Tag Archives: Matthew Ward

Neal Morse: Testimony 2

On May 23, 2011, “Metal Blade” label released “Testimony 2”, the eight Neal Morse studio album. It was recorded 2010 – 2011, at Morse’s house in Nashville, Tennessee, and was produced by Neal Morse.

Personnel:

  • Neal Morse – vocals, guitars, synth, piano, organ
  • Randy George – bass
  • Mike Portnoy – drums
  • Steve Morse – guitar
  • Paul Bielatowicz – guitar
  • Jim Hoke – saxophones
  • Mark Leniger – saxophone
  • Kenny Barnd – violin
  • Chris Carmichael – violin, viola, cello
  • Eric Brenton – electric violin 
  • Nick D’Virgilio – vocals
  • Alan Morse – vocals
  • Dave Meros – vocals
  • Matthew Ward – backing vocals, soulful wailing
  • Debbie Bressee, April Zachary, Mark Pogue, Mita Pogue – backing vocals
  • Rich Mouser – mixing
  • Jerry Guidroz – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Neal Morse.

  1. Mercy Street
  2. Overture No. 4
  3. Time Changer
  4. Jayda
  5. Nighttime Collectors
  6. Time Has Come Today
  7. Jesus Blood
  8. The Truth Will Set You Free
  9. Chance of a Lifetime
  10. Jesus Bring Me Home
  11. Road Dog Blues
  12. It’s for You
  13. Crossing Over/ Mercy Street Reprise
  14. Absolute Beginner
  15. Supernatural
  16. Seeds of Gold

The Divine Comedy: Fin de Siècle

On August 31, 1998, “Setanta” label released “Fin de Siècle”, the sixth Divine Comedy (The) album. It was recorded in 1998 and was produced by Jon Jacobs and Neil Hannon.

Personnel:

  • Neil Hannon– vocals, guitar
  • Joby Talbot – harpsichord, piano, arranger, conductor
  • John Best – tenor vocal
  • Phillip Robinson – tenor vocal
  • Nik Turner – tenor vocal
  • Julia White – soprano vocal
  • Ken Wilson – tenor vocal
  • John Gibbons – bass vocal
  • Paul Mason – bass vocal
  • Ian Lawrence – bass vocal
  • Dexter Fletcher – the narrator
  • John Murphy – viola
  • Robert Riley – viola
  • Anna Giddey – violin
  • Mary Martin – violin
  • Kelly McCusker – violin
  • Matthew Ward – violin
  • Betsy Taylor – cello
  • Bryan Mills – bass
  • Ian Watson – double bass
  • Peter Devlin – double bass
  • Miggy Barradas – drums
  • Stuart “Pinkie” Bates – accordion, organ
  • Simon Jones – piccolo trumpet, trumpet
  • Steve Hilton – programming
  • Steve Hilton – programming
  • Andy Scade – engineer, programming
  • Jon Jacobs – engineer, mixing
  • Jon Jacobs – engineer, mixing
  • Adam Brown – recording assistant
  • Mitsuo Tate – recording assistant
  • Mark Togashi – assistant
  • Rob Crane – design
  • Neil Hannon – concept
  • Kevin Westenberg – concept, photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Hannon, except where noted.

  1. Generation Sex
  2. Thrillseeker
  3. Commuter Love
  4. Sweden
  5. Eric the Gardener – Neil Hannon, Joby Talbot
  6. National Express
  7. Life on Earth
  8. The Certainty of Chance – Neil Hannon, Joby Talbot
  9. Here Comes the Flood
  10. Sunrise

Mavis Staple: Livin’ On A High Note

On February 19, 2016, “Epitaph” label released “Livin’ on a High Note”, the Mavis Staples studio album. It was recorded in August 2015, at “Agoura Borealis” in Agoura Hills, California, “Kingsize” in Los Angeles, and “CRC” in Chicago, and was produced by Matthew Ward.

Personnel:

  • Mavis Staples – vocals
  • Donny Gerrard – vocals
  • Rick Holmstrom – guitar
  • Tucker Martine – tambourine, mixing
  • Matthew Ward – guitars, organ, synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Jeff Turmes – bass
  • Stephen Hodges – drums
  • Alex Budman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • David Moyer – baritone saxophone
  • Sean Billings – trumpet
  • Nathaniel Walcott – trumpet, clavinet, horn arrangements
  • Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews – trumpet, trombone
  • Humberto Ruiz – trombone
  • Vicki Randle – backing vocals
  • Pierre de Reeder, Josh Kvale, Mat Lejeune – engineer
  • Adam Ayan – mastering
  • Masaki Koike – art direction, design

Track listing:

  1. Take Us Back – Benjamin Booker
  2. Love and Trust – Ben Harper
  3. If It’s a Light – Charity Rose Thielen
  4. Action – Merrill Garbus
  5. High Note – Valerie June
  6. Don’t Cry – Matthew Ward
  7. Tomorrow – Jon Batiste, Aloe Blacc
  8. Dedicated – Justine Vernon, Matthew Ward
  9. History Now – Neko Case, Donny Gerrard, Laura Veirs
  10. One Love – Aaron Livingston
  11. Jesus Lay Down Beside Me – Nick Cave
  12. MLK Song – Martin Luther King Jr., Matthew Ward