NYC Music Producers

Nicholas James: Top 10 Artist!

2011-04-14T17:23:00.003-04:00

Nicholas James in the Studio

OurStage certainly seems to think so. Nicholas' song "Safe In My Arms, produced at Threshold Recording Studios NYC with James Walsh and Jeremy Sklarsky, has made it into two top 10 lists on ourstage.com, including the Subway Fresh Artists National Competition. It is currently #19 on their indie pop charts. Look for bigger things coming from this very talented young singer/songwriter in 2011. Take a listen in the studio jukebox to the right...

Nicholas is currently seeking a top spot @ Sonicbids Bonnaroo contest.

Download his song SAFE IN MY ARMS today and give him your vote!

http://bonnaroo.sonicbids.com/BandDetails.aspx?b=27092&sr=false&bn=Nicholas+James+Band

Recent Sessions @ Threshold Recording Studios NYC

2011-03-24T18:08:00.001-04:00

We've had a a busy 2011 recording at Threshold Studios. Here are some of the early highlights:

- Big Mosey

Brooklyn based blues-rock band was in to record their debut EP entitled "Homeward at Daybreak." A unique sound with an even more unique vocalist. It's been too long since we did some serious guitar work so it was a lot of fun breaking out the Marshalls...

- Neil Perlman was in to record some Scottish-jazz fusion! His piano jazz trio featuring renowned Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. All these guys had some serious chops.

Neil Perlman and co with Alasdair Fraser

- The UN Jazz Band (working title). We recorded a small jazz ensemble composed of United Nations Staffers, including players from Madagascar, South Africa, Sweden, and Austria. The group's leader, Herbert Grubmair mentioned long time friend of the studio and fellow Austrian Hans Glawischnig. Hebert said about Threshold, "If it's good enough of Hans it's good enough for me!" We hope to have them back soon.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Freelance Whales back at Threshold Recording Studios, NYC

2011-03-16T09:45:00.007-04:00

Freelance Whales' Judah Dadone with

Jeremy Sklarsky @ Threshold Studios

Produced by Jeremy Sklarsky, Freelance Whales returned to Threshold Studios this month. This band is so great- it is always good to have them back in the studio. Big chunks of their highly regarded debut "Weathervanes" were recorded here at Threshold with Jeremy at the helm. We'll post a link to the song they recorded here upon its release, which should come sometime during their upcoming tour with Foals (which takes them across the continent including a co-headlining show at Terminal 5!).

NY Times POPCAST series at Threshold Recording Studios, NYC

2011-03-01T10:03:00.001-05:00

In 2009/ 2010 Threshold Recording Studios, NYC began hosting the NY Times POPCAST series hosted by Ben Sisario. Recent sessions have included The Black Keys, Grace Potter, Junip featuring Jose Gonzalez, Josh Ritter, Jonsi from Sigur Ros, The Morning Benders. It has been awesome to have such varied and talented people come through the studio. You can check out POPCAST here on the NYTimes website or on iTunes.

with guest host Melena Kyzik after taping their episode

Edelweiss

2011-02-24T18:44:00.000-05:00

A very beardy Jeremy Sklarsky with Edelweiss!

Had a KILLER time at Threshold Recording Studios NYC with Edelweiss, a young band from Stroudsburg, PA. Check out their maxi single "(No)" and b-side "Fiasco" engineered and produced by Jeremy Sklarsky @ Threshold Studios over the Christmas break. A very talented bunch, we hope to working with them again soon.

Road Recovery John Varvatos fundraiser with Peter Frampton and Dennis Leary a great success!!

2010-01-31T10:48:00.004-05:00

What a night! MajorWho was thrilled to help support Road Recovery's benefit concert last week at John Varvatos' store in NYC. His store is located in the old CBGB's and gets used occasionally as a performance space. So many of the performers and Road Recovery staff walked in with nostalgia in their eyes, remembering back as many as 30 years since their first gigs they played and attended at CBGB's.

