The Village People

The Village Studios attracts top musicians who need the finest equipment, ambiance and support services to record their music. The Village remains vibrant today largely because of its original artist-friendly philosophy," says CEO Jeff Greenberg. According to studio manager, Brooke Boyle, evidence of this consistent philosophy are loyal clients to include: T-Bone Burnett, Smashing Pumpkins, Roy Thomas Baker, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters.

The Village is also considered to be one of the Hollywood film industry’s premier recording and post-production facilities where film scores for Walk the Line, Hairspray, Pursuit of Happyness, Lemony Snicket and I Heart Huckabees were recorded. Read more here

What do producers Ed Cherney, Steve Deutch and John Alagia have in common? They all have their studios at the fabulous Village studios.

studioexpresso caught up with Ed Cherney who just finished building his new personal studio: Studio Ed @ The Village. "I have just mixed songs for the soundtrack of the Hairspray movie (with Frank Wolf and Peter Mokran...composed and produced by Marc Shaiman). I am also working on recording and mixing the newest Eric Clapton and Friends Crossroads Guitar Festival (with Clapton, Buddy Guy, Steve Winwood, BB King, Jeff Beck, John Mayer,et.al) which took place 2 weeks ago in Chicago. It was done for a DVD, CD and TV broadcast, using Remote Recording Services (Dave Hewitt) and Le Mobile (Guy Charboneau)," says Cherney with an unmistakable smile. He also recorded and produced the music for the just released Rolling Stones Biggest Bang DVD.

Over the last 15 years John Alagia (right) has produced music for artists such as the Dave Matthews Band, Emmylou Harris, David Gray, Ben Folds Five, O.A.R., Edwin McCain, Vertical Horizon, Jason Mraz, Unwritten Law and Grammy winner John Mayer. Collectively his work has sold millions of records.

John is working in a new room built for him at The Village in LA. He is developing a new artist, Mieka Pauley. John is also producing and mixing the new Trevor Hall CD for Geffen and is currently working with Dave Matthews and the Dave Matthew's Band on various production and recording projects.

Luciana Souza
The New Bossa Nova
Verve Records

“The world is so loud and noisy and overwhelming now that it can be a challenge to get people to sit and listen to something that’s quiet. But I have faith that they will,” says Luciana Souza of her 11-song album of exquisite performances. Souza's interpretative skills are shown off with material by some of our time's best songsmiths:
Joni Mitchell (“Down To You”), Leonard Cohen (“Here It Is”), Sting (“When We Dance”), Elliott Smith (“Satellite”), Steely Dan (“Were You Blind That Day”), Carlo Jobim (the standard “Waters of March”) along with a pair of memorable new songs written for the project, “You and the Girl,” written by Souza and producer/musician Larry Klein, and “Love Is for Strangers,” by Klein and Steely Dan’s Walter Becker. The set also features a memorable guest appearance by James Taylor, who joins Souza for a soulful duet reading of the Taylor composition “Never Die Young.”
This is Souza’s first collaboration with her husband/producer, Klein (Joni Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Peter Gabriel and Wayne Shorter). The New Bossa Nova also features a stellar cast of players including tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, guitarist Romero Lubambo, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Scott Colley, vibraphonist Matt Moran and drummer Antonio Sanchez. "Aside from exploring the aesthetic of bossa nova and featuring great songs, we wanted to make a record of songs that deal with the different aspects and manifestations and complexities of love—lust and desire and envy and jealousy and pain, and all of the things that make love a universal subject,” says Souza.

Ledisi
Lost and Found
Verve Music

Named by Billboard Magazine as one of the
Top 10 Faces to Watch in 2007, the acclaimed Bay Area-based vocalist and songwriter makes her major label debut on Verve Forecast with a show-stopping blend of soul, funk, gospel, jazz and R&B on Lost and Found.
Three years in the making, the 16-track Lost and Found (for which Ledisi co-produced all of the songs with veterans Rex Rideout, Jamey Jaz and Mano Hanes, newcomer Lorenzo Johnson and longtime collaborator Sundra Manning) is the album destined to usher a deserving talent into some well-earned limelight and touch your soul at the same time. Mixed by Ray Bardani at Glenwood Place, Burbank. The album showcases Ledisi’s exceptional talent as a vocalist and songwriter, seamlessly blending classic R&B, jazz, funk, and gospel in order to create a piece of art.

Ledisi is definitely not a newcomer to the music scene. With two previously released albums on her own label, she has also been featured on several multi-artist tribute albums including Forever, For Always, For Luther, singing the Luther Vandross hit “My Sensitivity (Gets In The Way)” and “Blues in the Night” on the recently released We All Love Ella: Celebrating The First Lady of Song. She has also gained a loyal following through her high energy live shows. This album may just

ZapMama
Supermoon
Heads UP

"Supermoon" is Zap Mama's debut on the Heads Up International label, home to Hugh Masakela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. So, how does a French speaking artist from Belgium make it in other parts of the world? Good writing and performances that resonate cross culturally may have something to do with it. Zap Mama (Marie Daulne, Sabine Kabongo, Cécilia Kankonda, Sylvie Nawasadio, Sally Nyolo) blends a variety of musical styles with touches of hip-hop and reggae. At the core of the group’s music however, is the polyphonic Pygmy song that holds a special place in group's founder, principal songwriter, arranger, choreographer and spokesperson, Marie Daulne. Born in Isiro, Zaire Marie is a true entertainer and a "full-package artist" who also takes engineering and producing credits on the album and even contributes to the album's artwork. Daulne weaves tightly quilted vocal harmonies using cloned choruses of her ethereal, Bjork-ish voice on tracks such as "Moonray." On "Kwenda" she re-creates that trademark Zap Mama atmosphere of a laid-back global block party. Guests musicians include: bassists Meshell Ndegeocello, guitarists David Gilmore, Michael Franti and percussionist Bashiri Johnson. Zap Mama's past collaborators include: neo-soul superstar Erykah Badu (on "Bandy Bandy") and hip-hop royalty Common and Talib Kweli. In 2000, Daulne moved to New York and worked on the soundtrack to the hit Tom Cruise film Mission Impossible II

This has been our favorite party spin this summer - enjoy
Supermoon and take a musical tour of Central Africa, medieval Spain, Middle East, Cuba and South Africa right in the comfort of your home. Marie Daulne may be a Sumpermoon, but she's really a superstar in the true sense of the word. "The songs themselves come about in a very organic, improvising way. During the rehearsals, we light some candles, start a tape-recorder, close our eyes, and start making up a story. On that, we start adding sounds. We let ourselves go," says Daulne. Yeah!

