News and Happenings
On location shootin the video for 'Cosmic' with cast and crew.
Mike, Papa Doe, Joe, Tim, Patrick and Tarra in the studio working on Tarra's tracks for her new release titled 'Loved'.
Tim, Tarra, and Mike in the studio working on Tarra's tracks for her new release.
API Records recently signed Michael Rysz to their stable of artists. Michael will be providing tracks for the new Tarra recordings.
Above is Executive Vice President Meg Poltorak with Michael Rysz and
Morgan Shearer signing his record deal.
At Right API President Tim Keyes
welcomes Michael to the API family.
Tarra recently did a photo shoot in Philadelphia as part of the promotion for her upcoming project. She began work in the studio in early August. The project is being produced by Tim Keyes with beats worked up by Michael Rysz.
The Cannon Quartet was recently in the studio
cutting tracks for the latest Funhaus recording due out in late Fall.
The Cannon Quartet is:
Hope Cannon, Janet Chou, Jason Hwang, Lara Ginsberg
July 2003
Cliff Ramsay was in Studio B recording the drum and percussion tracks for the latest Funhaus recording titled "Abandoned City". Show at right are Producer, Tim Keyes and Percussionist, Cliff Ramsay.
Production on the video for the first single from the Tim Keyes release 'Sketchbook' began production in New York City. The video single 'Higher Ground' is directed by AP Ferullo with art direction by Director of Photography Robert Pascale. The video is scheduled for release after Christmas 2003.
Shown from left: JP, Tim, Jon, James, Ryan
API recently went to St. Thomas, USVI to
discuss
plans for a new Frenchman Hill Band release. The new disc will feature
10 new
tunes and be recorded outside of NYC sometime during the summer of 2004.
Here are some live shots
of the guys at Hull Bay, USVI!
API gathered at the P-6 Cattle Company Ranch in Texas to celebrate in Cajun Style. On hand was Joe Keyes, who recently finished recording the debut CD for the band Glory in Colorado at Time Capsule Recording. Joe also celebrated with Tim the successful release of 'Sketchbook' which features his drumming talents.
Also on hand were two members of the Frenchman Hill Band from the Virgin Islands. Discussions are ongoing about a new release to be recorded in the Continental US.
Patrick Bamburak and Cliff Ramsay joined Tim Keyes in the studio to put the finishing touches on an unplugged recording in support of the recently released "Sketchbook" Album. Three songs, (Missing You, Paint the Rain, Higher Ground) were recorded as part of the promotional set.
The Unplugged recordings will be released as both MP3's and Single CD's.
Tim Keyes and Michelle Aversano performed "Leave My Tears Alone" from the Funhaus release and joined the All Faith Choir in the final song "You'll Never Walk Alone" as part of the interfaith service.
The Service was held in Staten Island, NY at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
April 1, 2003
API Records has entered an agreement with Can't Afford em Records
for distribution of the Punk release Cold by Bait-oven. Pictured at
right is the new imprints trademark logo. The Bait-oven release will
be available in early May.
Back Row: Tim Keyes, API
Records VP Meg Poltorak, Sketchbook Producer Patrick Bamburak
Front Row: Merlin Music President and Mastering Engineer Paul Goodrich,
API VP of Creative Development AP Ferullo
Tenor and Vocal Coach Jon Darios stopped by the studio to review the mixes for the new Tim Keyes album-Sketchbook. The mixes were finalized on February 1, 2003, bringing to a close the six month process for creating the project. Paul Goodrich at Merlin Music in NYC is slated to master the project mid-February. Sketchbook is scheduled for release in March of 2003.
Two thirds of Funhaus performed in Staten Island, NY to help raise money for a benefit. Patrick said,"it was sure great to get out and play some of the Funhaus material live and at the same time helping out a good cause. And the crowd really loved it!"
From left: Tim Keyes and Patrick Stanley
Production
began on the forthcoming Tim Keyes solo album entitled SKETCHBOOK. The
sessions began with a two week studio lockout for trap set and percussion
tracking. Over 300 tracks of percussion were committed to tape to create
the sonic foundation for this ambitious project.
Tim Keyes says about the project:
"This is one of the most exciting and ambitious projects I have worked
on to date. After finishing the demos in July, I proceeded to play them
for various industry friends and colleagues for feedback. All of the feedback
was WOW!
Long time associate and
recording artist Patrick Bamburak's reaction was "man, I'd like
to produce this record!" My reaction to him was a resounding
yes. Another great surprise on the project was drumming newcomer Cliff
Ramsay. He is one of the finest drummers I have ever heard and is
destined for great things!"
Stay tuned for more about SKETCHBOOK!
