion on “Montreal to Pennsylvania” and “Time to get up!"; The Purdue CDF Freedom School Program at First United Methodist Church Scholars on “You think you still have time” and “Just a little bit”.
Spatial thanks to Luis Ravizza, Gaston Reggio, Diego Soca, Leo Varga, the cities of Montreal, Canada, State College, Pennsylvania, and Frankfort, Indiana. To our families and friends, to our neighbors all over the world too.
Credits by Song
Time to get up! – Clay Wulbrecht Voice, Keyboards, Vocoder, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Marco Messina Electric Bass, Joy Reid Voice, Federico Navarro Trías Electric Guitar, Chris Parker kitchen elements percussion, Summer Kodama Claps, Rodrigo Cotelo Ebow Guitar and Drum Programming.
Hit the ground running – Clay Wulbrecht Piano, Keyboards, Vocoder, and Percussion, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Ramiro Flores Soprano and Alto Saxophones, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet, Chris Parker Cymbals and Mandolin, Marco Messina Bass, Federico Navarro Trías Lead Guitar, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Percussion, and Voices.
Medieval Love – Clay Wulbrecht Piano, Keyboards, and Voice, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Ramiro Flores Alto and Tenor Saxophones, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet, Marco Messina Bass, Federico Navarro Trías Spanish and Electric Guitar, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar.
Cuando nació el mundo – Clay Wulbrecht Keyboards and Percussion, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Ramiro Flores Soprano and Alto Saxophones, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet, Marco Messina Bass, Chris Parker Cymbals, Federico Navarro Spanish and Electric Guitar, Jeff Brozena Tablas, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar and Percussion.
Night Drive – Clay Wulbrecht Piano, Keyboards, Vocoder, and Melodica, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Ramiro Flores Tenor Saxophone, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet, Marco Messina Bass, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric and Acoustic Guitars.
Just a little bit – Clay Wulbrecht Keyboards, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Ramiro Flores Baritone and Alto Saxophones, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet and Trombone, Marco Messina Bass, The Purdue CDF Freedom School Program at First United Methodist Church Scholars on voices, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, and Drum programming.
Though it’s sad and painful – Clay Wulbrecht Piano, Keyboards, Whistle, Melodica, and Percussion. Mateo Ottonello Drums, Ramiro Flores Clarinet and Flute, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet and Trombone, Bob Hart Double Bass, Lee Hinkle Glockenspiel, Marimba, and Timpani, Chris Parker Cymbals, Irene Cadario Violin 1, Sarah Ryan Violin 2, Mariano Malamud Viola, Paula Pomeraniec Violoncello, Ruth Hunter Harp, Violoncello, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and Percussion.
Montreal to Pennsylvania – Clay Wulbrecht Piano, Keyboards and Percussion, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet, Marco Messina Bass, Jeff Brozena Tablas, Chris Parker kitchen elements percussion and Cymbals, Summer Kodama Claps, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar, Synth Guitar Solo, Percussion, Vocals, and Drum programming.
You think you still have time – Clay Wulbrecht Piano, Keyboards, and Percussion, Ramiro Flores Tinwisel, Jeffrey Parker Euphonium and Trumpet, Summer Kodama Double Bass, Bob Hart Double Bass, Chris Parker Mandolin and Cymbals, Marco Messina Fretless Bass, Irene Cadario Violin 1, Sarah Ryan Violin 2, Mariano Malamud Viola, Paula Pomeraniec Violoncello, Rodrigo Cotelo Acoustic Guitars, Banjo, Electric Sitar, Mandolin, and Percussion.
The Fawn II – Clay Wulbrecht Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, and Vocoder, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Ramiro Flores Alto and Tenor Saxophones, Jeffrey Parker Trumpet and Voice, Marco Messina Electric Bass, Elizabeth Webb Vocals, Chris Parker Cymbals, Federico Navarro Trías Electric Guitar, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar and Percussion.
(Vinyl Only) Keep it running – Clay Wulbrecht Keyboards, Mateo Ottonello Drums, Marco Messina Bass, Federico Navarro Trías Lead Guitar, Rodrigo Cotelo Electric Guitar.
Notes from the artist
The journey to bring The Clockmaster to life began in the fall of 2018 in the apartment of Summer Kodama in Montreal, Quebec. The final product that you hear now is a large evolution from those original demos that started in Summer’s apartment into something grander.
I called Rodrigo one day, and I mentioned that I had 9 tracks, roughly 50 minutes of music, and I wanted his help mixing them for an album. I sent him the tracks and little did I know what I was getting into… My original intent was to have somebody mix and master the music but I ended up asking Rodrigo to produce it and take the music to its most maximum creative potential. Thus, the “Clockmaster” was born.
This project was conceived in an act of love of music by all its participants, and the goal was to be light and whimsical. Crank up the volume and have a good time!
May I suggest to take “Just a Little Bit”, grab this music and go for a “Night Drive", play it when it’s “Time to Get Up” and “Hit the Ground Running”. It's also a great companion when you’re traveling from “Montreal to Pennsylvania” and even “Though It’s Sad & Painful”, You Still Have Time, plenty of it, to make a positive difference.
Yours Truly,
Clay Wulbrecht
