Bop Stop Recording Studios

My great pleasure to record a horn section today with Arnetta Johnson - Jomo Slusher - Brett White - Craig Hill ! Man, these cats can play and it was great fun working with each of them.  We had a brief and efficient session and the horns were certainly popping.  Looking forward to working with these most excellent players in the future and hope to be a part of sharing their music!  

In case you were wondering how one might get a 6ft 8 inch grand piano into a second story apartment................

We have received the rather Extreme Delivery of a Kawai 6 ft 8 inch grand piano!!!  You can see why the post is the "Flying Piano".  The truck made it between the buildings by maybe an inch and maybe a cm between each doorway.  Additionally, it was more complicated in Plymouth the origin, as it had to be craned indoors off a second story loft.  Luckily, just another day at work for Death Wish Piano movers who have moved countless pianos, including the beast that lives at Berklee College of Music Studio.  They were more than prepared for this rather Amazing task.   

The piano, left a mansion compared to this studio and all we can do to make the piano happy in this relatively humble setting is to have it played every day!  Since landing, the piano action was removed and regulated and the hammers were voiced.  It has had an initial tuning, but will need at least two more and some settling to achieve stability.  

I am going full blown subfloor ceiling and walls in order to both provide the optimal acoustic environment for the dynamic range of this instrument and to cut the volume/sound transfer to my neighbors to something negligible.  It is particularly challenging as the acoustic treatments have to be designed for relatively easy removal and not attaching to the walls or ceiling at all.  Should be about 3-4 weeks before the piano suite is complete and I can't wait.  Stay tuned for up coming pics and hopefully sounds clips of the final installation.  

I am OOZING with delight that I have finalized the purchase of a gorgeous grand piano!  

It is a Japanese built, Kawai 6 fort 8 inch, Concert Piano!  It is win stunning condition in the traditional Satin Ebony finish.  I was fortunate enough to both get financial assistance from family to purchase this piano and feel so fortunate to purchase it from a Boston Conservatory trained Opera singer and pianist!  Hence, it was regularly maintained and regulated.  After a long search for the right one and considering numerous pianos from C7-C3 and Gs-50-70s, this ended being I think the right choice for providing the tonal balance and clarity needed for jazz trios and the dynamics needed for a solo classical piano piece.  It is scheduled to arrive within a week!! 

Piano use is NOT an extra charge and free to use, but it will NEED to be tuned before each recording session.

This has set the wheels in motion for rearrangement of the studio rooms in our relatively small space.  We will be moving my rather large mixing area to the existing studio B and the mixing room, which is the largest size wise, will now be a piano trio tracking room.  I will be beginning major modifications of the acoustic treatment in the coming weeks to ensure the elegant sound of this piano shines in all its glory!!