In the Studio for the 50th Record Project

Peace and Good in Christ!

We are just back from Nashville, where we recorded the orchestration for my new 50th CD. This hallmark event is highlighted by my return to the more neoclassical, meditative sound for which I am best known. Yet this album is also a creative step forward musically.

We are excited at this midway point in the process. This record marks the reunion of our old team consisting of CCM legend Mr. Billy Ray Hearn, and my long-time friend and associate, Mr. Phil Perkins. It is exciting to get this team back together, and the results are already proving to be very creative.

Making a traditional JMT record involves several steps. Essential to this whole process is assembling a team of five star players, orchestrators, engineers and producers. Once they are in place, we begin the actual recording process.

First comes the "basic track," recording my classical guitar and lead vocal. Second, I overdub the chorus by "stacking" my own voice about 25 to 50 times, depending on the arrangement. Third, we overdub the orchestra. This is usually done with one "pass" to get a more "live" feel. If we use a formal choir, this is done right after the orchestra. Then we "mix" the parts by fine-tuning each individual part into one whole. Last, we "master" the whole thing by bringing up various frequencies. We use "compression" that tends to make soft things more audible and loud things less obtrusive. Most pop and country records are "squashed" with a lot of compression, while more classical, jazz, and straight-forward rock records use less compression to get a more authentic "live" sound.

The recording of the orchestra went extremely well in Nashville, and we are most pleased and excited as we look forward to its completion and release. Unfortunately, Bill Ray Hearn (my long-time friend and musical mentor) had some health problems that prevented him from being present for the recording sessions. But he called us at the studio frequently, and we met at his home for a production listening party after the recordings. Though absent in body, he was very present in creativity and spirit.

This recording has some truly stunning moments, and the orchestrations highlight those moments. We used three very gifted orchestral arrangers. My long-time coworker and friend, Phil Perkins, along with Jim Gray (a protégé of the brilliant Ron Huff), and Kristine Wilkinson (a wonderful small chamber group arranger) all outdid themselves for this project! The result is truly marvelous.

So that is where we are so far in the process. We hope to have a great recording after the mix sessions in January. In response to many, many requests, this recording is a radical return to more traditional JMT music, but has a fresh and more mature compositional and orchestral style that is most appealing.

Ultimately, the work will be proven worthy by the response of you, the listener. We do hope that you will enjoy listening to this project as much as we enjoyed producing it.

At this midpoint in the recording project, we ask you to pray for us. Without your support and the grace of God, such a monumental task is simply beyond us. We trust God for His grace, and we trust in your loving prayers. We also pray that you will enjoy this music enough to support us by purchasing it or giving it as a gift for others upon its release to the public in the summer of 2007. I sincerely thank you for your help.

In Jesus,

John Michael Talbot

Founder, Spiritual Father and General Minister
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage