lunedì 31 marzo 2014

MICHAEL ZIGON "WIPE THE PAST FROM YOUR EYES"

Michael Zigon is an L.A based Musician who incorporates Blues,Funk.R&B,Bluegrass,Folk and Psychedelic Rock in to his sound. When asked about his eclectic style of music Michael had this to say. "I never listened to one type of music. I was always jumping from style to style. I remember when I was eleven or twelve I went in to my local record store with my mom. I asked the store keeper for a Blink 182 CD and after he got it for me I asked him for a Grateful Dead album. I remember the shop keeper just laughed saying "ok Blink 182 and Grateful Dead I've never sold those together". " but thats what I love about music you can make it anything you want it to be and it is impossible to be wrong because there is no right way to do it". As you can see Michael approaches his music in a way that nobody gets left out. there is something for everyone. MICHAEL ZIGON

JOE TAYLOR "BLOSSOM AVENUE"

The Debut EP from Joe Taylor.Joe has the spent the last few years studying at the prestigious Leeds College of music, performing in bands and session work, and developing his own sound as a solo artist. Joe Taylor's EP draws on his influences of soul, blues and pop. Hailing from Yorkshire, Joe grew up listening to artists such as Curtis Mayfield, The Temptations and Ray Charles. Heavily involved with all areas of the production on this EP, he has crafted a distinctive and personal sound, launching him as a credible and contemporary soul artist. Joe Taylor & Xerxes – Producer Xerxes – Mixing Engineer
Adam Taylor - Drums
Joshua Pamplin - Bass (Blossom Avenue) Thomas Orrell - Bass (Losing You Was Everything) Luke Ledger – Baritone & Tenor Saxophone James Duckworth – Trumpet Joe Taylor, Matt Glover & Thomas Battye – Brass Arrangement (Blossom Avenue) Emily Lynn – Backing Vocals  

 

GOOD DICTION "THE QUEEN'S ENGLISH"

Local husband and wife folk blues duo Good Diction is a great example of the kind of group that reaffirms my commitment to independent music and provides an ever welcome source of inspiration.The key to the blues (or any style really) is authenticity. Frontman Peter Bodurtha’s lyrics have strong mythical and literary qualities to them. At the same time, songs like If I Were a British Man or I Just Want to Talk display an earnest sense of wit and cleverness that make their stories personal.Much like Meg White (and I mean that in the best way possible), Percussionist Julie Bodurtha’s minimalist approach adds a certain amount innocence and playfulness to the music that really ropes the listener in and highlights the nuances.  As the lengthy stomp-fest 1789 W Broadway Ave Blues demonstrates, all of the intangibles are present and Good Diction successfully accomplishes what all good blues bands must do: trick you into not realizing your hearing the blues. Wholehearted showmanship goes a long way and the overall effect is the temporary illusion of experiencing something new, vai raw, undiscovered, and—most importantly—real. GOOD DICTION
 

domenica 30 marzo 2014

FIFE & DROM "INTRODUCING FIFE & DROM"

The birth of our band stemmed in a very organic and unplanned manner. In late 2010, Mark and I expressed a desire to perform the classic blues catalogs we had been immersing ourselves in.  As we listened to the works of the greats like Muddy Waters, Son House, Howlin' Wolf and Freddie King, we noticed a singular thread... complete unabashed release of emotion.  These artists performed with utmost confidence but at the same time a balance of ego.  The music was the motor.  No gimmicks, no guise, just pure passion and punch.  It was our desire to play music of this spirited intensity within the community of close friends and talented musicians that led to the inception of Blues on TuesBlues on Tues became a monthly series hosted on Tuesday nights at the Parkside Lounge in Manhattan. Our aim was to set up an environment in which there was no pressure, no perfection, and no pretense.  We chose a differing charity each month and all proceeds from the tip jar were donated. The result was beyond our expectations. Not only did we build a unique connection and energy onstage, but the reaction from our audiences was shocking. The blues have the innate ability to move people of all kinds and all musical preferences.  It was a wonderful way to give back to our community and bond with our peers.  As Blues on Tues progressed, we realized that our desires had evolved to focus on writing original blues music. FIFE & DROM
 

DJANGO A LA CREOLE "LIVE"

