Something about the unselfconsciousness of making music purely for dancing has brought out the best in this group of stellar Portland ME based traditional musicians: Alden Robinson, Owen Marshall and Glen Loper, joined by the Contradance world’s leading percussionist Mark ‘Pokey’ Hellenberg. Contra dance aficionados will instantly recognize that this collection represents the apex of the… Continue reading Riptide: America’s Contra Dance Band!
Category: Projects
Eric McDonald & Ryan McKasson- Scottish fiddle and guitar
Eric‘s brought several projects to the studio in the last few months. This latest, with stellar West Coast Scottish/Cape Breton-style fiddler Ryan McKasson is just sweet. Listen!
Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio: High-Energy Celtic
It’s here! Jordan’s new trio CD release party packed the legendary Stone Church in Newmarket NH. I got there for the last few songs after a grueling run of St. Pat’s gigs and was knocked out by their larger-than-life sound. I immediately started to wonder-did the CD manage to capture that energy in the recording… Continue reading Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio: High-Energy Celtic
Winter 2015 update
Lots going on this winter at MPM Studio, so much that I’m having trouble keeping the website up to date. Snow is falling- a moment to catch up. Here are just a few recent projects: A new ‘Trad’ Scottish CD project with Eric Macdonald and Will Woodson (Scottish small pipes, flute, guitar, mandolin and vocals).… Continue reading Winter 2015 update
Kieran O’Hare and John Skelton: New Irish flute CD: ‘Two-Tone’
Mill Pond Music Studio was thrilled to host the recording of this new Irish flute duet project by two of the finest practitioners of that art on either side of ‘the pond’. This inspired collection of tunes was recorded essentially live, the two players facing each other in the ‘Live Room’, no baffles, a couple… Continue reading Kieran O’Hare and John Skelton: New Irish flute CD: ‘Two-Tone’
Nashville Travelogue- July ’14
Just back from two production trips to Nashville, lots of great music and a chance to visit some of my many cherished colleagues! Elizabeth Carrigan‘s story is dramatic and compelling (read more). We’ve started work on finishing a project she began four years ago. I took a few of her vocal tracks to Nashville, where… Continue reading Nashville Travelogue- July ’14
The Press Gang!
I’ve known these guys since the days when I was still living in Nashville. On my frequent visits to NH, I always scurried up to Lebanon NH to join them in one of the best Irish sessions in New England. Based in Portland ME, they’ve evolved into THE hottest young Irish Trad band in New… Continue reading The Press Gang!
Meg Devlin Irish
Meg is a highly accomplished singer-songwriter who has fairly recently moved to New Hampshire from Vermont, where she recorded four CDs, received with multiple accolades. Check out her website, where you can listen to some of the wonderful music we’ve been making lately at MPM Studio. It’s been lots of fun for me building her… Continue reading Meg Devlin Irish
Abbi White’s new Nashville/Portsmouth CD
An ambitious, sparkling new 14-song CD from Boston’s Abbi White, tracked in Nashville with a stellar cast of acoustic A-teamers, including Aubrey Haynie, Jeff Taylor, Matt Combs, John Gardner, Byron House, Robert Bowlin and yours truly. We recorded basic tracks at CTM in Nashville this summer, then did final vocals, additional guitar overdubs,… Continue reading Abbi White’s new Nashville/Portsmouth CD
New Mic!!
I try not to get too excited about new equipment. While the search for the utmost transparency between the heart of the music maker and the heart of the listener is a constant here at MPM Studio, the focus is always on the music. But this new mic!! The Neumann U 47 is the holy grail of… Continue reading New Mic!!