DARON L. STEWARD (His first name is pronounced "Darren").
Song title:  "Naima's Dance"
Label:  Drawets Music

A keyboard player of considerable skill, Mr. Steward's debut tune has a great rhythmic pocket that supports the melody nicely.  Referred to me from Will Downing, Daron has played on songs by, written with, or toured with the likes of Jeffrey Osborne, Will, and Tim Cunningham, among others.

WAYNE WESLEY JOHNSON FT. TONY EXUM JR. & YOSMEL MONTEJO MEET ON ‘BOULEVARD RENDEZVOUS’

Internationally recognized, this award-winning guitarist performs on acoustic, electric, nylon & steel string guitars and guitar synthesizer in a variety of musical styles and genres. A pioneer of the 'New Sound of Santa Fe' tm and 'Jazzamenco' tm., the artist performs in thumb picking, fingerstyle, and flatpicking styles...playing jazz, world, new age, Latin & rumba flamenco and with classical techniques. Wayne is currently a guitar instructor and member of the faculty of the Santa Fe Community College and Music Mart in Albuquerque. In addition to his concert, corporate and private performances, Wayne has also become known by many as New Mexico's Premier Wedding Guitarist, in high demand for both ceremonies and receptions, alike. 

 

This charismatic performer has shared the stage with some of the world's finest guitarists, too... Formerly a drummer and touring companion with legendary guitarists Les Paul, and Nokie Edwards (The Ventures), Wayne has also shared the stage with Mason Williams, George Benson, Bucky Pizzarelli, BB King, Scotty Moore, Howard Roberts, Larry Carlton, Chet Atkins, Thom Bresh (Son of the legendary guitarist Merle Travis), Tom Doyle, Ruben Romero, Antonio Mendoza, Tommy Emmanuel, Seymour Duncan, Stephen Bennett, Stephen King, Richard Smith, Anthony Smith, Tim Farrell, Edgar Cruz, Lou Pallo (The Les Paul Trio), Jon Paris, and more. 

 

Wayne, is a regular annual performer at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society (CAAS), Nokie Festival, Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists (AFG) and the Guitars for life (GFL) benefit concerts. 

 

Wayne has performed either as a soloist or with others in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Les Paul), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, England, China, Hong Kong, & nearly all 50 states. 

 

Wayne now spends his time touring, performing, songwriting, recording and producing music for his own artist-owned Wannadu record label. This artist knows the importance of 'professionalism' in performance and appearance and how to provide for client satisfaction. The artist selects his gear, attire and tune selection to suit any size venue and any type of occasion.

PEET PROJECT GOES THROUGH ‘CRAZY TIMES’

"Crazy Times" is the first 2023 single off the Peet Project’s critically acclaimed new album, Sweet Lemon. While it would be difficult to find a title that better reflects the era we are living in all around the globe today, it is only the name of the track that refers to that. The music itself is impeccably arranged, groovy and melodic, proving again that music is a reliable source of inspiration no matter what. You will hear both global and local sounds, seamlessly integrated into a captivating track. Enjoy!

 

"Crazy Times"

 

Produced, mixed & mastered by Péter “Peet” Ferencz

Written by Peter Ferencz, Oliver Magan, Attila Zavodi, Martin Gudics

& Marcell Gudics

 

Peter Ferencz: Violin

Attila Zavodi: Alto Sax

Oliver Magan: Keys

Martin Gudics: Bass

Marcell Gudics: Drums

Feng Ya Ou: Backing Vocals, Adlibs

CAROL ALBERT HAS A ‘MAGIC MIRROR’

For many instrumental artists, including some of our favorites in the world of Smooth Jazz, catchy song titles are often afterthoughts, random ideas tacked on that simply flow easy off the tongue when a radio announcer mentions them.

  

Bucking that trend and thinking more like a traditional songwriter, Carol Albert’s seemingly nonstop array of Top 5 Billboard charting singles these past five years have often been rooted in deeper themes reflecting her personal ever-evolving emotions - from sorrow to strength, longing to awakening, and taking a freewheeling “Femme Flight” to the freedom of “Sun’s Out” and “Perfect Sunday” – the latter accumulating over 6.6 million streams on Spotify, an unheard of sum for smooth jazz.

 

As the pianist/composer sweeps us up in her infectious whirlwinds of melodic grace, sometimes meditative yet often joyfully soulful grooves and explosive Brazilian-flavored flights of fancy, she also shares a sense of intimacy. As we get to know her through her music, she also invites us to apply her themes and vibes universally to our own lives.

 

Released in the wake of the pandemic, her engaging, high spirited and constantly sparkling and inspiring new collection Magic Mirror opens emotional and spiritual doors to a many possible interpretations.

 

On a personal level, and especially speaking woman to woman in a culture which too often holds our females to a certain standard of what constitutes beauty, it’s about self-acceptance, an embrace of that wonderful person seen in that reflection.

 

Magic Mirror celebrates the collaborative spirit of Carol and two of the genre’s greatest hitmakers, guitarist and producer Paul Brown and – for the first time - bassist Roberto Vally, a longtime essential member of Brown’s first-call studio crew and a rand and groovin’ rhythmic force and equally prolific hit songwriter for countless smooth jazz A-listers. The collection offers an about even split between Brown and Vally co-writes and co-productions, with Brown helming the title track, “Paradigm Shift,” the digital-only single “Crashing,” “Sopporo Dream” and “Sometime,” and Carol and Vally joining forces on “Fire & Water,” “Sol Ipanema,” “The Chase“ and “Angels Watching Over Me.”

 

Beyond the big hit “Fire & Water” and her #1 Billboard single “Paradigm Shift,” Carol has at least four or five more potential radio hits here – but the stylistic depth and personal emotion Carol infuses into the tracks beyond these infectious gems makes Magic Mirror the one Smooth Jazz-oriented release his year to immerse in as a full album experience.

 

"Magic Mirror"

 

Written By Carol Albert, Shane Thierot, Paul Brown 

Mixed by Paul Brown, The Funky Joint 

Produced by Paul Brown

Engineered by Carmen Grillo

 

Carol Albert: Piano, Synthesizers 

Shane Theriot: Guitars, Drum Programming  

Roberto Vally: Bass  

Greg Vail: Saxophone

FABELACHTIG THEMA VOOR ZANDSCULPTURENFESTIVAL 2023 ONTHULD

Het Zandsculpturenfestival Middelkerke 2023 wordt fabelachtig!

 

MIDDELKERKE – 1 juli tot en met 10 september 2023
Strand ter hoogte van De Greefplein

 

Elk jaar wil het Zandsculpturenfestival Middelkerke het publiek blijven boeien, niet enkel met toffe, tijdloze onderwerpen, maar ook met nieuwe, verrassende elementen die het evenement fris en actueel houden. Enkel op die manier kan het festival het grootste kustevenement blijven. Voor de editie 2023 duiken we samen de wondere wereld van sprookjes in. Het wordt een ware belevenis voor jong en oud met uiteraard de allerbekendste sprookjes, maar ook enkele parels die je misschien vergeten bent.

 

Meer beleving dan ooit

Bezoekers betreden het festival letterlijk via de grote poort, waarna heel veel sprookjesfiguren hen opwachten. Meer dan twintig sprookjes en personages verrijzen uit het zand: de gelaarsde kat, de kleine zeemeermin, klein duimpje, Sneeuwwitje, een grote vuurspuwende draak en nog veel meer! Het wordt een heuse sprookjeswereld die ook bevolkt zal worden door echte tovenaars, prinsen en prinsessen.

 

Welkom in het zandtheater!

In samenwerking met theaterproductiehuis De Proefkonijnen komt de sprookjeswereld ook écht tot leven. Het gezelschap is gespecialiseerd in theater dat je helemaal onderdompelt in unieke verhalen.

 

Op mysterieuze wijze is een aantal sprookjesfiguren vast komen te zitten in het sprookjesboek. Aan de kinderen om dit mysterie te ontrafelen en de toverspreuk te vinden die de sprookjesfiguren kan bevrijden. De beleving begint zodra de bezoekers het terrein betreden. Daar kunnen de kinderen aanwijzingen vinden die verwerkt zitten in de zandsculpturen, maar ook bij de acteurs die ertussen rondlopen. Op de theatervoorstelling die dagelijks meerdere keren te zien is, kunnen de jonge speurneuzen al die aanwijzingen bij elkaar brengen om de sprookjesfiguren te bevrijden, zodat ze allemaal nog een lang en gelukkig kunnen leven.

 

En dan is het nog niet gedaan

We denken extra aan jullie kleine tovenaars en prinsessen, met extra ruimte om te stoeien en te spelen. Een springkasteel, een zandbak, leuke speeltuigen en nog veel meer, maken je gezinsdagje uit naar Middelkerke compleet. Tickets zijn vanaf vrijdag 10u beschikbaar via www.zandsculpturenfestival.com/. En het beste nieuws: al die nieuwigheden zijn gewoon inbegrepen in de ticketprijs.

 

Een grote aanwinst voor inwoners en handelaars

“Het Zandsculpturenfestival heeft zijn plaats verdiend op de evenementenkalender van Middelkerke én van de Vlaamse kust. Nu gaan de organisatoren nog een stap verder en wordt het nog meer een beleving. Sprookjes zijn van alle tijden en boeien zowel jong als oud, zeker als je de knipogen van de ontwerpers zult weten te ontdekken. Ook de locatie aan het Arthur De Greefplein is een voltreffer, zowel voor de bezoekers als voor de handelaars in de buurt. We zijn er alvast klaar voor om opnieuw meer dan 100.000 bezoekers te verwelkomen én hen een topdag in Middelkerke te laten beleven. En last but not least, voor onze eigen inwoners blijft het Zandsculpturenfestival een ‘must see’. Daarom verkopen we opnieuw voordeeltickets voor onze eigen inwoners en tweedeverblijvers. Die zullen enkel te koop zijn aan onze toeristische balies,” vertelt burgemeester Jean-Marie Dedecker.

 

Praktisch

Het Zandsculpturenfestival Middelkerke vindt plaats van 1 juli tot en met 10 september. Info via www.zandsculpturenfestival.com, vanaf vrijdag 10u start de ticketverkoop via diezelfde website. Ook dit jaar krijgen inwoners van Middelkerke en mensen met een tweede verblijf in Middelkerke 2 euro korting.

GLENNIS GRACE BRENGT FENOMENALE WHITNEY HOUSTON-TRIBUTE IN KURSAAL OOSTENDE EN PLAY ZUID (ANTWERPEN)

18 november 2023 – Kursaal Oostende
19 november 2023 – Play Zuid (Antwerpen)

 

"Fenomenaal", "Onwaarschijnlijk straf", "Wat een stem", "Whitney is alive!",...de superlatieven vlogen ‘America’s Got Talent’-finaliste Glennis Grace in 2018 en 2019 om de oren na haar zeer succesvolle Whitney Houston-tributes in Nederland en België (uitverkochte Lotto Arena in oktober 2019). We hebben er even op moeten wachten, maar dit najaar keert de Nederlandse nachtegaal eindelijk terug naar ons land met ‘WHITNEY, a tribute by Glennis Grace’. Play Zuid in Antwerpen mag zich opmaken om op zondag 19 november 2023 dit unieke muzikale eerbetoon te ontvangen. Een dag eerder, op zaterdag 18 november, staat deze verbluffende ode aan de legendarische Whitney Houston in Kursaal Oostende. Glennis Grace neemt het publiek mee naar vervlogen tijden en wisselt swingende uptempo hits als ‘How Will I Know’, ‘I'm Every Woman’ en ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ af met gevoelige ballads als ‘Run To You’, ‘All At Once’, ‘I Will Always Love You’ en ‘When You Believe’. 

Tickets voor ‘WHITNEY, a tribute by Glennis Grace’ op zaterdag 18 november in Kursaal Oostende en zondag 19 november 2023 in Play Zuid in Antwerpen, zijn nu verkrijgbaar via ticketkopen.eu .  

“Whitney Houston heeft een ongekend aantal hits op haar naam staan. Ik wil mensen heel graag meenemen naar vervlogen tijden door haar klassiekers opnieuw te zingen. Er zitten echt zoveel pareltjes tussen die nog een keer gehoord mogen worden.”
-Glennis Grace -

In 2018 maakte de wereld dankzij ‘America’s Got Talent’ kennis met de grenzeloze zangcapaciteiten van de Nederlandse Glennis Grace. Ze blies er de jury, het publiek en de miljoenen tv-kijkers een eerste keer omver met haar indrukwekkende versie van de Whitney-classic ‘Run To You’. De toon was meteen letterlijk gezet en de ravissante Nederlandse stoomde helemaal door tot in de finale. 

Geruggesteund door deze indrukwekkende prestatie en de lovende commentaren, concerteerde Glennis in oktober 2018 voor het eerst met haar muzikale eerbetoon ‘WHITNEY, a tribute by Glennis Grace’ in een uitverkochte AFAS Live in Amsterdam. Uit de enthousiaste reacties van het publiek en de lovende recensies na afloop, bleek eens te meer dat de muziek van Whitney Houston de mensen nog altijd in vervoering brengt en Glennis Grace werd door pers en publiek geroemd om haar stemgeluid en bezieling: 

“Ik was gekomen voor een avond Whitney Houston liedjes. Maar dit was anders, want wat jij vanavond gaf, was je ziel. Ik heb werkelijk nog nooit zoiets meegemaakt. Om zo te stappen in iemand anders huid, die tot leven te wekken en ook nog eens jezelf te blijven. Buitenaards goed!”
- Jandino Asporaat -
Nederlandse stand-upcomedian, acteur, televisiepresentator & producer

“Wat een concert! Iedere noot was raak.”
- Humberto Tan - 
Nederlandse radio- en televisiepresentator

“Het was echt niet normaal hoe goed. Glennis zingt gewoon zo verschrikkelijk buitenaards goed. 
Ik vond het echt niet normaal!
- Ronald Molendijk -
Presentator, RTL Boulevard

Door de aanhoudende vraag uit binnen- en buitenland, bracht Glennis Grace de show in 2019 o.a. ook nog in Ahoy Rotterdam en een eveneens uitverkochte Lotto Arena in Antwerpen. We hebben er sindsdien even op moeten wachten, maar in november 2023 komt de Nederlandse nachtegaal eindelijk terug naar ons land met dit fenomenale eerbetoon aan de legendarische Whitney Houston.

Glennis neemt het publiek mee naar vervlogen tijden en wisselt swingende uptempo hits als ‘How Will I Know’, ‘I'm Every Woman’ en ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ af met gevoelige ballads als ‘Run To You’, ‘All At Once’, ‘I Will Always Love You’ en ‘When You Believe’.

Tickets voor ‘WHITNEY, a tribute by Glennis Grace’ op zaterdag 18 november 2023 in Kursaal Oostende en zondag 19 november 2023 in Play Zuid in Antwerpen, zijn nu verkrijgbaar via ticketkopen.eu.

BT ALC BIG BAND ‘HEARING THE TRUTH’ THROUGH THE NOISE

The new soul-jazz funk album featuring G. Love, John Medeski, Adam Deitch, Karl Denson, Eric Krasno, Nigel Hall and Eric “Benny’ Bloom drops on April 14.

 

BOSTON (21 March 2023): The might and muscle of a big band is in all those horns. And that magical power became a serious challenge when COVID restriction prevented BT ALC Big Band from being in the same room to record together. That scene was the inception of the fifth album by the Boston-based soul-jazz funksters, “Hearing The Truth,” which drops April 14 on the Vintage League Music label.

 

Band leaders Brian Thomas (trombone) and Alex Lee-Clark (trumpet) produced and arranged the collection of nine original compositions featuring special guest performances by G. Love (G. Love & Special Sauce), John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood), Adam Deitch (Lettuce), Karl Denson, two-time Grammy winner Eric Krasno, Nigel Hall (Lettuce) and Eric "Benny" Bloom. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s go back to that first recording date in 2020 and how they made it work.

 

As the pandemic spread fear, and civil unrest sparked disharmony, tension and anger, and the looming presidential election fanned the flames of division, Thomas penned “Bring Forth Change” for the band to record.

 

“This was the first tune we remotely recorded after the pandemic hit, and it really set the tone for what this album became. Brian (Thomas) is one of the most positive forces I’ve ever come across, and the way he willed this whole thing into existence was amazing, and definitely gave all of us musicians a spirit boost as the reality of the pandemic set in,” recalled Lee-Clark.

 

Recorded remotely and later pieced together, “Bring Forth Change” became the ethos of the album on the super funky track bolstered by an anthemic affirmation captured in this imaginative cartoon strip-like video (https://bit.ly/3mUFGnG).

 

Teaming with Soulive’s Alan Evans, BT ALC Big Band recorded and released the joint as a single followed by two more singles that year. The groovy “What Will You Do” spotlights Medeski on trippy keyboards and the retro hip “The Iguana” boasts Krasno’s guitar and Denson’s saxophone.

 

A couple years later, finally the horn sections were able to safely gather in person to finish the final six tracks. “Dimples” opens the album.

 

“There’s something on the melody on this one that feels like it could be on the ‘Superfly’ soundtrack. It’s upbeat, but there’s a lot of emotional depth to it, too. This tune was written for Brian’s wife, Annette, who has the warmest smile complete with eye-popping dimples that can be seen from across the room. This tune and the trombone solo to me are quintessential Brian Thomas - in the pocket, relentless but calm and full of character. Guitarist Steve Fell is also the perfect Swiss army knife of a soloist and elevates the entire band to an epic climax,” explained Lee-Clark.

 

The album’s tentpole is the title track. It’s a blues-based, storming organ number written by Lee-Clark that he says references James Brown & The J.B.’s classic sound. Amidst the chaos of instrumental voices vying for attention, the trombones burst forth to lay the foundation for guitarist Jeff Lockhart to shred. Recorded during a surge in the virus, the band was masked up during the studio session, but you can almost hear the joy in being able to play together live, which they’ll do on stage at an album release concert on the release date at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, Mass.

 

Lee-Clark wrote the tension filled “Here In This Cave” about the little room in his apartment where he “musically survived the worst of the pandemic.” Deitch’s “Egyptian Secrets” gets a big band makeover, taking on new dimensions in the hands of BT ALC Big Band. G. Love flows and rhymes on the Wu-Tang Clan-inspired “That Sound.”

 

Lee-Clark said, “We tried a more hip-hop process recording this than straight up big band while still being us. Dean (Johnston) played that drum groove for about two minutes straight, and we took the funkiest grouping we could find and made a loop out of it, building everything else off of that sound. (Jeff) Lockhart’s guitars were actually recorded at my house with the intention of chopping them up and making similar loops, but when I listened back, amazingly, the two independently recorded takes totally lined up into this really original, intertwining texture. I’ve never heard anybody with a more unique and impeccable musical understanding of what sounds right than Lock(hart).”

 

Sensing something was missing, Thomas and Lee-Clark decided to up the funk quotient by writing a Go-Go song for the disc. “Pound For Pound” is a party in which the solo spotlight is shared equitably while erupting into a “Soul Train”-line dance-off.

 

BT ALC Big Band’s previous outing, “The Search For Peace,” hit the year before the lockdown. The outfit debuted ten years ago with the “Superhero Dance Party” album. In addition to recording and playing gigs at clubs, theaters and festivals, Thomas and Lee-Clark are committed educators throughout the New England region where they teach clinics and workshops and perform with college and high school students throughout the East Coast. On a mission to create new potentialities for big bands in the modern era, Thomas and Lee-Clark acknowledge the influence of Duke Ellington and Count Basie in their crafty big band arrangements. They take the traditions of the past and fortify them with explosive soul power, Afrobeat culture, festive New Orleans nuance, and deft hip-hop beats and biting political commentary.

 

There’s so much soul and swagger throughout “Hearing The Truth,” but the most important element is BT ALC Big Band’s message. Lee-Clark delivers it.     

 

“This whole record was really written in the teeth of COVID, the 2020 presidential election, and the dizzying experience all of us Americans are feeling as we reckon with our past and decide as a country what we want to be in the future. Through all those growing pains, there is a lot of noise. Everywhere you turn, you're being inundated with new information, and it only seems to be getting faster. The music on this album is all about slowing down just enough to hear the truth in the noise. Plus, more plainly, ‘Hearing The Truth’ was written about Fox News, and all the charlatans on that network telling us not to believe the thing we're seeing with our own eyes.” 

 

BT ALC Big Band’s “Hearing The Truth” album contains the following songs:

 

“Dimples”

“Hearing The Truth”

“Here In This Cave”

“What Will You Do?”

“Egyptian Secrets”

“The Iguana”

“That Sound”

“Pound for Pound”

“Bring Forth Change”

 

 

For more information, please visit https://www.btalc.com.

R&B-JAZZ TRUMPETER-VOCALIST JOHNNY BRITT TAPS INTO STAR POWER FOR ‘AFTER WE PLAY’

His fifth album featuring George Benson, Will Downing, Peter White, Gerald Albright, Little Anthony, Nils, Tom Browne and more is out now.

 

LOS ANGELES (20 March 2023): In response to an interviewer’s question, legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis said, “I’ll tell you after I play.” That philosophy struck a note with urban-jazz trumpeter-vocalist Johnny Britt, who titled his fifth album “After We Play,” that dropped on Friday (March 17) on J-Jams Records. Britt wrote ten new songs and produced the thirteen tracks on which he plays with an array of luminaries. The collection starts off on top as the title cut featuring guitar star Peter White recently went No. 1 on two national singles charts.

 

The recent Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will launch his multi-genre album at two Los Angeles-area record release concerts: March 26 at The Venice West and April 6 at the Catalina Jazz Club.

 

Simultaneous to the instrumental single “After We Play” summitting the Mediabase and Smooth Jazz Network charts, Britt’s vocal ballad with Will Downing, “Butterflies,” entered the top 50 on the R&B singles chart and is soaring skywards.

 

Two years in the making, Britt describes “After We Play” as “an album of feelings, emotions, thoughts and imagination. I wrote, produced and performed every song from within. Every song was birthed out of a deep sense of love, compassion and sincerity. I love singing and I love playing the trumpet. That’s what you’ll hear when you listen to the album, which came together wonderfully.”

 

According to Britt, the title song, a sultry midtempo flugelhorn and guitar duet captured in this video (https://bit.ly/42hyyC7), sets up the entire album. There are many marquee moments to embrace from the album, including a dreamy version of “Goin’ Out of My Head” that finds Britt in the company of greats. He croons the song with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Little Anthony who sang the original version with The Imperials with whom Britt has been singing as first tenor since 2012. Gracing the tune with cool electric jazz guitar is ten-time Grammy winner George Benson. SoulTracks recently world premiered the track, the type of collaborative recording that begs for Grammy attention.

 

The album opens with the twin trumpet powered “Ain’t Nothin But The Funk” spotlighting the horns of Britt and Tom Browne. Nine-time Grammy nominee Gerald Albright thumps his bass on “Summer Love,” an affair heated by Kashan’s mid-cut rap. “Ocean Waves” washes over like a sensual caress, thanks to Britt’s sultry voice and muted trumpet along with sinewy bass and Piccolo bass work from Blair Bryant. The album’s second remake is a haunting take on the Bacharach & David classic “Walk On By,” given an ethereal treatment on which Britt handles all the vocals and instrumentation except for drums. Ricky Peterson adds piano, organ and strings accoutrements to illumine the positive affirmation that is “Hold On Be Strong.” Billboard hitmaker Nils teams with Britt for “Let’s Do This,” an empowering horn and guitar instrumental that bodes to become a chart topper. “Love Paradise” is a heavenly slice of the best of Britt: a funky R&B groove, a splash of contemporary jazz nuance, and a vibrant pop hook. Nils reappears on “Midnight,” but it’s Britt’s flugelhorn that shines brightest. The seductive “More Love” is an amorous late-night mood setter. “After We Play” closes with an instrumental version of “Love Paradise.”  

 

Britt will soon share his story in the autobiography “The Soloist.” He grew up “an inner-city kid” in Cleveland where he was in a band while in junior high school with a young drummer named Arsenio Hall. The multi-instrumentalist studied abroad at the prestigious Conservatoire de Versailles under the tutelage of Roger Delmotte, first trumpeter of the Paris Opera. After returning Stateside, The Temptations’ Otis Williams made Britt the youngest musical director ever for the iconic Motown Records vocal group. That led to Britt coproducing the music for the Emmy-winning miniseries “The Temptations.”

 

After the move to Los Angeles, Britt landed his own Motown record deal in 1995 for his group Impromp2, which recorded four albums. Always desiring to be a soloist, Britt finally made it happen in 2012 by releasing his debut album, “Feels So Good.”

 

“I loved singing in groups, but deep in my heart, I always wanted to stand alone in the spotlight in front of that microphone - just me, my voice and my trumpet,” said Britt.

 

In addition to his solo catalogue, Britt has written three No. 1 Billboard hits for saxophonist Boney James as well as songs for Peabo Bryson, Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Paul Brown, Jeff Golub, Jessy J and The Temptations. He played trumpet on the big screen in Academy Award-winner “La La Land” and was hired by two-time Oscars and four-time Grammy winner Hans Zimmer to be the trumpet soloist for the Oscar nominated “Hidden Figures.” 

 

Britt will embark on a three-month U.S. concert trek this summer with Little Anthony on the Happy Together Tour. Before then, he will support the release of “After We Play” on the following dates:

 

March 26                      The Venice West                                  Venice, CA

March 30                      Middle C Jazz Club                              Charlotte, NC

April 1                         The Tin Pan                                         Richmond, VA

April 6                         Catalina Jazz Club                                Hollywood, CA                       

 

The “After We Play” album contains the following songs:

 

“Ain’t Nothin But The Funk” featuring Tom Browne

“After We Play” featuring Peter White

“Butterflies” featuring Will Downing

“Summer Love” featuring Gerald Albright and Kashan

“Ocean Waves” featuring Blair Bryant

“Walk On By”

“Hold On Be Strong” featuring Ricky Peterson

“Let’s Do This” featuring Nils

“Goin’ Out of My Head” featuring Little Anthony with George Benson

“Love Paradise”

“Midnight”

“More Love”

“Love Paradise” (instrumental)

 

For more information, please visit https://www.johnnybritt.com.

NICK STEFANACCI SAYS ‘I’M COMING OUT’

Following saxophonist Nick Stefanacci's debut Smooth Jazz single "Dance Until Dawn" comes his instrumental interpretation of Diana Ross's smash hit, "I'm Coming Out."

 

Stefanacci has always been drawn to creating fresh takes on great tunes; seeing how far he can flex the envelope. "I'm Coming Out" is considered to be Stefanacci's Coming Out Party in the Smooth Jazz world. With great studio success on his debut single, Stefanacci wanted to give his audience a new vision of a classic track.

 

Surrounded by Smooth Jazz veterans, Stefanacci lets loose right from the needle drop and doesn't take his foot off the groove petal until the last note.

 

Yeah, Stefanacci is coming out!

 

"I'm Coming Out"

 

Produced, Mixed & Arranged by Nick Stefanacci

Written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers

Mastered by Steve Hall

 

Sax, Programming: Nick Stefanacci

Guitars: Gerey Johnson

Keys, Synths: Carnell Harrell

Bass: Mel Brown

Drums: Eric Valentine

LARS TAYLOR SPENDS AN ‘ELECTRIC NIGHT’

In a genre where explosive emerging talents have to compete for chart positions and airplay with the veteran we've loved for years, it's inspiring to see that adventurous, multi-faceted - and highly prolific - Swiss-born guitarist/composer Lars Taylor is at last breaking onto the charts.

 

Now that he's blazing into 2023 with another perfectly titled gem, the lighthearted, funky and whimsical, then full throttle rockin' "Electric Night," it's clear that Taylor's trademark is creating fascinating tracks that evolve from one vibe to another - a freewheeling concept that defies traditional wisdom that dictates that artists stick to one vibe, a single instrumental voice and a melodic chorus that repeats over and over. On "Blue Sphere," he segued from summery energy to world fusion territory (complete with an oriental gypsy guitar and dabuka!)

 

Now on "Electric Night," the guitarist achieves this same mind-blowing shift, starting with a breezy, soulful acoustic melody (and infectious killer hook) over trippy electric synth textures, then showcasing the high octane electric fire the title promises, first with an extended, blazing solo and then a more muscular re-iteration of the hook on the electric. Taylor's electric playing is so intoxicating that you'' stay with him even on the lengthy outro before flipping to the next track on your playlist.

 

While Taylor composed, arranged and produced "Electric Night," it's testament to his rising presence in the Smooth Jazz world that genre mega-hitmaker Michael Broening signed on to create the perfect mix for a track that will surely be lighting up and rising higher on the radio charts throughout the coming months.

MICHAEL LINGTON’S ‘MOON GODDESS’

Over 25 years into one of Contemporary Jazz’s most storied and exhilarating careers, #1 Billboard charting saxophonist Michael Lington is as passionately expressive and sonically innovative as ever. The Danish-born artist’s upward trajectory now leads him, on his new single, to vibe with a bona fide “Moon Goddess” – a vibrant and explosive, hard-grooving, and emotionally empowering track showcasing the intuitive dynamic he creates co-writing and co-producing for the first time with famed saxophonist, producer and horn arranger David Mann.

 

With a loose, freewheeling and soulful energy reminiscent of classic Contemporary jazz albums by CTI Records, the high-intensity track marks Lington’s continued collaboration with legendary guitarist Paul Jackson Jr (whose infectious jangly funk intro and later solo are highlights) and first-ever session with veteran jazz/R&B drummer Michael White. “Moon Goddess,” a nod to Ramsey Lewis’ “Sun Goddess,” will appear on Lington’s upcoming EP, Looking Ahead (set for release in May), his first set of new recordings since 2018 Silver Lining.

NEW SINGLE ‘GROOVE TOGETHER’ FROM JAYSON TIPP

Label: Mind In Overdrive

 

Many of you may know keys player Jayson Tipp's work as a founding member of the group UNDER THE LAKE.  With production by Darren Rahn, this is a well composed and produced tune with a very format friendly vibe.

NEW SINGLE ‘STUDIO CITY’ FROM EUPHORIA WEST (FT. DANTÉ)

Label:  Ascension Music

Euphoria West is a smooth jazz fusion collective based in Los Angeles, California and Japan. Blending contemporary jazz elements with modern beats and sounds, this song features renowned L.A. session bassist ANTHONY CRAWFORD who carries most of the melody, with some tasty sax colors by Danté, whose music a number of you have played before. 

BOBBY CALDWELL SINGER-SONGWRITER DEAD AT 71

Singer Bobby Caldwell, known for his smooth blue-eyed soul voice, is dead after battling illness for several years.

Bobby, whose biggest hit is the classic ‘What You Won't Do for Love’, died in his sleep Tuesday night at home in New Jersey, according to his rep.

The singer-songwriter hadn't been able to walk for about 5 years as he coped with painful bouts of neuropathy and a torn tendon in his ankle. Last year his team revealed Bobby had a bad reaction to a prescribed antibiotic in 2017 -- they say it caused his Achilles tendon to rupture, which led to the neuropathy. Caldwell dropped his signature hit in 1978 ... when it reached the top 10 on Billboard, and made his self-titled debut album go double platinum.

If you're of a certain age, you know every line of 'Do for Love,' and the song is so enduring you hear someone sing it practically every season on "American Idol" and "The Voice."

It's also been covered by countless artists -- including Boyz II Men, Snoh Aalegra and Michael Bolton and Tupac Shakur heavily sampled it for his song, "Do For Love."

Bobby also wrote songs for the likes of Neil Diamond, Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack and Boz Scaggs. He even penned the 1986 #1 hit, "The Next Time I Fall" for Amy Grant and Peter Cetera.

Bobby was 71.

INTERNATIONAAL GEPREZEN GEORGE MICHAEL-TRIBUTE 'THE EDGE OF HEAVEN TOUR' KOMT TERUG NAAR ANTWERPEN

Het overlijden van superster George Michael dompelde de muziekwereld in december 2016 in een diepe rouw, maar gelukkig overleven zijn onsterfelijke hits de tand des tijds. Dit najaar krijgen de vele George Michael-fans in België eindelijk weer waar ze al lang terug recht op hebben. Na eerdere succesvolle en veelgeprezen doortochten in ons land, strijkt de sublieme George Michael tribute show ‘The Edge Of Heaven Tour’ op vrijdag 17 november 2023 neer in Play Zuid in Antwerpen. De Belgische leadzanger Ivann, één van ’s werelds meest fenomenale ‘look-a-like-lead’-stemmen, laat samen met een fenomenale liveband en vergezeld door drie fantastische backing vocals, de hits van George Michael en Wham! één voor één herleven. ‘Faith’, ‘Father Figure’, ‘I’m Your Man’, ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Outside’, ‘Freedom’, ‘The Edge Of Heaven’,…allemaal komen ze aan bod tijdens deze verbluffende concertavond. Tickets voor ‘A Tribute To George Michael - The Edge Of Heaven Tour’ op vrijdag 17 november 2023 om 20u in Play Zuid (Antwerpen), kan je nu bestellen via ticketkopen.eu .  

“Amazing”, “Incredible” en “Buiten categorie”, waren de meest gehoorde reacties na afloop van de uitverkochte wereldpremière van ‘A Tribute To George Michael – The Edge Of Heaven Tour’ in de Antwerpse Stadsschouwburg in 2018. Met een dubbele bis en drie staande ovaties werden wereldzanger Ivann (Vermeer) en zijn sublieme band uitgezwaaid. 

De nationale en internationale George Michael-fanclubs zijn het sindsdien unaniem eens: elke fan en elke muziekliefhebber moet deze totaalbeleving meemaken: “We kwamen voor zijn hits, ‘Faith’, ‘Careless Whisper, ‘Freedom’, ‘The Edge Of Heaven’ en werden bijna letterlijk anderhalf uur weggeblazen door de krachtige stem van leadzanger Ivann, de topmuzikanten en sublieme backing vocals”, “Dit is de ultieme tribute show die zorgt voor nieuwe herinneringen, gebaseerd op de hits en klassiekers van George Michael en Wham!”, “We weten zeker dat George hier heel trots op zou zijn!”, “Een must-see!”, klinkt het bij de Belgische, Nederlandse, Duitse en Engelse fanclubs.

De fenomenale show en Ivann’s ijzersterke interpretatie van George Michael, kregen na deze lof van pers en publiek een nationaal en internationaal vervolg. Ivann mocht zelfs als George Michael het podium delen met de Nederlandse superster Glennis Grace, tijdens haar uitverkochte  Whitney-tribute in de Antwerpse Lotto Arena op 26 oktober 2019. Geen onbekend terrein voor hem, want Ivann (Vermeer) deelde ook al het podium met o.a. wereldsterren Lionel Richie en Paul Young. 

Tijdens ‘A Tribute To George Michael – The Edge Of Heaven Tour' verlegt hij wederom zijn grenzen met weergaloze versies van ‘Faith’, ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’, ‘Father Figure’, ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Wake Me Up’ de rest van de onsterfelijke George Michael-klassiekers. Ze komen allemaal even geloofwaardig en met het nodige respect aan bod in de show, met dank ook aan de 3 uitzonderlijke backings en de ijzersterke liveband.

Tickets voor ‘A Tribute To George Michael - ‘The Edge Of Heaven Tour’ op vrijdag 17 november 2023 in Play Zuid (Antwerpen), kan je nu bestellen via ticketkopen.eu 

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS - 'DOWN THE ROAD' – NEW SINGLE BY GRAMMY-WINNING BLUEGRASS & AMERICANA ACT OUT 15.03.23

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
DOWN THE ROAD

new single
out 15.03.23
(Americana Vibes)

digital services

included on
A TRIBUTE TO FLATT & SCRUGGS
new album
out 21.04.23

pre-order/save
LP | CD | merch    digital album

The Infamous Stringdusters have dug deep into their bluegrass roots for ‘A Tribute to Flatt & Scruggs’, which will be released on 21st April on their own Americana Vibes label. The thirteenth record by the US quintet who formed in 2006, it is a homage to the esteemed duo of singer/guitarist Lester Flatt and banjo player Earl Scruggs and acknowledges their key influence on American music.

