Bruce Whitcomb Music

contact for price

Select a service

Zip code

Audio recording genre

Budget

Recording type

Sorry this pro can’t do your job, but we know other pros who can.

Check them out

Introduction: The music industry has more and more used samples, pitch correctors, automation, and the like to produce music. Midi controlled devices and filters too are great things and all part of producing today's music, but using instruments which are actually played and which can deliver many more musical nuances than their midi keyboard counterparts will always remain invaluable in music production. There still is an incredibly large amount of popular music that came into existence way before computers, extreme filters, and midi controllers took over the scene. In trying to create productions of similar vintage sound, one must use real instruments just as they have been for decades. Much of today's music is completely automated, computerized, pitch and time corrected, and filtered through various gadgets. It is all interesting and useful to various degrees to create what we now consider current industrial music. Nonetheless, the personal touch of a real drummer, pianist, guitarist, violinist, sax player, or even completely exposed and minimally processed real vocal track can not be approximated in any convincing way by machine. There are many producers who play keyboards or can program drums to some degree, but few who can play all the instruments that I can play to the degree that I do. For example, if you really do play live drums, your drum programming will probably be better than those produced by a no-playing producer. This is not to boast, it is just that I have not found many others over the years that truly play as many instruments convincingly in the recording environment. Beyond that, years of experience in creating my own parts, engineering my own acoustic sounds- mic placement, use of compression, noise gates, various effects, and mastering tools is invaluable. So this is something I have over most of my competitors. I have no problems with using any tools to my advantage to make a final product sound as convincing as possible, but never to the detriment of the "reality" of a recording. Automated mixing is a godsend that I love and use always these days. Knowing how to get the most from my compressors, equalizers, filters, etc. to get a well balanced sound out of any instrument is key to any good recording. Also having NOT used these more advanced things in years past has been just as much a godsend. Learning to always optimize what you have at the time will only mean better results and a fuller understanding when better machinery becomes available later. Kind of a long winded answer I guess--- but informative I hope. I like most that I never know the musical taste of whomever walks through my door. Music production is always a work in progress, where constant learning is a given. There are so many artists and styles going on concurrently, that it would only make sense that someone else will be better at producing some particular style better than I. I have always liked this challenge and risen to it gladly. Many times I've had consultations where an artist is named as a favorite of someone and I have never heard of this artist. I then make sure to do some homework and have even gone so far as making a quick mock demo of that style to convince myself and my perspective client that I can indeed produce in that style. Either way, it's all about music and learning- and that I like most.

Overview

Hired 3 times

Payment methods

Ask this pro about their preferred payment method.

Reviews

Exceptional 5.0

6 reviews

100%

Alex F.

Sep 2, 2013

Hi. I'm Alex Foster. I've been a member of the NBC Saturday Night Live band for decades and have played saxaphone in live situations and on records with a wide number of artists during this time including many of the guest artists on the show. I've know Bruce Whitcomb since the mid '1970s. We both moved to New York around the same time. When I was getting ready to record my first album, "Beginnings Goodbye", I heard that Bruce had put his own studio together. I knew Bruce played a few instruments well, and I was confident that we could work well together. It was a great experience, and since we shared many of our favorite instrumentalists in common, Bruce came up with parts and styles that suited just what I was looking for. A great artist, bassist Jaco Pastorius, suddenly died during the making of this record. I had been playing in Jaco's band during that time, so I set up a benefit concert to help remember Jaco's genius and to help out his family financially. I wanted Bruce to play in this concert because he had been so strongly influenced by Jaco's style, and he was the right choice to use in playing Jaco's music in a small group setting. People from all over the world attended this sad but needed event. We became closer as friends during this time, and as I made arrangements for events in my solo career, I was happy to have Bruce along for the ride. I took him to Zurich, Switzerland to play in my group on a TV show called Jazz In which was an honor. It was three days of hard work, and a wonderful experience. After that, we played several gigs in and around New York together and have remained friends over many years. I highly recommend anyone interested in having their music put into recorded form that they use Bruce's know-how in that process. The parts he comes up with are always great, and he can get very good results with the instruments and equipment he uses. Other than that, he is extremely cost-effictive in what he charges and truly dedicated to music first and foremost. If you believe in your music, he will definitely help to turn it into a great recorded product in his own studio.

