Before the big studios began to fold in Manhattan, Mark Ambrosino set his sights on building a studio far from the madding crowd. Nothing is more earth shattering than building a studio from scratch – and then being forced to dismantle it and move due to rising rents and taxes. So with an eye on keeping costs low, Mark settled in Queens not far from the Nassau border – and the Madhouse was born.
Though he spent twenty plus years on the road as a touring drummer, Ambrosino has spent close to as many years honing his skills as an engineer, mixer and producer. Having built the studio himself by hand picking gear (some of it from auction sales from notable studios that are no more), probably the first thing that strikes an artist, musician, spectator on hearing their first play back – is just how good it sounds. There is a richness and warmth that is distinctly analog despite the fact the tracks end up in Pro Tools. It’s not an accident. The “guts” of the studio are made up of vintage gear and what emanates from the speakers can’t help but elicit an instinctual smile.
There are many stories of seasoned pros who have been to as many studios as Mark played in over his thirty-something years recording – and they are unable to get over the drum sound Mark can produce in this small studio not far from Kennedy airport. Or the bass sound – a low end richness that can cover a track with a warm blanket. But probably where Mark excels above his peers is in his innate “musicianship” and in his ability to draw out the best in an artist who comes to his studio to record. When he gets to know you, he’ll tell some stories – about touring with Ray Charles or playing those dates with Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston… But as Mark will tell you in the same breath, who you’ve played with or the war stories isn’t where its at. He’ll tell you where its at is right here and now with you – the artist – in the Madhouse, making magic when you hit “Record”. I believe it was Quincy Jones who stated that the producer’s role is to help create a space where you could capture that magic in a room. And Mark lives by that rule. Humility and work ethic are uncommon virtues in a world somewhat obsessed with who’s who and what’s hot this week. Mark once said to me, “you can buy the look, but you can’t buy the grease”.
If you want to know what “grease” sounds like, I recommend a visit to the Madhouse. If you’ve got a little greatness in you, take the trip here and watch it pore out of you.
– Tom Laverack,
CoFounder, Sojourn Records
Contact The Madhouse
p: 212 255 5080
email: mark@sojournrecords.com