“The concept of paying tribute to the godheads and originators of Bluegrass is one we bounced around for a while and, after Bill Monroe, the most logical are Flatt & Scruggs,” states ‘dusters bass player Travis Book. “They are legendary figures and without Earl's banjo, bluegrass just wouldn't exist the way we know it today.”

Having won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album in 2018, the group members - Andy Falco [guitar], Chris Pandolfi [banjo], Andy Hall [dobro], Jeremy Garrett [fiddle], Travis Book [double bass] - actually have musical influences that truly run the gamut. However, their common denominator is Bluegrass, which is the sound that has often defined the course of their career.

This new body of work is the second in a series of tribute releases and was an obvious choice to follow their 2021 Grammy nominated ‘A Tribute to Bill Monroe’, the man who laid the foundations for Bluegrass as we know it today. In honouring their roots, the group actually found an opportunity to grow and evolve, as evidenced by ‘Toward The Fray’, their well received full-length collection of original songs recorded during lockdown and issued in early 2022, while this new covers set displays an even deeper appreciation of the genre they closely identify with.

“This album is special to me because it presented the opportunity to dig deeper into what made Flatt & Scruggs so influential and because we recorded it pretty old-school; all at once, all together, without a lot of messing around. We just let the tape roll!” adds Book.

Throughout years of touring, the ‘dusters have been variously described as a ‘future supergroup’, ‘intricately improvisational’, ‘phenomenal’ and ‘flawless’ by critics. A rare example of a group who can team up with other contemporary acts on late night TV one night while headlining the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado or performing alongside Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead the next, they have accumulated a faithful international audience that continues to grow. With this latest honouring of the music that has helped shaped them, ‘A Tribute To Flatt & Scruggs’ informs fans that their evolution continues with renditions of songs that have been made even more meaningful and essential.

A TRIBUTE TO FLATT & SCRUGGS
TRACKLISTING
1  I'd Rather Be Alone
2  Will You Be Lonesome Too
3  Blue Ridge Cabin Home
4  Earl's Breakdown
5  Cabin On The Hill
6  Down The Road

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS
Andy Falco - guitar
Chris Pandolfi - banjo
Andy Hall - dobro
Jeremy Garrett - fiddle
Travis Book - double bass

official site  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

PROEL WELCOMES RENOWNED JAZZ MUSICIAN BRIAN CULBERTSON AS AN OFFICIALLY ENDORSED DEXIBELL ARTIST

LOS ANGELES (14 March 2023): Dexibell, the manufacturer of world-class digital pianos and keyboards, handmade in Italy, is proud to announce that Brian Culbertson, renowned contemporary jazz musician, has become a officially endorsed Dexibell artist.

 

Culbertson, who has released 25 solo albums with 40 No. 1 Billboard singles and worked with a who’s who of legendary artists throughout his career, is known for his contemporary jazz sound infused with R&B, soul and funk. With his exceptional keyboard, writing, and production skills, he has won numerous awards and accolades, including nominations for an NAACP Image Award and Soul Train Music Award.

 

As an officially endorsed artist, Culbertson will be using Dexibell digital pianos and keyboards as well as Proel audio and lighting equipment in his live performances and recordings, beginning with the launch of THE TRILOGY TOUR, an extensive nationwide US tour kicking off March 22, 2023, including a stop at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York among 70+ other cities. He will also be working closely with Dexibell to help develop their new products and technologies that will benefit musicians and music lovers worldwide.

 

“I’m very excited to be joining the Dexibell team," said Culbertson. “While I’ve known about them for a few years, I’ve finally had the chance to really dig into their new VIVO S10 stage piano, and I’m absolutely blown away by the sound of the piano! It’s just so realistic, far beyond anything I’ve ever heard before. In addition to the sound, the feel of the keyboard, as well as the extensive effects possibilities makes this a no brainer to use on tour as well as in the studio.”

 

Dexibell's digital pianos and keyboards, designed, engineered and manufactured in Italy, are renowned for their exceptional sound quality, authentic keyboard touch, and innovative technology. They have been embraced by musicians and music enthusiasts around the globe and are used in a variety of settings, from recording studios and performance venues to homes, churches, and schools.

 

"We at Proel are ecstatic to welcome Brian Culbertson to our Dexibell family of artists," said Antonio Ferranti, President of Proel North America, the exclusive representative of Dexibell in the USA and Canada. "Brian is an exceptionally talented and dedicated musician and a true innovator in the world of jazz. We are honored to welcome him as an officially endorsed artist, and we look forward to working with him to further develop new and exciting sounds and product innovations that will serve musicians worldwide to fully express their artistry and creativity."

 

 

ABOUT BRIAN CULBERTSON: Brian Culbertson is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer known for his distinct brand of piano-driven contemporary jazz, R&B and funk. Mining the urban sounds of musically-rich Chicago, he began his musical studies on piano at age eight and quickly picked up several other instruments by the time he was twelve, including drums, trombone, bass, trumpet, and euphonium. Inspired by the iconic R&B-jazz-pop artists of the 1970s like Earth, Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, Chicago, David Sanborn and others, Culbertson started composing original music for his seventh grade piano recital and hasn’t stopped since, amassing a deep catalogue of 25 solo albums, most of which have topped the Billboard contemporary jazz charts.

 

Having worked and performed with countless industry all-stars such as Maurice White (EWF), Michael McDonald, Stevie Wonder, Chris Botti, Ray Parker Jr., Barry Manilow, Herb Alpert, Natalie Cole, and Bootsy Collins just to name a few, Culbertson has won numerous awards and accolades along with nominations from the NAACP Image Awards and Soul Train Awards. In 2012, he co-founded the Napa Valley Jazz Getaway with his wife Michelle, a flourishing wine, music and lifestyle experience for which he also serves as artistic director.

 

Brian is about to embark on THE TRILOGY TOUR across the US, a brand-new stage show featuring songs from his latest trio of studio albums plus many fan favorites. And when not on tour, Brian has a weekly streaming show on YouTube called “The Hang with Brian Culbertson” on Friday nights. For more information about Brian Culbertson, his music and tour schedule, visit www.brianculbertson.com.

 

 

ABOUT DEXIBELL: Founded in Italy by passionate industry-leading engineers, Dexibell has been designing, crafting, and producing digital pianos, keyboards, organs, and accessories since 2013 and launched to the North American market in 2017.

 

The company was founded to address the need to create products that are faithful to the highest expectations of musicians. Unlike larger companies, Dexibell has an agile and dynamic structure: all employees collaborate closely—from designers and engineers to project managers and programmers—to find the perfect balance between artistic efficiency, cutting-edge technology, and innovative design. Dexibell products are 100% designed and manufactured in Italy, and characterized by the unsurpassed tone, touch, and technology of each instrument. For more information about Dexibell digital pianos and keyboards, visit www.dexibell.com.

 

 

ABOUT PROEL NORTH AMERICA: Founded in 2017, and headquartered in Los Angeles, Proel North America is the exclusive distributor of the Proel family of ‘Made In Italy’ pro audio, musical instruments, music gear and accessories brands to the USA and Canada.

 

Proel, founded and headquartered in Italy since 1991, designs, engineers, and manufactures world-class pro audio, musical instruments, music gear and accessories that are faithful to the highest expectations of musicians. For more information about Proel North America, visit www.proelnorthamerica.com.

NIEUWE SINGLE VOOR .FEN – HERO

Na drie soloalbums, een Stevie Wonder tribute tour doorheen Europa én een 3e plaats in de Belgische selectieshow voor het Eurovisie Songfestival in 2012, is de singer-songwriter .Fen uit Vilvoorde helemaal terug met nieuwe muziek.

“In moeilijke tijden hebben we allemaal een held nodig. Voor de één zal het zijn of haar vader zijn, een vriend of vriendin, voor anderen kan het gewoon een wildvreemde zijn die lief glimlacht. Daarom schreef ik het liedje 'Hero'", zegt .Fen.

De single blijft natuurlijk trouw aan de stijl van .Fen en werd dankzij producer Bab Lemmens (Netsky, Laura Tesoro, Natalia) naar een hoger niveau getild. De tekst schreef .Fen, zoals steeds, zelf.

"Na een jaar van hard werken, ben ik heel fier om aan te kondigen dat er een nieuw album aankomt. De single 'Hero' is daar alvast een voorsmaakje van en is vooral een oproep om elkaar te helpen. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat geluk in de allerkleinste dingen zit en dat wil ik bewijzen in 'Hero'."

Zijn single 'Life Is So Beautiful' was een groot succes op Spotify. Zo werd de single opgepikt in grote playlists zoals 'Made In Belgium' en 'New Music Friday'. Ook het laatste album van .Fen deed het goed en telt momenteel meer dan 5 miljoen gecombineerde streams en views. Zowel in Vlaanderen als Wallonië waren vele radiozenders fan van singles zoals 'Proud', 'Give An Answer' en 'Open Your Eyes'.

'Hero', de nieuwe single van .Fen, kan je beluisteren op alle grote streamingplatformen.

HISTORALIA BRENGT GROOTS MUSICALSPEKTAKEL 'MARIE-ANTOINETTE’ AAN KASTEEL VAN WIJNENDALE (TORHOUT)

Groots musicalspektakel 'Marie-Antoinette' strijkt in september 2023 neer aan kasteel van Wijnendale!

West-Vlaamse Liesbeth Roose pakt eerste titelrol en wordt Marie-Antoinette.

Musicalicoon Linda Lepomme 25 jaar na laatste productie terug op de planken.

In september 2023 presenteert productiehuis Historalia het grootse musicalspektakel ‘Marie-Antoinette’. Dit openluchtspektakel, dat op meeslepende wijze het fascinerende verhaal van de miskende, laatste koningin van Frankrijk vertelt, zal plaatsvinden op en rond de slotgracht van het prachtige Kasteel van Wijnendale (Torhout). 

Over Marie-Antoinette gaan vele, wilde verhalen rond, maar wie was ze echt? Deze indrukwekkende productie, met weelderige kostuums, wondermooie muziek en in een verbluffend decor, geeft een verhelderend inzicht in het turbulente, korte leven van deze opmerkelijke dame.

Een indrukwekkende productie vraagt om een al even indrukwekkende hoofdcast en die heeft 'Marie-Antoinette'. Ervaring, aanstormend talent én een opmerkelijke comeback, je vindt ze er allemaal in terug. We stellen hen graag aan je voor: 

De rol van Marie-Antoinette zal vertolkt worden door de West-Vlaamse musicalactrice Liesbeth Roose. Liesbeth is afkomstig uit Tielt en speelt dus een echte thuismatch rond het kasteel van Wijnendale. Ze speelde al mee in musicals als 'Beauty and the Beast', 'Blood Brothers', 40-45', 'Daens', 'The Sound of Music', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' en binnenkort is ze ook te zien in 'Red Star Line'. Liesbeth speelde eerder ook al mee in producties van Historalia, waaronder '1830'. Marie-Antoinette is haar eerste titelrol.

"In 'Blood Brothers' (2018) speelde ik al eens een hoofdrol, maar Marie-Antoinette wordt mijn eerste titelrol. Dat ik die als West-Vlaamse in West-Vlaanderen op de planken mag brengen, maakt het natuurlijk eens zo speciaal. Voor mijn vrienden en familie is het zeker handig dat ik eens zo dicht bij waar ik opgroeide mag spelen. Ik verwacht dan ook dat ze allemaal naar 'Marie-Antoinette' komen kijken (lacht)."
- Liesbeth Roose -

Met musical- en theatericoon Linda Lepomme die in de huid zal kruipen van keizerin Maria Theresia, de moeder van Marie-Antoinette, mogen we spreken van een zeer opmerkelijke comeback. 25 jaar nadat ze in première ging met 'The King and I' (1998), waarin ze de vrouwelijke hoofdrol speelde, keert Linda Lepomme in 'Marie-Antoinette' terug op de musicalplanken. Linda nam in 1985 voor ons land deel aan het Eurovisiesongfestival en begon in datzelfde jaar aan een gelauwerde carrière bij het Koninklijk Ballet van Vlaanderen. Ze speelde mee in de legendarische tv-serie 'De Paradijsvogels', films als 'Zware Jongens' en 'Pauline en Paulette', was jurylid in het VTM-programma ‘Op zoek naar Maria’ en heeft tijdens haar carrière heel wat musicalacteurs onder haar vleugels gehad als artistiek leider van de musicaltheateropleiding van de Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Tilburg. Kortom, een echt monument in het musicallandschap in de Lage Landen. 

Liesbeth en Linda weten zich in 'Marie-Antoinette' omringd met nog heel wat pure musicalkwaliteit. Zo zien we Rudi Giron in de rol van André, de rechterhand van Robespierre, gespeeld door Jens Sauviller. Staan Kato Aerts en Ellen Dilles op de barricades als Françoise en Henriette, speelt Daan Keisse de rol van Baldewijn en herkennen we Joke Van Robbroeck als prinses de Lamballe. Jervin Weckx is koning Louis August (Lodewijk XVI), de man van Marie-Antoinette, Mike Wauters herneemt zijn rol als Graaf Van Fersen, Jens Broes is hofmeester Balthasar de Merode, Lien Van den Bossche speelt de jonge Française Rosalie en Andres Vercoutere is Arno.

Kindercast met West-Vlaamse broers en zusjes
Broer en zus Mauro (12)  en Emilia (10) Degroote uit Deerlijk mogen als zoon en dochter van Marie-Antoinette ook als broer en zus het podium op. Hetzelfde geldt voor Nora (10) en Flor (14) Pintelon uit Harelbeke. Flor speelt 'den Dabber' en Nora zijn jongere zusje. De kinderhoofdrol 'Charlotte' zal afwisselend gespeeld worden door de 12-jarige Nooni Merchiers uit Vlissegem (De Haan) en Minne Beeusaert (10) uit Olsene. De 11-jarige Fran Desmet uit Ingooigem wist ook een rol als één van de dochters van Marie-Antoinette te bemachtigen.

Wie was Marie-Antoinette?
De Oostenrijkse Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna, in het Frans bekend als Marie-Antoinette, was de echtgenote van koning Lodewijk XVI van Frankrijk. Ze was dus de laatste koningin van Frankrijk, alvorens de Franse Revolutie voor een enorme omwenteling zorgde.

Tijdens de Franse Revolutie werd ze samen met haar man ten val gebracht. Na een dubieus proces werd Marie-Antoinette schuldig bevonden aan incest en hoogverraad, en uiteindelijk ter dood veroordeeld. Op 16 oktober 1793, ze was toen slechts 37 jaar oud, maakte de guillotine een einde aan haar leven.

De persoonlijkheid van Marie-Antoinette is een veelbesproken onderwerp. Er zijn schrijvers die in haar karakter de oorzaak van de val van de Franse monarchie zoeken. In haar eigen tijd werd ze op grote schaal bekritiseerd en belasterd, voor anderen gold en geldt ze als een heilige en martelares.

Met ‘Marie-Antoinette’ is Historalia allerminst aan z’n proefstuk toe, want dit was ook hun eerste musicalspektakel dat in 2014 speelde in Westerlo. Het productiehuis van oprichter/drijvende kracht prins Simon de Merode en creatieve rechterhand Luc Stevens heeft sindsdien een flinke reputatie opgebouwd met grote musicalspektakels rond historische figuren en gebeurtenissen (‘Marie-Antoinette’, ‘Albert I’, ‘Rubens’, ‘1830’).

Tickets & info: historalia.be/marie-antoinette 

Scenario & regie: Luc Stevens
Componist & liedtkesten: Sam Gevers
Scenografie: Marnik Baert en Andy Couwberghs
Assistent regie, resident director & staging: Floris Devooght
Choreografie & staging: Wendy Demeyere

DAVE FOSTER BAND - '...OR YOU STEAL SOME' – NEW SINGLE BY ROCK & POP ACT OUT 14.03.23

DAVE FOSTER BAND
…OR YOU STEAL SOME

new single
out 14.03.23
(English Electric Recordings)

digital services

included on
GLIMMER
album
CD  |  LP out 21.04.23
digital out 19.05.23

pre-order
UK/Europe  |  North America
LP available on black or limited edition yellow vinyl

The Anglo-Dutch rock & pop act Dave Foster Band (DFB) have released a new single today entitled ‘…Or You Steal Some’. The second to be lifted from their upcoming new album, ‘Glimmer’, it begins with a plaintive piano melody before gradually opening out into a seven minute mini-epic replete with a string section. Guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster reveals that the music for the song “was largely influenced by ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ by Wings. I’ve always loved Paul McCartney’s energy and passion on his Wings stuff. Having the chance to record this with bassist Neil Fairclough in between his Queen + Adam Lambert duties was great. We’ve actually been friends since college.”

As for its lyrical message, vocalist Dinet Poortman explains that “I wasn't in a happy place when I sat down with this beautiful piece of music that Dave had written, but the words and melody just poured out. The truth I was trying to escape from is told in this song, which carries the powerful message that you might be stronger than you think when things seem bleak. When we came to making the album, I wanted to record this last as it holds a special place in my heart and because I knew it would be an emotional experience. I am so proud of the result.”

Foster, Poortman and keyboard player Riccardo Romano will perform a DFB acoustic set at the first Marillion Weekend of 2023 in Port Zélande, Netherlands on 18th March, with further information available HERE.

The LP and CD formats of ‘Glimmer’ are out on 21st April, with the digital release following four weeks later. A cornucopia of musical delights, it will appeal not only to fans of guitar-based rock on several songs that balance dazzling technique with great restraint, but also to followers of crossover acts as varied as Air and The Anchoress on other piano-led tracks. Produced by Foster, featured guests include drummer Leon Parr (Steve Rothery Band), pianist Anthony Hindley and string arranger Stephen Boyce Buckley, as well as Fairclough.

Dave Foster Band (DFB) was founded in 2017, but actually has its origins in earlier collaborations between Foster and Poortman after they were introduced by a mutual friend, guitarist Steve Rothery of Marillion. Both had been members of previous groups that separately supported the prog behemoths, while Foster plays guitar in the Steve Rothery Band. He has also been a member of another leading UK prog act, Big Big Train, since 2020.

Given that Foster is based in the UK and Poortman the Netherlands, their first tentative steps were an experiment to see if they could work together effectively, but a number of co-written songs that appeared on Foster’s solo albums ‘Gravity’ (2011) and ‘Dreamless’ (2016) were solid proof that they had musical chemistry. Having formed DFB, they supported both Rothery and Marillion on European/UK tours while working on their debut album, ‘Nocebo’, which was released in 2019 and promoted with headlining dates throughout western Europe.

Discussing the making of ‘Glimmer’, Foster explains that “the pandemic stopped any further touring of ‘Nocebo’, but instead allowed us to embark on a really inspiring run of writing songs. We actually recorded the drums between lockdowns, which was frustrating but at least meant that we could let the songs mature. By the time we got round to recording again the songs had grown and developed into their final shape.”

Early 2020 had certainly provided Poortman with lyrical inspiration. “Britain was leaving the EU, the Covid pandemic was just around the corner and I was all at sea in my private life,” she notes. “Dave was sending me his pieces of music and I would play around with them and see what happened melodically and lyrically. Due to the lockdowns we literally had nothing else to do, but for me personally it was also great therapy as I was coming to terms with a marriage that had just ended. On the one hand it provided a lot of inspiration, but on the other made me realise that life is fragile and that people and relationships deserve to be cherished.”

The cover artwork for the LP and CD/digital formats of ‘Glimmer’ is a differently coloured image by photographer Neal Moran that Foster says “works perfectly with the idea of when things are hard and complicated there’s always a glimmer of light,” with Poortman adding that “this is the essence of the album title, the fact that there is always a little peek of 'Glimmer' in the corner of your eye waiting for you to acknowledge it and let it into your life. That's what I did.”

 ‘Glimmer’ will be released via the English Electric Recordings label run by Big Big Train, with Gregory Spawton of BBT stating: “Since coming on board in 2020, Dave has proved a great addition to Big Big Train and we are delighted to be releasing ‘Glimmer’ through our label. The songwriting by Dave and Dinet throughout the album is impressive and we believe that it will appeal to rock music fans with a diverse array of tastes. We were therefore keen to sign them.”

GLIMMER
TRACKLISTING
1  Every Waking Moment
2  Run
3  Stigma
4  Chasing An Echo
5  Dive In
6  Memory Box
7  …Or You Steal Some
8  The Rules Have Changed

official site

MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST BOB COATE PROWLS MYSTERIOUSLY ON ‘SASHA’

He teams with producer-songwriter-keyboardist SONIX for a top ten single receiving airplay around the world.

 

WASHINGTON (13 March 2023): There’s a bit of mystery surrounding multi-instrumentalist Bob Coate. You won’t find his picture on his single covers or on his website. When you try to pin him down to name his primary instrumental voice, he declines to name just one. While he presents clear marketing and branding challenges, Coate’s perspective – which he himself admits is naïve as a new artist who emerged on the instrumental pop-jazz scene last year – is free from limitations, restrictions and expectations. He enjoys and exercises his freedom to explore his artistic muse while maintaining an air of mystery on the newly released single, “Sasha,” which he wrote and produced with SONIX (David Bowie, Lauryn Hill, Sean “Diddy” Combs). 

 

On the midtempo R&B groove, Coate plays haunting and lyrical flugelhorn verses before yielding to SONIX’s vibrant melodic keyboards and Fender Rhodes choruses. Johnny "JTwo" Johnson added guitar while bassist Jordan "Jo Peezy" Yussef anchors the rhythm.

 

“‘Sasha’ is based on a tune that was floating around in my head for many months. Every time I sat down at the keyboard, I would experiment with it some more. You wouldn’t believe how many preliminary versions I recorded and then discarded. Teaming up with SONIX helped push the tune to completion. I think we were able to give the track a dreamy, surreal feel to it,” said Coate.

 

“Sasha” has instantly been embraced by fans who made it a top ten single on the Smooth Global Listener Countdown. Beyond U.S. airplay, the single is garnering spins internationally, including London Soul Radio and on radio stations in Spain, Australia, Poland and Panama.

 

On Coate’s previous nine single releases dating back to his 2021 debut, “Super Smooth,” he did everything himself: writing, producing, performing, recording, mixing, mastering and even designing the cover art. “Sasha” is the first of two singles that he recorded with SONIX.

 

“I am very grateful to have had the privilege of working with world-class producer and musical powerhouse SONIX. This was my first time working with a producer or guest artist,” said Coate, a Boston-area native who is now based just outside of Washington, DC.

 

“Writing and producing ‘Sasha’ with Bob was a great compromise of who we are as creatives. I enjoyed his input and blunt honesty. We paid great respect to the composition, which blends a color palette of yesterday and today to paint a beautiful picture of ‘Sasha,’ a lady of beauty that lets the listener define her,” said SONIX, who also collaborated with Coate on a high-energy Latin jazz single called “Mamba Rosalita” that is slated to drop in May.  

 

While SONIX infers that the inspiration for “Sasha” is a woman, Coate says not so fast.

 

“Most people assume ‘Sasha’ is named after my wife, or girlfriend, or daughter – but no,” he said with a Cheshire grin.  

 

“I’ll let the listener come up with their own interpretation. That’s part of the magic of music, especially instrumental jazz. Each listener can hear something and use their imagination to come up with their own imagery. For all anyone knows, it could be a song about a family member’s cat, but I’ll never tell!”

 

For more information, please visit https://www.bobcoate.com.

LEDFOOT & RONNI LE TEKRØ - 'LIMITED EDITION LAVA LAMP' – SHAPESHIFTING AMERICANA ALBUM OUT 24.03.23

LEDFOOT & RONNI LE TEKRØ + musicians in the studio | photo by Cecilie Leganger

LEDFOOT & RONNI LE TEKRØ

LIMITED EDITION LAVA LAMP

new album
LP | CD | digital
out 24.03.23
(TBC Records)

pre-order/save

 

“A fusion of heavy electric guitar sonics intertwine with heavenly vocal deliveries on nine well-crafted tunes. Rocky yet melancholic blues tones abound on this wonderful release”
BLUES MATTERS
“Has an ability to touch your soul with its deep rooted emotion. There are occasional nods to Bob Dylan, alongside a guitar sound that is akin to Jeff Beck. A classic album 10/10”
POWERPLAY
“Ledfoot’s famed ‘Gothic Blues’ style complemented perfectly by Le Tekrø’s hard-rocking edge. Intriguing and immensely enjoyable”
FIREWORKS

includes the single
CRYING
out 10.03.23

digital services

US Gothic blues artist Ledfoot and Norwegian guitar legend Ronni Le Tekrø have today issued a new single entitled ‘Crying’. Taken from an upcoming second collaborative album of bluesy Americana, the song is a philosophical rumination on love won and lost that is reminiscent of both Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison (not that ‘Crying’). Written by Ledfoot (aka Tim Scott McConnell), he explains its message by simply stating that “there are two reasons someone stops crying because of you. They either give up on you….or you do right.” Le Tekrø adds: “I loved this song when Ledfoot presented it and we put some dark mojo into its message about treasuring love when you have it.”

‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp’ is the intriguing title of their new album, which comes two years after the critically acclaimed 'A Death Divine’. It sees the duo joined by veteran producer/musician HP Gundersen and a crack team of reinforcements on a record of shapeshifting Americana that also nods to the likes of Johnny Cash and Iggy Pop.

Ledfoot (aka Tim Scott McConnell) states that “Ronni and I decided it was time to get serious and put a band together... AND WHAT A BAND! The result is ‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp‘....get ready for a wild ride.” Le Tekrø concurs, adding that “we have been digging deeper, exploring and uniting our different styles, while the production has been pushed into territory we have never been before. This album will take you to Twin Peaks. Let your ears take you above and below.”

Recorded over the course of a magical week at Studio Studio Nyhagen (owned by Le Tekrø), ‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp’ consists of four songs written by Ledfoot, four co-writes, plus a cover of ‘Sister’ from the Quincy Jones-helmed soundtrack of ‘The Color Purple’. The nine tracks see an inspired Ledfoot singing better than ever, while Le Tekrø's unique guitar skills find their natural home in the soundscape created with the aid of Gundersen (who also contributes guitar parts), Anders Odden (bass), Trond Augland (drums) and Markus O Klyve (keyboards).

‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp’ will be released on LP, CD and digital formats, plus a limited LP edition pressed on 180g lava lamp (orange) vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.

more about LEDFOOT
Born in Florida but based in Norway for many years, Ledfoot has been especially busy recently, having released the solo album ‘Coffin Nails’ in December 2022 that has just been nominated for the Norwegian equivalent of the Grammy Awards in the Blues category. It is the follow-up to 2021’s Black Valley’, which was also nominated, while his 'White Crow’ was released just before ‘A Death Divine’ and won the same Award in 2019, a year that saw him write most of the music for the hit Norwegian TV series ‘Exit’ and act as a mafia hitman in the show.
Adopting the stage name Ledfoot in 2007, he had actually begun his musical career at the age of 15 as Tim Scott and had major deals in the 1980s-‘90s that included solo albums on Sire, Geffen and Warners and a further record on Elektra as frontman of The Havalinas sandwiched between the latter two of these.
One of his early songs was covered by Sheena Easton on her 1984 US smash album ‘A Private Heaven’ and released as a spin-off single. while three decades later Bruce Springsteen covered his 'High Hopes' and made it the opening song and title track of his eighteenth studio album.

more about RONNI LE TEKRØ
Ronni Le Tekrø is a guitar legend in his home territory. Founder and leader of the ongoing Norwegian hard rock institution TNT while still in his teens, but also a regular collaborator with esteemed jazz guitarist/composer and compatriot Terje Rypdal (ECM Records has issued several albums by the pair), he is renowned for his unique playing style and has often been ranked among the world's best guitarists regardless of genre. Le Tekrø has also released several solo records, with the most recent being 'Bigfoot TV' in 2022.

 LIMITED EDITION LAVA LAMP
TRACKLISTING
1  Little Rosie
2  Crying
3  The Ego In The Coffin
4  How Hard It Is
5  Never Use Your Eyes
6  Sailor
7  Limited Edition Lava Lamp
8  Sister
9  This Hurtful Game

Produced by HP Gundersen
Engineered and Mixed by Kjartan Hesthagen
Mastered by Winter Lazerus

MUSICIANS
Ledfoot - vocals, guitar
Ronni Le Tekrø - guitar
Anders Odden - bass
Trond Augland - drums
Markus O Klyve - keyboards
HP Gundersen - guitar

LEDFOOT facebook
RONNI LE TEKRØ facebook

AARON BROWN SEES A ‘SATIN SUNSET’

"Satin Sunset", the new single will be released on March 13 by Aaron Brown and his group FuBop Collective. It was a victory over time and circumstance that brought out the best in him and his collaborators, Dennis Johnson on keyboards and Gene Faffley on drums.

 

"Music helps create a social and spiritual balance in the world. The frequencies that are generated in music exist in nature," says Brown. That balance can be heard in his two chart-topping singles "Mr. Jones" and "Hidden Beauty", both of which reached the Smooth Jazz Top 100 in 2022.

 

Aaron has been busy achieving more of that balance. "Satin Sunset" is a triumph expressed in music that has turned dark times into light, sad events into happy memories, and each present moment into a look forward. "Satin Sunset" was written and produced with hitmaker, Barry Eastmound. We had a great time formulating this gem. It's truly destined to be a smooth Jazz classic.

 

"Satin Sunset"

 

Written & Produced by Barry Eastmond & Aaron C. Brown 

 

Aaron C. Brown - Guitar

Barry Eastmond - Bass, Keys, Horn, Strings & Percussion

DEE LUCAS FT. BLAIR BRYANT ON ‘STAY STRONG’

National recording artist & saxophonist Dee Lucas is back with another smash hit titled "Stay Strong", which features bassist Blair Bryant who is considered one of the freshest & brightest stars in Smooth Jazz.

 

"Stay Strong" kicks off the brand new album No Boundaries for the saxman which is his 10th solo record, making him one of the most consistent artist in the Contemporary Jazz world.

 

"Stay Strong"

 

Written by Orlando (Dee) Lucas & Blair Bryant 

Produced by Blair Bryant 

Mastered by Steve Hall

 

Dee Lucas - Soprano Saxophone 

Blair Bryant - Bass, Synth Bass, Guitar, Organ, Keyboards, Drums & Drum Programming

NEO SOUL SINGER-SONGWRITER KEA DELIVERS A TRIUMPHANT MESSAGE ON NEW SINGLE

“We Made It Thru” drops March 31 after two performances during SXSW.  

 

PITTSBURGH (9 March 2023): Empowerment and transformation are key themes that come up repeatedly in neo soul singer-songwriter KEA’s poetic storytelling lyrics. While there are clear stylistic changes heard on her forthcoming single, the celebratory up-tempo “We Made It Thru,” her message – and her brand – remains the same: anyone can conquer their circumstances and challenges with perseverance and a grateful heart. The new single that KEA wrote drops March 31, shortly after her two concert dates in Austin during SXSW.  

 

The singles KEA previously released – from the smooth and soulful caress of her 2017 debut, “iLove You,” written when her young daughter was battling a kidney disorder; to her defiant “Not My Friend,” penned about a woman breaking free from an abusive relationship; to her powerful testimony in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, “Holla If You Hear Me”; to last year’s encouraging “Turn It Around,” written to inspire persistence and summon the courage to overcome bad choices of the past – were all midtempo soul-jazz grooves. The triumphant “We Made It Thru” lifts the tempo to dance club intensity with inspirational gospel tones – rousing church organ and all – and thankful lyrics urging determination, tenacity and resilience.         

 

“My goal was to make the song about a woman's need for healing and self-love. The reality is that we face unfortunate happenings every day and yet find a way to make it through. I purposely made it ‘We Made It Thru’ because I’m making music that we relate to ‘together.’ This isn't a KEA thing, but an ‘our’ thing and an ‘us’ thing,” said the Pittsburgh-based KEA who recently lost her mother.

 

“I consulted with my mother before she passed and added biblical context to the lyrics, reminiscent of how the bible speaks of signs of the times in Matthew 24.”

 

KEA is astute and keenly observant, which informs the lyrics that she wrote with contributions by Lem Springsteen. In addition to producing the track for Bread & Butter Productions, Butter is featured on keyboards, drums, drum programming, percussion and backing vocals. David Delhomme (keyboards, organ and lead synth) and Mark Bowers (guitar and bass) complete the lineup.

 

“‘We Made It Thru’ speaks of how everything has changed. We went from being principled to having zero filters. People say and post on social media whatever they want without giving any thought or care to how their words impact others or society. However, the ‘good times keep us still and alive.’ That verse in the single is meant to encourage us not to lose hope and find the joy that is there where there is pain. We are always ripping and running and cannot hear from God in a hurry or see/feel what’s happening around or within us where most of the work needs to be done. I encourage stillness and to keep plugging away,” said KEA who will take the stage twice during SXSW for performances at Flamingo Cantina on March 16 and Smokey Greek Cajun Bar & Grill on March 18 at events hosted by RhythmandSoulRadio.com.

 

A frequent performer on the Pittsburgh scene, ever since KEA started issuing singles, she’s received radio spins and praise nationally, including from respected R&B outlet SoulTracks, which has consistently championed her singles and videos, and internationally via top 20 chart appearances on the UK Soul Chart and going top 40 on the DRT Global Independent Airplay Chart.

 

Considering herself to be a philosopher at heart, KEA began by writing poetry, turning poems into songs. Growing up in a musical household instilled a love of music. She started singing, initially studying jazz vocals, the nuances of which remain in evidence in her recordings today. What KEA experienced growing up, as a young mother and as an adult is also present in the stories she tells in her songs. It makes her a unique and authentic communicator as an artist.

 

“What makes me relatable is my trials. Without any extensive music training or degrees, and no connections to industry powerbrokers or mainstream artists, who I do have a connection with is ‘the people.’ Your everyday person who works 12-hour shifts, struggling financially, single parents, low-income housing recipients, childhood trauma, suffering from low self-esteem, mental health problems, homelessness, and people in unhealthy relationships who are now learning boundaries and seeing their worth - you name it. Those are my people and I know how to reach them because I've been them.” 

 

For more information, please visit https://musicbykea.com.

LOTTE DE CLERCK EN FRANCISCO SCHUSTER WORDEN KOPPEL IN VLAAMSE VERSIE MUSICALFENOMEEN ‘HAIRSPRAY’

Maart en april 2024
Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen - Capitole Gent - Trixxo Theater Hasselt

Bekijk HIER wat Lotte & Francisco daarvan vinden

 

Van 15 maart 2024 tot 14 april 2024 presenteert Deep Bridge in Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen, Capitole Gent en Trixxo Theater Hasselt de eerste, professionele Vlaamse versie van de Broadwaymusical ‘Hairspray’. 'Hairspray' is een generatie-overschrijdend fenomeen in de film- en musicalwereld omdat het ondanks de heerlijke muziek, dans en dikke fun, ook nu nog brandend  actuele thema's als racisme en bodyshaming niet uit de weg gaat.

Om deze felgesmaakte mix van feelgood en maatschappijkritiek op de planken te brengen, heb je natuurlijk een getalenteerde en veelzijdige cast nodig. De eerste twee namen voor de hoofdcast die regisseur Stany Crets uit zijn hoge hoed tovert, passen alvast helemaal in dat profiel...

Lotte De Clerck en Francisco Schuster als verliefd stel Penny en Seaweed

De 23-jarige actrice en zangeres Lotte De Clerck, bij het grote publiek vooral bekend door haar rol als Emma Wolfs in de populaire Ketnet-serie #LikeMe, zal in deze Vlaamse musicalversie van 'Hairspray' in de huid kruipen van Penny Pingleton. Penny is de beste vriendin van hoofdpersonage Tracy Turnblad en wordt, ondanks haar racistische en streng christelijke moeder, verliefd op de gekleurde jongen Seaweed. Lotte was 5 jaar geleden al te zien in de allereerste Deep Bridge-productie ‘Ridders van de Ronde Keukentafel’ en komt nu langs de grote poort weer binnen met deze hoofdrol in 'Hairspray'.