Bruce Whitcomb Music's reply

Thanks for your constant support as a friend and as great musician to know and work with these many years. All Best- BW

Aziza M.

Oct 5, 2013

I'm Aziza, a song writer and artist from New York. One day many years ago I was looking for someone to help me put my music together in a studio. I called a number out of a Village Voice ad, and that was the beginning of a long music production relationship with Bruce Whitcomb. I'd have to say I'm currently mostly a jazz/R&B/musician/poet in my own right. I have been a musician my whole life due to a great part to my musical dad and having been strongly influenced by R&B artists when I grew up. Jazz is in my blood, and I was very glad to learn that Bruce had a deep love of it too. In many of our recordings in the beginning, I'd have Bruce program drums and then I'd play all the other parts. When I write, I get very specific about bass lines and parts I hear, and being a pianist primarily, I've always played my own keyboard parts. One day Bruce offered to play electric bass and guitar on a tune. I didn't really know he played back then! He sat back and attentively watched me put my music together without interjecting any more than that, which was in many ways refreshing- until I heard what he had to offer to enhance my music from his own perspective which was a lot. He always engineered the sessions very quickly and accurately, and for me as my own producer, that is really important in the studio. Anyway, his contributions became invaluable, and from that day on I was always interested to see where his parts would take my music. We have probably recorded about twenty songs together over about a twenty year span or so. I have my own band of great musicians and play primarily around the east coast. I have headed up the late night jazz jams at the Blue Note in NYC, been the primary keyboard sub in Oprah Winfrey's broadway show The Color Purple, been Natalie Cole's musical director and pianist on a several tours, and have had songs of mine covered by artists such as Ahmad Jamal, Natalie Cole and others. Bruce is a close friend and a very musical soul. I prize our musical relationship as much as our personal friendship. I know he can always do wonders in the studio and recommend his abilities highly to any aspiring artist on any level

Bruce Whitcomb Music's reply

Many thanks, my dear musical friend. Your writing, voice, and playing are amazing, and your solo career is about as unique and meaningful as it comes. We'll all be seeing more of you every year- and for very good reason. There are messages in your music that we all need to hear in this world right now. You are an artist who is out there to make a difference and it shows. I'm proud of you for all you have done and continue to do. It's what makes our world go around. You inspire me to push ahead with my own playing too, and for that I am very grateful. Love and Peace to You- BW

Dennis A.

Oct 6, 2013

Hi, I'm Dennis Angeloni, a friend and recording client of Bruce Whitcomb for many years. I'm from The Norwalk area, and since I've always worked in Manhattan, Bruce and I have recorded extensively in his New York City studio since way back. As a musician, Bruce always knows how to take the reigns once he is shown basic concepts or very specific concepts of my music. I can always trust that all the important elements and the feel of my music remains intact while Bruce puts many different enhancements in and around it. He always has a slew of different ideas to add, but is always attentive to what works best in my mind. I would have to say that he is a very "helpful" music producer in that regard rather than one who just does things his own way or thinks his own way is always the best. Since he has moved out to Monroe, CT; I'm really glad to have rekindled our recording experiences out in my home territory. Lately, we have been working on some piano pieces that I have written over several years. Bruce is going to add many instruments on top of the piano parts he has transcribed and played out for me. I've always been a big Steely Dan fan, and my piano parts convey this. I know when we're done, Bruce will have captured just what I've been looking for and more in the final production. I can't recommend him highly enough to all songwriters, instrumentalists, or anyone who wants their music made into a great recording.

Bruce Whitcomb Music's reply

Dennis- Many thanks, and I'm sure we''ll come up with some surprising stuff together on the new material. It's challenging and different, and that's exactly what I like about it. Never a dull moment with you. So we'll see where this all takes us very soon on your now favorite date of the month... the 13th. Just for the sake of it, we'll squeeze a few 13th chords in there for good measure...actually, I think we already appropriately have some. Anyway, thanks again and see you soon- BW

Joe C.

Oct 16, 2013

I'm Joe cardona a songwriter and singing artists from New York City. I have worked with Bruce for many many years. We have worked on way more than a full CD in this time. He can take CDs of other artists I like and create tracks for my songs just by listening and taking important elements them. I know what I like sound wise and I know Bruce can always give me what I'm looking for . He works very quick and with all the instruments he plays he can finish up complete tracks in much less time than most other producers have ever been able to. Plus, he always helps me get my vocals just right. Bruce is a very talented and approachable guy. He has been a great help in my music career and I know that anyone will feel the same once they get to know him and work with him.

