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.

Katie Todd's NEW Album now totally done!!!

Katie Todd - Hard working music impresario and singer-songwriter recently completed her fourth album "Mumbled Speech" at JoyRide Studio, co-producing her new work with Brian Leach and Blaise Barton. Katie has the recent distinction of sharing the stage with San Francisco Grammy winners "Train" at the 2009 Milwaukee Summerfest in front of 6000+ fans. In previous years, she has shared the stage with Steve Winwood (at the same venue), as well as Jewel, Pete Yorn, The Wall Flowers, Juliana Hatfield, 10,000 Maniacs, Kenny Loggins, and Patti LaBelle. Katie was joined by an impressive entourage of musicians in the creation of her new album, including longtime drummer Mark Cameron, bassists Evan Cantor and Tristan Coscino, Brian Leach on banjo, guitar and accordian, Stephen Wright on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Wayne Blaston on Tuba. Lauded by iTunes.com as having one of the “top buzz bands in the country”, Katie claimed a spot as the website’s “Artist of the Week”, earning over 200,000 downloads of her single “Face Down”. "Mumbled Speech" is Katie's fourth album recorded with Blaise Barton, and we here at JoyRide Studio truly appreciate Katie Todd.

New Bob Dylan CD features 2 songs recorded by Blaise Barton

Bob Dylan's latest record "Tell Tale Signs" was released by Columbia on October 7th and includes 2 songs recorded by Blaise Barton in 1992 at the now utterly extinct Acme Recording in Chicago.

During the 3 week session in summer of '92 Dylan recorded 26 songs for a new album with producer David Bromberg and his band mates. Though the 26 songs eventually were culled down to 15 and mixed by Bromberg and Barton, the album was never released. Now 2 of those songs, Jimmy Roger's "Miss the Mississippi" a lonely song of dislocation, and the traditional "Duncan and Brady", originally published by Carl Sandburg in 1927 appear on "Tell Tale Signs". You can read more details about the '92 Acme session here in excerpts from Clinton Heylin's book,"Bob Dylan- The Recording Sessions 1960-1994". The session was assisted by super-service-assistant Dan White with expert technical backup from whiz kid Paul Smith. Studio owner Jim Rasfeld looked on high from his towering executive glass cage, providing wisdom, support and bongs. Nelson Strange provided um.......well, ....... other things that the band wanted.

Tell Tale Signs features previously unreleased recordings and alternate versions of tracks from sessions which generated some of Bob Dylan's most acclaimed and commercially successful albums from the last two decades, including Time Out Of Mind, Love And Theft, Modern Times and Oh Mercy.

8 Inch Betsy !!!

8 Inch Betsy checked in to JoyRide to mix their first full-length CD, "This Time, Last Time, Every Time" with Brian Leach. They've been compared to bands like, Team Dresch, Slint, Pat Benetar, The Pixies, Social D, Wire, Lagwagon and Green Day. Since July of 2004, the Chicago-based trio has been forging solid ground in the Midwest and across the country with appearances at music festivals such as Estrojam. 2005 & 2007 brought 8 Inch Betsy to the same stage as Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) where they shared the stage with Jucifer, Marnie Stern, & Evil Beaver. Their performance bought them an invitation by Amy Ray to join her for the final leg of her Midwestern tour, exposing them to her dedicated fan base and to coveted, rock venues such as, The Grog Shop, The Blind Pig, and Southgate House. In Sept of 2006, 8 Inch Betsy was voted "Editor's Pick" by Curve magazine. In 2006, they were accepted to play Homo-A-Go-Go Music and Arts Festival - where they graced the stage the same night as bands, Amy Ray, Bitch, The Shondes, Tender Forever and many others.

Meghan Galbraith - Lead Guitar and Vocals
Liz Burke - Bass, Vocals
Sarah McVicker - Drums

Joe Filisko & Eric Noden !!!

Two man crew Filisko and Noden saturated the walls at JoyRide with their huge acoustic sound and a whole new set of exciting original pre-war songs for a new record due out in 2009. Eric Noden also recently recorded his excellent album "All Original" at Joyride featuring Mighty Blue Kings/Del Morrocos bassman Jimmy Sutton, Harmonica wizard Joe Filisko and Memphis fingerstyle master Andy Cohen.

