Tag Archives: #listenLA

15.5 Million Tune in to ‘Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors’

Composers Mark Leggett (left) and Velton Ray Bunch (right) with Dolly Parton. Photo by Crystal Mangano

Dolly Parton’s childhood came to life on NBC this past December, drawing the biggest viewing audience for an original television movie since 2011. “Coat of Many Colors,” watched by 15.5 million viewers, is based on Parton’s early years growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Continue reading

Pixar Roars Out a Winner With ‘The Good Dinosaur’

Production still courtesy Pixar / Walt Disney Pictures

What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct?

So posits Pixar in the enchanting computer-animated fantasy “The Good Dinosaur.” Luckily for young dinosaur Arlo, his parents and his two siblings, the mighty reptiles were not wiped out 65 million years ago. Continue reading

#listenLA studio spotlight: The Bridge Recording

The Bridge (bw) 49At once slickly modern and touched by nostalgia, The Bridge Recording stands true to its name as a testament to bridging past and present. Sparing no effort or expense, owner/engineer Greg Curtis opened the doors of his dream vision in 2010. The 6,500 square foot scoring and mixing facility houses an 1,800 square foot stage with 23 foot ceilings, two large ISO rooms and a spacious control room. Among the equipment and decor are various nods to the past, none more prominent than the behemoth Neve 96-channel console with provenance from Paramount’s historic Stage M.

Besides being the home of the USC scoring sessions and the likes of Adele and Idina Menzel, the studio records a host of today’s top TV shows including “Da Vinci’s Demons,” ”Once Upon A Time,” “Constantine,” “The Simpsons” and “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” to name just a few. At a recent “Person of Interest” scoring session, Curtis welcomed interviewer Linda A. Rapka and photographer Erik Rynearson to share how The Bridge in just a few short years finds itself as one of the hottest recording spots in town.

Tell me how you became involved in the recording industry.
I’ve been a lifelong musician, a trumpet player, since 5th grade in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. That would set the trajectory for my life in music. I still play a little bit, but I spend so much time here and am mainly at home with my family and three kids, ages 3, 5 and 7. That’s prime time for me. I want to give them as much time as I can while I can. That’s a luxury to have.

Read the full interview at listen-la.com

#listenLA spotlight: Rebecca Ferguson Pays Ultimate Tribute to Billie Holiday

Photo Aug 14, 5 00 36 PM

When setting out to cover songs by the incomparable Billie Holiday, what more of an homage could one make than to record them in the very same room as Ms. Holiday herself did over 60 years ago?

Last month, British singer/songwriter and former “X Factor” finalist Rebecca Ferguson did just that when she hopped on a plane to Hollywood and spent two days within the famed walls of Capitol Studios. A stellar group of 20 Los Angeles string musicians was contracted by Ross deRoche, who was delighted at the results.

Read the full story at listen-la.com!

#listenLA spotlight: Interview with ‘House of Cards’ composer Jeff Beal

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On the heals of two new Emmy nominations for his music for “House of Cards,” Jeff Beal talks about composing for the hit Los Angeles-scored series

Beautifully underscoring the dramatic intrigue of Netflix series “House of Cards,” Jeff Beal’s darkly atmospheric score just garnered two more Emmy nominations. This marks the composer’s third Emmy nod for the show, and 13th altogether.

To date, Beal has won three times, including for the 2007 TNT miniseries “Nightmares & Dreamscapes” and USA Network’s detective series “Monk” in 2003, which were also scored here with our wonderful Los Angeles musicians.

Recorded at his home studio, music for “House of Cards” features more than a dozen of L.A.’s premiere string musicians. Beal spoke with Linda A. Rapka from his home studio about composing for the hit series.

Congratulations on your recent Emmy nominations for “House of Cards”! For both seasons, you’ve recorded in your home studio with Los Angeles musicians.
“They’re fantastic. I have a room in my studio where I do a lot of live recording. With the tight schedules and turnaround times these days being what they are, I love being able to call on the best players in the world and have them available at the drop of a hat. It’s a luxury to work with them. They know the kind of stuff I write, and over the years we have developed a shorthand with each other. It’s nice not having to over-explain to musicians your approach to making music; here a lot of that is sort of a given.”

Read the full interview at listen-la.com

#listenLA spotlight: Heroes in a Half Shell

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Brian Tyler scores big on the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie

The latest reboot of the classic “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film series boasts an orchestral score by Los Angeles composer Brian Tyler and a 70-plus piece orchestra contracted by Peter Rotter.

On the famed Eastwood scoring stage on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, the scoring sessions took place over several days in June.

Read more and check out photos from one of the recording sessions at listen-la.com!