Pop, World, Classical and Film Music Worlds Collide At Avatar
Tori Amos, Joshua Bell, Angélique Kidjo and Fito y Fitipaldis have all recorded at Avatar Studios (NYC) recently. Amos recorded in Studio C with longtime producer Marcel van Limbeek and engineer Mark Hawley. Amos’ upcoming record, Midwinter Graces, is due out in November on Universal Republic Records.
Violinist Joshua Bell worked on an upcoming record in Studio A with Regina Spektor, and producers David Kahne and Steven Epstein, with Todd Whitelock engineering. Kahne has a studio at Avatar, and is one of several resident producers making up Avatar’s in-house creative community. Other residents include Thwak! Music, KBV Records, Fred Kevorkian Mastering and film score engineer/mixer, Lawrence Manchester.
According to studio manager, Tino Passante, Avatar’s actually seen a substantial increase in bookings for film-related sessions this year. He reports: “In the last 10 months we’ve worked on film scores for Cadillac Records, Another Harvest Moon, the Kronos Quartet-scored Laughter, Taking Woodstock, Where the Wild Things Are and many others.”
Most recently, composer Paul Cantelon recorded music for the film Betty Anne Waters in Studio C, with engineer Gary Chester, assisted by Rick Kwan & Fernando Lodeiro.
Meanwhile, it’s been Christmastime in Studio A, with WNET recording and shooting an Andrea Bocelli Christmas Special featuring Mary J. Blige. David Foster produced these sessions, with Roy Hendrickson engineering.
Angélique Kidjo worked on an upcoming release at Avatar, which she produced with Jean Hebrail. Kidjo recorded in Studio G with Roy Hargrove, and mixed in Studio B, with Russ Elevado engineering.
Spanish band Fito y Fitipaldis also recorded and mixed in Studio G with producer Carlos Raya and producer/engineer Joe Blaney.