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Jim Santos
Guitars Keyboards Percussion Vocals Songwriter
The Story
Playing guitar since age 10, Jim is a self-taught musician. In addition to
guitar, he taught himself bass, drums and keyboards. Jim writes or
co-writes all of the bands songs and is the bands engineer and producer. Jim's
main axes are a custom shop Fender Fat-Strat, a Gibson Les Paul,
''84"CAT" Strat and a Fender Telecaster. Other gear includes Taylor, Washburn
and Takamine acoustics, Gretsch and Epiphone hollow-body's. Keyboards
are Roland and Korg.
A product of the busy New Jersey club scene,
performing 5 nights a week with a number of groups, Jim has also worked
professionally as a FOH mixer, and is a self-admitted tech head that enjoys
computers. His eclectic musical influences run from Jimi Hendrix, Beatles,
Stones, Todd Rundgren and Eric Clapton to Pink Floyd, Yes, Led Zep, Deep Purple,
Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Uriah Heep, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and
and 180 degrees from that to the Allman Bros. He can often be heard
muttering "I just wanna play the blues"!
NEW ! updated
09/02/2010
New NORWAY song "WHERE
ARE YOU NOW" available exclusively on the new Melodic Rock MR7 2-disc
compilation.
Order yours today !
January
8, 2010 - Uploaded 2 remixes of songs from Rising Up From They Ashes.
They sound better than
what's on the record and are free to all to
download :-) Check them out at our MUSIC
page.
November
5,2008 - Jim & original vocalist GLENN PIERSON have begun
collaborating on recording some of their favorite cover songs. Here's a
sample of Uriah Heep's -The Wizard given the NORWAY treatment !
TheWizard.mp3
Great
friend and roots / R&B artist WIZ (aka Peter Knight) from down under
has a wonderful new CD out titled "Forty Years" Head on over
to his website and check it out!
April
16th, 2008
The long awaited AOR project FROZEN RAIN has been released, and early
reviews are calling it a classic, must have AOR Masterpeice. The album
features contributions from many well known AOR artists such as Tommy
Denander (Radioactive), Steve Newman (Newman),
Daniel Flores (Minds Eye) &Jim Santos (Norway)
.
I added a solo at the end of "Never Be A Fool Again", and a
bit of rhythm guitar in" Say That You Love Me",as well as did
the mixes for those two songs and a 3rd, "Your Love". If you
love melodic rock, then do yourself a favor (and Kurt), and head over to
his site and pick one up now !
April
7, 2008 -Added some new gear pic's, I've recorded tracks for two AdryA
songs, and have been writing some new material. Really trying to
decide to undertake another NORWAY album, or just let it fade away
and do something new. It's hard to spend a year writing and
recording to get screwed by the label. This is the first Im talking
about it, but MTM never even paid us the advance and then folded. It
appears they did not even make the necessary GEMA payments for the
songwriting royalties, so it looks like we wont get that either.
So we'll have to see.
Also my pal
Kurt Vereecke's FROZEN RAIN album
is getting released April 18th,so check it out!
I added some rhythm guitars,one solo, and mixed 2 or 3
songs.
March
26, 2007
Wow! It's sure been busy with promotion for "Rising Up From The
Ashes"! Thanks to you all, for the fantastic support and warm
welcome back. I've also been busy mixing a few tracks for Kurt
and Frozen Rain, and I'm about to start recording some guitar tracks
for a wonderful new artist, AdryA
. She has a totally unique soulful style that is melodic and full
of beautiful melodies and a moment later she seems to transform the
sound into something progressive & pulsing that at first catches you
unaware.....then transports you to another place, and back again.
I'm thrilled to be working with her! So check her out here: AdryA
at her homepage, and at her myspace
page.
I also have an all acoustic mix of "SAVE ME"-Just Dave
Baldwin & I with a acoustic guitar and a piano, a full band
acoustic/pop version of the ballad "ONLY ONE I NEED" and a
completely re-mastered version of our favorite track from our debut CD
Night Dreams, "HEARTBEAT" .
December
28, 2006
I'm mixing several tracks for the next FROZEN
RAIN record.
December 7, 2006
Norway is donating royalties to Music Rising.
