January 2024: a 2023 retrospective
Here are just some of the highlights: Kevin McElroy is a Portland ME-based fiddler, mandolinist, guitarist and vocalist whose music sits firmly in the Irish Tradition. I've had a lot…
January 2023
I've been very quiet on the Posts lately, which around here means only one thing: the studio's been busy! Lots of good music, and I'm only finding time today to…
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…
NH’s Lynda Nelson ‘Forever in a Song’: New England to Nashville and back!
What a blast making this music was! When Lynda Nelson of Concord NH came to my studio to start working on recordings of her songs, it became immediately apparent that…
Josephine County- Celtic/American fusion
Those who know me and my eclectic and far-ranging musical tastes know that there's usually one bridge I rarely cross: the fusion of idioms and styles. All of that conservatism…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Chris Vaughan: Portsmouth’s ‘Great Scot’!
One of the first projects that came to me at Mill Pond Music about five years ago involved my adding a few guitar parts to and mixing the Dave Hallowell-produced CD…
Erica Brown and Matt Shipman: Darlin’ Corey
A couple more great musicians from Portland's happening music scene, Matt and Erica, are releasing this month a collection of duo recordings featuring their plaintive, evocative vocals, Erica's wonderful old-timey, country…
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. …
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,…
Jim’s Performance Schedule
See Jim's Performance Schedule Below: Contact Jim for your entertainment needs at mpmstudionh@gmail.com -Celtic/Irish music, Old-timey and Bluegrass, Gypsy/Dixieland/Roots Jazz, Traditional/Classic Country, 60s Folk, Klezmer and other ethnic specialties. -Wedding receptions…
John Carew: Boston’s Celtic Folk troubador
John is one of the first musicians I met when I started exploring the idea of moving back to New England from Nashville. I think it was in 2005, just…
Mt. Philo: Young Folk-Rockers from Middlebury VT
It started with an urgent call from mandolinist/dobroist Eli Orland- his band Mt Philo's fall break recording session at a studio in CT had fallen through at the last minute,…