With the music compilation ‘Pachyderm…So LARGE…We Ran Out Of Room’, Pachyderm Recording Studio in Minnesota celebrates its first year under new ownership of Matthew M. Mueller of Madison WI who also owns The Cardinal Bar in Madison.

White Light Riot, Down Lo, Gypsy Foot, Kari Marie, The New Congress, Don Smithmier, Snake Beard Jackson, Shades a Gray, Alicia Wiley, Chris Koza, Meredith Fierke, Kenny Lucas and Ben all recorded their contribution to the ‘Pachyderm…So LARGE…We Ran Out Of Room’ CD at the world famous recording studio.

An experience only found in the big woods of Minnesota, Pachyderm Recording Studio is under new ownership. With an all star client list that includes the likes of Nirvana, LIVE, They Might be Giants, Brian Setzer, Indiginous, Soul Asylum and many others, entertainment entrepreneur Matthew Mueller has his sights set high.

“It is more than inspiring to think about the past and what this Rock and Roll Retreat has endured“. Mueller explains. “This is more than the realization of a teen age dream, it is the opportunity to carry forward a torch that has been long lit and has burned bright for the Minneapolis music scene”.

Matt Mueller purchased the property and studio in December of 2006 with the hopes of bringing a dormant legend back to life. Pachyderm Studios and all involved, including the return of Brent Sigmeth, have their sights set on greatness and bringing this hidden gem in Minnesota’ s music history back to it’s former glory.

Throughout the years Pachyderm and its scenic surroundings have withstood the test of hard rockin’ great adventures had by so many within our industry. Pachyderm Recording Studio is a residential recording studio located in rural Cannon Falls, Minnesota 35 miles southeast of the Twin Cities, is one of the most famous recording studios in Minnesota.

A secluded location on a 50 acre private park in old-growth woods with a trout stream, along with vintage recording equipment including Studer tape machines, tube microphones and a Neve 8068 console (the same board that was used in Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studio recorded AC/DC’s ‘Back In Black’, and the board John Lennon sat at the night he died.) have lured many well-known artists to the site.

The $3.5 million-dollar facility offers lodging in a palatial 6,000 square foot house that boasts an indoor pool and sauna. The house was designed by Herb Bloomberg, a top student of Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1963 by a local malt magnate. Internationally renowned for the uniquely warm and full sonic characteristics of its performance rooms, the 2,500 square foot studio was designed by Bret Theney of Westlake Audio and built in 1988.

Since opening its doors in fall 1989, Pachyderm has become, outside of Prince’s Paisley Park Studio, the most storied recording venue in Minnesota. Dozens of notable albums have been crafted there, from nationally famous acts such as Superchunk and Kelly Willis to local heroes like Trip Shakespeare and the Honeydogs. The recording of Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’ – the band’s much anticipated follow-up to ‘Nevermind’ and Kurt Cobain’s final album – simply cemented the studio’s permanent place in pop-culture lore.

No one can honestly recall the first significant recording session to take place at Pachyderm. But it was either Soul Asylum’s ‘And the Horse They Rode in On’ or the Gear Daddies’ ‘Billy’s Live Bait’. Either way, it’s clear the studio was in demand the minute it opened its doors. In recent years, however, the number of semis loaded down with amps and guitars pulling into Pachyderm has diminished considerably. In fact, the last high-profile project to be recorded there was Mudvayne’s ‘The End of All Things to Come’, in the summer of 2002.

Like many recording studios, Pachyderm has struggled to book clients as the economics of the industry have soured. With CD sales plummeting, and the advent of technology that allows entire albums to be recorded and mixed in a bedroom or basement, few labels are willing to shell out big money to rent a recording studio for weeks at a time. The company’s fortunes had also dwindled owing to circumstances unique to Pachyderm, and Brent Sigmeth, Pachyderm’s beloved in-house engineer for a decade, walked away due to issues encountered by Pachyderm’s previous owner.

