Where can I find photos of Rudy Van Gelder's studios?

[medjuck]

My son has been working in a recording studio recently, so I began to tell him about Rudy Van Gelder. I wanted to show him some photos of his studio (especially his parents' place in Hackensack because my some had done some recording in our living room). I'm sure I've seen some but I can't find them on-line. Anyone know where I might look?

[brownie]

There must be better images of the studio than this one (Elvin Jones and Dave Liebman at RVG)...

... but I could not trace them right now!

[king ubu]

Here's one from the old place in Hackensack, NJ:

Courtesy of Robert Levin's page

one more - Bill Evans Trio:

and Wes Montgomery:

all three found here

[brownie]

Couple of photos of the RVG studios can be seen in this video (with French subtitles)

[marcello]

[John Tapscott]

My son has been working in a recording studio recently, so I began to tell him about Rudy Van Gelder. I wanted to show him some photos of his studio (especially his parents' place in Hackensack because my some had done some recording in our living room). I'm sure I've seen some but I can't find them on-line. Anyone know where I might look?

Hope the studio your son is working in has a better piano than van Gelder's. Maybe it's just me, but I often find the van Gelder piano sound a bit strange, esp. on recordings from the 80's and 90's. Not out of tune or unpleasant, but certainly not as strong as the piano sound from other studios. Fairly rapid right hand runs don't sound quite as crisp and distinct as on recordings from other studios. Almost an electric piano sound at times.

Edited July 21, 2011 by John Tapscott

[JSngry]

Study this closely, because this is how they did it:

[Chuck Nessa]

Study this closely, because this is how they did it:

That shot was altered to remove the beam structure of the studio - see the pic in Ubu's post.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Study this closely, because this is how they did it:

That shot was altered to remove the beam structure of the studio - see the pic in Ubu's post.

Here's a 2nd shot of that band:

[JSngry]

Then study the photo with the beams added, that's even better. Just notice how the group & the mikes are positioned, where the sounds are aimed, and how the players played in relation to that.

What's going in is players pretty much mixing themselves in terms of group balance, and the room providing the basic character of the overall sound. Tweaks were made along the way, but the basic sound is the result of the players knowing how to play to that miking, Rudy knowing where to put the mikes, and everybody engaging the room rather than trying to work around it with individual close-miking & isolation booths, and all that. Not that there's anything wrong with all that, but all that won't get you that sound.

[Michael Weiss]

Study this closely, because this is how they did it:

That shot was altered to remove the beam structure of the studio - see the pic in Ubu's post.

Here's a 2nd shot of that band:

Alas, if only Rudy would still record like this. All grouped together in the room with no headphones, no baffles, no drum booth....

[medjuck]

Thanks guys. I have a vague memory of a picture of the Englewood Cliffs studio showing a chimney like sky-light. Am I hallucinating again?

[marcello]

Outside of the Engelwood studio:

[jazzbo]

Hope the studio your son is working in has a better piano than van Gelder's. Maybe it's just me, but I often find the van Gelder piano sound a bit strange, esp. on recordings from the 80's and 90's. Not out of tune or unpleasant, but certainly not as strong as the piano sound from other studios. Fairly rapid right hand runs don't sound quite as crisp and distinct as on recordings from other studios. Almost an electric piano sound at times.

I think there's a good chance it's the recording of the piano, and not the piano itself.

[Ted O'Reilly]

Hope the studio your son is working in has a better piano than van Gelder's. Maybe it's just me, but I often find the van Gelder piano sound a bit strange, esp. on recordings from the 80's and 90's. Not out of tune or unpleasant, but certainly not as strong as the piano sound from other studios. Fairly rapid right hand runs don't sound quite as crisp and distinct as on recordings from other studios. Almost an electric piano sound at times.

I think there's a good chance it's the recording of the piano, and not the piano itself.

You bring to mind a guy who could make a Hamburg Steinway sound like a Fisher-Price: Richard Alderson. IMO, had tin ears when it came to pianos...

[Shawn]

Looking at the picture it's interesting to note "NO" sound dampening anywhere. Concrete walls and beamed ceiling working like a broadband diffuser. I would imagine the room being very "live".

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

that outside pic is crazy marcello, wtf

[Bright Moments]

these pictures are way cool. thanks all!

[brownie]

Van Gelder and organist Rob Mostert at RVG studio in 2010

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

u can tell that dude is completely stoked to be chillin w/ rvg

i dont really like tattooos, but if i ever got a tattoo, it would totally be a 'vangelder' stamp tattoo.

[king ubu]

i dont really like tattooos, but if i ever got a tattoo, it would totally be a 'vangelder' stamp tattoo.

classic chewy!

(btw, I just got a dixieland LP with an RVG stamp in it!)

[Chuck Nessa]

I have a bunch of images I took in Rudy's studio. One is inside the "Spirit Catcher" cd and the bulk of the rest are still in negatives. Some day I will put my scanner to work on them.

[king ubu]

... and the bulk of the rest are still in negatives. Some day I will put my scanner to work on them.

smart scanner that can develop negatives!

[Chuck Nessa]

... and the bulk of the rest are still in negatives. Some day I will put my scanner to work on them.

smart scanner that can develop negatives!

I have a Nikon scanner to do this. Not a problem. Thanks to Mark Sheldon for the advise.

Edited July 24, 2011 by Chuck Nessa

[king ubu]

Seriously now? Had no idea such a thing existed!