Our head engineer and studio manager, Glenn Wheeler, delivers the goods for our 3rd mixtape of the Tierra Sessions Series.

Glenn’s thoughts about his mixtape:

This being my first mix tape for our site, I approached it from a different direction that my dj Spettro. He is just great. Not only are we lucky to be able to work with him daily, but so are the artists that he comes in contact with here at Tierra.

I have been engineering and producing records for many years. Over the years fortunately, I have been exposed to many different genres and artists along the way. My mix tape is all over the place in terms of artists and styles, but each one of these songs has a deep and personal effect on me. Let me take a moment and tell you about them.

1. Midnight at the Oasis – That has to be the best summer song ever written. It has such a warm tonal texture. The sounds were recorded in such a natural way for the day. I just can’t listen to this song without a smile on my face by the time the chorus hits.Buy at iTunes
2. Mr. Blue Sky – I was introduced to E.L.O. by my uncle Bud when I was about 10 years old. He had the most amazing stereo system for the time and the lights, knobs and VU meters intrigued me. He would put vinyl records on one after the other when we would come to his house for family gatherings. E.L.O. were in my opinion great pioneers in music. Their use of synthesizers and small orchestral elements was fascinating to me and still is.Buy at iTunes
3. You are the Sunshine of my life – This song was recorded at a time where the instruments and sound you heard during the time were all played by people. There was only aanalog tape to record on and there was no Pro Tools. The foirst time I ever heard this song was in my house on aa Saturday morning. I think I was 7 and my dad was singing it with the radio at the top of his lungs in the kitchen with my older sister. We lost her last year and I put this on and go right back to that day. I love Stevie Wonder he is an amazing artist and I love music.Buy at iTunes
4. All or Nothing at All – This is one of my favorite songs. The players that were put together for this album are some of the best jazz musicians in the world. I love the way the record was produced. All of the instruments sound just like they should.
5. Summer Breeze – What an amazing cut by Al Jarreau and George Benson. This disc was cut and mixed for 5.1 surround. The sounds are pristine. The two guys are incredible. You can’t listen to this song and not want to dance around the house. It makes me feel fine.Buy at iTunes
6. Floatin’ – This was a song written by Houston Jazz great Bernie Hatch. Larry Slezak recorded this song for his album “No Worries”. This was such a thrill for me to record this record. The album is loaded with top flight Houston talent. Floatin’ takes the listener through many different harmonic moods. I take a different path myself every time I hear it.Buy at iTunes
7. The Look Of Love – What can I say about this song except Diana Krall. Let me add Al Schmitt to that as well. The production on this album is amazing. The way that Al records instruments and mixes records is fascinating to me. Everything he does is just beautiful. He has a way of placing the listener in the middle of the music. As I listen to mixes he has done, I feel as if I can reach out and touch each musician. Production work like this makes me want to figure out better ways to record and mix.Buy at iTunes
8. Cambiando Camas – A great song by Thomas Hulten. Thomas is a Texas Jazz Master on trombone. Thomas has the amazing ability to play anything. I cut this album for Thomas last year and Dr. Robert Linder produced. The Album “Slide Side” features Houston musicians and was done here at Tierra Studios. As a trombone player myself, this was especially close to my heart. There is so much soul in his music. Thanks Thomas for such a great time.Buy at iTunes
9. Put Your Hand In Mine – This is just a great song. Sung by Tracy Byrd. Let correct that and say told by Tracy. He probably tells a story better than anyone I know. As I listen to this song, I feel like I am right there with my son. Not many songs make me teary-eyed, but this sure does. This is a great song. On so many levels, I am sure that we can all say we have been there. Thank you Tracy.But at iTunes
10. The Lady In My Life – From the “Thiller” album. This is a beautiful song. Micheal Jackson was so versatile. He seemed to put all of the raw emotion of the song out there for the listener. The tones and the quality of the recording are top notch. Engineer Bruce Swedien recorded this album in the analog domain. The entire record has a rich smooth quality. I never get tired of listening to this record.Buy at iTunes
11. Send Her My Love – I know……. Let me just say that I am a huge Journey fan. I really love the production work. The song has so much depth and strength all the way across the spectrum. Thank you Bob Clearmountain for an amazing mix.Buy at iTunes
12. The Logical Song – I have to thank Uncle Bud for this song. I think I owe him a new record. I wore this song out. Supertramp is such an organic group. They talk about everything in their music. Nothing is off limits. I find something new musically every time I hear it.Buy at iTunes
13. SyncronicityII – I want to just say thank you to the Lancaster’s. They had MTV. This was the first music video I ever saw. I became a police fan that day. A band where the bass player is the lead singer. How cool is that.Buy at iTunes
14. Easy – A timeless classic from the Commodores. It just makes me feel like everything is going to be alright. Lionel Ritchie has a great voice, but the band behind him is just as fine. I am a fan of great songs and great sounds.Buy at iTunes