Watch Pachyderm Recording Studio video tour:

Old Growth Forest

The Pachyderm Preservation Project (ProjectPachyderm.org) is an undertaking of a collection of artists and community members to help Pachyderm Studio purchase 28 acres of land immediately adjacent to its current 6 acres. The land is currently up for sale with the intent of clearing it for residential building. Throughout the area are gorgeous waterfalls, woods, and and old growth. It is the desire of Pachyderm and the community that surrounds it to preserve the land and use it, in its natural beauty, as a unique sanctuary of healing, art and community in the Midwest.

For more information:

Conal Garrity – conal@pachydermstudio.com
Pachyderm Recording Studio
7840 Co 17 Blvd
Cannon Falls MN 55009-4048
507-263-5276 -v | 612-597-4759 -c | 507-263-2002 -f

Pachyderm video tour link

Pachyderm Recording Studio Official Website

C-Sharp Productions, an independent music production company in Minnesota, has announced a new discount program to kick off 2008. The company is cutting its recording and production rates in half for the first half of the new year.

“In 2007 we moved our operation to Minneapolis. Now as we head into 2008 we want to take it to the next level,” C-Sharp Productions President Chad Shank says. “By dropping our rates for the first half of the year we can thank our existing clients and give an incentive for new acts to join us.”

Shank said that the usual hourly rate is $50 per hour. The rate from January 1 to July 1, 2008 will be $25 per hour. If artists are looking for complete tracks produced for pop, R&B, dance or hip-hop projects the rate will drop to $250 per song from the usual $500 per song.

“2008 is going to be a great year. One of my resolutions is to help as many artists record the best sounding projects,” Shank adds.

C-Sharp Productions is a production company that was started in 1996 in Mitchell, SD. Since then music produced by C-Sharp Productions has been featured on national and international TV and radio. Songs have been used by major networks like USA Network, MTV, CMT, and NBC. In 2007 the company relocated to Minneapolis, MN.

C-Sharp specializes in pop, R&B, dance and hip-hop production. Some record labels the company has produced for include: Indulge U Records, Night Shield Entertainment, Thousand Angels Productions, ChartBlaster Music, Grand Avenue Records and others.

More information on C-Sharp Productions:

Contact: Chad Shank
763-545-1969
chad@sharpmusic.com

C-Sharp Productions Official Website

Sheryl Crow never ceases to amaze me. I was just listening to MVY Radio online out of Martha’s Vineyard, and her latest single, “Shine Over Babylon” came on. The song is from her album ‘Detours’, which doesn’t come out until February 2008.

“Shine Over Babylon” is a brilliant song. Sheryl Crow is reunited with producer Bill Bottrell (‘Tuesday Night Music Club’) and the mix and the instrumentation on the track is great and it’s very well produced. The chorus is infectious, the verses are welcoming and the song as a whole gives me that feeling of wanting to “do something exciting” when I hear it. I like the way Sheryl is singing on the track – her slightly delayed or syncopated style phrasing along with the vocal effects are cool.

In a short video clip of Sheryl in the studio recording “Shine Over Babylon”, she says that the song was “inspired by what’s going on politically and what’s going on socially around all of us…an end of the world song, but with hope”.

Watch behind the scenes footage in the studio, Sheryl Crow – “Shine Over Babylon” video clip:

Video includes Sheryl, producer Bill Bottrell and her songwriting partner Jeff Trott.

Shine Over Babylon MP3 on amazon.com

In The Studio – Shine Over Babylon video link

Related: Sheryl Crow Hits and Rarities album review

Sheryl Crow Official Website

By: Jenny May

Adam Holzman (Director of Miles Davis’ band), Pat Thrall, (Guitarist: Hughes and Thrall, Meatloaf, Asia) Steve Lillywhite (Simple Minds, U2, Talking Heads), Nir Z (Drummer: Genesis, Chris Cornell, Joss Stone, John Mayer)

From the geniuses behind The Beatles, through to the producers of everyone from Madonna, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Dire Straits to John Mayer and the Rolling Stones, record producers from all over the world came to New York to pay tribute to this wonderful recording studio complex, built in an old Con-Ed building in what was then the no-go area of Hell’s Kitchen.