In de rol van Seaweed geen onbekende voor Lotte, want het is acteur, zanger, danser en  #LikeMe-collega Francisco Schuster (21) die deze rol wist te bemachtigen. Seaweed is een zeer getalenteerde danser in de The Corny Collins Show, maar wordt alleen toegelaten op ‘Negro Day’. Hij belandt in de gevangenis en wordt verliefd op Penny. 'Hairspray' wordt alleszins een leuk, nieuw avontuur dat  Lotte en Francisco samen aangaan en daar kijken ze beiden enorm naar uit.

"Ik heb de film al ontelbaar keren gezien, het maakt deel uit van mijn jeugd! Kleine Lotte stond al te shaken op de muziek van 'Hairspray'. Het is dan ook fantastisch en een hele eer om dat nu zelf op het podium te kunnen doen en te kunnen delen met zoveel mensen!"
- Lotte De Clerck -

Ik zag 'Hairspray Live' en ik dacht écht ‘op een dag wil ik ook Seaweed spelen’. Er zit zoveel ‘soul’ in de musical, en zoveel kleur. Ik word nu al gelukkig als ik denk aan al die soulnummers en het feit dat ik daar mijn zwarte stem in kan steken. Ik kan niet wachten!"
-  Francisco Schuster -

 

Het fenomeen 'Hairspray'

De musical 'Hairspray', gebaseerd op de gelijknamige film uit 1988, ging in 2002 in Seattle in première en verhuisde later dat jaar naar Broadway. In 2003 won 'Hairspray' acht Tony Awards, waaronder één voor 'Beste Musical', uit 13 nominaties. De musical sloot op 4 januari 2009 af na 2.642!! uitvoeringen. De West End-versie werd op zijn beurt genomineerd voor maar liefst elf Olivier Awards, waarvan er vier werden gewonnen, waaronder die voor 'Beste Nieuwe Musical'.

Bij het grote publiek verwierf 'Hairspray' een echte cultstatus na de release van de musicalverfilming in 2007. In een sterrencast met o.a. Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron en Queen Latifah, schitterde ook John Travolta - in fatsuit - als de extraverte Edna Turnblad.

Deep Bridge maakt een eigen, Vlaamse versie van deze feelgood musical. Zoals steeds in de gekende stijl van het huis: met de nodige creatieve krullen, lak aan platgetreden paden, maar met respect voor het originele verhaal én de muziek. Geef toe, is er iemand die kan blijven stilzitten op floorfillers als 'Welcome To The 60's', 'Good Morning Baltimore' en uiteraard ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat’?

BEKIJK HIER 'You Can't Stop The Beat' uit de film 'Hairspray' (2007) met o.a. John Travolta als Edna Turnblad

 

Het verhaal
Tienermeisje Tracy Turnblad droomt ervan in de populaire dansshow 'The Corny Collins Show' te staan. Ze wordt op de auditie echter afgewezen door producer Velma omdat ze zwaarlijvig is. Presentator Corny Collins geeft haar toch een kans en van de ene dag op de andere dag is Tracy beroemd. Nu zij haar plekje in de show te pakken heeft, wil Tracy graag haar zwarte vrienden er mee in krijgen. Zou haar nieuwe status hoog genoeg zijn om de heersende raciale verschillen te overbruggen of werkt ze zich hiermee in de problemen?

‘Hairspray’, de hilarische, vrolijke en steengoede feelgood musical waar iedereen nood aan heeft, is van 15 maart tot 14 april 2024 opeenvolgend te zien in Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen, Capitole Gent en Trixxo Theater Hasselt.

 

Tickets & info: deepbridge.be  

!! RANG-UPGRADE !!
Boek tot 26 maart 2023 je tickets en krijg een gratis rang-upgrade cadeau.
Voor Golden Seat betaal je de prijs van Categorie 1, voor Categorie 1 betaal je de prijs van Categorie 2, enzovoort.

NEW SINGLE ‘FRESH START’ FROM  KYLE SCHROEDER FT. JONATHAN FRITZEN

Song title:  "Fresh Start"
Label: Kyle Schroeder Music

This young sax player from Florida hit the format last year with "Let's Get Up", a brisk musical treat that was well-received by many of you.  This new tune is more mellow and features some fine keys playing by Jonathan Fritzen.

NEW SINGLE ‘LET’S GET SERIOUS’ FROM HUBERT EAVES IV

Song title:  "Let's Get Serious"
Label:  Marz Boy Records

A world class bass player, producer, and songwriter, Hubert follows up his previous funky  single ("Dot-D-Dah") with a fun and passionate cover of the Jermaine Jackson classic "Let's Get Serious".

WILLIE BRADLEY FT. JAMES LLOYD ASKS US TO ‘GROOVE WITH ME’

Willie Bradley is a native of Orangeburg, SC and a graduate of South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC where he earned his BS Degree in Music Education and Performance. Over the course of his career, he has become a go –to musician for many of soul music’s greats over the years. His music reach spans worldwide and can be heard on Smooth Jazz Radio Stations to include Sirius XM, Music Choice, Pandora, Spotify, and iHeart Radio.

 

In 2014, Willie released his debut Contemporary Jazz CD “Another Day & Time” produced and co-written by keyboardist/Recording Artist Nicholas Cole.

 

On his sophomore CD project (2018) “Going With The Flow”, Willie showed the music word that he was not just going with the “average” flow of things. Together with multi-award-winning producer Preston Glass, (Kenny G., George Benson, Earth Wind & Fire and many more) they brought together a fantastic group of songs as well as a cast of stellar musicians. This musical adventure was merely an appetizer of sweet things to come.

 

His third CD (2021), “It’s My Time” contained two #1 Billboard singles – “It’s On Now” featuring Ragan Whiteside and “It’s My Time featuring James Lloyd. The single “It’s My Time” was also featured on the Top 30 Smooth Jazz Network chart for best songs of 2021. 

Willie is currently working on his fourth CD (2023) “Raising The Bar” and is working with several new producers (David Dyson, Jacob Webb, Gino Rosaria, James Lloyd, Nathan Mitchell and Jeff Canady) that will definitely “Raise The Bar” on this project.

 

Throughout his music career, Willie’s musical productions have been considered for two Grammy Awards and he was selected as Beats Magazine 2021 Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year by The Smooth Jazz Network. He was the Distinguished Alumnus Award winner for 2022 at South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC and currently in his second year serving as full time Music Industry Professor/Artist In Residence at the University.

 

Willie’s stage presence includes performances with jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Max Roach, Betty Carter. More recently, his live performances and collaborations placed him with world-class artists including Gerald Alston, Ronnie Laws, Marion Meadows, Walter Beasley, Reagan Whiteside, Selina Albright, George Clinton, Gerald Albright, and James Lloyd and Andre 3000.

 

Willie has performed at high profile shows around the country including Algarve Smooth Jazz Festival, San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, Long Beach Smooth Jazz Festival, Newport Beach Jazz Festival, Middle C Jazz, Pre-Super Bowl LVI "Taste of Inglewood" Big Game Festival, Lake Arbor Jazz Festival, Blues Alley, Catalina Jazztrax Festival, Baltimore Orioles, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Los Angeles Clippers. He is also known for being part of the brass section with RJ & The Original James Brown Band touring abroad in France, Osaka and Tokyo Japan’s Billboard Live and Summer Sonic Music Festival.

 

“Bold, yet simultaneously charming; Edgy, yet at the same time beautiful; these seemingly opposing adjectives might well-describe the music of artist/trumpeter Willie Bradley, but also fittingly tell about the man! Willie Bradley’s music brings together many varied styles, but takes smooth jazz to a whole new level.”

 

Willie's new single "Groove With Me" features legendary keyboardist, James Lloyd.

LEGENDARISCHE SAXOFONIST WAYNE SHORTER OVERLEDEN

De jazzwereld is in diepe rouw: de legendarische saxofonist Wayne Shorter is op 89-jarige leeftijd in een ziekenhuis in Los Angeles overleden. Wayne Shorter is een naam die klonk als een klok in de muziekwereld. Hij wordt algemeen beschouwd als een van de beste saxofonisten aller tijden. Zijn invloed op moderne jazz is onmogelijk te overschatten. “Het woord jazz betekent voor mij: ik daag je uit.” Geen quote die Wayne Shorter in interviews meer herhaalde, en geen uitspraak die de muzikant uit Newark meer typeerde. Sinds hij eind jaren vijftig naam begon te maken in de jazzwereld, was zichzelf, zijn saxofoon én anderen uitdagen wat hij het liefst deed. Eerst deel uitmakend van iconische groepen als The Jazz Messengers van Art Blakely en The Second Great Quintet van de legendarische Miles Davis, daarna ook solo, bij de even iconische fusionband Weather Report en in andere projecten van Davis. Wie terugkijkt op de evolutie die jazz de voorbije zeventig jaar afgelegd heeft, ziet daarin onvermijdelijk de hand van Shorter. Hij was een innovator, die platgetreden paden maar saai vond en steeds nieuwe richtingen insloeg. Een avonturier, die als kind verslingerd was aan stripboeken en sciencefiction en dat tot in de laatste jaren van zijn leven bleef. “Gooi je kinderdromen niet weg. Wees sterk genoeg om ze te beschermen en te doen uitkomen, zelfs op latere leeftijd”: nog zo’n onsterfelijke quote van hem. Zowel de tenor- als de sopraansaxofoon had geen geheimen voor Shorter. Vooral op de sopraansaxofoon laat hij een niet te overschatten invloed na. Nu eens plagerig en ongrijpbaar, dan weer rechttoe rechtaan: Shorter leek wel vergroeid met zijn instrument. Hij won twaalf Grammy Awards, kreeg de Kennedy Center Honors Award als bekroning voor zijn buitengewone carrière en veel van zijn composities zijn uitgegroeid tot jazzstandaards. Zijn immense aanzien leverde hem ook buiten de jazzwereld succes op. Zo vroegen enkele van de groten der aarde, waaronder Joni Mitchell, Carlos Santana en de band Steely Dan hem om mee te spelen op minstens één van hun nummers. Het comité dat hem in 2017 de Polar Music Prize gaf, omschreef zijn invloed als volgt: “Zonder de muzikale ontdekkingstochten van Wayne Shorter zou moderne muziek nooit zo diep gegraven hebben.” Een eerbetoon in de vorm van het titelnummer van Steely Dan’s fameuze zesde studioalbum ‘Aja’ uit 1977, De saxofoonsolo is van Wayne Shorter. Hij ruste in vrede!

 

Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

BILL COLLETTI HOLDS A ‘PRIVATE PARTY’

Bill Colletti is a professional multi-instrumentalist/recording Aatist and has been performing since 1978. His primary instruments are the Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Valve Trombone, Piano, Guitar and Vocals. Bill's horn style is influenced by the likes of Chet Baker, Doc Severinsen, Herb Alpert and Chuck Mangione while his versatility is demonstrated throughout many musical genres such as Jazz, Latin, Big Band, Pop, Orchestral and Broadway musicals.

 

Bill has performed with Grammy award winning and top Contempory/Smooth Jazz artists including Dave Koz, Peter White, Marc Antoine and Oli Silk. His first all original music CD "Be on the Light" was released in 2019 and can be heard on Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, YouTube as well as streaming radio stations world wide. In addition, Colletti is a composer, producer and recording engineer.

ERISA NICOLE FEELS ‘FRESH’

Music lovers around the world, get ready! Erisa Nicole, the up-and-coming Smooth Jazz saxophonist, is releasing her latest single "Fresh". Award-winning producer Adam Hawley has teamed up with the talented songwriters Erisa Nicole, Caleb Middleton and Sammie B. to release their highly anticipated single.

 

"Fresh" is an upbeat and energetic song that captures the essence of Erisa Nicole's soulful sound and promises to get everyone up on their feet and dancing. With Hawley's signature production style and Erisa's amazing passion on the saxophone, the song is sure to be a hit with fans of all genres.

 

Erisa Nicole's composition style combines a jazzy feel with hints of gospel and soul, creating a sound that is entirely her own. This single is the perfect way to re-introduce herself to the world of smooth jazz. Erisa Nicole's music is smooth and soulful and will make you feel as though you are in a world of your own.

 

So, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to groove to Erisa Nicole's "Fresh"! You don't want to miss out on her one-of-a-kind sound.

 

"Fresh"

Written by Erisa Nicole, Sammie Blackmon, Adam Hawley & Caleb Middleton

Produced and Mixed by Adam Hawley

Mastered by Steve Hall

 

Erisa Nicole - Saxes

Adam Hawley - Guitars, Synths

Caleb Middleton - Keys, Synths

Eric Valentine - Drums

MATT LEE’S NEW SINGLE ‘HOOKLINE’

Recording artist Matt Lee is releasing his new radio single "Hookline". Matt Lee features his signature style with a melodic and smooth tenor sax performance bringing a chill vibe to the smooth jazz world. As the song moves through the seductive guitar intro, the catchy hook really grabs your attention. "Hookline" builds through the chorus putting you in the right mood for a special evening. Next, the song moves into a sexy and unforgettable guitar solo by Jordan Love. The song definitely lives up to its name with a powerful hookline. Saxophonist & Producer Matt Lee puts together an amazing arrangement that puts you in the 'chill zone'. "Hookline" is the perfect song for the 2023 Smooth Jazz season.

 

"Music soothes the soul and unites our hearts." -Matt Lee

 

"Hookline"

Written by Matt Lee & Caleb Middleton

Produced by Matt Lee

Mixed and Mastered by Euge Groove

 

Matt Lee - Saxophone

Darryl Williams - Bass

Eric Valentine - Drums

Jordan Love - Guitar

Caleb Middleton - Keyboard & programming

NEW SINGLE ‘AIN’T NO MONEY’ FROM ALEX FANJUL FT. DAVID MARGAM

Gijon, Asturias (Spain)

The release of ‘Ain't no Money’ on February 28, 2023 is a new milestone in the career of Spanish musician Alex Fanjul.

Composed, produced and performed by Alex Fanjul, this time he has surrounded himself with great musicians to carry out this powerful track entitled “Ain't no Money”.

Accompanied by the talent of smooth jazz guitarist David Margam who has achieved some beautiful melodies that accompany the song as well as a truly memorable guitar solo, the incredible bass lines created by @bassbarcelona (there are already several times that this Catalan musician and the Asturian musician collaborate on different projects), and the recognizable voice of Cristina Soto make this new song (the first published in 2023) a turning point in the career of Alex Fanjul.

His latest song released “Deeper Love ft. Toni Bourgon” achieved some important successes in different media around the world:

- Song of the week on Street Sounds Radio

- Song of the month on Toni B. Radio Show

- No. 1 in One's to Watch (The Network Soul)

- Top 10 for 3 weeks in a row on David Bishop Breakers (Street Sounds Radio).

- Featured song on The Black Planet Radio.

 - Nº 3 in Soul, disco & Funk Radio, etc…..

Alex Fanjul has created in 2020 the so-called Alex Fanjul Music Project with the intention and purpose of creating music surrounded by great musicians.

Initially it was born as a project for Asturian musicians (the region in the north of Spain from which it comes) to share their passion, their knowledge and their good work in different local and regional bands.

Over time, this project tirelessly promoted by Alex, has managed to cross the Asturian and Spanish borders, and is currently creating new original songs collaborating with world-renowned musicians (names that we cannot reveal at this time).

www.alexfanjul.com

INNERVISION RECORDS CELEBRATES A SHINY SILVER ANNIVERSARY

The boutique imprint marks its 25th anniversary on top with flutist Kim Scott’s “SHINE!” awarded Billboard’s 2022 Smooth Jazz Song of the Year and the label earning  the No. 3 Smooth Jazz Label of the Year spot for the fourth consecutive time.

 

ORANGE COUNTY (27 February 2023): Consistent excellence in artistry combined with passion, innovation and imagination have been the hallmarks of Innervision Records during its 25 years. The Southern California-based imprint that specializes in shades of jazz spanning groove, smooth and chill along with neo soul and world music continues to ride high on the Billboard charts after their artists Blake Aaron and Will Donato scored No. 1 singles in 2022 and Kim Scott collected the highest honor: Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Song of the Year.

Aaron was the first artist inked to Innervision Records thus there’s something special about the guitarist continuing to be a part of the label’s storied successes. His “Dreamland” occupied the No. 1 spot on five charts  - Billboard, Groove Jazz Music, Mediabase, Radiowave and Smooth Jazz Network - simultaneously last summer. The cherry on top is that Aaron is the featured soloist on Scott’s year-end chart-topper, “SHINE!”

 

"As one of the first artists on Innervision Records, I've had the honor of watching Innervision Records grow from a very small label into a major player in the industry with dozens of amazingly talented artists and become a powerhouse in the genre. It is exciting to see Innervision Records all over the Billboard charts each and every week, and most of the time, at the top. As one of the most artist-friendly labels out there, Innervision Records is truly a ‘family’ that I'm honored to be a part of,” said Aaron who has captured the No. 1 position on the Billboard singles chart for Innervision Records five times.

 

With roots in classical and jazz, Scott’s success has come by crafting a groove-laden mélange of urban, jazz, soul and pop music. The flautist has notched Billboard No. 1 singles in the past yet “SHINE!” accomplished the rare feat of becoming the most played song of the year without hitting the peak position. With an MVP performance by labelmate Aaron’s electric jazz guitar, the title cut of Scott’s “SHINE!” album is a shimmering and sophisticated blend of R&B and contemporary jazz.  

 

“I’m so honored that “SHINE!” was the most played smooth jazz song of 2022 and that it was named Billboard’s #1 Song of the Year. It was truly a labor of love to co-write the song and I was instantly inspired to write the melodies for the verses and chorus. They flowed from my spirit almost effortlessly. It was like a bright light was shining on me as I wrote it, bringing me energy, joy, inspiration, and hope. Featuring Blake Aaron on the track made the song shine even more and he did a brilliant job with his guitar solo! I’m so proud to have played a part in this achievement for Innervision Records, my team, and all the artists involved with the song. I plan to continue to let my light shine so listeners can find joy and inspiration in my music,” said the Birmingham, AL-based Scott.

 

For the fourth consecutive year, Innervision Records placed third on Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Label of the Year tally on the strength of Scott’s massive airplay and No. 1 singles by Aaron and saxophonist Donato, the latter who recently vaulted into the top spot with his soul-powered single “Good On You.” Other Innervision Records artists to enjoy Billboard top 20 success in 2022 were JJ Sansaverino, Cal Harris Jr. and Tom Braxton.

 

Innervision Records will celebrate its silver anniversary at their tenth annual After NAMM JAMM on April 16. Many of the artists on the label’s roster are expected to take the Spaghettini stage in Southern California for the popular post-NAMM show jam session. 

 

“We’re excited to bring everyone together for our Innervision Records After NAMM JAMM once again.  Originally starting out as a get together for our artists and their musician friends to come out and jam during the heavily attended annual music industry convention, the After NAMM JAMM has evolved into an exciting opportunity for many of our Innervision Records family members to get together and celebrate the label, our shared successes, the fans and, most importantly, our friendships face to face,” said Steve Belkin, Innervision Records’ general manager.

 

Independent labels come and go fast in today’s music industry thus reaching a 25th anniversary is a testament to Innervision Records’ vision and execution. The label eagerly anticipates celebrating the milestone with their artists at the After NAMM JAMM. And while they are enthused by their accomplishments to date, they’re energized about what’s ahead.   

 

“To think Innervision Records has been around for 25 years is pretty crazy.  What started as a very tiny independent one-artist label has developed into an eclectic, creative and artistic boutique label featuring artists from around the country. I'm very proud to be a part of Innervision's growth and success, building a distinct brand. Watching several of our artists go from emerging to chart-topping artists are like proud parent moments. The artists deserve the credit, but you can't help but take some pride in their success,” said Belkin. 

 

Innervision Records’ A&R and radio promotions executive Adam Leibovitz concurs, acknowledging the role fans have played in the label’s accomplishments.

 

"Innervision Records has endured and grown into a major source of talent and I am so proud of what we have accomplished. I’m proud of our artists who create incredible music, and, of course, grateful to all of the fans who have been so loyal and so dedicated to what we have built. I am amazed when thinking about where Innervision Records started, beaming with pride over what it has become, and most of all, filled with excitement over what it will be!" 

 

For more information, please visit www.innervisionrecords.com. 

LEO P. OWNS A ‘BLACK CAT’

Leo P was born Leo Pellegrino in Pittsburgh, PA. He initially started playing clarinet at a young age, performing polkas with his father, an accordion player. Hearing the music of John Coltrane sparked an interest in saxophone, which he began playing in high school ensembles, though he still played clarinet and took classical lessons. When the baritone saxophone player became unavailable in the school ensemble, Leo took up the instrument and found that it had a unique appeal. He moved to New York in 2010 to attend the Manhattan School of Music on scholarship. At times he found the formalism of the school confining and some professors did not appreciate his unconventional way of playing and performing, not to mention his edgy fashion sense. Playing in the city’s jazz clubs seemed limiting also—especially for very little money. He figured he could do better money-wise playing in the subways with the added bonus that his audience was literally people from all walks of life.

 

Playing sometimes solo and other times backed by a drummer or a couple horn players,

Leo’s manic energy and spectacular dancing while blowing continuous rhythmic charged riffing captivated people. He presented as an alternative rock musician but he was playing instrumental, jazz-rooted music. Videos of his subway performances hit YouTube, went viral and soon he had millions of viewers worldwide. Those videos led directly to him being invited to perform at both the BBC Proms and the CMA awards show. Meanwhile, he formed two bands, Too Many Zoos, self-described as a “Brass House” band mixing jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, funk EDM and house music. and Lucky Chops. Too Many Zoos began touring widely in America and Europe and had their song “Warriors” featured in an international commercial for the Google Pixel 2; they also scored a Song of the Week on the BBC taken from their several EP and album releases.  

 

The high-energy dancing, theatrics and sound effects of a Leo P performance are irresistible but none of that can be delivered on a studio recording; the music itself must carry the day. On Leo P’s debut solo recording on Shanachie, the aptly titled “Coming Up Aces,” the music—a joyous amalgam of funk and jazz—does exactly that. “Don't let his over-the-top performances fool you,” says Shanachie’s VP of A & R Danny Weiss. “Leo P plays with the depth and passion of the jazz greats. Oh, and he's also revolutionized the baritone sax!” 

 

It’s no surprise that Leo wants his music to reach the widest possible audience, something many jazz musicians don’t aspire to. “I want to bring the party back to jazz. I want to make people dance. I want to wear badass suits and look cool as hell and present something special to people that they will always remember!”

RYAN MONTANO – FUTURE SMOOTH

"Future Smooth" is a song created in a spirit of musical exploration. From the sound palettes and melodies, to the horn textures and production design, a challenge was put forth to create a song that has lasting musical integrity, well beyond the moment in time in which it was created; a song that sounds fresh and maintains its vitality for years to come.

 

"Future Smooth" is the manifestation of this pursuit.

 

"I consider myself a student of this genre. The songs and artists that have directly inspired my music are the Contemporary Jazz pioneers who have blazed this trail of musical intrepidness and evolved this format. I am honored to be able to create music in this same space and aim to respectfully contribute to the growth and evolution of this format in a way that is honest, adventurous, and unique." -Ryan Montano

 

"Future Smooth"

 

Written by Ryan Montano, Robert Muller & Claudio Tolousse

Mixed by Darren Rahn

Mastered by Steve Hall

 

Ryan Montano - Trumpet, Producer

Thomas Primozic - Drums, Drum Engineer

Robert Muller - Wurlitzer

Ben Cornelius - Bass Guitar

TERZO - 'CYMBELINE' – EPIC DEBUT SINGLE BY DARKWAVE/SHOEGAZE/POST-ROCK DUO OUT 24.02.23

TERZO | photography by Johan Lundsten

TERZO
CYMBELINE

debut single
out 24.02.23
(Icons Creating Evil Art)

digital services

included on the album
TERZO
out 21.04.23

pre-order/save

 

‘Terzo’ : an Italian word translating as ‘the third’, it represents an additional presence that new darkwave/shoegaze/post-rock duo Terzo sensed inhabiting their most creative moments when they began working together.

Karl Clinton (former bassist in post-punk act Diskoteket, plus co-founder of improvisational project Tsantsa) and Billie Lindahl (lead singer and guitarist in dream pop/dark folk act Promise and the Monster) share a mutual penchant for dark sounding music in all its forms. They have also both been itching to free the shackles binding them to strict timelines; not only those of the music industry, but society in general. “Terzo was born out of a discussion about songs we mutually liked and a wish to try a different work process to our then current projects,” they state. “We wanted to do whatever we wanted without restrictions, using our obsession and gut feeling as guidance.”

Their preference for music and art that embodies a degree of doom and gloom is evident on their upcoming self-titled debut album, with its central theme of ‘love and death’ linking all six tracks. Their very first studio session yielded the 10+ minute post-rock epic ‘Cymbeline’ (available now as a debut single), while in the midst of recording it they both had the sensation that a third presence was keeping them company. Intrigued by the thought, “we started talking about the appearance of a third element, in sleep and in dreams,” they explain. “Terzo is about acknowledging this, the swirl that light in the darkness generates, opening ourselves out toward our own weaknesses.” 

‘Cymbeline’ is actually a unique cover of a 1991 song by the Celtic/world music singer-songwriter and composer Loreena McKennit, which has a lyric lifted from the William Shakespeare play of the same name. “We had a feeling that we could make something interesting with it,” says Lindahl. “Karl did most of the instrumental work, guitars and programming, while I recorded my vocal in one take. This song means so much to us because it was the first thing we did as a duo and I think we just sort of understood that we could do great things together.”

Terzo travelled to New York in the summer of 2022 to play their first live shows, with the video maker and photographer Johan Lundsten accompanying them to document the trip. Footage from this can be seen in the video for ‘Cymbeline’, with Lindahl adding that “we always pictured something in documentary style for this song. Johan filmed everything that we did, even just hanging around. It is very raw, but it feels right.”

TERZO
TRACKLISTING
1  Cymbeline (10:46)
2  Walking Dreams Awake (5:25)
3  Du gav mig solen, jag gav dig månen (4:43)
4  Eve Seven (5:34)
5  Viskningar och rop (3:40)
6  Blue Crystal Fire (8:53)

TERZO
Karl Clinton  |  Billie Lindahl

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GARETH DUNLOP & LEE ROGERS - 'THE PAST IS NEVER DEAD' – TITLE SONG OF NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT NOVELIST WILLIAM FAULKNER AVAILABLE NOW

GARETH DUNLOP / LEE ROGERS  |  2023 promo photo by Laura Maria Photography

GARETH DUNLOP / LEE ROGERS
THE PAST IS NEVER DEAD

new single
out 24.02.23
(Zenith Cafe)

digital services

FROM THE DOCUMENTARY
FAULKNER: THE PAST IS NEVER DEAD
Narrated by and starring Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts as Faulkner, plus Skyler Adams as young Faulkner
info
(includes documentary trailer)

“Faulkner reminds us that the past is never dead and buried - it is not even past”
BARACK OBAMA

‘The Past Is Never Dead’ is a new single by Northern Irish singer-songwriters and close friends Gareth Dunlop and Lee Rogers. It is the title song of the first ever official documentary about the renowned but now controversial Nobel Prize-winning Southern Gothic author William Faulkner (1897-1962), which will premiere at the prestigious Oxford Film Festival in Mississippi on 3rd March. Faulkner grew up in Oxford and wrote some of his most successful novels in the town before relocating to Hollywood in the early 1930s.

Having both released long-awaited (and well received) second solo albums in the first half of 2022, Dunlop and Rogers promoted them together on US, UK, Irish and mainland European tours with their compatriot Foy Vance. They were subsequently commissioned to write a song for the documentary, which plays over the end credits and has a lyric littered with loaded thoughts set against a stripped-down acoustic backdrop. Director Michael Modak-Truran states that “it is the perfect ending. Gareth and Lee have captured the poetic yet melancholic quality that permeates Faulkner’s musings about the influence of the past in his literature. The song helps the audience feel, at a deep level, how everyone’s past shapes their present and future."

Examining the nuanced legacy of Faulkner, who was born into a family of segregationists, ‘The Past Is Never Dead’ applies a hybrid storytelling technique to weave multiple narrative elements together. It also goes where others have feared to tread by interweaving the complexity of his work, life and often contradictory views on race. “I wasn't sure if modern audiences could relate to him,” continues Modak-Truran. “There were things Faulkner said that I didn't like and still struggle to completely understand, but he is critical to our current moment. In crafting unforgettable characters and stories, his work embraces the complexity of race relations in America that still echo today. Our entire documentary team think it is incredibly special that the first audience to see ‘The Past Is Never Dead’ will be in the place where Faulkner lived and found inspiration.”

 

GARETH DUNLOP
Gareth Dunlop is a singer, songwriter and producer from Belfast. He has toured extensively in the UK, USA and mainland Europe, sharing stages with artists such as Van Morrison, Stereophonics and Foy Vance. His distinctive, soulful voice and the poetic vulnerability in his songs has led to several being featured in the films Best Of Me, The Visitor and Safe Haven, TV shows such as Nashville, House, Lucifer, Bones and One Tree Hill, and advertising campaigns for Disney, Subaru and more. He released his second solo album, ‘Animal’, in early 2022.
official site

LEE ROGERS
Hailing from the small town of Carrickfergus, singer-songwriter Lee Rogers drew his initial inspiration from the classic voices of singers such as Bill Withers, Tom Waits and Marc Cohn, all bright colours from a musical palette far away from the often grim reality of life in Northern Ireland. Pulling from a vast well of timeless Americana, the songs on his 2022 album ‘Gameblood’ provided a masterclass in open-hearted, lyrical storytelling while also serving as an a diary of his diverse life experiences.
official site

DELERIUM – ‘SIGNS’  -  FIRST NEW ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS BY ETHEREAL CANADIAN ELECTRONIC DUO OUT 10.03.23

DELERIUM : photos by Bobby Talamine

DELERIUM
SIGNS

new album
LP | CD | digital
out 10.03.23
[Metropolis Records]

pre-order/save
(white vinyl 2xLP out 15.05.23)

includes
COAST TO COAST (feat. Phildel)
audio

Over the course of 35 years, the Canadian duo of Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber have explored electronic music terrain as Delerium that saw a series of early albums experiment with filmic, dark ambient instrumental sounds, before they evolved into an outfit with a penchant for inviting their favourite female singers to lend their voices to ethereal, downtempo songs included on every new record. Maintaining this trend, their exquisitely produced new album 'Signs' features stunning contributions from Mimi Page, Phildel, Inna Walters and KANGA, each adding levels of aching, romantic beauty to their performances.

"I think ‘Signs’ reflects that Delerium has come full-circle, from its inception as an experimental project to where we are today,” states Leeb. “Delerium was originally created as a side-project that soon took on a life of its own, taking us on an adventure that no-one could have imagined. So while the times and technology have changed, underpinning it all is our basic human connection to music and the soul of harmony that has evolved as we have moved forward.”

Leeb and Fulber initially made their name in the ongoing electronic-industrial group Front Line Assembly, using Delerium as a vehicle for crossover songs with occasional elements of trance that would emerge with 1995’s ‘Semantic Spaces’ and eventually led to massive global chart success five years later with the acclaimed dance pop anthem ‘Silence (featuring Sarah McLachlan)’.

With Front Line Assembly already part of the Metropolis Records roster, Delerium eventually signed to the label in 2016 for the release of ‘Mythologie’, their fourteenth full length album and the predecessor to ‘Signs’.

SIGNS
TRACKLISTING
1  Falling Back To You (with Mimi Page)
2  Rain
3  Coast to Coast (feat. Phildel)
4  Sun Storm
5  In The Deep (feat. KANGA)
6  Esque
7  Remember Love (with Mimi Page)
8  Amebedo
9  Streetcar (feat. Inna Walters)
10  Glimmer (with Emily Haines) [Delerium Remix]
11  The Astronomer
12  Absolution (with Mimi Page)

 

Bandcamp  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  YouTube

metropolis-records.com

SOPHIE JANSSENS (23) DEBUTEERT NAAST MUSICALICOON ANN VAN DEN BROECK IN ‘YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE’

Antwerpse Sophie Janssens (23) debuteert in hoofdrol naast musicalicoon Ann Van den Broeck in ‘You Are My Sunshine’

Musical verhuist naar Rode Zaal Fakkeltheater

Vanaf 5 oktober 2023 presenteert Deep Bridge in de Rode Zaal van het Antwerpse Fakkeltheater de gloednieuwe musical ‘You Are My Sunshine’. Deze musical zou normaal in april 2023 in première gaan in Theater Triarte, maar moest na de sluiting van Triarte op zoek naar een andere locatie. ‘You Are My Sunshine’ is een eerste samenwerking tussen Ann Van den Broeck als componiste en Stany Crets als auteur. Ann neemt in dit aangrijpende verhaal over twee vrouwen die elkaar door een speling van het lot ontmoeten, ook één van de twee hoofdrollen (Britt) voor haar rekening. Voor de andere hoofdrol, die van Lena, viel de keuze op de 23-jarige Sophie Janssens uit Antwerpen. Meteen de eerste hoofdrol in een professionele productie voor Sophie en een zoveelste aanstormend, Vlaams talent dat bij Deep Bridge de kans krijgt om te schitteren.

"Toen ik het eerste persbericht van ‘You are my Sunshine’ las, werd ik meteen verliefd op het verhaal. Het is een enorme eer dat ik bij mijn eerste hoofdrol meteen naast iemand als Ann Van den Broeck mag spelen. Ik kijk er dan ook enorm naar uit om in de wereld van Lena en Britt te duiken en hoop dat we het publiek op hun beurt verliefd kunnen laten worden op het verhaal!”
-Sophie Janssens-

‘You Are My Sunshine’ speelt vanaf 5 oktober 2023 in de Rode Zaal van het Fakkeltheater in Antwerpen. Tickets & info: deepbridge.be  

Sophie Janssens

Sophie (23 jaar) studeerde in juni 2022 af als muzikale actrice aan de opleiding Muziektheater van Codarts Hogeschool voor de Kunsten te Rotterdam. Tijdens haar opleiding ontdekte ze de wereld van muziektheater en speelde ze in diverse producties; ‘Parade’, ‘Bad Angel’, een soloconcert, etc. 

In het kader van haar stage speelde ze mee in de kerstvoorstellingen ‘Willems kleine kerst’ en ‘Scrooge’ van het Wilminktheater in Enschede (Nederland). In eigen land was ze te zien in de familievoorstellingen ‘Raptorville’ en ‘Oma jacht’ van De Proefkonijnen. Daarnaast schreef ze haar eigen voorstelling ‘Blijspel der liefde’, die ze momenteel in ondersteuning van RADAR verder aan het verfijnen is. 

Nu Sophie aan de vooravond van haar professionele acteercarrière staat, kijkt ze positief naar de toekomst en hoopt ze vooral veel te kunnen spelen!

Het verhaal

Lena en Britt. Ze kennen elkaar niet. De ene is 15, de ander 45. Door een onfortuinlijke speling van het lot ontmoeten ze elkaar op een plek die ze allebei koesteren in hun hart. Hun beider favoriete plek op aarde. Een vakantiehuis. En ze wachten daar samen tot de voorzienigheid voor hen een beslissing neemt.

Ze worden lotgenoten, leerling en lerares, hartsvriendinnen, moeder en dochter. Ze proberen samen achter een groot mysterie te komen. Hoe kan het dat je leeft en toch niet leeft? Hoe zet je oneindigheid om in eindigheid? Hoe manipuleer je het leven…als je in een coma ligt?

Praktisch

‘You Are My Sunshine’
Vanaf 5 oktober 2023 
Rode Zaal Fakkeltheater – Hoogstraat 12 – Antwerpen
100min – geen pauze
Adviesleeftijd: vanaf 10 jaar
Tickets & info: deepbridge.be 

ODIN & BJØRN BERGE - 'HOOHAHS & CAT CALLS' – BEGUILING COLLABORATIVE ALBUM OF BLUES-RAP OUT 24.02.23

ODIN & BJØRN BERGE
HOOHAHS & CAT CALLS

new album
LP | CD | digital
out 24.02.23
(TBC Records)

pre-order/save

includes the single
BULLET DANCE
out now
digital services

A contrasting mix of blues and rap that constantly flits between rhythmic club tracks and tripped/blissed out downtempo musings, ‘Hoohahs & Cat Calls’ is a beguiling collaboration between the successful Norwegian musicians Odin and Bjørn Berge. It sees the duo explore both their musicality and masculinity on a record that deals with universal themes such as sex, solitude and climate change.