Emceed by longtime Road Recovery supporter Matt Pinfield and his radio partner Leslie Fram, the show opened with performances by Road Recovery Performance Workshops, followed by the Road Recovery Staff band including: Knox Chandler on bass, Adam Roth on guitar, Mark Boquist on drums, Owen Comansky on guitar, Tom Dudley bv's- and Road Recovery house band Crazy James. It is such a thrill to see the kids perform the songs for a packed house that we've produced and recorded with them in the studio. The staff band was joined by MajorWho artist Todd Alsup, who sat in on keys and sang a fantastic version of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground."

Road Recovery Participants Meet With Peter Frampton Before The Show

Following the opening bands, the first of the two headliners performed. Denis Leary and The Enablers (featuring Road Recovery staff Adam Roth and Owen Comaskey) did their hybrid comedy-rock routine, including some of Denis' more well known songs such as "The Rehab Song," "F*** You," and his most famous, "A**hole."

Then came the headliner - the legendary Peter Frampton. Peter played a mostly acoustic set, but was joined by a keyboard player and bassist. The crowd loved hearing his classics - "Show Me The Way," "Baby I Love Your Way," and "Do You Feel Like We Do." He broke out the Framptone guitar/vocoder sound to raucous applause. For his encore, Frampton did his rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and then invited the Enablers on stage for a reprise of "A**hole."

The show was packed, John Varvatos was a gracious host, and was a terrific night for Road Recovery. All of the artists voiced their overwhelming support for Road Recovery, who both raised money and awareness for their cause. Congrats to Gene Bowen, Jack Bookbinder, and the entire Road Recovery family for such a successful event. We look forward to many more amazing Road Recovery events and collaborations in the new year.

John Varvatos with MajorWho Artist Todd Alsup

Kirsten Thien - Featuring the legendary Hubert Sumlin in the Studio!

2009-06-16T22:39:00.001-04:00

Great session down in the studio this week. Kirsten Thein, who was recently honored with a Songwriter's Hall of Fame Abe Olman Scholarship, came down to record some basics with her band. Kirsten has a classic sound and a great, smoky voice.

Kirsten Thien

Kirsten was backed by as good a group of musicians as you're likely to find, including Steve Holley (who played drums with Wings in the 70's!), Erik Boyd on bass (and producing) Tommy Mandel on keys (check out his credits btw), and Arthur Neilson on guitar.

The biggest surprise of the day was the arrival of Hubert Sumlin, who sat in on guitar for two songs. Hubert is on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists of All Time list. He played with Howlin' Wolf in the early days and is a major influence on the British guitarists of the 60's who basically set out to copy American blues players. Jimmy Page even stole a Hubert Sumlin lick for Led Zepplin's Lemon Song. Don't be surprised if he finds himself into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...

Jeremy and Engineer Dan Myers w/ Hubert Sumlin

We always enjoy working with Eric Lewis. Here is E playing at the White House for President Obama

2009-06-12T00:20:00.002-04:00

Love this Todd Alsup version of "Your Body is a Wonderland" by John Mayer..

2009-06-12T00:08:00.005-04:00

We were in the live room at Threshold Recording Studios NYC taping some video of Todd and he warmed up with this beautiful version- so we kept the cameras rolling:) Hope you enjoy.

check out Todd's website...
Help spread the word! We can't do it without YOU!

2009-06-04T13:56:00.003-04:00

Todd Alsup's newest single - "How I'm Made" is complete! It's a monster of a song - great melody and lyrics, huge arrangement featuring Aaron Comess(Spin Doctors) on drums, Rich Hammond (Joan Osborne) on Bass, Jimmy Farkas (Joss Stone, Jonas Brothers,DeSol) on guitar and Clark Gayton on horns. And of course, Todd lent his piano and incredible vocal to this track.

You can hear the song over to the right on the MajorWho Jukebox, and on our myspace.

Produced by Steve Greenwell with MajorWho.

Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Todd Alsup and Lamont Dozier!