Jimmy Bralower, (Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Billy Joel, Hall and Oates) and Geoff Emerick (Beatles including Sgt Pepper)

Since then, Avatar Studios has created three decades of the most popular music ever made. In fact, it would be almost impossible for you NOT to have at least one record in your collection made at Avatar.

The legendary Al Kooper with “Late Show With David Letterman” drummer, Anton Fig

To hear just a tiny selection of these hits – please go to our iMix on iTunes.

“If only those walls could talk.”

Photo credit: Alison Hartwell

For more information about Avatar Studios, please go to:

Avatar Studios Official Website

The concept for Live From Abbey Road is very simple, nonetheless, it revolutionises the way in which music television is viewed. The focus is to capture great, live, musical performances and to place musicians in the world’s most inspiring and creative environment in which to do so, Abbey Road.

Music television has evolved into more of a ’spotlight’ for celebrities and our aim is to shift that attention and make music more personal. Live From Abbey Road gives artists with the assurance and freedom they need in order to perform to their very best. Our priority is to capture great performances.

Following on from the Channel 4 broadcast, Fremantle Home Entertainment bring you Live from ABBEY ROAD the DVD – the ultimate 2 disc DVD, released in the UK on 15th October, 2007, capturing some of the greatest artists performing live in one of the most famous studios in the world, each track hand-picked for inclusion to make this a must have DVD for any music fan.

It presents a diverse array of artists from a variety of genres, from newcomers to legends including David Gilmour, Iron Maiden, Primal Scream, Natasha Bedingfield, Massive Attack and Gipsy Kings to name but a few.

Artists included are:

Disc One Features: John Mayer; Corinne Bailey Rae; Dr John; Craig David; Damien Rice; LeAnn Rimes; Josh Groban; Natasha Bedingfield ; Wynton Marsalis; Nerina Pallot; Jamiroquai; Ray LaMontagne; Gipsy Kings; Norah Jones.

Disc Two Features: David Gilmour; Richard Ashcroft; Massive Attack; The Good, The Bad And The Queen; The Kooks; Gnarls Barkley; The Goo-Goo Dolls; Iron Maiden; Kasabian; Primal Scream; The Zutons; Dave Mathews; Amos Lee.

The 2 disc DVD also comes crammed with a good helping of Special features such as extended interviews (much of which is previously unseen and exclusive to this release), behind the scenes, picture galleries and more to ensure fans get the full ‘live’ Abbey Road experience, all in glorious 5.1 audio.

Some of the most renowned artists in the world performing in the ultimate music studio – Live From ABBEY ROAD is a unique chance to capture all these acts which you would be mad to miss out on!

Run Time: 165 minutes and Approx 65 minutes Extras

*For more information including footage with performances by Muse, The Feeling, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol and more, go to:

Live From Abbey Road Official Website

King Creosote recently played at the Carling Academy in Oxford and I was fortunate enough to have been there. The band put on a great show – one not to be missed if you get the chance.

There’s quite an endearing quality about King Creosote aka Kenny Anderson. His voice has a rustic, folk feel that can be so soothing – and if I close my eyes and listen to one of his slower songs, like “And The Racket They Made” (a duet written by fellow Fence artist HMS Ginafore) I’m easily taken in by the gentle tranquility of his music. But don’t get me wrong – he can rock out, too – live and in the studio.

The songs that I’ve heard off of the latest King Creosote release, ‘Bombshell’ are excellent and “You’ve No Clue Do You” is an absolute stand-out track.

Being fairly new to his music, I’m at the stage now where I want everyone to know about King Creosote – and as for his long time fans – aren’t they the lucky ones to have known of his music for so long?

Anderson is not only a talented musician and songwriter, he’s also the founder of Fence Records, a collective of musicians, artists and craftsfolk based in Fife, Scotland.