In late-August, 2005, powerful Hurricane Katrina compromised an inadequate U.S. Federal levy system leaving 80% of the city of New Orleans under water. Among the over four-thousand displaced musicians was clarinetist Evan Christopher, a California native who first moved to the Crescent City in 1994. With little more than his clarinet and a suitcase full of clothes, Christopher chose Paris, France for his exile at the invitation of the City of Paris. During this artist residency, funded by an American program called French-American Cultural Exchange, he worked diligently to raise awareness about the musical culture of New Orleans through concerts and masterclasses. He also formed his own groups, the JazzTraditions PROJECT and Django à la Créole.For Django à la Créole, the idea was simple enough: Spice up the Hot Club texture pioneered by Django Reinhardt by emphasizing hallmarks of New Orleans Jazz including blues, rhythms of the monde Créole, and collective improvisation. The project debuted in August 2007 with performances in Great Britain and a small international jazz festival in Haugesund, Norway. As early as February 2007, Christopher began commuting back to the United States to work with touring New Orleans groups but in December, just prior to his move back to New Orleans, he made this recording. The quartet released the CD in New Orleans during the 25th anniversary of the famous French Quarter Festival.Christopher and his colleagues took their primary inspiration for Django à la Créole in the legendary guitarist’s collaborations with American musicians, which included New Orleans clarinetists on several occasions. In 1934, Django performed and recorded with the New Orleans Créole clarinetist Frank “Big Boy” Goudie who had moved to Paris in the mid-20′s. However, the most significant precedent for the fusion of New Orleans clarinet with the Gypsy Swing style was a loosely organized recording session in 1939 with Duke Ellington sidemen Rex Stewart and clarinetist Barney Bigard. When one hears Bigard’s fluid lines and distinctly New Orleans sound artfully juxtaposed with Django’s angular, virtuosic flights, it hardly seems coincidental that just a few months later, Django used violinist Stéphane Grapelli’s departure as the perfect opportunity to use clarinetist Hubert Rostaing in the role of the Hot Club’s lead instrument. Rostaing’s style was, of course, heavily influenced by Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, but on several recordings his warm, woody tone in the low register, rhythmic flexibility, and contrapuntal interaction with Django is more evocative of players such as Bigard or Omer Simeon. DJANGO A LA CREOLE
 

mercoledì 26 marzo 2014

ANDREW HADRO "FOR US,THE LIVING"

Andrew Hadro was not born into an especially musically inclined family. Nor does he remember why or when he decided to pursue music. He has however, dedicated his life to music and spent thousands of hours honing his abilities, working to expand and push forward instrumental performance.After being born in Mexico City, being shuffled early on in life to Brazil, and stopping for a few years on the east coast, Hadro’s family eventually settled in the Chicago area. He initially began his studies on flute and soon found his way to the baritone saxophone which would become the primary focus of his musical studies as an adult. Hadro was fortunate to attend the prestigious New Trier High School and perform with several Downbeat award winning ensembles during his tenure as part of the school’s innovative music department. After high school he made the blind leap to New York City and attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary music. Named Salutatorian in 2007, he left soon after to tour and record with several of the New School Jazz program’s founding faculty members. Mr. Hadro has performed around the world with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, James Moody, the Bjorkestra, Tony Malaby, Chico Hamilton, and Junior Mance, among many others. He is active in the New York music scene and involved in several projects including performances with his own band, the Andrew Hadro Quartet, and currently tours with Junior Mance’s quintet. He is on faculty at the Litchfield Jazz Camp and maintains an active private lesson studio through the Lucy Moses School. He is currently the curator of JazzBariSax.com, a website dedicated to the baritone saxophone. ANDREW HADRO
 

SHARON MARIE CLINE "THIS IS WHERE WANNA BE"

Sharon Marie is quickly becoming a favorite in LA's jazz club scene and performs with the finest jazz musicians and in the most exclusive rooms on the west coast and across the country. She’s performed on the same stage as such jazz greats as Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett and Chris Botti.Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Sharon Marie is an extraordinary vocalist who brings a unique & distinguished sense of jazz history to her song stylings. Her approach to standards, show tunes and classic jazz is charming and refreshing… she often employs rhythmic and tempo variations that breathe enjoyable new life into familiar standards. Her brilliant interpretations and her smooth mellifluous sound leave a lasting impression on her listeners that is truly unforgettable! She is backed up by a swingin’ trio :Rich Eames (piano), and Luther Hughes (bass), and Jon Stuart (drums),. Together the group has been fondly dubbed “The Bad Boyz of Jazz.”She is exciting, sexy, fun and mesmerizing. Her style is reminiscent of a time gone by, yet is distinctively contemporary. Sit back and enjoy the romantic swingin’ melodies of Sharon Marie Cline and The Bad Boyz of Jazz.  SHARON MARIE CLINE
 

SNARKY PUPPY "WE LIKE IT HERE"

