Summer 2011 has been full of great projects and interesting travel.  Below are a few of the projects that have kept the hive buzzing:

Nick Perreault – Foreign Affairs

It has been pure joy to work with Nick Perreault on his CD.  Bedtracks were recorded in Toronto at Fire Escape with Gary Craig on drums and Pat Kilbride on bass, Nick on acoustic and me playing an assortment of pre-80s keyboard instruments [CP70, Farfisa, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, etc].  Electric guitars, mandos, steel and vocals were cut at Playground Recording Studios in Nashville while final mixes ended up back in Toronto.  Back to Nashville for mastering with Hank Williams at Mastermix.

For those who know Nick’s writing through his debut CD and EP, I trust this collection will feel like a logical extension and “upward expansion” [insert geek term here] as well as a colourful portrayal of his savvy musical writing and wry wit.

 Cheryl Thibideau – Paper Fire

5 months to write, record and mix this debut CD.  It was a whirlwind, a Paper Fire, if you will, of lyric tidbits, charts, Masterwriter documents, and Dropbox edits.  Using some of Nashville’s newest, oldest and best country musicians, we blazed through sessions with passion and purpose.  What a fun record to create, and Cheryl’s mature, country croon is the crown jewel.

Mrs. Johnston – Handshakes When We Win

Recorded and mixed by Adam Gabourie and me at Fire Escape.  Mastered by Adrian Carr at AC Mastering, Montreal.  Niagara’s reigning Kings of Funk/Rock have been jumping from one success to another, taking several awards at the Niagara Music Awards, releasing a debut CD and now set to launch a national tour and campaign with this upcoming release.  Think Beatles meet Red Hot Chili Peppers.  We expect to see singles service radio before Christmas.

CRWRC – Sing Hallelu

It has been a true honour to write the 50th anniversary theme song for Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, a non-profit agency serving the poor around the world.   CRWRC envisioned a recording that had a global, world-music sound to it, which eventually led me teaming up with the Erub Children’s Choir in Cape Town, South Africa.  What a joy to be walking towards the studio and hearing the sound of  African children singing Sing Hallelu as it floated into the concourse.  I knew we had a hit before I entered the studio.  Pure joy!