Linkin Park
Minutes To Midnight
Warner Bros / Wea

Linkin Park's new album "Minutes to Midnight" offers songs like "Hands Held High," which includes lyrics about bombs blowing up mosques, a bumbling leader, high gas prices and general world confusion — an obvious missive against President Bush and the war in Iraq. The band will be performing in Taipei, Taiwan at the Taipei County Stadium on November 16 and headlined the Tokyo leg of the Live Earth concerts, which take place across all seven continents begining on July 7 -- a one-year campaign, spearheaded by former U.S. presidential candidate Al Gore, promoting climate change."..it's one of the defining issues of our generation, and we're proud to play this show in support of that effort," says Shinoda. The concert is expected to be viewed by 2 billion people.

Doing something unique was an important goal for the band on "Minutes to Midnight." The six-member group had sold 10 million copies of their 2000 debut, "Hybrid Theory," and then another four million with "Meteora." Both albums explored feelings of frustration and fury with a mix of rock, hip-hop and metal. (The band also sold millions with its remix album, "Reanimation," and its mash-up record with Jay-Z, "Collision Course" — not including side projects such as Shinoda's successful group Fort Minor.) To help with their evolution, the group enlisted Grammy-winning producer Rick Rubin. They were longtime fans of Rubin, whose credits in the past year included Tom Petty, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Dixie Chicks and Slayer. "He suggested that we forget about what we think Linkin Park is supposed to sound like and just write whatever type of music we were inspired by at the moment," says Bourdon, 28. "It was really freeing." Then there's the content. Although Shinoda stresses that it's not a political album, the band references the nation's turmoil, from broken levees on "The Little Things Give You Away" to bitterness over leaders on "No More Sorrow.

This week the album is #12 on the Billboard charts after 12 weeks of release. If "Bleed It Out" isn't the formula rock meets rap song, what is? One Amazon fan writes "Good, but it won't scratch your Linkin Park itch." Dana Nielsen co-engineered "Minutes to Midnight"

Queen Latifah
Trav'lin' Light
Verve

Latifah's new singing album, Trav'lin' Light, will be released Sept. 25 on Verve Records, and she will embark on a tour of intimate theatre venues in American cities on Sept. 29, starting in Dallas and continuing through the end of the fall.

Produced by three-time Grammy winner Tommy LiPuma and by Grammy-nominated producer and Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair, the album is the long-awaited follow-up to Latifah's critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated 2004 release, The Dana Owens Album.

Like its predecessor, the album features contributions by a number of stellar artists. On Trav'lin' Light, Latifah is joined by piano and keyboard pioneers George Duke and Joe Sample, bossa nova guitar legend Oscar Castro-Neves, noted session guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., superstar drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., and bass virtuoso Christian McBride. The album was engineered by 15-time Grammy winner Al Schmitt and features arrangements by Grammy winner Jerry Hey plus work by Jeff Hamilton (drums), Anthony Wilson (guitar) and John Clayton (arrangements). Furthermore, Latifah realized a lifelong dream of recording with Stevie Wonder, who contributes harmonica on one track.

LiPuma, who has worked with Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, George Benson and Barbra Streisand, produced the first six tracks on Trav'lin' Light. Fair, who produced half of The Dana Owens Album and has lent his considerable talents to Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera and Mary J. Blige, returns to produce the second half of Trav'lin' Light. The album was recorded at the Record Plant and at the legendary Studio A at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, host to notable recordings by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Peggy Lee, among others.

Naked Eyes
Fumbling With The Covers

A low-key comeback or an intentional reminder of how good the songs can be at bare basic? It has been 23 years since the last Naked Eyes studio release, "Fuel for the Fire." The duo' s remaining writer/performer, Pete Byrne (keyboardist Rob Fisher died in 1999) does acoustic guitar cover versions, including a new one of the remake that put him on the map, "Always Something There to Remind Me." You hear this one regularly at the supermarkets or trendy lounges. Two NE classics, "Promises, Promises" and "When the Lights Go Out" are also redone. Don't miss the live dates announced on the Naked Eyes site

Take an ExpressTour of The Village here or please visit or call Brook....... to schedule a tour or session.

8/21/2007 Catalog #B000945602

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Bob Heil Receives 2007 Parnelli Audio Innovator Award

The Parnelli Awards Board of Directors announce that Bob Heil, one of pro sound’s most prolific inventors, will be honored with the Parnelli Innovator Award at this year’s Parnelli Awards. The ceremony will be held during the LDI show in Orlando, Fla., at a lavish event staged at the Peabody
on November 16.

“I can’t tell you how blown away I am by this,” says Bob Heil, from his Heil Sound headquarters located in Fairview Heights, Ill. “To me this is a bigger deal than getting in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because the Parnelli’s are voted on by my peers. It is truly an honor.”

Heil started out in St. Louis as a professional organist, performing up to six times a week at movie houses and restaurants by the time he was 15. Around that time, he became an avid amateur radio operator and started designing and building transmitters, amplifiers and antenna systems. But it was when he opened a music store in the small town of Marissa in Southern Illinois that he started to make his mark. It was an unlikely place to begin what would become America’s first “pro” shop and became a Mecca for the likes of the Grateful Dead, the Who, Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck and scores of others touring in 1960s and 1970s looking for innovations in live sound.

His “little” store quickly became the largest Sunn dealer in the country; the P.A. manufacturer looked to him not only to sell, but to build. Heil was responsible for the breakthrough Sunn Coliseum system. While in Chicago working with the system for a regional band, he got a call asking him to bring the system to Boston the next day. Heil scoffed, saying how could he possibly do that? He was told to simply rent a 707…

The modest small-town kid did just that, and the next thing he knew, he was showing the system to The Who. They took it on the band’s “Who’s Next” tour, and soon all the acts were clamoring for Heil’s system.

