Mike Beck CD Recording Sessions

Early in the Summer of 2002, award-winning composer Andy Brick agreed to contribute a string arrangement to the Mike Beck CD. Producer Andy Sabin and Mike trusted that whatever Andy wrote would be good, but could only reference a "piano demo" of the finished string arrangement.

A miraculous confluence of fortuitous events allowed New York-based Andy Brick to join Andy Sabin and Mike in Ann Arbor, Michigan at Solid Sound for this recording session. This was a good thing, too, because Mike and Producer Andy Sabin were in way over the heads by this point... Andy B. facilitated the recording session most expeditiously, drawing the best performance from the SC Strings Quartet.

Led by Detroit Symphony Orchestra cellist Sarah Cleveland, the SC Strings Quartet also boasts first violinist Andrew Wu, second violinist Carol Evans, and violist Catherine Franklin.

This recording session was the first time anybody had heard Andy Brick's string arrangement on actual strings! Trusting in Andy's vision paid off... The string arrangement on Tot Ziens Ravenswaaij Dawn adds textures and depth to an otherwise spartan composition.


Solid Sound, nestled in a beautiful wood just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan.	String arranger Andy Brick and Producer Andy Sabin evaluate the string quartet's levels and mic placement.		Solid Sound owner and second engineer Rob Martens adjusts the mic on Andrew Wu's violin while Andy Brick and Sarah Cleveland look on.	The SC String Quartet spends a few minutes familiarizing themselves with the string arrangement for Tot Ziens Ravenswaaij Dawn. Clockwise from left, Catherine Franklin, Carol Evans, Andrew Wu, Sarah Cleveland.

Andy Brick in Solid Sound's control room while Rob Martens prepares the live room for the string quartet.	Andrew Wu - First Violin.	Carol Evans - Second Violin.	Sarah Cleveland - Cello.	Catherine Franklin - Viola.

		Andy Brick presides over the SC Strings in Solid Sound's live room, as seen from the control room.	Andy Brick with Rob Martens in Solid Sound's live room.	Violinist Carol Evans and string arranger Andy Brick.

		The view from the control room of Solid Sound.		In addition to a great live room and excellent ProTools facilities, a truly amazing collection of high-end vintage microphones makes Solid Sound a fantastic place to record.

Proud owner Rob Martens shows off his custom built stereo microphone, the only one in existence. Built by hand for Madonna to use during the recording of Evita, this mic now happily resides in one of the finest microphone collections to be found in the Midwest.	Countless prominent musicians have recorded at Solid Sound, including Bonnie Raitt. One of Mike's personal favorites is Blackfoot, featuring Ricky Medlocke, who now tours with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Also seen on the wall are two releases by the Michigan folk duo Mustard's Retreat, another group Mike has enjoyed for several years.	Producer Andy Sabin with Mike Beck and Andy Brick in the control room of Solid Sound. Photo by Rob Martens.	Producer Andy Sabin with Andy Brick and Mike Beck in the live room of Solid Sound. Photo by Rob Martens.	Andy Brick at the podium.

Andy Brick has won prestigious film festival awards for his film scores, been recognized by ASCAP as a leading young film composer, scored Disney's Little Mermaid II and Lady & The Tramp II, released a songbook and CD of his original songs for kids with Warner Brothers, served as Lead Arranger for Sesame Street, and scored several best-selling video games. Just prior to writing the string arrangement for Tot Ziens Ravenswaaij Dawn, he traveled to the Czech Republic to conduct the Prague Symphony Orchestra.