Bruce Koball is one of the greatest all around forces for good in my musical universe. He's a successful sound designer who spends his off hours recording talented but impecunious musicians. A veteran of KSAN-FM live remotes in the 'seventies, when FM radio was absolutely the hippest thing going, he's recorded some legendary San Francisco performances.

Bruce was also one of the main guiding voices in the establishment of The Well, ostensibly the first internet conversation community, and is a tech geek of the noblest and most venerated stripe.

In the interest of full disclosure I shall state that many of the tracks on Old Puppy - Fetching were recorded by Bruce.

I'm sure the New York Times can tell you better than I can.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/nyregion/21train.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1158866139-Zz08XTPFlRXrkMvD9QP5Rw