Jim
hanging with legendary producer, songwriter, guitarist Todd Rundgren
I went to a show doing a tribute to Abbey Road featuring Alan
Parsons, John Entwhistle(RIP), Ann Wilson (Heart), Dave Pack (Ambrosia)
and the great Todd Rundgren. We were invited to go backstage for the
after show party, and it was a big thrill to meet meet all those great
players and especially Todd. We had a few moments to chat and snap a few
pics. My wife and
I were so glad to meet Todd that we forgot(?) to take pics
of everyone else!
I've added some guitar to tracks for the
new CD from singer/songwriter Laura
Diamond. I love her stuff, and feel lucky to have been able to play
on a few tracks. She has a very cool modern alt/folk thing happening.
Laura's
new CD "FLOWER GARDEN" IS NOW OUT - BUY A COPY!!!
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Legend
Picks
Jim uses Legend GuitarPicks. |
Current Gear
ELECTRIC GUITARS
Gibson Les Paul Custom
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Gibson Les Paul Studio "lite"
Fender "Splattercaster"
Fender
Cat Strat
Fender
Fat Strat
Gretsch
Country Classic
PRS Paul Allender SE
Fender 12 String Stratocaster
Epiphone Casino
Harmony H15 (vintage)
Charvel Bass
Charvel Model 4
ACOUSTIC GUITARS
Taylor 210ce
Washburn 12 string
AMPLIFIERS
Marshall 2 x 12 cabinet (circa 1970)
Hughes & Kettner Switchblade
Vox Valvetronix
Vintage 1976 Fender "Silverface "Pro-Reverb
Marshall MG-30
Keyboards. Miscellaneous & effects
Dunlop Crybaby Wah
Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face
Radial Engineering Tri-Mode pedal
Steve Vai Bad Horsie Wah
Radial Big Shot splitter
Radial Re-Amp
Johnson J-Station
Korg A-3 preamp/processor
Roland Tuner
Korg 05w/r Module
Emu Studio X Sampler
KORG M50 Workstation
Roland JV880 Synth Module
Boss SE-50
Radial Tonebone Trimode
Besides
the AOR & MHR for Norway, I write and play in many
different genres and styles. Here on this page I'll post my favorite
riffs and solos from music I've written.
COMING SOON
2005 CUSTOM FENDER STRAT
I finally found the perfect STRAT.
After buying and selling maybe 1/2 dozen Strats, I've
found "the one". Plays like a dream, looks great, and sounds
fantastic.
Olympic White, with gold hardware, mapleneck,
Dimarzio Virtual Vintage pickups, locking tuners and an aged pearl
pickguard.
FENDER 12 STRING STRATOCASTER
 A
very cool limited edition Strat 12 string! Made in Japan, sounds so
good I sold my Rickenbacker ! |
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2008 Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop
My latest addition to the family is a 2008 Gibson Les Paul Custom
Black Beauty from the Gibson Custom Shop. It's true when they say
"you don't find the guitar, the guitar finds you" . I must
have played every Gibson they had at Sam Ash, and this one was
magical. I dare say it plays sweeter than my Wine red '96 LP!
1984 Fender Stratocaster
Outrageous '84 Strat. Made in Japan, it was hand painted in leopard
print and then nitro clear coated. With a locking Floyd Rose and
DiMarzio Virtual Vintage Solo Pro's.
'96 GIBSON LES PAUL STUDIO
I got this Les Paul Studio in '96. It's the guitar I used most
often on our "ARRIVAL" CD, and is probably my favorite
recording guitar.
A Seymour Duncan Distortion in the neck position, and a DiMarzio
Tone-Zone in the bridge. I've also given it a bit of a new look this
year, with "cream pearl" pickguard, toggle switch and all
new gold hardware.
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GRETSCH COUNTRY CLASSIC II
(1962 reissue)
I wanted one of these for a long, long time.
Another "Beatle" guitar, plus Chet Atkins was an idol of
mine. Without a doubt the best rhythm guitar I have ever owned.
80's Charvel Model 4
I had one of these "back in the day", and for that 80's
sound it cannot be beat! I find myself picking this one up
more & more.
2003 Fender "Splattercaster"
A limited edition in 2003, remember those spin-art stands at
carnivals? Fender did this with a variety of color guitars and
different paints, so each one is unique ! Weird but cool! Had to have
it :-)
Taylor 210ce
I'm mostly a electric player, but the time comes when you have to
have a good acoustic. It's a slice of heaven.
