Just back from two trips to Nashville in two weeks. First, a couple of days of producing (and playing acoustic guitar on) song demos for New Yorker Dave Stewart, a superlative song craftsman. Another opportunity to get together with my musician colleagues, Chris Leuzinger on electric guitar, Jamey Whiting on piano, Wayne Killius on drums,… Continue reading Nashville Travelogue, continued.
Author: Jim
Pilgrims from London
The new year got off to a great musical start when a group of lads from London called ‘Pilgrims’ made their first trip to Portsmouth to record the first half of their debut CD. The three excellent guitarist/vocalists/songwriters Harry, James and Luca were joined by ‘Mersey Beat’ specialist Dave from Liverpool on drums and yours… Continue reading Pilgrims from London
MPM Studio’s You Tube Channel
Link to MPM Studio’s You Tube channel In 1976 I was playing with a Boston-based Country/Swing band called the Rockabilly Shufflers, doing venues like The Hillbilly Ranch, Kevin’s, The Blue Star, Jack’s, Inman Sq. Men’s Bar, etc. We eventually landed a house band gig 5 nights a week at the Turtle Lounge in Ashland MA… Continue reading MPM Studio’s You Tube Channel
With Randy Miller @ Blue in Portland
Blue, the Portland music venue which has a much-appreciated Irish music night on Wednesdays, extended an invitation to New England’s fiddler extraordinaire Randy Miller and me for an ‘encore’ performance on Nov. 2nd. I love playing fresh, un-rehearsed material, and had an opportunity to do just that as we repeated almost none of what we… Continue reading With Randy Miller @ Blue in Portland
Makem and Spain Brothers New Christmas Song/Video
A lively night at MPM Studio! Mick and Liam Spain festooned the Live Room with Christmas lights. Rory Makem brought a little portable Christmas tree, and with his banjo intro, accompanied by seasonally appropriate sleigh bells, the lads launched into a great new Christmas sing-along ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Morn’. Conor Makem… Continue reading Makem and Spain Brothers New Christmas Song/Video
New World Festival in Randolph VT
Ken Perlman and I are still aglow following a wonderful day of music last Sunday in Randolph VT. The Chandler Theater is as good a venue as can be from a musician’s (and audience’s) point of view, and our sincere thanks to organizers Kevin Dunwoody and Becky McMeekin for giving us the opportunity to play… Continue reading New World Festival in Randolph VT
New Randy Miller Fiddle CD
When I was leaving Nashville for my move to New England, my good friend and colleague Old Time/Irish fiddler David Coe told me to make sure to meet Randy Miller, renowned for his expert contradance and Irish fiddling, compositions and tune books. To my delight, within a week or two of my move, I found… Continue reading New Randy Miller Fiddle CD
Mill Pond Music Makes Mix Magazine!
Mix Magazine is THE music recording trade journal, and it’s quite an honor to be featured in June 2011’s edition as one of the year’s 20 hottest new studios. Hollywood, New York, LA, Nashville, Rome, Norway and….Portsmouth!
The Studio Build-Out is Complete!
The Live Room: It’s an absolute pleasure to make music in the acoustically pristine live room, with the relaxing view of the Mill Pond preserved. The clarity of the sound makes you just want to keep playing and singing. The Control Room: High ceilings, long room length and custom designed sound diffusion panels create an… Continue reading The Studio Build-Out is Complete!
Oran Mor: New CD!
It took just a couple of weeks from the first tracking session to a St. Paddy’s Day release date to complete the first Oran Mor CD. Dave Hallowell (vocals, bouzouki, guitar and fiddle) and Pete Hale (vocals, guitar, bouzouki) are regular performers at Portsmouth’s hopping Irish Pub, Ri-Ra. This disc really captures their distinctive, stringy… Continue reading Oran Mor: New CD!