Both state that the record came about because of their love of ‘pop’ in all its forms, while the juxtaposition of its myriad musical styles created a friction that became the driving force of the album from the very first minute they set foot in the studio. It's a bit like Tom Waits and Kendrick Lamar trying to make new records at the same time.

The song ‘Bullet Dance’ - think Arcade Fire meets 10cc for a ‘murder' on the dancefloor….no, really - has just been released as a single, the video for which Odin choreographed a series of dance moves for various scenarios. These develop after his hand is seen shaped into a pistol shooting downwards towards somebody’s feet while being filmed on TikTok. However, he explains that “my hand shoots bullets that actually compel all the protagonists to dance. I liked the duality of using a potentially problematic image to portray something positive, but that also leaves an open space for viewers to have their own thoughts and associations. Ultimately, I just want them up on their feet, dancing and thinking!”

ODIN
Odin Steveland is a composer, producer, musician and lyricist who is best known for his ongoing tenure in the folk rock band Vamp (SITE), who are hugely successful in Norway and have several no 1 albums to their name. He has been a winner of the prestigious Spellemann Prize (Norwegian Grammy) as composer of the year and has worked on numerous film, TV and theatre productions as both a musician and producer. He has also released two acclaimed solo albums.
OFFICIAL SITE

BJØRN BERGE
Bjørn Berge is a well established blues guitarist and vocalist. He has released fourteen solo albums since debuting in 1997 and won the Spellemann Prize (Norwegian Grammy) for Blues Album of the Year in 2001, the inaugural year of that category. Just for good measure, he won it in 2002 too. He has toured widely in Scandinavia, Benelux, UK and especially France, where he has always enjoyed acclaim. He was also a member of Vamp for five years from 2014.
OFFICIAL SITE

 HOOHAHS AND CAT CALLS
TRACKLISTING
1  Cockfight: The Beginning
2  Lovesick
3  Drink Up Honey I’ve Got Money
4  Bullet Dance
5  Hey Byooty!! I’m So Mizzerbul Without Ye
6  The Activist Bar
7  Get Up
8  I Guess I Should Get Going
9  Yu’re A Sight Fer Sore Eyes

Odin - vocals, synthesizer, drums
Bjørn Berge - guitars, dobro
Kjetil Dalland - bass

Produced, arranged & recorded by Odin
Mixed by Kjetil Ulland
Mastered by Bjørn Engelmann

NEW SINGLE ‘PINK LEMONADE’ FROM CHRISTOPHE GOZE

A Bossa Nova-influenced track infused with Jazzy Mediterranean guitar evoking the fresh feel and sunsets of a cool refreshing evening.
A sweet, catchy guitar melody sets this song up perfectly.
This piece is sure to attract attention and make your audience want to dance!

To be released on all platforms on 7th March 2023

Genre: jazz / Latin Jazz

Written, performed & produced by Christophe Goze
Guitar & all instruments by Christophe Goze
Drums by Curtis Lyons Jr
Recorded & Mixed by Christophe Goze at Earth Studio

NEW SINGLE ‘DETOUR’ FROM BONEY JAMES

Detour, on Concord Records, is chart-topping jazz/R&B sax player Boney James’ 18th studio album. Appropriately titled, this latest album is a subtle stylistic turn that builds on the commercial success of 2020’s Solid, his highest charting release ever on the pop charts, peaking in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200.

 

“The urge to write again came from the joy of being back on the road, performing in front of live audiences,” explains Boney. “I had shut down creatively when the pandemic hit. It was the disruptive and disorienting detour we all took when the world locked down, and that’s reflected in the more experimental directions some of the new music takes. The thing about a detour, you may take a different route, but you still get to your destination.”

 

Like Solid, Detour provides a welcome respite from an increasingly foreboding world filled with political strife. It’s a trip through James’ distinctive contemporary jazz/R&B landscapes, layered in quicksilver watercolor images and cinematic set pieces. Detour represents the next extension of Boney James’ trademark blend of genres which includes blues, soul, roots, classical, art-pop and hip-hop.

 

James’ new album gets underway with the title track, a winding, playful duet between sax and piano evoking a breezy, leisurely drive on an open road, that features some of Boney’s most adventurous playing. “I close my eyes and listen,” he says about choosing a name for a particular cut, and “Detour” fits this one perfectly. “The title is my trying to poetically convey what I feel when I listen to the music.”

 

Detour was recorded largely at Boney’s L.A. home studio in his backyard (live drums and percussion were tracked at venerable Sunset Sound), with both regular collaborators like former band guitarist, now an in-demand writer/producer, Jairus “J-Mo” Mozee (Anderson.Paak, Nicki Minaj, Anthony Hamilton) and hot newcomer BeatsMadeByFresh aka Christian Frazier. Among the other musicians on the album are keyboardist Tim Carmon (Eric Clapton), longtime drummer Omari Williams and bassist Alex Al, renowned percussionist Lenny Castro, and guitarists Big Mike Hart and Paul Jackson Jr.

 

Nicknamed by bandmates while on tour in Oslo, Norway, after jokingly threatening to starve himself on a threadbare per diem, Boney or Bones or Boneman (though his wife calls him Jimmy) has put in his proverbial 10,000 hours as a musician, performer, writer and producer. At age 10, the New Rochelle, NY native picked up the sax after 2 years on the clarinet and never looked back, parlaying his love of R&B --Motown, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Curtis Mayfield and Grover Washington, Jr. -- into a musical aesthetic. He turned pro before his 20th birthday and became an in-demand touring sax and keyboard player for Morris Day, the Isley Brothers, Teena Marie, Bobby Caldwell, Randy Crawford and many others.

 

Boney launched his own solo career with 1992’s Trust on the indie Spindletop Records. His subsequent 17 studio albums – including a pair of Christmas records – have been released by Warner Bros., Verve and Concord, with 1995’s Seduction, 1997’s Sweet Thing and 1999’s Body Language all RIAA certified gold. In 2015, Boney’s futuresoul spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and was the best-selling Contemporary Jazz Record of 2015.

 

During his 30-year career, Boney has earned four Grammy nominations (“I’m not gonna lie... I’d still love a statue,” he says), two NAACP Image Award nominations and a Soul Train Award, while a dozen of his albums have landed at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Album chart. His collaborators in the past include a who’s who of R&B and soul: Raheem DeVaughn, Faith Evans, George Benson, George Duke, Dwele, Al Jarreau, Philip Bailey, Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim, Eric Benét, Dave Hollister, Stokley Williams, Kenny Lattimore and Angie Stone.

 

For the inimitable Boney James, life begins at 60. The cat in the hat is back and better than ever, enjoying life with his wife of 37 years, actress/director Lily Mariye. 

“What drives me is my love of making music and my desire for people to hear what I’ve made,” he says. “I still love the communal aspect of playing live. There’s nothing else like it.”

US SOULSINGER CHUCK JACKSON DIED

Chuck Jackson was born in North Carolina, performing in local gospel groups before moving to Pittsburgh as a teen. A member of key doo-wop group the Del-Vikings, Chuck Jackson went solo to great acclaim, scoring a string of emphatic hits.

Songs such as ‘Any Day Now’ remains peerless greats in the evolution of soul music, injecting gospel passion into the lust go R&B. With lyrics by Bob Hillard and music by the late Burt Bacharach, it changed the course of Chuck Jackson’s career, and set him on the path to greatness.

Renewed success caused Chuck to buy out his contract with Scepter Records, later signing with Motown – curiously, his spell with the Detroit label wasn’t a happy one, with Chuck later calling it “one of the worst mistakes I ever made in my life.

Recording throughout his life, Chuck Jackson’s work was championed by Kent Records in the UK, allowing newer generations to access his music. Songs such as ‘I Keep Forgettin’, ‘Hand It Over’, ‘What’s With This Loneliness’, ‘I’ve Got The Need’ and many, many more are immortal.

Chuck Jackson died on February 16th – he was 85 years old.

ADAM MASTERSON - 'TIME BOMB' – DIGITAL RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM OUT 17.02.23

ADAM MASTERSON photography by Anna Gabriel

ADAM MASTERSON
TIME BOMB

new album
digital
out 17.02.23
LP | CD
out 21.07.23
(Adam Masterson)

“Paints a picture of Masterson as an ultra-vivid, street poet-type of songwriter in the electric Bob Dylan/Lou Reed/Bruce Springsteen tradition and reignites a particular style of rock and roll that’s equal parts tough-love romanticism and sidewalk grit that tells tales of broken hearts and open eyes. Spin him and feel alive again”
ROCK AND BLUES MUSE
“Masterson has the knack of writing songs that remind you of older and better-known pieces, yet still manage to fence off some turf that's theirs alone”
GUARDIAN
“Dips into the artistic cauldron and serves up a unique blend of beautifully delivered dulcet toned ditties and poignantly penned songs for the ‘today’ generation”
LOUDER THAN WAR

digital services

includes
TIME BOMB

London-born but New York-based Adam Masterson represents the timeless ideal of a rock star - classic guitar, tousled hair, vintage shades - yet he does so for the here and now. Embracing old school influences but with copious amounts of spirit and soul added into the mix, he emerges as an outlier built from his own design, bucking trends while simultaneously emanating stadium-size charisma. He has shared stages with the likes of Tori Amos, Amy Winehouse and Stereophonics (in actual stadiums), guested with Patti Smith and Mick Jones (The Clash), while publications such as The Guardian, Billboard and American Songwriter have all gushed with praise about his previous output.

Masterson’s diverse sounding new album, ‘Time Bomb’, is just his second, and it comes a full two decades after his debut (‘One Tale Too Many’). Reflecting both the personal and musical journeys that he has been on over the years, it switches gears several times over the course of twelve songs that are the very definition of eclectic. An energetic Springsteen-style workout on the rousing ‘Wild Wolves’ contrasts with a louche and very British panache on the anthemic and Mott-ish ‘Bring Back The Freaks’, while the Paul Weller meets gospel-soul vibe of recent single ‘Take a Little Love’ is counterbalanced with a Van Morrison-esque laidback atmosphere in ten minute album closer ‘Leaves Against The Sky’.

A memorable title song opens the album, which Masterson explains came about when “I was staying in a studio that had a piano, so composed the song on that. When it came to the chorus I already had an album title in mind so I put the two things together and it immediately gave it some drama. The pressures of time and the way it can assault the the nervous system was something I had been thinking about, although the words are also inspired by other things.”

The recording of the song was made remotely during the pandemic, "a completely new experience and way of working as opposed to tracking live with a group of musicians,” he states. “It put me in complete command and I built it up layer by layer and felt like I was on a roll. I sent the results to Tchad Blake for him to mix it and still remember hearing that for the first time. It really blew me away!"

The video for ‘Time Bomb’ is a collaboration with the filmmaker and photographer Anna Gabriel (Iggy Pop, Emmylou Harris, Peter Gabriel), with Masterson adding: “Anna shot me singing the song with a backdrop and spotlight and we found footage that matched the imagery of the song. The whole process was fun and felt natural.”

A number of guest musicians joined Masterson in the album recording process, including guitarists David Rhodes (Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker) and Leo Abrahams (Paolo Nutini, Regina Spektor), bassists Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Charlie Jones (Goldfrapp, Robert Plant & Jimmy Page) and Brett Bass (Gregg Allman), drummers Charlie Drayton (The Cult, Divinyls), Jeremy Stacey (King Crimson, Ryan Adams) and Omar Hakim (David Bowie, Journey), with Rob Clores (Jesse Malin, Charli XCX) and Ben Stivers (Lyle Lovett, Matchbox Twenty) on piano and Peter Tickell (Sting) contributing mandolin and violin parts.

Masterson produced the album with input from mixera/engineers/co-producers James Hallawell (The Waterboys/Graham Parker), Tchad Blake (The Black Keys, Sheryl Crow), Sean Genocky (The Black Crowes, Richard Ashcroft), Ron Saint Germain (Soundgarden, 311), Dave O’Donnell (James Taylor, Keith Richards), Craig Dreyer (Pete Francis, Dispatch) and Paul Stacey (Oasis, The Black Crowes).

TIME BOMB
TRACKLISTING
1  Time Bomb
2  Bring Back The Freaks
3  Chains
4  Take A Little Love
5  Run Away
6  Avenue Walk
7  The Kiss
8  Wild Wolves
9  Crazy Rain
10  Rusty Cans And Dusty Alleys
11  Cry With No Tears
12  Leaves Against The Sky

official site  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

DAVE KOZ’ POWER BALLAD ‘WRAPPED UP IN YOUR SMILE’

“Wrapped Up In Your Smile” is a classic-styled Dave Koz power ballad co-written with producer and arranger, Philippe Saisse. Their collaborative history goes back to 2010, when Koz was Musical Director and bandleader – and Saisse the keyboardist – for The Emeril Lagasse Show. Saisse was later a major contributor to A New Day, co-writing and playing various instruments on several songs (including the mega-hit “Side By Side”) and contributing additional production and arrangements.  Koz knew Saisse was the perfect choice to produce and arrange. “He’s so French and brings a different, worldly approach, sensitivity and beauty to these tunes,” Koz says.  

 

This romantic ballad will melt your heart and transport you to a world of sweet, soulful melodies. "Wrapped Up in Your Smile" is the perfect song for those special moments with your loved one. Listen to the song and let Dave Koz's soulful sound bring the magic of love into your life. Whether you're enjoying a romantic night in, taking a leisurely stroll, or just relaxing, this song is guaranteed to make you feel wrapped up in your own smile.

 

“I feel so grateful for the opportunity to make music for such loyal fans for over three decades. For so many of those years, the focus was on proving myself, making sure that I was doing whatever it takes to be successful. Now, I’m all about doing the things that make my heart happy and excited and that I want to sink my teeth into. This is the time to do that special work, and following the leads of my musical role models, I want to keep making music and performing at as high a level as I can. As an artist, I feel a certain responsibility to continue for the joy it creates. With so much negative energy out there in the world today, it’s more important than ever to realize how vital music is in bringing something positive and nurturing into people’s lives. As long as I’m able to continue making music, I will be out there doing just that!” -Dave Koz 

 

“Wrapped Up In Your Smile” is a moment in my musical journey when all the stars aligned. From our melodies that came down flowing, to the inspired and heartfelt performance by Dave, it will forever be one of the projects closest to my heart”–Philippe Saisse 

 

Click to view Dave's Instagram and Facebook.

PURE DESMOND - 'PURE DESMOND PLAYS JAMES BOND SONGS' – NEW ALBUM BY GERMAN COOL JAZZ QUARTET

PURE DESMOND PLAYS JAMES BOND SONGS

new album
UK release date
03.03.23 (CD)
out now (digital)
(Major Music)

includes
JAMES BOND THEME
NO TIME TO DIE

ON TOUR IN THE UK MARCH 2023
02.03.23 MANCHESTER Matt & Phred’s INFO
03.03.23 LONDON TBC
04.03.23 NOTTINGHAM Peggy’s Skylight INFO
05.03.23 BATH Komedia INFO

 

"Anyone expecting to hear some lyrical Desmond magic here will not be disappointed because the leader Lorenz Hargassner gets pretty close to the master in sound and conception”
JAZZ JOURNAL

The German jazz quartet Pure Desmond formed in 2002 with the aim of bringing the original sound of ‘60s cool jazz (as exemplified by the legendary Paul Desmond) into the modern era via their own instrumental compositions as well as adaptations of well known classics. With a ‘less is more’ ethos leading them to focus on song melodies, the interaction between the musicians is natural and unforced, resulting in an imaginative dynamic that is inherent in all three of their albums released to date.

Their latest, ‘Pure Desmond Plays James Bond Songs’, sees them take on one of the world’s most iconic oeuvres with a style and panache befitting of 007 himself, the elegant jazz treatments offered by the quartet matching perfectly with the zest and glamour of the films. The eleven themes chosen span the original 1962 Bond theme for ‘Dr. No' (VIDEO) right through to 2021’s ‘No Time To Die’ (VIDEO).

The likes of ‘From Russia With Love’ becomes an airy samba with a pinch of subtle humour as Paul Desmond himself might have interpreted it, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ is transformed into a jazz ballad, while the oft-maligned ‘Die Another Day’ by Madonna and ‘You Know My Name’ by Chris Cornell are rendered almost unrecognisable. Turning these songs into something new via their clever arrangements, Pure Desmond take listeners on a thoroughly entertaining journey through the Bond franchise.

 

PURE DESMOND PLAYS JAMES BOND SONGS
TRACKLISTING
1  James Bond Theme
2  From Russia With Love
3  We Have All The Time In The World
4  Die Another Day
5  Diamonds Are Forever
6  Licence To Kill
7  Nobody Does It Better
8  You Know My Name
9  Tomorrow Never Dies
10  No Time To Die
11  You Only Live Twice

PURE DESMOND
Lorenz Hargassner – alto saxophone
Johann Weiss – guitar
Christian Flohr – double-bass
Sebastian Deufel – drums

official website

IMAAD WASIF - 'SO LONG MR. FEAR’ – NEW ALBUM BY LA BASED INDIAN PSYCH-FOLK-ROCK SINGER-SONGWRITER

IMAAD WASIF 2022 photo by Glen Han

IMAAD WASIF
SO LONG MR. FEAR

new album
LP
out 24.02.23
digital
out now
(Sonic Ritual)

includes the singles
FADER & SO LONG MR. FEAR

Imaad Wasif is an LA-based Indian singer-songwriter whose music combines elements of psychedelic folk and rock. Starting out in the '90s in slo-core noise rock duo lowercase (two albums on Amphetamine Reptile) and The Folk Implosion project founded by Lou Barlow of Sebadoh/Dinosaur Jr., he then made two albums in the duo Alaska! before issuing his debut solo record in 2006 via Kill Rock Stars. Its minimalist acoustic songs explored ongoing lyrical themes of love, madness, transformation, isolation and spirituality that drew immediate comparison to touchstone releases such as ‘Oar’ by Skip Spence and ‘Opel’ by Syd Barrett.

Wasif began a tenure in Yeah Yeah Yeahs that same year as part of their live band for a lengthy world tour on which he also performed as the support act for the majority of shows. Deciding to focus on his own music after 2008 (although he did reappear with them for a Jimmy Kimmel TV show appearance in September 2022), he nevertheless co-wrote five songs with YYY’s vocalist Karen O for the soundtrack of the Spike Jonze directed 2009 movie ‘Where The Wild Things Are’.

The physical release of Wasif’s sixth album, ‘So Long Mr. Fear’, is scheduled for late February 2023 (the digital format is available now). Co-produced with Best Coast multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno and mixed by Lewis Pesacov of Fool’s Gold, the trio have crafted a sublime, intimate sounding record that blends timeless arrangements with delicate yet masterful musicianship.

The song ‘Fader’ (VIDEO), with harmonies provided by Jen Wood of The Postal Service and Tattle Tale, was released as a sumptuously slo-mo introductory first single in the summer of 2022, followed by the jaunty - by comparison - title song (VIDEO). The album also features an appearance by Karen O on the haunting ballad ‘Poet Of The Damned’, for which Wasif invited her to tap into what he calls “the sinister grandeur of her vocals”, while sitarist Evan Haros adds energetic drone-filled layers to album opener ‘Elemental’ and ‘Regeneration’.

For the first time in his career, Wasif wrote much of the album on piano rather than guitar, with enforced pandemic isolation affording time to mine new instrumental territory. Recording many master takes while singing and playing simultaneously, his aim was to avoid overthinking and instead rely on “the simplicity of the compositions and direct passage into the emotional realms that I feel most at home in.”

With Bruno’s help, Wasif opened himself fully to the creative impulse, that when it arrives "possesses an unrelenting grip so urgent that I can't help but sit down and bang out a few chords and coax words from within my dusty skull to reignite a dumbstruck catharsis. That I might resonate clearly and audibly is all I’ve ever desired from the music that comes through.” Wasif also stresses that the album would have been impossible without Bruno, who adds bass, drums plus a myriad of synths and provides a magic touch that he notes “opened gateways of sonic depth.”

The album cover image is a self-portrait on which Wasif wears a tilaka on his forehead to represent what he calls his “personal secular spiritual beliefs,” adding that “the mark is worn as a direct confrontation of a philosophically diametric upbringing: my mother being Hindu and my father Muslim.” Though not a member of an organised religion, he has “endured the psychic conflict of these two monolithic faiths; hence the image is loaded with intent to trigger a dismantling of thousands of years of strife and convention.” Concluding that “no image or song could ever undo such deep-seated discriminations,” he nevertheless remains committed to “going down as someone who tries, rather than someone who stays silent.”

SO LONG MR. FEAR
TRACKLISTING
A1  Elemental
A2 Come Around
A3  I Am Free
A4  Fader
A5  Poet Of The Damned
B1  Painted On
B2  Place In The Dark
B3  Regeneration
B4  So Long Mr. Fear
B5  Jealous Kind

bandcamp  |  facebook  |  instagram

JESSE MALIN – BRAND NEW VIDEO + SPRING UK DATES ANNOUNCED AHEAD OF REISSUED EXPANDED DEBUT ALBUM

JESSE MALIN  |  photo by Ilaria Conte

JESSE MALIN
DOWNLINER (AFTERGLOW VERSION)
included on
THE FINE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION
(20th Anniversary expanded edition)
2xLP  |  digital
out 17.02.23
inc. bonus LP of the entire album reimagined and re-recorded

pre-order/save

New York City based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin has today issued a video for his current single, ‘Downliner (Afterglow Version)’. The song is available on the 20th Anniversary expanded edition of his debut album, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’, which includes a bonus disc of re-recordings and is released on 17th February to coincide with the start of a European tour (see full itinerary below) here in the UK.

Malin has also just announced five further UK shows in late May/early June:
30.05.23  BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds *  tickets
31.05.23  HULL New Adelphi Club *  tickets
01.06.23  OXTED Barn Theatre *  tickets
02.06.23  CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach *  tickets
03.06.23  EUSTON HALL Red Rooster Festival (Thetford, Norfolk)  tickets
* with support from Bason

The new video was filmed on Jesse’s home turf by Dave Stekert. Of the song itself, Malin explains that “it was one of the first that I wrote for the original album and it kinda came out in one shot. I felt like I was going into something new after being in a loud band for so many years and it is about finding a way to stay afloat when you feel like you are drowning. The new version was spontaneous and fun to sing to, with basic piano chords and cool fake drums giving it a sparse and dark vibe. Somehow it gave it a new life, but still retained the sadness and maybe even the hope that the original offered me.”

THE FINE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION
20th ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION

UK REVIEWS
“The newly recorded re-imaginings have honed some rough edges but lost none of the soul, viewing the 70s/80s Big Apple from a little further away, but without losing the heart-rending focus 9/10”
CLASSIC ROCK
“Malin’s solo debut took the personal and the profane into the stars. The revisited tracks see his vocals as candid as ever, driving the tales deep into the poignant 9/10”
UNCUT
“Reboot of breakthrough classic album by New York punk rock royalty 8/10”
VIVE LE ROCK

Following his teenage years in the pioneering hardcore band Heart Attack and his 20s fronting the wild and beloved D Generation, Malin had taken a cue from his songwriting heroes and was ready for the opportunity to stand alone. His solo debut was recorded over six days in New York City, live and raw. “I was still learning how to sing and tell stories," he recalls. "These songs were written in a little apartment downtown, without a record deal, a manager, or any expectation of anything coming of it - just a need to write them.”

As for its title, he adds that “it wasn’t named for drug or alcohol abuse, but more about personal wreckage when I looked back on my life, from my parents' divorce to failed relationships, broken up bands, dropping out of school, crashing cars, breaking things. It was more of a spiritual journey in some sense. This record is definitely one of my favourites.”

To celebrate its 20th anniversary reissue, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’ has been reimagined and re-recorded with Malin’s longtime band, with all the songs made available across its 2xLP and digital formats. The bonus material was produced by Derek Cruz and engineered by Geoff Sanoff, who worked on Malin’s recent ‘Sunset Kids’ (2019) and ‘Sad And Beautiful World’ (2021) albums.

Four of the re-recorded songs are available as singles now:
BROOKLYN (WALT WHITMAN IN THE TRASH)  video | digital services
XMAS, ETC  video | digital services
RIDING ON THE SUBWAY ’22  digital services
DOWNLINER (AFTERGLOW VERSION)  video | digital services

FULL TRACKLISTINGS
2xLP
A1  Queen of the Underworld
A2  TKO
A3  Downliner
A4  Wendy
A5  Brooklyn
B1  The Fine Art of Self Destruction
B2  Riding On The Subway
B3  High Lonesome
B4  Solitaire
B5  Almost Grown
B6  Xmas
C1  Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
C2  Downliner (Afterglow Version)
C3  Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
C4  Almost Grown (Busker Version)
D1  Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
D2  Cigarettes and Violets ’22
D3  High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
D4  Xmas, etc.

digital
1  Queen of the Underworld
2  TKO
3  Wendy
4  Downliner
5  Brooklyn
6  The Fine Art of Self Destruction
7  Riding On The Subway
8  High Lonesome
9  Solitaire
10  Almost Grown
11  Xmas
12  Cigarettes and Violets
13  Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
14  Riding on the Subway ’22
15  Downliner (Afterglow Version)
16  High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
17  Cigarettes and Violets ’22
18  Almost Grown (Busker Version)
19  Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
20  Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
21  Xmas, etc.

JESSE MALIN
EUROPEAN TOUR : FEBRUARY & MARCH 2023
15.02.23  GLASGOW Stereo  tickets
16.02.23  MANCHESTER YES (The Pink Room)  tickets
17.02.23  LONDON The Garage  tickets
18.02.23  PARIS (FR) La Boule Noire  tickets
19.02.23  UTRECHT (NL) dB's  tickets
22.02.22  SAVONA (IT) Raindogs House  tickets  
23.02.23  BERGAMO (IT) Druso  tickets
24.02.23  RAVENNA (IT) Bronson  tickets
25.02.23  MARENO DI PIAVE, TV (IT) Corner Live  tickets
27.02.23  HAMBURG (DE) Nochtspeicher  tickets
28.02.23  COPENHAGEN (DK) Hotel Cecil  tickets
01.03.23  LUND (SE) Mejeriet  tickets
02.03.23  STOCKHOLM (SE) Bar Brooklyn  tickets
03.03.23  OSLO (NO) John Dee  tickets

with support from Trapper Schoepp

jessemalin.com

SUMMIT OF THE BIG LOW - 'DUST' – NEW SINGLE BY UK SINGER-SONGWRITER OUT 10.02.23

SUMMIT OF THE BIG LOW
DUST

new single
out 10.02.23
(Friendly Tribe)

digital services  |  bandcamp

included on
self-titled album
out 19.05.23

pre-order/save

FOR FANS OF
NICK MULVEY | JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ | BON IVER

“I don’t really know what happened back there, but it seems the doldrums and chaos may have been good for something,” states a bewildered Toby Uffindell-Phillips, reflecting on Brexit, the rise and fall of Trump, epidemics, a global warming tipping point and the threat of nuclear war. Following the March 2022 release of ‘Thin Air’, his debut album as Summit Of The Big Low, the Canada-born but UK-raised indie-folk musician has today announced a brand new collection of songs influenced by these world affairs and his own journey navigating through them.

The cover to the self-titled album (see below) depicts a Yin-Yang sign comprised of discarded cigarette butts. "My friend Lucy Pook was doing a series of these cigarette illustrations during lockdown and as soon as I saw this particular piece I knew I wanted the image to represent the music I was writing,” he explains. "From a distance, the artwork projects this beautiful ideological symbol of perfect harmony and balance, but up close you realise it can be broken down into these discarded objects that elude to an uglier, more sinister truth about humanity. Much like the songs on an album, it’s as if there is a story associated with each cigarette butt, where, for a snapshot in time, they were props in people's lives.”

Dipping in and out of evocative residual memories (and maybe a few fictitious ones), Toby’s relaxed writing style utilises samples, atmospheric soundbeds and field recordings, setting scenes within which his lyrics explore themes that trouble or fascinate him. First single ’Dust’ has a clear anti-war message that he stresses is about "the importance of seeing past face value differences to find common ground, with the line 'if the dust don’t settle we’re all going to breathe it’ a reminder that no one is safe from the effects of conflict. The artwork utilises cigarette butts again to portray human narratives, in this case a stand off between opposing points of view."

In a similar vein, album opener ‘Battle Lines’ urges the need to build bridges (“in the end it all boils down to how much you’re prepared to give and take”). Other songs are more introspective, with ‘Tearing Up The Darkness’ shining a light on loneliness and ‘Between You and I’ focusing on the need to feel loved with its poignant line “all I ever wanted, was to be wanted.” There are also moments that reflect on his early life, with ‘Blizzard Child’ a questing desire to find a way back - geographically or metaphorically - to a place with a sense of belonging.

Having initially appeared in the early 00’s with folktronica group Sound Sanctuary, Toby’s songwriting and finger picking guitar style has evolved into a signature sound with a hazy, golden hour vibe. Transitioning from band to solo artist, he has increasingly flexed his muscles in the studio, recording much of his debut at home with assistance from past collaborators Bombay Monkey. This time around, he has produced the entirety of ‘Summit Of The Big Low’ himself, as well as playing and/or programming all the instrumentation. It is a solo record in the true sense of the word, with the exception of a vocal contribution from his sister on the song ‘Deep End’, a family collaboration he was keen to repeat from his debut.

“This record comes at a time when the world is in flux. I feel that at any minute another curve ball could come at you,” he muses. ”At times it is disconcerting and scary, while there is mistrust and confusion as old structures seem to be collapsing and it is unclear what will take their place. However, I am fascinated by the idea that in human endeavour and experience there is no beauty without ugliness, no simplicity or order without complexity and chaos, no integrity without corruption. Likewise, there is no despair without hope. In essence, life is not spent in the extremes, but in the journey that ebbs and flows between its summits and big lows. Making this new album has helped me process some of the challenging moments in recent times. If others can relate, I hope it will help them feel connected in some way and that they are not alone on this ride. The big picture is made up of little wins, so if it can pay forward any kind of positive action then that has to be a good thing.”

SUMMIT OF THE BIG LOW
TRACKLISTING
1  Battle Lines
2  Blizzard Child
3  Wildfire
4  Deep End
5  Between You And I
6  Dust
7  Tearing Up The Darkness
8  You Look Out For Me
9  Good For You
10  Reason Or Rhyme

official site  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

CONNOR SELBY BRENGT EERBETOON AAN RAY CHARLES MET COVER ‘MY BABY DON’T DIG ME’

Bekijk hier de videos van "I Shouldn't Care" | “The Deep End (lyric video)”

 

Van het album ‘Connor Selby (Deluxe Edition)’

Release: 3 Maart 2023 op Provogue / Mascot Label Group

 

Pre-order het Deluxe album hier:

https://lnk.to/ConnorSelby

De jonge Britse troubadour Connor Selby heeft een cover van het nummer My Baby Don't Dig Me van Ray Charles uit 1964 onthuld. Het nummer is afkomstig van zijn aankomende album ‘Connor Selby’ (Deluxe Edition), welke op 3 maart op Provogue/Mascot Label Group verschijnt. Je kunt het nummer hier beluisteren.
  
Over het nieuwe nummer zegt Selby: “Ik heb dit nummer gekozen omdat, zoals iedereen die mij kent je zal vertellen, ik een grote fan van Ray Charles ben en ik hem een ​​eerbetoon wilde brengen. Dat gezegd hebbende, wilde ik een minder bekend nummer kiezen, waar niet veel mensen bekend mee zullen zijn, in plaats van een van zijn hits. Het was belangrijk voor mij dat ik, terwijl ik trouw bleef aan het originele nummer, mezelf erin wilde stoppen. Ik koos dit nummer, in tegenstelling tot veel van zijn andere, minder bekende B-kantjes, omdat het een leuk nummer is met een geweldige groove en een vrij humoristische tekst die me altijd aansprak.
 
Selby zal op 3 maart 'Connor Selby (Deluxe Edition)' uitbrengen op Provogue. Het album bevat vier gloednieuwe bonustracks, waaronder de recente video's voor "I Shouldn't Care" en "The Deep End". Zijn muziek heeft iets tijdloos melancholisch. Herkenbaar in zijn eerlijkheid en openheid, put hij uit angst en kwetsbaarheid, maar levert het met een verfijnde elegantie. Het album werd oorspronkelijk in eigen beheer uitgebracht in 2021 en wordt opnieuw uitgebracht met extra liefde in de vorm van vier bonustracks van Provogue.

Bij de komende UK Blues Awards van dit jaar heeft hij nominaties ontvangen voor "Acoustic Act of the Year", "Instrumentalist of the Year", "Blues Vocalist of the Year" en "Blues Artist of the Year". Een van de grootste talenten in de Britse bluesscene. Hij is al drie opeenvolgende jaren (2020, 2021, 2022) verkozen tot "Young Artist of the Year" bij de UK Blues Awards. Hij heeft een indrukwekkende lijst van shows op zijn naam staan waaronder Wembley Stadium, waar hij in juli 2019 opende voor The Who en sindsdien in BST Hyde Park, Londen speelde samen met Pearl Jam, Stereophonics en Johnny Marr in de zomer van 2022.
 
Opgegroeid in een dorp in Essex, heeft hij in de jaren die volgden op verschillende plekken gewoond. Van Connecticut, VS, als jong kind tot Dubai, VAE, van tien tot veertien jaar, en vervogens terug in Essex daaropvolgend. Met die jonge ogen die de reizen en de veranderingen die aan hem voorbijgingen, opslokkend. Een ding dat hem bijbleef, was zijn ontluikende liefde voor Amerikaanse rootsmuziek. "Ik raakte niet alleen geïnteresseerd in de muziek zelf, maar ook in de geschiedenis en alles eromheen", zegt hij. "Ik wilde zoveel mogelijk leren en luisteren. Ik denk dat het belangrijk is dat iemand die niet van die culturele achtergrond is, het met het respect behandelt dat het verdient. Je kunt de muziek niet scheiden van de historische context." "Ik hou van de directheid, de eenvoud en aardsheid ervan", voegt hij eraan toe. "Ik heb me ook altijd aangetrokken gevoeld tot de gezaghebbende kwaliteit van de muziek. Als kind en tiener was ik nogal verlegen en niet erg zelfverzekerd, dus ik denk dat het een plek voor mij was om een ​​gevoel van macht te vinden."

 De sky is the limit voor Selby, die, naast prijzen, talloze plays op BBC Radio 2 heeft opgepikt. Het is gemakkelijk in te zien waarom met zijn soulvolle mix van blues en zijn emotioneel introspectieve songwriting, die naast zijn indrukwekkende arsenaal aan gitaarspel zit. De liedjes op 'Connor Selby' zijn kleine vignetten van de verschillende muziekstijlen die hem inspireren.

Track listing 

1. I Can't Let You Go
2. Falling In Love Again
3. If You're Gonna Leave Me
4. Emily
5. The Man I Ought To Be
6. Hear My Prayer
7. Show Me A Sign
8. Anyhow
9. Waitin' On The Day
10. Starting Again
11. I Shouldn't Care (Bonus Track)
12. Love Letter To The Blues (Bonus Track)
13. My Baby Don't Dig Me (Bonus Track)
14. The Deep End (Bonus Track)

 

Connor Selby Online

HISTORALIA BRENGT GROOTS MUSICALSPEKTAKEL ‘DAMIAAN’ AAN BASILIEK VAN SCHERPENHEUVEL

Groots musicalspektakel rond Pater Damiaan strijkt in augustus 2023 neer aan basiliek van Scherpenheuvel!

