Lately - Recording

Been busy in these parts (I know - redundant, just about all you here from me lately, but true).

Working through a TON of post-production work, including masters of the MusicNow festival.  So amazing to say the least, as you can see from my look of enthusiasm below.

Fan girl?  Mmm, perhaps.  Still can't get over that weekend.  Reminds me why I choose to be in a creative field with the likes of these genius minds.  Truly inspiring. (Yes, Isaac.  You are brilliant.  Thanks for being you and crazily enthused about music).

Amongst the album projects, subscription recordings and broadcasts - I peeled away some time to go to my home town, the Lou, to hang with family and good, amazingly talented friends.  I am continually amazed to hear and see the work my colleagues are doing in St. Louis.  An inspiring and humbling visit.  

And yep! - dorks.  Although, I have to admit - I was participating but had to peel away to snag the pic.  Love you guys!

And I got to catch up briefly with this gent.  Barry is the reason I am in this industry to begin with (yes, I blame you!).  I tried to quit after Audio I and he threatened to hunt me down and tie me to the Audio II chair.  I was going to do this whether I like it or not 'because you have the ears dammit, you just need to listen like an engineer AND a musician!'.  

Miss this guy and was so so happy to see him.  He has no idea how much his teaching has meant to me through the years.  Truly a mentor (and you too Paul.  Pan West suckaz!).

Back to catching up on masters, producing broadcasts, editing/mixing American Originals and LumenSessions.  Material coming soon!

PS - Oh! And hanging with this very cool wee man.  All signed up for camps this summer - Ballet (Peter Pan!!), Rock Climbing, the Zoo and swim lessons!  Woot!

11/52

'A portrait a week of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015'

This week was a tough to pick between.  I love the shot of Soren in front of the hall, but his look of utter determination takes the cake.  His will is so strong.  It's inspiring.  This 4 year old on his two wheel bike - he'd have it no other way.

Around Here - Bucket List

Ah!  Bucket list moment today.  I will try not to fan girl here, because really this is about a professional dream come true.

Since the beginning of time... really - since becoming an audio engineer and working in the classical industry, I have hoped one day to work on a show with a favorite band.  Like - Metallica S&M style - with a Symphony, get it?  If not, look it up.  

I've been in Cincinnati now for 8.5 years.  Yep! Count 'em.  8.5 quick years (when you record every subscription concert, commercial records, the Opera and countless other acts in town - time flies).  Point is - I've been rocking out to some of my favorite groups for years thinking 'this would orchestrate beautifully!' or 'Music Hall would be jam packed if they played with this band!'.  You get the idea. 

Well folks - it's happened.  After 9 years of festival making and building relationships with strong repertoire, Bryce Dessner has brought the National into Music Hall and enveloped them with Louis Langrée and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for the 10th annual Music Now Festival.  

And yes, I am recording it for broadcast and archive.  With the RIO 3224 in all it's cat5 glory, my Yamaha and Seqouia.  It's going down.  Bucket List wish.  Thank you Mr. Dessner, Matt, Bryan, Ben, Scott, Nico (Muhly - Mozart of our time), Kyle and the CSO.

*Saturday is equally delicious.  Sufjan Stevens performs with Nico Muhly and Bryce Dessner - Planetarium.  All sorts of amazing ridiculousness!!!! 

10/52

'A portrait a week of my children, once a week, every week, in 2015'

Yep.  Drinking soup.  I wish I would have gotten the stuffing of the face with Kale.  Priceless.  Dinner started with 'I don't like this soup! I don't like carrots! I only like meatballs! I don't like Kale!' And ended like this.  So strong willed, I love it!

The soup is a Paleo Polish Soup recipe that's become a staple around the house.  So much flavor and SO good!

Paleo Polish Soup
1. Cook and stir onion in olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Add chorizo and continue cooking, stirring frequently, for another 3 minutes.
2. Add celery and carrots; continue stirring and cooking until vegetables have softened slightly, about 3 minutes. Add cumin, paprika, turmeric, kosher salt, ground black pepper, saffron threads, and garlic. Cook and stir until garlic is fragrant and slightly soft, 3 more minutes.
3. Add sweet potatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until sweet potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Add kale and cook until vegetables are soft and the kale is wilted and cooked through, about 10 more minutes.
4. Stir in lemon juice; adjust salt and ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with harissa and parsley.

Ingredients
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 pound Spanish chorizo, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pinch saffron threads
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 32 ounces chicken broth
• 4 cups lacinato (dinosaur) kale - washed, stemmed, and torn into pieces
• 1 lemon, juiced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pinch harissa, or to taste(optional)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, or to taste(optional)