SESSIONS

October 2007

Moving my updates to the blog...

July 2007

Susan Levine's Atlas is finally done and at the plant. Rob Laurens and I are nearly done with his newest record, Spirit Fiddle came in again to mix and master their latest record. Kelsey Quigley and her band were in with producer Mike Null to cut basics for a old school r&b record. Patti DeRosa and I have been finishing up her second record, Secrets and Stories. What Time is it, Mr. Fox? has been in tracking and mixing their upcoming debut full length cd. Julie Rosenthal and producer Austin Nevins came in to mix Julie's debut full length record. Curtis Haynes came in to put down some music for an independent film. The brothers Pritchard, aka Peals, have been dropping in regularly working towards a year end release. Tom has also gotten back to the theatre world a bit lately, composing a long form piece for Exit Dance Theatre that premiered in May, and doing some work for the ever obscure productions of one Steven Haley. Jim Trick and Tom have finally begun actual work leading to an actual record that will let everyone hear what he's actually capable of. Mark Erelli came in for a spell to knock out a few jingles for the Honeydew Donuts guys. He's out on the road playing alongside Lori McKenna who is opening for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Reality will set in soon, let me assure you. Sadly, no donuts were present at the sessions. I mastered Chris O'Brien's Lighthouse, which was just featured in Performing Songwriter. Katrin Roush, Paula Morin, Kim Davidson, The Backwoods Ramblers, The Noteworthies, Dr. Pat Deegan, Eric Clemenzi, Kristen Cifelli, John Wallace, and Cliff Martin have all been in a-working on this or that.

Feb. 2007

Due to overwhelming demand, Pete the cat has returned to active duty in the company logo department. The real Pete is no longer among the meowing, and hopefully is napping peacefully with Sammy somewhere in pet heaven.

It's been a while since I've listed what I've been up to... here are some of the projects that I've worked on recently...

Kristen Miller, Strange Little Valentine (tom co-produced, recorded, mixed and mastered)

Vance Gilbert, Angels, Castles, Covers (tom co-produced, made loops, clapped, played piano and accordion, recorded, mixed and mastered)

Mark Erelli, Innocent When you Dream (tom mastered)

Peter Guralnick (recordings for NPR, BBC, American Routes, etc.)

Laura Vecchione, Deeper Waters (recording)

Joel Ninesling (recording, mixing, mastering)

Rob Laurens (co-producing, recording, mixing)

Chris O'Brien (mastering)

Susan Levine (producing, recording, mixing, mastering and playing hammond, piano, vibes, lap steel and electric guitars, accordion and percussion)

Jay Schadler (recording for ABC Primetime, 20/20, National Geographic Presents)

Katrin Roush (recording and mixing)

Ellis Paul (live recording)

Erik Balkey (recording, a little programming)

Austin and Elliott, Truth That Hurts (recording, mixing, mastering; Lorne Entress producing)

Tim Janis (recording)

The Brew (recording, mixing, mastering)

Ken Bonfield (recording, mixing)

Steve Faria (recording, mixing, mastering)

Vocalpie (recording, mixing, mastering)

Kim Davidson (production, recording, mixing, accordion, hammond and percussion)

Patti DeRosa (production, recording, mixing)

Paula Morin (production, recording, mixing, mastering, ocarina and percussion)

Roy Davis (production, recording, mixing, mastering, percussion)

Jeannie Verrando (loops, piano, bass, guitar, keys, mixing, mastering)

Meg Rayne (recording, mixing, some programming)

Jess Yoakum

Mark Stepakoff, There Goes the Neighborhood (production, recording, mixing, mastering)

Summer Pierre (recording)

Andrea Ayvazian, Bless this Day (recording, mixing, mastering; John Curtis producing)

Joel Solomon, Watch Them Grow (production and arrangement, recording, mixing, mastering, keys, guitars, bass, accordion, percussion, etc.)

December, 2005

Vance Gilbert and I are well into a new record. Richard Gates and Lori McKenna have both been in to play with us. Louise, Vance's trusy co-pilot, has been in attendance as well.

I just finished mastering Kristen Miller's new cd, "Strange Little Valentine." A hybrid cello/loop/percussion world/ambient/neo-classical/spoken word pop record.

Erik Balkey has been in from Philadelphia a few times over the past couple of months, tracking some Duke guitars and mixing a new record. Erik just won the Kerrville Folk Festival's contest, too.

Susan Levine has wrapped all the basic tracks for her new record, and we are approaching the finish line. Look for a release date in the early spring for the new cd, "Atlas," on Riverwide Records.

Pam Steinfeld, a multiple WAMA (Washington, DC area) music award winner has begun work on a new project. Basics to date have included Lorne Entress on drums and Richard Gates on bass.