‘Thuis’-slechterik Pieter Jan De Paepe wordt Pater Damiaan
11-jarige Siebe Pulinx (Bonheiden) speelt jonge ‘Jefke’ De Veuster

In augustus 2023 presenteert productiehuis Historalia het grootse musicalspektakel ‘Damiaan’. Dit openluchtspektakel vertelt op prachtige wijze het fascinerende verhaal van ‘Grootste Belg’ Jozef De Veuster, beter bekend als Pater Damiaan. ‘Damiaan’ wordt op de planken gebracht aan de al even iconische basiliek van Scherpenheuvel, de magische plek waar ‘Jef’ De Veuster in 1863 afscheid nam van zijn moeder om aan de slag te gaan als missionaris in Hawaï. Daar wordt hij in 1864 tot priester gewijd en start de legende van 'De apostel der melaatsen'  ‘Damiaan’, een hartverwarmende creatie over zijn leven, maar ook over schoonheid, miserie en verbinding, met prachtige songs en een vleugje humor.

Met ‘Damiaan’ is Historalia allerminst aan z’n proefstuk toe. Het productiehuis van oprichter/drijvende kracht prins Simon de Merode heeft de voorbije jaren een flinke reputatie opgebouwd met grote musicalspektakels rond historische figuren en gebeurtenissen (‘Marie-Antoinette’, ‘Albert I’, ‘Rubens’, ‘1830’).

Rest natuurlijk nog de belangrijke vraag wie er allemaal te zien zal zijn in deze indrukwekkende productie (cast van 185 mensen!!) en vooral: wie mag er gestalte geven aan de heilige Pater Damiaan en welke getalenteerde jongere krijgt de kans om te schitteren als de jonge ‘Jefke’ De Veuster?

‘Thuis’-slechterik Pieter Jan De Paepe wordt Pater Damiaan

Van Jezus in ‘De Passie’ over slechterik Xander in ‘Thuis’ en anarchistische vagebond Tom Collins in ‘RENT’, tot nu de heilige Pater Damiaan. In strakke vogelvlucht enkele bijzondere rollen op het palmares van zanger en acteur Pieter Jan De Paepe (27, Lier), die meteen ook zijn veelzijdige kwaliteiten aantonen. Als frontman bij zijn eigen Deep Purple-tributeband Made In Purple en zanger/gitarist bij de Spaanstalige rockband Idiomás smeert Pieter Jan bovendien ook nog geregeld zijn krachtige stembanden. Pieter Jan voegt een vleugje ‘rock-‘n-roll’ toe aan de figuur van Pater Damiaan en dat vindt hij naar eigen zeggen zeker niet verkeerd:

“Laat me beginnen met te zeggen dat ik onwaarschijnlijk blij ben dat ik zo’n iconische figuur mag spelen, in zo’n indrukwekkende productie en met al dat onwaarschijnlijke talent rond mij. Ik ben me sinds kort helemaal aan het verdiepen in het levensverhaal van Pater Damiaan en die man is echt ‘larger than life’. Voor mij is hij gewoon een rockster. Misschien zien de makers van ‘Damiaan’ dat ook wel zo en kwamen ze daarom bij mij uit (knipoogt).” 

Siebe Pulinx (11 jaar) speelt jonge ‘Jefke’ De Veuster

Ook de 11-jarige Siebe Pulinx uit Bonheiden mag zich opmaken voor een waanzinnig ‘Damiaan’-avontuur. De getalenteerde Siebe wist de rol van de jonge ‘Jefke’ De Veuster te bemachtigen. Ondanks zijn jonge leeftijd is Siebe toch al geen onbekende meer in de musicalwereld. Van zijn 7 tot 10 jaar was hij te zien in de spektakel-musical 40-45, waarin hij zelfs even de kinderhoofdrol (kleine Tuur) mocht spelen. Hij maakt ook deel uit van het showkoor SPOTZ-ON van Studio 100 en speelde mee in ‘Kerstmagie 2022’ van Historalia. Onlangs schitterde hij nog als Benji in de musical ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ (InTeam Producties) en vanaf maart 2023 maakt hij ook deel uit van de kindercast van ‘Red Star Line’ (Studio 100).

Siebe wil in het middelbaar graag woord-drama of musical gaan studeren en droomt ervan later een bekend acteur te worden, of samen met enkele goede vrienden een succesvolle boysband op te richten.

Hoofdcast ‘Damiaan’ bulkt van het talent

Siebe en Pieter Jan weten zich trouwens zeer goed omringd in de hoofdcast van ‘Damiaan’. Ervaring en kunde worden gecombineerd door Nordin de Moor (Mano), Wim van den Driessche (Bisschop), Maja Van Honsté (gids), Janis Van Dorsselaer (Kaia), Kato Haes (Lani), Steven Colombeen (eerste minister) en Tim Saey (John Glenstone, pater Albert).

Onversneden jeugdig talent en enthousiasme zijn dan weer in overvloed te vinden bij de 12-jarige Alexander Dielen uit Berendrecht, die de rol van Kopa voor zijn rekening neemt, Davina Van Engeland (19, Mol) als Lei, Anna Aerts (11, Tessenderlo) en Avisa Etedali (9, Scherpenheuvel-Zichem) die afwisselend de rol van Goa spelen, de 11-jarige Louis Maes uit Kontich (Pinto) en Lucie Smets (8, Sint-Niklaas) en Ella Mertens (11, Mol) die afwisselend gestalte geven aan Malia.

‘Damiaan’ in het kort

Historalia brengt, in de vorm van een groots musicalspektakel, het meeslepende verhaal van de voor velen ‘Grootste Belg aller tijden’ Pater Damiaan, aan de basiliek van Scherpenheuvel. Het was op deze voor hem magische plek dat hij in 1863 afscheid nam van zijn moeder om aan de slag te gaan als missionaris in Hawaï.

Jarenlang trekt hij door de bergen van de Hawaïaanse eilanden. Daar ontmoet hij het gezin van weduwe Kaia en het jonge koppel Lani en Noé, die plots geconfronteerd worden met de vreselijke ziekte lepra. Om dit dodelijk virus de baas te kunnen, besluit de overheid de besmette personen te isoleren op het eiland Molokai. Damiaan ziet vanop de eerste rij hoe het gezin van Kaia brutaal uit elkaar wordt gerukt. Als de vraag naar vrijwilligers komt om de zieken in Molokai bij te staan, is Pater Damiaan de eerste om te gaan. In een omgeving van dood en verderf, slaagt hij erin om iets unieks op te bouwen.

‘Damiaan’, over zijn leven, maar ook over de schoonheid, de miserie en de verbinding die kan ontstaan bij de mensen die door de maatschappij aan de kant werden gezet. Een hartverwarmende creatie met prachtige songs en een vleugje humor, vanaf 3 augustus tot en met 2 september 2023 aan de basiliek van Scherpenheuvel.

Tickets & info: www.historalia.be/damiaan

Scenario & regie: Luc Stevens
Componist: Sam Gevers
Assistent regie & resident director: Brigitte Derks
Choreografie: Christophe Degelin

A PROJECTION - SWEDISH DARKWAVE/ELECTRONIC ACT ON TOUR IN MAILAND  EUROPE FROM TODAY TO PROMOTE NEW ALBUM ON METROPOLIS RECORDS

A PROJECTION  |  2022 photo by Ives Zander

A PROJECTION
IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT TOUR

new album
IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT
out now
[Metropolis Records]

includes the singles
DARWIN’S EDEN  |  NO CONTROL  |  CARELESS
and ANYWHERE

Stockholm based darkwave/electronic act A Projection start a mainland European tour today to promote their fourth album, ‘In A Different Light’, which is out now on Metropolis Records. The schedule takes in eight shows in Germany and one each in Netherlands and Belgium, as follows:

09.02.23  HANOVER (DE) Lux
10.02.23  BERLIN (DE) Hole44
11.02.23  LEIPZIG (DE) Naumanns
12.02.33  HAMBURG (DE) Hafenklang
14.02.23  ROTTERDAM (NL) V11
15.02.23  COLOGNE (DE) MTC
16.02.23  BRUSSELS (BE) Le Lac
17.02.23  BOCHUM (DE) Kulturbahnhof
18.02.23  FRANKFURT (DE) Nachtleben
19.02.23  MUNICH (DE) Backstage

A Projection were formed in 2013 as a post-punk outfit influenced by The Cure, Joy Division/New Order, Sisters of Mercy, Interpol and Editors, although electronic godheads such as Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, D.A.F. and compatriots The Knife were also important to their original musical vision.

With a sound that spilt over into the related indie and goth genres, the first three albums by the band - ‘Exit’ [2015], ‘Framework’ [2017] and ‘Section’ [2019] - developed from minimalist beginnings into a more readily accessible sound, yet remained within the framework of a strict post-punk aesthetic and attitude.

An enforced break due to the pandemic resulted in two line-up changes, including the former bassist becoming lead vocalist, while the group had left the indie oriented Tapete label in 2019 to join the more electronically leaning Metropolis roster for the release of ‘Section'. With that had come a shift towards a more synthesizer based style with influences from the 80s, contemporary darkwave and current chart hits.

Their new album, 'In A Different Light’, was released in November 2022 and includes  four singles that have all been promoted with videos that can be seen HERE. The most recent was ‘Anywhere’, which has a distinct mid-80s electro-pop vibe. The album also includes contributions from fellow Swede Henrik Linder of Dirty Loops and Sarah Boom of the Brussels-based Turquoise, who will be special guests at the show in that city on 16th February.

 

official site  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Bandcamp  |  YouTube

MARCIA MIGET PLAYS ‘WE RETURN’

"We Return" is a fresh contemporary Jazz single written by Marcia Migét and produced by two-time Grammy-nominated musician Chris 'Big Dog' Davis. A recent Jazz Hall of Fame recipient, Migét is a seasonal multi-instrumentalist playing piano and flute on this cut. Davis adds his production brilliance topped off by Jay Williams's drumming flair. Marcia recalls, "Chris and Jay set fire to the song!"

 

Featured in 2022 at Berk's Jazz Festival 'Women in Jazz' Marcia received standing ovations for songs from her CD "I Vision" produced by Chris Davis. Her flute work is heard on Nick Colionne's Billboard Smooth Jazz #4 single "Step To This". Located in the SF Bay Area, founder/director of Miraflores Music Academié, Marcia recently received the award for Best Music School 2022.

 

"Marcia's music reflects a strong, deep and honest commitment to life." - Carlos Santana

 

An accomplished performer, composer and educator, a living example of the rich musical heritage, she is 'la Maestra', Marcia Migét.

 

"We Return"

 

Written by Marcia Migét

Produced, engineered and mixed by Chris Davis

Mastered by David Darlington

 

Marcia Migét: Flute, Piano & Keyboard Programming

Chris 'Big Dog' Davis: Bass, Strongs & Keyboard Programming

Jay Williams: Drums

 

Click to view Marcia's Instagram and Facebook.

KIMBERLY BREWER FT. STEVIE WONDER SINGS ‘DON’T MAKE ME WAIT TOO LONG’

Kimberly Brewer has ascended the ranks as vivacious and indispensable in multiple genres of music as a singer and songwriter. Her resume, first and foremost, includes touring the world and recording on three albums with the inimitable Stevie Wonder, including “If She Breaks Your Heart,” a solo feature for his Motown soundtrack to director Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever. 

 

Kimberly was also honored to perform an original Christmas duet written by Wonder entitled “I Love You More”at the White House during the Clinton Administration. She graced concert tours between 2002-2004 with Earth, Wind & Fire (immortalized on their DVD Live in Montreux), toured for two years singing en Español in support of Spanish superstar Julio Iglesias, recorded with Teena Marie, k.d. lang, Vanessa Williams, Will Downing, June Pointer, and many others. Kimberly also penned a song for Lynne Fiddmont (the sensual reminiscence of a most delicious kiss, titled “Tasting Sunshine”). Kimberly also co-penned a song with Wonder titled “Have Sweet Dreams”.

 

Now, Kimberly Brewer has saved the best not for last but for a new beginning: Stevie Wonder requested that she do a cover of a song written by him called “Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long”. Stevie suggested that she make it a duet with R&B sensation Joe singing the second verse. When he heard the song he loved it so much that he joined in playing his signature harmonica stylings.

 

"Don't Make Me Wait Too Long"

 

Written By Stevie Wonder 

Produced by Byron Miller & Chris “Big Dog” Davis

Co-Produced by Kimberly Brewer 

Arranged by Phil Davis, Rick Jordan & Byron Miller

 

Kimberly Brewer: Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Background Arrangement   

Stevie Wonder: Harmonica  

Byron Miller: Bass 

Chris 'Big Dog' Davis: Keys 

Phil Davis: Keys 

Joe: Lead Vocal 

Rick Jordan: Drums 

Munyungo Jackson: Percussion  

Paul Jackson Jr: Guitar 

 

Click to view Kimberly's Instagram and Facebook.

NEW SINGLE ‘RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON’ FROM ADAM HAWLEY FT. JULIAN VAUGHN

"Right On, Right On" is the dynamic new single from guitarist/producer Adam Hawley. This song hails from Adam's 4th album "Risin' Up" and should prove to be a contender to add to Hawley's 12 Billboard #1 hits as an artist and songwriter. "Right On, Right On" features Julian Vaughn on lead bass, as a follow-up to their smash 2018 hit "Traveling Mood."

 

Further stellar contributions to this track include Donald Hayes (Sax), Marcus Anderson (Flute), Carnell Harrell (Keys), Mel Brown (Bass), Eric Valentine (Drums) and Ramon Yslas (Percussion). 

 

See Adam's upcoming tour dates here.

 

Click to view Adam's Instagram and Facebook.

WERELDBEROEMDE COMPONIST BURT BACHARACH OVERLEDEN

Door mijn recente vakantie kon ik dit overlijdensbericht niet vroeger posten. Maar gezien hij een van mijn favoriete componisten was, doe ik alsnog.

 

Patrick Van de Wiele

 

De Amerikaanse zanger, componist en producer Burt Bacharach is op 8 februari in zijn woning in Los Angeles op 94-jarige leeftijd overleden. Bacharach schreef de muziek van tientallen hits van onder anderen The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones en vooral Dionne Warwick. Bacharach stond bekend als de koning van 'easy listening', met opvallende melodielijnen en een licht klassiek georiënteerde stijl. Veel van zijn hits schreef hij samen met tekstdichter Hal David, maar ook met Bob Hilliard. Met Dionne Warwick had Bacharach een speciale band. In de jaren zestig en zeventig produceerde hij twintig Amerikaanse Top-40-hits voor haar, zoals ‘Walk On By’,’Anyone Who Had A Heart’, ’ I Say A Little Prayer’, ‘Don’t Make Me Over’, ‘Promises Promises’ en ‘Do You Know The Way To San Jose?’. ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ werd ook een flinke hit in de uitvoering van Aretha Franklin en ‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’ werd ook een flinke hit in de uitvoering van Cilla Black. Naast zijn protégé Dionne Warwick schreef Bacharach vele hits voor andere artiesten. De grootste: ‘The Story Of My Life’ (Marty Robbins)’, ‘Magic Moments’ (Perry Como), ‘Please Stay’ (The Drifters), ‘Tower Of Strength’ (Gene McDaniels), ‘Baby It’s You’ (The Shirelles), ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance’ (Gene Pitney), ‘Only Love Can Break A Heart’ (Gene Pitney), ‘Blue On Blue’ (Bobby Vinton), ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’ (The Walker Brothers), ‘What The World Needs Now’ (Jackie DeShannon), ‘What’s New Pussycat’ (Tom Jones), ‘This Guy’s In Love With You’ (Herb Alpert), ‘Alfie’ (Cilla Black), ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’ (B.J. Thomas), ‘Close To You’ (The Carpenters),‘Arthur’s Theme’ (Cristopher Cross), ‘Heartlight’ (Neil Diamond), ‘Making Love’ (Roberta Flack), ‘On My Own’ (Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald) en ‘Love Power’ (Dionne Warwick & Jeffrey Osborne). Hoewel Bacharachs bekendste composities voor anderen waren, bracht hij als zanger ook veel solo-albums uit. Zijn meest recente plaat, ‘Blue Umbrella’, verscheen in 2020. Deze eeuw werkte Bacharach verder samen met moderne artiesten als Rufus Wainwright en Dr. Dre. In Nederland nam Trijntje Oosterhuis enkele albums op met zijn liedjes. Oosterhuis herinnert zich Bacharach met grote dankbaarheid, schrijft ze vandaag op Instagram. Ze noemt hem "mijn grootste inspiratie". Burt Bacharach ontving meerdere Grammy's en Oscars voor zijn liedjes. In 2012 kreeg hij samen met Hal David door president Obama de Gershwin-prijs uitgereikt voor hun hele oeuvre. Hal David overleed niet veel later, Bacharach bleef nog jarenlang optreden. Zo stond hij in 2019 nog op North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam. Burt Bacharach ruste in vrede!

 

Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

DEEP BRIDGE PRESENTEERT EERSTE VLAAMSE VERSIE VAN FEELGOOD MUSICAL ‘HAIRSPRAY’

Maart en april 2024 - Antwerpen, Gent, Hasselt

Musicalfans opgelet! Deep Bridge heeft z'n opvolger te pakken voor musicalfeestje 'MAMMA MIA!' en dat is er ééntje waar al lang om geroepen wordt. Op zondag 17 maart 2024 gaat in Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen de eerste, professionele Vlaamse versie van de Broadwaymusical ‘Hairspray’ in première!

Het fenomeen 'Hairspray'

Hoewel 'Hairspray' gewoon dikke fun is en boordevol dans, kleur, wild uitgedoste personages, vrolijkheid en heerlijke muziek zit, worden ook maatschappijkritische en nog steeds helaas brandend actuele thema’s zoals racisme en bodyshaming niet uit de weg gegaan. Het is die fel gesmaakte mix van tegenstellingen die van 'Hairspray' een generatie-overschrijdend fenomeen in de film- en musicalwereld maakt.

De musical 'Hairspray', gebaseerd op de gelijknamige film uit 1988, ging in 2002 in Seattle in première en verhuisde later dat jaar naar Broadway. In 2003 won 'Hairspray' acht Tony Awards, waaronder één voor 'Beste Musical', uit 13 nominaties. De musical sloot op 4 januari 2009 af na 2.642!! uitvoeringen. De West End-versie werd op zijn beurt genomineerd voor maar liefst elf Olivier Awards, waarvan er vier werden gewonnen, waaronder die voor 'Beste Nieuwe Musical'.

Bij het grote publiek verwierf 'Hairspray' een echte cultstatus na de release van de musicalverfilming in 2007. In een sterrencast met o.a. Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron en Queen Latifah, schitterde ook John Travolta - in fatsuit - als de extraverte Edna Turnblad.

Deep Bridge maakt een eigen, Vlaamse versie van deze feelgood musical. Zoals steeds in de gekende stijl van het huis: met de nodige creatieve krullen, lak aan platgetreden paden, maar met respect voor het originele verhaal én de muziek. Geef toe, is er iemand die kan blijven stilzitten op floorfillers als 'Welcome To The 60's', 'Good Morning Baltimore' en uiteraard ‘You Can’t Stop The Beat’?

BEKIJK HIER 'You Can't Stop The Beat' uit de film 'Hairspray' (2007) met o.a. John Travolta als Edna Turnblad

Het verhaal
Tienermeisje Tracy Turnblad droomt ervan in de populaire dansshow 'The Corny Collins Show' te staan. Ze wordt op de auditie echter afgewezen door producer Velma omdat ze zwaarlijvig is. Presentator Corny Collins geeft haar toch een kans en van de ene dag op de andere dag is Tracy beroemd. Nu zij haar plekje in de show te pakken heeft, wil Tracy graag haar zwarte vrienden er mee in krijgen. Zou haar nieuwe status hoog genoeg zijn om de heersende raciale verschillen te overbruggen of werkt ze zich hiermee in de problemen?

‘Hairspray’, de hilarische, vrolijke en steengoede feelgood musical waar iedereen nood aan heeft, is van 15 maart tot 14 april 2024 opeenvolgend te zien in Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen, Capitole Gent en Trixxo Theater Hasselt.

Tickets & info: deepbridge.be  
De cast wordt later bekendgemaakt.

!! RANG-UPGRADE !!
Boek tot 21 februari 2023 je tickets en krijg een gratis rang-upgrade cadeau.
Voor Golden Seat betaal je de prijs van Categorie 1, voor Categorie 1 betaal je de prijs van Categorie 2, enzovoort.

B.E.F. (BRITISH ELECTRIC FOUNDATION) - 'MUSIC FOR STOWAWAYS’ – REISSUE OF POST-HUMAN LEAGUE/PRE-HEAVEN 17

Martyn Ware (seated) and Ian Craig Marsh of B.E.F. with a fan

B.E.F.
BRITISH ELECTRIC FOUNDATION

MUSIC FOR STOWAWAYS

LP | CD reissue
out 21.04.23 
(Cold Spring)

pre-order

includes
GROOVE THANG

Following two groundbreaking albums (‘Reproduction’ and ‘Travelogue’), the original line-up of Sheffield-based The Human League split in half in late 1980. The two primary musicians in the group, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, formed a new production company - British Electric Foundation (B.E.F.) - and signed a deal with Virgin to write and produce up to six albums a year. The artists they were to produce would include Heaven 17, their own new band formed with vocalist Glenn Gregory.

B.E.F. would also release their own material, commencing with the largely stark, moody, cinematic-sounding electronic music on this collection, which was issued in various permutations in 1981-82. Its initial release in March 1981 was a limited edition numbered eight song cassette entitled ‘Music for Stowaways’, with ‘Stowaways’ being a reference to the original name for the then-new Sony portable cassette player - later renamed the Walkman - which allowed owners to "design a soundtrack for your everyday life for the first time and have it playing while you walked around."

"[That] became the theory behind [Music for Stowaways]," explains Ware. "It was about how you could play your music and change your mood wherever you were. Basically, the Walkman liberated music. And there we were at the sharp end with this cassette-only release."

The cassette was followed by a seven song LP, ‘Music For Listening To’, which had a slightly different tracklisting, while other B.E.F. music was utilised for B-sides of early singles by Heaven 17.

This music was among the first recorded by Martyn and Ian directly after their departure from The Human League. Some tracks had evolved from other recordings they were working on at the time, such as ‘Groove Thang’ - an instrumental version of the debut single by Heaven 17 released on the same day as the cassette - and ‘The Old At Rest’, which derived from a version of ‘Wichita Lineman’ by Jimmy Webb, their very first recording with Glenn that would subsequently appear on B.E.F.’s ‘Music of Quality and Distinction, Volume One’ covers album in 1982.

Supporting musicians on ‘Music For Stowaways’ included Adi Newton of Clock DVA (who had been a member of The Future with Martyn and Ian pre-Human League) on the track ‘Uptown Apocalyse’, with John Wilson (who provided incredible guitar and bass for Heaven 17) appearing on 'Groove Thang'.

The innovative sounds heard on ‘Music For Stowaways’ were an inspiration to many aspiring electronic artists. In 2013, Moby declared it to be one of his favourite albums, while Uncut magazine included it in a list of the ’50 Greatest Lost Albums of All Time’ two years later.

 B.E.F. - MUSIC FOR STOWAWAYS (original master tape labels)

BUILDING AN ELECTRONIC FOUNDATION
When the highly acclaimed and innovatory Human League lost their two resident synthesiser players, there was much speculation as to what the departing duo, Ian Marsh and Martyn Ware, would be up to when they promised to set themselves up as a production company. The ambitious production project eventually manifested itself as The British Electric Foundation, with the stated purpose of being involved in a variety of production and recording ventures, the first of which is Heaven 17.

Heaven 17 is Marsh and Ware with vocalist Glenn Gregory, and next Friday (13) Virgin releases a 7" single '(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang' together with the simultaneous release of an extended 12" version. An exciting electro-funk number, it heralds an intriguing change of direction from the familiar sound of The Human League. An album is currently being recorded by the band.

Under their own British Electric Foundation banner, B.E.F. also release on the same day their debut album, although it is only being released on cassette. Appropriately it's titled 'Music For Stowaways'. Both these projects show that Marsh and Ware, with the assistance of various outside musicians, are moving into a unique field of recording and producing which could well act as an inspiration for other musicians with similar aspirations, just as the original Human League proved such a pacesetter for people like Gary Numan and Orchestral Manouvres [sic] In The Dark.
(original press release, 5th March 1981).

 

MUSIC FOR STOWAWAYS
LP | CD REISSUE
TRACKLISTING
A1 | 1  B.E.F. Ident *
A2 | 2  The Optimum Chant
A3 | 3  Uptown Apocalypse
A4 | 4  Wipe The Board Clean
A5 | 5  Groove Thang
A6 | 6  Music To Kill Your Parents By
B1 | 7  The Old At Rest
B2 | 8  Rise Of The East
B3 | 9  Decline Of The West
B4 | 10  A Baby Called Billy *
B5 | 11  Honeymoon In New York *
B6 | 12  B.E.F. Ident **

*not on 1981 cassette release
** uncredited on 1981 cassette release

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MONIKA ROSCHER BIGBAND - '8 PRINZESSINNEN' [8 Princesses]  |  EPIC SINGLE FROM BOUNDARY BASHING BIG BAND OUT 03.02.23

MONIKA ROSCHER BIGBAND  |  photo by Lukas Diller

MONIKA ROSCHER BIGBAND
8 PRINZESSINNEN [8 PRINCESSES]

new single
out 03.02.23
(Zenna Records/Membran)

digital services

BLOODY BRILLIANT BIG BAND BOUNDARY BASHING BETWEEN : BABYLON BERLIN  |  BATTLES  |  BJÖRK

included on the new album
WITCHY ACTIVITIES AND THE MAPLE DEATH
out 05.05.23

 

Monika Roscher Bigband (MRB) is comprised of 18 musicians and exists somewhere between math-rock, prog-jazz, avant-pop and experimental electronics. Formed in Munich in 2011, they soon made waves with thrilling live performances and the inventive ideas of Roscher, their founder, singer, guitarist and conductor.

The first two MRB albums, ‘Failure in Wonderland’ (2012) and ‘Of Monsters and Birds’ (2016), were met with acclaim in Germany, where Jazz Echo proclaimed them ‘Newcomer of the Year’. They toured their home territory regularly, playing numerous prestigious festivals and concert halls, but also caused a stir abroad, with the US magazine DownBeat naming them as ‘Rising Stars’.

MRB have now been playing together for over a decade. Virtuosos as individuals, they are nevertheless close-knit as a group and feed on musical challenges set during recording sessions, while each of their rousing live shows is a celebration of the musical freedom and inspiration they offer each other.

Their upcoming third album, ‘Witchy Activities And The Maple Death’, is stunning proof of how fresh and exhilarating MRB sound today. Superbly recorded, it achieves a breathtaking balance of intimate fragility and symphonic intensity that lets the full sonic spectrum of a big band scream and shine in every colour imaginable. Roscher’s tension-filled and intricately detailed compositions evoke otherworldly landscapes that at times enchant with their elegiac beauty, but at others wreak havoc like the unleashed frenzy of a witches’ sabbath thick with haze.

An intense and epic first single from the album, the nine minute ‘8 Prinzessinnen’ (8 Princesses) is out now and acts as a perfect mission statement. It also boasts a suitably matching video. “I stumbled upon the headline ‘8 Princesses Stand Trial’ and couldn't get it out of my head,” explains Roscher. “What could eight princesses possibly be accused of? In my imagination and for the video they are influencers who have stolen the fountain of youth, but the real life ones stand before a judge to deny any wrongdoing.” As for its insistent, driving music, she states that "I wrote it like some kind of morse code and then set it in motion, like a musical wheel that keeps stumbling but is unstoppable. Another wheel then materialises and clutches on to it, as if two bands were playing at the same time like clockwork."

MRB love the adventure and are driven by a hunger for musical symbiosis. Simply put, they are a bloody brilliant big band that constantly surprises and reinvents itself.

 

WITCHY ACTIVITIES AND THE MAPLE DEATH
TRACKLISTING
1  8 Prinzessinnen
2  Firebird
3  Witches Brew: The Summoning
4  Witches Brew: Moon Is Melting
5  Witches Brew: The Brew
6  Witches Brew: The Woods
7  Witches Brew: Dance Of The Sleepy Spirits
8  Witches Brew: Return Of The Witches
9  Creatures Of Dawn
10  Queen Of Spades
11  Starlight Nightcrash
12  A Taste Of The Apocalypse
13  The Leading Expert Of Loneliness
14  Direct Connection
15  Unbewegte Sternenmeere

 

official site  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Bandcamp

NEW SINGLE ‘FEEL THE BREEZE’ FROM SHAUN LABELLE FT. PATRICE RUSHEN

A quick look at Shaun LaBelle's bio will give you a perspective on this mega talented composer/producer & multi-instrumentalist.  With extensive credits as a songwriter that include ten Top 10 Billboard singles in the R&B, Pop and Top 40 worlds, Shaun knows a thing or two about how to compose hit music.  Many of you have played Shaun's music in the past, and I am pleased to promote his music for the first time.  This new song features some exquisite playing by the iconic keys player Patrice Rushen, as well as strong sax playing by Scott Mayo.  Shaun handles bass guitar, keys, and all the programming on this vibrant track.

Artist:  SHAUN LaBELLE (Feat. Patrice Rushen)
Song title:  "Feel The Breeze"
Label: Noggy Records
Artist's website link:  https://shaunlabelle.com/

DAVE FOSTER BAND - 'DIVE IN' – NEW SINGLE BY ROCK/POP ACT OUT 02.02.23

Dinet Poortman and Dave Foster

DAVE FOSTER BAND
DIVE IN

new single
out 02.02.23
(English Electric Recordings)

digital services

included on
GLIMMER
album
CD  |  LP out 21.04.23
digital out 19.05.23

pre-order
UK/Europe  |  North America
LP available on black or limited edition yellow vinyl

The Anglo-Dutch rock & pop act Dave Foster Band (DFB) have released a new single entitled ‘Dive In’ today. Lifted from their upcoming new album, ‘Glimmer’, vocalist Dinet Poortman explains that the song “is about ‘diving in’, head first, after being hurt, trusting your own instinct and daring to be vulnerable by opening yourself up again. Good things can come from it and you let some ‘glimmer’ back into your life.”

Poortman, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Foster and keyboard player Riccardo Romano will perform a DFB acoustic set at the first Marillion Weekend of 2023 in Port Zélande, Netherlands on 18th March, with further information available HERE.

The LP and CD formats of ‘Glimmer’ are out on 21st April, with the digital release following four weeks later. A cornucopia of musical delights, it will appeal not only to fans of guitar-based rock on several songs that balance dazzling technique with great restraint, but also fans of crossover acts as varied as Air and The Anchoress on other piano-led tracks. Produced by Foster, it features guests that include bassist Neil Fairclough (Queen + Adam Lambert), drummer Leon Parr (Steve Rothery Band), pianist Anthony Hindley and string arranger Stephen Boyce Buckley.    

Dave Foster Band (DFB) was founded in 2017, but actually has its origins in earlier collaborations between Foster and Poortman after they were introduced by a mutual friend, guitarist Steve Rothery of Marillion. Both had been members of previous groups that separately supported the prog behemoths, while Foster plays guitar in the Steve Rothery Band. He has also been a member of another leading UK prog act, Big Big Train, since 2020.

Given that Foster is based in the UK and Poortman the Netherlands, their first tentative steps were an experiment to see if they could work together effectively, but a number of co-written songs that appeared on Foster’s solo albums ‘Gravity’ (2011) and ‘Dreamless’ (2016) were solid proof that they had musical chemistry. Having formed DFB, they supported both Rothery and Marillion on European/UK tours while working on their debut album, ‘Nocebo’, which was released in 2019 and promoted with headlining dates throughout western Europe.

Discussing the making of ‘Glimmer’, Foster explains that “the pandemic stopped any further touring of ‘Nocebo’, but instead allowed us to embark on a really inspiring run of writing songs. We actually recorded the drums between lockdowns, which was frustrating but at least meant that we could let the songs mature. By the time we got round to recording again the songs had grown and developed into their final shape.”

Early 2020 had certainly provided Poortman with lyrical inspiration. “Britain was leaving the EU, the Covid pandemic was just around the corner and I was all at sea in my private life,” she notes. “Dave was sending me his pieces of music and I would play around with them and see what happened melodically and lyrically. Due to the lockdowns we literally had nothing else to do, but for me personally it was also great therapy as I was coming to terms with a marriage that had just ended. On the one hand it provided a lot of inspiration, but on the other made me realise that life is fragile and that people and relationships deserve to be cherished.”

The cover artwork for the LP and CD/digital formats of ‘Glimmer’ is a differently coloured image by photographer Neal Moran that Foster says “works perfectly with the idea of when things are hard and complicated there’s always a glimmer of light,” with Poortman adding that “this is the essence of the album title, the fact that there is always a little peek of 'Glimmer' in the corner of your eye waiting for you to acknowledge it and let it into your life. That's what I did.”

 ‘Glimmer’ will be released via the English Electric Recordings label run by Big Big Train, with Gregory Spawton of BBT stating: “Since coming on board in 2020, Dave has proved a great addition to Big Big Train and we are delighted to be releasing ‘Glimmer’ through our label. The songwriting by Dave and Dinet throughout the album is impressive and we believe that it will appeal to rock music fans with a diverse array of tastes. We were therefore keen to sign them.”

GLIMMER
TRACKLISTING
1  Every Waking Moment
2  Run
3  Stigma
4  Chasing An Echo
5  Dive In
6  Memory Box
7  …Or You Steal Some
8  The Rules Have Changed

official site

GOOD SHAPE MAAKT COMEBACK EN KNALT IN HASSELT OP JUBILEUMEDITIE ‘I LOVE THE 90’S’!

Nu al dé reünie van 2023!

Good Shape maakt comeback en knalt in Hasselt op jubileumeditie ‘I love the 90’s’!

22 april 2023 – Trixxo Arena Hasselt

 

De populaire boysband Good Shape, die bij ons in de jaren negentig nummer 1-hits scoorde met ‘Give Me Fire’, ‘King Of Your Heart’ en eeuwige roem vergaarde met dé monsterhit ‘Take My Love’, gaat dit jaar weer optreden. Op zaterdag 22 april 2023 doen ze dat meteen in stijl op het immense podium van ‘I love the 90’s – The party’, dat dit jaar zijn 15de verjaardag viert in de Hasseltse Trixxo Arena. De originele bandleden, Koen De Beir, David Cantré en Geert De Meyer, kijken er samen met nieuwbakken Good Shaper David Bruylandt nu al naar uit. “De goesting is gigantisch, we hebben het publiek keihard gemist”, klinkt het in koor. 

Met hun debuutsingle ‘Take My Love’ scoorde de nog steeds immens populaire Belgische band Good Shape in 1994 een regelrechte monsterhit. Met de opvolger ‘Give Me Fire’ pakten ze datzelfde jaar meteen ook hun éérste nummer #1-hit én de Zomerhit. Hun derde single ‘King Of Your Heart’ bereikte opnieuw de hoogste plek in de hitparade. Al dit succes zorgde ervoor dat Good Shape in een recordtempo uitgroeide tot één van de meest succesvolle boysbands van Vlaanderen. Naast twee succesvolle albums (‘Maniacs Of Love’ en ‘Closer To You’) scoorden ze met ‘Come Closer’ en ‘Stay The Night’ nog twee top 10-hits in de Ultratop 50. De vele Good Shape-fans die al jaren wachten op een reünie worden op hun wenken bediend, want op zaterdag 22 april 2023 is de band één van de blikvangers op ‘I love the 90’s – The party’, dat zijn 15de verjaardag viert in Trixxo Arena Hasselt. Eerder werden ook al 90’s-kleppers Captain Jack, Zippora, DJ Peter Project en Whigfield aangekondigd voor deze jubileumeditie van de party…and there’s more coming!

“We zijn ongelofelijk dankbaar en kijken er nu al ontzettend naar uit dat we kunnen terugkeren op één van de grootste 90’s podia in Europa. Doorheen de jaren zijn we allemaal tot de conclusie gekomen dat we dat optreden voor een publiek ontzettend hard gemist hebben. In onze gekende outfits en met de bijhorende danspasjes, gaan we er op 22 april een onvergetelijke avond van maken”, zeggen de heren van Good Shape enthousiast.

