Various Artists
A Compilation Of Jazz-Pop Instrumentals
ON THE EDGES is a collection
of instrumental tracks compo sed and recorded between 1981
and 1996 by musicians who recorded in the A & R Recording
Studio in Rancho Mirage, CA. I opened the studio in 1978
and was looking for an engineer when Nick Mandola stopped
by and said he would like to sign on . Nick had been sleeping
in a one room studio in Yucca Valley, CA and turned out
to be not only a gifted technician but a talented composer,
pianist and guitarist. He had recently returned from Paris
where he studied piano at the Paris Conservatory.
Nick Mandola compositions,tracks
1,3, 4, and 7, were composed and recorded from 1981 to
1985. Nick and I co-wrote songs including Train Thru Thailand,
featuring Jay Thomas on trombone and bass trumpet. Jay’s
new CD Dawnsong, was recorded in his studio in San Antonio.
His CD Up And Runnin is available on this site.
Kirby Hamilton was driving
along Highway 111 and happened to see the A & R Studio
near the corner of Bob Hope Drive. He came into the studio
and told me that he was available to do studio work as
a drummer, vibes, keyboards and vocals. After hearing Kirby
do a number on vibes I called Nick Mandola and asked him
to come over to the studio and meet Kirby. After that first
meeting Nick and Kirby worked together on many projects
as writers and producers including the album Rise Above,
by artist Chante, talented vocalist and songwriter. Let
Me Fly Away With You and Here With You, were recorded in
1981. They wrote and produced the songs in Kirby’s
album RIP-LIFE, released on Accent Records in 1982. Kirby
now lives in Goldsboro, NC where he is recording a new
CD to be released in June 2008. His company IGB-Entertainment,
deals with Artist Development, Nightclub Management, Special
Events and Concerts. Visit his web site at www.sonicbids.com/phunkplayah
Wayne Boyer–Composer–Arranger–Producer–Artist.
I first met Wayne in a Palm Springs club when he was playing
drums for pianist and vocalist, Robin Miller. Robin had
written lyrics to Hurt And All Alone and asked me if I
would compose the music. Wayne liked the music and wanted
to do an instrumental recording of the song . He played
drums and trumpet and produced the track with Nick Mandola
. In 1984 Wayne wrote and recorded UnoVez Mas, and we co-wrote
Till We Meet which Wayne arranged, produced and recorded
. Tracks 11, 12, 13 and 14 were recorded in Spirit One
studio. Wayne now has his own studio in Resesda, CA and
resides in Thousand Oaks, CA. Visit his web site at www.wayneboyer.com
John Shipley wrote and
recorded Crisis Clinic in 1996 in his studio in Rancho
Mirage, CA. I discovered the track while listening to a
collection that had been put on DAT in the A & R Studio.
I contacted Shipley who agreed that the track would be
appropriate as a closing number for ON THE EDGES. John
now lives in Carson City, Nevada where he is in demand
as a keyboard artist, composer, producer and conductor.
In 1976, when I was still in my Hollywood studio, Shipley
came into the studio to record some demos for a client.
I was impressed by his talent but we never kept in touch.
In Rancho Mirage I was not aware that John lived only a
few minutes from the studio until one day when he showed
up to engineer a session. We renewed relationship and from
that time until sometime in 1996 I called on him to assist
me as an engineer and producer. We co-wrote the songs Escoba
and Dancing Waters in 1998 . Escoba is in John Shipley’s
first CD, Dance Of The Jacaranda Tree, and Dancing Waters
is in his latest CD, Shipped. Both CDs were released on
Shipley’s label WZP records and are available on
his web site www.shipleymusic.com.
Some of the well known
names that used the A & R Studio include, Jack Jones,
Andy Williams, Phil Harris, Buddy
Merrill, Richard Christopher,
Ginger Rogers, Kaye Ballard and Martin Denny.
Special thanks to Roman Oles, musician and technical consultant,
who was employed as technician at KESQ in Palm Springs,
CA when we opened the A & R Studio. Roman helped set
the studio up and from 1978 until we closed in 1998 he
was instrumental in maintaining the studio equipment and
advising us on technical issues. Roman’s consulting
business is based in Cathedral City, CA.
Scott Seely, Accent Records
