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No Pews Required-Chris McDonald Jazz Orchestra

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It is with great pleasure that I share the release of a new big-band jazz album from composer/arranger Chris McDonald. The album, which I coproduced and engineered, features a burning hot ensemble of many of my friends and colleagues and was just a blast to create.

I recorded the album at my studio, The Tracking Room, and Ocean Way Nashville and mixing was done at my studio (that console re-furb was money well spent!!) Noteworthy mics for the sessions were the c-12’s and U47’s on the saxes (I like the bite they deliver without too much harshness) and the fantastic AEA stereo Ribbon on the brass room. I captured the string section in OceanWay A with a decca tree of M-49’s and U67 spots.

Jazz Times has said No Pews Required is “some of the most powerful and exhilarating big-band music you’re likely to hear anywhere… and the emphasis is first, last and always on jazz.”

Here’s the EPK video from the sessions

You can hear a couple of the tracks on my work page, and you can buy No Pews Required by The Chris McDonald Jazz Orchestra here, or on iTunes and Amazon.com

No Pews Required - Cover

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Recording Oscar D’Leon’s Big Band Album

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Big Band Brass for Oscar

Famed Venezuelan Salsa singer and bassist, Oscar D’Leon, is recording a new album of American Big Band standards mixed with some latin favorites. Where else would he record than here in Nashville with me? Executive Producer Jaime Araque (de Venezuela) and Producer Rodolfo Castillo (de Guatemala) hired Chris McDonald to orchestrate and myself to record and co/produce the sessions why not try this out. So, back I went to the Tracking Room studio for a few days of smoking hot Big Band. (more…)

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CR&B Naughty Kitty Cat

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CR&B Naughty Kitty Cat

At Last!!! New Release – CR&B Naughty Kitty Cat is availabe now on CD Baby, and will be available on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, eMusic, Napster and other digital outlets starting March 12th

CR&B- Drummer/Percussionist Glen Caruba, DJ Tyrus Briggs and Engineer/Programmer/Guitarist Dan Rudin- combine elements of big-beat house, techno and jazz-funk into their own unique brand of dance music.

Caruba and Rudin had been working together on recording sessions in Nashville for several years when Caruba (inspired by a live performance group he founded with Briggs) suggested they have a go at creating their own sound. In 2001 the trio holed up in Caruba’s bungalow jamming, talking about their influences, and churned out some tracks that would eventually forge the basis for their first release, Naughty Kitty Cat.

Caruba has played for Sara Evans, Steve Forbert, Glenn Frey, John Jorgensen, Toby Keith, Hal Ketchum, Tom Kimmel, Barry Manilow, The Mavericks, Kenny Rodgers, Lionel Richie, SheDaisy, Chester Thompson, Pam Tillis, and Kirk Whalum and is internationally recognized for his live and session percussion work.

After more than a dozen years playing in clubs around the southern US and his home town of Nashville, Briggs is now resident DJ and music director of Fuse, Nashville’s only Vegas-style nightclub. 

click to listen

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Loud Horns

May 19th-23rd, I tracked the first release for the Loud Horns band (sponsored by Loud Mouthpieces). The band plays an aggressive style of jazz/funk/rock that I think is very cool. Comprised of a drum set, bass, keyboard, and guitar rhythm section and the unusual line-up of 3 trumpets, 2 bones, 1 French horn and a tuba, the band has it’s own unique sound while paying homage to Maynard Ferguson, Chick Corea and other jazz greats.

The big surprise for me was trying out a pair of Cascade Fat Head mics on the trumpets. I liked them so much that I bought 2 sets!! www.cascademicrophones.com

Mixing should be done by the end of this month…