Pete Townsend was so impressed with Heil that in 1973 he flew him to his studio in London to discuss an unusual idea he had for a album concept called Quadrophenia. For the tour, Townsend wanted a quad system that would allow Roger Daltrey’s voice to appear in different corners through the concert. Heil obliged with his custom quadraphonic mixer.

At this time, Heil formed a lasting friendship with Joe Walsh, one that continues to this day. Walsh was the first to use his “Heil Talk Box,” which Peter Frampton also used with great success. He perfected the first electronic crossover, which was another revolutionary breakthrough. In 1995, his company Heil Sound was the first ever to receive the Audio Engineering Society (AES) “Pioneer Award.”

A man of many interests, in the 1980s he turned his attention to the amateur radio market and created microphones for the “hams.” The 1990s found him as the guru of the home theatre movement, putting together $100,000 to $200,000 home theater systems that usually included installing a “ticket booth” and other theatrical touches. Heil was also a pioneer in the home satellite system.

Today, his focus is on microphones, and Heil Sound mics are fast becoming the industry standard. With his wife Sarah working by his side, he continues to innovate. They divide their time between their two homes — one in the East St. Louis Metro area and one in Southern California.

Heil still manages to perform on the organ, playing standards and jazz tunes on Wurtlizer Organs around the country. Occasionally, Walsh comes out with him and introduces him to an audience who likely doesn’t recognize him.

“Bob Heil wrote the book on pro audio — literally,” says Terry Lowe, publisher of FOH and founder of the Parnelli Awards. “His book Practical Guide for Concert Sound, published in 1976, is still read by thousands coming up through the ranks in pro sound. His innovations in boards, speakers and microphones have and continue to be a major contribution to this industry. We are honored to honor him.”

For more info on Heil Sound contact Brad Lunde at www.lasvegasproaudio.com or Phone (702) 307-2700



TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm. TAG product line includes Accusound, A-Designs (USA) AEA ribbon microphones (USA), ADT Toolkit, AEA, ATC Loudspeakers (UK), Brauner microphones(Germany), Drawmer (UK), Geoffrey Daking & Co. (USA), Enhanced Audio (Ireland), George Massenburg Labs (GML) (USA), Heil Sound (USA); Mercury Audio (USA) Mission Audio (UK) Phoenix Audio (UK), PAULY Superscreens(Germany), SABRA SOM(Brazil), Soundelux (USA), SoundField Microphones (UK), Z-Systems (USA) and Weiss Engineering (Switzerland) and Z Systems (USA)

LasVegasProAudio.com, a division of TransAudio Group, is the exclusive U.S. source for Accusound Cable, ATC studio monitors, Digital Audio Denmark AD/DA DXD/DSD converters, Daking electronics, Enhanced Audio mic mounts, Pauly Superscreen pop-filters, SoundField surround-sound microphone systems and software. The goal of LasVegasProAudio.com is to provide unique equipment, useful information and long term support.

Yahoo! Studios Adds SSL Gear
Exclusive Music Content Spurs Extensive Studio Upgrade

Yahoo! Music, the most trafficked music destination worldwide, has selected a Solid State Logic AWS 900+ Analogue Workstation System and a C200 Digital Production Console for a dramatically expanded and upgraded facility that will help produce Yahoo's considerable and growing body of exclusive content.

The upgrade to Yahoo!'s Santa Monica-based facility addresses a surge in production, explains Ian Dittbrenner, Director of Studio and Content Operations for Yahoo!. In addition to creating content for Yahoo! Music's abundant programming including Nissan Live Sets, Pepsi SMASH and Who's Next, production is now shared across all Yahoo! divisions.

"We produce feature performances in-studio, live performances in venues, lifestyle pieces and much more," says Dittbrenner. "In our landscape, Yahoo! does the best-quality production and is the No. 1 music video-streaming website on the planet. The decision to purchase an AWS 900+ and C224 was a no-brainer."

Along with a new Pro Tools system, Yahoo! Music's AWS 900+ was acquired through Pepper Denny of GC Pro, the professional audio division of Guitar Center. The AWS 900+, Dittbrenner says, "is the only console in its class. Nothing in comparison comes close to it. It sounds like an SSL, feels like an SSL-it is an SSL, and for an amazing price. As far as content production goes, it's the top of the line. I had my eye on the AWS 900+ for some time, and when the opportunity arose I jumped on it."

The C200 was chosen to meet the fast-growing content demands at Yahoo!, Dittbrenner continues. "The C224 is for one of our current music studios," he notes. "The C200 offers a very simple, ambidextrous solution in a medium- to large-format console. I could have gone with something larger or smaller, but after a couple months of demo'ing consoles, the C200 made the most sense, not only for ease of use and flexibility, but also sound quality.

"We are not a traditional production outlet: we don't have a huge production and post-production department," Dittbrenner continues. "The flexibility and ease of the recall and automation of the C200 is key. The simplicity in going from production to post that it offers was a big selling point. We do 50 pieces of content per month or more, and we need to be very quick and agile on our feet. SSL affords us that ability."

Phil Wagner Solid State Logic, Inc. President, opines, "We have been speaking with Yahoo! for years about their plans to install an SSL console in the live music space. When we looked at the various SSL technologies available, the C200 made the most sense. Ian needed 24 aux sends for foldback sends and the C200 provides 36. The ability to instantly change setups while retaining the pedigree of a highly developed digital console with SSL benchmark EQ and Dynamics were key factors in Yahoo's decision to go with the SSL C200."

Composer Hans Zimmer's Studio Upgrades with SSL Delta Link MADIHD Converters
Zimmer's Delta Link MADI HD units were in place for the recording of Piraees Of The Caribbean: At WOrld's End

One of Hollywood's busiest composers, Hans Zimmer has composed award-winning scores for such blockbuster films as Gladiator, Rain Man, The Lion King, Pearl Harbor, The Thin Red Line and Backdraft. More recently he upgraded his personal studio with two Solid State Logic Delta Link MADI HD converters. The Delta Link MADI HD, from Solid State Logic's acclaimed XLogic product family, provides simplified interconnectivity and significant cost reductions, eliminating the need for complicated format conversion workarounds. Zimmer's Delta Link MADI HD units were in place for the recording of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

Until recently, Zimmer's standard DAW configuration consisted of 10 Digi 192® Digital I/O's, explains technical engineer Peter Snell. "We generally ran five total cards-one HD Core and four HD Accel Cards-in an expansion chassis to accommodate all of the interfaces," says Snell. "Once we got the Delta Links, we were able to reduce the number of hardware interfaces to four.