2005 Washburn 12 string
I finally replaced my old Yamaha 12 string. It sounded fantastic, but
the years took it's toll.
This new Washburn has made me a fan !
1976 Fender Pro-Reverb
This baby was in someone's closet for 25 years, and is mint! Enuff
said.
HUGHES & KETTNER SWITCHBLADE 100
These amps are fantastic! 4 channels-all tube-from
crystaline clean to the heaviest metal, it's all there.
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'91 GIBSON LES PAUL STUDIO "Lite"
I picked up this extraordinary transparent blue Les Paul Studio.
It had all black hardware on it, which I immediately changed to chrome
!
It now looks as great as it plays. It has a Dimarzio Tone Zone in the
bridge and a Gibson 500T in the neck. It rivals my wine red Les Paul
and White fat strat as my favorites.
2000 EPIPHONE CASINO
It's no secret I've always been inspired by all things Beatle,
so after getting my Rickenbacker, this Epiphone Casino was next. I had
considered the natural John Lennon or the Noel Gallagher Supernova, but
when I saw this beauty in turquoise I just had to have it! The
"clean" tones are just breathtaking. You'll hear this on new
songs "Only One I Need", "Haunted" and
"Coming Down".
HARMONY H15 (circa-1965-66)
My buddy Joe used the word "memory guitar" to describe a
couple of axes in his collection. That got me thinking. This Harmony
is the same as my very first guitar, except mine was sunburst!! I
picked up this "memory" on E-bay, and I wasn't disappointed.
This 3/4 scale axe (think Fender Mustang or Duo-Sonic) was every bit
the "player" I remembered it to be. And the DeArmond
pick-ups are smoooooth. It was very beat up, so I refinished it
in a fender Vintage Cream color.
No doubt you're gonna hear this baby on the next record.
'86 Charvel Bass.
I used this for most of the bass on Night Dreams, and whenever I need
a bass for a demo.
Active pickups, & great tone.
Vox Valvetronix ADT30
Another great amp for recording. You can get just
about any sound you want from this one.
Marshall MG30
For bashing about, practice or recording an
authentic Marshall sound at 2:00 AM(!) these things are great.
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OAK RIDGE
STUDIOS
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specs:
80 moving faders/ automated mix-down, 40 tracks on hard disk plus
unlimited tracks on PC
Gear includes:2- Yamaha AW4416A w/ADAT I/O, , MOTU
MicroExpress, Audio Technica Tube /Rode K2 Tube & a pair of
NT5 , Sennheiser, AKG 214 and Shure mics,
PC running Cubase & Nuendo, Waves
Diamond Bundle plug-ins, Antares Mic Modeler,
Antares Tube, Nomad Blue Tubes, T-Raxx,
Amplitube Jimi Hendrix w/Stealth USB plug,Auto-Tune,Wavlab,Korg-A3,
Behringer Virtualizer, Yamaha SPX50D,
Alesis D-4, PSP PCM42 & 84 plugins,
Korg 05R/W, Korg M50 Workstation, Bosss
SE50 multi-fx, Roland JV880,
JVC Cassette, CD burner. Radial Re-Amp,
JBL LSR monitors with Sub and MRC, AKG,
Sennheiser & Audio Technica headphones,
Sampson S-Phone headphone Amp , AP
Audio Patchbays, Hughes &
Kettner Switchblade, vintage Marshall cab with
original greenbacks circa 1970, Johnson
J-Station, Event TR5 Monitors,
Emu Studio X sampler, Amplitube,
Presonus VXP MIC PRE, Native Instruments FM7,Absynth,Moog soft synths,
Vox Valvetronix ADT30,
Universal Audio LA-610 Tube Pre/compressor
Lexicon MP110, '76 Fender
Pro Reverb, EMU 1820m PC interface
Services: Producing, recording,
arranging, engineering, musician -guitar, bass, drum programming,
keyboard sequencing. Music production for film, TV and projects.
Songwriting.
Where Are You Now.mp3
I Dont Want You No More.mp3
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REMEMBER
9/11 - NO MOSQUE AT GROUND ZERO !!