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NEWS
For those of you who have an interest in every little thing I do, this page is for you. From jingles and studio recordings to mix, edit and mastering sessions to live gigs and tours. |
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Updated 10 Feb 00 |
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'99 rounded itself off nicely with a great live gig at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Tokyo with the 'Rock All Stars', featuring Joe Lynn Turner, Al Pitrelli, TM Stevens, Derek Sherinian, Gilby Clark and myself. We had a blast headlining the day and playing an assortment of tunes ranging from our own originals to Kashmir & Knockin' On Heavens Door. From there I went down under for three weeks and kicked off my first clinic tour for Pearl Drums. Two weeks in OZ and one week in NZ were just what the doctor ordered! Thanks to Mick, Murray, Syd, Torrey, Greg and all who made it a fun and successful run. Then it was back to the northern hemisphere and right into various studios to record jingles for Pepsi and Folgers Coffee, track the drums for 'einstein too' and work on recordings for Austrian guitarist Gerhard Pichler and Alan Friedman. From there I headed even further north for a quick run of Sabian clinics in Nova Scotia & New Foundland. Thank yous to Stacey, Geoff, Terry & Clive... The holidays were nice and low key, surprisingly so for New York City and all the Y2K predictions... Should've been called What2K instead!!! So here we are in the new millennium. 2000 has started off on the right foot and January has already flown by, but not before I had time to finish the mixes for 'einstein too', record four songs for a great new band from Boston called nyne and play a few live gigs with Sean Fleming. February has me spending a bit of time back home in the Boston area, where I'll be recording two CD's for Decken & Sonic Joy Ride at Dizzyland Studios in Dover, New Hampshire.
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Updated 20 Mar 00 |
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The Dizzyland sessions were great. I arrived early on the 16th with Hank Decken being the first up for recording. Hank was producing and Andy Happel (singer/composer/string player for 'Thanks To Gravity') engineering. Set up was quick, so we were tracking by late afternoon and had the first ten laid down that evening. The final three were done early the next afternoon, and not a minute too soon, as we were snowed in with 14" later that day. Not such a bad place to be stuck though, tucked away in a cozy countryside studio, with a vintage Neve console and an engineer/composer in need of drum tracks... Needless to say, Andy and I took advantage of the weather and had some fun working on material for his new solo project. Sonic Joy Ride came in the next day and we tracked 12 great songs for their new CD to be entitled "Behemoth". Hank Decken's material has a warm and lazy country/blues/rock vibe with great storytelling lyrics, catchy melodies and grooves with deep pockets. Sonic Joy Ride is more of an upbeat pop alternative trio, with hints of funky Chili Pepper grooves and heavy (sometimes psychedelic) memorable melodies. Look for Hank's and SJR's CD's with summertime release dates. Next was a quick stop for nyne at 'The Kitchen' in Chelmsford, MA. for a rough mix and console set up. The tracks are sounding great and I'm looking forward to hearing the end results. The group consists of Steve Hunt (Allan Holdsworth) on keyboards, Chris Miles (Michael Sweet) on bass & lead vox, Don Lappin on guitars and myself on kit. |
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With Chris & Rick of Sonic Joy Ride |
Hank Decken & Andy Happel |
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Steve Hunt |
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| Don Lappin | nyne |
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The first two weeks of March have been full of various drum work at Right Track Recording Studios with producer extraordinaire Ben Grosse (Filter/Fuel). Once finished with Ben, I'll be working on the final art work and layout for the einstein too booklet, which I hope to have ready for release by mid to late May. |
Updated 7 April 00
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Well, the first two weeks of March turned into just over a month with Ben at Right Track. We're a week into April and I'm looking forward to a live date on the 8th with Sean Fleming at Finnegan's Wake in Philadelphia, PA. Next on the agenda is a mastering session with Mark Wilder at Sony for 'einstein too'. That, along with finishing the CD booklet should keep me on schedule for a mid to late May release. Be sure to check out the a/v clips page for a few snippets... Next up for recordings in late April and early May are: Dennis Elliott in Los Angeles for his 2nd solo CD and then up to Seattle to record the debut CD for Maxmillion. |
Updated 1 May 00
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Running
a little behind the projected schedule, so a few changes in the game
plan... Finally got over to Sony last week and mastered 'einstein
too' with Mark. Needless
to say, he did a fantastic job and we're now in the final stages of
the artwork & booklet, preparing for an early June release. Dennis
Elliott & Maxmillian had to be pushed back to a later date, as I'm
working again with producer Stephen Haigler
(Fuel/Oleander) this month at Spa Studios
recording for Lava/Atlantic artist Amy Fairchild.
