Studio Photos

recording the Album

 

Burley, Ojito, and Shaw take a break

                                Engineer Joe Hayden deep in Music thought

The great Clarence Pierce poses for the camera before he lights up the fret board

Burley Manor poses in front of the 

East Side Lounge

Larry DC Williams tunes his Texas tenor

Martin Banks transposes on the fly

Mark Patterson poses for the women!

The East Side horns get ready to play

This album was recorded live in two passes at Star Dog Studios in Austin Texas.  The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered in 6 days from February 19, 2000 to February  23, 2000.  The album was mastered at Terranova Digital Audio on February 29, 2000.  This studio experience was nothing short of unbelievable.  

The setting was a beautiful foggy Saturday morning when the rhythm section showed up at Star Dog Studio on Austin's West Side to begin a phenomenal recording set.  The Studio was outfitted to the hilt with  the best out board gear and microphones in Austin.  It was like being in a major recording studio in Nashville or LA.  

Joe Hayden our great engineer spent Friday night along with Executive producer of the Album Ojito  Prevatt setting up the studio for the special music to come.  Chris Cline our assistant engineer helped Joe to prep the Studio as the anticipation grew by the minuet. 

Joe Hayden who has an unbelievable resume with 8 years on the Nashville recording scene  recording people like Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Wynonna Judd, Travis Tritt, and many others.  Joe heard about this special project through and friend of his and immediately fit the build for the job.  Only a great like Joe could make this momentous session a success and that he did.

The Rhythm section showed up got ready and the songs began to role.  The Great Clarence Pierce headed up the East Side Band with his 50 years of guitar experience playing the blues with many of the great blues players of all time.  Clarence seemed rejuvenated and stood up to the grueling day of recording.   Clarence laid down some great leads on his own song Sassy and the Bill Dogget tune the Hully Gully Twist.  When you hear the No Sleep album you will realize that the great Clarence Pierce is truly one of the great guitar players of all time and it is his time to be recognized.

During the Session you could not help but notice how tight the Rhythm section was with Burley Manor "movin the grove" on bass and Charles Shaw "keeping it locked together" on drums.  It is apparent on the album that these were two real players who have been playing the blues together for decades.  The rhythm section  was full and bright the entire way.  The rhythm section had the bands back the entire session.

The rhythm guitar player on this album is the  debut for an excellent young guitarist from El Rito New Mexico Mr. Timothy Lee McDaniel.  Tim has been a student of Clarence Pierce for the past two years and hopes to learn all he can from this great musician.  Tim has also been taking theory lessons from his other mentor Larry DC Williams.  Tim puts down an awesome lead on the Bill Dogget tune Honkey Tonk and plays some great rhythm guitar making the section solid.

An unmistakable sound on this album is our arranger Larry DC Williams swirling on Organ.  Larry is our featured artist writing four of the songs on this album and creating all of the arrangements for the album.  His distinct style on organ is evident even though Larry is a Sax player.  Many people may say that his organ playing is also of genius caliber. 

The horn section was recorded on Sunday February 20, 2000.  Larry was the only musician there that had a full day in the studio the day before.  

The trumpet section was headed by world known master musician Martin Banks on trumpet.  Martin has recorded hundreds of albums and has played with most of the blues and jazz greats of the last 60 years.  Please see his biography to get a better idea of the kind of talent he has played with.  He was a perfectionist in the studio and showed his presence in a great way.  

He was backed up by veteran trumpet player Mark Patterson who was a regular with Dizzy Gillespie back in the day.  When you hear the mute on the trumpet you bet that old Mark (homeboy) is playing his heart out.

The featured artist on this album is the amazing Larry DC Williams.  Larry has been in the studio about 40 times in his professional career and has been arranging music since his senior year of high school.   When you hear him play the Tenor saxophone you will realize that you are listening to greatness.  Please see Larry's Biography on this site for more details on this incredible musician.  This album is the day view for Larry's writing career and he has many more projects lined up with his producer and friend Ojito L Prevatt.  This album is just a beginning for what Larry is about to do to the blues world.  

So kick back take off you shoes, grab an ice cold beer, and imagine you are live at the East Side lounge in Austin Texas to see the greatest blues group of the last 15 years.  You will not believe you ears. You will just have to check them out.

If you are looking for a studio in Austin Star Dog is the place.  Owner Mike Castoro has a great setup that you will not be disappointed with.  Thanks Mike for getting us started.  The whirl wind is approaching.

This album was produced by Prevatt Records president Ojito L Prevatt.  It is the first in a series of projects that he will do in conjunction with Larry DC Williams, Clarence Pierce, Martin Banks, and The East Side Band.  Martin and Larry helped to produce the album by mixing and mastering along with engineer co-producer Joe Hayden.  Their precise ears and music knowledge is the power behind what made this album so great.

To all the East Side fans in Austin and around the Globe this one is for you.  For all the great players out there who have never been recognized properly for your talent this ones for you.  Ira Hill of the East Side thank you for keeping the blues alive in Austin.  You are the man.

Thank you to all my friends, roommates, and family who have made this all possible for me.  Word goes out to all my crazy New Mexico State Alumni bud's, all my friends back home in New Mexico ,and all my buds here in Texas.  I always said I would do it some day well here we go.  I hope to see you all at my record release party in Austin at Waterloo Records.

Peace out-

Joe and Executive Producer Ojito

                                           Larry & Ojito

A dark late night shot at the 

studio glass. 

Clarence takes a break after a 

long session in the studio.

Shaw is grovin to a song

Total concentration by the 

East Sides talented drummer

Larry DC Williams, Home boy, and        

Martin Banks cut it on the 

first take

East Side horns baby! Don't you

love it

A true Blues and Jazz legend

Mr. Martin Banks

Home Boy wants those chicken

 wings