As we were working on this issue, one thing was certain: It's hot. Broiling hot. Legs sticking to the car seats hot. Chicken starting to roast before it even hits the grill hot. As we ponder a not-so-gentle throttling of the "global warming needs more study" crowd, we remind ourselves we're not in the editorial department of a major newspaper – we're only with Good Times, which monthly brings you Studio News, our column that brings you the latest in recording and rehearsal information from around our area. And as hot as it's been outside, things seem to be just as stoking in the region's recording facilities, both major and indie.
Big news coming from Patchogue starts us off this issue: One of the most respected and popular recording facilities in Long Island is undergoing a name change: Suffolk Recording Studios is the new name for what previously was known as Natural Sound Studios.
"Suffolk Recording Studios (formerly know as Natural Sound Studios) in Patchogue welcomed another new client last week, The Rob Ratner Jazz Quartet," reported Dan of the studio. "This group is made of veteran jazz musicians from all around the metro area. Led by Rob Ratner on reeds and flute, the group features Rich Iacona on piano, Madeline Kole on bass, and Marc Ratner on drums and percussion. The band made themselves comfortable in the big room and spent a few days laying down a full CD's worth of tunes. The sessions were recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mike Herz." Ratner is one of the area's top musicians, having served as Director of Performing and Fine Arts for the Mineola school system.
For more information on Suffolk Recording Studios, call them at (631) 289-9818.
Sabella Studios in Roslyn Heights continues to work with major musicians from around the globe. Recently, international recording artist Kino was in the studio mixing his forthcoming album, titled Map Of The Universe. Working on the project were engineer Will Penã, producer Jeff Blenkinsopp, and Sabella Studios' Abhita Austin and Jim Sabella.
Also at Sabella, world-class musician Richie Cannata was in to lay down some saxophone for a track on the upcoming Johnny Thunders tribute album. The song Cannata worked on, "Untouchable," was originally released on Thunders' 1978 solo album, So Alone. Cannata, best known for playing sax for Billy Joel and The Beach Boys, has also worked with top artists such as Elton John, Rick James, and Gregg Allman. Sabella and Austin welcomed producer Steve Punk and drummer Mike Mulieri to the studio for the project. For more information on these projects or to book studio time, log on to sabellastudios.com.
News from the South Shore: hotter-than-hot local singer Jake Incao reports he'll soon be in the studio working on tracks for his new effort. More info is at MySpace.com/jakeincaoband … The Mercurial, from Bellmore, recently won an Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands. The group currently is in upstate New York recording their first record with producer Mike Birnbaum, who in the past has worked with such national artists as Coheed & Cambria. For more on this hot band, log on to themurcurial.net.
As always, a list of upcoming national releases that were worked on at VuDu Studios in Freeport: Down To Earth Approach's "Come Back To You" and Project 86's "Rival Fractions" are both just out, as is "metalcore" superstars Bela Kiss' "The Horde." Lady Fantastic's "Paper" hits store shelves on September 6. For more: vudustudios.com.
Speaking of Bela Kiss, that band records for Hotfoot Records, a national indie based in Bayside. Currently on the Hotfoot Records roster are, of course, Bela Kiss, along with A Girl A Gun A Ghost, Deciding Tonight, The Miracle Of You, Novemberkills, and Waiting For A Miracle. Hotfoot releases are issued not only on traditional CD format, but also can be purchased at such Internet outlets as AOL Music, iTunes, PureVolume, and other top stores. For complete information, log on to hotfootrecords.com.
Another local record company that continually releases albums by local artists is Paradiddle Records of Huntington. Paradiddle artists The Ghosts Of Electricity were scheduled to record a live CD at Katie's in Smithtown on July 15. For more information or to pick up copies of recent releases by Johnny Cuomo, Teddy Presberg, and other local artists, log on to paradiddlerecords.com. The Ghosts Of Electricity's show was scheduled to be a live recreation of Bob Dylan's classic John Wesley Harding album.
Mentions of jobs well done: The new (and hot) Half Circle Drive album on Pearl Street Records, Freezing, was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Dave Colon at Dead End Studios in Ronkonkoma … The new Pots Daeha disc, Looking Out, was recorded and mixed at 12 X 12 Sound by Tom Pagano … Tom Griffith's new 40 Years Later was recorded by Griffith and Mike Morrison at Digital Media Workshop. The album was released on the indie Mom And Pop Records based in Huntington … A Long Island-based hip hop artist with a tremendous-sounding new disc is Kizmit, whose new Krymedanch Kommitee was produced by A. Thomas for Under Pressure Productions.
Melville's Danny Ross has a new, well-reviewed CD, Introducing Danny Ross!, which is garnering plaudits around the U.S. at present (see our review in this edition of Demolition elsewhere in this issue).
Merrick's The MRE Studios was busy as summer turned to spring, working with such acts as The MiniRockerz (signed to Universal Music Europe); local rockers Spontaneous Combustion; The Rogue MG's; Damien Pacheco and his quartet; Booths Edge, a trio comprised of brothers Anthony and Michael DeSantis and guitarist Chris Golobo; voice-over artist Marissa Snitkoff; percussionist Gary Sofferman; guitarist, singer, and songwriter Eric Bonilla; The Chapman Brothers; Ziauddin Nizami; Dan Feinman; Nicholas Shatarah; Vito Genna, Joe Piket, "Gangsta Rabbi" Steve Lieberman; and many other area artists. For more information: theMREstudios.com.
If you have studio information to report, or perhaps you are looking for a great place for your next recording or rehearsal, Studio News in Good Times is your source. Recording facilities and rehearsal halls are always welcome to send in news and information about special events and artist happenings – if it has to do with local music, we want to know about it, and so do our readers. To contact us, drop us a line at gtmag@optonline.net, or give us a call at (516) 827-4145.