2009-04-17T22:19:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful evening last night with Todd Alsup at the Kaufman Center for the Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting awards ceremony.

Todd Alsup w/ Lamont Dozier

This year Todd was selected as one of the showcase artists on the 2009 Songwriters Hall of Fame CD for his song "The Good Fight" and spent the evening mixing it up with current and previous recipients of the award including Wes Hutchinson and new Major Who and Threshold Music Recording Studios friend Kirsten Thein.

Preceding the award ceremony there was a Master Class given by songwriting icon Lamont Dozier, of Holland-Dozier-Holland, the songwriting powerhouse who created the Motown Sound, writing the hits for the Supremes, the Temptations and many more. Real words of wisdom and insight from a legend!

Todd and I spent some time with Mr. Dozier, who was also celebrating his 68th birthday! A brief list of Mr. Doziers credits include: Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, How Sweet it is (To Be Loved by You), Stop! In The Name of Love, I can't help myself (Sugar Pie Honeybunch), Standing in the Shadows of Love, and You Can't Hurry Love. Wow:)

Thank you Professor Randy Pausch...

2008-09-07T20:33:00.000-04:00

A Surreal Week.. Judging the IMWS, Neil Diamond at Madison Square Garden, Bigfoot, ESCA, and bigfoot..

2008-08-20T20:45:00.000-04:00

A Surreal Week.. Judging the IMWS, Neil Diamond at Madison Square Garden, Bigfoot, ESCA, and bigfoot..

I'm going to apologize in advance for the sketchy shots- ionly had the camera on the TREO available most times...

The week started for me at The Dutch Village in Lancaster PA with my family. In case you are wondering -Its ok- the Frog prince saves the princess at the end.. Oh yes, my 5 year old daughter has a thing for roller coasters.. This is great for Daddy's stomach..

Then it was off to Crash Mansion to be a Judge in the Discmakers IMWS Northeast Region band competition. I have to admit, the bands were ok- but i have to wonder is this really the best we've got? Don't think so. Venue, Discmakers, other judges were a lot of fun. We gave away $50,000 worth of gear and cash..

Oh yes, i did have a wonderful time with the Kamen Family. Nice to make new friends.

Then they found BIGFOOT.. It must finally be true- says so in the NY Times..

Dr. Steve Greenwell and I had an incredible meal at ESCA on friday- the Tuna Carpaccio made me want to cry.. We finally got steevie on to the blogspot mon'. The world will never be the same- add link to my myspace vid.

The God in the middle of the stage was Neil Diamond. He ran the room like it was his living room..
Then THEY tell me there is no bigfoot..

The best part about bigfoot was the monosynth sound effects in the In Search Of "documentaries" in the 70's.. I have to find a clip.

"To a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail"

2008-05-23T21:21:00.016-04:00

Favorite line of the week:
"To a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail" - thanks Mark Twain.. and Jeremy Sklarsky. I usually spout some nonsense about selling struts and tires, but this is more to the point.

We rehearsed Todd Alsup this week with full band at Montana Studios on the west side of NYC. There is NOTHING like listening to a (real) piano based singer / performer knocking it out with a tight band. I think its been so long since anyone has really pulled it off - or - as a fan- has been at a local club to hear it done right- that folks don't even know what they aren't hearing.. BTW-If you are reading this and can suggest venues in NYC or surrounding that are set up for this kind of spiritual assault- do share..

GREAT SONGWRITING, A GRAND PIANO, A SINGER that can do anything that he wants vocally and lyrically, a killer bass and drummer keeping it real, , a solid acoustic guitar holding it down, a rocking electric guitar, and smooth background vocals and tamb/shaker. Its like that.

I remember seeing Billy Joel at the Garden a few years back and watching him treat the venue like he was playing to a small crowd in his living room. I have seen many great shows there of course, but this one was just so intimate and fun it blew my mind. So few can do that..

Todd Alsup does that..

New Songs are on the way- they are unbelievable:) Todd's best work yet..