The once Texan, now New York-based quasi-collective has gone from the best-kept secret to one of the most respected names in instrumental music. Although still “underground” in many respects, the band has earned high praise from critical stalwarts like the BBC, Village Voice, Guardian, and Boston Herald, and has performed at some of the best venues and festivals in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.The band has always used live performance as its chief form of evangelism, and maintains a more intense tour schedule than almost any band in the idiom. Over the course of 2013, Snarky Puppy will give almost 200 performances and workshops on four continents, including North Sea Jazz, Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz á Vienne, Blue Note Tokyo, and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Their last album, the live DVD/CD “GroundUP,” reached #14 on the Billboard Jazz Charts and #3 on the ITunes Jazz Charts in 2012, topped only by Grammy winners Robert Glasper and Esperanza Spalding.Snarky Puppy seamlessly fuses a deep knowledge and respect for musical tradition with sonic and conceptual innovation in a way that is able to reach the most critical- or most carefree- audience. The convergence of musicians from white and black America (who also perform regularly with artists like Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Kirk Franklin, Justin Timberlake, Roy Hargrove, and Marcus Miller among others), which occurred while the band was in its adolescence at the University of North Texas, has naturally established a system of balance that instantly draws listeners to the music- raw funk and sensitive dynamics, relentless pocket and lyrical melodicism, lush harmony and soulful simplicity, and most importantly, a delicate mixture of composition and improvisation.The group is led by award-winning bassist/guitarist/composer/arranger Michael League, whose creative grass-roots approach to a tougher-than-ever industry has created a new model for independent artists. Snarky Puppy is a three-headed creature: first, and most obviously- an original music ensemble. Second- a production team and session band for individual artists. Third, and probably most importantly- Snarky Puppy is a group of musicians enthusiastically committed to music education and community outreach. Working with groups like ROAM (Roots Of American Music) in inner city Cleveland and the Music Lab at Jefferson Center in Roanoke, as well as giving clinics at hundreds of colleges, high schools, and middle schools worldwide, the band has made a strong commitment to spreading their love of music and general positivity to a young generation looking for something real to be inspired by. SNARKY PUPPY
 

martedì 18 marzo 2014

HARPIN' ON BLUES "A.O.BLUES"

Harpin’ On Blues is a dynamic and involving live music show that revisiting the recordings of most popular harmonica players of blues history presents a journey through the roots of country blues, Chicago style of '50s and '60s and more modern swing, funk and R&B.The passion for the harmonica, for the blues and music in general, the long-time friendship among the musicians of the band and the special instrumentation taken continuously feed a vast repertoire ranging from songs by Little Walter, James Cotton, Junior Wells, William Clarke, Norton Buffalo, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam and many others.The intense live activity moves from small clubs to outdoor events, to prestigious blues festivals, where Harpin’ On Blues have played as the opening act for major international blues artists including Bob Margolin, Mark Hummel, Brian Templeton and Sofie Reed.The band consists of Paolo Demontis (harmonica, sax, vocals), Beppe Rainero (guitar, dobro, vocals), Gianluca Martini (double bass, vocals), Massimo Gianoglio (drums, vocals). HARPIN' ON BLUES
 

sabato 15 marzo 2014

FRANCESCO TURRISI "GRIGIO"

Francesco Turrisi has been defined a “musical alchemist” and a “musical polyglot” by the press. He left his native Italy in 1997 to study jazz piano and early music at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where he obtained a Bachelor and a Master’s degree. Since 2004 he has been collaborating with celebrated early music ensemble L’Arpeggiata. With l’Arpeggiata he has performed at the major early music festivals in Europe and around the world (Turkey, Russia, China) and has recorded for Virgin, Naive and Alpha.Francesco is also the leader and founder of many successful Irish and International groups that experiment pushing the boundaries of contemporary jazz, world music and early music, such as Sarabanda, Tarab, T.R.E., Zahr.He has released two piano trio albums, “Si dolce e’ il Tormento” (“an arresting and consistently beautiful work”,All about Jazz), and “Fotografia” (“lyricism of aching beauty lies embedded throughout Fotografia”All about jazz).He is also the founder of Tarab (a band that experiments with Irish traditional and mediterranean music). Tarab’s first cd was released in 2011 on Francesco’s label (Taquin records) and the Irish Times commented “Not perhaps since Andy Irvine’s celebrated East Wind in 1992 has there been such a convincing reorientation of the Irish tradition.”.His vast range of collaborations includes artists from jazz, world and early music such as:Bobby McFerrin, Dave Liebman, Gianluigi Trovesi, Nils Landgren, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Gabriele Mirabassi, Savina Yannatou, Christine Tobin, Maria Pia de Vito, Theodosii Spassov, The King’s Singers, Veronique Gens, Philippe Jaroussky, Pepe el Habichuela, Lucilla Galeazzi, Bijan Chemirani. FRANCESCO TURRISI
 

JOSEPH DERTEANO QUINTET "CARACAS"

Joseph Derteano Quintet es una formación lidera por el Trompetista Venezolano quien junto a Prats, Zenni, Frieri y Marroquin han editado 2 discos de onda Hard Bop sin excluir otros géneros del Jazz. Su primer álbum (Bocetos - 2013) y posteriormente (CCS - 2014) auguran un largo camino a esta agrupación cargada de vitalidad y musicalidad evidente en las composiciones de Derteano








 

GB ROOTS "THE KEY"