Music marketing and promotion maven (and all around great guy!) Freddie Nitrous has agreed to help in the marketing and promotion of API's fall releases. Freddie's last work with API included the Serious Pilgrim and Lorianna "Out of My Heart" releases back in 1995. Freddie is a great aficionado of music with one of the largest record and CD collections in the world with an excess of 10,000 recordings. He is well known and respected by both music industry insiders and music fans for his knowledgable insight in the commercial recording industry.
It's great to have you back on the team Freddie!!
Trumpeter and long time member of the Tim Keyes Consort, Andrew Konowicz, recently celebrated his acceptance to Boston University. His is slated to begin his studies this fall. Andrew performed on two API releases; Resurrexi and Nativitas.
Recording Artist Tara Casadei recently joined the API family, signing a three record deal with API Records. She has already begun preproduction on her first album which will be produced by Tim Keyes. Her demo work with songwriter/producer Tim Harris led to her deal with API. She is also slated to begin work with other API writers including Bait-oven member and API songwriter Patrick Bamburak.
Download a sample of the Tim Harris song that got Tara signed
MP3 - Hold On (Demo)
April 17, 2002
API President Tim Keyes spent the day in the pressing plant overseeing
the manufacturing and packaging of all the new API spring releases.
He also reviewed the stunning artwork for the new Funhaus record which
includes a full color 5 screen print on the CD disk.
From left:
API President Tim Keyes
and Pressing Plant President Mariano Salizar
April 12, 2002
Recording artist and Bait-oven
member Patrick Bamburak came by API to begin work on his solo album which
will be produced by Tim Keyes. The first track Patrick and Tim worked
on is a song entitled "Somewhere In New York".
Free Sample of the Demo
MP3-Somewhere in New York
April 11, 2002
Recording artist Carol DaSilva stopped by API to finish work on her
new CD entitled Wedding Songs: Contemporary
Melodies and Sacred Traditions. The recording features great traditional
wedding songs as well as more contemporary wedding melodies.
Pictured from left: Carol DaSilva
and Tim Keyes
World renowned percussionist and composer JR Thompson was in the studio working on his new composition "Life". The work is scored for 8 percussionists and prerecorded tape and will be performed throughout May 2002.
Executive Vice President Meg Poltorak recently received the "Veritas" Award from Caldwell College for lifetime achievement of excellence in artistic and commercial design. She was presented the award at a gala event hosted by Caldwell College at Essex Fells Country Club.
Pictured from left: Meg Poltorak, Caldwell College President Sister Patrice Werner, and Veritas Executive Commitee Member Sally Ward Kelly
Also in attendance from left:
Art Department Chair (Ret) Sister Gerardine Mueller, Independent Curator
of History / New Jersey Historical Commission Dr. Barbara Mitnik, and
Meg Poltorak
February 11, 2002
Kevin Michael "Ferd" Ferdinand 1957-2002
We are all deeply saddened by the death of our good friend
and business associate Kevin "Ferd" Ferdinand. Kevin served
on the Board of Directors for API since 1995 and helped engineer and produce
many of the fine recordings in the API catalogue. He also directed many
of the music videos produced by the label. Kevin also served as vice-president
for label relations and audio engineering at Power Play Music Video Inc.
of Newark for 20 years and ran Time Space Corp, an independent music video
production company. Kevin was a regular panelist for the Billboard Music
Video Awards Show, covering independent music videos. As an avid songwriter
and vocalist, Kevin performed under the stage name Kevin Ferd with
his band, Hard Road.
His friendship,
wit and intellect will be sorely missed. The record business has lost
a favorite son and we have lost a great friend.
He died peacefully in his sleep on February 11, 2002 and is survived by
his mother and three brothers.
The Recording and mixes were recently finished by Kevin Ferd and Tim Keyes at Soundwriter Studios at the Power Play Music Video Television facility.
January 27, 2002
Recording Artist Tara Casadei began work on her new API release and was in the studio putting down the vocals for her new single,
"Hold On."
January 15, 2002
Patrick Bamburak came by the studio to review the final masters for the "Music Is Freedom" CD which is slated for release in March.
The Tim Keyes Consort performed the Camile Saint Saens Christmas
Oratorio Opus 12 on Christmas Day. The featured singers were: (from
left) soprano Tiffany Casasante, mezzo soprano Andrea Saposnik,
tenor Jon Darios, and bass/baratone Mark Alan Hewitt. The chamber group
included violins Jonathan Dinklage and Tanya Davidson, cellist Wolfram
Koessel, harpist Merynda Adams, trumpet Andrew Filipone, and Oboeist
Cory Gutowsky.
API edited the sound for the independant film "Mass of Angels" from August through September 2001. The film was premiered in NYC at the Independent Film Festival. Shown above are some in attendance at the film's debut at the Angelika theatre on Houston Street in Manhattan, NYC.