Archive for the ‘Places’ Category

Record with an Apple Logic Pro 9 Certified Engineer

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

I  recently became Level 1 certified in Apple’s newest cutting edge high end audio recording application Logic Pro 9 (part of the latest version Logic Studio).  I am a long time user of Logic.

Apple Logic is a great tool for singer/songwriters and composers and provides a great deal of flexibility when recording or composing.  It is often very hard to be 100% perfect when recording a track – you may have some great moments and a few not so great.  One of the newest features is the ability to lay down multiple versions of a track (say for example a lead vocal) and select the various portions of each take to create a composite or ‘best of’ take.

Want to add a little piano or hammond organ to a track? Logic comes with a plethora of great samples such as pianos, hammond organs, horns, etc that can be triggered with a standard midi keyboard.

When you are ready to step up and have tested and certified engineer record your project send me an email or give me a call.  I specialize in singer songwriters, acoustic projects and small bands.  I can import GarageBand tracks directly into Logic Pro 9.  I can also import your wav and aiff tracks.

Joe Rizzo
Cosmic Circuit Studio
Engineer, musician, producer
510.868.9323

Logic_Certified_9_blk_logo

Jerry Garcia Day, San Francisco

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Peter Rowan performs at Jerry Garcia Day, San Francisco

Peter Rowan performs at Jerry Garcia Day, San Francisco

Every August 1st Jerry Garcia day is celebrated at the Jerry Garcia amphitheater in McLaren Park, San Francisco.  Friends and fans of the San Franciscan native gathered for a free festival with music in the transcendent spirit of Garcia.  This year was the 8th year of the annual celebration and featured musical performances by Check Engine Light, Front Street and Friends, Peter Rowan and Melvin Seals with JGB.  The outdoor amphitheater is located in the Excelsior district of San Francisco - Garcia’s childhood neighborhood.  McLaren amphitheater was renamed The Jerry Garcia amphitheater after fans petitioned the city of San Francisco.   August 1st marks Garcia’s birthday.  The Jerry Garcia Amphitheater is located at 45 John F. Shelley Drive, San Francisco.

For more info:
jerryday.org

Jerry Garcia Day in McLaren Park, San Francisco 2010

Vintage Bluegrass Footage on YouTube

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

We recently posted a few vintage clips of some local musicians performing in the San Francisco Bay Area.  There are a few clips from a live performance in Black Oak’s Bookstore in Berkeley, California from 1992 and some clips from the Freight and Salvage.  Check our YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/cosmiccircuit

Musical Night in Africa at Ashkenaz

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Afrobeat Connexion

Saturday night Dec 5th was Musical Night in Africa at Ashkenaz in Berkeley with Kotoja, the West African Highlife Band, Afrobeat Connexion, the  Nigerian Brothers and DJ Mike Onas. Musical Night in Africa is a decade-old  Ashkenaz tradition produced each year by Nigeria’s Babá Ken Okulolo. The night began with an opening Libation Ceremony with Babá Ken followed by the Nigerian Brothers and some excellent rhythms.   Each band had very strong hypnotic dance rhythms.  The night ended with Kotoja and an excellent horn section.

For more info:
ashkenaz.com
kotoja.com
AfricanMusicSource.com

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Lyle-Lovett-and-John-Prine

John Prine (right) joined Lyle Lovett (left) on stage Friday Night in Golden Gate Park

The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival kicked off the weekend with 3 days of free musical acts at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.  Lyle Lovett headlined the event on Friday evening with John Prine warming up.  Gillian Welch, Jorma Kaukonen, Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers,  and Steve Earle & The Bluegrass Dukes were some of the bands that performed on Saturday.  Steve Martin, better known for his acting abilities and his hit movie ‘The Jerk’, ended his set Saturday with a rousing rendition of ‘The Simpson’s’ television theme song.