GB Roots is the powerful collaboration of guitarist/banjo player Dave Barber, and female bassist Kirby Green. Together these two musicians create an organic blend of rich duo vocals, heavy modern Blues Rock feels, with a hint of haunting banjo.Growing up in separate ends of Western Canada (BC and SK) Dave and Kirby began collaborating while studying music at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB. For the past few years they've been songwriting, recording and performing as GB Roots throughout Canada. Most recently they've finished recording their debut album "The Key" in Jan of 2014. Thanks to the backing of Rawlco Radio they were able to record at the legendary Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, BC owned by Bryan Adams. They also had the opportunity to work with an incredible engineer/co-producer Eric Mosher, and immensely talented musicians Jerry Adolphe and Tyson Naylor. The album is an organic blend of Kirby and Dave's musical backgrounds, drawing from Rock, Blues, Country, and Bluegrass roots. This blend of their sound  is where the name GB Roots was derived from (Green/Barber roots)As well as being involved in GB Roots, Dave and Kirby come from years of honing their vocal and instrumental crafts backing other artists throughout Canada and the USA. Collectively they've had the honor of backing such artists as Michelle Wright, Bonnie Guitar, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Chad Brownlee, Dallas Smith, Sean Hogan, Jason McCoy, Small Town Pistols(Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson), The Higgins, Crystal Shawanda, Dean Brody, Samantha King, Lisa Hewitt, Brett Kissel, Jason Greeley, Karen Lee Batten, Tenille, Tera Lee, Tracey Miller, Chad Klinger, Rob Heath, Vissia Sisters, Command Sisters, Gord Matthews, Tiffany Dowhan, Erin Haley, Leah Durelle, Charlie Ryan (Hot Rod Lincoln), Eli Barsi and several other wonderful artists! They have also had the honour of performing on many of Canada's most wonderful stages for festivals, fairs, theatres and casinos. GB ROOTS
 

ANNE CHRIS "JUST KISSED THE SUN"

The mainly autobiographical texts deal with growth and progress, but also with saying goodbye. With a backpack filled with experience Anne Chris took the time to record ‘Play For Now’. She started her singing career in 2003 with a performance at the North Sea Jazz festival. One can hardly imagine a better debut!  A year later Anne Chris released her debut CD ‘Tomorrow Is Today’, followed by a.o. a second performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival (2005). As the musical omnivore she is, in that same year Anne Chris made a tour through Morocco with guitar player Jan Wouter Oostenrijk. With her own band Anne Chris toured Dutch theatres in the season 2007-2008, including the Concertgebouw. Other highlights on her CV are several performances with Youp van ’t Hek, including a series in the Theatre Carré. Playing the role of flower girl Anne Chris dueled vocally with Van ’t Hek in ‘De Schreeuwstorm’. She thinks back to this as a very instructive and unique experience! ANNE CHRIS
 

RUSTY YATES BAND "PASSION"

“Rusty’s music brings to mind the best of Delbert McClinton, Vocals comparable to BB King, but with a touch of old school Ray Charles”. Growing up as a kid in Louisiana, Rusty had many music influences that were the Great Soul and R&B Performer's both past and present. Rusty's Grandfather was an Evangelist Preacher and Rusty spent many days singing in his Grandfathers Church in Louisiana. Rusty's writing style will bring you back to the old days of R&B and Soul. You can't help but get out of your chair and feel the music, because Rusty and his band bring it every time.Guitarist Clay Coleman’s musical talent was apparent from childhood, and at the age of 12 he played guitar in a band. Clay has been electrifying crowds every since. He was a founding member of "Kicks", a band that dominated the Louisiana music scene throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, and played throughout the country and abroad. Clay is also a member of "The Warbabies", a legendary Baton Rouge, La band from the 1960’s that reunited in the early 2000’s and continues to play special occasions. Clay has played with and recorded with luminaries "Duke Bardwell", "George Ratzlaff", and "Leon Medica" (Louisiana’s LeRoux). For Clay to be such a humble guy, he is not humble with the guitar.. he is just fun to watch.Max has played with acts such as "New World Funk", "After 8", "Phat Hat", and "Souled Out". With musical influences like, "Nathan Watts", "Larry Graham", "James Jamerson", "Jaco", "Louis Johnson", "Bootsy Collins", and "Rocco Prestia", Max has a Funk, Soul, R&B sound that makes you feel good all over when you hear him play. RUSTY YATES BAND
 

mercoledì 12 marzo 2014

THE COOKERS QUINTET "VOL.1"

The Cookers core members each bring their own unique qualities to the band’s sound. Saxophonist Ryan Oliver’s fat, full tenor tone might bring to mind heavyweight Dexter Gordon, but it’s blended with sophistication and subtlety. Oliver shares the front line with Tim Hamel, a trumpet player that can bring a hot, uptempo number to a boil and then carry a ballad with lyricism and beauty minutes later. The rock solid foundation of all this is bassist Alex Coleman, who’s clearly grounded in the Ray Brown/Paul Chambers school of keeping the bass steady and swinging. Rounding out the group is pianist Richard Whiteman, a veteran of the Toronto music scene, and Vancouver native Morgan Childs on drums. Born out of a weekly residency where the group cut their teeth on the classic, hard swinging music of Horace Silver, Art Blakey, and Hank Mobley, it didn’t take long before they were writing tunes of their own. “We wanted to have tunes that would be swinging, straight ahead, and arranged for a quintet. Essentially, fun tunes with great rhythms and memorable melodies that even non-jazz lovers would be attracted to,” says Coleman. THE COOKERS QUINTET
 