Tribune Critic Greg Kott picks........!!!

THREE out of TEN of Greg Kott's favorite local picks for 2008 came out of JoyRide Studio and frankly, we here at JoyRide could not be more pleased.

Greg's number one pick is Shot Baker's "Take Control". Greg sez, "In the melodic hardcore-punk tradition of Chicago’s mighty Naked Raygun, this quartet delivers straight-up, no-nonsense, guitar-driven anthems that reaffirm and thoroughly reinvigorate the spirit of ’82. (Mastered at JoyRide.)

Next up at #4, Local H "12 Angry Months". Greg comments, "Kanye West wasn’t the first guy with Chicago roots to craft a great album about a bad break-up this year. Scott Lucas beat him to the punch with this gut-wrenching yet cathartic song cycle. Brian St. Clair’s walloping drums insure that any hint of self-pity never intrudes on the rock. (Recording on 4 tracks at JoyRide.)

Next up at #8 is Al Rose "My First Posthumous Release". Greg sez, "Perhaps in a different era, Rose would’ve been a fixture on the North Side folk circuit alongside John Prine and Steve Goodman. As it is, his sharply detailed, often wickedly witty songs easily shift among genre boundaries with luminously orchestrated arrangements. He’s been doing it, and doing it well, for two decades. (Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at JoyRide.)

Greg Kott is the Chicago Tribune music critic and 1/2 of the syndicated radio show "Sound Opinions".

"7 Seconds" re-masters for Life Line Records

If you're a fan of old school hard core punk, then you will appreciate the newly re-mastered Life Line records offering of three classic records by the 80's punk band 7 seconds. Included in this 3 disk vinyl set are "Skin, Brains, and Guts", "Committed For Life", and "Blasts From the Past". The project was managed by LifeLine label owner Joe Reiman with mastering by Blaise Barton.

Albert Cummings live CD charts at #5 on BillBoard

Albert Cummings new live CD "Feels So Good" hits #5 in record sales according to BillBoard's blues chart. In addition, Blueswax E-Zine nominated Albert for artist of the year. The CD was completed in June of 2008 at JoyRide Studio and was produced by Grammy award winning Jim Gaines and mixed and mastered by Blaise Barton.

Magic Slim's "Midnight Blues" hits #8 on BillBoard

Magic Slim's new CD "Midnight Blues" hits #8 in record sales according to BillBoard's blues chart. The CD was completed in June of 2008 at JoyRide Studio and was produced by Nick Moss, recorded by Brian Leach and mixed and mastered by Blaise Barton.

The Tossers master new release for Victory Records

Celtic punk rockers The Tossers checked in to master their 4th release for Victory Records, "On A Fine Spring Evening". The Tossers are Chicago's precursor to LA's Flogging Molly & Boston's Dropkick Murphy's but play their own brand of Irish music loaded with attitude and alcohol, steeped in politics and punk rock. Guitarist Mike Pawula and tin whistler Aaron Duggins were on hand to mix the horse track and boxing SFX. The new CD was recorded by Andy Gerber at Million Yen and mastered by Blaise Barton.

Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials record enters BillBoard chart at #8

Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials new CD "Full Tilt" entered the BillBoard chart at #8 in record sales according to BillBoard's blues chart. The CD was completed in June of 2008 at JoyRide Studio and was produced by Bruce Iglauer and recorded and mixed by Blaise Barton.

Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials new record for Alligator

Lil' Ed Williams and his hard working band The Blues Imperials took time off their busy tour schedule in May to work with producer Bruce Iglauer and engineer Blaise Barton on the new album for Alligator Records. The new CD "Full Tilt" is the follow up to Ed's 2006 release "Rattleshake", also recorded at JoyRide Studio with Bruce and Blaise.

Joining Ed and the Imperials are special guests horns from The Diplomats of Solid Sound, Eddie McKinley and David Basinger, and on piano, Johnny Iguana from Oh My God and Them vs Them. Upon arrival at the studio Johnny proclaimed, "I came here to chew gum and break piano strings, and I'm all out of chewing gum," but fortunately the Steinway held its own, girding itself against the ensuing pummeling assault required to play piano on a Lil' Ed record as well as a man frustrated by lack of gum.

