I joined Sony Music (then CBS Records) in 1981 as a recording engineer in their demo studio in East Sydney, and later as Studio Manager, guided it’s development into a professional and commercially competitive facility. This photo shows the final incarnation of the main control room shortly after it’s completion around 2003, and the albums listed below are a few of the recordings I made along the way.
This abridged selection of albums is listed by artist/group in alphabetical order, not chronologically. Dates are sometimes recording dates.
2000 – Baecastuff: Out of this World
Rick Robertson: tenor sax & flute, Matt McMahon: piano & Fender Rhodes, Phil Slater: trumpet, Alex Hewetson: electric and acoustic basses, Simon Barker: drums, Aykho Ahkrif: percussion.
1999 – Band of Five Names: Band of Five Names
Matt McMahon: piano, Phil Slater: trumpet, Adam Armstrong: acoustic bass, Simon Barker: drums.
2002 – Band of Five Names: Severence
Matt McMahon: piano & keyboards, Phil Slater: trumpet & laptop, Simon Barker: drums & electronics.
2006 – Band of Five Names: Empty Gardens
Matt McMahon: piano, Fender Rhodes & organ, Phil Slater: trumpet & laptop, Simon Barker: drums.
2005 – Gai Bryant Ensemble: 2º East
Gai Bryant: soprano sax, Andrew Robertson: tenor sax, Craig Walters: tenor sax, Nick Bowd: alto & baritone sax, Genevieve Campbell: french horn, Lloyd Swanton & Gary Holgate: acoustic bass, Jamie Cameron: drums, Fabian Hevia: percussion.
1997 – the catholics: Life on Earth
Lloyd Swanton: electric & acoustic bass, Dave Brewer: electric & acoustic guitar, Sandy Evans: tenor & soprano sax & flute, James Greening: trombone, Toby Hall: drums, Fabian Hevia: percussion, Michel Rose: pedal steel guitar, dobro & mandolin.
1999 – the catholics: Barefoot
Lloyd Swanton: electric & acoustic bass, Dave Brewer: electric & acoustic guitar, Sandy Evans: tenor & soprano sax, James Greening: trombone & pocket trumpet, Hamish Stuart & Toby Hall: drums, Fabian Hevia: percussion, Bruce Reid: National steel & lap steel guitars, Jonathan Pease: guitar, Michel Rose: pedal steel guitar, Chris Abrahams: Hammond organ.
2005 – the catholics: Gondola
Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Sandy Evans: tenor & soprano saxophones, James Greening: trombone & pocket trumpet, Hamish Stuart: drums & hand whistling, Fabian Hevia: percussion & acoustic guitar, Jonathan Pease: guitar, Bruce Reid: National steel guitar, dobro, lap steel guitar & hand whistling.
1994 – Clarion Fracture Zone: What This Love Can Do
Sandy Evans: tenor & soprano saxophones, Tony Gorman: alto sax, plus alto & B flat clarinets, Alister Spence: piano & keyboards, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Toby Hall: drums, Greg Sheehan: percussion.
2002 – Clarion Fracture Zone with the Martenitsa Choir: Canticle
Tony Gorman: tenor & alto saxophones & clarinets, Sandy Evans: tenor & soprano saxophones, Paul Cutlan: tenor & alto saxophones & bass clarinet, Alister Spence: piano & keyboards, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Toby Hall: drums.
2000 – d’volv: D’volv
Peter Martin: electric guitar, Jim Kelly: acoustic guitar, Jon Fitzgerald: nylon string guitar.
2002 – d’volv: Africussia
Peter Martin: electric guitar, Jim Kelly: acoustic guitar, Jon Fitzgerald: nylon string guitar.
2004 – The Field: News From Home
Bruce Reid: acoustic & National steel guitar, dobro & drone, Barney Coman: acoustic guitar, Stuart Hunter: Hammond organ, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Hamish Stuart & Toby Hall: drums, Jess Campa: percussion, Darren Percival & Tina Harrod: vocals.