Jeannie Verrando and Alex Ashline have brought in a record for finishing touches, Larry Luddecke did all the real work down at Straight Up Music in Arlington, but I've been happy to chime in with a couple of ideas.

Joel Ninesling and I have been working on mixes for his upcoming debut cd.

Peter Guralnick has been in multiple times over the fall to do radio interviews for his new book "Dream Boogie: The triumph of Sam Cooke." NPR stations from NY to CA, and the BBC have all "phoned home" to get Peter's thoughts about Sam's life and legacy. I've learned tons about Sam Cooke!

Meg Rayne and Curtis Haynes have been working away at Meg's upcoming record... honing in on a great feeling record.

Steve Faria is doing pre-production for his new musical along with hired guns Sandy Martin (bass), Steve Bankuti (drums) and Janet Hood (piano). This show will premier locally this spring, and then head on to greater things. Stay tuned.

Taylor Hayward dropped in for another round or two of his solo piano works. Check out Taylor Hayward for more info.

I mastered Cathy Schumer's "Diving," produced by Richard Gates (and another fine Larry Luddecke project), a little earlier this year, and Cathy has subsequently gotten tons of airplay and played a spot at the Boston Folk Festival!

Chris Elliott and Lisa Austin came in with another batch of new songs. They will be working on a full length dou project in the not too distant future. Find out more at Austin and Elliott.

3.24.05

Joyce Andersen and I finished mixing her upcoming release recently. I'm really looking forward to the reception it will get...it's has some great, different material on it. Work on Susan Levine's next record continues, with Mark Erelli and Rob Laurens contibuting guitar work recently to the basic tracks of Sean Staples (mando,bouzouki), Richard Gates (bass) and John Sands (drums). We're really pleased with the sound and feel of the record so far. Brian King brought in drummer Russ Lawton (Trey Anastasio) to put down some tracks for an upcoming record. Erik Balkey brought in Duke Levine for a day of guitar overdubs for Eric's upcoming record. Mark Stepakoff brought in Lisa Bastoni, Billy Novick, Mark Erelli, Chris Elliott, Rob Siegel, and Oen Kennedy for overdubs on his upcoming record. Rob Laurens and I have been chipping away at his next record as well. I brought in drummer Zack Field and Billy Novick (saxes, clarinet, pennywhistle) for overdubs on Joel Solomon's record. Scott Kessel came in for some brilliant percussion parts on Kristen Miller's next cd. Meg Rayne (guitar/vocal) and Curtis Haynes (piano) have begun to feel out a new record for Meg. If the record is as good as the demos are we're in for a treat.

12.26.04

Vance's Unfamiliar Moon was selected by Scott Alarik as one the top ten folk records of the year in the Boston Globe's annual review. Things have been hectic here...lots of work getting done on a number of records...Susan Levine, Joyce Andersen, Rob Laurens, Kristen Miller, Mark Stepakoff, Howard Kirkpatrick, Suzanne Meyer and Joel Solomon have all been making dents of various forms in projects.

11.14.04

Just returned from the Northeast regional Folk Allaince conference where I hosted a "guerilla" showcase featuring some of Boston's best singer-songwriters. I had a great time and really loved getting a chance to become more familiar with some very good writers.

Performing Songwriter magazine featured the studio last month (the Elvis Costello issue) in it's annual roundup of ten studios in the country that cost less than $100/hour. I was thrilled to be selected for the feature, especially as the only studio in the Northeast...they had some nice things to say about my work, and the facility. The spotlight rarely comes around to my side of the glass...

Vance Gilbert and I just wrapped project #4 together (Live, 1-14, Side of the Road, and now Unfamiliar Moon). We always have a great time making music together. The new album features Tom West on piano and Hammond, Lorne Entress on drums, Mike Rivard on upright and Duke Levine on electric guitars. All About Buford, John McGann and Susan Levine chimed in, too. Vance and I skipped the handclaps this time around, but continued to seek perfection in the art of the two man tambourine (actually, I think I played all the tambourine parts this time, some accordion, too).

Peter Mulvey swang through to put a harmony vocal on Rob Laurens' upcoming record...

Susan Levine's record has begun in earnest, with John Sands (drums), Richard Gates (bass), and Sean Staples (mando) laying down the grooves. I am thrilled with how things are turning out...

Mark Stepakoff and I put our heads together with Duke, Lorne and Sandy Martin (bass and pedal steel) to track basics for a follow-up to Mark's sucessful debut cd Amateur Hour. This record has the funniest song you have heard in years. I'm not kidding...

follow the links to hear sound clips...

