GRAMMY NOMINATION ALERT for "Chicago Blues: A Living History"

Chicago Blues: A Living History, a double album produced by Larry Skoller and Co-Producer Matthew Skoller has been nominated for a Grammy for "Best Traditional Blues Album" for 2009. The CD
also received the Blues Music Award nomination for "Best Album 2009" and "Best Traditional Album 2009" and has gone on to win the Blues Blast Awards for "Best Traditional Album 2009". L'Académie du Jazz de France awarded the record "Best Blues Album 2009". Blues Wax e-zine's Art Tipaldi and Richard Ludmerer independently listed the album as top pick for 2009. Mix Magazine favorably reviewed the CD in the cool spins article.

Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch and Lurrie Bell have come together to celebrate the genre from its earliest days through the present. The 21 track, double-CD pays tribute to the genre's creators, its rich history, its current practitioners, and its singular place in the (r)evolution of 20th century American music.

The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered at JoyRide Studio by Blaise Barton with additional recording by Brian Leach. Additional musicians on the project include drummer Kenny Smith, guitarist Billy Flynn, bassist Felton Cruise, keyboards by Johnny Iguana, with special guests Carlos Johnson and Michael Avery. Vote early and vote often!

Click here for a review of the album by Mix Magazine.

Blaise Barton elected president of EARS, the Engineering And Recording Society of Chicago

Besides being an audio geek at his day job, Blaise has been elected president of EARS, the Engineering And Recording Society of Chicago. EARS is celebrating its 23rd year in existence and appropriately, EARS was started by none other than Mike Rasfeld, whom Blaise assisted and mentored under during EARS early inception around 1986. Long-term survival has often been elusive in Chicago's music scene for all but a few. E.A.R.S. has succeeded in becoming the oldest independent group of its kind dedicated to supporting and advancing the craft of audio production. Recording engineers, studio owners, musicians, students and pro-audio representatives gather monthly to further the recording industry through discussion and sharing.EARS also supports business opportunities by networking within the community. The members’ passion and spirit for the recording arts and sound reinforcement, as well as strong camaraderie, continue to be important components of the E.A.R.S. experience.

It seems fitting that Blaise got his first break when he was hired at ACME Recording as an assistant engineer for E.A.R.S. Founder, Mike Rasfeld. He attended some of the earliest EARS meetings. Over the years his career grew from being assistant engineer, to chief engineer at ACME Recording, to owning and operating his own studio business, JoyRide Studio.

If you are a recording engineer, studio owner, musician, student, aficionado, enthusiast, complete amateur, manufacturer, service tech, live sound, or pro-audio rep and are curious about EARS, you are invited to attend a meeting and see what its all about. If you live outside of Chicago, Illinois you can join the organization as an associate member.