King Creosote interview with BandWeblogs.com
By: Jenny May

Jenny May: How did you come up with the name King Creosote?

King Creosote: I used to make records with a band called “Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra”, but always had to record a lot of my songs on my own. I wanted to put out these recordings on my own label Fence, so then I needed something to go on the fence. That’s the creosote part. I wrote down king creosote, and immediately liked the juxtaposition of the regal and the carcinogenic.

Which instrument to do you prefer to play the most?

At the minute it’s my new electric guitar. The love affair will no doubt end soon and I’ll go crawling back to my accordion wife.

When did you form your first band?

1985, as a fresher at Edinburgh uni. I hooked up with a school chum called Ralph. His sister got pregnant, so we named the band “Uncle Ralph”. We only played maybe 3 live shows in 4 years, but recorded a lot.

What is your favorite song to play live?

This tour it is a song called “Cockle Shell”. I get to play the electric guitar thru a fuzz pedal. It’s ace.

Do you ever play with your brother Gordon’s band, The Aliens (one of my favorite bands, by the way)?

I’ve leapt up on stage with them once or twice. I was asked to go with them to tour the U.S. but our dates clashed. Boo.

I really enjoyed your show in Oxford. Just curious – you mentioned that you went out on the lash the night before your gig. Do you remember where you went?

The White Horse, one other, the King’s Arms.

When on tour, what do you do in your spare time? What is a typical day like for you from when you wake up to when you go to sleep?

I’m driving the tour bus most days. So, brace yourself for the excitement … Get up, shower, eat at little chef (25% discount when you stay Travelodge), repack van, switch on tom tom (renamed tam tam, or sat gav after our drummer’s efforts at map reading), find venue, unload van, soundcheck, go eat/do interview/radio session, get nervous, play gig, load up van, drive to Travelodge.

What is your favourite tipple?

Fruit beers (cherry), red wine n coke, Cuba libre. On rotation.

Do you enjoy the process of filming your music videos?

No. Yes. No. I feel very self conscious, and hate it if they choose public places to film in. I’m always surprised when I look a lot more at ease than I felt at the time. I much enjoy the end result, sometimes.

How do you like living in Fife, Scotland?

I love Fife, at least, the north east part. Every season. I belong here, and the place has so far treated me like I belong.

How often do you record music?

In my spare time in between touring and accounting. I try to get a fortnight’s worth twice a year outside of recording “official” albums.

Where do you record?

At home in my attic. I have a digital 8 track and various keyboards, stringed instruments and machines. All my songs start on a dictaphone then end up on my 8 track.

What is your daily routine like in the recording studio?

I record late at night, when my daughter is at school, or during school hours if i’ve gotten all my other work done. I get a drum loop, shove on a guitar or accordion and a vocal, then I look around to see what I feel like playing next. Move on as soon as it’s mixed down, listen to it back in a day or so.

Do your record sales affect your desire to tour?

Nope, but as they go up, tours get more dates added.

How long have you been playing the accordion? Who inspired you to play?

I’ve played accordion for 33 years. My dad plays, I’m the eldest son, so he passed the baton on to me.

Who are your biggest influences in music?

Mark Hollis, Morrissey, Michael Stipe, my brothers Gordon and Iain, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, the Fence Collective. Early 80s stuff.

Who are the musicians playing with you in the current line-up of King Creosote? How long have they been playing with you?

Pictish trail, guitar, 4 years?
Onthefly, drums, 4 or 5 years on and off.
Uncle Beesly, bass, 13 years in different bands.

Where is your favorite place to play music?

Small rooms or halls.

I don’t say this very often to people that I interview (actually I’ve never said it), but if you ever need a backing singer for a recording or two just let me know!

Will do.

Thank you!

My pleasure!!

KC

For the latest tour dates, music and information go to:

King Creosote Official Website
King Creosote on Myspace

It seems easier than ever before for less talented acts to get record deals. Don’t get me wrong when I bring up talent. There are quite a few new bands cropping up that I really like, but that’s just a small percentage of what’s actually being released each month.

