I'm glad it went well. I have been where you are now, and I know it can be unsettling. However, as much as being in a band, and leaving a band, can be emotional experiences, I think it's helpful to remember that a professional band is first and foremost a professional arrangement. There is a contract -- express or implied -- among a group of people, and certain mutual obligations for as long as the arrangement exists. It is generally understood that people can back out of the arrangement, and that there's nothing wrong with doing so; people leave their jobs every day, without feeling that it's necessary to apologize for it.

One clause in the "contract" states that the individuals are bound by their collective commitments. In other words, if you agreed to certain bookings, you should at least offer to honor your commitments, and play the gigs that are currently booked (assuming you're like most bands, and are only booked a few months into the future). This may be negotiated, based on your preferences and the preferences of the other members of the band; if you want to leave before the current bookings will run out, and/or if they want to replace you before the current bookings run out, you have something to discuss. But as an initial suggestion, I would counsel against bailing on gigs you've already agreed to do, unless the other band members are comfortable with that; it's unfair to the other members, it's unprofessional, and it just might come back to haunt you.

The CD is a little trickier, but the other members may just have to accept that their timetable gets pushed back a little. If you're comfortable having any vocal or instrumental contributions you have already made included on the CD, that's fine (just make sure you get ccredit, and whatever compensation might be coming your way). If you have contributed songwriting, it's a little more questionable, but it's really a question of what you're comfortable with.

Good luck on your future musical endeavors. One aspect of this that IS like a marriage/divorce is that you may have second thoughts afterwards; the first Saturday night that comes along when they're all playing and you're not, you may be kind of melancholy. Remember that this is natural, and does not mean you made the wrong decision. Keep focused on what you really want, and keep busy. All the best -- WS