ISDN is finally here!   ISDN allows us to connect to any other ISDN compatible studio in the world and record talent in real time.  For example, a voice-over person in New York, and another in L.A. could both be interacting while reading two parts of a script.  At the same time, the producer could be here in Albuquerque giving them direction.  This can be recorded in real time at very high quality from any of the three locations.  Pretty cool!


Hip Hop and R & B artists Afro Blue and Rulah Devine are in the studio working on two concurrent projects.  One is a joint Hip Hop project.  The other is Afro Blue's solo R & B album.   With a creative use of samples (most from vinyl) and strong performance and writing, these albums are going to be something to watch for!  Here is Afro Blue at the mic during a recent tracking session.

Our First Annual Open House was a huge success!  Thanks to everyone who came out.  It was a great opportunity for people from the music and film communities to come hang out and have a good time.  Here is John Cousins and John Sandlin hanging in the lobby.

A lot of great musicians were there and some impromptu jams happened.  Here, the stellar Tony Cesarano plays guitar with Jazz singer Jackie Mudd. 


Another Cool shot of Tony.  Tony is an amazing jazz guitarist and the principle guitar player for Radio City Music Hall in New York.


John Cousins plays the piano while Georgie Girl sings.


Jennifer Jones takes a mic for a test drive in the back booth (overseen by the electric green baby on the piano).


Patti Littlefield and Mark Weaver have a duo called
RESONANCE.  This tuba and vocal duet is about as cool as it
gets, and has the coolest contemporary jazz vibe I've heard
in a while.  Here Mark is playing didgeridoo with Patti singing
the Wayne shorter tune "Footprints".
  

Patti getting soulful in the booth.


Patti just singing the hell out of something.




Le Chat Lunatique just finished putting the finishing touches
on their next CD.  I'd like to call it full length, but that would
be an understatement.  Clocking in at a mere 76 minutes,
listeners will be surely get an earfull when listening to these
excellent musicians and occasional ne'er-do-wells.



Questionable Fate is in the studio working on an EP. A
mixture of new and old melodic metal, this talented band won
Concerts First's "battle of the bands" recently at
the Launchpad.  The first prize being studio time
at King of 8!


Somewhat Superstitious has been in the studio working on a
recording lately.  Featuring Jim Mooney on guitar, Brian
Adams on bass,  long time friend and stellar drummer
Dan Stouffer on drums, and Carrie on vocals. The
results are sounding real good so far. 


Male Do-Wop is not dead! I think that Brian, Jim, and Dan
have a future as the next "boy band" to take the world by
storm.


Oh, Yeah!



The Grave of Nobody's Darling has been in working on their
next full length CD.  I like this picture a lot.  They look so
Bad-Ass!

 
Bud playing the 1927 Wurlitzer piano as the green baby looks
on.


Grave of Nobody's Darling had engineer extraordinaire Kris Poulin
fly in from Chicago to work on the record.  Kris was
great and kindly gifted a most excellent bottle of whiskey
to the cause.  (Thanks Kris!)


Surely I must win a prize for blurriest photo of Jessica.


Jazz singer Jackie Mudd has been in the studio working on a
recording. Jackie is a great singer (and sister of local jazz
luminary Steve Figueroa).


Here's Jackie and Vaughn at the posing at the piano.

 