The reason this thought even crossed my mind is because I’ve been listening to the recently released Jeff Buckley CD ‘So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley’. Now Jeff Buckley had talent. His voice, songwriting and musicianship were superb. He could probably get more out of his 4 track recorder than some engineers can produce in a flash studio.

His voice does to me what not many people today are able to do. He gives me shivers up and down my spine. His father was singer Tim Buckley and his voice does the same thing to me. The musician-like term for this is ‘feel’. I can ‘feel’ Jeff Buckley’s music.

Jeff Buckley’s mother Mary Guibert and Columbia Records have together released ‘So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley’. The release comes at the 10th anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s tragic death at the age of 30 in Memphis, Tennessee on May 29th, 1997. When listening to the CD, it’s hard to believe that he had only made one full album to his “exacting standards” – which was his 1994 studio debut ‘Grace’.

There are some songs off of ‘So Real: Songs from Jeff Buckley’ that stand out for me though. “Last Goodbye”, “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over”, “Forget Her”, “Dream Brother”, “So Real”, “Mojo Pin”, “Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin”, “Grace” and especially, his version of “Hallelujah” (written by Leonard Cohen). Remember those shivers I was talking about? “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley is up there as one of my all time favorite songs – and I was happy to see it in amongst the fourteen tracks on the album, which includes originals, covers and live performances.

Of course, I know that there are some massive Jeff Buckley fans out there who love EVERYTHING that he did. Nothing wrong with that! Actually, I love the whole album and if you have any interest in Jeff Buckley and his music, then I highly recommend going out and purchasing this gem of a CD. The CD cover photo is gorgeous and the booklet is informative. A perfect addition to anyone’s music collection – especially if you’re just discovering Jeff Buckley and his music.

Watch Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah video (From YouTube: Live on a french TV show called Nulle Part Ailleurs shot in 1996 on channel 4):

Track Listing:

1. Last Goodbye (Grace)
2. Lover, You Should’ve Come Over (Grace)
3. Forget Her (Grace Legacy Edition)
4. Eternal Life (Road Version) (Grace Legacy Edition)
5. Dream Brother (Alternate Take) (Grace Legacy Edition)
6. The Sky Is A Landfill (Sketches)
7. Everybody Here Wants You (Sketches)
8. So Real (Live and Acoustic in Japan – previously only available as a Promo single)
9. Mojo Pin (Live at Sin-e)
10. Vancouver (Sketches)
11. Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin (Live at Sin-e)
12. Grace (Grace)
13. Hallelujah (Grace)
14. I Know It’s Over (Previously unreleased Smith’s cover from Sony Studios Radio session 1995)

More information: Jeff Buckley

By: Jenny May

Slow but steady progress is the status quo. Anyway the now anticipated delays have already begun to cause a greater anticipation for the album’s actual release. Producer Mark Meisel is being amazingly flexible as he works out the production details with artist Tim Young.

“It’s a real gift,” Young says, “to work with a producer who is so totally supportive of the material and open to other ideas.” It’s this collaboration between Meisel and Young that is inspiring ‘The Cost’ to the next level.

Mark Meisel and Bob Becker are the brain trust behind Counterclockwise Music. Their decision to work with Tim Young Band has been a major highlight of 2007. Counterclockwise Music is based in Detroit, Michigan and may be found on the web at Counterclockwisemusic.net

Further updates to Tim Young Band may be found at timrocksweb.com

This time around involves a more complex production. Basic tracks were recorded at Pac 3 studios in Detroit, Michigan. Pac 3 studios are best well known for recording Motown artists and Aretha Franklin during the seventies. The awesome production company handling the actual recordings is Counterclockwise Music. Producer Mark Meisel and engineer, mixer Bob Becker were able to guide TYB into the groove of each song; locating it’s heart and soul along the way.