Meer info over ‘I love the 90’s – The party’, dat op zaterdag 22 april 2023 plaatsvindt in Trixxo Arena Hasselt, met live optredens van o.a. Good Shape, Captain Jack, Whigfield, DJ Peter Project, Zippora e.v.a., vind je op www.ilovethe90s.be

AMERIKAANSE ZANGER CHARLIE THOMAS (THE DRIFTERS) OVERLEDEN

De Amerikaanse zanger Charles ‘Charlie’ Thomas is gisteren op 85-jarige leeftijd overleden. Thomas maakte in de periode 1958 – 1967 deel uit van The Drifters. Thomas trad in 1958 in het befaamde Apollo Theater op met The Five Crowns toen manager George Treadwell zijn complete zanggroep The Drifters ontsloeg. Treadwell maakte van The Five Crowns de nieuwe Drifters. In de nieuwe bezetting, met Charlie Thomas, werd de eerste single ‘There Goes My Baby’ in 1959 meteen een dijk van een hit. De single bereikte de tweede plaats van de Amerikaanse Billboard Hot 100. Met Thomas scoorde The Drifters vervolgens flinke hits met de singles ‘Dance With Me’ (1959), ‘This Magic Moment’ (1960), ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’ (1960), ‘I Count The Tears’ (1960), ‘Please Stay’ (1961), ‘Sweets For My Sweet’ (1961), ‘Up On The Roof’ (1962), ‘On Broadway’ (1963), ‘Under The Boardwalk’ (1964) en ‘Saturday Night At The Movies’ (1964). Charlie was de leadzanger op twee hits: ‘Sweets For My Sweet’ en ‘When My Little Girl Is Smiling’. Thomas werd in 1988 als lid van The Drifters in de ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ opgenomen. Op 21 mei 2011 traden Thomas en The Drifters nog maar eens op in The Vintage New England Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island. Charlie Thomas is de vader van auteur Charles ‘Happy’ Thomas Jr. en grootvader van hip hop producer Charlie ‘Bambu’ Thomas. Hij ruste in vrede!

 

Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

SOUL-JAZZ SAXOPHONIST SHAWN RAIFORD MIXING ROMANCE AND LEGACY

Grammy winner Derek “DOA” Allen produced the sensual new single “Forever.”

 

SACRAMENTO (1 February 2023): Taking an ambitious approach to recording his second album, urban-jazz saxophonist Shawn Raiford is already thinking about legacy early in his recording career. With Valentine’s Day approaching, one could make the case that Raiford’s sultry new single, “Forever,” is all about love and romance, and it is in part, but the musician also has a deeper meaning in mind. The track written by Raiford, Ashley Jemison and Grammy winner Derek “DOA” Allen (Lionel Richie, Janet Jackson, Tyrese) is crafted with the intention of being timeless and standing the test of time.

Produced by Allen, “Forever” is powered by a tight and prominent midtempo drum groove while nuanced atmospherics add to the amorous ambiance. Raiford’s alto sax coos impassioned come-ons, soloing ardently in the company of fellow saxophonist Andre Delano who adds backing harmonies. Vocalist Quintina Paris emotes lustfully on the breathy chorus.        

 

“It’s definitely a steamy track. I’m a huge fan of Sade, and I wanted a track on the new album that reflected that type of seductive groove. When we were working on it in the studio, it felt like a timeless piece that would last and stand the test of time, which is my real goal. So, we titled it ‘Forever,’” said Raiford about the first single to be issued from the forthcoming “The Next Step” album slated to release this summer.

 

Raiford has been performing contemporary jazz, R&B, gospel, rock and pop music with his band throughout Northern California since 1999. He’s a dynamic entertainer, an award-winning performer who snagged the Best Live Performance title from the Sounds of Soul a decade ago, collected Hope Awards in the jazz and jazz performance categories, won Best R&B band at the Northern California Entertainers Music Awards, and is a Sammie nominated jazz artist.

 

On record, Raiford’s debut album, “Man with A Horn,” was released in September of 2020 spawning four charting singles – “All Systems Go,” “In The Moment,” “Good Vibrations” and the title track. The soul-jazz set finished on the year end chart at No. 22. Last November, Raiford released the holiday single, “Santa Baby,” to help whet appetites for “The Next Step.” “Forever” is destined to feed that desire.    

 

Although presently focused on finishing the new album, Raiford is stepping out of the studio to perform with his Shawn Raiford Experience band. Catch them live on the following dates:

 

February 6                    Mack Powell Event Center                                            Sacramento, CA          

February 10                  Dante Club                                                                   Sacramento, CA

February 18                  Jade and Jora                                                                Duncanville, TX

March 3                        Rock & Brews                                                              Sacramento, CA          

March 11                      Black American Political Association of California             Sacramento, CA          

March 13                      Mulvaney’s B&L                                                         Sacramento, CA          

April 15                        The Miracle                                                                  Los Angeles, CA

April 16                        The Grand Ritz                                                             San Diego, CA

 

For more information, please visit https://shawnraifordsax.com. 

SOMI 'ZENZILE – THE REIMAGINATION OF MIRIAM MAKEBA' – BRAND NEW VINYL FORMAT OF ACCLAIMED 2022 ALBUM OUT 10.03.23

SOMI
ZENZILE
THE REIMAGINATION OF MIRIAM MAKEBA
2xLP
out 10.03.23
CD | digital
out now
(Salon Africana/Membran)

digital services

“A superbly played, beautifully executed and exquisitely produced celebration of African-American culture reimagined for the 21st Century *****”
JAZZWISE
“Accompanied by a crack acoustic jazz combo, Somi’s voice is supple and seductive, as gutsy as Nina Simone or as smoothly sultry as Sarah Vaughan ****”
SONGLINES
“Between her African roots and American life, Somi is perfectly placed to blend styles. It’s a beautiful album ****”
ECHOES

includes the singles
LOVE TASTES LIKE STRAWBERRIES
feat GREGORY PORTER
audio

MILELE
feat SEUN KUTI & THANDISWA MAZWAI
audio

ALBUM GUESTS INCLUDE
ANGELIQUE KIDJO  /  GREGORY PORTER  / LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO  /  SEUN KUTI

EXCLUSIVE LONDON SHOW
RONNIE SCOTT’S 02.03.23
tickets

Somi Kakoma is a US-based singer, songwriter, playwright and actor of Rwandan and Ugandan descent. Her acclaimed 2022 album, ‘Zenzile - The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba’, is a celebration of the invaluable musical contributions and messages of social justice made by the ‘first lady of African song’ and features Somi’s interpretations of some of Makeba's best known recordings.

The CD and digital release of the album was on what would have been Makeba’s 90th birthday (4th March 2022), with a brand new vinyl format coming almost exactly a year later and immediately after a rare UK live appearance at Ronnie Scott’s.

“I have known Miriam Makeba’s voice for as long as I can remember, and as a result I feel like I know her personally,” states Somi. “Her messages of social justice and the humanity of black lives still encourage us today. This project is about honouring the vast and immeasurable contribution she made to popular, folk and jazz music on behalf of a people, a continent.”

Somi has released seven albums that have included guest appearances from the likes of Common, Angelique Kidjo and the late Hugh Masekela (her longtime mentor), earning a Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy nomination in 2021 - the first African woman to be recognised in any Jazz category.

Long before the making of ‘Zenzile...', Masekela had advised Somi to listen to Makeba's song ‘Love Tastes Like Strawberries’ with a view to covering it. Years on, she has honoured that request and made it entirely her own as a sultry minimal duet with US Jazz superstar Gregory Porter. Her decision to invite Porter to participate was a nod to a 1965 Grammy-winning album by Makeba that featured a series of duets with her own mentor, Harry Belafonte.

Although Makeba (who died in 2008) elevated the spirit of a continent, including her native South Africa, her courage was met with decades of political exile from her homeland followed by blacklisting in the US after her marriage to US civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael. Somi’s lifelong love of Makeba’s music and personal strength led to ‘Zenzile...’, a record intended to inspire a rediscovery of Makeba’s life and work. “This album is my attempt to honour the unapologetic voice of a woman who inevitably made room for my own journey and countless other African artists. In short, I owe her. We all do, and she deserves her rightful place in the larger cultural archive of the US in particular but also the world in general.”

In recognition of Makeba’s resonance throughout Africa and its diaspora, Somi invited a number of guest musicians to take part on ‘Zenzile...'. From South Africa, male vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, singer-songwriter Msaki, vocalist and activist Thandiswa Mazwai and jazz pianist-composer Nduduzo Makhathini’ all pay respects to their compatriot, while Nigerian singer-musician Seun Kuti (the youngest son of Fela Kuti), Beninese singer-songwriter/activist Angelique Kidjo and the aforementioned Gregory Porter also join Somi in tribute.

Somi has recently taken the story of Makeba’s life to the stage with the musical ‘Dreaming Zenzile’ that she wrote and stars in. It opened in New York in spring 2022
trailer .

official site  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

MOTOWN SINGER-SONGWRITER BARRETT STRONG DIED

Barrett Strong, the vocalist known for giving Motown Records its first hit with “Money (That’s What I Want),” and for the songs he wrote for the Temptations, has died. His death was confirmed by Motown founder Berry Gordy, who, in a statement shared with Billboard, called his songs “revolutionary.” No cause of death was given. Strong was 81.

“I am saddened to hear of the passing of Barrett Strong, one of my earliest artists, and the man who sang my first big hit,” Gordy’s statement said. “Barrett was not only a great singer and piano player, but he, along with his writing partner Norman Whitefield, created an incredible body of work, primarily with the Temptations. Their hit songs were revolutionary in sound and captured the spirit of the times like ‘Cloud Nine’ and the still relevant, ‘Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today).’”

Barrett Strong was born on February 5, 1941 in West Point, Mississippi. The son of a factory worker and housewife, Strong was raised in Detroit, where he was one of the first musicians to sign to Gordy’s label, then called Tamla Records. Strong released his biggest hit, “Money (That’s What I Want),” in 1959. It sold more than one million copies, and was later covered by acts including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin.

Strong would become a major songwriting force for Motown in the 1960s, working with producer Norman Whitfield on hits including Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Edwin Starr’s “War,” and Paul Young’s “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home).” The duo would score their biggest collaborative hits with the Temptations, for whom they wrote “Psychedelic Shack,” “Cloud Nine,” and “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today).” Their Temptations song “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” would peak at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, and the duo would earn the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1973 for “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.”

By the late 1960s, Motown was in the midst of a gradual relocation to Los Angeles. Strong left the label in 1972 to reconnect with his singing career in Detroit, and later signed with Epic and Capitol. The latter label released his 1975 album Stronghold, as well as 1976’s Live & Love. He would also work as a songwriter with the Dells, and run a production company called Boomtown.

While “Money (That’s What I Want)” launched both Strong’s career and Motown itself on the national stage, the musician allegedly never received the correct royalty payments for his contributions as a songwriter. “Songs outlive people,” he told The New York Times in 2013. “The real money is in the publishing, and if you have publishing, then hang on to it. That’s what it’s all about. If you give it away, you’re giving away your life, your legacy. Once you’re gone, those songs will still be playing.”

JENNY DON'T AND THE SPURS - 'FIRE ON THE RIDGE' – NEW ALBUM BY US OUTLAW/ALT COUNTRY, GARAGE ROCK AND PUNK-TINGED AMERICANA OUTFIT

JENNY DON’T and KELLY HALLIBURTON in the studio 

JENNY DON’T AND THE SPURS
FIRE ON THE RIDGE

new album
LP | CD
out 17.03.23
digital
out now
(Fluff & Gravy Records)

includes
TROUBLE ON MY MIND 

band includes former members of Pierced Arrows (Dead Moon), Wipers, Don’t and P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.

EUROPEAN TOUR
SPRING 2023
includes
12.04.23 LIVERPOOL Leaf tickets
13.04.23 date TBA
14.04.23 GLASGOW Broadcast * tickets
15.04.23 HIGH WYCOMBE Ramblin’ Roots Revue tickets
16.04.23 LONDON Boogaloo info/free entry
17.04.23 HASSOCKS Mid-Sussex Music Hall * tickets
18.04.23 LONDON The Grace * tickets
*with Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

Displaying their own take on Outlaw/alt country, garage rock and punk-tinged Americana, Oregon, US-based Jenny Don’t And The Spurs also showcase a diverse array of other styles on their forthcoming third album, ‘Fire On The Ridge’. Released on Fluff & Gravy Records (Richmond Fontaine/Margo Cilker/Jim White), it sees the band brandishing blistering barn-burners (‘Train Ticket’, ‘Be The Only One’), rambling westerns (‘Fire On The Ridge’) and Patsy Cline-ish ballads (‘Friday Night’). With years in punk groups such as Pierced Arrows (previously Dead Moon), Wipers, Don’t and P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. behind them, the record sees the quartet embracing the classic Outlaw country they grew up on with raw vigour.

‘Fire On The Ridge’ was conceived after The Spurs had travelled to play a local show but were forced into a detour to avoid the region’s biggest forest fire in decades. Returning home later that night, they saw the orange glow of the blaze in the sky become an apocalyptic sea of glowing embers around them that blanketed the otherwise night-darkened sides of the deep canyon through which they were driving. It became a metaphor for the new album they were about to make.

Once in the studio, they were instilling that fire into the songs they were recording, only to be rudely interrupted within a fortnight when lead singer Jenny required surgery on her vocal cords. Recommencing the sessions, they discovered that the hard drive on which their tracks were saved had crashed, requiring them to start all over again. Having done so, the studio suddenly flooded and needed to be completely rebuilt. Then, just when it seemed that everything was back on track, the pandemic intervened and prevented any in-person mixing. Against all these odds, ‘Fire On The Ridge’ was finally completed, but true tragedy was shortly to follow when their drummer was stricken with cancer and died soon after.

 

JENNY DON’T AND THE SPURS
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Jenny Don’t And The Spurs have maintained a relentless schedule of recording and touring ever since their inception a decade ago. Now, after almost 500 live shows in a dozen countries, and with three albums and a slew of singles to their name, they have just about warmed up.

Founded by Jenny Don’t (vocals/rhythm guitar, ex-Don't) and Kelly Halliburton (bass, ex-Pierced Arrows, P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.), who had been playing in the aforementioned acoustic and punk bands and felt the need to switch gears up/down, it wasn’t long before they were rehearsing a set of seminal standards by the likes of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams Sr., as well as a sprinkling of original songs. Their friend Sam Henry (ex-Wipers, The Rats, Napalm Beach) soon joined them on drums, and this remained the core trio for almost five years, augmented by guest guitarists.

A superb video for the song ‘My Only Desire’ included on The Spurs’ second album,  ‘Call Of The Road’ (2017), can be seen HERE.

Christopher March eventually joined the group as full-time guitarist in 2017, bringing with him a wealth of talent and touring experience from years spent plying the Northwest country, rockabilly and honky-tonk circuits and this quartet recorded and toured until Sam passed away after a brief battle with cancer soon after ‘Fire On The Ridge’ had been completed. With veteran sticksman Dean Miles replacing him behind the kit, The Spurs remain a force to be reckoned with, the intensity and energy of their live set a must-see for any gig goer who enjoys spirited garage-infused country music played with sincerity and raw conviction.

FIRE ON THE RIDGE
TRACKLISTING
1  Fire On The Ridge
2  California Cowboy
3  Be The Only One
4  Restless Moon
5  Foolish Lies
6  Train Ticket
7  Friday Night
8  She’s Not The One
9  Johnny Vagabond
10  Trouble On My Mind
11  Queen Of The Desert

JENNY DON’T AND THE SPURS
Jenny Don’t - vocals, rhythm guitar
Christopher March - lead guitar, lap steel guitar
Kelly Halliburton - bass
Dean Miles - drums

jennydontandthespurs.com

COYLE GIRELLI - 'TRUE LOVE FOREVER' – BRAND NEW SINGLE BY NYC BASED BRITISH SINGER-SONGWRITER OUT 27.01.23

Coyle Girelli : photos by Shervin Lainez

COYLE GIRELLI
TRUE LOVE FOREVER

new single
out 27.01.23
(Honey Lemon Records)

digital services

‘True Love Forever’ is a brand new single by the New York City based British singer-songwriter Coyle Girelli. His first release since 2022’s ‘Funland’, his second solo album, and its acoustic companion piece, ‘Stripped’, the song appears in a show that he has created in collaboration with the musical theatre company Third Rail Projects info here.

Girelli explains that ‘True Love Forever’ “was inspired by the moment in the show when the couple in it first fall in love, that euphoria and the feeling that everything is wonderful. Of course, this may not be how the story ends, so it is tinged with a slight melancholy, but right then they are thinking ‘is this it? Is it true love forever?’”

Musically, he was seeking “something that had a pretty and magical feeling but also felt close and personal. I was listening to a bunch of stuff in that vein from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, The National and Elliot Smith, though the track doesn’t really sound like any of them.” Enhanced with mandolin and ukulele, it was mixed by fellow ex-pat Harry Burr and mastered by John Davis at Metropolis Studios in London.
  
As for the show itself, Girelli states that it “is an immersive theatre experience set to songs from my debut solo album ['Love Kills', 2018] and some new music. It’s an exploration of love, lust and heartbreak triggered from the personal history and experience of its audience members. As they wander through the world we created and follow the story they delve into their own inner feelings as well as being immersed in the story unfolding in front of them. It ends with a finale that I hope will ultimately be both emotionally and spiritually healing….with lots of tears!”

Girelli had come up with a basic concept for a show when writing the supremely cinematic ‘Love Kills’, eventually being introduced to Jennine Willett at Third Rail Projects on a Zoom chat during the first lockdown. They began to flesh out his idea, eventually beginning to workshop it in New York with its ensemble cast, with an opening run of performances to be announced in due course.

The video for ’True Love Forever' has been directed by Willett and features the cast, which includes Girelli himself.

Girelli is currently working on more new songs, with an album planned for late 2023.

As a songwriter, Girelli has written for several renowned pop acts and collaborated with celebrated songsmiths such as Mac Davis and Linda Perry. He also has previous experience in theatre, co-composing the award-winning French musicals ‘Robin des Bois’ and ‘Les Trois Mousquetaires’. His early career saw him fronting the Leeds-based alt rock/post-punk bands Your Vegas and The Chevin, with a performance by the latter on ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ while on tour in the US prompting its host to state: “If I had a voice like that, I’d run for President.”

His ‘Funland’ album was described by Louder Than War as “a wonderful collection of rich and atmospheric soundscapes with Girelli emerging as the ultimate balladeer. He has a vocal style which absorbs all that is great about the likes of Roy Orbison and Richard Hawley.” A single from the album, ‘Do You Wanna Dance’, attracted attention at US radio, while an atmospheric ballad from his debut entitled ’Something Strange In The Night’ was belatedly recognised after its use in a Netflix TV sync.

 

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THE "SOUND ALCHEMIST" ARRIVES: NEO SOUL-JAZZ KEYBOARDIST MYRON MCKINLEY’S DEBUT ALBUM DROPS FEBRUARY 10

Tickets are on sale now for an album release concert the following night in Los Angeles at The Miracle Theater

 

LOS ANGELES (30 January 2023): Years in the making and after a pandemic delay and a hectic schedule serving as musical director for Earth, Wind & Fire, keyboardist Myron McKinley’s adventurous experiment in sound mixing jazz, neo soul, hip hop and funk is finally slated to release on February 10. McKinley produced “Sound Alchemist,” his debut album arriving from Dark Elf Music that will be celebrated the next night with a concert performance at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA. Tickets for the show presented by Concerts.Cafe and radio station KJAZZ are on sale now.

 

There’s something that feels righteous about “Sound Alchemist” dropping during Black History Month. The ten-track collection is a culturally rich amalgam reflecting the diverse Black music diaspora.  

 

“‘Sound Alchemist’ couldn’t have been made without some of the Black pioneers of music that have led with their creativity, technique, vision and style. From Nat King Cole, Oscar Peterson, George Duke and Miles Davis to our living legends like Herbie Hancock, there’s an essence of them that I feel is reflected in this project,” said McKinley, who composed six songs for the set as well as crafted imaginative interpretations of material originally recorded by Drake, Sting, The Carpenters and, naturally, Earth, Wind & Fire.

 

With a set list highlighting tunes from “Sound Alchemist,” McKinley will be flanked on stage at The Miracle Theater by guitarist Tony Pulizzi, bassist Ian Martin, drummer Stacey Lamont Sydnor and EWF saxophonist Gary Bias (who performs on the album). Several special guests are expected to perform with McKinley including EWF’s effervescent energizing bass player Verdine White (who appears on the album) and vocalist LaVance Colley.

 

Last fall, a couple of music videos were released for songs from “Sound Alchemist.” McKinley’s pays homage to Earth, Wind & Fire with a version of their R&B ballad “Imagination” and a video made from hundreds of photos taken by the keyboardist over his twenty years of performing around the world with the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. An audacious blend of club banging dance grooves, edgy hip hop and futuristic jazz comes alive in the innovative computer animated video for “Let’s Just See.” Both videos are available for viewing at https://myronmckinley.com/sound-alchemist.

 

When he first began work on “Sound Alchemist,” McKinley had an ambitious goal of testing the boundaries of jazz, pushing those limits and breaking through in an attempt to spur growth and evolution in the musical artform. Among the alchemists he invited to experiment on the record are Grammy-winning saxophonist Gerald Albright, bassist Reggie Hamilton, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, guitarists Eric Walls, Morris O’Connor and Greg “G-Moe” Moore; EWF trombonist Reggie Young, and vocalists Danny McClain, Isabella Chiappini and Denaine Jones.  

 

McKinley is a Los Angeles native who was trained in classical and jazz, but also credits the church and hip hop for shaping his sonic mélange. He has toured with Whitney Houston, Kenny Lattimore, Stanley Clarke and En Vogue; written, cowrote or produced songs for EWF, Clarke, Doc Powell, Silk, Vesta, Cherokee and Howard Hewett; and composed music for film and television scores, contributing to “Soul Food,” “Romeo Must Die,” “The Best Man,” “Think Like A Man,” “Shaft,” and “The Godfather of Harlem” among others.

 

Tickets are available for The Miracle in four tiers. Table seating ($202) includes two signed “Sound Alchemist” CDs, two signed posters, two glasses of champagne, and two twelve-ounce packages of McKinley’s Legacy Coffee, which is an Ethiopian Misty Valley Blend (Light/Medium Roast). VIP seating ($75) includes one signed CD and poster, and one twelve-ounce package of coffee. Floor seats are $55 while balcony seats go for $40. 

 

The Miracle Theater is located at 226 South Market Street in Inglewood. Tickets can be purchased at https://myronmckinley.com.

B. THOMPSON HAS ‘CUBAN DREAMS’

Bryan Thompson (also known as B. Thompson) is a 25-year-old saxophonist and internet icon with social media views totaling over 100 million. Bryan has been recognized on social media by superstars such as Chris Brown, Mario, Cardi B, Chloe & Halle, Mariah Carey, and many more. He has also performed with legendary musicians and singers such as Najee, Kirk Whalum, Kenny Lattimore, Faith Evans, Toni Braxton, and H.E.R.

 

Thompson is originally from Indianapolis, IN and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. We think you and your listeners will dig his new tropical flavored radio single, "Cuban Dreams"!

LET ANDREW NEU ‘LEAN INTO IT’

"I have great respect for Greg Manning both as a person and musician. Our paths crossed many times over the years as sidemen for other artists but we've both stepped out as solo artists. We developed into a great team creating the music together over the past year.

 

Starting with the release of "Take It Home" in the summer of 2022 we're kicking off 2023 with a seriously funky new track called "Lean Into It." Combining my love for tight horn sections and Greg's awesome grooves, I think you'll really dig what we came up with.

 

"Lean Into It" pulls you in right away with a vibe that makes you bop your head and keeps you smiling!" - Andrew Neu

 

"Lean Into It"

 

Written by Greg Manning and Andrew Neu

Produced by Greg Manning

Mixed by Greg Manning

Mastered by Steve Hall

Sax: Andrew Neu

Keys, programming: Greg Manning

Guitar: Carlyle Barriteau

Bass: Mel Brown

Drums: Eric Valentine

Trumpet: Mike Stever

Trombone: Nick Lane

RAGAN WHITESIDE – NEW SINGLE ‘FULL COURT PRESS’

"Full Court Press" is a smooth and sexy groove co-written by Ragan Whiteside with Dennis Johnson and Bob Baldwin, and features guitarist Phil Hamilton, percussionist Curtis McCain, and drummer Rich Harrison, also known as the artist RAH. It's the new single from her most recent full-length project, 2022's Thrill Ride, which is Ragan's sixth career album to date and it lives up to its title, demonstrating Whiteside's breathtaking virtuosity and melodic skills on a thrilling journey through a landscape of dynamic grooves.

 

Ragan has become one of the genre's most consistently dynamic and popular artists. Thanks to her incredible skill and creativity on her chosen instrument, as well as her charismatic presence on stage, Whiteside is at the top of her game. That was demonstrated in October 2022, when she became the first artist to win the competitive Best Contemporary Jazz Artist Award at the inaugural Jazz Music Awards. That distinction is well-deserved, as the Atlanta-based musician, songwriter, and vocalist has become one of very few women players to excel in the male-dominated instrumental sphere, garnering eight consecutive Top Ten Billboard airplay singles by 2022. And she's done it as an independent artist, releasing projects on Randis Music, the label she founded with her husband, producer, and composer Dennis Johnson.

 

"Full Court Press"

Produced by Dennis Johnson and Bob Baldwin

Flute: Ragan Whiteside

Guitar: Phil Hamilton

Drums: Rich Harrison (aka RAH)

Percussion: Curtis McCain

Keyboards: Dennis Johnson and Bob Baldwin

BENJAMIN HERMAN KONDIGT TOURNEE MET MAYUKO KATAKURA AAN

Saxofonist zoekt verbinding met de Japanse jazz.

 

Sinds hun muzikale ontmoeting tijdens het Tokyo Jazzfestival in 2013 hebben saxofonist Benjamin Herman en pianiste Mayuko Katakura altijd contact gehouden. Tijdens zijn regelmatige bezoeken aan Japan is Benjamin vaak naar haar concerten in de hoofdstad gegaan. Mayuko speelt altijd wel ergens. 

De samenwerking biedt Benjamin de mogelijkheid om de ‘straight ahead’ kant van zijn spel en composities te belichten. Het viertal zal meerdere nieuwe stukken spelen die Benjamin speciaal voor deze bezetting schreef. Vooral in deze tijd is deze samenwerking extra bijzonder. Dit jaar heeft Benjamin meerdere projecten op stapel staan met Japanse musici in verschillende genres. Dit komt voort uit zijn jarenlange obsessie voor het land, en alles wat er vandaan komt aan kunst en spijzen, maar ook uit zijn constante zoektocht naar nieuwe impulsen voor bijzondere muzikale avonturen. 

Benjamin Herman: 
Saxofonist en muzikale allesvreter Benjamin Herman is al dertig jaar één van de meest productieve musici van zijn generatie. Sinds de jaren negentig speelt hij over de hele wereld en bracht hij meer dan vijftig albums uit met zijn band New Cool Collective en onder eigen titel als soloartiest. Zijn opvallend diverse muzikale output bevat traditionele jazz, punkjazz, filmmuziek en postmoderne interpretaties van het werk van componist Misha Mengelberg.

Mayuko Katakura:
De in Sendai, Japan geboren Mayuko Katakura vertrok op jonge leeftijd al naar de Verenigde Staten, waar ze was geselecteerd voor de prestigieuze Thelonious Monk-competitie. Ze woonde daar ruim zes jaar, en studeerde zowel aan Berkeley als de Juilliard Schoolf of Music. In Tokyo is ze een zeer populaire jazzpianist. Ze bracht al zeven platen uit onder haar eigen naam en speelt op tientallen albums.

 

Tourdata:
3-2 Paradox, Tilburg
4-2 Beauforthuis, Austerlitz
5-2 Tivolivredenburg, Utrecht
9-2 Rietveld Theater, Delft
10-2 Bimhuis, Amsterdam
11-2 LantarenVenster, Rotterdam
12-2 Kultuurwerkplaats, Oosterbeek

19-JARIGE SINGER-SONGWRITER LUKA LEGT ZIEL BLOOT IN DEBUUTALBUM ‘PUBLIC DIARY’

Na de onverwacht succesvolle eerste single ‘Come Back’, waarmee de  Grimbergse singer-songwriter Luka uiting gaf aan de verwerking van haar papa’s zelfdoding, het kwetsbare ‘Not Enough’ en het speelse zomernummer ‘Playground’, komt eindelijk haar eerste album uit: ‘Public Diary’.

Luka schrijft niet over de zon en de zee. Haar insteek en inspiratie voor dit album spreken voor zich: haar eigen emoties, haar dagelijkse realiteit en haar vraagtekens bij het leven. Samen met haar band experimenteerde ze volop met uiteenlopende muziekstijlen, met lage leads en hoge backings, met krulletjes die Luka zich intussen zo eigen gemaakt heeft. 

Bij de eerste noot komt je haar al meteen overeind.

Met de single ‘You’, een nummer over haar angst om mensen te verliezen, geeft Luka de aftrap voor een beklijvende en boeiende wandeling doorheen het album. Waarbij de muzikaliteit zich initieel vooral rond haar eigen engelenstem(men) voltrekt, maar gaandeweg steeds sterker ondersteund wordt door een stel bijzonder straffe studiomuzikanten, en een producer die Luka de ruimte gaf om dicht bij zichzelf te blijven. Er is geen elektronische noot te bespeuren in Luka’s nieuwe nummers. Obligate vocal filters werden resoluut achterwege gelaten en haar English teacher bedankt voor eerder bewezen diensten. Luka was vastberaden: het album moest niet radioproof klinken, maar zuiver en authentiek. Puur Luka.

Public Diary takes you on an intimate and deeply personal journey

Op 18 november zong Luka met haar zevenkoppige live band de pannen van het dak op een showcase waarin ze haar nieuwe album voor het eerst aan het publiek voorstelde. “Met een licht paniekske toch wel. Want de locatie voor ‘Puur Luka’ was Eldorado in Humbeek, een art deco zaal die ook meermaals het decor vormde voor de showcases van Clouseau.” En met 300 verkochte tickets was de boite bijna tot de nok gevuld. Die avond had Luka ook een primeur! Voor het eerst sinds de release van de veelbesproken debuutsingle, stond ‘Come Back’ op de playlist.  “Ik vond het in het begin sowieso al heel moeilijk om dit nummer te delen, omdat heel mijn hart erin ligt. Laat staan dat ik het live zou gaan brengen op een optreden. Maar intussen ben ik er klaar voor. Dat heeft ook veel te maken met de houvast die de band – intussen goeie vrienden – me geeft".

Verder bouwend op het elan van 'You' trekt de zangeres haar experimentele registers nog meer open met het melancholische Tears and Memories, een openhartig relaas over vorige hoofdstukken afsluiten,  nieuwe aanvatten, en telkens ook een stukje van jezelf achterlaten. Stilstaan en terugblikken, met een traan, maar ook met een rugzak vol herinneringen. Luka heeft het specifiek over haar moeilijke afscheid van de middelbare school en de komst van het onbekende: Studeren in een nieuwe stad, nieuwe vrienden, nieuwe hobby’s, nieuwe gewoonten,… En de corona crisis hielp daar niet bij.

Met haar jeugdlief Lowie gaat het allemaal nog prima. Ze zijn binnenkort al 3 jaar samen, maar soms beeldt ze zich in hoe het zou zijn om uit elkaar te gaan. En dan komt ze hem ergens tegen, met iemand anders. Net als in de film.  In Someone New brengt Luka onder woorden wat een heartbreak met haar zou doen. 

Ook voor Keep you close ging Luka verder op haar inleving en fantasie, omdat ze niet alleen graag schrijft vanuit haar eigen diepste emoties, maar ook wil uiting geven aan wat anderen voelen en meemaken. Dit jazzy nummer gaat over krampachtig vasthouden aan een toxische relatie.

Met haar meest recente single - Dive Deep – wil Luka anderen inspireren om vol te houden en er voluit voor te gaan, ook al is het moeilijk. 

Blind is een pure aanklacht van de materialistische maatschappij. Een nummer met James Bonds-vibes, een opbouw en finale die doen denken aan een spannende achtervolgingsscène en de gevoelige snaar van de cello die een schrijnende ondertoon geeft aan het blind zijn door ‘the reflection of a coin’.

Helemaal verrassen doet de ingetogen Luka met de meer rocky nummers Ease My Mind en Inconvenient, en bewijst ze dat ze van veel (muziek)markten thuis is. 

Een project vol liefde voor mensen met een breekbaar leven

"Of er nog andere toekomstplannen zijn? Ja hoor! Na mijn examens Interieurvormgeving begin ik aan mijn tour met de Grace Foundation, een project dat (mijn) muziek tot bij mensen brengt die dat het hardst nodig hebben. Mensen op plekken die niet voor de hand liggen; aan de rand van de maatschappij, maar soms ook er midden in.”

Dat hart voor mensen met een moeilijker leven kwam al vaker naar boven in Luka’s muzikale parcours. Tijdens COVID probeerde Luka de uitdagende tijden te verzachten met een online concert van haar lievelingscovers, ‘Winter Sessions’. Ten voordele van De Met, een middelbare scholenproject dat Luka een warm hart toedraagt. Een jaar later verzorgde Luka vrijwillig de muzikale omlijsting van het eerste praatcafé van Trefpunt Stan Antwerpen, met Dirk De Wachter, over beter leven met een (verstandelijke) handicap. Daarnaast vind je Luka elk jaar op de Missing You dag, voor jongeren die iemand verloren hebben. Eerst als deelnemer, maar recent deed ze met veel engagement de muzikale afsluiter en maakte ze het symposium 'Rouwen is bouwen' nog hartverwarmender.

“Na mijn debuut met Come Back voelde ik dat ik meer wou doen met muziek. Ik merkte op dat ik mensen echt kon raken. Dat was het moment waarop ik besloot om niet meer alleen in zomerbars of concertzaaltjes op te treden, maar ook op plaatsen waar muziek niet zo makkelijk binnenkomt. Dat zijn ook vaak net dié plaatsen waar muziek van een grotere betekenis zou kunnen zijn, waar mensen echt troost zouden kunnen vinden in mijn liedjes: Ziekenhuizen, gevangenissen, opvangcentra voor vluchtelingen en daklozen, de lijst is lang.”

De verhalen die Luka op die plaatsen naar voor brengt, verwerkt ze in gevoelige teksten en waardevolle levenslessen die ze (in een volgend album ;-) wil delen met haar publiek. Mensen raken en dingen die haar frustreren of die in de taboesfeer hangen op haar manier echt bespreekbaar maken.

Dat doorbreken van taboes en bespreekbaar maken van wat onbespreekbaar is, zal altijd deel uitmaken van Luka’s werk. Nu, maar zeker ook in de toekomst.

ISAAC HAYES – THEME FROM ‘SHAFT’ – LIVE AT WATTSTAX - 1972 – VERSION 1 (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Isaac Hayes "Theme From 'Shaft' - Live at Wattstax / 1972 – Version 1" is taken from Stax Records' new titles paying homage to the iconic Wattstax Benefit Concert, which took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20th, 1972: "Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection" and "Wattstax: The Complete Concert". Featuring artists including Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Albert King, William Bell and many more.

"Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection" is a 12-CD box set featuring the complete 1972 L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert plus recordings from the Summit Club, including 31 previously unreleased tracks across the collection. These recordings are housed in a folio with a 76-page, full-color book featuring an introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and new essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway. "Wattstax: The Complete Concert" includes the full L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert and is available on both 6-CD and 10-LP formats. Also available is a 1-CD title, "The Best of Wattstax", which brings together a handpicked selection of twenty of the best musical performances from the Wattstax concert. Plus, newly cut from the original analog tapes, reissues of the two original soundtrack albums "Wattstax: The Living Word" and "The Living Word: Wattstax 2"—which feature highlights from the concert and subsequent documentary film—are also each reissued on 2-LP formats.