Holy Cow! This Estonia Grand Piano is currently on loan at the studio.  Wow! It would sound great in a cardboard box full of dog poo, but it really sounds fantastic in the acoustically tuned live room! Wowza! With a history of fine craftsmanship, these pianos have been made in Estonia for over 228 years! Yikes!  You should hear it. No, really. Tim Zannes in the studio tracking for the soundtrack to Jimmy Santiago Baca's new documentary about the power of the written word. Jason Aspleset and Patti Littlefield chatting before tracking. Tracking session for the soundtrack through the glass. June/July 2007 Bud Melvin from the Grave of Nobody's Darling and LIONHEAD BUNNY fame, lays down some tasty pedal steel licks for Glenda Fish's record.  Glenda plays it cool in the control room with her Versace glasses while poor Bud is under the gun in the live room. "Jazz pianist extraordinaire" John Cousins and "fancy-ass drummer" Jason Aspeslet are in the studio putting together a new modern-jazz project.  Here is John tinkling the ivories while the green electric baby looks on. And Jason in the booth.    In fact, Jason being in pursuit of the ultimate drum sound, has been working closely with Michael testing out experimental mic placement tequniques.  Every so often, the alchemists conduct secret mic and drum placment experiments in the quest for "the sound".  Liquor is usually involved.   Michael got the opportunity to compose music for a film that was entered in the 48 hour film festival in Albuquerque.  Teams of filmmakers are given a subject matter and given 48 hours to write the script, shoot the footage, and edit it together.  Then all the films are shown at the Kimo Theatre downtown, and compete for a variety of awards.   The project is pretty fun in a "no-sleep" kinda way. Noah Thomas flew up from Tucson to track some tunes on the Glenda June Fish album.  While primarily a trumpet player, Noah plays the conch shell on a couple of tracks.   Note the carefully charted out conch arrangement in the background. Noah and Glenda in the control room listening to the playback of the melodious sounds of the conch track. Michael scrutinizing the playback of the melodious sounds of the conch track (in stereo!). Michael had the opportunity to work on the soundtrack for the film American Meth written and directed by filmmaker Justin Hunt and narrated by Val Kilmer.  The film is a documentary about the impact of crystal meth on American society.   Pretty heavy stuff.  Really eye-opening.  Ronnie Andrade and Ryon Naz were in the studio putting together an interesting fusion of western music with traditional Pakistani music.  Very cool.   Ronnie and Ryon tracking. Michael had the opportunity to attend Tape Op Con at the el Conquistador resort in Tucson in early June.  Tape Op Con is an annual convention of recording industry geeks from all over the country and beyond to discuss new recording techniques, talk about gear, network and drink too much.     One of the highlights of the weekend, was an outdoor concert by the pool with the likes of Calexico and DeVotchka. They both put on a hell of a show. May 2007 Boris McCutcheon and the Saltlicks in the studio featuring The amazing Susan Hyde Homes on bass, and the inestimable Brett Davis on strings (guitar, lap steel, and manjo).   Boris's last album debuted at number 1 on the european Americana charts. Another cool pics of the saltlicks. Fluff Tumble just finished their self titled CD.  They look like a bunch of bad-ass-mo-fo's.  I know I wouldn't mess with these guys.  Glenda June Fish is about halfway done with the tracking on her newest record.  A savory blend of Americana, Country, and good old Rock and Roll.  She is an amazing singer and the album is going to be star studded when its all said and done.  Featuring Dan Dowling on guitar, Jason Aspleset on Drums, Michael Grimes on bass (a dubious star at best), Matt Beechold on Vibes, John Cousins on Electric pianos and ARP, and the stellar Noah Thomas on Trumpet.   Should be fun! Sin Serenade is putting the finishing touches on their second album recorded with us.  "Garage Americana" at it's best! Arsty pic of Lucky and Antonia from Sin Serenade (click to enlarge). and the artsy one of Megan (also from Sin Serenade, also clock to enlarge) Erin Havel is in the midst of tracking her first full length album before relocating to the beautiful pacific northwest.  We are about halfway done and it s already sounding great! April 2007 Willie Ford and Paul Bossert came in to do a soundtrack for a short film by local video producer Rebecca Elise.  Tuba and Guitar Duets! How often do you hear that? Firefly Just cut a 5 song EP in the studio.  Sounds good, and no doubt the Wes Naman photo is pretty slick. Bob Nigro is in the studio doing some mixing on his Masoleum concept piece.  It's half CD, half Comic book.  Very heavy, and very cool. March 2007 Le Chat Lunatique is in cutting a tune by Johnny Sandlin called catwalk.  It s pretty insane! Grupo Zafiro is in the studio recording their next full length album of Cumbia music. They play a couple of times a week and are super tight.  They tracked the whole album in 2 consecutive days! Unbelievable!    Fluff Tumble is in the studio working on thier full length CD.  Tracking is about halfway done.