Here are just some of the highlights: Kevin McElroy is a Portland ME-based fiddler, mandolinist, guitarist and vocalist whose music sits firmly in the Irish Tradition. I’ve had a lot of fun playing music with Kevin up at Blue in Portland, and it was delight to work with him on his first vocal-centered CD. Kevin tours with the great Irish …
January 2023
I’ve been very quiet on the Posts lately, which around here means only one thing: the studio’s been busy! Lots of good music, and I’m only finding time today to write because it’s a snow day and Concord NH’s Lynda Nelson and I had to postpone a vocal session for her third CD. This is shaping up to be a …
Summer 2021 Update
Lots of activity these past few months: Concord NH’s Lynda Nelson, whose first CD Forever in a Song we produced in Nashville, has completed the recording of a second Nashville-style CD right here at MPM Studio New England! We enlisted two excellent Boston-based musicians, Jesse Williams on bass and Grant Smith on drums to join me on acoustic guitar for …
Late Fall Update: London Bluegrass, Celtic Women, Nashville singer/songwriters.
A very busy Fall season at MPM Studio: an intense session this past weekend with absolutely lovely Irish traditional tunes and songs from Celtic Woman stars Máiréad Nesbitt (fiddle), Lynn Hilary (vocals) and Eimar McGoewn (Flute, Tin Whistle), with composer/producer Tim Janis. This week, popular British bluegrass trio Lunch Special, fresh from a summer full of European festival performances (including the legendary …
NH’s Lynda Nelson ‘Forever in a Song’: New England to Nashville and back!
What a blast making this music was! When Lynda Nelson of Concord NH came to my studio to start working on recordings of her songs, it became immediately apparent that putting her music in the hands of the legendary ‘Nashville Cats’ would be the way to go. I knew Lynda’s exuberant positivity would bring out the best in Music City’s …
Josephine County- Celtic/American fusion
Those who know me and my eclectic and far-ranging musical tastes know that there’s usually one bridge I rarely cross: the fusion of idioms and styles. All of that conservatism is shattered with this new project from 4 of my absolute favorite musicians/singers: Hanz Araki, Colleen Raney, Matt Shipman and Erica Brown. I must say that I’ve always found that …
Liz and Dan Faiella
These are two of the finest young New England Celtic musicians I know, and it’s been an absolute delight to work with them on what was essentially a ‘live in the studio’ project. Liz’s fiddle tone posed absolutely no challenges to the microphone, Dan’s guitar is so good it almost makes this aging guitar player a little mad! …
Cathy Wilson: Celtic-flavored folk/country from Tennessee
My latest trip to Nashville yielded some more beautiful tracks from Cookeville Tennessee singer-songwriter Cathy Wilson, with further overdubs and mixing back here in (cooler?-not so much, lately) Portsmouth. Bill Verdier on fiddle, John Mock on mando/banjo/whistle/drum, Jeff Taylor this time back on his first instrument, piano.
Latest Nashville sessions
March 16-19 found me in Nashville, producing and playing acoustic guitar on three days of recording. Song demos with various songwriters using my trusty team of Nashville A-list musicians, including Chris Leuzinger (Garth Brooks and just about everyone else), Gary Prim (Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, John Fogerty, etc.), Wayne Killius (Blake Shelton, Kenny Rogers, Luke Bryan, etc.). And, continued …
Catching up, May 2017
Here’s a problem with a blog-type website: I get so busy making music with all the wonderful people who come through my studio doors that I have no time to chronicle it all. I promise I’ll catch up soon with more formal postings with pics and clips, but here’s a brief look at what’s been happening: Carrigan and Blair are …
Lindsay Straw: Traditional Folk with fresh expertise!
Superb instrumental skills on guitar and bouzouki, a keen ear for repertoire selection, new takes on centuries-old stories and a clear, sparkling voice make this project everything a folk audience can hope for. Music from the past has a bright future! Lindsay‘s thoughtful preparation prior to the recording dates ensured an efficient use of time, keeping costs low and energy levels …
Chris Vaughan: Portsmouth’s ‘Great Scot’!
One of the first projects that came to me at Mill Pond Music about five years ago involved my adding a few guitar parts to and mixing the Dave Hallowell-produced CD by Portsmouth’s Scot-about-town, bon vivant Chris Vaughan. There’s now a new collection of his songs, ‘Americana 1974’. The production is in a folk-country vein, yours truly playing all the instruments, with bluesy …
Erica Brown and Matt Shipman: Darlin’ Corey
A couple more great musicians from Portland’s happening music scene, Matt and Erica, are releasing this month a collection of duo recordings featuring their plaintive, evocative vocals, Erica’s wonderful old-timey, country and celtic fiddle, Matt’s rich and nimble guitar, bouzouki and banjo. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Matt when I’ve subbed with High Range, and am a huge fan …
Carrigan & Blair
Full disclosure: I know Mike Blair and Steve Carrigan well, having played many a gig and concert with them as a part of Portsmouth’s Maritime/Celtic Folk ensemble Great Bay Sailor. Great fun it was to blast through some of the songs we love on this new collection entitled O Chroi. Thanks, Mike for giving me free rein to do all the instrumental …
Cathy Wilson: Celtic Folk in Cookeville TN
Out of the blue, while waiting for a plane at the Nashville airport, I got a call from Cathy. She had found the Mill Pond Music Studio website on line, had seen all the Celtic Tribute Series CDs I’d produced and had read about all the wonderful Celtic acts that have found their way to my workspace, but had just realized I …
Jim’s Performance Schedule
See Jim’s Performance Schedule Below: Contact Jim for your entertainment needs at mpmstudionh@gmail.com -Celtic/Irish music, Old-timey and Bluegrass, Gypsy/Dixieland/Roots Jazz, Traditional/Classic Country, 60s Folk, Klezmer and other ethnic specialties. -Wedding receptions and ceremonies, house parties, events venues, themed events, background music and more. All instrumental or vocal/instrumental. Formal, casual or in-between. -I bring 45 years’ experience, playing for Governors, Presidents and …