Magic Slim hosts all star musicians on new CD for Blind Pig Records

Blues Master and long time Blind Pig recording artist Magic Slim recently completed his new CD "Midnight Blues" at JoyRide Studio with help from some of Slim's old friends and luminaries including James Cotton, Elvin Bishop, Lonnie Brooks, Lil' Ed Williams, Otis Clay, Gene Barge, and the Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings horn section. The Teardrops Jon McDonald (guitar and vocals) Danny O'Conner (bass) and David Sims,(drums) hammered out the rhythm tracks.

Slim's new album was produced by Nick Moss who in March this year also produced Maury Sochet and the Special 20s CD at JoyRide. Blaise Barton and Brian Leach handled the recording of Slim's CD with mixing and mastering by Blaise Barton. During the recording, Blind Pig Records owner Jerry DelJuidice hovered nearby to offer his wisdom and steady production hand.

Midnight Blues is the latest studio album from Magic Slim and the Teardrops, consistently recognized as foremost practitioners of old-school electric Chicago blues. Slim, seventy years young, is a vibrant as ever, playing and singing with passion and strength.

Legendary Producer Jim Gaines and Albert Cummings at JoyRide

Blues Rock guitarist Albert Cummings and Grammy Award winning producer Jim Gaines checked in for a week in April at JoyRide Studio to mix the live CD they recorded for Albert in front of a very enthusiastic audience at the Colonial Theater in Massachusetts for Blind Pig Records.

This is Albert's 3rd release for Blind Pig and he has received critical acclaim for his previous albums and dynamic live performance.

Jim Gaines is well known for producing, recording and/or mixing such classic hits as Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle" and "Jet Airliner", Stevie Ray Vaughan's Grammy Award winning "In Step", Carlos Santana's 15X platinum "Supernatural" as well as Huey Lewis and the News "I Want A New Drug", "If This Is It", "Heart and Soul", and "The Heart of Rock and Roll".

Of the experience, Blaise noted, "At first I was a little nervous, mixing with such a titan who worked on all these records I've loved since I was in junior high. Jim has such a natural flow and in the end I got a peek at some cool mixing tips from the Ben Kenobi of album mixers."

Michael Burks "Iron Man" hits #4 on BillBoard

Michael Burks new CD "Iron Man" charts at #4 in record sales according to BillBoard's blues chart. The CD was completed in January of 2008 at JoyRide Studio and was produced by Bruce Iglauer and recorded and mixed by Blaise Barton.

Michael Burks new record for Alligator

Michael Burks and his hard working band mates pulled their tour van up to JoyRide studio late summer of 2007 to lay down tracks for a new Alligator release. After an evening of setup, Michael, Don, Popcorn, and Wayne all dug in deep to hammer together a most forceful CD. Michael and producer Bruce Iglauer made the decision to use Michael's touring band for this record instead of the Memphis studio aces who supported him on his last two records for Alligator.

During the tracking, the decision was made to record Michael's vocals LIVE in the control room. So we moved in his guitars and the Neumann vocal mic and passed out headphones to all present. When the pizza arrived the first night, we discovered there was a big problem. "The doorbell in the control room was getting into Michael's vocals and spoiling the take," says engineer Blaise Barton. "Bruce made the suggestion that if I were to disconnect the doorbell, I would win the no-bell prize". So far, Barton has not been nominated for any kind of prize involving a door bell or any other type of buzzer.

Styx Chuck Panazzo lays tracks for Dylan Rice single

Styx bass player Chuck Panazzo checked in at JoyRide to lay tracks for the single "Faces of Victory",
a song composed by Dylan Rice featured and performed at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Gay Games at Wrigley field. Dylan and Chuck performed the song live with an ensemble of Chicago musicians to an audience of tens of thousands. While at the studio, Chuck regaled us with stories of playing and touring with Styx which you can read about yourself in his new autobiography "The Grand Illusion: Love, Lies, and My Life with Styx".