THE PETER EDWARDS TRIO "SAFE AND SOUND"

Pianist and composer, Peter Edwards, graduated with a Masters in Jazz from Trinity College of Music in 2009. An alumnus of the Tomorrowʼs Warriors young artist development programme, he has already established a growing reputation as a bandleader, musical director, composer and arranger.He is accompanist for singer Nicola Emmanuelle, directs The Nu Civilisation Orchestra and plays with a variety of bands including ‘Rhythmica’ and the Zara McFarlane band. Peter also collaborates with artists from other disciplines. Most recently he composed 6 pieces for jazz dectet to accompany poetry written and performed by Lemn Sissay MBE at Purcell Room, Southbank Centre. The final movement ‘Whaf if?’ was filmed and broadcast on Channel 4’s ‘3 minute wonder’ series. The film was later featured at the Royal Academy of Arts in January 2010 as part of ‘Earth: Art of a changing world’ exhibitionPETER EDWARDS
 

sabato 8 marzo 2014

JONI NEHRITA QUINTET "BEGINNINGS"

Joni NehRita’s music is a breath of fresh air for those who still like their music served with, well...Soul. An accomplished singer/songwriter/musician, she manages to blend the time-honoured qualities of classic soul with a modern sensibility that flirts heavily with jazz and pop. It is this effortless and seamless fusion that gives Joni her distinct sound and makes her feel familiar yet fresh and new.  In mid-January she released a new 3 song EP called "Beginnings";  aptly named, as it is the first recording she has made with the quintet she's been playing with for the past few years. On it Joni flexes her songwriting chops offering up three very different, yet distinctly Joni NehRita tunes.  One is a playful, feel- good medium swing, another a gorgeous waltz that makes the listener feel as though they've been transported back to the days of classic back & white movies, and lastly we a sexy soul-jazz tune that features spoken word artist Hajile Kalaike on its funky outro.Joni's two previously releases were well supported  by the CBC, Canada AM, The Toronto Sun, Now Toronto,  KW Record, former Wave 94.7.  She has performed lived on Canada AM twice, had the lead role in The Grand Theatre's production of Hair and has been funded by the Ontario Arts Council. JONI NEHRITA QUINTET
 

KIESEWETTERS GAMMARAMA "FOR THE CATS"

Jan Kiesewetter is a young man with ambitious goals, which he also achieves. The saxophonist is not only a gifted instrumentalist, but also a composer who is attracting attention. He had a stack of pieces that he composed and for which he was looking for a band that fit to them. He finally found the band members in 2011 and then immediately won the "Augsburg Art Promotion Prize" with them. The jury stated that he was awarded the prize because his band was distinguished by "a high degree of instrument mastery, musical presence, maturity and a commanding nature." The band name GammaRama has a hidden meaning: the music should penetrate everything in its path like gamma rays. However, the compositions are also penetrated by blues and jazz history, where Thelonious Monk repeatedly turns up, by multifaceted rhythms all the way to Cha Cha Cha, and by dreamy ballads to swinging uptempo numbers.Jan Kiesewetter studied at Richard Strauss Conservatory and at HMT in Munich. He recently earned his Master's degree under Florian Trübsbach and is now a teacher too. Courses and workshops held by Michael Riessler, Joe Gallardo and Ingrid Jensen, among others, have left their traces, and the courses held by Gregor Hübner especially helped Kiesewetter in developing his own composition style. However – and this has advanced his work significantly – he also is involved in other fields from new music all the way to musicals in his concerts. A fortunate coincidence: mature, rich sound on an instrument and a gift for composition come together in one person.The guitarist Bernd Huber is also involved in such wide-ranging projects. Although he graduated from the premier school of jazz guitar (under Peter O´Mara and Geoff Goodman, among others), he also studied classical guitar parallel (under Susanne Schoeppe). However, you can also frequently hear him as accompaniment for jazz singers or in bands that play  R&B, fado or free improvisations – a real jack-of-all-trades! KIESEWETTERS GAMMARAMA
 

NICK WATERHOUSE "HOLLY"

