Sep 1, 2007 12:00 PM, Compiled by Barbara Schultz

SWEDIEN VISITS PHAT PLANET

Bruce Swedien recorded and mixed Lane Thaw's debut CD, Tokyo Belle. Several studios were used, including Phat Planet (Orlando, FL), where the above photo was taken. Swedien was assisted by engineers Aaron Gandia and Ed Kraut. The finished release was then mastered by Bernie Grundman.

SOUTHEAST

Blackbird Studio (Nashville) news: John McBride has acquired a second API Legacy Plus console, reported to be the largest board of its kind, with 96 channels, 192 inputs and 200 faders. The new console has been installed in its large Studio D…At Catalyst Recording (Charlotte, NC), studio owner Rob Tavaglione produced and engineered new releases for Stella Kidd, Epycentre and Tricia Lyons, and mastered some unreleased recordings from ‘80s band Paragon…Mark Capps recently completed restoring and remastering Conway Twitty's Merry Twismas album (originally released in 1983) at Soundshop Studios (Nashville)…At Bluefield Mastering (Raleigh, NC), Jeff Carroll mastered albums for Vision of a Dying World, Schooner and hip hop artist PJay…Dave Harris of Studio B Mastering (Charlotte, NC) worked on a new John Vanderslice CD, Emerald City, for Barsuk Records.

NORTHEAST

The Foo Fighters mixed a new album, Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace at Electric Lady Studios (NYC) with producer Gil Norton and engineer Rich Costey. Other recent projects at Electric Lady: Steve Earle tracking Washington Square Serenade with producer John King and engineer Josh Wilbur; Alter Bridge mixing Blackbird with engineer Brian Sperber and producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette; and Puscifer tracking vocals with producer Maynard James Keenan and engineer Matt Mitchell…In Avatar Studios (NYC), film director Jonathan Demme continued recording source music for a documentary about President Jimmy Carter for Real Peace Productions. Gary Chester recorded and mixed the music, assisted by Chad Lupo and David Tolomei. Other recent sessions at Avatar include the East Village Opera Company recording in Studio A with producers Kevin Killen and Peter Kieswalter, engineers Killen and Anthony Ruotolo, and assistant Rick Kwan; and artist/producer Lisa Sokolov tracking in Studio B with engineer Joe Barbaria and assistant Justin Gerrish.

NORTHWEST

At Hyde Street's (San Francisco) Studio C, producer/engineer Justin Phelps completed album projects for Naomi and the Courteous Rudeboys, Slough Feg, Michael Joy and The Blacks. Phelps also recorded and mixed on sessions with the Mars Volta, Jolie Holland and the San Francisco Youth Symphony.

SOUTHWEST

Texas country artist Charlie Robison is tracking a new album at Premium Recording Services (Austin), with Robison producing and Kevin Szymanski engineering.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Avenged Sevenfold tracked/overdubbed a self-produced album at Eldorado Studios (Burbank). Dave Schiffman and Fred Archambault engineered. Drum tracks were recorded at Sunset Sound…Speaking of Sunset Sound, numerous sessions there include Metallica editing their new album with producer Rick Rubin, engineer Greg Fidelman and assistant Clifton Allen; Powderfinger tracking and mixing with producer Rob Schnapf, engineer Doug Boehm and assistant Graham Hope; Human Nature tracking with producer Paul Wiltshire, engineer Phil Threllfall and Hope assisting; and Café Tacuba recording with producer/engineer Tony Paluso and assistant Hope…New Hollywood facility BETA Studio hosted sessions with the latest incarnation of The Temptations; their new album, Back to Front, was produced and engineered by Steve Harvey. Georg van Handel assisted…Punk band Orange released Escape From L.A. this month on Hellcat Records. The album was produced by Phil Jaurigui and recorded by Robin Holden at Swinghouse Studios (Hollywood). The mix engineer was Warren Huart…Wyn David is in Total Access Recording (Redondo Beach) mixing a surround DVD of a performance by Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio fronting) recorded in January at Radio City Music Hall.

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Please send session news to bschultz@mixonline.com.