Our head engineer, Glenn Wheeler, has started a video series on SSL Duality Tips & Tricks. The Solid State Logic Duality is an analogue mixing console, but acts like a digital console.  I call it the “Maserati” because:

1.  It sounds so amazing, I can hardly hide my excitement

2.  It’s sexier than a black Porsche convertible with a brunette model inside

3.  It makes me want to make big-room, dirty techno

4.  I have a photo of it on my vision board (I also have a photo of the Maserati, HA)

Check out our SSL Duality Tips & Tricks Vol. 1.  Feel free to ask any questions you might have on this topic of routing efx through the SSL Duality.

HOUSTON TROMBONE PLAYER THOMAS HULTÉN
DEBUTS ON CD “SLIDE SIDE,”
TO BE RELEASED BY TIERRA STUDIOS ON OCTOBER 19, 2009

Trombonist Thomas Hultén debuts with Slide Side, a collection of ten original tunes and three jazz standards, set for release by Houston’s Tierra Studios on October 19, 2009.

“To be able to realize one’s musical visions with full artistic freedom is every musician’s dream,” says Hultén. “I’m really excited about this album, and I feel that we’ve accomplished our goal: world-class jazz, written and produced in Houston, Texas.”

Hultén is joined on the recording by his Houston-based ensemble consisting of pianist Pamela York, guitarist Mike Nase, bassist David Craig, and Joel Fulgham on drums. Slide Side is augmented by local jazz greats such as Dennis Dotson, former Woody Herman trumpeter and Warren Sneed, Director of Jazz Studies at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

“You can really hear the years of experience these musicians have when you listen to the songs,” says engineer Glenn Wheeler. “Getting to record the talent this group brought to the studio was truly a pleasure.”

Slide Side also features orchestral backing for Hultén and his ensemble on several selections. Strings were arranged by Daniel Kramlich and conducted by producer Dr. Robert Linder.

“When Thomas sat down at the piano and played me a few phrases from a number of his original tunes, I knew he had something special to say–through his musicianship,” says Dr. Linder. I thought, “WOW! What a combination–a fabulous trombonist that can write and arrange great tunes! ”

Thomas Hultén started playing trombone at the age of ten in the local Salvation Army Band in his hometown of Katrineholm, Sweden. After completing his military service with the Swedish Army Band in 1984, he studied trombone performance at the Gothenburg Conservatory with Ingemar Roos as his primary teacher. After graduating, he won a position with the Bohus Big Band, one of Sweden’s two professional big bands.

Since moving to Houston in 1997, he has performed with Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, Patti Austin, Johnny Mathis, Michael Bolton, the Moody Blues, the Temptations, the Four Tops and the O’Jays. He performs regularly with the Houston Symphony, the Houston Ballet, Theatre under the Stars, and the Houston Grand Opera, of which he was recently named principle trombonist.

Slide Side is the latest album in a series of jazz releases that features prominent Houston jazz musicians, produced by Tierra Studios. The first CD in the series is No Worries, featuring saxophonist Larry Slezak, available on iTunes and at http://www.larryslezak.com.

For more information, contact Larry Murphy at 713-686-1953 or lmurphy@tierrastudios.com.

The CD release party for Thomas Hultén’s album Slide Side was an amazing success. Many people came together at Tierra Studios from 6:00 pm until almost 10:00 pm on Monday, October 19th. There was music, mingling, food, and a few drinks floating around, as we celebrated the second release in Tierra Studios’ jazz series. We would like to extend a very special thanks to Kathryn Sherman, Jim Sherman, Traey Hatch, Glenn Wheeler, Dr. Robert Linder, Thomas Hultén, Dan Kramlich, Lana Smith, Andrea Sedeno, all the FMI staff, and everyone else that was involved in this project from start to finish. We couldn’t have done it without each and everyone of you!!!!

Soon we will release a new jazz album from Thomas Hultén. It is the second in a series for Tierra Records. It was a thrill to work with Thomas on this album. In the coming days, I will share some highlights and stories from the recording, editing, mixing, and mastering sessions. Stay tuned. Feel free to ask questions and make comments as we go. This should be fun for all of us.

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