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News Archives
NEWS
— SPRING 2009 EDITION
Hi All:
As I write this, it is not quite
April Fools Day. It's been a long winter. Up where I
live, we have a new deity: Chris the Snowplow Guy. But
hopefully we won't be seeing him for a few months. Here's
our latest news:
RONNIE LAWSON
PRODUCTIONS
I've wanted to do a feature
on Ronnie for awhile now. Ronnie
Lawson is one of the premier composers contractors
and bandleaders specializing in music for Industrial
shows. I have been very pleased to be doing most of
his pre-records, pitch tracks and music mixes for several
years now. We kicked off 2009 with pre-records for the
Forest Labs "Savella" launch. This show was big even
by industrial standards, featuring Ronnie at a grand
piano, the incredible Michelle
Weeks singing lead, the Voices of Fulfillment Choir,
a 40 piece orchestra (members of the San
Diego Symphony) and rhythm section (members of the
Eve
Selis Band), conducted by the reknowned Irwin
Fisch, who also wrote the orchestrations.
In the studio, we recorded basic tracks, acoustic and
electric guitars by studio stalwart Larry Saltzman,
and an absolutely stellar vocal group consisting of
Michelle Weeks (who also sang leads), Ada Dyer and Billy
Porter.
Billy Porter, Ada Dyer,
Michelle Weeks |
BRADY
RYMER NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY
Some months ago we recorded
drummer Larry Eagle, late of the Bruce Springsteen Seeger
Sessions Band, for a CD by Brady
Rymer and the Little Band That Could. Producing
was ace keyboardist Seth
Farber. Brady writes and performs children's music,
but with a definite kick to it. We were extremely pleased
to learn that the CD was recently nominated for a Grammy
for Best Children's Musical Album!
FUNDAMENTALS
OF RECORDING CLASSES
I have recently started a new
line of service- giving classes in basic recording techniques.
These are short, focused classes, geared to songwriters
and artists looking to improve their home recording
skills:
The first class to run was the Basics of Recording Lead
Vocals. In this class, we go through the actual process
of recording, comping and mixing a lead vocal, with
the expert help of session singer Janie Barnett.
As more classes become available I will be emailing
around. I have also created a separate email list
for class-related emails, so if you wish to
continue to receive only newsletters, you can
opt out of the class mailings separately. Just
let me know!
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION - PRO TOOLS
TROUBLESHOOTING
Increasingly, musicians, composers and producers
are creating significant parts of their work in home
studios, under sometimes less than optimal conditions.
Responding to a number of requests in this area, I am
now available to instruct and troubleshoot on a private
basis. Call or email for availability and scheduling.
RETURN OF RANGE WAR
Before Bon Jovi rode a steel horse. Before Madonna put
on a cowboy hat for no discernible reason, there was a
band called Range War. The brainchild of Reckless Dan
Snyder, they roamed the canyons of New York, from CBGB
to the China Club, making loud irreverent Metal Billy
music. Many guitar and drumslingers passed through their
ranks, myself included, screeching through songs like
"Reckless Son", "Radio Texas" and the white hot "Manufactured
Love". It was Dave Edmunds on steroids, folks. Producer
Billy
Straus valiantly recorded an EP with Range War that
faithfully captured their raw power. But then they disappeared.
Anyway, Range War is baaaaack! Check out their MySpace
Page. Plus, Dan, guitarist Kirk Brewster, vocalist
Deb O'Nair, and myself just collaborated, chez Gordon,
to record a new song, "Before I Die". Could there be a
new Range War album in the works? Remember you heard it
here first!
TRADITIONAL
CORNER
Fiddler Bill
Christophersen, whose CD "Hell
and High Water", I mastered last year, is in his
second printing of that estimable CD. He is also collaborating
here with guitarist/mandolinist/banjoist John Saroyan
on an ongoing project.
I recently had the pleasure
of mastering "Music for Irish Dancing" by the husband
and wife, accordion and fiddle duo of Chris
and Michelle McLoughlin. Recorded and mixed by John
Walsh, it is a masterful set of traditional Irish
tunes. It is to be released just in time for the World
Irish Dancing Championships, 2009, where Chris and
Michelle will be featured performers.
In mid-April, we are expecting James
Reams and the Barnstormers. We will will be taking
over Shelter
Island Studios to begin tracking James' next CD.
James Reams, to those of you who have not had the pleasure,
is a fine purveyor of bluegrass music, with great heart
and humor. Augmenting his usual lineup will be star
fiddler Kenny
Kosek.
MORE JGMP
NEWS
Paradoxal
Productions brought in Aaron Deney, cosmetic designer
for Lancôme,
to record a 2 hour interview on Lancôme's Fall
Line. So now I know all about it, (including which model
showed up to the shoot with an unexpected tan!) but
of course, I'll never tell!
My
Changing Planet is returning to finalize vocals
and mix their long-awaited CD. More on this as it develops.
FOR NERDS
ONLY SECTION
Last time we asked you for anagrams of the word PIRATES.
Honorable mention goes to Barbara Zucker-Pinchoff who
quickly turned in a long list of partial anagrams. However,
the prize for true anagrams (all letters reused exactly
once) goes unclaimed. Our list:
PIRATES, PARTIES,
PIASTER, TRAIPSE, PASTIER, PRATIES
"Praties" which is Irish slang
for potatoes, is not in most dictionaries, but it is
found in many Irish folk songs. Since this is my column,
I'm allowing it!
Pun My Word: That lowly form
of humor, the pun, recently enjoyed a well-deserved
plug on the New
York Times Op-Ed page, quoting punners all the way
back to Shakespeare. I will be pleased to accept submissions
of puns and will publish what I consider to be the top
three next time. FAIR WARNING: If you, the readership,
do not come up with some puns, you will be stuck reading
my own, which tend to be along the lines of "People
who live in grass houses shouldn't stow thrones." I
advise you to leave no tern unstoned.
BRAZEN
PLUG SECTION
We are always interested in new recording projects!
We can provide a wide range of audio and music production
related services, both creative and technical, and can
tailor our approach to your needs. Studio tours, consultations,
budget estimates, etc. are available free, on request.
Best regards,
Jon
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