Stay tuned for info on the MajorWho showcase at the Wave Gathering in Asbury Park June 20, 21, 22 2008. Todd Alsup, Paula Valstein, Alec Gross, and a few others including some great Asbury Park artists. Kudos to Gordon Brown, Scott Stamper and All Hours Entertainment.

What could be better then a weekend at the shore with some great music, food and weather in late June..

UPDATE! Slash, Jerry Cantrell, Jakob Dylan,Tom Morello, Perry Farrell & more at the Road Recovery 10th Anniversary Show at Nokia Theatre, NYC, 4/17/08

2008-04-20T00:48:00.003-04:00

I know i posted this blog on the MajorWho site, but i wanted to share it across the board:)

Wow- We at MajorWho are so proud of Gene Bowen, Jack Bookbinder, all the Road Recovery staff and mentors and especially the youth of the Crazy James Band, Henry Ittleson Center and the Hawthorn Center youth. The Road Recovery 10th Anniversary Show at Nokia Theatre, NYC, 4/17/08 was a huge success. Its an honor for us to work as mentors with this organization and we encourage everyone & anyone interested in giving a little something back to check them out & get involved!

This show was even more than I could have imagined. There are so many phone camera pictures and references it will take me weeks to sort through, but lets just say that Slash from Guns N' Roses , Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell, Alice In Chains' Jerry Cantrell, Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Joseph Arthur, MC5 founder Wayne Kramer, Jakob Dylan, Jimmy Gnecco and OURS, Dennis Leary (who rocked the crowd with 'I'm An Asshole':)), and the unexpected highlight of my evening Cypress Hill's SEN DOG getting the thousands in attendance to Jump, Jump, Jump- ROCKED the crowd hard for four plus hours in honor of Road Recovery's 10th Anniversary celebration. By far the best night out we've had in a long time!! A special thanks to Tom Morello and The Justice tour!

James Walsh & Mary Guilbert

I was also able to hang a bit with some of my favorite people over the course of the evening- including Mary Guilbert whom I have the honor of running around SXSW with along with the rest of the MajorWho/ Fun Palace / Road Recovery crew. When we were in Austin this last March we got the news that Jeff Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah was the number one download on iTunes after its appearance on American Idol by Jason Castro. A very special moment for a proud mom...

I'll do my best to put together a journal of the evening, but honestly- there were dozens of highlights that we will never forget- including:

Perry Farrell singing "Pets" and "Mountain Song" backed by Tom Morello and Jerry Cantrell on guitars.

Slash, Morello and Jerry Cantrell joining Wayne Kramer for the MC5's vintage "Kick Out the Jams."
Jerry Cantrell featuring Slash on Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"

Tom Morello playing on the Alice In Chains staple "Brother".

Jerry Cantrell singing Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak," with Tom Morello and Slash on guitars.

Sen Dog of Cypress Hill doing multiple stage dives while backed by Morello, Slash and Farrell during performances of "Insane the Brain" and "Rock Superstar," as well as a version of House Of Pain's "Jump Around,"

Wayne Kramer pogo dancing during Sen Dogs set.

Perry Farrell singing Stevie Wonders "Superstition" with Wayne Kramer, Slash and Morello on guitars.

Jakob Dylan joined by Tom Morello, etc.. for Sam Cooke's "Bring It All Home" and "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands," which he dedicated to "The Nightwatchman" (Tom Morello's alter ego).
Slash closing out the set with Paradise City sung by Perry Farrell and Jimmy Gnecco and joined by everyone onstage including the Crazy James Band- a complete free for all!

Cell Phones w/ video cameras + YOUTUBE + BLOGS = instant gratification!!

My favorite Marshall JMP guitar head, a Band of Thieves and new rules to live by..

2008-04-06T20:33:00.023-04:00

I will skip all the details that brought me to this point- but i have a new self imposed rule for myself and all staff about the studio amplifiers:
ALWAYS make sure your speaker Impedance (Ohms) match your Power Amp Impedance. NO EXCEPTIONS!!

