Hi there.
Thank you for visiting my website.
It is now the middle of July, 2007, and I have been walking round for awhile with the idea of doing a musical project involving the sound of the 70s. To devote myself to this 100%, I have decided, in close consultation with the other band members, to do this project and go my own way.
The recordings will take place in the Lucan studio www.lucan.nl, which belongs to my good friends Hans Elmers (who I have known for 30 years) and Lucia Hebers. Good old analogue 24 track Tascam, wide tapes and a super-sounding Sony M500 (formerly MCI) mixing board. I am more than familiar with digital equipment and it is nice to set things up and then later nicely put it all analogue on tape. Fits right in with what I am thinking. Or is it more a question of feeling. Lets keep it at the latter.
You will find a lot of songs on the site that I wrote and recorded over the years. Sometimes they were studio projects and often also demo recordings beginning from the early 70s. Even more to come. I do like to write and produce for others.
 I think writing, composing, producing is a fascinating process and I can immensely enjoy musicians who inspire me and with whom I can set down something nice. I am open for suggestions and to people who want to play, sing or do anything else with me.
July 22. Big news. We will go into the studio in the middle of August. My absolute favourite people are playing along. Ton Dijkman on drums, used to play with Jan Akkerman, permanent drummer of Marco Borsato and just came out of the studio with Paul Young. Wilbrand Meischke, on bass, is still playing with Jan Akkerman and accompanies many others. Hans Voerman is a key board player in high demand and tours throughout the Netherlands. More info at the links. And of course my big music friend Hans Elmers, and Lucia is also walloping right along. Watch out, gentlemen, this lady has a cutting groove.
Something that helped define the sound in those days was the Hammond B3 or C3 organ (also irreverently called the spittoon) and of course the wooden Leslie. Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Clavinet, you remember that swinging sound of Stevie Wonder on the LP, songs in the key of live. Gibsons, stratocasters, Marshal, Ampeg and a Neuman M50 or at least a M49 for singing in the studio. I used to own these collector items.
In the studio on August 9 and 10. Everything was right and it flowed. Put the basis of more than 14 songs on tape with Ton, Wilbrand and Hans. What a privilege to be able to make music with them.
Energy sparked into the tape. See the photos from the studio.
Laughing in tears. Typical musician humour.
We spent the necessary days in the studio already. It is taking better shape all the time and I am super pleased. It is now the middle of September already. A few more days of recording and we will start singing. I am looking forward to that too. In addition to Maaike Janssen, I managed to rope in two more giants, Elise ten Hoor and Petra Schreurs. Unprecedented luxury and multivocal work. More info on them at links.
28 September. Hans Voerman yust finist the recordings playing Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, Piano and some other orchestral stuff. Hi did a great job. He still knew how to play a original Hammond. Wauw.
Other Hans of the studio has been playing most of the lead guitar parts. Crazy licks, tricks and other sensitive back to earth and out of space tones. Hans has many different guitars and tube amps like Koch, Hugh and Ketner. Gibson guitars old Ibanez, Indie and Fender stratocasters. Thanks man.
6 October. Tomorrow, sunday. Lead vocals with Maaike. We start with four songs. I know here for some years and whe play together in de studio,s and now and than in bands. Its always great to work with Maaike, she has a very powerfull voice. Sometimes whe write songs together.
7 October. Thanks Maaike thanks for youre incredible sound and power. Its still great to work with you. Also Hans was totaly impressed. Amen. It`s gonna change and who are you are recorded. Maaike has been singing for many years in bands and has chosen to do what see likes to do singing new songs and doing recordings in my project.
The name for the new album will be. A smile at Gigi. Some years ago I was at the restaurant Gigi and I looked in the eyes of a beauthifull woman with an amazing smile. Pffffffffft.
Yust recorded another song with Maaike en see blow us again under the mixing console with a big smile form opposite site of the glass saying. Pfffffffffft MEN.
27 ockt. Sunday recording with Maaike and next week Thursday whe start to record the first songs with Petra. See will suprise us. Im ready. Petra has been singing in many different band and settings in whole europe. theather shows, festivals, backing vocals with many great names.
 2 November. Petra has recorded 2 songs she has an amazing voice from powerfull high to sensual low. Its great to work with Petra and stimulate here to come with before unknow interpretation of the songs. 12 november the next 2 songs. She will suprise us again. Im sure.
More photos
11 November with Elise in the recording studio. Elise is at the age of 18 and born with a total own voice. When you here it, you will never forget it. She is ready for singing some rocksongs with a bleus Jazz feel. It works. amzing.
As you will know, its realy wonderfull to work with such talented people.
The girls have finist all the leadvocals.
Its now January and a lot happend already. We did almost all the backingvocals and its realy suprising to hear that such powerfull voices melt together.
We are coming to point of ready for mixing the album.
Febr. After 4 days of mixing the result is a great balance of the recording, but the master is flat and no power. With other words what you here from the monitor system is not related to the final master. It whas not easy but I decided to do it all over in an other studio. I mean the Master.
March. My great friend and most succesfull producer in the Netherlands Michiel Hoogenboezem has been listening to the album, and is realizing the mixing of the album in his own studio. He runs this studio together with Mirjam. She is famous in Holland as well from here album MIR and of Twarres.
The 24 track will be stored on protools so it is ready for the studio of Michiel.
His website is www.mixaandehand.nl
You can imagine that this is superb.
Its now September 2008 and the album is ready. Whe had a great time this summer mixing the album at the studio of Michiel in a nice great farm house with an amazing vieuw over the landscape. The Mastering of the album is done at the Wisseloord studio's in Hilversum. Thanx to Darius who did a great job.
Whe are making our mind up what to do. A record company, uploading in I tunes etc.
Whe will see what comes up.
Stay tuned and healthy.
Keep in touch.
Rock un Roll(ater)
Regards
Hessel
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