2002 – Dannielle Gaha: You Don’t Know Me
Danielle Gaha: vocals, Jonathan Zwartz: acoustic bass, John Harkins: piano, Nick McBride: drums, Jonathan Pease: guitars & backing vocals, Warwick Alder: trumpet, James Greening: trombone & tuba, Bob Bertles: clarinet, Darren Percival: vocals, Sahara Williams & Janice Breen: hand claps, Sandra Brown & Marlo Brown: party cheers.
2006 – Gest8: Kaleidoscope
Tony Gorman: composer & band leader, Sandy Evans: tenor & soprano saxophones, Paul Cutlan: tenor sax, E flat & bass clarinets, Phil Slater: trumpet, Satsuki Odumura: koto & bass koto, Carl Dewhurst: guitar, Steve Elphick: acoustic bass, Simon Barker, drums, Greg White: electronics.
1998 – Mark Isaacs: On Reflection
Mark Isaacs: piano, Adam Armstrong: acoustic bass, Hamish Stuart: drums, Jason Cooney: tenor saxophone, James Muller: guest guitar.
1999 – Mark Isaacs: Closer
Mark Isaacs: piano, Adam Armstrong: acoustic bass, Hamish Stuart: drums, James Muller: guitar, Jason Cooney: tenor saxophone.
2005 – Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra: plays The Music of Mike Nock
David Theak: lead alto sax & soprano sax, Murray Jackson: alto sax, Matt Keegan: tenor sax, Scott Langley: tenor sax & flute, Nick Bowd: baritone sax, Simon Sweeny: lead trumpet & flugelhorn, Angus Gomm: co-lead trumpet & flugelhorn, Simon Ferenci: trumpet & flugelhorn, Tim Crow: trumpet & flugelhorn, Phil Slater: solo trumpet, Jeremy Borthwick: lead trombone, Danny Carmichael: trombone, John Hibbard: trombone, Colin Burrows: bass trombone, James Muller: guitar, Sean Wayland: piano, Brendan Clarke: acoustic bass, Evan Mannell: drums.
1998 – Vince Jones : Live (at the Basement, Sydney)
Vince Jones: vocal & trumpet, Sam Keevers: piano, Simon Barker: drums, Adam Armstrong: acoustic bass, James Muller: guitar.
2004 – Vince Jones : Moving Through Taboos
Vince Jones: vocal & trumpet, Matt McMahon: piano, Brett Hirst: acoustic bass, Simon Barker: drums, Aaron Flower & Carl Dewhurst: guitars, Michelle Kelly: violin, Rachel Easton: violin, Stephanie Zarka: viola, Rachel Maio: cello, Phil Slater: trumpet, Andrew Robson: alto sax, James Greening: trombone, Roger Manins: tenor sax.
David Theak: lead alto sax & soprano sax, Murray Jackson: alto sax, Matt Keegan: tenor sax, Scott Langley: tenor sax & flute, Nick Bowd: baritone sax, Simon Sweeny: lead trumpet & flugelhorn, Angus Gomm: co-lead trumpet & flugelhorn, Simon Ferenci: trumpet & flugelhorn, Tim Crow: trumpet & flugelhorn, Phil Slater: solo trumpet, Jeremy Borthwick: lead trombone, Danny Carmichael: trombone, John Hibbard: trombone, Colin Burrows: bass trombone, James Muller: guitar, Sean Wayland: piano, Brendan Clarke: acoustic bass, Evan Mannell: drums.
1998 – Vince Jones : Live (at the Basement, Sydney)
Vince Jones: vocal & trumpet, Sam Keevers: piano, Simon Barker: drums, Adam Armstrong: acoustic bass, James Muller: guitar.