Vance Gilbert Unfamiliar Moon:the new cd, recorded, mixed and mastered here.

Melissa Ferrick: Live record mastered here

Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert Side of the Road: recorded and mixed here

Vance Gilbert One Through Fourteen: recorded and mixed here

Ellis Paul Sweet Mistakes: 5 songs done here, whole record mastered here

Jake Armerding Jake Armerding: recorded fiddle tracks here

Ed Jurdi Longshores Drive: recorded, mixed and mastered here

Kristin Cifelli So Long My Love: recorded, mixed and mastered here

Marc Herman Neon: mixed and mastered here

Summer Pierre: Far From Here: recorded, mixed and mastered here

Teddy Goldstein Live: mixed and mastered here

Andrew Kerr Live: mixed and mastered here

Andrew Kerr Silver Suitcases: mixed and mastered here

Chuck Hall Northern Sagas: produced, recorded, mixed and mastered here

John Dodge John Dodge: recorded, mixed and mastered. accordian, too!

Howard Kirkpatrick: new record produced, mixed and mastered here

Dave Dersham Burn of Summer: mixed and mastered here

Funky Divas of Gospel: Hammond and Rhodes tracks recorded here

Taylor Hayward Piano Tracks for website

 
ongoing projects

Rob Laurens: with Richard Gates, Dave Mattacks, Duke Levine, Rachael Davis...
Steve Furbish
Susan Levine: new record in the works
Kristen Miller: new record in the works
Joyce Anderson: tracking for upcoming solo release
Kate Redgate Band: upcoming EP
Joel Solomon
Acousticeol
Cooper Project
Cliff Martin

wrapped projects, and my part in them

Ellis Paul and Vance Gilbert: Side of the Road (Rounder)
(recording, mixing, percussion, a little tiny bit of keyboard and rhodes)

Chuck Hall: The Northern Sagas
(production, recording, mixing, percussion, piano, rhodes, accordian)

Peter Sheridan
(recording, mixing, mastering, production, keyboards, percussion, bass)

Jake Armerding: Jake Armerding (Compass)
(recording of fiddle tracks)

Dave Dersham: Burn of Summer
(some recording, all mixing, mastering)

Ed Jurdi: Longshores Drive
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Teddy Goldstein: Live
(recorded parts, mixing and mastering for entire record)

Live from New York: Live
(recording at Club Passim)

Andrew Kerr: Live
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Vance Gilbert: One Through Fourteen
(recording, mixing, some production, some accordian, percussion)

Ed Carey: Me and Marie
(recording, mixing, production, mastering, organ, percussion, accordian, etc.)

Steve Furbish: Uncle Steve
(recording, mixing, production, mastering, percussion, accordian)

Christopher Williams: Side Streets Live
(recording)

Jim Trick: The Truth about Vernon
(mastering)

and more

Ellis Paul:Sweet Mistakes
(recorded/mixed 5 tracks, mastered entire record)

Steph Corby: Fireworks in March
(recording, mixing, a little programming)

Steve Barkhimer: Time Was
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Susan Levine: Scatter Me
(recording, mixing for two songs)

Carl Cacho: Spark
(recorded "Save me a Seat")

Rob Laurens: The Honey on the Mountain
(recording, mixing, a little singing)

Ellis Paul: Live
(recording, mixing)

Anderson-Gram: Where it all Begins
(recording, mixing, mastering, production, piano, percussion)

Vance Gilbert: Somerville Live
(recording, mixing)

Respond: Benefit
(recorded and mixed three tunes, co-produced one of those)

Samuel Matlovsky: Film Music
(mastering)

Taproot
(recording, mixing)

Thomas Machine Works Band: Music for Some Occasions
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Copeland Davis: Endangered Species
(recording, mixing, some production, percussion)

Rama Winslow: Prey
(some recording, mixing)

John Ritzo
(recording, mixing)

Robert Jonas: Blowing Bamboo
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Jessica Gill: Isis
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Sista Luv
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Kate Redgate
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Kristina Olsen
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Jen Rosen
(recording, mixing, mastering)

Bob Allison: Scandia 2000
(mastering)

Rob Laurens: Sketchbook
(recording, mixing)

Jenny Reynolds: Colored in Poetry
(recording, mixing, production, keys)

Marc Herman: Neighborhood Dog
(recording, mixing, production)

Chuck Hall: Confession of Faith
(recording, mixing, mastering, production, keys, percussion)

Colleen Sexton: Step Outside
(recording, mixing)

Steve Furbish: Past Life
(recording, mixing, production)

Sarah Scharff: Sophia
(a little recording, mixing)

Christopher Williams: The Gift
(recording and mixing on Christopher's tracks)