NEWS UPDATE: April 8, 2004

New JAZZOOO CD released!

The collaborative project recorded by Dan Richards and The Listening Sessions of composer
Doug Robinson and his jazz trio, JAZZOOO, has culminated in a stunning collection of recordings
and material on the new JAZZOOO CD, Two Days In November.


Click CD cover to order!

Two preview tracks from the CD are available in 320 bitrate MP3 format coded with iTunes.
NY Blues.mp3 @ 320 bitrate. 17.1 MB.
LizBarber-2.mp3 @ 320 bitrate 16.1MB.

LizBarber © 2003 Jazzooo Productions
NY Blues © 2003 Jazzooo Productions

Doug Robinson, Piano
Ken Dow, Bass
Duncan Moore, Drums

Recorded by Dan Richards
Mixed and Produced by Doug Robinson

Your comments are welcomed at "The Listening Sessions Meets Jazzooo" topic at Studio Forums.

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The Listening Sessions Meets Jazzooo

Doug Robinson - Dan Richards

In a unique east coast/west coast cross-country collaboration, Dan Richards and Doug "Jazzooo" Robinson join forces to create a new CD of original music.

THE IDEA: Team up an east coast-based recording engineer with a well-rehearsed west coast-based jazz trio of exceptional musicians in a private project studio and record over the course of two days — and see what happens.

These recordings are a combination of efforts from Doug's trio, JAZZOOO, The Listening Sessions, Digital Pro Sound and various manufacturers including Acoustic Sciences, A Designs Audio, ADK Microphones, Azola Basses, Earthworks Audio Products, Extreme Isolation Headphones, The John Hardy Company, Millennia Media, Red5 Audio and Studio Projects.

The main recording sessions take place November 8th and 9th, 2003 in Robinson's San Diego studio.

THE MUSIC: The group is a mostly acoustic jazz trio called JAZZOOO, featuring Robinson on piano, melodica and keyboards, along with drummer Duncan Moore and bassist Ken Dow. The music is an original blend of mainstream and modern jazz that owes as much to Bill Evans and Miles Davis as it does to Joe Zawinul. The compositions are sophisticated without being obscure. Robinson's arranging and filmscoring work features heavily in the structure of most songs, and there is always room for the players to stretch out.

THE STUDIO : The studio is a converted two car garage (apporximately 450 sq ft). During construction, Robinson worked with several knowledgable consultants to control reflections. Other than two small portions of the ceiling and floor, there are no parallel surfaces to be found. The ceiling is raised in the center at 45-degree angles, exposing trusses and allowing 6 skylights to be installed. In addition, two of the inner walls are splayed 12" every 10 feet. Bass absorbtion is enhanced by fiberglass panels from Acoustical Solutions, Inc. The sound of the room itself is pleasant, and the trio reheased there for several months prior to the recordings.

THE INSTRUMENTS : At the center of the studio is Robinson's 5'11" Kawai grand piano. Drummer Duncan Moore plays a set of handmade drums from Le Soprano, a small Italian company. The cymbals, including a wonderful Peter Erskine Left Hand Ride, are all by Zildjian. Bassist Ken Dow uses his Kay acoustic bass as well as two Azola basses, and a Carvin 6-string electric.

THE RECORDING GEAR : The main recording medium is a Roland VS2480. Microphone preamplifiers include the A Designs MP-2, John Hardy M-1, and the Millennia HV-3D [ 8 channels ]. Microphones include ADK Microphones, Earthworks, Red 5 Audio and Studio Projects.

INTERACTIVE : Updates, rants, and conversation at the "The Listening Sessions Meets Jazzooo" topic at Studio Forums and at "The JAZZOOO/DOT Project" topic at VS Planet. Leave a message at Doug Robinson's Guestbook.

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The Microphones and Preamplifiers

Kawai grand piano: a pair of ADK TL's set on omni to Millennia HV-3D and an ADK Commemorative Edition running through a John Hardy M-1.

Drums
Overheads: pair of Earthworks QTC1 omnis OR a pair of Earthworks SR77 cardioids - running through Millennia HV-3D
Kick: Audio-Technica ATM25 - running to Roland VS 2480 mic pre.
Snare: Studio Projects C1 - running to Millennia HV-3D.
Hat: AKG 414 B-ULS - running to Millennia HV-3D.
Toms: Rack toms - Studio Projects B1's, floor tom - Studio Projects B3 - all running to Roland VS 2480 pres.

Basses
Direct pick-up running through Sansamp DI into Millennia HV-3D
Red 5 Audio RVD1 large dynamic on neck of basses - running to Millennia HV-3D.
On some tracks we used a single Earthworks SR77 on neck of basses - running to Millennia HV-3D

Synths: running DI to A Designs Audio MP-2

Additional saxes, flutes, and vocals recorded with Earthworks SR77.