2004 – Vince Jones : Moving Through Taboos
Vince Jones: vocal & trumpet, Matt McMahon: piano, Brett Hirst: acoustic bass, Simon Barker: drums, Aaron Flower & Carl Dewhurst: guitars, Michelle Kelly: violin, Rachel Easton: violin, Stephanie Zarka: viola, Rachel Maio: cello, Phil Slater: trumpet, Andrew Robson: alto sax, James Greening: trombone, Roger Manins: tenor sax.
1993 – Jim Kelly: More than Meets the Ear
Jim Kelly: guitar, Steve Hopes: drums, Jack Thorncraft: acoustic bass.
1995 – Jim Kelly: Salient Points
Jim Kelly: guitar, Steve Hopes: drums, Ian Bloxsom: drums & percussion, Victor Rounds: electric bass, Greg Lyons: electric bass, Jack Thorncraft: acoustic bass, Dave MacRae: piano, Steve Russell: piano & synth, Tony Buchanan: saxophone.
1998 – the Jim Kelly Guitarkestra: Drawing on Sketches
Jim Kelly, Dave Colton, Rex Goh, Jeremy Sawkins, James Muller: guitars, Simon Barker: drums, Adam Armstrong: acoustic bass.
2005 – Mara! Sorella
Mara Kiek: voice, tapan & castinets, Llew Kiek: guitars, bouzouki, baglama, tambourine & voice, Steve Elphick: acoustic bass & voice, Paul Cutlan: tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, shaker & voice, Andrew Robson: alto & soprano saxes, darrabukka & voice.
2003 – Spike Mason: Oximetric
Spike Mason: saxophones, Phil Slater: trumpet, Jeremy Borthwick: trombone, Mark Lau: acoustic bass, Simon Barker: drums, Andrew Lorien: guest trumpet.
1999 – Paul McNamara: Conversations
Paul McNamara: solo piano.
1997 – Bernie McGann: Playground
Bernie McGann: alto sax, Sandy Evans: tenor sax, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, John Pochée: drums.
Won ARIA award for best jazz album.
2000 – Bernie McGann: Bundeena
Bernie McGann: alto sax, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, John Pochée: drums.
2005 – Bernie McGann: Blues For Pablo Too
Bernie McGann: alto sax, Warwick Alder: trumpet, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, John Pochée: drums.
2012 – Bernie McGann: Wending
Disc 1: Bernie McGann: alto sax, Warwick Alder: trumpet, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, John Pochée: drums – utilising material from the Blues for Pablo Too sessions, recorded in 2005 at Sony Music Studios.
Disc 2: Later material featuring Bernie McGann: alto sax, Warwick Alder: trumpet, Brendan Clarke: acoustic bass, Andrew Dickeson: drums, recorded elsewhere.
2005 – Matt McMahon Trio: Ellipsis
Matt McMahon: piano, Jonathan Brown: acoustic bass, Simon Barker, drums.
2005 – Matt McMahon: Paths and Streams
Matt McMahon: piano, Phil Slater: trumpet, James Muller: guitar, Brett Hirst: acoustic bass, Simon Barker, drums, Huy Nguyen Bui: violin, Michelle O’Young: violin, Leah Zweck: viola, Andrew Hins: cello.
1998 – The Mighty Reapers: The Hurt Is On
Robert Susz: vocals & harmonica, Clayton Doley: organ, piano & backing vocals, Dave Brewer: guitar & vocals, Vito Portolesi: bass, Antero Ceschin: drums, with guest Fabian Hevia: percussion.
2005 – Misinterprotato (now Trichotomy): In Is In
Sean Foran: piano & keyboards, John Parker: drums & percussion, James O’Brien: electric bass.
1998 – the Necks: movie soundtrack to The Boys
Chris Abrahams: piano, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Tony Buck: drums.
1998 – Mike Nock Quintet: Ozboppin’
Mike Nock: piano, Tim Hopkins: tenor sax, Phil Slater: trumpet & flugelhorn, Cameron Undy: acoustic bass, Dave Goodman: drums.
