ABOUT

 

The Samurai Hotel is a professional recording studio designed to allow musicians to create high fidelity analog and digital recordings. We are conveniently located in Astoria, New York, just 10 minutes from Manhattan. We offer our clients the ideal setting for all types of musical projects, video shoots, and are capable of accommodating large ensembles with excellent sight lines and isolation. We work with experienced, world-class engineers, and are also available for studio rental should you wish to bring your own engineer.

 

We feature a Steinway Model D (9 foot) built in 1908 and rebuilt in 2018. This pristine instrument was meticulously rebuilt by technician James Carney in collaboration with Dale Erwin Piano’s in California. Kaz Tsujio is our esteemed regular piano technician.

 

We also offer a mint condition 1963 Hammond B3 Organ, a Fender Rhodes, several drum sets,  and a comprehensive collection of top of the line new and vintage microphones.

 

You’ll be inspired to be creative under our 19ft vaulted live room ceilings in our zen like Asian themed studio. Call or email us today for a showing and rates.

 

 

 

STAFF

 

David Stoller – Owner / Producer / Engineer

 

David Stoller is a Grammy Award winning recording engineer, mixer, producer, and recording studio owner that has worked with Eliane Elias, Judy Collins, Nicholas Payton, Jane Monheit, Dave Douglas, Regina Carter, Wallace Roney, Robert Glasper, LL Cool J, Yo-Yo-Ma, Morgan James, Russ Titelman, Steve Turre, Orrin Evans, and many others. His recent acknowledgements include a 2016 Recording Academy Grammy Award for Engineering on Best Latin Jazz Album for Eliane Elias’s “Made In Brazil”. The same album was also nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album.

 

Stoller graduated from Drexel University for Music and Business. He started his career in Philadelphia, then moved and worked for Sony Music Studios in New York City from 2004 to 2008. He founded The Samurai Hotel Recording Studio in Brooklyn in 2009, and opened his latest facility in 2013 in Astoria, NY. David personally designed and built The Samurai Hotel with quality, creativity, and comfort in mind.

 

 

 

Dirty Soap Entertainment – Production/Musician’s

 

Dirty Soap Entertainment LLC team conceived in 2005 by Antoine Drye (trumpet) and Donald Edwards (drums). As musicians working on the local and global scenes, they’ve performed with a wide range of musicians like Russell Malone, Dave Holland, Kevin Eubanks, Brian Blade, Helen Sung, Wilson Pickett, Paul Simon, Alvin Batiste, Wessell Anderson, Ellis Marsalis, Kurt Elling, The Mingus & Count Basie Orchestras and Diane Schuur, to name just a few. These experiences, as well as studies at the University of New Orleans (BM) and The Aaron Copland School of Music (MM) for Drye and Southern University at Baton Rouge (BM) for Edwards, have helped shape their collaborator style as producers.

 

As producers, composers, and arrangers they fulfilled a multi-year publishing contract with Sony ATV, worked with artists like Mark Whitfield, Orrin Evans, Ray Angry, Sean Jones and Sy Smith and created music as a duo-led group with various artists over the past 11 years.

 

In 2014, Drye and Edwards partnered with old friend and collaborator David Stoller, founder of the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio. Having worked with him in their first studio, they understand what Stoller brings to the table as an engineer, with the ear of a musician. As a team, the three are able to provide “one stop shop” services offering a full range of production, including – recording, mixing, mastering, composing, arranging, music copying, playing trumpet & drums and basic keyboard work, as well as hiring elite musicians affiliated with us through our working/playing relationships.

 

 

Grady Bajorek – Engineer/Assistant Engineer/Video Editor

 

Grady Bajorek is an Astoria-based Audio Engineer and Multimedia Producer. Since 2022, Grady has been navigating the intricate world of sound at Samurai Hotel Recording Studio, collaborating with Grammy-winning engineers. Proficient in Pro Tools and Ableton Live, Grady crafts seamless audio experiences that exceed expectations. With a knack for video editing in Premiere Pro and After Effects, Grady has become our in-house video specialist. Since 2020, as a Freelance Audio Engineer, he’s managed A/V installations, film sets, and delivered polished content. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a 270-hour Recording Workshop Certification, Grady’s journey reflects a commitment to continuous learning and a passion for the art of sound.

 

 

 

BOOKING

A 50% deposit will be required to confirm all studio bookings. If your deposit is not received your time may be forfeited to another client. Deposits are non-refundable, but dates may be moved up until fifteen days before the session at no penalty.

There is a two hour minimum for tracking soloists or duo’s. Any groups that are trio’s or larger will require a four hour minimum. Sessions with more than eight musicians will require an additional setup fee.

If you will be using the Steinway, piano tuning is highly recommended before your session.
This will be an additional charge at the piano tuners normal rate which is currently $175. A fourty-eight hour notice must be given for a piano tuning  cancellation. 

PAYMENT

Payment is required upon completion of each session. Payment may be made by cash, check, money order, PayPal, or Venmo. There is a $35 fee for returned checks.

STARTING TIME

Billing will occur from the beginning of your scheduled start time. We allow clients to arrive thirty minutes prior to your scheduled start time for setup without charge. Please be mindful that billing begins as soon as the engineer starts working with you in any capacity when arriving before scheduled time. This includes instrument setup, microphone placement, level setting, client data preparation, CD burning, etc. Extra time will be billed in thirty minute increments.