May 1, 2006 12:00 PM, Compiled by Heather Johnson

SOUTHEAST

Almost Blue continues tracking at G&G Studios (Atlanta) with Noel Goff engineering…Silent Sound (Atlanta) welcomed songwriter/producer Sean Garrett, in producing R&B artist Joe with engineers Dru Castro and Phil Tan, and artist JoJo with engineer Paul Foley.

SOUTHWEST

Producer/rapper Trapp (of Deff Trapp Records) recorded his solo debut, Keep It Gangsta, at SugarHill Recording Studios (Houston) with engineer James Garlington. Guitarist James Burton tracked for Louisiana band Honky Tonk Heroes' new album; Andy Bradley engineered…Al Jarreau drummer Mark Simmons came to Tierra Studios (Houston) to produce a new gospel album; and ad agency Fogarty Klein Monroe came in to track “Gotta Have Heart,” mixed and engineered by Mario Cardenas and Glenn Wheeler for a health-care company commercial…Producer/arranger Roger “Duke” Hatfield teamed with singer B.J. Thomas at Artisan Recording Studios (Dallas) to work on Thomas' new release with engineer Rick Rooney.

MIDWEST

Producer Matt Kirkwold and engineer James Harley worked on upcoming tracks for Epic artist Quietdrive and Chicago band Lucky Boys Confusion at The Boiler Room and Mastermix Studios (Minneapolis)…Skylyne Studios (Akron, OH) hosted producer Jim Ballard, who was in working on a Northeast Ohio compilation CD tribute to singer/songwriter John Bassette. He'll stick around to produce albums for songwriters Charlie Wiener and Jon Mosey.

NORTHEAST

Mobb Deep mixed his song “It's Alright,” featuring 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige, with producer Havoc and engineer Steve Sola at Sony Music Studios (NYC). 50 Cent stuck around to remix “Best Friends” with Sola…Producer/engineer George Walker Petit mixed the Paul Carlon Octet at Skyline Studios (NYC) with engineer Steve Geuting…Jeff Golub and Kirk Whalum came to Avatar (NYC) to track with producer Philippe Saisse and engineer Roy Hendrickson. Regina Carter did the same with engineer Joe Ferla. Jim Anderson mixed Swiss Jazz Orchestra with producer George Robert; Anderson also mixed tracks for pianist D.D. Jackson. Walter Becker tracked at Avatar with engineer Jay Messina. Jazz legend Sonny Rollins recorded tracks with producer Clifton Anderson and engineer Richie Corsello. Roberta Flack overdubbed with producer Jerry Barnes and engineer Hendrickson, and producer Don Gilmore continued Dashboard Confessional overdubs with engineer Mark Kiczula. In the mastering room, Fred Kevorkian worked on projects for The Walkmen, moe. and Swati, as well as pop/rock band Lucky Day's debut EP…Singer/songwriter Gretchen Witt recorded her new CD at Headroom Digital Audio (NYC). Guitarist Marcus Wolf and Steven I. Rosenfeld co-produced; Alan Varner engineered.

NORTHWEST

Studio D Recording (Sausalito, CA) welcomed Carlos Santana, in to work on the forthcoming Carlos Santana/Wayne Shorter live CD/DVD. Studio owner/engineer Joel Jaffe remixed the project in 5.1. Bonnie Raitt then locked out the studio to rehearse for her current tour and track three songs for an iTunes release with Jaffe engineering. Eddie Money worked on his new album in Studio D with Randy Forrester and Jaffe co-producing, and Jaffe engineering. Maria Muldaur tracked her new album, which is co-produced by Jaffe and Muldaur. Local bands Oxbow and Turmoil also came by…South of San Francisco in Menlo Park, Calif., The Annex welcomed prog-metal band Queensryche, in recording their new album with producer/engineer Jason Slater. Ronnie James Dio came in to record vocals. Two Gallants also tracked a couple of tunes: one for their new album, one for iTunes…Kung Fu Bakery (Portland, OR) hosted sessions for a Ray Charles tribute recording to benefit Oregon Food Bank. Tim Ellis and Patrick Lamb produced…Nettleingham Audio (Vancouver, WA) engineer Kevin Nettleingham mastered releases for Portland area artists RyeHollow, New Shilling, Darren Johnson, Jon Garcia, Brian Ward, Drats!!!, Quinn Peck, Conduit, Exit 7 and Phil and Gayle Neuman, as well as The Starlings.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Threshold Mastering (L.A.) welcomed The Subdudes, in mastering their Keb Mo — produced album with Stephen Marsh. Marsh also mastered composer Mark Isham's score for the Wayne Kramer — directed film Running Scared…Big Brother & The Holding Company guitarist Sam Andrew came to Buffalo Sound Studio (Van Nuys) to work on material with producer Ted Perlman for the group's forthcoming CD. Members of the current Beach Boys lineup added background vocals to a new project produced by Ron Dante; Perlman arranged, programmed and engineered. Perlman also produced a new CD from Zara Phillips and a duet with R&B singers Deniece Williams and Howard Hewett, featuring George Duke on piano and engineer Joel Diamond at the board…Total Access Recording (Redondo Beach) reports that producer Paul Leary and engineer Wyn Davis recorded eight songs for Lava/Atlantic band Pepper's new CD.

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