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 process? A quick reference to …
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). Boston singer/songwriter Abbi White finishing …
“…that’s an Irish Lullaby”
The challenge: to produce an instrumental CD without calling attention to the instruments, without distracting the listener from the beauty of the melody, to create an ambience of soothing relaxation for adults and children alike. I think that Bill Verdier, John Mock and I rose to the occasion in this collection of Irish melodies played as sparse, gentle lullabies we’ve …
‘Celtic Tribute’ Series on CMH
“You look like you could play Irish music” said the agent, who had known me for many years, “there’s a new Irish Pub opening at the Opryland Hotel, and we’d like you to put together an acoustic trio to play there.” Thus, in 2003, was born ‘The Boys of County Nashville‘. Jeff Taylor and I became totally besotted with …
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 of Telefunken tube mics, feet …
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 I, Jeff Taylor, Chris Leuzinger, …
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 England, and I’m honored that …
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 tracks by layering acoustic and …
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, editing and mixing here at …
Nashville Travelogue, continued.
Had a great time producing, arranging and playing on 4 new songs by NY songwriter Dave Stewart this past weekend. Tracking was done at Studio 19 with Jesse Poe engineering. Chris Leuzinger on electric guitar, Glen Duncan on fiddle, Wayne Killius on drums, John Vogt on bass , myself on acoustic guitar and my dear friend and long-time Irish music …
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 microphones-every instrument and voice on …
Cantrip
A couple of years ago I was performing with clawhammer banjoist Ken Perlman at the fabulous New World Festival in Randolph VT, and had the great fortune to wind up in a jam session with the members of Cantrip. They are a superb Scottish/American trio who play traditional Celtic instrumental music with a distinctly contemporary energy and drive, on fiddle, …
Some updates at MPMS
-Local duo Captain Bob Griffin and Linda Wade, guitar, vocals and concertina, finishing up a charming collection of ‘Old Chestnuts’. Great songs from the 20s and 30s, augmented with some New England folk music favorites feature their warm vocal blend and Bob’s chiming 12-string guitar interwoven with Linda’s delicate and inventive concertina. -Emery Hutchins has been working on a project …
Brendan Tonra and his legendary fiddle at MPM Studio!
[youtube hd]http://youtu.be/84wW9KZDeeI[/youtube] Renowned Boston-based Sligo fiddler plays one of his recent compositions accompanied by the stellar Helen Kisiel on piano. Some of Brendan’s compositions have become standard repertoire in traditional Irish music, notably Tonra’s Jig (aka Tone Rows). An honor to have these two cornerstones of Boston’s Irish music scene recording at Mill Pond Music! Read more about Brendan Tonra.
The Fireflies: from London to Portsmouth (again!)
Harry and Luca, from London, England, formerly known as The Pilgrims-now the Fireflies, were back at MPM Studio for their third time a few weeks ago. As usual it was an intensely creative week of tracking, vocals, guitar overdubs (ranging from beautiful acoustic to funky electric) and some last-minute songwriting. What to call their style? You tell me: check out …