Through luck and good timing, I was able to document Jack Johnson and his band with engineer Robert Carranza recording “Sleep Through the Static,” which has nabbed the top spot in the record charts for two weeks in a row. This week Jack’s on the cover of Rolling Stone and he soon headlines both the Coachella and Bonaroo Festivals.

If you didn’t have a chance to pick up the February issue of Mix magazine, you can view my two-page IN Studio photo essay by clicking here, or by clicking on “music photos and stories” in the navbar above

The December issues of Keyboard magazine (US) and Sound & Recording (Japan) feature my photos and interview with Kitaro, the Grammy® and Golden Globe® winning composer and musician who has been an influential figure in world music for nearly three decades. Kitaro’s life began in the Toyohashi Prefecture of central Japan. He was raised in a Buddhist/Shinto culture with special reverence for the importance of nature.

On September 11, 2001, Kitaro was enroute to Japan from America when his plane was diverted to Honolulu. During his 5-day delay, he was inspired to alter his career plans and embark on a musical mission of peace: a series of albums called “The Sacred Journey of Ku-kai.” More than 1,100 years ago, Ku-kai embarked on a pilgrimage to the 88 temples on the Japanese island of Shikoku. Kitaro is re-tracing that trek and recording the sacred temple bells at each of the temples.

If you didn’t have a chance to pick up copies of these magazines, you can view PDF’s by clicking here: English Japanese.

The November, 2007 issue of Keyboard magazine features my portrait and interview with Austria’s favorite son, Peter Wolf. Prolific composer, producer, songwriter and arranger, Wolf is responsible for an incredible 75 million in record sales and recently received the highest honors given in his native Austria, the equivalent of being knighted in England. Classically trained, at the age of 16 he won the soloist prize at the Austrian Jazz Festival. In his early 20’s, he moved to America and soon joined Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

As writer and/or producer Wolf has eight #1 songs and has produced, arranged and/or written with Jefferson Starship, the Commodores, Wang Chung, Go West, Heart, Patti Labelle, Santana, and Natalie Cole among numerous others. Wolf is also renowned for his scores for film and television and now is the leader of his 13-piece band PowerHaus, which features some of the most successful musicians working today. If you didn’t get a chance to pick up a copy of Keyboard, you can view a PDF of the story by clicking here.

Ozomatli is a celebration waiting to happen - a fiery brew of
jazz-funk, Latin salsa, and urban hip-hop. Basic tracks for their
album, "Don't Mess With the Dragon," were recorded in Ocean Way's
Studio B with engineer Robert Carranza and KC Porter, who wrote and
co-produced with the band. The project was completed at KC Porter's
private studio, Worldbeat Recording, in the Santa Monica Mountains,
and then mixed by Serban Ghenea in Virginia. This photo essay was
originally published in Mix magazine, February, 2007. To see the PDF, click here.

Nearly 40 years ago, John Lennon invited me to my first recording session. It was at Abbey Road and the song was "I Am The Walrus." This year, Sean Lennon invited me to join him at LA's Sound Factory for the title track of his new album, "Friendly Fire." Shortly before the album and accompanying film were released, we spoke about his new life's work. This article was originally published in Flaunt magazine, October, 2006. To see the PDF, click here.

The year 2006 shaped up to be a big one for Dweezil Zappa. He released his first solo album since Automatic (2000), he completely remodeled the control room of the renowned Zappa studio (Utility Muffin Research Kitchen), and he launched a full scale tour of entirely Frank Zappa compositions, called "Zappa Plays Zappa." This article was originally published in the August, 2006 issue of Electronic Musician magazine and is reprinted with permission of the publisher. To see the PDF, click here.

Austrian-born Paul Haslinger has secured a distinctive reputation for composing film scores which incorporate both robust classical elements and compelling electronica. This article was originally published in the March, 2006 issue of Electronic Musician magazine and is reprinted with permission of the publisher. To see the PDF, click here.

Join me now for a conversation with producer Jon Brion about Kanye West's album Late Registration.

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Join me now for a recording session with producer John Alagia and artist Liz Phair

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Join me now for a recording session for David Crosby and Graham Nash's first duo album in 26 years, with musician/co-producer Russell Kunkel on drums, Lee Sklar on bass, Jeff Pevar on guitar, James Raymond on piano, and engineer/producer Nathaniel Kunkel.

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Join me now for a recording session with Melissa Etheridge, producer/engineer
Ross Hogarth, guitarist Blues Saraceno, bassist Paul Bushnell, and drummer
Brian MacLeod. This is how good music comes to life...naturally.

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