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Its been a long time since the last newsletter went out, so this one recaps some highlights --
I have officially moved my offices to LA. As most of my work involves traveling, I am not sure how much this will change things, but I will see more sun at home here than in Seattle and be closer to a lot of the labels I deal with.
As usual, I've been working on a few new King Crimson projects. My relationship with Crimson and Fripp has been a great one. Lots of great people in the organization and a chance to be a part of some great music. I have had a chance to be a part of several King Crimson releases, including the 5.1 mix of the Deja Vroom DVD, Mixing about half of the album Cirkus for Virgin as well as re-mixing the album USA for Virgin, which was originally released in 1975. King Crimson, "The Projekcts", was released a 4 separate albums in Japan. I mixed 2 of the albums, part of a 3rd and did some of the tracking on 2 of them. In the US and Europe these albums were released as a box set and a single volume called Deception of the Thrush. I also mixed the King Crimson "Live in Mexico City album, which was release exclusively online through bootlegTV King Crimson also release a series of Collectors edition albums, of which I mixed 2 and did post production of 2 others. More info on any of these releases go to www.disciplineglobal.com
While King Crimson was in Nashville recording their newest album, I was in LA working with sabbaticalled King Crimson bassist Tony Levin (also bass player for Peter Gabriel, Seal, John Lennon) I was recording and producing with the band, a new Bozzio Levin Stevens album, which teamed Tony up with Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons, Jeff Beck) and Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Michael Jackson). We were fortunate to be able to bring in legendary Engineer Terry Brown to work on the final mixes. Terry Brown recorded all the classic Rush albums in addition to other greats such as Jimi Hendrix, Funkadelic and most importantly Voi Vod. Itıs a really great album and its always great to be in creative situations with great players who are also really good people. One of the real stand outs of the album is Steve Stevens, who is securing his slot in history as one of the true guitar greats. His new solo album, Flamenco a go go, I had nothing to do with , but it is well worth checking out.
I did the Bozzio Levin Stevens album for the Magna Carta label out of New York. The label bills its self as the "Home of Progressive Rock", but in truth is just a label doing great things to keep great musicianship oriented rock alive and well, Like the Steve Morse Project I mixed for the label.
Steve Morse just finished recording his newest album and I was invited to come in and mix it. Steve Morse for those who donıt know was the founding member of the Dixie Dregs as well as current guitarist for Deep Purple and has also played with Kansas, and Lynyrd Skynard. Steve won the guitar Player magazine best over all guitarist award 5 years in a row. We mixed the album down in Florida and I was certainly grateful to be a part of it. Steve was fantastic to work with and after working with him for a week, it was obvious why he has gained such a reputation for his musicianship.
The album I produced for Italian band, Hypnoise, quite some time ago finally came out this year on MP records out of Italy. The album was originally self financed, but after shopping the masters, we got some more money from the label to do more work on the album. The singer P. Mike III flew to the US and we went into Paradise Sound out side of Seattle (my fave Studio). To add and replace some tracks remix and also bring in a couple guests including Trey Gunn of King Crimson and Robert Roth of the Band Truly. The Hypnoise album was the first I worked on with Italian engineer Max Bacchin. Max has since become a good friend and we have worked together on many albums together on both sides of the Atlantic. Earlier this year I went back to Italy to begin pre-production on a new Hypnoise album called Saint Valentineıs Porno Bar. An epic concept album that is beyond description.
In the past, I've produced a few tracks for a group called 2 Loons for Tea with fellow producers Mel Detmer and Jonathan Kochmer. The album featured Brad Houser, (bass player for Eddie Brickel and the New Bohemians), Trey Gunn ( King Crimson), Pat Mastelotto (drummer of King Crimson, XTC and Mister Mister) and a cast of Seattle Luminaries. The album is still in the machine awaiting release, but will be great when it sees the light of day.
In 1999, I hooked up with Seattle rock band called Windowpane. I produced a 5 song EP for them, which garnered a lot of critical acclaim. The songs were entered into a competition on garageband.com, the online talent search run by producers Jerry Harrison, George Martin and others. The band took the contest by storm. At one point out of over 8000 bands, Windowpane had 3 songs in the top 5. Their song Stretch sat uncontested at #1 for 10 weeks. Unfortunately another group managed to claim first prize in the final weeks of the contest, but the contest exposed a lot of people around the world to a great band. www.windowpanenow.com
Also in 1999, I produced the first solo album by Josh White and later a few tracks for his new band Shiro. Josh was the former singer of Mercury recording artists Man Ray.
Outside of the rock world I had a chance to work on a few interesting projects with contemporary classical composer Rick Bidlack (whose string quartet played on the Kellee Bradley album I produced last year) as well as work with a personal musical hero of mine, David Hykes. David Hykes is one of the worldıs premier multi-phonic vocalists and a wonderful composer. 10 years after first trying to work with him, I had the chance to record a project he put together called Harmonic Antennae, which also featured Bill Rieflin (solo artist and former drummer of Ministry) Trey Gunn (King Crimson) and Greg Gilmore (Radio Chongching and formerly of Mother Love Bone)
I was happy to see Cuban Pianist, Chucho Valdes featured this year on the Grammies. And getting some well deserved national attention. Back in 1995 I produced 7 tracks for an album for Chucho Valdes and his band Irakere. Chucho is truly one of the great musicians of our time that will certainly go down in history with legend status.
As I try to recap my projects since the last newsletter, I realize that I have been really lucky and it would take book to describe all the great projects I have been a part of. Below are a few of the other great artists that have given me the privilege of being a part of their music and whose recordings would certainly merit larger mention if I had the space and time: Kellee Bradley, Velvalux (2 albums) Kelly June, Christdriver, Kwasi Tay, Not in the Face, Third World County, The Electric Gauchos, Steve Ball, Colorfast....
The majority of my records in the last couple years have been mastered by my good friend at trusted mastering engineer Barry Corliss at Master Works in Seattle Washington. www.master-works.com I must also express my gratitude to my friends at Shure Bothers Microphones and Boom Theory electronic percussion for their support.
I have spoken at SXSW (south by southwest music conference) twice and NXNW (North by Northwest). I have attended the MIDEM conference in Canes, France twice and had articles published in Fuse magazine and the Northwest newsletter of the Recording Academy (the Grammy people). I will be at Popkomm in Germany this year to meet with European colleagues if any one would like to set up a meeting in August.
My downtime lately has been dedicated to kayak racing, sailing and enjoying the sun in my new home in LA.
For somewhat more regular updates check out the web page at www.eschatonmusic.com
Thanks
Chris