'Holly' embodies the struggle of his early forays. During “This Is a Game,” Waterhouse sets up a snarly, post-surf guitar solo with a succinct statement of a cynical outlook: “This is a game / Please remember my words / And don’t get upset when you don’t get what you think you deserve.” And on the gothic-soul strut “Let It Come Down,” he meditates on the inevitability of pain. “If there’s gonna be rain tonight,” he sings in a stoic croon. “Let it come down.”
It’s clear from this material that Waterhouse is in the midst of his own becoming. He isn’t the type to let ecstasy take over, like Van Morrison, or to drawl away in a consum- mately laid-back register, like Mose Allison. In the tension between his wry lyrics and crisp arrangements, you hear the expression of a worldly skeptic who’s also—when it comes to his art—a sanctified believer. Whoever it was that Nick Waterhouse wanted to be matters less now; these days, he just sounds like himself. NICK WATERHOUSE

 

SOLEX "SMOOTH SOUL"

In one word Solomon’s music can be described as UniverSoul ~ “one universal sound that soothes the soul.“ The language of his music is universal. He is a musician who makes no boasts about his musical talent, but credits his Daddy (Jehovah) for blessing him with the ability to do what he ­does. A native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Solomon grew up as a PK (Preacher’s Kid) and was exposed to the ministry of music early in his childhood. He is the oldest of three siblings and began playing the bass guitar at age 15 with his family’s gospel quartet, The Edmond Family. Solomon’s passion for playing the keyboard ultimately lead him to a career as a minister of ­music for over 25 years. He has since began focusing on the creation and production of the music he was once forbidden to express...Love Songs!
He is also gifted to draw and design. In 1977, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the Atlanta College of Arts to pursue a degree in graphic design. He was very excited about a promising future as a design artist and dreamed of one day owning his own graphic design company. But little did he know, there would be a divine interruption of his plans – one that almost took his life. While attending college, Solomon became deathly ill and had to drop out of school. He moved back home with his parents in South Georgia and was convalescent for several ­years. He was finally diagnosed with Sarcoidosis of the lungs. As a result of this incurable disease, he lost partial use of his lungs, glands and total use of his left eye. It was then that Solomon realized how useless he was without his creator. A total surrender was inevitable. God completely restored to him the use of his glands and the joy of his ­salvation.Solomon made his debut to the “so-called” secular music industry with his release of Together Again in 2007, a soulful compilation of jazz, rooted in gospel with a mild mix of Latin and R&B beats. The CD is a tribute to his first cousin, Jonathan Dubose. They grew up together in Bridgeport. After many years of separation, the two have come Together Again on this project. Jonathan is the baddest guitarist in the land. He is also known in the gospel industry as the prophesying ­guitarist. Solomon later released “Love Language” in 2010. His latest release is entitled “The B-Side.”In one word Solomon’s music can be described as UniverSoul ~ “one universal sound that soothes the soul.“ The language of his music is universal. He is a musician who makes no boasts about his musical talent, but credits his Daddy (Jehovah) for blessing him with the ability to do what he ­does. A native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Solomon grew up as a PK (Preacher’s Kid) and was exposed to the ministry of music early in his childhood. He is the oldest of three siblings and began playing the bass guitar at age 15 with his family’s gospel quartet, The Edmond Family. Solomon’s passion for playing the keyboard ultimately lead him to a career as a minister of ­music for over 25 years. He has since began focusing on the creation and production of the music he was once forbidden to express...Love Songs!
SOLEX
 

venerdì 7 marzo 2014

THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS "THERAPY"

The NINTH studio album, recorded at Scanhope Sound - a beautiful studio near to Red Rocks, Colorado, in September 2013. Therapy features guest performances from vocalist Kim Dawson (The Motet) and sax player Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce).
There’s quite the sonic spectrum on there: (spoiler alert!) Keb Dargey deep funk (Old Man Noises), Ramsey Lewis-esque souljazz (Morning Fly), old-school soul-pop (I Want You to Stay), classic Meters-y NMS (Monday Meters), some St Germaine-ish jazz house (When it Rains…), funky British silliness (Whistle Song, Slow Down), JB groove (Soul Sista), Doorsy mellow jazz (Detox), a protest tune (WWIII), and a contemporary pop song done in the style of a 1974 George Benson instrumental cover version (Bruno Mars’s Treasure). Produced, as all previous NMS titles, by our guitarist Eddie Roberts.The album is released on digital on Légère Recordings & One Note Records on March 7th 2014.CD/LP out on Légère Recordings on March 14th 2014.In USA & Canada the vinyl LP will be available on Dumaine Records from April 15th 2014. THE NEW MASTERSOUNDS
 

mercoledì 5 marzo 2014

CHRIS GREENE QUARTET "MUSIC APPRECIATION"