Most exciting though is the news that I'll be working on my first film
soundtrack! It's entitled "Kamikaze"
and will be shot here in NY this summer. I just received the script
and am looking forward to begin composing for it soon. More on that
as it develops... Also looking forward to some live dates this summer
on the road with Michael Sweet (Stryper)
in support of his new solo CD. Dates will be posted when confirmed.
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Updated 21 May 00
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Once again
a pleasure working with producer Stephen Haigler.
The Amy Fairchild session was great, playing along with legendary bassist,
Kenny Aaronson, Jay 3 (Section 8)
on guitar and Amy on vocals & acoustic.
We'll be playing a live gig to showcase the new material for Lava/Atlantic
on 30 May at Arlene Grocery, NYC. Started composing for "Kamikaze".
An interesting process... reading the script, visualizing the scene,
imagining the music in which to convey it, sitting at the piano... I
love it! Working at Chung King Studios
this week and next for producer/composer John
King, playing & programming
for a new project he's developing. A one-off gig with
Michael Sweet is on 3 June at an outdoor festival in Massachusetts.
Just getting the material together for the gig, which I'll enjoy playing
very much, as Kenny Aaronoff did the record.
Michael's actual tour will be later this summer.
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What a
day for an outdoor festival
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Soaking
up the sun w/ Michael
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I forgot
my sunglasses!
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Updated 30 June 00 Sorry for the delayed update. Time flies by, a few gigs here and there and another month has passed. Two very exciting events this month that need to be noted. One being my third time playing at a political event in Washington DC (the first two with Aretha Franklin). This time with Sean Fleming for an award presentation given by President Clinton for his top fund raiser Dan MacAuliffe. It was quite a party, but the highlight was when Mr. Clinton was on his way out, stopped to check out the band, introduced himself to each of us and then commented that he was sorry he didn't bring his sax...! The other exciting news for me was finally making it back up to New Hampshire to pick up my custom-fitted golf clubs!!! These sticks are so amazing, I've got to give a plug here. I was custom-fitted for my new set by one of a very few CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL CLUBMAKERS in the world - Keith Allen Chick of Mister Oz Golf in Dover, NH. We spent almost 4 hours of extensive testing and measuring on a computerized swing analysis machine, as well as going over to the driving range. The new set includes: Snake Eyes Forged Blade Irons 3-PW, Gap Wedge & Sand Wedge, KZG Maraging Face Driver, Snake Eyes Quickstrikes (14 degree & 18 degree lofts), all with Grafalloy ProLogic Shafts, Vibrasoft Inserts & Winn Grips, Snake Eyes Insert Putter and a Snake Eyes Tour Staff Bag, complete with a Snake Eyes 68" Gustbuster Logo Umbrella. So even if I don't play any better, at least I'll look like I do!!! Aside from custom club making, Keith is also a guitarist and tells me that any drummers (i'm sure you musicians too) out there interested in his services will get the same special treatment and special prices as I. Check out the Mister OZ web site via my links page, or give him a call at the shop. You won't be disappointed.