Tim Young Band live is a duo. Native New Yorker, Sand Edwards, is the drummer that propels the energy and rhythm behind Tim’s powerful amplified acoustic guitar playing. At Pac 3 Tim and Sand were joined by session bassist Dave Leeds who really helped to define the flavor of each tune. Dave works regularly for Counterclockwise.

Producer Mark Meisel is currently adding lead guitars and keyboards to the basic tracks. Lead vocals were recorded at Mark’s home studio, The Lily Pad. Production should be complete by early summer so the band is looking forward to a probable July 2007 release date.

As things develop and I’m able to post some new tracks, announcement will be made here at Band Weblogs and elsewhere around the web of where to check out this great new music.

Tim Young began releasing CDs in 2002 with No Stranger a collection of nine original instrumentals self produced and recorded at his home studio. For his debut solo singer/songwriter release Red, Tim chose to record with producer George Grant at Manhattan’s Planet Grey Studios. Recording began in 2004 and in March of 2005 Red was released. Red is sixteen original songs that explore the emotional landscape of an artist dealing with the way of life in twenty-first century NYC, USA.

The Cost takes some similar themes but develops them in a more complex way. Complex insights. The musical context is what Tim likes to call Rock n Roll. Guitar, bass and drums put together in a classic kind of way. Enveloping not only Rock but Country and Folk influences as well woven into the fabric of Rock n Roll.

No Stranger and Red are both available for purchase at CD Baby. No Stranger at cdbaby.com/timyoung and Red at cdbaby.com/timyoung2.

Other band news and updates are posted at www.timrocksweb.com. There one can stream the audio and there’s also a video of Tim Young performing at the Bellevue Bar on ninth avenue in Hell’s Kitchen.

At present the steady gig for Tim Young Band is once a month at Vintage Bar & Restaurant located at ninth avenue and fifty-first street in Manhattan. Next up is Mother’s Day, May 13th, 10pm to Midnight.

After a year of writing and pre-production, the band is ready to deliver songs that are their strongest to date. Lead singer Brad Cox has teamed up with amazing co-writers for this album, including Billy Falcon (Bon Jovi, Trace Adkins) and Sarah Kelly (2006 Grammy nominee for “Best Rock, Rap Gospel Album”), among others.

In 2006, Grayson Manor released their album “Children of the Manor”, produced by Robert Carranza (Jack Johnson, Beck), in Europe on Bad Reputation Records and in the U.S. on Cassette Recordings. In 2003, they released the self-produced “Back on the Rock” EP and spent the next couple of years on the road. Combined, the two discs have sold over 20,000 copies worldwide.

The new album will not only feature some special guest musicians, but is also a fresh new sound for the band. Grayson Manor plans to release the album in early 2008.

Grayson Manor demos for the upcoming album can be streamed at www.myspace.com/graysonmanor, while studio updates, videos, and more information can be found at www.graysonmanorrocks.com, where a new website will be launched soon to coincide with the making of the record.

Thom York and the boys keep their blog updated fairly frequently with interesting links to other websites, extremely random thoughts and recently there have been posts and photos of them recording in the studio.

Check out Dead Air Space.
http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/

- Jenny May

I was never a huge Dire Straits fan. That is, not until Mark Knopfler came out with his solo album, Golden Heart in 1996. His voice, his guitar playing and tone and the songs are beautiful and that’s when it hit me. Oddly enough, since his solo work I have now come around full circle. I think the reason I was a bit turned off from Dire Straits was probably due to the overplayed “Money For Nothing” back in the 80s and 90s. I was always a fan of their “Romeo and Juliet”, though. It’s such a classic.

England has become more of a second home to Las Vegas based band The Killers, and the British seem to have taken to them. It’s great to see an American band getting along so well with the public here. They just won two Brit Awards for Best International Group and Best International Album and now The Killers are set to headline the opening night of the 2007 Glastonbury festival which is quite the responsibility. Hopefully the love will last!

Watch the videos for “Romeo and Juliet” by Dire Straits and The Killers!

