I would like to say in closing of today that Ecclesia is unlike any other church I have been.

A brief summary of the day's events:

1. Ryan, our recording engineer also does professional photography and recently did a photo-documentary series in Nicaragua. It's amazing and on display in the sanctuary that doubles as an art gallery during the week. Today an elderly, well-dressed family wandered into the gallery as I was making a run from the studio downstairs to the coffee-shop.

After a brief conversation, I learned that this family was displaced and exiled from Nicaragua and recognized the photos because it was their home region. They were looking at photos of home. The home where their own crops were burned down. Ryan got to meet them in what I would call "a very cool moment".

2. Everyone I meet is an artist. Not like the "I watercolor on the side" kind of artist. More like, published writer, renowned photojournalist, recording phenom kind of artist.

3. The church hosts an evening of poetry weekly and tonight's performance included a emotive piece about suicide and the "cold steel of the blade in my lungs". The next act covered the biology of sexual relationships. Wow.

4. Robbie locked himself out of his office but the situation was alleviated by a 20 year old girl who was mid-Bible study and saw Robbie's plight. She proceeded to show him how to bypass the lock and opened his office.

4 things you need to know on day 4 in the studio:
1. The acoustic guitars are out.
2. The anti-biotics are in.
3. Ryan Booth our engineer is the man.
4. Chik-Fil-A is so special to me.

Things keep moving along.  We're getting there!

We are knee deep in bass-y waters, and the temperature is hot.

Okay that may be the lamest thing I have ever said, but I've been locked up in the studio all week and the stir-crazies are coming.

We have tracked bass parts for 3 songs, and are working on the last one for the day, "Get You There". I have always had a special affection for this song because of its back-story, but this bass line is a monster. I don't even want to put a leash on it. It's got a great groove and is coming out bigger than I expected.

Tomorrow we will track bass parts for "After the Fade" and "King and a Friend", which will both require a different bass approach, including some studio magic. It's not witchcraft, I promise.

I miss my wife in Reno...other than that things here are awesome. Prayers for my throat please..it's acting up. So that's it.

More to come...

We are officially done with drums. The foundation is laid and now it is time for the bass. I am very excited for this because my brain naturally works with melodies, and not rhythm structures.

On the way to lunch I also almost got run off the road. Not fun. Went with Tank to "Brazil Cafe", a pretentious but delicious lunch spot in the Hyde park district of downtown Houston. Very fun.

It's official: the final song for the record will be "King and a Friend", a song that I co-wrote with Robbie Seay and am very excited for. We have hatched some ideas for it that make my heart beat quite rapidly. Perhaps when you hear it, the same will occur in your chest.

Going to the Houston Astro's game tonight. And by going to the game, I mean going in the back entrance and hanging out in the clubhouse.  Grateful for Robbie's leadership and friendship in this project.

We are in the studio today making drums and they sound awesome.

Our buddy Tyler is letting us use his studio in Houston to track the drums, because the acoustics and natural tones of drums here in this downtown vintage home are superior. The drum beats are making this old house shake something fierce...I wonder if it has ever felt such stunning resonance run through its beams.

The final picks thus far for Zimmerman's new record are:

1. "At The Cross"
2. "Sounds Like Home"
3. "After the Fade"
4. "New"
5. "Get You There"
6. ??? (Maybe "King and a Friend", maybe "He Is Near", maybe a yet unfinished idea)

This record is starting off wonderfully. Keep watching for updates.