Jason Levine – Healing People Daily with the Power of Digital Video & Audio

To my inspirational group, I salute you...

Elaine Benedict - Elementary School Music Teacher: A tall, soft-spoken, striking woman, and my 'first' real inspirational figure; she was someone who truly charted a course for me. Some may remember that in the late 70s/early 80s, music was still taught in public schools---regularly. She taught us the fundamentals of piano & guitar, scales, harmony, counterpoint (yes...Bach!), and melody. I befriended her early on, and even when I was an 'older' kid (ie, 13, 14) we stayed in contact. She even let me 'lead' our school production of 'CATS' (I played it ALL on synth). Mrs. B, I've loved you forever, and always will.

Martin Kale - High School Media Production: Cut to several years later, and suddenly I'm a small fish in a big pond. Having already built a recording studio at home, which included two Hi8 Editing Decks (and some primitive Sony Camcorders), I was already somewhat known for doing videos. Mr. Kale ran the Media Production department, and was in charge of our High School's TV Station (we had a show on the local cable network). A fellow teacher (from the previous grade) had recommended me to him. He was tough, critical, harsh at times, and brutally honest---but he knew his stuff, and his method was simply a way to get you to do more, do it better than others, and do it more efficiently. He was also responsible for teaching me how to properly wrap cables (and anyone who's worked in the industry KNOWS the importance of that!). We spent 4 years together (where I would eventually become the 'Executive Producer' of our TV Show), and it was truly an enlightening, life-altering and confidence-generating experience knowing him.

Michael Lawrence - High School A.P. Physics: Mr. Lawrence (or, M.L., as I used to call him) was the epitome of cool. The man was good looking (girls LOVED him), slim (again, "everyone" loved him), funny, incredibly brilliant, and he would often break out his electric guitar in class and play anything from Rockpile to Dave Edmunds to classic blues. We spent two years together (both in regular Physics, and senior year in Advanced Placement Physics) and he *almost* steered me away from music, simply because his methods, his demeanor, and his ability to convey meaning in the subject was just beyond anything I'd ever experienced. We actually did a video together (surprise) wherein I filmed and narrated a whole series of processes (some including laser light, pith balls, electromagnetics, etc) and the idea was to create something he could use as a reference, year after year. Still got that videotape, ML?? Truly, the coolest teacher EVER. An inspiration in delivery, and connecting with your audience.

Carmelina McCarthy - High School English: Carm, as I used to call her(are you sensing a pattern here? ;), didn't like me when we first met, day 1, ninth grade. I tried for a week to do everything I could to get noticed, and she just 'didn't' notice me. Finally, after 5 days, I went up to her and asked, "What's the problem here? Why don't you like me?" She responded with, "I think you have talent...but I'm not going to praise you for simply 'being a good student'. You've got to earn it. Everyday. Create, everyday. That's the mark of true artistry, and you're an artist." This woman altered my thinking forever. She turned me into a (momentary) poet, forced me to write lyrics (which would come in handy in my Nashville days and beyond), taught me about Dylan (both 'Thomas' and Robert Zimmerman) and became a fantastic friend and role-model. She had also been on broadway, and had an incredible knowledge of theatre and music. Upon graduating, she would bestow upon me a whole collection of classic LPs; and she even quoted The Beatles' Let It Be to me, in my yearbook.

Mitch Benoff, Tony Carbone, Ivan Sever - Berklee College of Music, Music Production & Engineering Professors: And now we enter the College realm, and right from the start, I was fortunate to meet some incredible industry legends. Mitch & Tony had recorded some major artists back in the 80s, and knew EVERYTHING about mixing and the process of making records sound like records, vocals sound great, and making sure that you didn't get screwed when you wrote your own stuff (thanks, Mitch! Your music biz class was *the* best). Mitch was also the originator of one of my favorite lines, "You've got to Pre-Produce, to Reproduce." Ivan was a character who simply wanted to make it clear that the technology was one facet of the industry (as it was evolving at a rapid pace in those days)...but good recording technique comes from 'classic' knowledge, old-school methods, and a true understanding of how sound works and makes people feel (the sound 'workflow', if you will). At one point, I think he even lead us to a conclusion (which I had steered him towards) that ABBA were responsible for everything. I think he was right. I love ABBA to this day. He was a genius, and one of the funniest people I'd ever met.

