In the Studio with Pine Pitch

My work with Blue Bear School of Music brings me to the Boom Boom Room quarterly for our band showcases, where we’re regaled with at least 5 covers of Radiohead’s “Creep” and some surprisingly good Cranberries covers every now and then. While working the door, I got to know the sound guy, Jaemi Fortier, and when he had a keyboard player drop out of recording for his project Pine Pitch, he tapped me for the gig.

Two quick rehearsals later, we were at the gorgeous Hyde Street Studios and ready to get these songs going. The band consisted of myself on keys, Brian Devy on drums, Eva Pointkowski on violin, Sam Devine on bass, and Jaemi on vox and guitar, and it was exhilarating to pick up these songs so quickly with this talented group of players. They all blew me away. Recording went relatively smoothly, and some delicious Thai food and Banh Mi later, we had our mixes.

A moment of silence not only for for Jaemi’s great songs, but his insistence on paying us, as well- while I would have done this for free, it was an incredible way to get started as a session player feeling respected. Go Jaemi go!

All that aside, the main highlight of recording at Hyde Street was playing on Frank Sinatra’s old white grand piano. Not to mention the lava lamp. Fingers crossed I’ll be spending much more time in this gorgeous studio in the future, and keep an ear out for Jaemi’s tracks when they’re up!

Image by Elliott Alexander