2002 – Dave Panichi: Elvin’s Dream
Dave Panichi: trombone, Phil Slater, Paul Panichi, Simon Sweeney: trumpets, Willow Neilson: tenor sax, Matt McMahon: piano, James Muller: guitar, Brendan Clarke: acoustic bass, Craig Simon, drums.
2003 – Darren Percival: Falling Around the Sun
Darren Percival: vocals, Fender Rhodes, synth and samples, Paul McNamara: piano, Jonathan Zwartz: acoustic bass, Alex Hewetson: bass, Hamish Stuart: drums, Warren Trout: drums, Blair Greenberg: percussion, Stuart Fraser: guitar, Jonathan Pease: guitar, Paul Gray: Wurlitzer piano, backing vocals and electronics, Dannielle Gaha, Katherine Galettis, Meredith Brown & Glen Percival: backing vocals, Bob Coasin: flugelhorn.
2005 – Andrew Robson: Radiola
Andrew Robson: alto & soprano saxophones, Steve Elphick: acoustic bass, Hamish Stuart, drums.
1996 – Tim Rollinson: Cause + Effect
Tim Rollinson: guitar, Barney McAll: piano & organ, Phil Slater: trumpet & flugelhorn, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Toby Hall: drums, Terepai Richmond: extra snare.
2003 – Jann Rutherford: The Scented Garden
Jann Rutherford: piano, Paul Cutlan: soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, Roger Manins: tenor sax, Craig Scott: acoustic bass, Dave Goodman: drums.
2001 – Phil Slater: Strobe Coma Virgo
Phil Slater: trumpet & laptop, Matt McMahon: piano, Carl Dewhurst: guitar, Brett Hirst: acoustic bass, Alex Hewetson: electric bass, Simon Barker: drums.
2006 – Phil Slater Quartet: The Thousands
Phil Slater: trumpet, Matt McMahon: piano, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Simon Barker: drums.
1997 – Sonic Fiction: Changing With The Times
Daryl Pratt: vibraphone, midi vibes & noah bells, Phil South: marimba, acoustic & electronic percussion, James Muller: guitar, Andrew Gander: drums.
2000 – Alister Spence Trio: Three is a Circle
Alister Spence: piano, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Toby Hall, drums.
2003 – Alister Spence Trio: Flux
Alister Spence: piano & samples, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Toby Hall, drums, percussion & glockenspiel.
2006 – Alister Spence Trio: Mercury
Alister Spence: piano, piano & glockenspiel samples, Lloyd Swanton: acoustic bass, Toby Hall, drums & glockenspiel.
2002 – Tim Stevens: Freehand
Tim Stevens: solo piano.
2000 – Ten Part Invention: Unidentified Spaces
John Pochée: drums, Paul McNamara: piano, Steve Elphick, acoustic bass, Miroslav Bukovsky: trumpet & flugelhorn, Warwick Alder: trumpet, James Greening: trombone & bass trombone, Bernie McGann: alto saxophone, Bob Bertles: baritone saxophone, Sandy Evans: tenor saxophone, flute & wooden flute, Ken James: tenor and soprano saxophones.
1995 – Wanderlust: Border Crossing
Miroslav Bukovsky: trumpet, flugelhorn & percussion, James Greening: trombone, Carl Orr: guitars, Alister Spence: piano & keyboards, Adam Armstrong: acoustic & electric basses, Fabian Hevia: drums & percussion, Renée Geyer: guest vocal, Julian Gough: guest tenor sax.
1998 – Wanderlust: Song and Dance
Miroslav Bukovsky: trumpet & flugelhorn, James Greening: trombone & didgeridoo, Jeremy Sawkins: electric & acoustic guitars, Alister Spence: piano & keyboards, Adam Armstrong: acoustic & electric basses, Fabian Hevia: drums & percussion, Bernir McGann: guest alto sax.
There were many more, but this selection conveys the extent of my good fortune, and some of the wonderful musicians I got to work with…