Warren Hatfield
"Smile"

On November 25th & 26 th LMP Studios was the site for the recording of a new CD "Smile" by saxophonist Warren Hatfield .   This album is a tribute to Paul Desmond whose unique and beautiful alto sax sound was an inspiration to musicians and saxophonists worldwide.   For those who might not know - Paul Desmond played alto sax with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and was a multiple Grammy and Downbeat award winner.   He is a legend in the field of jazz.

Warren Hatfield from Phoenix, Arizona is well known in the professional music business and planned this tribute CD with a staff of superb arrangers.   Warren's long time friend and world renown film composer John Cacavas contributed four elegant arrangements to this project along with three from LA composers Brent Pierce and Roger Myers .   Don Sebesky was kind enough to allow his arrangement of "You Can't Go Home Again" to be recorded.   This score was from Paul Desmond's last recording session with trumpeter Chet Baker -a session that Don Sebesky produced.

The musicians were top call LA studio players - Tom Ranier on piano, Tom Hynes on guitar, Adrian Rosen on bass, and the drum chair was masterfully covered by Jim Coffin and Dan Hatfield (Warren's son).   Adrian Rosen was the contractor for the superb string section from American Federation of Musicians Local 47 (Hollywood).   The players were: Violins - John Wittenberg-Concertmaster, Susan Chatman, Kristin Fife, Norm Hughes, Vladimir Polimatidi, Violas - Caroline Buckman, Cynthia Fogg, Cellos - Stefanie Fife, Rudolph Stein, and the rest of the artists were Singers - Karen Schnurr, Jill Marie Burke, Greg Whipple, Trist Ethan Curless, Trombone - Jeff Tower, Trumpet - Jim Linahon.

With the addition of two wonderful new R122 microphones and two R121's plus the SF12 from Royer Labs the orchestra sounds were simply magnificent!

As if playing beautiful alto sax and wonderful improvisations on this tribute CD were not enough - Warren also played some gorgeous Oboe as well!

Starting with the title cut "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin with John Cacavas' brilliant orchestration it was obvious that this was going to be a very unique musical creation. For all of us at LMP Studios it was a complete delight to work on this masterful CD - there were truly superb talents on every facet of this project.  

Producer Jim Linahon said "I am sure that Paul Desmond is smiling!"