Saxophonist and composer Chris Greene was born in Evanston, IL. He began playing saxophone at 10, and he eventually spent his formative years in the award-winning Evanston High School Wind and Jazz Ensembles. Around this same time, he began to play professionally with many local pop/rock and jazz bands. Greene eventually went to Bloomington, IN to attend the prestigious Indiana University Jazz Studies program and studied with renowned professor and cellist David Baker.  Greene left the Indiana college town in 1994 and returned to Chicago. He immersed himself in the regional music scene and has since collaborated with some of the nation’s most creative and versatile musicians. In the Chicago area alone, Greene can be seen with many different groups - in many different genres. He also leads his own critically-acclaimed group, the Chris Greene Quartet. He has also performed or recorded with the following artists: Common, The Temptations, Sheena Easton, Steve Cole, Michael Manson, Andrew Bird, The J. Davis Trio, Typhanie Monique, Zach Brock, Chris Rob, Vic Lavender, Jesse De La Pena, Liquid Soul and The Mighty Blue Kings. Chris Greene has perfomed at the following venues: The House of Blues, Park West, Chicago Metro, Double Door, Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Pops for Champagne, Andy's, Baker's Keyboard Lounge, RIBCO, Elbo Room, Ravina Pavillion, City Winery...CHRIS GREENE QUARTET
 

lunedì 3 marzo 2014

GUSTO THE BODY SNATCHER "NICE TO SEE YOU"

Debut release from hard hitting jazz quartet Gusto the Bodysnatcher. Gusto draws influence from Australian artists such as Andrea Keller and Scott Tinkler, with a hint of the 'new-hip jazz' of american Christian Scott, and Swedish trio EST. It is through composed improvised music, with the composed sections creating the context for the improvisation that all members simultaneously contribute to. 2013 saw Gusto play throughout Melbourne at a variety of venues, from Bennett's Lane to the Arts Centre, with the odd stop off at a pub venue along the way. This EP was recorded in September and is a snapshot of the path they have placed themselves on. Funding from this EP will be going towards recording a full length album in mid 2014 that will provide a stepping stone for the group to tour the country with.
 

domenica 2 marzo 2014

MORBLUS "GREEN SIDE"

MORBLUS (I) has been a synonym of an intriguing sound of Blues, Soul, Bluesrock and Rhythm & Blues for more than 20 years.The spirit and soul of their music does not only become apparent live on stage but also in their publications (7 CDs, 1 DVD) which mainly consist of original songs written and arranged by frontman Roberto Morbioli.There’s one thing in common: With their wide repertoire of blues classics, modern soul pieces and original compositions and with an unbridled amount of adrenaline, the quartet, around, MORBLUS evokes a unforgettable music experience which with its power and groove carries its audiences away more than any other act in the European music scene.Well known for their energetic sound, by fans and musicians alike, in Europe and beyond, Morblus has toured Italy with John Mayall, and Robben Ford and played the legendary B.B. King Blues Club in Memphis Tennessee.In their more than 20 years of band history, MORBLUS looks back at an impressing journey to the great stages in Europe and acquired a big fan community escpecially in their home country Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Luxemburg.In 2011, MORBLUS played more than 80 concerts, for example at the Sierre Blues Festival in Switzerland, the Blues’n Jazz Rallye in Luxemburg or the Trasimeno Blues Festival in Italy. MORBLUS
 

IRA WALKER "BLAME ME"

In 2008 nominated for a Grammy as a producer. Singer/songwriter Ira Walker has just released his much awaited Blues CD "Blame Me" which is up consideration in the 2013 56th Annual Grammy Awards. "Blame Me" - Best Blues Album and "Lets give love a try" - Best Rock Vocal PerformanceThe 12 tracks on this CD run the gamut of Blues genre, from Texas and the Mississippi Delta to Chicago. Ira’s songwriting, combined with his unique vocal style and musicianship, are central to what the blues are all about. That is bringing the listener out of their funk and into a more pleasurable state of mind. “Blame Me” is the blues meets The Blues.Ira has written and performed with a star studded list of Music Icons, including Steve Miller, Joe Satriani, Eddie Money, Carlos Santana, Brian May, & Tommy Castro. He toured Europe with Keb’ Mo in 2000. In 2002, as singer/bass player, Ira recorded with the Trichromes featuring Neal Schon (Journey), Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead), and legendary lyricist Robert Hunter.Working as a songwriter for 7 years with Warner/Chapel publishing he co-wrote the pop hit "I Wanna Go Back" for Eddie Money and has worked on records that include, Lenny Williams (Tower of Power), Greg Rollie (Santana), Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, Lee Ann Womack, Patti Loveless, Steve Earle, & David Lee Murphy.With 14 album producer credits to date, his new up-coming CD "Blame Me" features many world renowned players - Brent Mason, Buddy Hyatt, Steve Hunter, Jack White, Brad Gillis, Monty Byrom, and David Kaffinetti aka “Viv Savage” (Spinal Tap) to name a few.Ira’s musical pedigree has evolved into his own unique style of Blues & Southern Soul. As he says, “I’ve waited many years to be an old black man playing the Blues!” IRA WALKER
  

REBECCA VALLEJO "AZUCAR CANELA"

