Jon Gordon Music Production Hosts COBU; Chef Michael Symon for Food Network VO

Jon Gordon Music Production (JGMP) recently hosted a number of sessions from its versatile studio in Chelsea. Recent highlights include:

– COBU, Drury Design Dynamics -  Prerecord for IBM IOD Conference

Producer/Director David Darby of Drury Design Dynamics brought in members of the virtuoso taiko drum ensemble COBU to prerecord music for an IBM IOD Conference.  In the show, the live COBU interacts and plays an intricate choreographed number with their prerecorded selves, who appear on huge video screens above and flanking the stage.

“If you’ve never seen a COBU performance, it’s a fascinating mix of precise drumming and demanding choreography, as the agile performers whirl and leap from drum to drum in tight synchronization,” Gordon notes. “COBU is under the direction of founder Yako Miyamoto, who also appears in Stomp.”

– Michael Symon dialog record for Shooters Post

JGMP recorded celebrity chef Michael Symon’s dialog for an episode of the Food Network show “Food Feuds”.  Directing, via phone patch, was Nelly Shifman of Shooters Post and Transfer of Philadelphia.

– Len Gochman and JGMP plan voiceover studio

Veteran stage and screen actor Len Gochman (Finian’s Rainbow, Law and Order, “A Little Night Music”, “Don’t Drink the Water”, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, “Somerset”, “Another World”) called on JGMP to to consult on converting the study in Gochman’s Carmel NY home to double as a voiceover studio.  JGMP took a modular approach, specifying a modest core system that can be expanded and refined as needs and uses for the setup develop.  The system is scheduled to be installed in December.

– Pedro Martinez, Sean McClintock, Backbeat Productions

JGMP hosted engineer Sean McClintock, who was mixing live tracks of the Pedro Martinez band for producer Paul Siegel of Backbeat Productions.

– Mastering

The studio also completed mastering work for singers Robin Greenstein and Cecilia Kirtland. Their duo CD “Songs of the Season” recorded and mixed by Mike Nugent, will be out for the holidays.

In addition, singer Nanette DeLaune came in with engineer/producer John Allen to master their all-Jobim album.  Among the many musicians featured was harmonica virtuoso Rob Paparozzi.

– More recording

The mysterious investment-banker-turned-videographer, L. McDuff, recorded another of his financial world-oriented You Tube parodies, this time based on the Journey song “Don’t Stop Believing”.  The song was recast as an overview of technology companies duking it out over mobile apps.  The “astonishing” vocals were performed by Neal Coomer.  The video, “Don’t Stop Competing”, can be viewed here HERE.

Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand & Finian’s Rainbow Record At Avatar

Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, and the cast of Finian’s Rainbow are just a few of the many recording sessions that recently went down at Avatar Studios.

Arctic Monkeys recorded a live performance for WRXP Sessions at Avatar’s Studio A. Matt Pinfield, DJ of NYC’s WRXP “The Rock Show” with Leslie Fram, produced the session. Claudius Mittendorfer engineered the session with the assistance of Justin Gerrish and Fernando Lodeiro.

Franz Ferdinand was at Avatar to record the song “The Eyes of Mars” to promote the Christian Dior fragrance, “Lady Dior.” The song features the current fact of Dior, French actress and singer, Marion Cotillard. The track was produced by Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and engineered by NYC-based producer/engineer Jim Keller.

Avatar also hosted film score recording sessions for Remember Me, and the cast album recording of Finian’s Rainbow for PS Classics.

Finian’s Rainbow, which had its final performance on January 17, 2010, recorded with producer Tommy Krasker and engineer Bart Migal, assisted by Bob Mallory, Lodeiro and Gerrish. The album is available for pre-order through the production’s site.

And, Brooklyn rock band Motel Motel recorded their self-produced project in Avatar’s Studio B with engineer Rick Kwan assisted by Aki Nishimura.

Other recent recording sessions at Avatar include: 15 year old Canadian jazz-pop singer Nikki Yanofsky, music for a GEICO commercial, and a City of Hope benefit by famed Opera singer Placido Domingo.