Hey everyone, this is Skip Heller. On May 26, 2022, the Hollywood Film Noirchestra -- a ten-piece crimejazz ensemble --made its debut at Jazzville Palm Springs, playing great compositions by Henry Mancini, Johnny Mandel, John Barry, Jerry Goldsmith, and others, with some John Gilmore texts spoken by the celebrated author Jerry Stahl. It was a full house, and the crowd received it hungrily.

A whole bunch of you asked, "When are you going to make a record?"

Well, we'd love to and we mean to, hence this fundraiser.

Here's what's up: I didn't compose these pieces, so we have to pay for the use of the compositions in a recording. Normally, the thing that pays for my records -- which are cheaply made -- is that I own my compositions, so if something if licensed for film/TV, a compilation record of some sort etc, it's enough to keep me going. When our Reckless Nights Ensemble recorded the music of Raymond Scott, the Scott family paid for it. When we did Lalo Guerrero's music, covid stimulus money played a huge role. So, now, film noir...

Between the number of musicians that it will take to actually play the music, studio time, and paying for the use of the compsitions, it's gonna cost some just to record. These are wonderful musicians. I pay them everything I can, and I can't do it without them.

Next, there's the finished package -- a vinyl record. We will do one very limited pressing (based on how many people contribute to this campaign), and that'll be it for this thing in its original form. This costs a piece of change.

IT WILL BE A REAL ART PIECE -- the cover image will be a new, original hand-screened two-color serigraph by the great Cal Schenkel, known for his famous album covers for Zappa, Tom Waits, and of course Captain Beefheart (no less than Trout Mask Replica). While Calvin has agreed to a price that is clearly the result of his and my long friendship, he gets paid. All legends should.

Every little bit helps, so here's the premiums:

For $10,

Our eternal gratitude, and a shout out on social media.

For $25,

Gratitude, a shout out, and a thank you on the sleeve/insert of the actual recording.

For $50,

Gratitude, shouting, thanks on the hard copy, a CD of John Gilmore's and my noir disc Laid Bare, which won a lot of praise upon its 1999 release (as AMOK Books' only audio release), and your choice either of a hardcopy CD or a download of the finished Noirchestra, album. Anything you want to be signed, I'll sign.

For $75,

All of the above, plus the LIMITED EDITION vinyl LP, signed and numbered.

For $100,

All of the above, plus a copy of Severed, John Gilmore's magnificent biography of Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia.

For $500,

All of the above, plus you'll be invited to the wrap/listening party in Los Angeles, location to be determined.

For $1000, all the above, plus we will play a private concert of the finished music at any location you provide within 100 of Los Angeles.