The Killers Official Website
The Killers on Myspace

Mark Knopfler’s Official Website

By: Jenny May

The Document Room boasts an impressive client list. Gwen Stefani, Rick Rubin, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a few of the well-known acts that have recorded and produced at the facilities.

Krescent 4 has released three intense, hard-hitting EPs over the years, and the band expects to record their most groundbreaking work to date. This is the long-awaited next phase of their career that fans have been anticipating.

K4 has spent the last several months working on writing and putting together tracks for an album release in early 2007. Thus far, the tracks “Devil” and “Satellite” are in the development stages and its looking like the band will be taking a different direction for their first full-length album. Fans of the band should be excited and anticipate a big year coming in 2007. Also for the behind-the-scenes K4 has www.musicplustv.com that will be filming during the recording process and they will have exclusive footage, material, and interviews from the band available on their web site.

Look for the all-out rock-metal of K4 just around the corner – it promises to be one hell of a ride. Visit the band’s site for updates, downloads, podcasts of the recording sessions, and more.

Contact: Kris Keller
Company: Krescent4 Ltd.
Address: PO BOX 8171 Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Tel: 734-231-4968
Fax: 734-665-7854
Email
Website
My Space Link

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“This CD literally came up from the ashes of disaster,” said Gigi MacKenzie. After having recorded the entire CD, Gigi received a call one night that the studio, which contained all of the masters for the CD and all her instruments, had been destroyed by a fire. “The whole record was gone” said the vocalist. Yet, she still managed to “resurrect” it in seven months. “You can quit or push on. We chose to keep going.”

This venturesome vocalist has recorded and performed all over the world with many celebrity artists including Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Nigel Olssen, Davey Johnstone, Dave Koz, Karla Bonoff, David Crosby, Gladys Knight, Marilyn & Alan Bergman, Tom Scott, Sandy West and many more.

You have no doubt heard Gigi on CDs, the radio, TV and in the movies. Having been a top LA studio singer for over ten years, Gigi has recorded national commercials for IBM, Ford and Toyota, major movie soundtracks including “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and the main theme to the hit police drama series, “Nash Bridges.”

“Amazing, sultry, sexy and cool”, best describes Gigi MacKenzie’s debut album Skylark on the Morpheus Music label. An extremely talented multi-instrumentalist, the singer has a smooth magnetic style with a sultry alto range that has been compared to Sade and the late great Karen Carpenter.

Gigi brings a fresh style to beautiful jazz standards in this electrifying solo album. Her captivating sound that melds sprinkles of R&B with a good dose of modern jazz makes these songs breathe new life. Not only is her voice deliciously magnetic with a huge range, but a sense of intimacy unfolds as she accompanies herself on guitar, drums and percussion as well. These imaginative arrangements will make it feel as if you’re hearing these great songs for the very first time.

Skylark is a loving tribute to her mother, the late Gisele MacKenzie, star of both stage and screen. She attained huge popularity in the 1950’s when she appeared in such hit TV shows as: “The Gisele MacKenzie Show,” “Your Hit Parade” and as a regular on “The Jack Benny Show.” Gisele, a major recording artist on Capitol and RCA/Victor Records enjoyed a #1 hit of her own called “Hard to Get” in 1957.

As a tribute to her mother Gigi has, through the power of technology, produced a wonderful heart-warming duet with her mother (a la Natalie and Nat King Cole) from a recording Gisele made in 1956 of “Stranger in Paradise.”

Gigi’s voice soars with a collection of fifteen fresh arrangements of her favorite standards and one original. “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Cry Me a River,” “The Shadow of Your Smile,” “Good Morning Heartache,” “Embraceable You” highlights the eclectic stylings of this dynamic performer. Listeners will enjoy Gigi’s charming duet with Christopher Cross on “That’s All.” In the tradition of the jazz standards of yesterday, “Let’s Make a Go of It” was written and arranged by Gigi.

Skylark will be released on December 12th, 2006 and will be available at online retailers and music stores across the United States. Please visit the official Gigi MacKenzie website at www.gigimackenzie.com for more information.