John Raymond Pollard: News

I am delighted to report that Simone Sampaio, Bahia’s most popular singer of dance music, has been singing “Be on Your Way” which I wrote with Ranulfo Vila Flor. Simone (http://www.simonesampaio.com.br) previewed the song in Pelorinho, the historic center of Salvador, Bahia on Friday August 15. She and her band, singers, and dancers treated a sellout crowd of 20,000 to Be on Your Way this past Saturday at the Festival do Inverno, the largest winter festival in the state of Bahia.

I enjoy the array of music that Brazilian star Sylvia Patricia includes in her podcasts. So, I was honored when Sylvia included my song, King George, as the first song on her current podcast. If you do not know Patricia’s music you owe it to yourself to listen and learn at http://www.sylviapatricia.com.br/.

And you can get her podcasts for free. Simply click on the Speciarias Musicais icon on Sylvia’s home page. You can get the current edition that includes King George at http://sylviapatricia.mypodcast.com/2008/08/Speciarias_Musicais_episode_6_Viva_Tia_Florinha-132118.html.

It has been steamy in New York and we have been cooking up some great sounds in the studio. Just completed are demos of 3 dance songs, “Depth of Love” and “Oh, Darling,” which I composed, plus “Be on Your Way,” on which Ranulfo Vila Floor and I collaborated. In process is a song called Not on MY Space, sort of an ode to Rupert Murdoch – yes, another political ditty.

Please check out the new YouTube video of Mike McGinnis playing saxophone on “My Only Vice Is You (I’m Addicted to Your Kiss).” The piece features Mike talking about and showing a number of the instruments he plays on the Character album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsCynSSwOZk.

The US Supreme Court says that prisoners have a right to defend themselves. Now we know that 5 of the 9 justices have read the constitution!
To celebrate the continuation of liberty, I posted a new video. It shows keyboard player, Gabriel Aldort, in the recording studio working on Guantanamo. You can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjL8exiv6Go

Back in New York a little over a month, I ventured back to the studio today after making a few basic recordings at home.
To date I have not recorded any dance music, but that is about to change. Work on 3 songs is about to commence!

If you want a glimpse into the recording process, you may be in luck. I have a few video clips that document how the album Character was made. Please check out a few that have been posted on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHO6LPmzMQo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrTpQAxoffA

An enlightened music shop in Canela, Salvador - Bahia is now carrying my CD's. Stop by and check out the venue. Have a cafezinho and listen. Rua Marechal Floriano, 28.

A provocative heading, no?
The CD release celebration was great fun. I was humbled by the audience members' kindness and enthusiastic reception.
Thanks to all the special people who participated.

Mark your calendar: March 16 from 3 to 5 PM, Barra, Salvador, Brazil. Join the celebration marking the release of John Raymond Pollard’s fifth album, Character, in South America. Live performance begins at 3:30. E-mail for information and to reserve your place.

Well, I finally did it. I added my first video clip to YouTube: a live performance of King George. My friends from the 21st Street Sessions songwriters group help me out during the performance. So, you’ll see and hear me as well as Morry Campbell, Amy Clark, Mary Edwards, Paul Alexander, John Manion, and Terry Christopher. You can find us at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwvST9HYo-w

A number of cuts from Character have been aired on internet radio broadcasts: Guantanamo, Family Values, The Recidivist (Hoosegow), My Only Vice Is You (I’m Addicted to Your Kiss), Non Sequitur, Fool on the Hill, and At Stake. Thanks to all the radio program producers and DJ’s for sharing the music with their listeners. I am enthused that so many songs are considered worthy of broadcast.

Last weekend was cold in New York as I was finishing up my most recent recording project. I arrived in Salvador, Brazil this afternoon, where the temperatures are in the mid 80's F.

While in Brazil I'll release Character for the South American market and I plan to work on a number of compositions.

Guantanamo (the song) -- the single from the Character album -- has been well received. It has been played on a number of radio broadcasts. I am pleased to announce that the single is now available from iTunes.

Meanwhile, the Character album is now available from CD Baby. The entire album as well as individual songs are also available from CD Baby and DigStation. In the future it will be available from other on-line retailers, including iTunes.

You can heck out sound clips of all songs at this site http://johnpollard.com/music.html
and at CD Baby http://cdbaby.com/cd/pollard5

The entire album as well as individual songs are now available for sale from DigStation. In a few days CD's and digital downloads will be available from CD Baby. Downloads will also be sold by iTunes and a host of other on-line sites, so that people around the world will be able to buy the songs easily.
Download our music at DigStation.com

I left Bahia on Tuesday. Back in New York now, I worked with Michael Gilboe yesterday and today mixing songs for an album with the working title "Brasilience" planned for release during the second half of 2008. Things are sounding good to my ears. Fans who enjoy the my Brazilian and Latin influenced work will like this one.

Back in Brazil I await the manufacture of Character. In Rio de Janerro, master percussionist, Frank Colon ( http://frankcolon.com/ ), has completed recording the percussion for the final set of songs I have been recording over the past 6 months. When I get back to New York we'll continue recording.

Character is almost ready! We finished the mastering session with Mark Biorn Christensen of Engine Room Audio yesterday. You may have seen Bonnie Bartow Davis' cover art on the splash page as you entered this site. Justin Winslow (www.JustinWinslow.com) has designed the which includes lyrics to all songs.

Character, a soon to be album with 13 cuts that add up to 50 minutes of music, has been mixed. The next step is mastering, planed for November 7. And once mastered, the album can be manufactured. Graphic design is in process with a striking image by Bonnie Bartow Davis planned for the cover.

Recording for the soon to be album, Character, is complete. Now the m&m’s: mix, master, manufacture.

Most of the material was recorded in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan at Hell Studios. The Guantanamo track was recorded in Manhattan at Season of Light Studio, and percussion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at Music Solution Studios.

I thank all the talented artists who have added their fine work to make the songs come alive.

We are in the home stretch of recording for the new album, Character. In New York at the Hell Studios (named after my neighborhood, Hell’s Kitchen), Isabella Rose and Mary Edwards have added their vocal talents to a number of tracks. Way down south in Rio de Janeiro Frank Colon has been laying down percussion tracks at Music Solutions Studio.