Following the dream

Carolyn Southworth had wanted to make a contemporary instrumental album for years.

"She would always tell me how much she wanted to make an album of her own music," said her husband Ron Southworth. "This year the dream has come true for her. Here she is, a 54-year-old grandmother accomplishing this dream."

Carolyn, a graduate of Brigham Young University, lives with her husband in Seattle, Wash. They were in town a few weeks ago, looking for a distributor for Carolyn's album "At the End of the Day," and attending the LDS Church General Conference.

"This album isn't about religion," said Ron. "It's more in the new-age style."

In fact, the album was produced by Grammy-nominated new-age producer/guitarist Paul Speer. And guest musicians include percussionist Matthew Burgess, saxophonist Richard Warner, bassist Douglas Barnett, drummer Steve Hill and oboist/hornist Nancy Rumbel (of the Grammy-winning duo Tingstad & Rumbel).

"When I realized I could actually make this album, we got a hold of David Lanz," Carolyn said. "We talked awhile and he encouraged me to do a solo piano album. But he also told me that I was the one who needed to make the decision. We were encouraged to contact Paul."

Speer was in the process of making his move from Seattle to Nashville, Tenn., but he agreed to listen to Southworth's demos. "He told me that his move could wait," said Carolyn. "So my album was one of his last Seattle-produced projects."

"Before I work with someone," Speer said during a telephone interview, "I take time to get to know them philosophically and musically. I went to Carolyn's house and talked with her, and she played some music for me. She also gave me a rough recording she made in her home studio."

After hearing the material, Speer agreed to produce the album and told Southworth that he wanted her to work with some other musicians. "That's when he came up with the list of names," said Carolyn. "My jaw dropped. And I didn't think my music was good enough to have these people play with me." But throughout the recording process, each musician took time out to complement the compositions.

Rumbel said he was also impressed by Southworth's open demeanor. "First off, she was extremely organized," Rumbel said by phone from Seattle. "She knew what she wanted but she was always open to suggestions.

"I play mainly the oboe and English horn on the album, and we went back and forth between the two instruments. We would talk about which would sound better, and we sort of held auditions for each instrument and picked the one that sounded better."