Steve Lopez on Nathaniel Ayers' new recording

Nathaniel Ayers, the musician whose battle with mental illness was chronicled in The Times by columnist Steve Lopez, is working on his first recording.

Lopez reports that the recording session recently took place at a studio in Silver Lake, with the participation of bass player Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The CD is titled "Putting on Ayers" and will be available in several weeks at the Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Foundation, with proceeds benefiting arts programs at mental health agencies.

The recording features Ayers playing the cello, piano, bass and trumpet. In addition to Flea, Ayers is joined by two musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic -- keyboardist Joanne Pearce Martin and violinist Robert Gupta.

A video of Ayers playing the cello, with Martin on the piano, is viewable on the website for KCET.

Read Lopez's full story here.

-- David Ng

Photo: Nathaniel Ayers in front of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Credit: Damon Winter / Los Angeles Times

RELATED:

L.A. Phil's Ben Hong on coaching Jaime Foxx for 'The Soloist'

Comments

[Natalie]

Wow. This story just continues to get better. I love that an arts program for mental health agencies has been created. Very cool.