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robert drasnin's voodoo 2 |
Digitiki
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Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 749
From: L.A. baby!
|  Posted: 2007-02-17 12:12 am Permalink
Voodoo 2 Recording Underway!
Prerecording setup was started today, Friday, Feb 17th for the recording of Robert Drasnin's "Voodoo 2". The special guests will arrive tomorrow (Saturday) to watch the actuall recording. They will sit in the room where the performance is being recorded. Here are a few pix of those involved setting up the mics in the room where Voodoo 2 will be recorded.
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RevBambooBen
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Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7197
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2007-02-17 7:46 pm Permalink
This looks all sooo cool.
Hope ya'll have an enchanting eve tonight!!!
History in the making?!?
Rock on!
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The Granite Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 02, 2005
Posts: 784
From: Nashua, NH
| Posted: 2007-02-18 12:39 am Permalink
What an exciting event!
Truly history in the making.
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Digitiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 749
From: L.A. baby!
| Posted: 2007-02-18 09:13 am Permalink
Definately a historic recording! I've got some photos from the 1st day of recording and some great video of the first day. I'll get those posted in the next few days. The setup was Friday, the recordings are Saturday & Sunday, maybe Monday. Robert Drasnin has hired some of of LA's top session players to perform on this.
I can say this, yesterday (Saturday 17th), we got to hear 4 of the Voodoo 2 compositions. I have to say, they are wonderful. Drasnin has kept a clear connection to the first Voodoo recording with these songs. Judging from the first set of tunes recorded, you should be able to play Voodoo and Voodoo 2 back to back without loosing any continuity. I'm about to head over for th Sunday session! I'll keep everyone posted.
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ikitnrev
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jul 27, 2002
Posts: 1298
From: D.C. / Virginia
| Posted: 2007-02-18 09:28 am Permalink
Thanks for sharing the studio pictures - I wish I could be there.
I am curious - with the audience sitting in the same room as the musicians, what efforts are made to prevent incidental noises (coughing, the rustlings of clothing, ice tinkling in the cocktails!, etc) from appearing on the recording? Are coughers banished from the studio? Are those noises removed by studio technicians afterwards?
Are the audience members all wearing tiki shirts? How about the musicians?
Vern
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Humuhumu
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: Aug 22, 2002
Posts: 3536
From: San Francisco
| Posted: 2007-02-18 10:51 am Permalink
We got to sit in on the first day of recording, and are about to head back for day two. I feel so honored to be able to sit in on something like this -- can you imagine? A new Exotica album by one of the original greats? It's surreal and wonderful.
Those of us in the studio know to be totally quiet and still. No movin' allowed, and definitely no coughing. If we want to be more wiggly, we have the option of going over to the control booth area or the hall just outside, but so far everyone has opted to stay with the musicians.
Some of the spectators are dressed up tiki, and the vocalist was wearing a very lovely dress and lei yesterday. The music, though, needs no help setting the mood -- it's fantastic stuff. Mr. Drasnin has been so kind to let us join him for this, and it's a thrill to see him so happy about this album.
The musicians are top notch -- sometimes they have to practice just a short bit of a song, and all dozen or so of them are able to just pick right up in the middle of a song, just like dropping a needle on a record. It's neat to be able to see visually exactly where the harp comes in, and where the cello comes in. There's a lot of working out details before each song gets recorded -- the musicians work out their questions about minor details about the song, and some practice run-throughs are done, and then several takes of recording are done.
The amount of coordinating that has to happen is astounding... not really surprising, I guess, but still awe-inspiring to see it actually happening. So many musicians are playing on this -- flute, cello, harp, Mr. Drasin's sax, vocals, piano, synthesizer, marimba, vibraphone, drums, bass, and two guys handling various other percussion -- and each one of them has several different ways they can approach playing it, and it all has to get worked out so that it sounds good together, and stays true to Mr. Drasnin's vision, which means a bit of trial and error. These musicans are seasoned professionals at doing just this sort of work, so it goes pretty quickly. For some of these songs, this is the first time Mr. Drasnin is getting to actually hear them come to life in full orchestral form -- until now, they've lived in his head, and on his sheet music.
You're all going to love this album, and those of you who are going to be at Hukilau will get chills hearing it performed live.
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8252
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2007-02-18 2:51 pm Permalink
I LOVE the first voodoo LP.
when you said Sax, and synthesiser, my jax about hit the floor.
I dont recall much sax and synth in original 50's 60's exotica,
hope that doesnt detract too much.
Im crossing my fingers on this one, and hope its really good.
