Fire Escape Recording Studio Close-Out sale. Many interesting instruments and recording equipment for sale at extraordinary prices.

ONE DAY ONLY!!

• Tuesday, November 29, 2011
• 10 am – 5 pm
• Location:  258 Wallace Avenue, Suite 207
• East Fire Escape Entrance

I’ve finally jumped off the Fire Escape! Or more exactly, after fifteen years at my Toronto west-end studio, I’ve made a significant upgrade, moving my production home to the stunningly beautiful Noble Street Studios. Noble Street is a world-class recording and mix facility located at Queen and Dufferin, where I will continue to serve my clients with passion, vision and a dedication to the highest standards of sonic excellence.

A few of the reasons for this move include more analog options (2″ and 1/2″ tape machines, buckets of Neve pre-amps, classic compressors and EQs, a larger mic locker), a lower noise floor [you can watch the Air Show, and never hear it] and more space for my growing instrument collection. My mixing options have increased as well, with both Studio A and B available depending on delivery requirements for each project. There are comfortable lounges and parking supplied, as well as great hotels and restaurants within walking distance.

As many of you know, I love the sound of live bands, string ensembles and horn sections. Noble Street is wonderfully equipped to capture these acoustic instruments. Sweetening productions in this way has always been a passion of mine, and I’m thrilled to have direct access to facilities that capture these performances with style.

At Noble Street, I also have a dedicated production suite for writing, programming and admin, and preferred rates in all spaces for each level of project. So I hope you’ll come alongside and jump off the Fire Escape with me – come grab a coffee with me at Noble Street!

A highlight for me was arranging the musical tribute to Michelle Wright, who was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.  I arranged a medley of “Take It Like A Man,”Safe In The Arms of Love,” and “Nobody’s Girl.”  Featured vocalists were Terri Clark, Katie Love Hess and Victoria Banks, respectively and wow, did they knock it out of the park!  Thanks to Kevin Fox and string players for sweetening the band so much.  And thanks to my core band, Jeff [Mackie] MacPherson, John Dymond, Darren Savard, Tony Lind, Burke Carroll, Linsey Beckett and Dallas James for stellar performances.

Here’s Pear performing at the Industry Awards.

It was great fun to play B3 with Jimmy Rankin and his band and arrange strings for his song, “Here In My Heart.”  Our friend, Patricia Conroy, [who co-wrote this song with Jimmy] was a featured performer that night too.

Hamilton, ON hosts the 2011 Canadian Country Music Awards and Country Music Week from September 9-12.   I’m heading to Hamilton as the Musical Director for the Industry Brunch and the Gala Dinner shows, joined on stage by Jimmy Rankin, Aaron Pritchett, Terri Clark, Victoria Banks, Shane Chisholm, High Valley, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, The Band Perry and many others.

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!

A profound documentary on the current state of the “culture business” and the “music business.”  You can watch it here:

January 20,  2011

Happy January to you!  Hope the holiday was relaxing for you and you’ve jumped straight into great things for 2011!   I’ve stepped out of a nice, quiet holiday with family, good weather [for Toronto] and great food.  Time to climb into new projects and inspiring possibilities …

Mrs. Johnston

In rehearsals for upcoming recording sessions.  Great, high-energy rock/funk songs, grooving on some inspiration from RHCP.

Watch for my article in Songwriters Magazine, a publication of Songwriters Association of Canada.  I’ll continue to blog on their site and post those here as well.  Check out my previous blogs at It All Starts With A Song.

Michelle Owen

We’re excited to introduce a new record and the all-new Michelle Owen band, and I’m looking forward to dragging a bunch of my favourite keyboards out to shows.  Will post performance dates/links here soon…

Candelora

Candelora’s self-titled debut CD will be soon be released.  We’re very proud of the depth and sheer sonic size of this record.  Can’t wait for radio and the world to get a chance to get to know these guys!