Andy Waterman's Cloudbursts

Keys to Success

The piano is vital for a good recording session.

"This piano is now one of the best in the Los Angeles studio world," said Keith Albright recently. And he should know! Keith, with over 30 years experience, is one of the most respected and requested piano tuner technicians on the Hollywood music scene. He's tuned pianos into shape at all the top scoring stages and recording studios in town.
When asked what makes this 9' Yamaha Concert Grand such a good piano, Keith summed it up in one word, "commitment."

Here's what happened: Andy Waterman knew the piano wasn't good enough for the jazz and acoustic music that he specializes in. The sound was inconsistent. So in 2004, he and Guy Paonessa decided to make the piano as good as it could get.

That's Where Keith Came In

First he installed all new hammers and then he insisted that the Yamaha be restrung with brand new piano wire. For about a month the results were uneven. But now, the piano is recording better than ever. Keith says so. The session players agree.

Alan Steinberger, featured pianist on the recent smash hit, March of the Penguins, has recorded sessions on the best, the worst and all the in-between pianos in town. "I've worked on most of Andy's edutainment projects and they're challenging because they cross so many genres," Alan said recently. He added, "It's been exciting to see how the new strings and hammers transformed this piano. It now delivers a full range of tone and expression whether I'm playing an atmospheric film cue or hitting it hard on a rock and roll song."

A piano in an integral element in providing a good recording session. Every other instrument can be brought into the studio. But the piano is a permanent fixture. According to Andy, "Nothing sets the sonic template like a great piano. And now we have one at Entourage."

NoHo Studio Live

Performer + Song + Audience = Cabaret

Entourage Studios Hosts Cabaret Nites

What do Cabaret and three-legged stools have in common? Try sitting on that stool if one leg is missing ... you'll probably fall flat on your arse. Cabaret has three synergistic elements: the singer, the song and the audience. Try eliminating one of those "legs" and your act will also fall flat.

That's also why Cabaret artists' CDs are always "recorded live" ... somewhere. Andy knows all about that because he's recorded about 30-40 live albums over the years for artists such as Andrea Marcovicci, BJ Ward and MaryJo Mundy.

But it isn't easy ...

Each time he has to build a mobile recording studio from the "wheels up" and load it with a multi-channel recording system, mics, mixing consoles and monitoring systems. He has to mic the room (which usually means an argument with the club owner about placement) and keep straight all the inputs, outputs, snakes, wires and coils. Yeeesh! And hope nothing goes wrong.

But sometimes "Mr. Murphy" arrives uninvited.

Picture this! Five minutes before show time and the cart holding all the recording gear is bumped and knocks loose all the connections. Double yeeesh! A calamity was narrowly averted. Andy, being the pro that he is, got everything working - with only seconds to spare. The CD sounds great, by the way.

We want to make it easy.

That's why Andy Waterman Productions in conjunction with MaryJo Mundy (open mic host of Mundy on Tuesday at the Gardenia) will host monthly Cabaret Nites. This may seem like an unlikely venue but au contraire! By using Studio A and Studio B, we combine a 50 person audience with state-of-the-art recording equipment in an ideal setting to record the magic of singer, song and audience.

Here's the best part.

NoHo Studio Live is the most cost effective way for Cabaret artists' to get their act on CD. Not only are there no additional expenses for equipment and truck rentals,set-up, etc., but a menu of package deals are available to include over dubs, mixing and mastering. Additionally, we can help with CD pressing and distribution.