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, and might I be able to accommodate them in a couple of days for a long-anticipated weekend of recording.  Eli had found me through a … Read more

Riptide: America’s Contra Dance Band!

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 … Read more

“…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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more