"The Delta Link doesn't just save rack space," Snell continues. "This is beneficial from a number of perspectives. Among the advantages are fewer devices to provide word clock to-six fewer than in the previous rig. Also, there are fewer DigiLink® connections to be made. In my opinion, it has resulted in a more stable rig."
The XLogic Delta Link MADI HD is a professional MADI to Pro Tools HD® converter for studio, live and broadcast applications. With XLogic Delta Link MADI HD, Multichannel Audio Digital Interface audio equipment like routers, digital mixing consoles and converters can now be directly interfaced with Pro Tools HD®.
A single Delta Link MADI HD can take the place of up to four Digi 192® Digital I/O's, delivering dual feeds of 64 channels of digital audio interconnection from a single hardware interface. Delta Link MADI HD further reduces cost by using an efficient single cable interconnect system. It also occupies significantly less physical rack space than equivalent systems. Direct connectivity between Pro Tools® DSP cards and MADI cards means efficient, simple system configuration. Fibre Optic MADI allows distances up to 1,000 meters between the Pro Tools® system and other MADI equipment. Remote audio routing to and from Pro Tools® is possible in conjunction with MADI routing equipment.

Zimmer's use of Delta Link MADI HD converters has spurred several more installations among composers with whom he works, including Emmy Award winner Geoff Zanelli, Tom Gire, John Sponsler and Atli Örvarsson. "I've been helping to set up studios with the Delta Link for all of them," Snell confides. There's absolutely nothing like Delta Link on the market."

In related news, a major Los Angeles feature film post-production company has chosen to similarly employ 10 Delta Link MADI HD converters.

Solid State Logic AWS 900+ Analogue Workstation System

SSL will unveil the upgraded C300 HD Master Studio System. Solid State Logic will exhibit its entire C Series product portfolio at IBC 2007, Sept 7-11 at the Amsterdam RAI (booth #N472 in Hall 8). Designed for the full spectrum of film and post-production applications, the C300 HD Master Studio System is a compact, assignable console for fast and efficient sweetening and mix creation. The C300 HD fully addresses the requirements of non-linear film and TV production, delivering the ultimate in operational efficiency in a cost-effective, scalable solution. The C300 is found in environments as diverse as Paris-based post-production facility Creative Sound; Paragon Studios in Franklin, Tenn.; Walt Disney/Imagineering, the engineering, design, research and development arm of the Walt Disney Company; the world-class Imagica post-production facilities in Japan; and Mosfilm, the state-owned Russian film production giant


Solid State Logic is the world's leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals. SSL's product range includes the C100 HD, C200 & C300 HD Digital Consoles, Duality large format analogue console with integral DAW control, AWS 900+ Analogue Workstation System, the XLogic range of outboard processors & I/O devices, Soundscape DAW and the MediaWAN content control system for broadcasters. For more information about our award-winning products, please visit: www.solid-state-logic.com

Watch Video Interviews with Top producers from Legendary Studios
studioexpresso in alliance with Record Production & Babblefish is pleased to bring you these interviews. Watch the video interviews by clicking on the producer names below.
Get your FREE Real One Player download



Matt Wallace Interviewed At his Delux Studios in LA for Record Production
L-R: Producer Matt Wallace, studioexpresso's Claris Dodge
Photo: Johnny Jaskot

Coming Soon - Robert Shahnazarian Jr.
Ken Allardyce - Sarm West, UK
Lenise Bent - Village Studios. LA, CA
Niko Bolas - Watersound Studios, Studio CIty, CA
Pete Byrne - Glenwood Place, CA
Andre Fischer - Village Studios, Los Angels, CA
Chris Fogel - Fig, Glendale, CA
Brad Gilderman - Little Big Room, Burbank, CA
Greg Ladanyi - Maple Jam Productions, Studio City, CA
Joseph Magee - O'Henry Studios, Burbank, CA
Scott Mathews - Tiki Town Studios
Oscar Paul - Roundhouse Studios, London
Greg Penny - Sphere Studios, London
Steve Parr - Hear No Evil Studios
Michael C Ross - Royaltone Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Rafa Sardina - Abbey Road, UK
Elliot Scheiner - Presense studios, CT NEW!
Al Schmitt Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA
Toby Scott -- coming soon!
Tolbert & Sutton - Studio Atlantis, Hollywood, CA
Matt Wallace - Delux Studios, Van Nuys, CA
John Wooler - Village Studios, Los Angels, CA

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Yahoo! Shouts For A-Desings

Yahoo! studios in Santa Monica recently completed a technical upgrade and redesign of the main audio production and post production studio that included the installation of one dozen A-Designs
Audio 500 Series-format microphone preamplifier modules. Purchased from GC Pro, with Account Manager Pepper Denny facilitating the sale, the complement comprises four P-1 modules plus two each of the EM-Red, EM-Blue, EM-Silver and EM-Gold modules.

Ian Dittbrenner, Director, Studio and Content Operations for Yahoo! Music, is thrilled with the performance of the modules. “I just used the P-1s on acoustic guitar for a performance in our studio and have never recorded a better guitar sound,” he enthuses. The P-1 is based on the A-Designs Pacifica, a rack-mount mic preamp that recreates the performance of the classic Quad Eight analog console.

A-Designs Audio’s EM Series modules – named for designer Jon Erikson and company founder Peter Montessi – feature custom-wound input and output transformers that produce tonal colorations that make each particularly suited to certain instruments, voices or microphone types. “The ability to mix and match offers almost limitless possibilities,” comments Dittbrenner. “And the proof is when you mix. In the sea of ‘sweet pres’ the A-Designs modules are awesome new fish!”

Dittbrenner is generally to be found behind the mixing console in the Yahoo! Music facility recording, mixing and mastering ‘live’ in-studio performances by top artists, which have included Dixie Chicks and Coldplay. “If you want to hear what instruments are supposed to sound like, try putting bass through the EM-Silver, snare through the EM-Blue, toms through the EM-Red and backing vocals through the EM-Gold,” he says.

It was while attending an annual audio conference that Dittbrenner first experienced the P-1 and EM Series modules. “I luckily stumbled into hearing them at TapeOpCon,” he recounts. “I was never looking for any reason to swap out my previous pres but after hearing the subtle differences of each A-Designs pre on the convention floor I got really excited and knew that I would be able to hear the differences much better once they were in my studio. I really wanted to explore those differences, so I bought them.”

The four P-1 modules at the Yahoo! Originals studio are installed in a 10-slot API™ 500VPR rack alongside the pair of EM-Gold modules in the studio’s equipment credenza. The other six modules are housed in an API Lunchbox. A-Designs is a member of the VPR Alliance, which has set a program of standardization and consistency guidelines for manufacturers producing modules to fit into API Audio’s 500 series rack format.

The most visited destination for music on the Internet, Yahoo! Music offers a broad range of original programming, such as Pepsi Smash and Who’s Next, for which Dittbrenner also produces and post-produces numerous lifestyle pieces every month. In addition, twice a month he mixes and post-produces Nissan Live Sets, which is recorded live before an audience and is the most popular music program on the Internet. Featured artists have included Christina Aguilera, Tony Bennett and Kelly Clarkson.

For more info on A-Designs contact Brad Lunde at www.lasvegasproaudio.com or Phone (702) 307-2700



TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm. TAG product line includes Accusound, A-Designs (USA) AEA ribbon microphones (USA), ADT Toolkit, AEA, ATC Loudspeakers (UK), Brauner microphones(Germany), Drawmer (UK), Geoffrey Daking & Co. (USA), Enhanced Audio (Ireland), George Massenburg Labs (GML) (USA), Heil Sound (USA); Mercury Audio (USA) Mission Audio (UK) Phoenix Audio (UK), PAULY Superscreens(Germany), SABRA SOM(Brazil), Soundelux (USA), SoundField Microphones (UK), Z-Systems (USA) and Weiss Engineering (Switzerland) and Z Systems (USA)

LasVegasProAudio.com, a division of TransAudio Group, is the exclusive U.S. source for Accusound Cable, ATC studio monitors, Digital Audio Denmark AD/DA DXD/DSD converters, Daking electronics, Enhanced Audio mic mounts, Pauly Superscreen pop-filters, SoundField surround-sound microphone systems and software. The goal of LasVegasProAudio.com is to provide unique equipment, useful information and long term support.

Solid State Logic

Expresso Cat Walk And Talk...

New Name, New Tec Award Nom-- studio bau:ton is now nonzero\architecture. Peter Grueneisen, co-founder and former studio bau:ton Principal of Architecture, has formed the new company to continue providing the services bau:ton clients have come to expect. And congrats to nonzero\architecture's Peter Grueneisen and Levels Audio (picutred above) owner Brian Riordan for being nominated in the Studio Design Project category for the 2007 'TEC Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement'. The nomination is for Levels Audio's new 13,000 square foot facility in Hollywood, California. The TEC Awards are organized by the Mix Foundation and winners are chosen by the readers of the industry-leading MIX Magazine, after being nominated by a panel of experts. After receiving regular nominations and a win with studio bau:ton over the last 17 years, nonzero\architecture continues the legacy with the current nomination for its first completed major project under the new company name. Voting is open at www.mixfoundation.org until midnight on August 31st. For more information on the project, see www.nonzeroarch.com

Music Supervisor Looking For Hip/cool Music For TV "The show Psychic Challenge will air on Lifetime and is about putting psychics through challenges to see how psychic they really are. All the music I'm placing has to be gratis. We turn the shows around so quickly that we don't have time to negotiate master and sync licenses. The artists will make $$ via their performing rights organizations royalties," says Vince Quintero, Music Supervisor/A&R for Bunim/Murray Productions Lyrics are cool and instrumentals with the lyrics will be 1000x better. Demographics are 18-26 year old and demos in any genre are being accepted.
Duet Album From Reba In September -- For her newest album, Reba joined forces with some of the biggest stars in music today for Reba Duets, which she co-produced with Tony Brown. The album hits stores on September 18th, 2007. You may have already heard the first single, “Because of You” with Kelly Clarkson. Other special appearances on Duets feature Kenny Chesney, Ronnie Dunn (of Brooks & Dunn), Vince Gill, Don Henley, Faith Hill, Carole King, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Justin Timberlake, and Trisha Yearwood.

The Golden Moments by Keith Hatschek (Backbeat Books) shares the secrets of 50 seasoned audio pros under one cover. From new trends in high-resolution digital audio and podcasts to setting up an effective home studio and getting the most from equipment, dedicated musicians won't want to be without their very own copy of The Golden Moment. The book also includes a foreword and in-depth interview with 17-time-Grammy-winning-engineer Al Schmitt and other heavy weights like Bruce Swedien, Richard Dodd, Ed Cherney, Chuck Ainlay, Jimmy Douglass, Mick Guzauski, and Elliot Scheiner.

Stav's Mixing With Your Mind offers a foreword by Sir George Martin - "This book is a remarkable insight into the most important piece of equipment in the recording studio - the human brain." Mixer/engineer Ken Allardyce who keeps a copy in his studio also highly recommeds the book "It's brilliant for both layman and pro" says Ken Allardyce (Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day).

Wine Country's Answer to Sundance? On Saturday, September 15 at Paso Robles’ Silver Horse Winery, few new artists get a chance to advance to the final concert competition and win cash & prizes at Winery Music Awards. Founded and produced by Kathy Kelly Productions, Inc., the competition was created out of the growing popularity of quality musical performances at many wineries throughout California. The showcases are open to original music artists from the US and Canada, independent and unsigned with major record labels. Producer, Jeff Weber (David Benoit, Chick Corea, Etta James) who has served as a judge, gives the Paso wines a thumbs up.

