Trifectone Music Group

Session date:  03/20/09

Publisher:  Melrose Music Publishing

Musicians:  Greg Morrow, Jimmy Carter, John Jarvis, JT Corenflos, Biff Watson

Engineer:  Mel, with Tim assisting

Studio:  Westwood

Nice day in the studio with a small ensemble of excellent players recording really good songs with some great singers. Sherrie Austin is about as cute as she can be, and always has songs that have a cool twist. Will Rambeaux was a co-writer, and Micky Cones had a song with Kenny as well. It was fun doing this session with just five guys - Kenny understands that if the producers can’t hear the song that way, then…well, they shouldn’t be producing records!

I bought a Peterson flip strobe tuner and really love what it does with temperamental tuning - I highly recommend it. I’ve been using my Gibson SJ a bit these days, along with the Collings and occasionally my sweet Gibson LG-2.

TGIF!!!

Session date: 03/10/09

Artist:  Easton Corbin

Producer:  Carson Chamberlain

Label:  Universal

Studio:  Soundstage

Musicians:  Eddie Bayers, Glenn Worf, Gary Prim, Brent Mason, Paul Franklin, Larry Franklin, Biff Watson

Engineer:  John Kelton, Matt assisting

Easton is a talented young singer from Florida - graduated with honors from college and is now chasing that dream, writing, singing and working on his first album for Luke Lewis at Universal. There’s not a more seasoned group of players than this assembly, and with Carson and John we have had a very relaxing, yet productive two days of recording. With this group of guys there is no end to the story-telling, so a new artist is going to get an earful of humorous - if not outrageous - tales from behind the scenes. Of course, I’m not spilling the beans here. You’ll have to hire us to get the grit.

I’m using my Santa Cruz baritone acoustic more and more, though I still go to the Collings often. And today I brought my Gibson SJ from home and had a great time playing that ‘62 beauty…

Session date:  03/02/09

Artist:  Richie McDonald

Producer:  James Stroud

Label:  Stroudavarious

Studio:  Starstruck

Musicians:  Shannon Forrest, Mike Brignardello, Steve Nathan, Brent Mason, Paul Franklin, Biff Watson

Engineer:  Julian King (David Bryant assisting)

Richie is a great guy, and we got to meet his son today (sorry Richie, I don’t remember his name!). We had two sessions and recorded three of his songs, a nice pace. I like starting at noon and playing through - gives you the morning and the evening. I was one of the first to record in Starstruck. Reba did an album while they were still putting the finishing touches on the building. It was so elegant that it wasn’t comfortable, but now it is one of my favorite rooms to track. And Julian makes it sound fantastic. Plus, the headphone system really works… I used my trusty Collings on the first song, then had the pleasure of playing Brent’s strat through his rig to double the bass part on the choruses. Played my Martin 00-18 on the next two, plus some gut-string work with my A.A. Jones on the Latin-flavored second song.

This was the same band that I was with last Friday. Like I said - some of my favorite musicians on Earth. And speaking of Earth, Richie McDonald and his road manager Kevin will be travelling to China -  the other side of Earth - in May, with Mike Brignardello, James Stroud, Doug Rich and your’s truly.

Session date: 02/26/09

Artist: Lorrie Morgan

Producer: James Stroud

Label: Stroudavarious

Musicians: Shannon Forrest, Mike Brignardello, Steve Nathan, Brent Mason, Paul Franklin, Aubrey Haynie, Biff Watson

Engineer: Julian King (Jake assisting)

Lorrie Morgan really knows how to deliver a vocal. We did two songs today (I think she wrote them both) and there’s a good possibility Stroud will use the tracking vocals. The first song was very much a jazz tune, and I’ll say this - no one plays that stuff as well as Brent Mason. We were all marveling at the riffs he was coming up with. This particular group of musicians is one of which I have been a proud member for a number of years, and though I love playing with many of my friends, when it comes to a “band” this is perhaps my favorite. And it’s been a while since I’ve worked with the “Prez”, Steve Nathan. He’s still got it - all of IT.

I used my treasured Martin 00-18 on both songs - what a sweet guitar!

Session date:  02/24-25/09

Artist: James Otto

Producer: Paul Worley

Label: Warner Bros.

Musicians: Chad Cromwell, Michael Rhodes, Michael Rojas, Troy Lancaster, Adam Shoenfeld, Mike Johnson, Biff Watson

Engineer: Trina Shoemaker (PJ assisting)

This was a fun project - two days of great songs with a great singer and a great band - since we had rehearsed the material, the focus was on getting great sounds out of the instruments. Trina and Paul did a superb job of that. I was able to use a number of different guitars, and though I go to my Collings quite often, on these two days I played my Santa Cruz baritone on several songs, my Martin D-28 on one, the Gibson J-45 on a few, and a Boucher guitar that Pat McMakin (studio manager of Oceanway) asked me to try - quite good! I also met John Jennings of Royer Microphones, and we had a good discussion about mics and guitars.

James Otto has what it takes. He’s good for country music and deserves a very successful career.

Session date: 02/20/09

Artist: Keith Burns and Michelle Poe
Producer: Johnny Morris
Label: Country Thunder
Musicians: Tommy Hardin, Larry Paxton, Troy Lancaster, Gary Prim, Biff Watson
Engineer: Billy Sherrill
Studio: Westwood

Burns & Poe is a duet - Michelle Poe, who has had major label deals, and Keith Burns, most recently a member of Curb Record’s group Trick Pony. We recorded three songs in three hours - a pace that is becoming more common - at the Limited Pressing rate, also being used more frequently. I used my J-45 Gibson first for an edgy track and then my wonderful Collings for a ballad and a mid-tempo.

Then I stopped by Mr. Whiskers and gots me a bottle-o-wine. Not my typical Shiraz - no… I got a Pinot Noir, Mark West, so’s I can have a

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Session date: 2/16/09

Artist: Frank Giampaolo

Producer: Frank Giampaolo

Label: None (demos)

Studio: Tool Shed

Musicians: Steve Brewster, Craig Brown, Michael Rojas, Scotty Sanders, Jeff King, Biff Watson

Engineer: Joey

Frank showed me the first song, with a guitar tuning from low-to-high strings of Bb, F, Bb, F, Bb, Ab. This is, like, REALLY low on a regular guitar. I decided to use the guitar he had already tuned down - a beautiful Collings small-body acoustic that Chuck Cannon had loaned him. Needless to say, this tuning requires a light touch, which made things challenging because Frank wanted to rock out! Turns out there were several tunes with this tuning. And here’s an interesting twist - Frank is a tennis instructor, to the pros!

HAPPY PRESIDENT’S DAY!!

Session date: 2/12/09 and 2/13/09

Producer: Paul Worley

Label: Warner Bros Records

Studio: Soundcheck

Musicians: Chad Cromwell, Michael Rhodes, Mike Rojas, Mike Johnson, Troy Lancaster, Adam Shoenfeld, Biff Watson

Engineer: Trina Shoemaker

These two days we set up on stage to rehearse seven songs for the upcoming James Otto recordings. It’s a cool way to change things up a bit, by working up tunes in a stage band environment with the feel of a live show. However, we also ran everything through a Digidesign board, and recorded the rehearsal into a multi-track ProTools session, which was instantly available for playback. Kind of the best of both worlds! Paul Worley used the same procedure earlier in the week with a new act he is working with - The Family Band Perry - Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry. Great, talented family!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!