Hello All:

This photo was taken Saturday, October 27th, 2007 at TIKI Recording Studios, Glen Cove, Long Island, New York. Pictured - Palma Pascale; composer, arranger, producer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and genuine friend - and Fred Guarino; President and owner of TIKI Recording Studios - a most interesting historian - quite a splendid host - fabulous engineer - wonderful guitarist, and another genuine friend - both of whom I was glad to finally meet in person in Glen Cove over this past weekend. I've been writing both to and about Palm and Fred for some two years now ... so it was truly nice to meet them, and get to spend some real quality time with them both.

My wife and I were both just overwhelmed at the amazing amount of fun we were able to literally cram into a short afternoon and evening - nevertheless, as I mentioned - it was great quality time, and it was such a pleasure for us.

I can't believe all the things that happened - besides getting to meet and visit with these two at the studio, we also had the pleasure of hearing Palma "live" at a function where she was singing - (hmm....how long have I waited for THAT opportunity, eh)? And, we also got to meet another really fine musician that Palma has been collaborating with: Frank Rendo. Frank is getting ready to put out a Christmas Album, which I won't really discuss here, but might just write a commentary on at some point, yes - on Frank's website, as we decided mutually just today...at any rate, Frank's Christmas Album is due out in November and he invited ME (yes, you read that right) - HE INVITED ME TO SING ON IT!!! And, I DID! It was a song I'd heard Palma sing a number of times - one that she wrote some years ago. After Frank's album comes out, I can talk more openly about it - but I don't want to spoil the surprise of his beautiful compilation by discussing it now. I just want to say, though - you'll want to have it in your Christmas collection, for sure, so don't hesitate to order it. (Ordering information will be available here as soon as I know what it is.)

So yeah, I sang a little part on one of the songs on Frank's album; it was very thoughtful of all three of them to come up with, and to implement the idea. I got to meet Frank, too. That was a nice treat.

Palma and Fred put me in the vocal booth, and I sang (and recorded) a few tunes....Fred was kind enough to mix them, and make a CD for me, even spelling my name right - something not many people do, for sure. I've labled my CD "Tim's Christmas at TIKI" cause it was like Christmas morning to me in many ways - I was wide-eyed with joy, anticipation and admiration, and I was as excited as a child. Well, just look at these photos. Do I look happy, to you? *smiles*

Both Palma and Fred were quite generous to us. Very much so...Our trip to the studio was nothing less than fabulous - we got the entire tour, and learned a lot of fascinating things about Fred and his background, and that was very, very cool! I so enjoyed getting the opportunity to just visit face-to-face with him.

We had coffee and snacks in the kitchen, we saw the "wall of fame" of some of the CD's Fred has produced, and the Grammy nominations he has received - all very impressive.














Palm and I had the opportunity to just sit and sing together - WHAT A JOY! It was truly as I suspected it would be - magical!







I got to record one of the tunes from The Broken Cup, using Palm's original track, that day. I cannot tell you how incredible this part of the whole experience was for me. I recorded another of Palma's tunes, too - and I lived up to our bargain of doing it "imperfectly." And, you know - just getting to be there in that vocal booth, and collaborate with Palma was certainly a dream.....come true! Nice, this.

Palma and I sang some of The Broken Cup tunes together, at the piano - along with some of her 40's era tunes; some new, some not new (to me). I'm going back to TIKI one day, and we're going to record "Tim's Record" as we so dubbed it. I don't know when that will be, but it will happen. Exciting times!

I want to thank these two wonderful people for taking the time that they did to show us around Glen Cove and for all the fun and excitement we had at TIKI!!! There is much more to the story, of course, but it's time to put this blog out there for you to enjoy, and I will blog again soon about more of our trip to Long Island.

As I hoped would happen, (and I suspected it would) - I felt as if I'd known these two all my life - that we had been great friends forever. When someone makes you feel that warm and invited, you know the friendship is a kindred one! It just doesn't get better than this!!

For now, suffice it to say, I really DO know where the magic is made, and..... by whom! How awesome.

Until next time, (when I plan to post more information about the fabulous WHAT THE HELL NELL!), I remain, yours, musically........

~Martini