I’m seeing that the JMA Vol4 box set has been further mined to offer Joni’s performances from the Rolling Thunder Revue tour….for a RSD vinyl release. While this is of interest to me due to my work on the project, it’s even more special since I was the Montreal Forum concert back on Dec 4, 1975. It’s remained a very memorable show for me even here 50 years later. Check it out!
And the Nominees Are....
To my surprise and delight last week’s announcement of GRAMMY nominees included a project that I worked on and have mentioned here previously, Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years 1976-1980 box set. I am credited as Tape Transfer Engineer and Production Assistance for both of these. Wishing Joni and entire production team the best of luck at the awards ceremony.
Audium SF- 176 Speakers of Immersive Sound!
On October 24th, I went with some of my fellow College of San Mateo electronic music pals on a field trip to the Audium in San Francisco to experience program in their listening room that features 176 speakers. We got to hear their current offering, The Depths.
What is Audium? I think that their website best explains:
Audium is a place for the intersection of sound, space and deep immersive experience. Building on its history as a theater of sound, Audium is growing into a center for spatial sound art, featuring new programming and collaborations with artists from diverse communities. In the face of a world where attention is being tugged apart, Audium’s mission is to amplify perceptual awareness in worlds of sound and space. Our goal is to enrich, educate and bring our community together through immersive art forms and the use of space as an artistic tool. Audium is a canvas on which artists can stretch the boundaries of technology and creativity. Listeners then sit in the auditorium, in total darkness, and are enveloped by 176 speakers in sloping walls, a floating floor, and a suspended ceiling.
Sounds are “sculpted” through their movement, direction, speed and intensity on multiple planes in space. Live performance of composed works gives a human, interactive element to Audium’s spatial electronic orchestra.
High Sierra Coming Down
Recording continues here in October with George Croft. Just in time for his performance in support of Jason Isbell at The Ryman in Nashville, we have released “High Sierra Coming Down”. This one was recorded at Autumn Ridge Studios, Hands on Sound and in severl of remote sessions.
This track features: George Croft- lead vocal and acoustic guitar, Tyler Johnson- lead guitar, Rick Escobar- pedal steel guitar, David West- electric slide guitar, Mark Fassett- backing vocals, Will Mitchell- strings and piano.
Listen here on Apple Music or on Spotify:
To Be Enough
A belated big congrats to George Croft and all those to contributed to the recording of the first single off his next album. “To Be Enough” was recorded at Sound Union, Hands on Sound and several remote recording sessions.
This track features: George Croft- lead vocal and acoustic guitar, Tyler Johnson- lead guitar, John Avilla- bass, Paul Avilla-Drums, Mark Fassett- backing vocals and banjo, David West- backing vocals, Will Mitchell- acoustics guitar and organ.
Listen here on Apple Music or on Spotify:
Loss and Dies irae
I first composed and recorded the theme of this piece in early November 2016 and now in 2025 have gone back to complete the thought. Loss can come in many forms and this composition is a record of a moment when I was feeling a sense of loss.
Kundalini Klub- Live 1994 album
Today on Bandcamp, I’ve released a live album from June of 1994 from a group I was part of called Kundalini Klub.
Kudalini Klub was a free form experimental ensemble that played in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1990’s. The rules of the Klub were to always be in the moment, not have any songs or repertoire and never play something that they had done before. In short, 100% improvisation 100% of the time.
This recording is from a live performance at a "Gyspy Camp"on a ranch in El Granada on June 11, 1994.
It captures on tape the spirit of the group as they feed off the energy of one another and the audience.
Listen to the album here- Kundalini Klub- Live 1994
La Honda Country Fair and Music Festival album (Re-release)
I'm pleased to announce the re-release of the long out of print La Honda Country Fair and Music Festival 1998 album.
This is fundraiser for the La Honda Elementary School Art and Music Programs with 100% of the proceeds from sales on Bandcamp going to them.
https://handsonsound.bandcamp.com/.../la-honda-country...
At the La Honda Art & Music Fair next weekend, there will also be a signed and numbered limited edition of 20 CDs for sale.
Enjoy the music and support art and music in our schools.
Hum...What's the Buzz
On May 15th, as part of the College of San Mateo Electronic Music Festival I performed an original improvisational piece at the school’s theater. In the show program, i described the composition as-
Using homemade instruments/interfaces, field recordings and designed sounds this improvisational soundscape draws attention to the ever increasing presence of electricity, motors and electromagnetic frequencies, both seen and unseen as elements that contribute to the sonic backdrop to our world.
Whether it be the drone of electric vehicles, the hum of transformers, generators, appliances, machinery or computers the ambience of the natural world is giving away to the sound of machines.
Listen to the mix from the Livestream of the concert on YouTube- https://handsonsound.bandcamp.com/track/hum-whats-that-buzz-live-college-of-san-mateo
In addition to my concert performance, on both nights of the festival I set up a 4 speaker array in the theater’s courtyard and created, as “walkout music” some generative ambient soundscapes using Enos’ Bloom and Trope apps. The vibe felt good and was met with only glowing reviews and comments…such as “this place just feels so much nicer and comfortable,. It’s real peaceful”
Joni Mitchell Archives Vol 4 and 1976 Tour album
I was thrilled to see that the Joni Mitchell & The L.A. Express – 1976 U.S. Tour album was released on vinyl for Record Store Day last month. These tracks were pulled from the Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 4: The Asylum Years 1976-1980 box set. I am credited as Tape Transfer Engineer and Production Assistance for both of these. As a music fan, for me, this was my favorite era of her music…as Joni ventured more into jazz and surrounded herself with heavy weight players. It was a real thrill to go thru the rehearsal tapes that were recorded prior to her 1979 tour and listen to Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker and Don Alias working out their parts. A couple of those rehearsals made their way onto the box set.