George Monseur - Berklee College of Music, Conducting Professor: I've already written of George's profound influence on me about a year ago, but he was indeed quite the character. Having studied and apprenticed with the likes of Leonard Bernstein, Leopold Stokowski and others, he showcased to me that conducting had very little to do with 'holding a stick'...it's all about the body---and keeping people together, engaged, enraptured with your presence. He once conducted (for the class) an opera with nothing but the movements of his hips, ass and legs. Yes. And we could follow what he was doing, down to the individual cello part. His tagline, which I've alluded to, was simply...Be Brilliant. This is something I continue to use today, something I try to live by, to aspire to with each and every performance. An inspiration in using your (physical and mental) abilities to engage people...no matter what the situation, or obstacles in front of you.

Don Puluse - Berklee College of Music, Dean of Music Technology, Industry Icon: Quite simply, Don was a recording legend...and he was the Dean of the department that I was majoring in. I'd already known *of* him, as he engineered everyone from Janis Joplin, to Sly Stone, to Chicago, to Jaco Pastorius, and the list goes on. We became friends in the last year or so, just before graduating, and Don was instrumental in helping me land my first gig, straight out of college, with another industry icon (and an idol of mine, for as long as I could remember)...Roger Nichols. All I can say is...thank you, Don. Thanks, for everything.

John Stevens - Berklee College of Music, Songwriting/Harmony Professor, noted Beatle Historian I first met John when I took his 'Songwriting of John Lennon' class. Already being a Beatle fanatic at that point, I was quite curious what he was going to teach me (because after all, I knew it all! LOL...beatle freaks!). In short, we connected, we played music together, we formed a Beatle tribute band called 'The Blue Meanies', and he's been a life-long friend ever since. John is also responsible for encouraging me to really 'sing'...in registers I didn't know I was capable of. He's also got one of the best 'screams' in the biz. John's got several books on the songs of John Lennon, and continues to give lectures all over the country, including at the famed 'Fest for Beatle Fans' (formerly, Beatlefest). An incredible songwriter and guitar player, lyricist, and crazy-funny guy. I'm the Paul to his John. To the toppermost of the poppermost!

Stephen Webber - Berklee College of Music, Music Production/Engineering/Business Professor: Stephen was appointed as Professor in Engineering at Berklee during my last semester. He was a guitar player, recording engineer, and someone who had the most Zen-Calm studio attitude I'd ever seen. He was patient, meticulous, and very appreciative when things were done well. He taught me about many of the fundamentals of clean, isolated mixing, mixing to film/video, and the (early) process of making digital music for commercials and CD Mastering. He also recommended me to a studio in Lincoln, MA (home of Walden Woods) and got me a job as a House Engineer during my last semester. I can't say enough great things about this man. Oh, and he was also a sort of 'humanitarian', generally good-natured, superb human being. A lot of praise indeed, but that barely touches the surface of his kindness and generosity. An inspiration in patience and process.

Roger Nichols - Engineering Legend, Digital Audio Pioneer, Immortal One: Upon meeting Roger for the first time (during the 'job interview'), I handed him a *cassette* of some of my recent mixes. He took the tape, he paused, he exclaimed, "We don't do ANALOG here!" and he tossed it into the corner of the room. That was Roger, in a nutshell; unpredictable, humorous, disgustingly brilliant, straight-forward, and painfully honest. He would wind up hiring me, and we would begin a working relationship (and friendship) that continues to this day. Roger taught me 'how to hear'. He gave me the tools to develop 'golden ears', and literally taught me 'everything I know', once I entered the professional music world. He was unusually kind, forever generous of his time and knowledge, and continues to inspire me to this day. Roger, you know how I feel...and I always go in for a hug, don't I?

Jason, Roger & John Denver, mixing what would be his final studio album, Nashville, 1997

So there you have it, my friends. A long list, indeed, but one that I felt needed sharing. As I continue to travel the world, I only hope that I can provide even a small level of this type of inspiration; not only for products, but for the ability to get out and *try* something new; try animating, try editing, try masking & photomerging, etc. etc. It's truly an attempt to share the love and good feelings, and provide some insight into what's possible with a little inspiration and incredible tools.

Until next time,

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