Tell your story to the world! YourTrumanShow will be following Keaton Simons into the studio, capturing behind the music footage and online diaries, for the making of his new album.

Rhythmic techno and heart-pumping drum-and-bass are not music genres typically associated with fine art exhibits; however, using the Audio Spotlight(R) directional sound system from Holosonic Research Labs, Inc, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) was able to incorporate this "runway" music into its "Fashion Show: Paris Collections" exhibit without intruding on the peaceful museum ambiance. The show, which opened in November, highlighted 10 designers' collections -- designers with very different aesthetics and visions. The Audio Spotlight systems, located directly above each designer's "runway," deliver targeted sound to those viewing that particular collection, and no one else. The 1/2 inch thin, circular speaker discs create an ultrasonic signal that generates targeted sound only audible to those standing directly within the acoustic beam. The directional sound of the Audio Spotlight system enabled the MFA to include all 10 designers' collections, and play their individual soundtracks, in one gallery without crossover noise.

Festival Productions, Inc., George Wein's internationally celebrated music festival company, has joined with Shoreline Media, LLC to form The Festival Network, LLC (The Network), creating one of the world's premier entertainment and production companies. The recent transaction marks a new era for lifestyle marketing. Through The Network's consolidation of the destination festival market, music fans will enjoy more diverse live entertainment experiences and content. At the same time, corporate sponsors will gain access to highly coveted audiences through a single, unique and efficient marketing channel. eadquartered in Manhattan, with offices in Newport and Los Angeles, The Network will produce 18 music festivals (more than 105 days of music) in 2007, and will rapidly expand its offerings in 2008 and beyond. With live musical entertainment as its foundation, The Network will leverage its expertise and international relationships to produce festivals leading up to, and coinciding with, the 2008, 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games, as well as with other major sporting events. The Network's core team includes event production, music industry and marketing veterans Landon Mertz, Ian Zaider, Hudson Ansley, Thomas Rosen and Hank O'Neal. In addition to Wein (Chairman of Festival Productions) and Phillips (President), long-time associates Darlene Chan (Senior Vice President), Dan Melnick (Artistic Director), Bob Jones and Rick White (Producers), Charles Bourgeois (Public Relations Director), Scott Foster (Finances) and others will continue working on events around the world.

Imagination Meets Elegant Style and Exquisite Technique
Stewart Goodyear is an accomplished young pianist whose career is clearly on the rise. Highlights from his 05-06 season career include with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas and with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Peter Oundjian as well as his return to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under Paavo Jarvi, and his Dallas Symphony Orchestra debut appearances.
Now you can hear Goodyear's breathtaking performance with The New West Symphony on:
Friday, September 14, 2007 8pm at Oxnard Performing Arts Center;
Saturday, September 15, 2007 8:00 pm at Countrywide Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and Sunday, September 16, 2007 4:00 pm Wadsworth Theatre, Brentwood . Program with maestro Boris Brott includes:
Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man and Gershwin's Concerto in F Major for Piano & Orchestra; An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue. Order Tix here or email studioexpresso for a VIP guest pass (limited number available on 1st come 1st serve basis).

Industry Standard For Video Advertising Emerges Google announced new plans to display advertising on popular video site YouTube by using an "overlay" ad unit, which appears as a strip on the bottom fifth of the viewing screen and begins to play 15 seconds into the start of a video. Initially, the ads will appear only on videos officially licensed to YouTube. Other sites, including VideoEgg, have been using the overlay format.

A New Beginning For The Robb Bros Owners of Cherokee Studios with a 35-year history in the entertainment industry will move their operation to Culver City. The three-room Cherokee Studios in Hollywood will close its doors on August 31. However, according to owner, Susan Donaldson, this marks a new beginning. "We're excited to move to beautiful Culver City near Sony Pix and will change the name of our business to Brothers Robbes Productions." Meantime, Cherokee was sold to a designer/developer who plans to errect four-story artist lofts with parking in place of the studios. The all-green project will begin in September while the brothers move to their new studio just in time to mix the soundtrack, Love N Dancing and have plans to continue with artist development. "We're moving our staff to the new location with us, " says Susan. The studio's phone number (323) 653-3412 remains the same.

According to sources the rumors of closing Virgin Megastores are false.

