What a Year!!

It’s been almost a year since my last Studio Notes update, but there’s been a lot happening at MPM Studio.  I’ll skip the expected commentary on the effects of the virus on the music scene, suffice it to say that I think we’re in for a long, slow recovery. A bunch of musicians, songwriters and… Continue reading What a Year!!

Late Fall Update: London Bluegrass, Celtic Women, Nashville singer/songwriters.

A very busy Fall season at MPM Studio:  an intense session this past weekend with absolutely lovely Irish traditional tunes and songs from Celtic Woman stars Máiréad Nesbitt (fiddle), Lynn Hilary (vocals) and Eimar McGoewn (Flute, Tin Whistle), with composer/producer Tim Janis. This week, popular British bluegrass trio Lunch Special, fresh from a summer full of European… Continue reading Late Fall Update: London Bluegrass, Celtic Women, Nashville singer/songwriters.

Liz and Dan Faiella

These are two of the finest young New England Celtic musicians I know, and it’s been an absolute delight to work with them on what was essentially a ‘live in the studio’ project.  Liz’s fiddle tone posed absolutely no challenges to the microphone, Dan’s guitar is so good it almost makes this aging guitar player… Continue reading Liz and Dan Faiella

Cathy Wilson: Celtic-flavored folk/country from Tennessee

My latest trip to Nashville yielded some more beautiful tracks from Cookeville Tennessee singer-songwriter Cathy Wilson, with further overdubs and mixing back here in (cooler?-not so much, lately) Portsmouth.  Bill Verdier on fiddle, John Mock on mando/banjo/whistle/drum, Jeff Taylor this time back on his first instrument, piano.

Latest Nashville sessions

March 16-19 found me in Nashville, producing and playing acoustic guitar on three days of recording. Song demos with various songwriters using my trusty team of Nashville A-list musicians, including Chris Leuzinger (Garth Brooks and just about everyone else), Gary Prim (Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, John Fogerty, etc.), Wayne Killius (Blake Shelton, Kenny Rogers,… Continue reading Latest Nashville sessions

Catching up, May 2017

Here’s a problem with a blog-type website: I get so busy making music with all the wonderful people who come through my studio doors that I have no time to chronicle it all.  I promise I’ll catch up soon with more formal postings with pics and clips, but here’s a brief look at what’s been… Continue reading Catching up, May 2017

Lindsay Straw: Traditional Folk with fresh expertise!

Superb instrumental skills on guitar and bouzouki, a keen ear for repertoire selection, new takes on centuries-old stories and a clear, sparkling voice make this project everything a folk audience can hope for. Music from the past has a bright future! Lindsay‘s thoughtful preparation prior to the recording dates ensured an efficient use of time, keeping… Continue reading Lindsay Straw: Traditional Folk with fresh expertise!

Mill Pond Music : the Voice of Matlab

Everyone in the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics knows Mathworks and its offshoot Matlab.  Their tutorial videos are concise, engaging and entertaining, and MPM Studio right here in Portsmouth is happy to contribute its pristine voice-over signal chain to their outstanding quality.  The vintage restored Neumann U 87, arguably the most well-know and respected… Continue reading Mill Pond Music : the Voice of Matlab

Carrigan & Blair

Full disclosure:  I know Mike Blair and Steve Carrigan well, having played many a gig and concert with them as a part of Portsmouth’s Maritime/Celtic Folk ensemble Great Bay Sailor.   Great fun it was to blast through some of the songs we love on this new collection entitled O Chroi.  Thanks, Mike for giving me free… Continue reading Carrigan & Blair

Cathy Wilson: Celtic Folk in Cookeville TN

Out of the blue, while waiting for a plane at the Nashville airport, I got a call from Cathy.  She had found the Mill Pond Music Studio website on line, had seen all the Celtic Tribute Series CDs I’d produced and had read about all the wonderful Celtic acts that have found their way to my workspace,… Continue reading Cathy Wilson: Celtic Folk in Cookeville TN