Subscribe to Stax Records on YouTube!: https://found.ee/staxrecords-youtube-g

Listen to the “Stax Classics” playlist: https://found.ee/stax-classics-g

Website: https://staxrecords.com/

Stax Records, now owned by Concord, was founded by Jim Stewart in 1957 in Memphis, Tennessee. It rose from a small, family-operated company to become one of the most influential soul music record labels in the world, helping create “The Memphis Sound” and launching the careers of icons such as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, the Staple Singers, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, The Bar-Kays, and dozens of other artists who helped change popular culture forever. In all, Stax placed 167 hit songs in the Top 100 in Pop and 243 hits in the Top 100 in R&B. Stax Records works closely with the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the Stax Music Academy, and The Soulsville Charter School, all operated by the Soulsville Foundation and all located on a vibrant campus at the original site of Stax Records in Memphis, TN. The Soulsville Foundation perpetuates the soul of Stax Records by preserving its rich cultural legacy, educating youth to be prepared for life success, and inspiring future artists to achieve their dreams.

JAKE ISAAC SHARES NEW SINGLE ‘START AGAIN’

Jake Isaac is at the forefront of a British soul renaissance. Fusing a soul voice and sensibility with the craftsmanship of classic songwriting, he expresses in song the vulnerabilities that men rarely feel comfortable discussing. A kindred spirit to his friends such as JP Cooper, Jacob Banks and Michael Kiwanuka, Jake Isaac nonetheless operates in his own lane, his artistry connecting with fans (60 million+ streams to date) and iconic artists (Sir Elton John, Sting) alike.

Now Jake aims to go deeper into the conversations that give his songs such a striking emotional intensity with his new music, beginning today with the single ‘Start Again’.

Entirely self-written, produced and performed, ‘Start Again’ is what Jake describes as South London soul - a sound informed by the timeless traditions of the genre, but flavoured with a raw urgency informed by channelling his feelings into his vocal delivery and tinged with production flourishes rooted from the modern underground scene. “Before you go, I love you so,” he implores, the rich timbre of his voice overflowing with feeling, “Maybe we can start again.” On the surface it’s an impassioned final plea to salvage a relationship, but it’s more universal than that - just think how many situations in life can be improved if we can step back, learn from our mistakes, and start again.

Jake says, “Calling this song “start again”; is an attempt at an honest take on my musical journey as much as it is a take on a relationship journey. I really wanted to make a record that oozed a bit of passion as well as remorse…as a guy sometimes it’s hard talk about these types of things, so I tried to put as much of it as possible into song…”

Appropriately enough, ‘Start Again’ heralds a new chapter for an unadorned love of music that stretches back to childhood. Jake’s father is Street Pastors founder Rev. Les Isaac OBE, the founder of the Brixton community charity initiative Street Pastors. Jake started drumming in his father’s church in Crystal Palace at the seemingly impossibly young age of three. Similarly inspired by Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ album, Jake’s talents continued to develop and he completed his grade eight drum exam by his mid-teens while also teaching himself bass, keys and guitar as well as songwriting.

By the age of 19, Jake was working as a session musician and a songwriter, while also holding down a job as a marketing manager, all valuable experiences for a life in music. One simple truth stood out to him: making a connection with listeners is of far greater importance than the opinions of the industry around him. And as he embarked upon a solo career, that’s precisely what he did, with landmark moments including a set at Glastonbury’s Other Stage as well as the release of his 2021 album ‘Honesty’, together with its subsequent Deluxe Edition.

Currently preparing much more new music to come in 2023, Jake also has other creative projects on the horizon. He has been cast in a secondary role in an upcoming Topkapi Film feature by Dutch director Aaron Rookus and has been writing a film script, a redemptive story about fatherhood and family dynamics.

 

Jake Isaac online
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SINGER-SONGWRITER & GITARIST DAVID CROSBY OVERLEDEN

De Amerikaanse singer-songwriter en gitarist David Crosby is eergisteren op 81-jarige leeftijd overleden. Dat heeft zijn vrouw Jan Dance laten weten in een verklaring aan het entertainment-tijdschrift ‘Variety’. Volgens haar was Crosby al lange tijd ziek, en overleed hij "in de liefhebbende nabijheid van zijn vrouw en soulmate Jan en zijn zoon Django." David Van Cordtland Crosby was in 1964 medeoprichter van de folkrock-band The Byrds, die een jaar later internationaal doorbrak met hun cover van Bob Dylan’s compositie ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’. Dat werd een nummer-1-hit in de Amerikaanse Billboard Hot 100. Hierna volgden grote hits als ‘All I Really Want To Do’, ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’, ‘Set You Free This Time’, ‘Eight Miles High’, Fifth Dimension’, ‘So You Want To Be A Rock ’N Roll Star’, ‘Mr. Spaceman’ en ‘My Back Pages’. Crosby nam zes albums op met The Byrds en verliet de band in 1968 na onenigheid. In datzelfde jaar richtte David met Stephen Stills en Graham Nash de fameuze rockgroep Crosby, Stills & Nash op, die in 1969 een Grammy Award won als 'beste nieuwe act'. In dat jaar kwam ook singer-songwriter Neil Young de groep versterken voor liveoptredens en wijzigde de groepsnaam in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Hun gezamenlijke album ‘Deja Vu’ uit 1970 ging de hele wereld over en bereikte ook in Nederland de top van de albumlijst. Het album werd wereldwijd ruim 14 miljoen keer verkocht en bevat tijdloze nummers als ‘Teach Your Children’, ‘Woodstock’, ‘Our House’, ‘Carry On’, ‘Helpless’ en ‘Allmost Cut My Hair’. David Crosby schreef het titelnummer ‘Deja Vu’ en het prachtige ‘Almost Cut My Hair’. Al snel na dit succes viel de band uiteen door spanningen tussen de groepsleden, al bleven de vier muzikanten tot 2015 periodiek weer bij elkaar komen voor optredens en albums. Een constante was daarbij hun progressieve en pacifistische stellingname: Crosby heeft zich altijd uitgesproken tegen de Amerikaanse bemoeienis in Vietnam in de jaren zestig en zeventig. David Crosby maakte fraaie soloalbums als ‘If I Could Only Remember Your Name’ (1971) en ‘Oh Yes I Can’ (1989). In 2006 kwam het viertal weer bijeen voor hun tournee ‘Freedom of Speech’, uit protest tegen de Amerikaanse aanwezigheid in Irak. David Crosby kampte al decennia met gezondheidsproblemen, mede als gevolg van overmatig drank- en drugsgebruik. In 1985 zat hij negen maanden vast wegens drugsbezit. In 1994 werd bij hem met succes een levertransplantatie uitgevoerd. Ook kampte hij al decennia met diabetes. David Crosby ruste in vrede!

 

Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

'STRIDE' BY ERIC ESSIX

Over a period of more than 34 years and 28 full-length album releases, Eric Essix has maintained a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz. Following the success of his "Songs From The Deep" project, Eric recently released his 28th album entitled STRiDE on his Essential Recordings label, again distributed by Lightyear Entertainment/Virgin Music/UMG. 

 

The album features nine original compositions written by Eric and a lush arrangement of the Bill Withers' classic, "Ain’t No Sunshine," featuring fellow Birmingham, AL native and American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard. Released as a single, the song has done well on smooth jazz radio maintaining a solid presence on several charts and syndicated programs.  

 

STRiDE showcases a diverse mix of songs ranging from danceable, funk instrumentals, sultry ballads, hints of blues and traditional jazz textures and, as always, a very intentional nod to Eric's gospel roots. "This album is an extension of the Songs From The Deep record in a sense. I made a conscious effort to build on what I did with that project compositionally and maintain the same kind of vibe. Musically, it just felt like a good place to explore a while longer."  

 

Even though STRiDE does not directly have Eric's southern upbringing in the forefront conceptually for this record, the influences and the sound are still essential ingredients in the mix. "Some things will always be buried in every note I play and those down home elements that are inherent in my playing, are never going away. I gave up trying be someone other than myself 22 years ago and learned to embrace who I am as a guitarist and an artist. I haven't looked back."  

 

STRiDE has several uptempo standout's with "Steady", "Coming Home To You", "The Light" and the title track leading the pack. However, the ballads "Until We All Are Free", "Slow And Easy" and the beautiful 6/8 time, "Inside Out" (featuring flutist Claudia Hayden and a brilliant synth solo by Grammy winner, Phil Davis), are compelling vehicles for some of Eric's best guitar work on the session.  

 

"I'm not done yet," Eric says. "In fact, when the last record was so well received, I felt I was starting to hit my 'stride' again with my audience and my music. It really inspired me to keep going and I am excited to see how this new album will resonate with listeners." 

CHRIS GODBER IS ‘DREAMIN’’

Unless you’ve been living off the grid the last several years, it’d be hard not to have heard the addictive melodies of soulful saxophonist, Chris Godber.

 

Since his emerging record, Starting Over in 2015, he’s brought us several chart-topping hits such as "Rain", "Chill", "Momentum", "Vibin’" and "West Coast Soul". His latest release "Dreamin’" stems from his latest highly acclaimed West Coast Soul EP. This slow jam will take you on a tranquil journey with its lush pads, dreamy guitar and sultry tenor sax. You will find yourself in that happy place we all go to from time to time; that daydream to escape the chaos of the daily grind. Don’t sleep on Godber’s new track though, this is one you don’t want to miss!

 

"Dreamin'"

Written by Christopher Joel Godber (BMI) & Caleb Middleton (BMI)

Publishing: Chris Godber Music (BMI)

Produced by Caleb Middleton

Chris Godber - Tenor Sax

Caleb Middleton - Keys, pads, drums & bass

Jordan Love - Guitar

NEW SINGLE ‘REJUVENATE’ FROM BOB BALDWIN

Bob Baldwin is an American pianist/composer/arranger/radio host/inventor. The Mt. Vernon, NY native has recorded on six of the seven inhabitable continents, and while Antarctica is not on his recording bucket list, his short international list, including Dubai, Brazil, South Africa, Spain, UK, Canada, is quite impressive. "Whether it's a massive festival crowd of 30,000 or an intimate restaurant audience of less than 60, I refuse to rob my audience of great music, top-notch effort and a good personal experience", says Baldwin.

 

He’s been coined by industry peers as the “Ray Charles of Contemporary Jazz”, having owned all but seven of his 34 solo recordings. He claims that ownership has helped to sustain him throughout the pandemic era.

 

His 'theme' projects of Stevie Wonder (MelloWonder/Songs in the Key of Stevie), Thom Bell (Betcha By Golly Wow), and Michael Jackson (Never Can Say Goodbye) have all charted mightily on the Billboard Jazz charts, all hitting in the top 15.

 

Wedding his many talents to a fierce streak of conscious independence, Bob Baldwin sees himself as more than just an artist but a human being in control of his destiny and with a legacy of artistic benevolence to pass on.

 

CONGRATS TO BOB BALDWIN FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM AT THE JAZZ MUSIC AWARDS (STAY AT HOME SERIES, VOL. 1)

 

"Rejuvenate"

Produced by Bob Baldwin

Mastering: Steve Hall

Bob Baldwin - Piano, keyboards, bass, drums, vocals

Dennis Johnson - Drum programming

GET ON BOARD! HONEY CONE RETURNS TO THE SOUL TRAIN CRUISE

The first act ever to perform on the iconic television series eager to be busy bees in 2023.

 

LOS ANGELES (17 January 2023): When Billboard hitmakers Honey Cone sets sail later this month aboard the hippest ship on the sea, the Soul Train Cruise, it continues a legacy between the R&B/soul vocal group and the landmark television series that dates back over fifty years.

 

Honey Cone was riding high after scoring back-to-back Billboard No. 1 singles, “Want Ads” and “Stick Up,” when Soul Train debuted in 1971. The show’s creator and host Don Cornelius booked the award-winning trio to perform on the very first episode of the series. Although the show ended production in 2006, Honey Cone reestablished their relationship with the brand in 2014 by performing on the Soul Train Cruise. After a sweet year that included concert dates from Hollywood to Atlantic City and from the Rose Bowl to the Hard Rock Café, Honey Cone readies to return to play the tenth anniversary Soul Train Cruise that sails January 29 through February 5.   

 

Original Honey Cone member Shelly Clark-White, who was in Chicago for the first Soul Train appearance, leads the group today. She’s joined by Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Brune. Honey Cone will be backed by a band consisting of Earth, Wind & Fire’s drummer John Paris, guitarist Romeo Brune and musical director/bassist Tony Boyd.

 

“We're blessed and honored to once again set it on fire on the Soul Train Cruise just as Honey Cone did in 2014. We're always treated like royalty on the cruise because they constantly run the original television footage of us on all the monitors since we were the very first artists to perform on Soul Train along with Gladys Knight and Pips,” said Clark-White, who was inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame with Honey Cone in 2021.

 

In addition to performing their chart-topping, gold-selling hits and fans favorites from their catalogue produced by the legendary team of Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier-Eddie Holland, including “Want Ads,” “Stick Up,” “While You’re Out Looking for Sugar,” “Girls, It Ain’t Easy,” “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” and “The Day I Found Myself,” Honey Cone plies their magic to reimagine vintage R&B/pop hits by artists such as Beyonce, Donna Summer, Teena Marie, The Emotions, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

 

Last year, Honey Cone sold out Herb Albert’s Vibrato Grill Jazz, performed at the VIP-heavy Rose Bowl Party of the Century 100 Gala; the distinguished Heroes and Legends Awards, and at the fifteenth annual Classic R&B Music Festival. They’ll be back at Vibrato in April and will continue in the recording studio on work that began last year with the PWP production team that consists of Earth, Wind & Fire’s Verdine White, Paris and Neal Pogue. A national concert tour is in the planning stages. But first, rehearsals are currently underway for the Soul Train Cruise.

 

“This cruise will be special to each of us. Something fun and different that we are really looking forward to is hosting the Soul Train Cruise annual wine tasting event. We thank Tony Cornelius for inviting Honey Cone to take part,” said Clark-White, who collected awards for Honey Cone from the National Association of Television and Radio Announcers, Rhythm & Blues Music Society, and a Heroes and Legends Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

For more information, please visit www.honeycone.biz.  

RODNEY GREENE – ‘NO STOPPIN’’

Although Rodney Greene has been around for awhile, he is finally coming into his own and getting some well deserved recognition in the music industry. Rodney has produced and released two Smooth Jazz album projects to date, “Nice n Slow”, and “Meditation of My Heart”.  

 

Rodney is currently working on his third album which is scheduled for release in June 2023. Rodney has released a single off the album “Real Close” which features Billboard's Smooth Jazz chart topping Saxophonist Jackiem Joyner who is a musical icon in his own right. The song made the Smooth Jazz charts for 16 consecutive weeks. Rodney has now scheduled his second single off the album titled "No Stoppin’", which is sassy with an uptempo rhythmic groove and is sure to get you moving! 

 

Rodney joined several rock, Latin, and R&B cover bands as a bass player and fill-in keyboardist playing the local club scene. "Playing other people’s music was great and all but I wanted to express my own artistic creativity and began writing and recording my own music".  

 

As child of the “Old School” music era, "I grew up listening to a variety of R&B artists including EWF Earth, Wind, & Fire”, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Maze, Anita Baker, and so many others". 

 

"As the years progressed, I really began to gravitate to more contemporary gospel and smooth jazz music. These two types of musical genres always provided with me a sense of love, inner peace, and always gave me a positive outlook on life".  - Rodney Greene

WAKANA HAS A ‘SUNNY DAY’

Japanese saxophonist WaKaNa debuted in the United States with her first solo album Saxcess Story, produced by Greg Manning in 2018.

 

She released “Go for the Sound feat. Darren Rahn & Koh Mr. Saxman, produced by Darren Rahn in 2020 and “SilK”, produced by Greg Manning in 2021. "Go for the Sound" got airplay throughout the United States, and reached the Smooth Jazz airplay charts. She also actively performs in various countries around the world, including a performance at a festival hosted by Los Angeles saxman Michael Paulo, and performed at her own live show in San Diego. 

 

WaKaNa is one of the top Smooth Jazz sax players in Japan. Her new single "A Sunny Day" is co-written and produced by Greg Manning.

 

"A Sunny Day"

Written By Greg Manning and WaKaNa

Saxophone - WaKaNa

Keys, programming, mix - Greg Manning

Guitar: Kay-Ta Matsuno

ROMAN STREET FT. BRYAN MORRIS – ‘KEY TO PARADISE’

Internationally trained brothers Noah and Josh Thompson put their guitars together to form Roman Street, Alabama Gulf Coast's own nationally touring contemporary jazz artists. This brotherly jam session developed into a Billboard/iTunes charting band with several top 25 Billboard hits and five albums. Many have dubbed them 'the next generation' of Jazz Fusion. Whether performing as a guitar duo, or with a backing band, Roman Street astounds with music that appeals to fans of many genres. 

  

Roman Street, named for an old roman street in the Alps, is an internationally trained instrumental band specializing in improvisational fusion of Classical, Gypsy and Contemporary Jazz, Latin, and Nuevo Flamenco. A departure from the over-produced music that is out there today, they keep it simple—the beautifully organic sound of acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing. Whether performing as a guitar duo, or with a backing band, Roman Street astounds with music that appeals to fans of many genres. 

 

The new single "Key To Paradise" marks the first songwriting collaboration of the Thompson brothers and their long-time drummer, Bryan Morris.

GINO ROSARIA FT. JASON JACKSON – ‘TAKE IT UPTOWN’

Gino Rosaria, born and raised in Curaçao and now residing in Florida, has made his debut into the contemporary jazz scene with a billboard charting album “Still Waters Run Deep”. His CD release was a sold out show which left the crowd asking for more! Gino has performed for years as a sideman for artists such as Adam Hawley, Althea Rene, Karen Briggs, Kim Scott, Julian Vaughn, Blake Aaron, Cindy Bradley, and many more. Gino has won several competitions and awards such as the Akademia Music Award for best Funk/Fusion with his Groove Symphony project. Gino has also performed numerous times on national television and on major jazz festivals. Gino recently toured Europe performing his show and has already been asked to return for festivals next year. 

 

Gino’s music can be heard on jazz stations all over the USA, UK, Europe, Asia, and many more. Gino's last single Ride Along featuring Judah Sealy topped at #12 on the Billboard top 30 chart. Gino's next album "Don't Stop Now" will be released on February 13, 2023. That album will feature artists such as Marcus Anderson, Jeff Ryan, Judah Sealy, Wakana, Jazmin Ghent, and Jason Jackson. 

 

“I knew it was time for me to step out as a solo artist. I’ve been putting it off for a long time and playing with other artists. I have some good material to release to the world. Because of my Caribbean and Latin roots, I think I have something special to offer musically. I don’t know how to explain it except by showing it through my music. My time has come to step out onto that stage, not as a sideman, but as Gino Rosaria, The Pianist.” ~ Gino Rosaria

 

"Take It Uptown"

Written by Gino Rosaria & Adam Hawley

Piano - Gino Rosaria 

Sax - Jason Jackson (Featured) 

Guitar and Sequencing - Adam Hawley 

Drums - Eric Valentine

SINGER-SONGWRITER CONNOR SELBY ONTHULT LYRIC VIDEO VOOR ‘THE DEEP END’

Credit Rob Blackham 

Van het nieuwe album 'Connor Selby (Deluxe Edition)'
Release: 3 maart 2023 Via Provogue / Mascot Label Group

Pre-order the Deluxe album here:
https://lnk.to/ConnorSelby

Bekijk ook de video voor "I Shouldn't Care"
https://youtu.be/DYi2t3k7T0Y 

 

De jonge Britse troubadour Connor Selby heeft de songtekstvideo voor het nieuwe nummer 'The Deep End' onthuld, die je hier kunt bekijken. Het nummer is afkomstig van zijn aankomende titelloze deluxe-editiealbum, dat op 3 maart zal worden uitgebracht via Provogue/Mascot Label Group.
 

Over het nieuwe nummer zegt Connor: “The Deep End is een manier geweest om mezelf te vertellen dat je in het leven soms dapper moet zijn en risico's moet nemen om te krijgen wat je wilt. Als ik mijn zinnen op een taak zet, kan ik er behoorlijk obsessief over zijn, en ik denk dat dit lied gewoon een manier was om die gevoelens te funnelen. Zoals de meeste van mijn liedjes, is het opgebouwd rond het raamwerk van een relatie en de hoofdrolspeler is verliefd op een meisje dat net uit een relatie is gekomen, en hij wil niets liever dan bij haar zijn. Hij houdt zichzelf voor dat veel mensen vóór hem de fout hebben gemaakt om geen risico te nemen en dat dit de enige manier is om te krijgen wat hij wil. Ik zou niet zeggen dat dit nummer autobiografisch is, maar het is zeker geïnspireerd door gebeurtenissen in mijn leven.”
 

Hij wordt gezien als een van de grootste opkomende talenten in de Britse bluesscene. De afgelopen drie opeenvolgende jaren (2020, 2021, 2022) is hij verkozen tot "Young Artist of the Year" tijdens de UK Blues Awards. Hij heeft een indrukwekkende lijst van shows achter zich, waaronder Wembley Stadium, waar hij in juli 2019 opende voor The Who en in Hyde Park, Londen, stond hij op het affiche samen met niemand minder dan Pearl Jam, Stereophonics en Johnny Marr in de zomer van 2022.

Opgegroeid in een dorp in Essex, heeft hij in zijn jeugd op meerde plekken van de wereld geleefd. Van zijn vroege jaren in Connecticut, VS, tot aan Dubai van zijn tiende tot veertiende jaar, om vervolgens weer terug te keren in Essex.
 

Een ding dat hem bijbleef, was zijn ontluikende liefde voor Amerikaanse rootsmuziek. "Ik raakte niet alleen geïnteresseerd in de muziek zelf, maar ook in de geschiedenis en alles eromheen", zegt hij. "Ik wilde zoveel mogelijk leren en luisteren. Ik denk dat het belangrijk is dat iemand die niet van die culturele achtergrond is, het met het respect behandelt dat het verdient. Je kunt de muziek niet scheiden van de historische context."
 

"Ik hou van de directheid, de eenvoud en aardsheid ervan", voegt hij eraan toe. "Ik hou echt van hoe down-to-earth; het is zowel tekstueel als muzikaal. Ik denk dat het bij de blues fundamenteel gaat over zeer basale menselijke emoties. Dingen als verdriet en trots en het verkennen van de manier waarop we omgaan met alledaagse situaties en problemen. Ik heb me ook altijd aangetrokken gevoeld tot de gezaghebbende kwaliteit van de muziek. Als kind en tiener was ik nogal verlegen en niet erg zelfverzekerd, dus ik denk dat het een plek voor mij was om een ​​gevoel van macht te vinden."
 

Hij heeft onlangs de officiële video uitgebracht voor "I Shouldn't Care", een nummer over relaties via spijt en woede, ook afkomstig van het aanstaande album. Het album werd oorspronkelijk in eigen beheer uitgebracht in 2021 en wordt opnieuw uitgebracht met vier nieuwe bonusnummers op Provogue. Zijn muziek heeft iets tijdloos melancholisch. Herkenbaar in zijn eerlijkheid en openheid, put hij uit angst en kwetsbaarheid, maar levert het met een verfijnde elegantie.
 

De sky is the limit voor Selby, die, naast prijzen, talloze rotaties op BBC Radio 2 heeft vergaard. Het is gemakkelijk te begrijpen waarom met zijn soulvolle mix van blues en zijn emotioneel introspectieve songwriting naast zijn indrukwekkende gitaarspel. De liedjes op 'Connor Selby' zijn kleine vignetten van de verschillende muziekstijlen die hem inspireren.

 

Track listing 

1. I Can't Let You Go
2. Falling In Love Again
3. If You're Gonna Leave Me
4. Emily
5. The Man I Ought To Be
6. Hear My Prayer
7. Show Me A Sign
8. Anyhow
9. Waitin' On The Day
10. Starting Again
11. I Shouldn't Care (Bonus Track)
12. Love Letter To The Blues (Bonus Track)
13. My Baby Don't Dig Me (Bonus Track)
14. The Deep End (Bonus Track)

JESSE MALIN - 'DOWNLINER (AFTERGLOW VERSION)' – NEW SINGLE FROM UPCOMING 20TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED/RE-RECORDED EDITION OF DEBUT ALBUM

JESSE MALIN 2022 | photo by Ilaria Conte

JESSE MALIN
DOWNLINER
(AFTERGLOW VERSION)

new single
out 13.01.23
(One Little Independent)
digital services

re-recorded version of song included on
THE FINE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION
(20th Anniversary expanded edition)
2xLP  |  digital
out 17.02.23
inc. bonus LP of the entire album reimagined and re-recorded
pre-order/save

also includes the singles
RIDING ON THE SUBWAY ’22
digital services
XMAS, etc
video | digital services
BROOKLYN (WALT WHITMAN IN THE TRASH)
video | digital services

ALBUM REVIEW QUOTES - ORIGINAL RELEASE
“Malin writes vivid songs with killer tunes and sings them with scary conviction. There is simply nothing more you can demand from a great rock record *****”
THE TIMES
“Malin has the knack of plundering classics and hammering them into something white-hot and very personal. A giant leap ****”
GUARDIAN
“An instant classic (Album of the Month)”
UNCUT
“Beautiful heartbreaking tunes and elegant twists”
VILLAGE VOICE
“A solo debut on a par with vintage Springsteen”
INTERVIEW

Released in 2003, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’ was the debut album by New York based singer-songwriter Jesse Malin. “It wasn’t named for drug or alcohol abuse,” explains Malin. “It was more about a personal wreckage when I looked back on my life, from my parents' divorce to failed relationships, broken up bands, dropping out of school, crashing cars, breaking things. It was more of a spiritual journey in some sense. This record is definitely one of my favourites.”

 To celebrate its 20th anniversary, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’ will be reissued on 17th February 2023 in expanded form with a bonus disc of the album reimagined and re-recorded with Malin’s longtime band. The bonus material was produced by Derek Cruz and engineered by Geoff Sanoff, who worked on Jesse’s recent ‘Sunset Kids’ and ‘Sad And Beautiful World’ releases.

The new recording of the album song ‘Downliner’ re-entitled ‘Downliner (Afterglow Version)’ is available as a single from today. Malin explains that “it was one of the first songs I wrote for the original album and it kinda came out in one shot. I felt like I was going into something new after being in a loud band years and it is about finding a way to stay afloat when you feel like you're drowning. The new version was spontaneous and fun to sing to, with basic piano chords and cool fake drums giving it a sparse and dark vibe. It has given it new life, but still retained the sadness and maybe even the hope that the original offered me.”

Following his teenage years in the pioneering hardcore band Heart Attack and his 20s fronting the wild and beloved D Generation, Malin took a cue from his songwriting heroes and was ready for a chance to stand alone. His solo debut was recorded over six days in New York City, live and raw.

“I was still learning how to sing and tell stories. These songs were written in a little apartment downtown, without a record deal, a manager, or any expectation of anything coming of it - just a need to write them.”

Malin arrives in the UK in mid-February for the start of a European tour to promote this reissue, before returning to New York to perform at Webster Hall, where his special guests will include Tommy Stinson (who also guests on the European dates), Lucinda Williams, Butch Walker, Cait O’Riordan (The Pogues), Catherine Popper, Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie), opener Fantastic Cat, with more surprises to be announced. The European tour dates are listed below.

THE FINE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION
TRACKLISTING
1  Queen of the Underworld
2  TKO
3  Wendy
4  Downliner
5  Brooklyn
6  The Fine Art of Self Destruction
7  Riding On The Subway
8  High Lonesome
9  Solitaire
10  Almost Grown
11  Xmas
12  Cigarettes and Violets
13  Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
14  Riding on the Subway ’22
15  Downliner (Afterglow Version)
16  High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
17  Cigarettes and Violets ’22
18  Almost Grown (Busker Version)
19  Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
20  Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
21  Xmas, etc.

ltd ed 2xLP
A1  Queen of the Underworld
A2  TKO
A3  Downliner
A4  Wendy
A5  Brooklyn
B1  The Fine Art of Self Destruction
B2  Riding On The Subway
B3  High Lonesome
B4  Solitaire
B5  Almost Grown
B6  Xmas
C1  Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
C2  Downliner (Afterglow Version)
C3  Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
C4  Almost Grown (Busker Version)
D1  Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
D2  Cigarettes and Violets ’22
D3  High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
D4  Xmas, etc.

JESSE MALIN
UK / EUROPEAN TOUR 2023
15.02.23  GLASGOW Stereo  tickets
16.02.23  MANCHESTER YES (The Pink Room)  tickets
17.02.23  LONDON The Garage  tickets
18.02.23  PARIS (FR) La Boule Noire  tickets
19.02.23  UTRECHT (NL) dB's  tickets
23.02.23  BERGAMO (IT) Druso  tickets
24.02.23  RAVENNA (IT) Bronson  tickets
25.02.23  MARENO DI PIAVE, TV (IT) Corner Live  tickets
27.02.23  HAMBURG (DE) Nochtspeicher  tickets
28.02.23  COPENHAGEN (DK) Hotel Cecil  tickets
01.03.23  LUND (SE) Mejeriet  tickets
02.03.23  STOCKHOLM (SE) Bar Brooklyn  tickets
03.03.23  OSLO (NO) John Dee  tickets

jessemalin.com

LEDFOOT & RONNI LE TEKRØ - 'EGO IN THE COFFIN' – BLUESY NEW SINGLE OUT 13.01.23

LEDFOOT & RONNI LE TEKRØ + musicians in the studio | photo by Cecilie Leganger

 

LEDFOOT &
RONNI LE TEKRØ

EGO IN THE COFFIN

new single
out 13.01.23

digital services

from the album
LIMITED EDITION LAVA LAMP
LP | CD | digital
out 24.03.23
(TBC Records)
pre-order/save

 

‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp’ is the intriguingly titled second collaboration between US Gothic blues artist Ledfoot and Norwegian guitar maestro Ronni Le Tekrø. Coming two years after their critically acclaimed 'A Death Divine’, it sees the duo joined by veteran producer/musician HP Gundersen and a crack team of further reinforcements on an album of shapeshifting Americana that nods to everyone from Bob Dylan to White Stripes.

Ledfoot (aka Tim Scott McConnell) states that “Ronni and I decided it was time to get serious and put a band together... AND WHAT A BAND! The result is ‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp‘....get ready for a wild ride.” Le Tekrø concurs, adding that “we have been digging deeper, exploring and uniting our different styles, while the production has been pushed into territory we have never been before. This album will take you to Twin Peaks. Let your ears take you above and below.”

Recorded over the course of a magical week at Studio Studio Nyhagen (owned by Le Tekrø), ‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp’ consists of four songs written by Ledfoot, four co-writes, plus a cover of ‘Sister’ from the Quincy Jones-helmed soundtrack of ‘The Color Purple’. The nine tracks see an inspired Ledfoot singing better than ever, while Le Tekrø's unique guitar skills find their natural home in the soundscape created with the aid of Gundersen (who also contributes guitar parts), Anders Odden (bass), Trond Augland (drums) and Markus O Klyve (keyboards).

‘Limited Edition Lava Lamp’ will be released on LP, CD and digital formats, plus a limited LP edition pressed on 180g lava lamp (orange) vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.

 

LEDFOOT

Born in Florida but based in Norway for many years, Ledfoot has been on something of a roll in recent years, having only just released the solo album ‘Coffin Nails’ (December 2022) as a follow-up to 2021’s Black Valley’, which was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy in the blues category. Its predecessor, 'White Crow’, was released just before ‘A Death Divine’ and won the same award in 2019, a year that also saw him write most of the music for the hit Norwegian TV series ‘Exit’ and act as a mafia hitman in the show.
Adopting the stage name Ledfoot in 2007, he had actually begun his musical career at the age of 15 as Tim Scott and had major deals in the 1980s-‘90s that included solo albums on Sire, Geffen and Warners and a further record on Elektra as frontman of The Havalinas sandwiched between the latter two of these.
One of his early songs was covered by Sheena Easton on her 1984 US smash album ‘A Private Heaven’ and released as a spin-off single. while three decades later Bruce Springsteen covered his 'High Hopes' and made it the opening song and title track of his eighteenth studio album.

 

RONNI LE TEKRO

Ronni Le Tekrø is a guitar legend in his home territory. Founder and leader of the ongoing Norwegian hard rock institution TNT while still in his teens, but also a regular collaborator with esteemed jazz guitarist/composer and compatriot Terje Rypdal (ECM Records has issued several albums by the pair), he is renowned for his unique playing style and has often been ranked among the world's best guitarists regardless of genre. Le Tekrø has also released several solo records, with the most recent being 'Bigfoot TV' in 2022.

 

LIMITED EDITION LAVA LAMP
TRACKLISTING
1  Little Rosie
2  Crying
3  The Ego In The Coffin
4  You Should Know How Hard IT Is
5  Never Use Your Eyes
6  Sailor
7  Limited Edition Lava Lamp
8  Sister
9  This Hurtful Game

 Produced by HP Gundersen
Engineered and Mixed by Kjartan Hesthagen
Mastered by Winter Lazerus


MUSICIANS
Ledfoot - vocals, guitar
Ronni Le Tekrø - guitar
Anders Odden - bass
Trond Augland - drums
Markus O Klyve - keyboards
HP Gundersen - guitar

LEDFOOT facebook
RONNI LE TEKRØ facebook

DAVID MARGAM PRESENTS HIS NEW SINGLE ‘IMMUNE’

“Immune” is the perfectly sparkling new gem from multi-talented guitarist/songwriter David Margam one of the leading pioneers of the Smooth Jazz and Funk genres in Spain! Delivering an exhilarating and refreshing vibe, “Immune” is the new single for 2023, the title of his debut album, which is in its final mixing phase, scheduled for release in the coming months.

 

"Immune" is the new composition by David Margam produced by the Cuban pianist and producer Carlos Camilo who provides some stimulating piano arrangements that raise the level of the song to a higher state with a catchy and seductive melody, the collaboration of the Spanish guitarist Andrés García on Spanish guitar brings great sensitivity to this relaxing and uplifting new piece of music. Without a doubt, a great start to the year for guitarist David Margam who finished last year in the TOP20 of the most listened to guitarists of 2022 through the Smooth Jazz Universe platform.

 

Guitarist David Margam is a Spanish musician from the new generation of Contemporary Jazz, known as much for his affable personality and generous spirit as for his musical taste. Born in Granada, Spain, he attributes his musical career to having worked with some incredible musicians from around the world.

 

Title: IMMUNE

ISRC: usl4r2155825

Co-written: David Margam & Carlos Camilo

Produced: Carlos Camilo

Programming and Arrangements: Carlos Camilo

Guitar: David Margam

Piano: Carlos Camilo

Spanish guitar: Andrés García

Record Label: Dr.Funk Productions

Communication agency: Smooth Jazz Universe

Recorded between Granada (Spain) and Miami/Florida (US)

www.drfunkproducciones.com

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ GUITARIST LES SABLER SOARS TO LOFTY HEIGHTS ON NEW ALBUM

Grammy winner Paul Brown produced “Flying High,” which drops February 3.

 

NASHVILLE (12 January 2023): When two-time Grammy-winning producer Paul Brown (George Benson, Larry Carlton, Norman Brown, Boney James, Kirk Whalum) agreed to produce contemporary jazz guitarist Les Sabler’s “Tranquility” album, it led to a transformational project by the fretman. With Brown at the helm, Sabler hit a new creative zenith on that 2021 album. For his ninth album, Sabler reunited with Brown to record “Flying High,” which is slated to arrive on February 3 from New Vista Records.

