Happy Flag Day!

A current issue of TapeOp carried an article by Glen Hick that was based on
Malcolm Chisholm's teachings and interviews. At the end of the article, it
said that Malcolm died in June of 2003.

Well, this bummed me out - Malcolm was my teacher in engineering school and
he was amazing. He was "old school", and I learned a great deal from him. I
didn't always agree with his ideas, but, he was truly a pioneering audio
engineer; in his day, you didn't just go out and buy a console, you built one!

Anyways, I dug out a few tapes I still have of his lectures from my college
days and found a quote from him, which is CUT OF THE MONTH. This is from a
lecture on 11-18-87. I titled it "Recording Engineers Never Die..."

Malcolm's partial credit list:

POPULAR/CROSSOVER JAZZ BLUES

Alioto-Haynes-Jerimaiah Alexander Lorez Broonzey Big Bill
Anka Paul Ammons Gene Butler Wild Child
Berry Chuck Brown Odell Diddley Bo
Butler Jerry Brown Ray Dixon Willie
Camarata Tutti Ellis Herb DeSanto Sugar Pie
Campbell Little Milton Fitzgerald Ella Everett Betty
Cantor Eddie Frigo John Evans Margie
Clebinoff Herman Gillispie Dizzy Guy Buddy
Contino Dick Jamal Ahmad Hooker John Lee
Crosby Bob Krupa Gene Johnson Jimmy
Damone Vic Lewis Ramsey King Albert
Dells The McDuff Jack King Freddie
Desmond Johnny McPartland Marion Lenoir J.B.
Evans Richard Marx Dick Mabon Willie
Goodman Stevie Moody James Mitchell McKinley
Guitar Bonnie Mulligan Jerry Montgomery Little Bro
Hathaway Donnie Nordine Ken Russel Leon
Jackson Mahalia Roach Max Taylor Hound Dog
James Etta Peterson Oscar Taylor Koko
Johnson Syl Sims Zoot Walter Little
Jones Spike Smith Paul Waters Muddy
Lewis Jerry South Eddie Wells Junior
Lewis Jerry Lee Stitt Sonny Wheeler Clarence
London Julie Terry Clark Williamson Freddy
Markham Pigmeat Touff Cy Williamson Sonny Boy
Martin Dean Vaughn Sarah Wolf Howlin'
McCall Cash
Mills Brothers
Nelson Rickey
Prima Louis
Prysock Arthur
Riperton Minnie
Sinatra Frank
Smith Keely LEGIMATE MUSIC
Stevens Connie
Tiomkin Dimitri Fine Arts String Quartette
Tourme Mel N.Y. Woodwind Quintette
Turtles Frank Glazer
Vaughn Billy Alice Howland
Vee Connie Yalta Menuhin
Washington Dinah Paul Stasivitch
Williams Andy Chicago Symphony
Young Ell Dee U of Oklahoma Concert Band


and this nice write up from EARS

Malcolm Chisholm: 1929 ­ 2003 R.I.P.


On June 3rd, EARS roast honoree and past President; Malcolm Chisholm
succumbed to lung cancer at 74. Probably best known for his work at Chess
Records, this veteran engineer, educator, technical writer, consultant and
past E.A.R.S. president was a treasured member of Chicago's professional
audio community for decades and was born here in March, 1929.

Noted worldwide for his work and deep insights of our craft, he engineered
TWO of the recordings selected to represent human civilization on the
Voyager space probe, including "Johnny B. Goode". He was the first honoree
at an EARS "roast" ­ a charitable event modeled after that notorious "dais"
started by the New York Friar's Club nearly a century ago.

Through his craftsmanship, consistently generous mentoring and by way of
his long tenure as a pioneering faculty member at Columbiaš College's
four-year Sound Engineering program, he influenced hundreds of aspiring
engineers, including many EARS veterans, though occasionally dissuading
some when privately asked ­ true to his no-nonsense reputation unyielding
honesty. A true renaissance man, few knew he was an accomplished
photographer and diver who swam the Great Barrier Reef, scaled Mount
Kilimanjaro, and traveled extensively, often on his "Harley" well into his
60's.

Though receiving multiple offers to host a memorial, his wife selected the
generous offer from Shirli Dixon ­ daughter of seminal blues producer,
Willie Dixon who often worked with Malcolm. The June 29th tribute was at
the legendary 2120 S. Michigan address of the former Chess Records studios.
Under Shirli's leadership, it is now the home of the Blues Heaven
foundation, a non-profit cultural center and benefactor of current and past
blues artists in need. The succession of fascinating, respectful and often
humorous anecdotes, on videotape were augmented with heartfelt tributes by
many including EARS vets Tim Powell, Danny Leake and yours truly. The warm,
upbeat gathering of new and old friends was fitting for a man who would
characteristically prefer this kind of genuine and unpretentious
celebration of his life.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Ramune and his 29 year old son,
Colin, who has recreated his father's enlightening website at
<http://ripco.com/~chisholm>ripco.com/~chisholm. It documents his
considerable professional credits and much of his writing. Noted national
publication, Mix Magazine will print a notice of his passing in the
September issue due out soon. Editor, George Peterson conveyed his sincere
respect for Malcolm and his writings.

A classic "Chisholm-ism" spoke well of his spirit: "life is uncertain, eat
your dessert first!" Peace, old friend, you did make a positive difference
in this world.
­ G. K.


OK, man, Johnny B. Goode!

Here's what I did this month...

SIR RICHARD BISHOP's solo record, which is due out on Locust at some point.

KEXP live broadcast mixes with -

Optimus Rhyme
Kuma
Cinerama
Snow Patrol
Belle and Sebastian
Hammerbox
Division of Laura Lee
Run Run Run
The Tourists
Graham Travis

Work continued on surround recordings by Monktail Creative Music Concern -
like real Coleman Free Jazz, in surround.

Work also continued on surround recordings of Degenerate Art Ensemble's
impressionistic arrangement of the Resident's Eskimo album (which you must
know is a thrill for me).

In closing, I will always remember Malcolm.