"I want my voice to sound like the Dalai Lama chanting from a mountaintop," Lennon told producer George Martin as the 19-year-old engineer, Geoff Emerick (left) sat on his first Beatles session. It would be his job to make Lennon's wish come true. Emerick will be interviewed by Howard Massey, co-author of Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles, on September 15 at the Beacon Theatre after a performance by the Fab Faux, a Beatles tribute band comprised of top New York musicians including Will Lee (The Late Show with David Letterman), Jimmy Vivino (Late Night with Conan O'Brien), Frank Agnello, Jack Petruzelli and Rich Pagano.
Ken Ehrlich, who recently executive-produced the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, is one of the industry's most accomplished producers of specials, concerts and notable live events. He has produced 27 Grammy Award telecasts and created and produced the MTV Movie Awards, VH1 Honors and VH1's acclaimed Divas series. Ehrlich will return as executive producer of the 59TH Primetime Emmy Awards after previously announced producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick have stepped down. The announcement was made jointly last week by Dick Askin, Chairman and CEO, Television Academy, and Peter Liguori, President of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “We respect Nigel and Ken's decision and are fortunate that Ken Ehrlich has agreed to return to executive-produce his fourth Primetime Emmy telecast. He did a terrific job with the Emmys last year, and we are glad to have him back," said Askin. Said Lythgoe and Warwick: "After we wrapped the enormous effort of American Idol Gives Back, we looked at our upcoming slate of projects including the American Idol finale and the additional shows we will be involved in this summer, and realized that we could not devote the creative energy and time necessary to make the Emmys outstanding for the Television Academy and FOX." The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ 59TH Primetime Emmy Awards will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles Sunday, Sept. 16 (8:00-11:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. In addition to numerous credits to include: Genius: A Night for Ray Charles, the Fifth Annual Latin Grammy Awards and the Blockbuster Awards, music specials for artists including Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Elton John, The Backstreet Boys, Shania Twain and Ricky Martin, as well as for *NSYNC, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton and Christina Aguilera, among others, Ehrlich has also been involved in the creation and production of the music-related series Motown Live, The Dennis Miller Show and the landmark series Fame and produced the series of specials Women Rock! Girls & Guitars as well as several episodes of Intimate Portraits profiling female musical artists
Greatest Hits Or Miss Most will agree that iTunes has made greatest-hits albums redundant. If you want an act's highlights, you can assemble them yourself. This dichotomy has, for some bands, made the decision to make a best-of album an increasingly difficult, sometimes contentious one. Some view greatest-hits albums as a blatant money grab that disrespects the integrity of the album. Pressure from labels can also come sooner than expected. The Sacramento, California, band Cake (its hits include "The Distance" and "Short Skirt, Long Jacket") was requested by its former label, Columbia Records to make a greatest-hits album. With only a handful of well-known albums to its name, the band judged a best-of disc to be premature. They refused, prompting a legal fight between Cake and Columbia. In the end, Cake left to form its own label, Upbeat Records, and will instead release "B-sides and Rarities" on October 2, with a live disc to follow this fall. "I have mixed feelings about greatest-hits albums," said Cake lead singer and guitarist John McCrea. "They're a force that can be used for good or evil." "For us at that point, we felt like it wasn't the appropriate moment -- that we hadn't existed long enough to warrant some sort of wistful retrospection. It kind of reeked of desperation." In recent years, a number of acts have released greatest-hits albums early in their careers, including Britney Spears, Hilary Duff and Sugar Ray. Though the advent of iTunes (not to mention illegal downloading and MySpace) has meant a band's most-popular songs can be instantly sampled or bought, greatest-hits discs remain lucrative to labels. In recent Nielsen SoundScan sales charts, at least half of the top 50 top-selling catalog albums typically are compilations. Labels often add rare unreleased material or unique packaging to these albums to entice die-hard fans. They are also viewed as a way to introduce audiences to an act with whom they may be unfamiliar. Still, there are several notable holdouts, including AC/DC, Radiohead, Phish and Metallica. Many artists feel greatest-hits discs corrupt the integrity of their prior albums. For the same reason, Radiohead and AC/DC have thus far resisted putting their music on iTunes, where albums are chopped into single tracks. It's a stance Chris Lombardi, founder of independent label Matador Records, often encounters.
"I've been trying to encourage some of our bands to do greatest-hits records, but I think artistically they have a real difficult time taking away the identity of the album as it stands alone," said Lombardi.
Many of the artists on Matador's roster haven't had hits in the conventional sense, but could benefit from having highlights assembled to make it easier for the more passive music fan. In 2003, Matador released "The Best of Guided by Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates" -- a sensible collection for Guided by Voices, whose prodigious output included 16 full-length albums. "I felt the output was so huge for that band that to narrow it down would be helpful," said Lombardi. "Somebody might be intimidated by the size of the catalog."
Whether a label needs the consent of an act to issue a compilation varies from contract to contract. Catalog sales account for approximately 40-50 percent of a label's annual gross, so rereleasing and repackaging old material is far more than an afterthought. "If an artist has a say in these kind of things, you'd think that they'd want a greatest-hits record to be an intro to the band as a way to guide you into buying the rest of the records as opposed to being a substitute," said Steve Kandell, deputy editor of Spin magazine. Some greatest-hits records take on a life of their own -- like the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)," which is the best-selling album ever in the U.S. Similarly, Bob Marley's "Legend" was (and still is) a sensation. At one point, it spent 106 straight weeks atop the Nielsen SoundScan catalog chart. Other bands like U2 and Aerosmith have been criticized for their seemingly unceasing parade of greatest-hits albums. U2 followed 1998's "The Best of 1980-1990" and 2002's "The Best of 1990-2000" with 2006's "U218 Singles." Last year's "Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith" was the band's eighth compilation over the course of their 27-year career. "There's a reason why it doesn't seem very artistic: it's not. It's a commercial ploy," says McCrea. "That said, there are some terrific greatest-hits albums."

Billy Bop is on the road to support his new album Beautiful Door released on July 24 on New Door/Universal. According to John Prine, Thornton's music and songwriting is on a par iwth his directing, screenwriting, and acting. "It's all imaginative storytelling with a twist," adds Prine. As his own producer, Thornton puts the focus squarely on the songs, which seem the private writings of a man who lives an intensely insular life, not an internationally known actor/director.

Hearing Brands

According to David Kiley in Businessweek, companies turn an ear toward improving the rings and pings in their product. The first sonic brand signatures date back to the 1950s. NBC has used its three-chime ID for decades. Intel's familiar sound logo gave an identity to a complex technology brand few consumers understood. And United Air Lines has found that its longtime use of a snippet of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue translates into trust. Successful sound brands can take on a life of their own. McDonald's Corp.'s "I'm Lovin' It" sound bite has been adopted by consumers as a cell-phone rington and incorporated into a song by Taiwanese recording artist leehom Wang.
Next year's Ford Flex SUV will greet drivers with a symphonic door chime. "Customers are incredibly attuned to the sounds of quality, but we weren't, and I think it was costing us," says Derrick M Kuzak, Ford Motor Co's global chief for product development

So the Ford Taurus hitting the showrooms now has a new latch system that will make a vault-like sound when the door closes. The innovations on the Taurus and Flex will be rolled out across the rest of Ford's lineup over the next three years. At a time when most companies are focused on attracting consumer eyeballs, a few are targeting their eardrums. Unique sounds like smells trigger emotions - and tend to be far more memorable than traditional marketing messages. Tat has carmakers, cell-phone companies, and others hiring sound engineers to make their brands sing.
The Gold BustDejay and Ill-Eagle were two companies pumping out as many as one thousand plaques per gold or platinum record--the awards were doled out to radio stations, venues, and sound engineers, in addition to the artists and executives involved in the records' making. Profit margins were 40% for displays that ranged from $125 for a basic one to thousands of dollars for elaborate ones. Companies like Ill-Eagle design and assemble the framed awards, but don't produce the replica records themselves. Those are subcontracted out. (The records contain little or no platinum or gold; they are typically vinyl or plastic covered with a metallic-colored material. Small businesses like Mr. Sage's Ill-Eagle Enterprises and Jewel Box Platinum, a supplier of gold-record awards in Los Angeles, are some of the unsung victims of the massive downturn in record sales

Labels used to decide which records were worthy of gold status via various criteria. The RIAA formalized the process in 1958 with uniform criteria. Perry Como's "Catch a Falling Star" single was its first gold record. Platinum was added to the mix in 1976.

Today, labels rarely order more than 40 plaques--and since the number of certified albums has taken a nosedive, too, these companies are heading into side businesses like ready-to-hang art sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond, although why they haven't gotten into the framed album art business is a mystery to us. The award makers were protected from much competition by the RIAA-licensing process.

20th Century Fox Installs Brainstorm DCD-8 Word Clock Distripalyzers

Denis St. Amand with the Brainstorm DCD-8 in the newly remodeled 20th Century Fox Newman Scoring Stage. Photo by David Goggin.

A leader in the world of blockbuster film music and audio post-production, 20th Century Fox recently installed Brainstorm DCD-8 Word Clock Distripalyzers with hi-resolution VSG-4 Video Sync Generators in its Newman Scoring Stage. The combination of the DCD-8 and the VSG-4 delivers a complete solution for all sync requirements in the scoring, recording and post-production environment We could not have done Pirates of the Caribbean without the DCD-8,? remarks Denis St. Amand, Assistant Chief Engineer of Fox Studios Operations

Goo Goo Doll John Rzeznik Taps Telefunken USA

John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls.Photo by David Goggin.

Goo Goo Dolls co-founder John Rzeznik had a Telefunken Ela M 270 stereo tube microphone personally delivered to him backstage by company founder and CEO Toni Fishman. The Goo Goo Dolls are in the middle of a three-month world tour and performed near Telefunken | USA headquarters in South Windsor, CT. The Goo Goo Dolls, were formed in 1986, in Buffalo, New York, by guitarist/vocalist John Rzeznik and bassist/vocalist Robby Takac. In 1997, Rzeznik was approached to write a song for the City of Angels soundtrack, and the end product was Iris, which propelled the band to stardom, as it stayed on top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay charts for 18 weeks, and was nominated for three Grammys in 1998, including Record of the Year.

Drumm Off

Drummers can now sign up at their local Guitar Center store with any sales associate for Store-level competitions, at which drummers showcase their talent by performing a three-minute drum solo, begining on September 12. Judged on originality, skills/technique, style, stage presence and overall performance, winners of the store preliminaries will advance on to the store finals. Subsequent winners will then advance on to district finals, regional finals and finally the grand finals which will take place in December 2007. Drum-Off is open to contestants 16 years of age and older. This year's winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $45,000 including a Toyota FJ Cruiser, $10,000 cash, a feature in a Guitar Center ad campaign, a $2,500 Levi's shopping spree, a custom designed drum kit from DW, Pearl, Tama or Gretsch, a Roland TD20 electronic drum-set, a set of cymbals custom printed with the winner's signature, a one year drum/cymbal/stick/head endorsement deal, and a write up in Modern Drummer magazine. Additionally, store, district and regional winners will walk away with thousands of dollars in prizes from Drum-Off partners. An addition to this year's Drum-Off is a new interactive website that offers members the viral tools to upload tracks, edit profiles and share their passion. Users can also chat with other drum enthusiasts on the discussion boards dedicated to everything from talking shop to sharing techniques or viewing the exclusive video content with drummers such as Travis Barker, Adrian Young and Stephen Perkins.

Downtown LA Loft with studio
Offered by Christine Lloyd-Maddocks / Rodeo

Stunning Corner loft. 2 level with hardwood floors, 20' ceilings, wall of windows. 1st Levl: spacious living areas, Gourmet kitchen with stainless/granite, 2nd Bed is custom RECORDING STUDIO, can be home theatre; full bath and storage. 2nd level: Lge Den/Sitting w/office area & private Master, walk in closet, full bath. Low HOA 2 secured car park, internet, cable, water. Across from Staples, Palm, S.bucks, Ralphs & soon LA LIVE. Over $100k in upgrades. See more details at myspace $999,000 or contact Christine Lloyd-Maddocks
(818) 437 0369

Extensively updated and remodeled ranch style home on a magnificent park-like lot with expansive lawns and trees. Featuring a separate newly built 1,200 sft guest house with state of the art music/recording studio!

This home is loaded with charm boasting hardwood floors, diamond pained windows, high beam ceilings, four fireplaces and more. Remodled kitchen opens to family room + bonus room with wet bar and entertainment system. Pool and Spa. For more info call Kay Fields at Prudential 818.419.1172

Quote Of The Month

"I am the biggest technophobe of all time. I don’t have a mobile phone or an iPod or anything. I am such a Luddite when it comes to making music. All I can do is write at the piano.”
-- Elton John

Rip
Merv Griffin
July 6, 1925--Aug 12, 2007

1963 AP photo

Merv Griffin...More than Talk, the big band-era crooner turned impresario who parlayed his “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune” game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, died Sunday. He was 82.
Above all, he demonstrated that musicians can reinvent and be brilliant at business or anything they set out to do. From his beginning as a $100-a-week San Francisco radio singer, Griffin moved on as vocalist for Freddy Martin’s band, sometime film actor in films and TV game and talk show host, and made Forbes’ list of richest Americans several times. Griffin is survived by Tony and daughter-in-law Tricia Griffin, his grandchildren Farah and Donovan Mervyn, and his many friends and admirers. The funeral mass, by invitation only, will be at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills. My father was a visionary," said his son Tony

Sundance Classic Pick
I AM Cuba
1964
Mikheil Kalatozishvili, Director

One of the most surprising cinematic rediscoveries of the 1990s was the revival of Russian filmmaker Mikhail Kalatozov’s forgotten Cold War epic depicting, in intoxicating visual detail, the decadence and poverty of pre-Castro Cuba. Four didactic stories (co-written by poet Yevgeni Yevtushenko) are of secondary importance to the sensual and amazingly acrobatic black-and-white cinematography directed by Sergei Urusevsky, in which the handheld camera appears to fly over a Havana street and literally follow a bathing beauty into a hotel pool.

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