Updated 9 Aug 00
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Updated 6 Sept 00 The past two weeks have been absolutely non-stop... First up was the recording with Gerhard Pichler. Quick and painless, just like the last time. Also featured on the recording are Paul Morris (Rainbow) on keys, with Ted Poley (Danger Danger) & Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple etc.) on vocals. After that it was a day in the studio working with guitarist/producer Sean Harkness to lay down drum tracks for a new artist he's working with named Monique. Great sounding tunes similar to Natalie Merchant, with sweet melodies and smooth grooves. Next it was finally time for the Maximillian (now known as The Joe Blair Project) session!!! Musically speaking, it's all instrumental and for those of you who listen to and love Joe Satriani, Stuart Hamm & Steve Vai (but without the use of machines or ProTools), then this Bud's for you! CHOPS GALORE, along with some really great melodies. The group consists of Joe Blair on bass, Lyle Ronglien on guitar and myself on kit. And believe me, this is going to be some serious CD when finished.
Last, but not least, was a very fun and interesting time in the studio recording with Welsh guitarist, Huw Gower. Huw was producing, singing and playing guitar, Dave Hofstra was on upright bass and the drum tracks were split between myself and veteran New Orleans jazzer Charles Otis. The vibe was laid back and organic with everyone playing together in one room, wide open miking, very raw and very relaxed. We just rolled tape and caught it all, just like the good ol' days...!
Until the next update, see you at the GC clinics... |
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Updated 28 Sept 00 The little clinic tour went well. In addition to that I found myself flying back to New York on two occasions for some live festival dates with Sean Fleming, as well as a recording session for singer/guitarist Tim MacDonald and a live gig with Amy Fairchild. Now back at home (the studio) and finishing up the recording for Huw Gower with various percussion tracks and some piano. Next it's off to Chung King Studios this weekend to start mixing the Joe Blair Project and right into another round of recording with guitarist Alan Friedman. Off to Europe in a couple of weeks for a mixture of events. London is the first stop for a masterclass/clinic hosted by Drum Sense in West Croydon. Then it's off to Budapest to set up the Euro distribution for our new label, Chung King Records. Over to Prague after that to record with Czech guitarist Milos 'Dodo' Dolezal and then on to Germany to finish up with the week of clinics listed below.
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Updated 4 Nov 00 Back from a great two week euro jaunt. Aside from the recordings and clinics, the weather was absolutely perfect and the company as well. Had to postpone the London trip due to the flu, but will make it up as soon as possible. First up was Budapest with some record company business and a great recording with artist Chris Rourke. Next was over to the Czech Republic for a clinic and a few days of recording with Milos Dolezal. The recording was done in a beautiful studio called Studio Hacienda located near Zirovnice, in the southern part of the country. |
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Milos, JM & the MCI at Studio Hacienda
Next it was over to Hamburg for the World Drum Festival and the week of clinics that followed. Thank yous to all at M&T , both Rudi's, Cloy, Mozart, Heinz, Udo, Tommy...
...and the biggest thank you to Christian Koch, my cohort and travel partner, who I was only too happy to introduce to sushi and catch two unforgettable nights of Vinnie with Karizma!!!
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Updated 16 nov 00 Just back from a quick 5 day clinic run in Brazil for Sabian and Vera Figueiredo's Dum Institute. Many many thanks to all those who were involved, especially Vera, Francisco & Carla in Sao Paolo for 'Batuka'. Ebel & Renato in Recife and Cesar & Denize in Brasilia.
One more short run of clinics to finish off this year. Then it's back to the big apple to finish up recording and mixing How Gower, finally shipping 'einstein too', the grand opening of the new studio(s) now called Skyline, tracking with Dennis Elliott, then into the studio with TM Stevens and whatever else comes up.
Happy Thanksgiving (poor turkeys!) & see you in december... |
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Updated 5 Dec 00 Back from the "one thing after another" clinic run. From every flight being late, to missing all soundchecks, to the wrong hotels being booked, to the wrong drum kits waiting to be played... but hey, the show(s) must go on. Glad to be back home... In the studio last week for a few days of recording. First up was a few more percussion tracks for Huw Gower's new CD, which is nearly completed. After that it was laying down a few more drum tracks to finish up Alan Friedman's new one as well. Was at Rocket Music yesterday recording a new jingle for Pepsi and now finally ready to get out to LA next week to play with Dennis Elliott. Looking forward to some sun, just wish I had time to bring along my Snake Eyes! |
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