Forget trying to remember if its ok to use 8ohm on the head side and 4, 8, or 16 on the speaker side. It is a waste of time, energy and more than likely- a good head.

This blog will forever be my reference guide for the details of matching head and cabinet and i scooped the information verbatim from a gentleman nicknamed named Hardtail on this cool website: GuitarMasterClass.net. Thank you Hardtail for the following:

The Ohm is a measure of electrical resistance. Also known as Impedance (do not confuse with "I" below which is the Amperage).

One Ohm = Power / Amperage^2

Or one Ohm is related to the amount of Amps flowing through a circuit at a given Power (watts). Remember that Amps is the "amount of electric charge per second". This is better explained using examples.

Example 1:
100 watt Amp Head with 8 Ohm speaker puts out how many Amps?

Answer:
8 Ohm = 100 watts / (I)^2
Solve for I. I = (100/8)^.5 = 3.5 Amps

Example 2:
100 watt Amp Head with 4 Ohm speaker puts out how many Amps?

Answer:
4 Ohm = 100 watts / (I)^2
Solve for I. I = (100/4)^.5 = 5 Amps

From the above examples we can see that a 4 Ohm jack puts out 5 Amps which is more than the 3.5 Amps from the 8 Ohm jack on a 100 watt Amp head. In fact at 100 watts 4 Ohms puts out 43% more electrical current than the 8 Ohms. This is why you should NEVER plug a 16 Ohm speaker cabinet into an 8 or 4 Ohm jack on your Amp head. But plugging an 8 Ohm speaker cabinet into the 16 Ohm output of your Amp head may not always cause damage right away if at all.

The moral of the story is to make sure your speaker Impedance (Ohms) match your Power Amp Impedance.

BTW-Band of Thieves is the great band that was recently at the studio being produced by Mikki James and engineered by Albert DiFiore and happened to figure in to this learning opportunity..

From the MajorWho Blog:
Band Of Thieves have spent the last couple days with us at MajorWho in our Threshold Music Studios laying down basics for some new material with producer Mikki James and engineer Albert Di Fiore. A lot of great things happening for this band lately and a cool bunch of fellows to boot.. We also learned a thing or two along the way.
This week Band Of Thieves had a song of placed in an episode of The Riches on FX. They've also had music in the ABC series "Greek" and "Parking Wars" on A&E. Congrats on the placements and best of luck!

Mieka Pauley and the Ocarina

2008-04-02T19:03:00.007-04:00

I find myself fascinated by a type of instrument called the Ocarina lately and have been waiting for the right opportunity to bring it into a MajorWho production.

More fascinating then that tho- is what you can build these things out of and how serious and well documented the vege ocarina community has become.

and then there is Heita..

Big Broccoli Ocarina : Angels We Have Heard On High.

My kids love this guy:)

Fortunately i fell in love with Mieka Pauleys "Run" while side surfing and got my head out of the complex carbs. Mieka reminds me a bit of our artist Paula Valstein, but with a more traditional approach to her songwriting.

Road Recovery 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Nokia Theater in NYC

2008-04-01T20:01:00.000-04:00

In addition to being privileged enough to work on the creation of great songs and audio productions on a daily basis, one of the only things that keeps me going in the music business is giving back a little something every chance i get..
This organization is very special to me. Please take a moment to check it out and support a great cause. My great friends Gene Bowen and Jack Bookbinder have dedicated their lives to making life a little better for everyone involved in the Road Recovery organization- the least we can do is go listen to some great music:)

You are cordially invited to Road Recovery's 10th Anniversary concert and celebration at the Nokia Theater on April 17th at 7:00 Pm. The star-studded cast includes Slash, Tom Morello, Jerry Cantrell, Wayne Kramer (MC5), Jimmy Gnecco of OURS, Perry Farrell, and Denis Leary. Also performing will be Road Recovery's own Crazy James.

Visit www.roadrecovery.org for more information. For ticket sales, click right HERE.