“BIG EGO’s philosophy harkens back to a day when records were finished in weeks, and a label’s sound relied heavily on a single studio and its session band. The medium has changed from tape to RADAR, but the vibe remains.”
Tape Op
“Studio guru Chris Schlarb [is] a wickedly skilled producer, songwriter and musician on the outskirts of folk-rock, jazz and psychedelia…”
Rolling Stone Magazine
“A hallmark of Schlarb’s work at BIG EGO, where he prides himself on putting together musicians from disparate backgrounds who he thinks will have interesting chemistry together. The common thread will be Schlarb’s clean, uncluttered production style and his never-ending quest to push musicians outside their comfort zones.”
DownBeat Magazine
“The album is a wonder of craft and ingenuity, and only a document so well recorded can give up the secrets told by drums and glockenspiel in the same gesture with such facile conviction, a juxtaposition which, like the music, needs to be heard to be believed.”
Dusted Magazine on David Lord’s Forest Standards Vol. 1
“An all-star contingent of West Coast musicians contribute to this excellent recording, including guitarist Jeff Parker, pianist Cathlene Pineda, trumpeter Kris Tiner, and drummer Chad Taylor (to name a few).”
Bandcamp on Anthony Shadduck’s Quartet & Double Quartet
“Although she is a fine musician, it is her voice that is so irresistible. She has more emotion and power in her voice than anyone else recording “country” now. It is simply astounding to listen to her. Call Me Back Home is a near-flawless album... Excellent work.”
Spill Magazine on Leeann Skoda’s Call Me Back Home
“When you think about it, there’s only a fine line between a square dance and a mosh pit. Glenn chose “Outsider” as the title of his debut album, which touches on blues and English balladry and — as if to emphasize that nothing is out of bounds for him.”
Buzzbands on Philip Glenn’s Outsider
Artist Testimonials
“I always look forward to doing sessions at BIG EGO with Chris and Devin. They help make our world better by their work and have created an environment where art and technology come together in a highly effective and loving way. I am always blown away at the caliber of musicians that Chris draws from.”
Stephen Hodges, drummer, teacher, composer (Tom Waits, Mavis Staples, Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me)
"BIG EGO studio man Chris Schlarb made it a reality!"
Mike Watt, bassist, punk legend, opera composer (Minutemen, The Stooges)
"BIG EGO is a special place where you can just be yourself, try things, and experiment. My experience there has been full of so much love, light and happiness, and I am proud to be a part of that community."
"I always look forward to working at BIG EGO! Great sounds and vibes out there in Long Beach."
Jeff Parker, guitarist, bandleader, composer (Tortoise, Brian Blade Fellowship)
"At BIG EGO, I found everything one could ask for in a recording studio: engineers who had that sixth sense on how to bring out the very best sound from each musician, a wonderful sounding room, and an atmosphere where creative juices were encouraged to flow. In this way, BIG EGO takes its place among the world's greatest recording studios."
Susan Alcorn, pedal steel guitarist, improvisor, composer
"My experience producing music at BIG EGO is that it’s a place where musicians want to play. There’s such a strong sense of music as a communal act, something we create together not something that’s assembled bit by bit. I think BIG EGO is a studio that puts friends and family and community first. It makes everyone feel valued and ready to do their best work."
"It don't get much better than this. Chris is all about the music. He gets the job done. With the flat rate and great sounding room you can't go wrong."
Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground, Pharaoh Sanders, Marc Ribot)
"Family owned, great gear, comfortable, professional vibe and very affordable. Highly recommended."
SASAMI, guitarist/keyboardist, singer/songwriter
"#1 studio in LA. Music comes first, that's all you need to know."
Kris Tiner, trumpeter, composer (Wadada Leo Smith, Empty Cage Quartet)
"Beautiful studio with a nice old school vibe and killer mics and instruments."
Ronan Chris Murphy, producer, mixer, engineer (GWAR, King Crimson)
"BIG EGO has literally made my dreams come true. Beautiful studio, gear and people. Highest recommendation possible."
David Lord, guitarist, composer, bandleader
“Choosing to make my first record at BIG EGO was a sublime experience. The in-house gear and caliber of musicians here are just the baseline reasons why this studio sparkles. This record sounds better than I could ever dream up. It’s all due to BIG EGO’s honest, full-scale commitment to elevating the music in all ways possible.”
Katie Jo Oberthaler, Katie Jo & The Mijos
"One of the best studios in Southern California! A beautiful room, both sonically and aesthetically!"
Anthony Shadduck, bassist, bandleader
"BIG EGO is a true music studio and I would recommend it to any of my real musician friends."
Maxx Diaz, bassist, songwriter (W I R E S)
"I’ve been recording music for decades and I’m so happy I stumbled into this hidden gem. The last experience I had was gorgeous. The tunes came out thick and rich..."
Jesse Wilder, guitarist, teacher, songwriter
"BIG EGO has everything you need to succeed. Chris & Adriana put their heart and soul into place and it shows."
Miles Maltbie, guitarist, singer/songwriter (Werwisp)
"The environment is super comfortable, the acoustics are great. Saying that people running it are great, is a real understatement."
Brian Moore, bassist
"BIG EGO is the jam... Great room, great gear, great people!"
Danny T. Levin (DD Horns, Snoop Dogg, Glen Campbell)