Bruce Whitcomb Music's reply

Thanks for your support, Joe. It is always interesting to see where we are going on the next project. Your taste is very eclectic, so it's really different each time around. Give me a call after your next video is finished, and we'll hit the ground running on the next song project. See you then- BW

Gail M.

Oct 5, 2013

I have worked with Bruce for more than 15 years. I write songs. Bruce is an engineer, arranger, and incredible musician. The more I work with him the more talent I find that he has. He wants the client to end up with a product that corresponds to what the client wants. He will make suggestions but in the end the client decides. His musical talent is extraordinary. He can play in many styles. He spends as long as it takes to get a good mix. His ability to blend all the instruments in the mix is excellent. I can't say enough. You get want you want and more when you work with Bruce.

Bruce Whitcomb Music's reply

Thanks a million Gail. It's so great that you come out from the city to record with me still after all these years. I always look forward to the next project and seeing where it will take us. Your gift for arranging lies equally in what is included as what is left out in the appropriate places as well. That would seem a small thing to do, but not many people view it from the all important vantage point of "ebb and flow" in an arrangement. It is a lesson I learn over and again with you, and it has always helped me to carry that over into my work with others. Until our next project brings us together again- BW

FAQs

How did you get started doing this type of work?
When I came to New York, I played several instruments and had the opportunity to work playing all of them in different situations. Soon I realized that no matter how good I might have been on any one of them, to be a known player in the music business, I had to choose one instrument and stick to it exclusively. I bought a big Teac four track recorder back in the mid 70s, and I loved multi-tracking parts on my own while I was the manager of a music rehearsal studio. I always wanted to get deeper into it with a better mixing board and more tracks. I eventually got a small Fostex eight track recorder and a Ramsa 18 channel board. I even produced some good records and jingles with this equipment, but finally changed to different digital platforms just when the digital recording revolution was happening. As I've stated before, the amount that can be learned with "adequate" technology is just as important as what can be taken for granted with the expensive stuff. Either way, I found I could still play all my instruments and have that work for me in my own production facility. It has worked out well over these many years.
What types of customers have you worked with?
Most commonly, I arrange, play all the instrumental parts, engineer vocal sessions, mix, and master projects in my Monroe, CT studio on complete song productions for singer/ songwriters from all walks of life. It is something I have always loved to do and have always been very good at. I did this with great success in New York City for approximately twenty-five years. I still work with many New York clients in CT, and look forward to meeting and working with all interested songwriters in the CT area.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
The music business can be very daunting and discouraging due to many people's perceptions that it is all about the platinum careers that they must have or strive for. This can't be farther from the truth. I have worked with notable pros and with complete unknowns with equal talent but less experience. Music is something available to everyone to experience and grow with. There is nothing wrong with wanting to "be a star" or counted amongst your idols as a peer. Almost every notable artist started out with such a dream. If you are a novice at this, it is important to stay focused on achieving a level of proficiency in what you are striving to accomplish musically. Then it is all about learning more and growing with your new found knowledge. The first real success in music is attaining this level of musical awareness. Only then would anyone be preparing themselves for a musical career which is not necessarily an easy one in this world. Let me say this- the reward must first and foremost come from the music you create and you honest conviction about this to be in this line of work professionally. I would say be wary of any producers who promise or allude to your success through their connections or associations with known artists or business people. And if they are truly that well connected, they should not be asking money of you for their services if they "truly believe in your talent". Also use your best judgement- are the productions they have created fantastic to you, or are they lacking somehow? The first person who has to be completely ecstatic about your work is YOU. If you aren't yet, you have some growing to do; and that is completely normal, because music is something you will always grow with. Chances are that if your main goal in being in the music business as a star who lives in a big house in the right neighborhood and who has millions of dollars and private jets, well I'm probably not the best producer for you. Goals of fame and wealth are not bad things at all, but all to often for many new to the business they are substitutes for the beauty of mature musical expression for which I'm happy to say there is absolutely no substitute. If you are first and foremost someone in love with music itself, I can guarantee you that I am the right producer for you.