Session musician
Studio musician or session musicians are independent instrumentalists or vocal artists who accompany you on a fee basis in recording studios other performers in sound recordings.
Genesis
The concept of a studio musician (English session musician ) was created after the founding of the first recording studios in 1897 in the U.S.. The need for musical accompaniment rose, as a professional musical and / or vocal accompaniment was needed for sound recording, as it was also present in live performances. Since the studio technology was not so advanced that existing deficiencies were subsequently eliminated by audio effects or post-production, had to be of high quality studio production with the help of professional session musicians. As of 1923, the American record companies had their own " studio bands". These included Waring 's Pennsylvanians ( October 1923-November 1932 ), Jean gold chain & Orchestra ( March 1924-January 1929 ) or Vincent Lopez & Orchestra ( March 1923-February 1926 ). Its members such as Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Oscar Peterson or Miff Mole played both in dance bands at concerts in the evenings and at Radio recordings and in the recording studio during the day as an accompaniment for other artists.
Organization and tasks
The contract as a studio musician they usually get from the artists themselves or by music producer. Reason for their use can be the general broadening of the sound quality, but also improve the quality of instrumental or vocal less talented artists. Session musicians are usually so professional that they only need a few takes to perfect their spare parts and thus higher studio costs. The former often permanent studio musicians are nowadays replaced by professional colleagues in order to reduce the fixed costs of production. Usually, the studio musician per title, rewarded per time unit or per production. Tax law and legally close a studio musician with a music producer " work contracts, to enact foreign composed musical pieces of popular music that are processed in the sequence by mixing with vocal music at an appropriate record releases piece of music in the recording studio. " The studio musician is one of the freelance, self-employed artists, provided he has no permanent employment.
A key attribute of the studio musician is his anonymity, because most of his musical involvement is not even mentioned in the liner notes of discs, so that the general public is not informed about his involvement. Session musicians are organized by their freelance work not or only loosely as a group or form a solid group of rare. You will receive a contract which commits the agreed musical contribution and assure them of a place. However, in order to rid themselves of all other revenues, such as when the sound recording is the million-seller and licenses of this music are in high demand. The job of a studio musician can also be to accompany the performers or on tours.
Singer, singers or groups that do not accompany themselves or instrumental soloists are in need of support with session musicians. On one hand, established themselves in the recording studio sideman who are able to meet without preparation directly from the sheet the playing techniques and stylistic requirements. They are available on demand. On the other hand, studio musicians were as rehearsed accompanying ensembles that embody a certain sound, a hallmark of certain recording studios.
Famous Studio Musicians
In some session musicians emanating from them sound impression was connected so characteristic and with high recognition value that you then the sound named ( " Nashville Sound ", " Motown Sound", " Memphis sound ", " Philly Sound" ) and give them a assign names has ( Nashville A- Team, The Funk Brothers, Memphis Horns, MFSB ). One of the first informal studio groups of this type was The studio band from New Orleans, who was present at recording sessions in changing staffed 1946-1957 mostly in the J & M studio of Cosimo Matassa. A member of this group was the drummer Earl Palmer, who left the band in the studio in February 1957 to be in Los Angeles to a sought-after session drummer.
He came to probably the most famous and most went into service, albeit largely remained anonymous group of session musicians, the Wrecking Crew. They also supported artists such as The Monkees, which little artistic talent was said, or music professionals like Frank Sinatra. In the country music much asked the Nashville A-Team, from which the drummer Buddy Harman stands out with over 17,000 recording sessions was. Hal Blaine of Wrecking Crew brought it even to 35,000 songs, making it the most booked studio drummer of all time. One of the most successful British session musicians was guitarist Jimmy Page. He developed into a sideman, as he stepped out of his anonymity by membership in the Yardbirds and became known for this group even without that he gave up his work as a session musician and from January 1963 often helped out with famous musicians of the British pop music, such as the million-seller Tobacco Road by the Nashville Teens.
Another well-known session musician is the British pianist Nicky Hopkins, who was especially known for his brilliant work with the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who and The Kinks. The members of the American group Toto were sought after studio musician in the 1980s and have many international productions recorded. Prominent examples from Germany for " retorts groups " Milli Vanilli and Boney M. are Even today there are many performers who rely on the help of studio musicians. It is still true that it offered due to time constraints or because of lack of skills appears to can be tailored playbacks of studio experienced musicians.