House of Scottish Blues

June 17th, 2014 § Comments Off on House of Scottish Blues § permalink

Terry McDermott, who we have always known, is the VOICE, stopped in our town for a show last Friday, while on tour with the fantastic Miggs!
They played at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip, with Terry opening the show with John Luzzi on guitar! Fortunately we had the super talented DZR to keep us on the straight and narrow!

Terry is graciously going to sing a song for the Meninos Do Morumbi project for Music is Hope Foundation!

 

John Luzzi of Miggs, with Terry McDermott, performing at HOB, West Hollywood

2014 PBS SoCal. Gala

May 26th, 2014 § Comments Off on 2014 PBS SoCal. Gala § permalink

J.T. & Friends provided the music for an evening of dancing at  the PBS Gala in Orange County last weekend.

Peter Asher was the honored guest, and special performer. He brought priceless stories and photographs, and played his hits, some produced by John Burgess, from his days with Peter and Gordon, and from his time at Apple Records.

Peter Asher with J.T. & Friends at the 2014 PBS So Cal Gala

“Putting on the Ritz” raised over one million dollars for public television programming in Southern California.

I was the guest of leader, and drummer, John Tu, who provided his orchestra for the gala, and much much more!

John Tu and Richard Martinez during soundcheck at the 2014 PBS So Cal Gala.

John Jones and John Tu at the PBS So Cal Gala 2014

All Systems on Summertime!

May 26th, 2014 § Comments Off on All Systems on Summertime! § permalink

Final touches to the Tommy Vicari mix of the Meninos & Friends single featuring Julian Lennon at LAFX were handled ably by Spencer Guerra this past weekend.

Spencer Guerra after the session at LAFX for Meninos

Mixing Meninos & Friends

May 23rd, 2014 § Comments Off on Mixing Meninos & Friends § permalink

In a brilliant attempt at getting the music out of the box, an afternoon was spent last week with Tommy Vicari at LAFX Studio in North Hollywood, mixing the next Meninos & Friends single for Music is Hope Foundation, through the studio’s beautiful API console, with it’s Neve Flying Faders.

Tommy Vicari and John Jones at the API at LAFX in North Hollywood

Tommy and Spencer at LAFX mixing Meninos!

Social Media Explained

May 5th, 2014 § Comments Off on Social Media Explained § permalink

I don’t know who came up with this…

Social Media Explained

 

My Grammy Week started at the Village Studios…

January 26th, 2014 § Comments Off on My Grammy Week started at the Village Studios… § permalink

The 7th Annual Producers & Engineers Wing Grammy celebration at the Village Studios honoring Neil Young was a special night.

Neil Young on stage in the ballroom at the Village Studios

I shot this short clip of the introductory part of Neil’s speech to show the atmosphere in the ballroom. It was fantastic!

And then Dave Mathews came out and played a couple of Neil’s songs.

And here is one of the traditional photos many of us take at these events.

John Jones, Frank Oglethorpe, Neil Dorfsman, Elliot Scheiner, Steve Churchyard at the Village Studios

 

Julian in the house!

November 27th, 2013 § Comments Off on Julian in the house! § permalink

By the grace of all things good and thankful, Mr Julian Lennon paid a swift, serious, soulful, sweet, and wonderful, visit, to East Gate, near Sherman Junction, Los Angeles, today, and laid some tracks for the Music is Hope Foundation project for Meninos do Morumbi, of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

John Jones and Julian Lennon after the session

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fred Mandel in the house

August 14th, 2013 § Comments Off on Fred Mandel in the house § permalink

I’m flying on a painted pony! Fred Mandel was over last Saturday to add his musical magic to our Music is Hope project for Meninos Do Morumbi.

Fred Mandel & John Jones near Sherman Junction, Los Angeles.

Fred is a brilliant professional who plays organ, piano, guitar, sings, writes songs, arranges & produces, and has worked with legendary classics of the 70’s and 80’s such as Alice Cooper, Queen, Elton JohnCheap Trick, Pink Floyd, Anthrax, and Supertramp.

We grew up in the same St Andrews neighborhood of Toronto, a part of York Mills. For my friends and I, Fred was our neighborhood blueprint for a career in music! I tried to see every concert he played in Toronto that didn’t need an ID to get in. And then we lost touch for a few years until we met in the elevator at AIR Studios on Oxford Street, when Fred was in the studio working with Elton John on Reg Strikes Back.

Here is a great interview with Fred Mandel!

One of my favourites, Domenic Troiano, had Fred Mandel and Steve Ferrone recording together at Automated Sound Studio, New York, on Dom’s awesome Burnin’ At The Stake album in 1977.

Julian and Meninos

June 25th, 2013 § Comments Off on Julian and Meninos § permalink

Julian Lennon made time yesterday to go through the songs we are working on for the Meninos Do Morumbi & Friends Project for Music is Hope Foundation.

He posted this story on Facebook about the project.

JL and JJ on a June afternoon

Klaatu Dee!

May 16th, 2013 § Comments Off on Klaatu Dee! § permalink

This past week the one and only Dee Long has kindly laid some rocking guitar tracks for the upcoming Meninos & Friends album. Thanks Dee!

I bought the iTunes Klaatu combo album today. 3:47 EST and Hope album! Sweet!

Gort on La Brea in Los Angeles 2009