The building’s presence on state and national registries does not protect it from being altered or even torn down by prospective owners, Rothschild said. To get that protection, Sickler has applied for an easier safeguard, which will be attached to the property’s deed and involve periodic inspection. It also costs $10,000, and Sickler says the studio’s recent recording work has only raised enough money to pay property taxes, close to $40,000 a year.
One decision Sickler and any future exec face is whether to pursue jazz or open a studio for other types of music. Jazz music is, of course, a big passion of Van Gelder, and what this facility is designed for. But even at its peak, the space was used for blues, folk music, polka, and speech; The first recording session there, in July 1959, was with the West Point Cavalry Club.
Don Sickler, who has devoted himself to the classical jazz repertoire for decades, says he prefers to stick with acoustic jazz, and flatly rejects the idea of recording Broadway or rock ‘n cast albums ‘ roll. (For Weezer’s latest album, “OK Human,” released in early 2021, a string was recorded at Van Gelder’s studio.)
Batiste also urged the Sicklers to keep playing jazz. “Clinging to their gun is acoustic music, making it something more alien to the culture, which is what would really be the right thing to do,” he said.
Sickler is more open about what the future of the Van Gelder studio could bring.
“Of course, musicians who are familiar with the history of the studio and with the work of Rudy Van Gelder, should have access,” she said. “But the live room loves all the sounds.”