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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VampiressRN
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: Nov 23, 2006
Posts: 5084
From: Sin City Lincoln Hills (NorCal)
| Posted: 2007-02-18 9:09 pm Permalink
Humu...your post was just wonderful....brought tears to my eyes. How exciting to be there in life to see just exactly when every instrument comes into play and really feel the music live. Pretty exciting for Mr Drasnin too...like you say finally hearing his artistic genius in full regalia. I look forward to hearing more about the recording sessions....and am looking forward to the CD. Music like this helps life have meaning. 
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Digitiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 749
From: L.A. baby!
| Posted: 2007-02-19 8:40 pm Permalink
Humuhumu,
An excellent description of the sessions! By the way - good to see you and Handford at the recording! And for those worried about the instrumentation, I must say, these songs are lush and pure exotica...in the traditional old-school style. One of the most exciting things about witnessing this recording is that it is a REAL old-school exotica - done with acoustic instruments, recorded live. While I must say, I absolutely love the ambiant-chill sounds of newer exotica, this is THE original exotica. I can't repeat this loud enough, those who love the original "Voodoo" will be completely satisfied and fall in love completely with "Voodoo 2". It met and exceeded my expectations while listening to the compositions.
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Digitiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 749
From: L.A. baby!
| Posted: 2007-02-19 9:00 pm Permalink
Pictures of the actual Saturday and Sunday recording sessions!
Robert Drasnin warming up before the session
Marimbas during a take
RD conducting
RD, the vocalist and Voodoo 2 producer Skip Heller
RD on clarinet during a song take
A view from the stage behind the vibes and marimba - Mrs. Drasnin in the back row watching.
Here is a panarama of the entire stage with all the musicians-
Back row from left: percussionists 1 & 2, drums, acoustic bass, piano, synthesiszer, vibes & marimba
front from left: harp, cello, flute (can't really see in this pic) and RD conducting.
RD working through some troublesome parts with the musicians between takes.
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tikibars
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2002
Posts: 2014
From: Aku Hall, Chicago
| Posted: 2007-02-19 11:29 pm Permalink
Just got home from LA!
Mark, Humu, and everyone else, thanks for posting all weekend, and keeping everyone in the loop.
I have tons o' pics that I will post, but I won't be able to get to it until Wednesday.
I'll write up a lil' production diary too, that I will post.
Here are a few cool facts - the marimba player is DJ Bonebrake from the punk band X. The bass player was on all of the 1970s-era Tom Waits albums. The piano player is THE top session player in LA - he has been on countless records and film scores. The synthesizer mentioned above should not be viewed as a sort of techno-electronic-Moog sort fo thing; rather it was used for things like Rhodes piano and for organ types of sounds. And for boo-bams!
The main recording was done Saturday and Sunday. Bob is going to add some extra flute, sax, and clarinet parts this week. Then Bob, Skip, and Phillipe (the engineer) are going to edit and mix. That will take about a week. They'll take a few days off before mixing to clear their heads and approach the mixes with a fresh persepctive. Should be completely done some time next week.
None of the Tc-ers were in the studio late on Saturday when the vocalist returned to do more parts. There is a lyric to the song Morrea Moonbeams. The melody is beautiful. This one is going to slay you guys. Knocked me on my ass hearig it recorded. And Alice Berry, if you're out there, you are going to adore singing this one at Hukilau!
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pablus
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 23, 2003
Posts: 2146
From: www.crazedmugs.com
| Posted: 2007-02-20 05:29 am Permalink
Nice shots and diaries.
Mahalo for posting this landmark event.
You can almost see Drasnin getting younger, photo by photo.
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tikibars
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2002
Posts: 2014
From: Aku Hall, Chicago
| Posted: 2007-02-21 12:16 pm Permalink
Drasnin conducting.
The man.
DJ Bonebrake.
Jim the bass player and Peggy the cellist.
From the control room.
The festively attired Stephanie returned on day 2 for more voals, including Moorean Moonbeams, which has a lyric!
Not sure who these two are...
Anyone know?
Hanford, Humuhumu, Jeff Chenault, and Jeff's dad at the sessions.
"must... update... web... sites...."
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Digitiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 749
From: L.A. baby!
| Posted: 2007-02-22 08:49 am Permalink
It was truly a pleasure to be at the sessions with you all, especially Jeff, James, Humuhumu and Hanford!
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Kenike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 24, 2003
Posts: 1201
From: McKinney, TX
| Posted: 2007-02-22 2:00 pm Permalink
Quote:
| Here are a few cool facts - the marimba player is DJ Bonebrake from the punk band X. |
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DJ Bonebrake on the new Robert Drasnin album...that's just too awesome for words...
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