For more information check:
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com

Gillian Welch Saturday in Golden Gate Park

Gillian Welch Saturday in Golden Gate Park

Steve Martin

Steve Martin on banjo Saturday afternoon

35th Annual Solano Stroll Street Festival

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

gizmo_one_man_band
The 35th annual Solano Stroll in Berkeley served up plenty of local musicians, artists, food vendors and shops this Sunday Sept 13th.  The event covered 26 blocks and was heavily attended.  Surf bands, mexican dancers, caribbean steel drums, orchestras, one man bands, literally something for everyone.  If you missed it, check it out next year…

For more information:
http://www.solanoavenueassn.org/strol.htm

Live Music & Great Pizza at Cheeseboard in Berkeley

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

cheeseboard-sign

The Cheeseboard, located in the ‘gourmet ghetto’ district on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley,  not only serves up great gourmet pizza but also has live music.  The lines for pizza are typically long and out the door – but the wait is definitely worth it.  The Lee Gaines jazz trio performs on Fridays at 5 pm and other musicians and groups often perform on different days.  The Cheeseboard serves lunch 11:30 – 3:00 Tuesday through Saturday and dinner 4:30 – 8:00 Tuesday through Saturday.  The Cheeseboard was founded in 1967 as a collective and has become somewhat of a ‘must experience’ Berkeley institution.

K.I. Nicholas Three Piece Band

K.I. Nicholas Three Piece Band

lee_gaines_trio

Lee Gaines Trio performs most Fridays

For more information:

The Cheeseboard
1512 Shattuck Avenue
Berekely, Ca 94709
http://cheeseboardcollective.coop
(510) 549-3055

Strawberry Fields in N.Y.C

Friday, August 17th, 2007

imagine1I visited Strawberry Fields and the John Lennon memorial in New York City’s Central Park located near West 72nd Street.  The memorial is not too far away from the building where Lennon was shot and killed (in front of the Dakota building) on December 8th, 1980.  A steady stream of visitors paid homage laying flowers, Beatles’ paraphernalia, and peace trinkets on the Imagine mosaic. Someone even placed a Blue Meanie character (figure from the Beatles ‘Yellow Submarine’ movie) on the mosaic.

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B & H in NYC

Sunday, August 12th, 2007

b-and-hAlthough I have ordered many audio and video products from B&H for years, I finally made a visit to the retail headquarters in New York City at 420 9th Avenue.   B&H is a unique experience -  not your standard hi-tech retail store. The staff consists of a large number of Hasidic Jews dressed in traditional orthodox Jewish hats and clothing.  The combination of the latest in high end hi-technology gadgets mixed with the traditional garb is very interesting. There are small elevators and conveyor belts and lines of people everywhere.  The place was packed – even on a Sunday.  Soda, pretzels and candy snacks are available free to customers as well as numerous free large catalogs.

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Cosmic Circuit Studio in Second Life

Monday, May 14th, 2007

 

Cosmic Circuit in Second Life

We have established a garden and and building an outdoor music facility in the 3-D virtual environment of Second Life.  In the future we plan to have live audio streaming of musicians from Cosmic Circuit Studio as well as live performances from musicians around the globe.  Stop in and visit Cosmic Circuit in Second Life.

Published Photograph of Mayan Women

Thursday, April 12th, 2007
Mayan Women

Mayan Women at Santo Thomas Festival, Guatemala

BJU Press 2008 Geography Student Text Book

BJU Press 2008 Geography Student Text Book

One of our photographs from the Santo Thomas Festival in Guatemala was recently published by BJU Press and is now appearing in the 2008 edition Cultural Geography student textbook.  Cosmic Circuit Studio provides video, audio and multimedia services and more.

Taxi Music Conference in Hollywood

Sunday, November 12th, 2006
hollywood_hills

 

hollywood_signAttended the 4 day Taxi music road rally for singer/songwriters in Hollywood, California. Performed one of my original songs Tangled in the Barbwire on the main ballroom stage Friday night to positive reviews.  Met a lot of really cool people and also had fun at the late night impromptu jam sessions.  Robbie Robertson, singer songwriter from The Band, gave an insightful talk discussing his career and his work with Bob Dylan and director Martin Scorsese.  Dave Stewart was also on one of the songwriter panels. 

 

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Cosmic Circuit Studio in Session

Thursday, June 8th, 2006
Little Junior Crudup

Little Junior Crudup

Recording this month at Cosmic Circuit Studio included San Francisco bay area bluesman Little Junior Crudup, nephew of the famous Arthur Crudup (who wrote such hits at ‘That’s All Right Mama’ recorded by Elvis Presley).