April 18, 2026

I’ve finally wrapped production on Michele Gedney’s new CD, Map of the World. It will likely be released under Open Book, the duo she shared with her late husband—and my dear friend—Rick Gedney. I’ve been recording with Michele for over 20 years, and this marks her first solo project. I’m incredibly proud of what we created together.

A big shout-out to the bedrock of these sessions: Marco Giavino (drums) and Mike Visceglia (bass). Their creative input was essential to shaping these tunes. Beyond being two of the funniest mother f’ers I know, I rely on them as much for their ideas as for their world-class musicianship. The same goes for Dan Weiss on keyboards.

This entire project was done remotely—I’m in Austin, and everyone else is spread across the Northeast. Working this way brings challenges, especially when it comes to producing performances. Beyond a few suggestions and gentle nudges, you really can’t “produce” in the traditional sense. It makes it essential to collaborate with musicians who have strong compositional and arranging instincts. Thankfully, I rarely had to ask for a second take.

Michele’s songwriting and musicianship are at the heart of everything you hear on Map of the World. No matter how dense the arrangements became, we always aimed to support the narrative of the songs rather than distract from it. Her ears and instincts were my guide throughout.

And finally, the master of mastering: Scott Hull. I trust his ears completely. Working with Scott has made me a better engineer. His approach is musical, preserving the dynamics and intent of every track—and he’s a beast when it comes to cutting vinyl. Highly recommended.

On to the next projects—one of which is my own: an eclectic collection of covers from some of my favorite songs and artists. Expect a mix of instrumentals, a few scratch vocals, maybe a guest or two, and some original compositions.

Have fun storming the castle.

B