Mindfulness in the Recording Studio

BY KYLE MICHAEL NICOLAIDES

Evelyn Glennie: "Sound can be the most subtle thing, but the body does need to slow down in order to connect with it."

BY IAN BRENNAN, THE COLLECTION

Experimental and classically-trained percussionist Evelyn Glennie has released almost 50 albums and collaborated with the likes of Björk, Mark Knopfler [Tape Op #97], Fred Frith, Bela Fleck, Bobby McFerrin, and fellow Scot, filmmaker Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire). Evelyn became deaf at the age of 12 and she is currently the only deaf artist known to have ever won a Grammy – which she has done twice, as well as having been nominated three other times since 1988. She also received Britain's Polar Music Prize in 2015, and the Leonardo da Vinci International Award in 1987. Amongst other honors, she has been awarded the title Dame by the Order of the British Empire (the female counterpart to Knighthood). Ms. Glennie was the focus of the 2004 documentary feature, Touch the Sound, and even appeared on an episode of Sesame Street. The author of two books (Good Vibrations and Listen World!), Glennie's stated mission is to "teach the world to listen."

Julie Last: The Technical With The Emotional

BY JULIE LAST

With a start at New York City's Record Plant in the mid-'70s, Julie Last continued with her career at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles. Now living in Woodstock, NY, she runs her own Cold Brook Productions. Along the way she worked on sessions for Talking Heads, Cheap Trick, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Lou Reed, Brian Eno [ Tape Op #85], Joni Mitchell, and Rickie Lee Jones.

Michael League: Just Keep Cooking...

BY LARRY CRANE

As the leading force behind the popular instrumental group Snarky Puppy, bassist/producer/composer Michael League has plenty on his plate simply by keeping up with the band's prolific output. Then throw in a record label, a festival, and producing records for artists such as the late David Crosby and the amazing Susana Baca [Tape Op #32]. How does he do all this? We caught up with Michael as he was wandering a desert in Spain where he has his studio [Estudi Vint] on a rare "day off" to find out more about his methods, as well as Snarky Puppy's fantastic Grammy-winning album, Empire Central, which was recorded live in front of a studio audience over eight nights and featured their "musical godfather," the late keyboardist Bernard Wright.