Madrid born vocalist and composer Rebeca Vallejo is a most versatile and innovative performer. Known for combining her ancestral Flamenco roots, her deep love and understanding of Brazilian music, with the language of Jazz, Rebeca Vallejo deftly weaves all these elements into a sound that is truly unique. Equal parts nomad and musician, Rebeca Vallejo’s life has led her across several continents and infused her music with an awareness and understanding of a multitude of cultures. Born into a family of singers in Madrid, Spain, Rebeca was immediately immersed in the rich musical language of Flamenco, learning at the feet of her grandfather, himself a Flamenco singer.Beginning her public performances at the age of four, the musical journey that started in an urban neighborhood of Madrid eventually took Ms. Vallejo to Great Britain, where she developed a deep passion for Jazz. Arriving in New York in 2000, Rebeca began collaborating and performing with the most sought after musicians of the Latin-Jazz scene. Through this exposure, she uncovered the emotional beauty and rhythmic complexity of Brazilian music. It was there that she discovered the third corner of a musical triangle that, together with Jazz and Flamenco, would shape her musical foundation. In addition to being an acclaimed performer, Rebeca Vallejo is the creator and bandleader of the musical projects EuroLatinJazz and EuroLatinFunk, an accomplished composer/Jazz arranger (among her composition projects are 300 children songs written for the national franchise “The Language Workshop”) and for two years she was the main vocalist of the Flamenco Dance Company “Día Flamenco”.Since 2012 Rebeca Vallejo has been an active performing member of the Brooklyn Conservatory Chorale. In 2009 Rebeca Vallejo was granted a scholarship to the prestigious Flamenco institution Cristina Heeren in Seville, Spain, where she focused on the study of Flamenco repertoire and Flamenco singing techniques. During the year of 2012 Rebeca Vallejo served as the director of SMINYC, a collective of musicians from Spain residing in New York, sponsored by the Spanish Cultural institution Centro Español. The mission statement of SMINYC was to support and promote musicians from Spain in New York by producing monthly events where projects of all musical genres are showcased. Through the success of the events organized by SMINYC, Rebeca Vallejo nurtured a lasting relationship with the Spanish Embassy in Washington and Spanish Consulate in NY (which became official sponsors of all her musical presentations) as well as with the world-wide prestigious cultural institution of Instituto Cervantes Among Rebeca Vallejo’s musical accomplishments are numerous performances in renowned events (Jazz Aspen Gala accompanied by Chucho Valdes’s band, Havana, Cuba), festivals (Gentse Feesten, Gent, Belgium), and venues such as the Modern Art Museum in Salvador, BRAZIL, The Kennedy Center (Washington), Carnegie Hall (with the NY Youth Orchestra, NY), and the United States Capitol (accompanying Gospel Grammy award winners Yolanda Adams and Dorinda Clark at the “Unveiling of Sojourner Truth’s bust”).Rebeca is currently promoting and touring her third studio album entitled “Azúcar Canela” The album is being brought to life under the direction of Grammy Award Winning producer John Seymour (Santana, U2, Dave Matthews Band). “Azúcar, Canela” develops an interestingly raw multi-cultural “concept trio” of piano–drums/percussion– voice. Accompanied by George Dulin (Kenny Werner, Chris Potter, John Scofield) at the piano, and David Silliman (Cassandra Wilson, Edmar Castañeda, Al DiMeola) playing drums/ percussion, this trio delivers a powerful and poignant live performance experience. REBECCA VALLEJO
 

THE REVIVALISTS "CITY OF SOUND"

The formation of The Revivalists was all about chance, but everything since then has been a combination of hard work, awesome music, and friendship.  The septet has been playing nonstop since 2007, crafting a genre-hopping sound that rounds out traditional rock instrumentation with horns and pedal steel guitar and mixes the divergent backgrounds of its individual members with the humid, funky undercurrents of the band’s New Orleans home.  The result is like English spoken with an exotic accent: familiar, yet difficult to pin down.Religion aside, a revival is all about the tangible electricity that can only be created when enough like minds are crammed under a single roof for a singular purpose. It’s a spiritual spectacle, a carnival of the divine, a whole greater than the sum of its parts.  The same could be said for The Revivalists’ searing live performances.  The band has a knack for bringing music to life on a stage, and they have tuned their talents to Swiss-watch precision over years of relentless touring. Their bombastic showmanship is the outgrowth of a desire to connect with audiences on a personal level, and that intimate connection is what elevates their shows above simple entertainment.True to their name, The Revivalists lean more heavily on the older styles and warmer sounds of the golden age of rock ‘n roll, but the band isn’t afraid to dabble in electronics and sleight-of-studio when it’s right for the song.  The group tends not to bother with questions like “does this sound like us?” or “does this fit with our other stuff?”, instead allowing songs to define themselves and take shape organically, each on its own terms. Is this a dark, heavy rock manifesto driven by a steel guitar line that borders on electronica, or is it an airy, acoustic story about star-crossed lovers, rich in vocal harmony and sparsely arranged until the coda?  This one’s funky, that one’s sweet, this one’s heavy….THE REVIVALISTS