 

Brown’s fingerprints are all over “Tranquility.” His suggestion that Sabler get a vintage 1967 Gibson Johnny Smith guitar reshaped the guitarist’s sound, inspiring his best performances. Bringing in songwriters Shane Theriot (Hall & Oates, Dr. John, Neville Brothers) and Lew Laing (Norman Brown, Marion Meadows, Raheem DeVaughn) to write songs with him equipped Sabler with richly melodic material incorporating an array of jazz, R&B, funk and pop nuances. The teaming proved to be transcendent, ushering Sabler into the number one spot on the Mediabase chart with the gorgeous and graceful nylon stringed “Esselle’s Dance,” which also hit number five on the Billboard chart. The compelling collection, along with the impassioned and nimble guitarwork featured within, led to Sabler being profiled in Vintage Guitar magazine.     

 

“I’m at the top of my game, hitting my creative stride on the last album (“Tranquility”). ‘Flying High’ takes it to another level,” said Sabler who reassembled the same team for the new disc.

 

Actually, Sabler added one key figure to the “Flying High” creative outfit. It was brought to Sabler’s attention that Abbey Road Studios mastering engineer Geoff Pesche named “Tranquility” as his favorite album of 2021. That spurred Sabler to invite Pesche to master “Flying High” in the iconic studio made famous by The Beatles. 

 

With Brown back in the producer’s chair and cowriting all seven original songs for “Flying High,” Sabler again finds himself keeping frequent company with Theriot (keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass, drum programming), who cowrote five tunes on the new offering, including the album opener, “Over The Top,” a cool and confident midtempo mood-setter that gets an assist from Greg Vail’s whimsical flute. 

 

Exemplifying self-assurance, Sabler stretches his artistic muse on the searing “Compared To What,” a jam recorded by jazz pianist Les McCann and saxophonist Eddie Harris at the famed Montreux Jazz Festival in 1969. In addition to Sabler’s incendiary finger work, this version burns via the firepower of keyboardist Marco Basci, trumpeter Ron King, and Vail’s sax over percolating rhythms cooked up by drummer Joel Taylor, bassist Travis Carlton, and percussionist Lenny Castro. 

 

“I’ve been a fan of McCann’s for decades and was fortunate to meet and spend some time with the legend at the 1990 JazzTimes convention in New Orleans. As luck had it, they put us in adjacent hotel rooms,” Sabler recalled fondly.

 

Laing (keyboards, bass, drum programming) and Sabler pushed the limits with the single “Keep Pushin’” for “Tranquility,” and their reunion bodes to be equally luminous. “Moonlight” builds on their chemistry as Sabler’s sinewy electric guitar beams amidst the shimmering track.

 

The title cut ascends on its rousing chorus launched by a Gorden Campbell drum groove. Sabler defers to the warmth of his nylon stringed guitar on “Old Friends,” despite fostering a sense of exotic adventure. “New Bossa,” a multicultural amalgam powered by a vibrantly animate melody, is Sabler’s latest single to instantly dance onto the SiriusXM Watercolors playlist and has begun its ascent of three national jazz charts simultaneously.

 

Venturing into standards territory, Sabler interprets Academy Award-winning “The Windmills Of Your Mind” from 1968’s “The Thomas Crown Affair” as a somber and sultry staccato Latin groove, using his nylon string guitar to emote eloquently and exchange elegant banter with Lou Pomanti’s (Michael Bublé, Gordon Lightfoot) keyboard poetics. Sabler credits Dusty Springfield’s version as his influence.

 

Sabler’s inspiration for another modern classic, “Summer In The City,” came from a version Quincy Jones recorded in 1973. Sabler’s reimagination is steamy and creates tension like The Lovin’ Spoonful’s original, but the guitarist is buttressed by a robust horn arrangement that includes Vail’s bellowing saxophone. After, “Soft and Smooth” dials down the intensity. Despite the slower, more deliberate cadence, Sabler’s loquacious guitar licks leap to the fore in a lyrical repartee. 

 

“Double Jeopardy” is seductive, mysterious and alluring, highlighted by Sabler’s nylon string overtures and King’s soulful trumpet coos. Sabler pays homage to one of his influences, guitar legend Kenny Burrell, on “A Child Is Born,” which closes the collection. Burrell recorded the Thad Jones gem in 1971.

 

“This arrangement differs from the original 3/4-meter as it is performed in straight 4/4, however, it retains the expressive flavor of the beautiful composition,” said Sabler.

  

A native of Montreal who makes his home in Nashville, Sabler recorded the score for a Canadian Television Network documentary about the lost treasures of the Titanic in 1989, seeding the release his debut album, “Hidden Treasure,” the following year. His catalogue boasts collaborations with Grammy winners Jeff Lorber, Vinnie Colaiuta and Jerry Hey as well as Grammy nominees Brian Bromberg, Eric Marienthal, Richard Elliot and Alex Acuna. Sabler earned a Jazz Artist of the Year nomination from the Canadian Indie Awards while his albums have been nominated multiple times for Album of the Year by the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, which also honored him twice as a Guitarist of the Year nominee. On stage, Sabler has headlined or opened for artists such as Lorber, Elliot, Spyro Gyra, Michael Lington and Diane Schuur.

 

“Flying High” contains the following songs:

 

“Over The Top”

“Compared To What”

“Moonlight”

“Flying High”

“Old Friends”

“New Bossa”

“The Windmills Of Your Mind”

“Summer In The City”

“Soft and Smooth”

“Double Jeopardy”

“A Child Is Born”

 

 

For more information, please visit https://lessabler.net. 

BRITSE GITARIST JEFF BECK OVERLEDEN

De Britse gitarist Jeff Beck is gisteren op 78-jarige leeftijd overleden. Zijn familie laat in een verklaring weten dat Jeff is overleden aan een hersenvliesontsteking. De in Wallington geboren Beck werd bij het grote publiek bekend in 1965 als vervanger van Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds, de band waar later ook gitarist Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) deel van uitmaakte. Hij speelde tot dan toe in de band The Tridents, die het niet verder had gebracht dan veel optredens en enkele demo's. Beck maakte bij The Yardbirds grote indruk met zijn voor die tijd vooruitstrevende geluidseffecten als distortion en feedback, die goed te horen zijn op de Yardbirds-hits ‘Heart Full Of Soul’ (1965) en ‘Shapes Of Things’ (1966). Na zijn jaren bij de rockband vond Beck zichzelf opnieuw uit en ontwikkelde hij zijn eigen stijl. Die laat zich het best omschrijven als een combinatie van blues, jazz en rock-'n-roll. De gitaarvirtuoos stond bekend om zijn improvisatievermogen en het gebruik van de whammy bar, waarmee op de elektrische gitaar geluiden kunnen worden vervormd. Begin 1967 formeerde hij zijn eigen Jeff Beck Group met bassist Ron Wood (uit The Birds), drummer Ainsley Dunbar (uit John Mayall's Bluesbreakers) en zanger Rod Stewart (uit Steampacket). Voordat de eerste single was opgenomen was Dunbar al vervangen door Micky Waller. Producer Mickie Most wilde van Beck een popidool maken en liet hem (ondanks de aanwezigheid van Stewart) leadzingen op de eerste twee 'commerciële' singles. De eerste, ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’, werd een internationale hit. Becks geschiedenis daarna was er een van vallen en opstaan. De ene formatie volgde de andere op en Beck zocht meer en meer de kant van de jazzrock en fusion. In 1972 speelde hij mee op de elpee ‘Talking Book’ van Stevie Wonder, waarvan Beck later ‘Superstition’ zou coveren met Beck, Bogert & Appice (de band die hij in 1969 had willen oprichten met Stewart, die inmiddels succes had met zijn solo-lp's en met de band The Faces). Eind jaren zeventig speelde Beck veelvuldig met grootheden als Jan Hammer en Stanley Clarke. Jeff Beck won acht Grammy Awards en werd twee keer opgenomen in de Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: een keer met The Yardbirds in 1992 en eenmaal als soloartiest in 2009. Hij staat vijfde op de lijst met de honderd beste gitaristen aller tijden van ‘Rolling Stone Magazine’. Jeff Beck ruste in vrede!

 

Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

SOUL-JAZZ VETERAN BRIAN THOMAS READY TO DROP HIS GROOVY DEBUT ALBUM

“On The Bone,” releasing January 27, features original compositions by the trombonist in a retro organ trio setting along with special guests.

 

BOSTON (10 January 2023): One could argue that “On The Bone” is trombonist Brian Thomas’s eleventh album. However, the collection of soul, jazz and funk arriving January 27 is the first issued under his own name, hence it’s a debut album from a veteran of more than twenty years. Thomas produced the set comprised entirely of original compositions brought to life in the company of an organ trio and rhythm section recorded in the studio live by Soulive’s Alan Evans, who also mixed and mastered the vintage jazz-funk project.

 

Thomas’s vibrant stage presence and distinctive funky style are on full display whenever he performs, energy that he brought to the “On The Bone” date.

 

“These songs are an accurate representation of what you would hear if you came to one of my shows. My music is very much inspired by soul, jazz and funk from the 1960s and 70s, and aims to make people feel good, tap their feet, bob their head and/or get up and dance. With the exception of the guest sax player overdubs, all of these songs were recorded live in a very old-school way,” said Thomas who spotlights two saxophonists on the project, alto player Scott Mayo and tenor Mike Tucker.

 

The core musicians who joined Thomas on the album are Darby Wolf on Hammond B3 organ, guitarist Johnny Trama, drummer Tom Arey, and percussionist Yahubu Garcia-Torres. 

 

“I have been working with this crew of musicians in many different settings for nearly two decades and have formed incredible relationships with them on and off the bandstand. I handpicked this crew to bring these blues-based compositions to life as each of them have spent their lives studying and performing roots, blues, jazz and soul music with the best in the business. Each song on the album delivers a deep groove, funky pocket and space for each musician to share their voice,” Thomas stated.

 

There’s a hip, smoky nightclub vibe to “On The Bone,” which is heard from the start. “Turn On” sets the stage with gritty and gravely drums, storming organ swatches, crisp and clean electric jazz guitar licks and elastic basslines. While the entire lineup is granted a chance to step forward to solo, the banter between Thomas’s trombone and Mayo’s swinging, soul-powered sax is what captivates. The two musicians knew each other from their hometown, Rochester, NY, and both have a special connection to the composition’s author. Mayo, who has performed on television’s “The Voice” and toured with Earth, Wind & Fire, and Thomas were mentored by the late educator and woodwind specialist Roger Eckers.  

 

A relentless, hyperkinetic beat drives “Orange Tape,” the first of five tunes penned by Thomas. Again, the trombonist sits back to give each member of the unit a chance to rip a solo.

 

“The song title is inspired from a childhood memory of riding in my dad’s car and seeing him pop in an orange cassette tape that I loved. At the time, I had no idea who it was, but it was so burning! Turns out it was an album from tenor sax player Willis Jackson backed by an organ trio led by Groove Holmes. It is my earliest memory of being inspired by soul-jazz and certainly shaped my playing and composition style. This tune is a way to thank my father for exposing me to all the soulful music that makes me who I am as a musician today,” recalled Thomas fondly.

 

Thomas wrote the title track in the studio with James Brown & The J.B.’s in mind.

 

“Brown’s horn players, (trombonist) Fred Wesley and (saxophonist) Maceo Parker, the latter who I had the opportunity to play with a handful of times, have been musical mentors my entire life and this tune reflects that. We jammed on it for a few minutes, and we literally came up with the melody and form during that jam session and hit the record button!” said Thomas, who later invited another longtime friend, Tucker, to play sax on the joint.

 

Sunny, smiley and laid-back chill pervade the spirit-lifting “Just A Glimpse.” Thomas attributes the feel to listening to South African trumpet great Hugh Masekela. The trombone deftly carries the sweet melody while taking on lyrical qualities. 

 

“The original idea and chord progression for this tune came on a night when we were having a blue moon in the sky. I was messing around on the piano and suddenly remembered to go outside and check it out. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy, and I was only able to catch ‘a glimpse’ so I went back inside and finished writing the melody,” said the Boston-based Thomas who has a busy concert calendar of shows in Massachusetts and New Hampshire over the next couple of months in support of the new album, including a gig in Boston at the Beehive the day the record hits. 

     

Conceived during his 2016 honeymoon, Thomas wrote “Bacudi Blues” at an Aruban resort. You can almost hear the breezy beach ambiance floating luxuriously amidst Wolf’s steamy organ and Thomas’s playful horn leads.

 

“I sang the melody and bassline into the voice notes on my phone and added it to my set when arriving back home. It is nice to finally get it recorded. It is a blues-based composition featuring solos by each band member.”

 

Available exclusively as a bonus track remix on Bandcamp, CD and perhaps one day on vinyl, “Check Your Intentions” was released a couple years ago as a digital single.

 

“The song’s title is a reminder to me - and hopefully the listener - to make sure actions match your intentions, and that your intentions are noble and righteous. It is another blues-based tune that I wrote while jamming with my then thirteen-year-old son during the early stages of the pandemic. In this era of digital distribution, I wanted to make sure this song was documented and shared on a hard copy,” said Thomas.

 

Thomas studied classical trombone and jazz improvisation at Ithaca College before earning a master’s degree in jazz composition at UMASS Amherst. He cowrote and coproduced albums in assorted configurations, including with Akashic Record, BT ALC Big Band and Duochrome. Passionate about writing, horn arranging and recording, Thomas thrives in the studio where he collaborates with musicians all over the world. Most recently, he contributed to projects by many of the artists on Evan’s Vintage League Music record label roster. Thomas is equally committed to education, teaching at clinics and masterclasses, and serving on staff at Canton High School where he directs four instrumental ensembles. This bodes to be a prolific year on record for Thomas who anticipates the release of BT ALC Big Band’s “Hearing The Truth” album later this year.

 

“On The Bone” contains the following songs:

 

“Turn On”

“Orange Tape”

“On The Bone”

“Just A Glimpse”

“Bacudi Blues”

“Check Your Intentions” (Bonus Track Remix)

 

For more information, please visit www.brianthomastrombone.com.  

STAX RECORDS CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ICONIC WATTSTAX BENEFIT CONCERT WITH NEW RELEASES

New releases include ‘Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection’ (12-CD & Digital), ‘Wattstax: The Complete Concert’ (6-CD & 10-LP Formats), ‘The Best of Wattstax’ (1-CD & Digital), plus 2-LP reissues of original soundtrack releases ‘Wattstax: The Living Word Volumes 1 & 2’.  

Featuring legendary artists Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Carla Thomas, The Bar-Kays, Kim Weston, Albert King, Eddie Floyd and many more!
 

Unreleased version of Isaac Hayes iconic “Theme From Shaft – Live at Wattstax” available to stream/download now HERE

Los Angeles, CA (December 7, 2022) — Stax Records and Craft Recordings are proud to announce the release of multiple new titles paying homage to the iconic Wattstax Benefit Concert which took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20th, 1972. ‘Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection’, ‘Wattstax: The Complete Concert’, and ‘The Best of Wattstax’, plus 2-LP reissues of the original soundtrack albums ‘Wattstax: The Living Word’ and ‘The Living Word: Wattstax 2’ will all be released on February 24 and are available for pre-order here today.

In celebration of the 1973 Columbia Pictures music documentary, Sony Pictures will re-release Wattstax at participating Alamo Drafthouse locations throughout the U.S. from February 24. To purchase tickets, click here.

Created in conjunction with the annual Watts Summer Festival to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts uprising in Los Angeles, the Wattstax benefit concert was attended by more than 100,000 people. It featured performances from Stax Records’ most popular artists of the time, including, but not limited to, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas and The Bar-Kays. These releases are the first complete audio collections of what Wattstax creator and then-President of Stax Records, Al Bell calls the “most jubilant celebration of African American music, culture, and values in American history.”

‘Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection’ is a 12-CD box set featuring the complete 1972 L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert plus recordings from the Summit Club, including 31 previously unreleased tracks across the collection.  These recordings are housed in a folio with a 76-page, full-color book featuring an introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and new essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway. A previously unreleased version of the iconic soul funk anthem “Theme From Shaft” by the legendary Isaac Hayes from his headline set at Wattstax is available to stream and download here today.

‘Wattstax: The Complete Concert’ includes the full L.A. Memorial Coliseum concert and is available on both 6-CD and 10-LP formats. In addition to musical performances, it features all the speeches and other stage banter from the event, including event MC, the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s often referenced “I Am Somebody” speech. Both formats of this collection include the full-color book with introduction by Wattstax creator Al Bell, and essays by Rob Bowman and A. Scott Galloway that is also included in Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection.

A 1-CD title, ‘The Best of Wattstax’, brings together a handpicked selection of twenty of the best musical performances from the Wattstax concert. Including performances by Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, The Bar-Kays, Kim Weston, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King, Eddie Floyd and more, and serves as a great introduction to the event and the many iconic artists that it featured.

Newly cut from the original analog tapes, reissues of the two original soundtrack albums ‘Wattstax: The Living Word’ and ‘The Living Word: Wattstax 2’—which feature highlights from the concert and subsequent documentary film—will also each be reissued on 2-LP formats on the same date.

On August 11, 1965, a 22-year-old Black man named Marquette Fry was pulled over by white police officers on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in the Watts community of Los Angeles, igniting the protests that would come to be known as the Watts Rebellion. This breaking point was spurred by the destitution of Watts residents, who had grown weary after decades of discrimination, lack of jobs with decent wages, and other forms of economic oppression, political isolation, poor schools, unfair housing practices, and the type of racial superiority that had long denied them their right to live happy, fulfilled lives.

In the South, during the same time, Stax Records President Al Bell witnessed angry white mobs, the intervention efforts of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, white children jumping out of school windows to avoid contact with the Black children, and the throwing of burning toilet paper on to the Black children.

In 1971, Bell set up a Stax satellite office in Los Angeles and regularly monitored the living situation in Watts and the positive changes in the community, or, more accurately, the lack thereof. It seemed the residents of Watts had lost all hope, like a people on the verge of suicide. They had resigned to accept the loss of the battle for basic acknowledgement and a fair quality of life. Bell knew something had to be done to change this and was certain that healing could be delivered through the power of music. Bell says, “I believed then that soul music is an art form born of the African American culture, and that Stax should support the people who supported us. I also wanted to garner more recognition for our roster of Southern Soul artists by taking them to Hollywood for a performance that no one would ever forget.”

The 2-LP soundtrack of the concert’s highlights ‘Wattstax: The Living Word’ was released several months after the benefit concert, selling more than 500,000 copies just weeks after its release. This was followed in 1973 by the Mel Stuart-directed concert film Wattstax, which features Richard Pryor as host and went on to be nominated for a Golden Globe® award for Best Documentary in 1974. In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

Click here to pre-order or pre-save ‘Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection’ on 12-CD and digital formats, ‘Wattstax: The Complete Concert’ on 6-CD and 10-LP formats, ‘The Best of Wattstax’ 1-CD and digital formats, plus 2-LP reissues of original soundtrack releases ‘Wattstax: The Living Word Volumes 1 & 2’, and head to www.StaxRecords.com for exclusive Wattstax merchandise.

 

 

Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection Tracklist

12-CD & Digital

 

DISC 1

Dale Warren & The Wattstax ’72 Orchestra – Salvation Symphony

Kim Weston – The Star Spangled Banner*

Tommy Jacquette & Jesse Jackson – Opening announcements

Kim Weston – Lift Every Voice and Sing

Melvin Van Peebles – We’re here to consecrate, not desecrate

The Staple Singers – Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)

The Staple Singers – Are You Sure

The Staple Singers – I Like the Things About Me

The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself

The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There

 

DISC 2

Tommy Jacquette & Richard Roundtree – Wattstax Day proclamation

Jimmy Jones – Somebody Bigger Than You and I

Louise McCord – Better Get a Move On

Deborah Manning – Precious Lord Take My Hand

Eric Mercury – I Shall Not Be Moved*

Freddie Robinson – At the Drive-In*

Lee Sain – Them Hot Pants

Ernie Hines – What Would I Do*

Little Sonny – Wade in the Water

William Bell – I Forgot to Be Your Lover

The Newcomers – Pin the Tail on the Donkey

Eddie Floyd – Knock on Wood

The Temprees – Explain It to Her Mama

Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely for So Long

The Golden 13 – Old Time Religion

William Bell – Al Bell Award presentation

The Rance Allen Group – Lying on the Truth

The Rance Allen Group – Up Above My Head

 

DISC 3

William Bell – David Porter introduction

The David Porter Show – Introduction

David Porter – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)

David Porter – Can’t See You When I Want To

David Porter – Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)

William Bell – The Bar-Kays introduction

The Bar-Kays – Son of Shaft/Feel It

The Bar-Kays – In the Hole

The Bar-Kays – I Can’t Turn You Loose

William Bell – Tommy Tate introduction

Tommy Tate – I Remember*

William Bell – Please move back to the stands

Tommy Tate – Help Me Love*

Tommy Tate – School of Life*

 

DISC 4

William Bell & John Kasandra – Carla Thomas introduction

Carla Thomas – Pick Up the Pieces

Carla Thomas – I Like What You’re Doing (To Me)

Carla Thomas – B-A-B-Y

Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz

Carla Thomas – I Have a God Who Loves

John KaSandra – Albert King introduction

Albert King – Match Box Blues

Albert King – Got to Be Some Changes Made

Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You

Albert King – Killing Floor

Albert King – Angel of Mercy

John KaSandra – Rufus Thomas introduction

John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas entrance

Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown

John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Kindly go back to your seats

 

DISC 5

Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Chicken

Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Penguin

Jesse Jackson – I am, somebody

The Soul Children – I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To

The Soul Children – Hearsay

John KaSandra, Fred Williamson & Jesse Jackson – Let us stand and raise our fists together

Billy Eckstine – If I Can Help Somebody*

Billy Eckstine – There is a curfew here

 

DISC 6

Jesse Jackson – Isaac Hayes introduction

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 1) *

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 2)

Isaac Hayes – Soulsville

Isaac Hayes – Never Can Say Goodbye

Isaac Hayes – Part-Time Love*

Isaac Hayes – Your Love Is So Doggone Good

Isaac Hayes – Ain’t No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue

Isaac Hayes – I Stand Accused

Jesse Jackson – Let everybody stand and join hands

Jimmy Jones – If I Had a Hammer

 

 

DISC 7: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (September 23, 1972)

Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas introduction*

Rufus Thomas – Comedy Set*

Rufus Thomas – Night Time Is the Right Time*

 

DISC 8: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (September 23, 1972)

Rufus Thomas – Johnnie Taylor introduction

Johnnie Taylor – Take Care of Your Homework (Set 1)

Johnnie Taylor – Little Bluebird (Set 1)

Johnnie Taylor – Steal Away (Set 1)

Johnnie Taylor – I Don’t Wanna Lose You (Set 1)

Johnnie Taylor – Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone (Set 1) *

Johnnie Taylor – Who’s Making Love (Set 2)

Johnnie Taylor – Hello Sundown (Set 2)

Johnnie Taylor – Steal Away (Set 2)

Johnnie Taylor – Stop Doggin’ Me (Set 2)

Johnnie Taylor – Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone (Set 2)

 

DISC 9: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (September 29, 1972)

Sons Of Slum – Think (About It) *

Sons Of Slum – Respect*

Sons Of Slum – The Man*

Sons Of Slum – Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone/Dance to the Music/Music Lover/I Want to Take You Higher*

The Emotions – So I Can Love You

The Emotions – Blind Alley*

The Emotions – Introductions

The Emotions – Show Me How

The Emotions – When Tomorrow Comes*

The Emotions – I Could Never Be Happy*

 

DISC 10: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (October 4, 1972)

Little Milton – Open the Door to Your Heart

Little Milton – Let Me Down Easy

Little Milton – Grits Ain’t Groceries (All Around the World)

Little Milton – Blind Man

Little Milton – I Can’t Quit You Baby

Little Milton – That’s What Love Will Make You Do

Little Milton – Walking the Back Streets and Crying

 

DISC 11: LIVE AT THE SUMMIT CLUB (October 4, 1972)

Mel & Tim – Introduction*

Mel & Tim – Warm It Up*

Mel & Tim – Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) *

Mel & Tim – Groovy Situation*

Mel & Tim – Good Guys Only Win in the Movies*

Mel & Tim – Backfield in Motion/Starting All Over Again*

Mel & Tim – Friendship Train*

 

DISC 12: ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS

The Emotions – Peace Be Still (Rehearsal)*

The Emotions – Peace Be Still (Take 1)*

The Emotions – Peace Be Still (Take 2)

Isaac Hayes – Rolling Down a Mountainside

Isaac Hayes – Rolling Down a Mountainside (Alternate Version) *

The Staple Singers – Oh La De Da

Eddie Floyd – Lay Your Loving on Me

The Dramatics – Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

Mel & Tim – I May Not Be What You Want

Richard Pryor – Saturday Night/Blue Note, Backroom

Richard Pryor – Arrest/Line-Up

Richard Pryor – Niggers

Richard Pryor – Negroes

Richard Pryor – Handshake

Richard Pryor – Wino Get a Job

* = Previously Unreleased

 

 

Wattstax: The Complete Concert Tracklist

10-LP

 

SIDE A

1.Dale Warren & The Wattstax ’72 Orchestra – Salvation Symphony

 

SIDE B

Kim Weston – The Star Spangled Banner*

Tommy Jacquette & Jesse Jackson – Opening announcements

Kim Weston – Lift Every Voice and Sing

Melvin Van Peebles – We’re here to consecrate, not desecrate

 

SIDE C

The Staple Singers – Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)

The Staple Singers – Are You Sure

The Staple Singers – I Like the Things About Me

The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself

The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There

 

SIDE D

Tommy Jacquette & Richard Roundtree – Wattstax Day proclamation

Jimmy Jones – Somebody Bigger Than You and I

Louise McCord – Better Get a Move On

Deborah Manning – Precious Lord Take My Hand

 

SIDE E

Eric Mercury – I Shall Not Be Moved*

Freddie Robinson – At the Drive-In*

Lee Sain – Them Hot Pants

Ernie Hines – What Would I Do*

Little Sonny – Wade in the Water

 

SIDE F

William Bell – I Forgot to Be Your Lover

The Newcomers – Pin the Tail on the Donkey

Eddie Floyd – Knock on Wood

The Temprees – Explain It to Her Mama

Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely for So Long

The Golden 13 – Old Time Religion

 

SIDE G

William Bell – Al Bell Award presentation

The Rance Allen Group – Lying on the Truth

The Rance Allen Group – Up Above My Head

William Bell – David Porter introduction

 

SIDE H

The David Porter Show – Introduction

David Porter – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)

David Porter – Can’t See You When I Want To

David Porter – Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)

 

SIDE I

William Bell – The Bar-Kays Introduction

The Bar-Kays – Son of Shaft/Feel It

The Bar-Kays – In the Hole

The Bar-Kays – I Can’t Turn You Loose

 

SIDE J

William Bell – Tommy Tate introduction

Tommy Tate – I Remember*

William Bell – Please move back to the stands

Tommy Tate – Help Me Love*

Tommy Tate – School of Life*

 

SIDE K

William Bell & John Kasandra – Carla Thomas introduction

Carla Thomas – Pick Up the Pieces

Carla Thomas – I Like What You’re Doing (To Me)

Carla Thomas – B-A-B-Y

Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz

 

SIDE L

Carla Thomas – I Have a God Who Loves

John KaSandra – Albert King introduction

Albert King – Match Box Blues

Albert King – Got to Be Some Changes Made

Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You

 

SIDE M

Albert King – Killing Floor

Albert King – Angel of Mercy

John KaSandra – Rufus Thomas introduction

John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas entrance

Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown

John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Kindly go back to your seats

 

SIDE N

Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Chicken

Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Penguin

 

SIDE O

Jesse Jackson – I am, somebody

The Soul Children – I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To

The Soul Children – Hearsay

John KaSandra, Fred Williamson & Jesse Jackson – Let us stand and raise our fists together

 

SIDE P

Billy Eckstine – If I Can Help Somebody*

Billy Eckstine – There is a curfew here

 

SIDE Q

Jesse Jackson – Isaac Hayes introduction

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 1)*

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 2)

Isaac Hayes – Soulsville

 

SIDE R

Isaac Hayes – Never Can Say Goodbye

Isaac Hayes – Part-Time Love

Isaac Hayes – Your Love Is So Doggone Good

 

SIDE S

Isaac Hayes – Ain’t No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue

 

SIDE T

Isaac Hayes – I Stand Accused

Jesse Jackson – Let everybody stand and join hands

Jimmy Jones – If I Had a Hammer

* = Previously Unreleased

Wattstax: The Complete Concert Tracklist
6-CD

DISC 1
1. Dale Warren & The Wattstax ’72 Orchestra – Salvation Symphony
2. Kim Weston – The Star Spangled Banner*
3. Tommy Jacquette & Jesse Jackson – Opening announcements
4. Kim Weston – Lift Every Voice and Sing
5. Melvin Van Peebles – We’re here to consecrate, not desecrate
6. The Staple Singers – Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)
7. The Staple Singers – Are You Sure
8. The Staple Singers – I Like the Things About Me
9. The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself
10. The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There

DISC 2
1. Tommy Jacquette & Richard Roundtree – Wattstax Day proclamation
2. Jimmy Jones – Somebody Bigger Than You and I
3. Louise McCord – Better Get a Move On
4. Deborah Manning – Precious Lord Take My Hand
5. Eric Mercury – I Shall Not Be Moved*
6. Freddie Robinson – At the Drive-In*
7. Lee Sain – Them Hot Pants
8. Ernie Hines – What Would I Do*
9. Little Sonny – Wade in the Water
10. William Bell – I Forgot to Be Your Lover
11. The Newcomers – Pin the Tail on the Donkey
12. Eddie Floyd – Knock on Wood
13. The Temprees – Explain It to Her Mama
14. Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely for So Long
15. The Golden 13 – Old Time Religion
16. William Bell – Al Bell Award presentation
17. The Rance Allen Group – Lying on the Truth
18. The Rance Allen Group – Up Above My Head

DISC 3
1. William Bell – David Porter introduction
2. The David Porter Show – Introduction
3. David Porter – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
4. David Porter – Can’t See You When I Want To
5. David Porter – Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)
6. William Bell – The Bar-Kays introduction
7. The Bar-Kays – Son of Shaft/Feel It
8. The Bar-Kays – In the Hole
9. The Bar-Kays – I Can’t Turn You Loose
10. William Bell – Tommy Tate introduction
11. Tommy Tate – I Remember*
12. William Bell – Please move back to the stands
13. Tommy Tate – Help Me Love*
14. Tommy Tate – School of Life*

DISC 4
1. William Bell & John Kasandra – Carla Thomas introduction
2. Carla Thomas – Pick Up the Pieces
3. Carla Thomas – I Like What You’re Doing (To Me)
4. Carla Thomas – B-A-B-Y
5. Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz
6. Carla Thomas – I Have a God Who Loves
7. John KaSandra – Albert King introduction
8. Albert King – Match Box Blues
9. Albert King – Got to Be Some Changes Made
10. Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You
11. Albert King – Killing Floor
12. Albert King – Angel of Mercy
13. John KaSandra – Rufus Thomas introduction
14. John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas entrance
15. Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown
16. John KaSandra & Rufus Thomas – Kindly go back to your seats

DISC 5
1. Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Chicken
2. Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Penguin
3. Jesse Jackson – I am, somebody
4. The Soul Children – I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To
5. The Soul Children – Hearsay
6. John KaSandra, Fred Williamson & Jesse Jackson – Let us stand and raise our fists together
7. Billy Eckstine – If I Can Help Somebody*
8. Billy Eckstine – There is a curfew here

DISC 6
1. Jesse Jackson – Isaac Hayes introduction
2. Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 1)*
3. Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft (Version 2)
4. Isaac Hayes – Soulsville
5. Isaac Hayes – Never Can Say Goodbye
6. Isaac Hayes – Part-Time Love
7. Isaac Hayes – Your Love Is So Doggone Good
8. Isaac Hayes – Ain’t No Sunshine/Lonely Avenue
9. Isaac Hayes – I Stand Accused
10. Jesse Jackson – Let everybody stand and join hands
11. Jimmy Jones – If I Had a Hammer

* = Previously Unreleased

 

The Best of Wattstax Tracklist

1-CD & Digital

 

Kim Weston – Lift Every Voice and Sing

The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There

Louise McCord – Better Get a Move On

Deborah Manning – Precious Lord Take My Hand

Eric Mercury – I Shall Not Be Moved*

Lee Sain – Them Hot Pants

William Bell – I Forgot to Be Your Lover

Eddie Floyd – Knock on Wood

The Temprees – Explain It to Her Mama

Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely for So Long

The Golden 13 – Old Time Religion

The Rance Allen Group – Lying on the Truth

David Porter – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)

The Bar-Kays – I Can’t Turn You Loose

Carla Thomas – B-A-B-Y

Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You

Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown

Jesse Jackson – I Am, Somebody

The Soul Children – Hearsay

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft

 

* = Previously Unreleased

 

Wattstax: The Living Word Tracklist

2-LP

 

SIDE A

The Staple Singers – Oh La De Da

The Staple Singers – I Like The Things About Me

3 The Staple Singers – Respect Yourself

The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There

Eddie Floyd – Knock on Wood

Eddie Floyd – Lay Your Loving On Me Live

 

SIDE B

Carla Thomas – I Like What You’re Doing (To Me)

Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz

Carla Thomas – I Have a God Who Loves

Rufus Thomas – The Breakdown

Rufus Thomas – Do The Funky Chicken

Rufus Thomas – Do The Funky Penguin

 

SIDE C

The Bar-Kays – Son of Shaft / Feel It

The Bar-Kays – I Can’t Turn You Loose

Albert King – Killing Floor

Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You

Albert King – Angel of Mercy

 

SIDE D

The Soul Children – I Don’t Know What This World Is Coming To

The Soul Children – Hearsay

Isaac Hayes – Ain’t No Sunshine

 

 

The Living Word: Wattstax 2 Tracklist

2-LP

 

SIDE A

Jessie Jackson – Introduction

Kim Weston – Lift Every Voice and Sing

The Rance Allen Group – Lying on the Truth

Jimmy Jones – Someone Greater Than You And I

The Golden 13 – Old Time Religion

The Emotions – Peace Be Still

 

SIDE B

Richard Pryor – Saturday Night

Richard Pryor – Blue Note

Richard Pryor – Back Room

David Porter Show – Introduction

David Porter Show – Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)

David Porter Show – Can’t See You When I Want To

David Porter Show – Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)

David Porter Show – Finale

Richard Pryor – Arrest

Richard Pryor – Line Up

 

SIDE C

Johnnie Taylor Show – Introduction

Johnnie Taylor Show – Steal Away

Johnnie Taylor Show – Stop Doggin’ Me

Johnnie Taylor Show – Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone

Little Milton – Walking the Back Streets and Crying

 

SIDE D

Richard Pryor – Niggers

The Emotions – Group Introduction

The Emotions – So I Can Love You

The Emotions – Show Me How

Richard Pryor – Negroes

The Dramatics – Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get

Richard Pryor – Handshake

Mel & Tim – I May Not Be What You Want

Richard Pryor – Wino Get a Job

Isaac Hayes – Rolling Down a Mountainside

PARADOX OBSCUR - 'MONOCLONE' – NEW VIDEO FOR TRACK FROM ACCLAIMED 2022 ALBUM BY GREEK SYNTH DUO

PARADOX OBSCUR
MONOCLONE

from the album
MORPHOGENESIS
LP  |  CD  |  digital
out now
[Metropolis Records]

 

Paradox Obscur are the Athens, Greece-based synth duo of Kriistal Ann and Toxic Razor, who have built a devoted global following over the course of five studio albums since debuting in 2014. Having signed to Metropolis Records to issue the ‘Singles & Rarities’ collection in 2021 (available HERE), their current studio album ‘Morphogenesis’ followed in mid-2022.

Displaying impressive diversity throughout its nine tracks, with shards of minimal techno, house and trance heard alongside synthwave and industrial sounds, recent weeks have seen ‘Morphogenesis’ receive a number of ‘best of 2022’ notices from electronic music websites and radio shows worldwide.

Late December also saw the group issue the latest in a series of videos for songs from the record, with a promo clip for ‘Monoclone’ being the fifth to date. They can all be viewed HERE.

One of the few electronic outfits to record their albums in real time, Paradox Obscur capture the magic of the moment without resorting to sequencing and editing software. They even take things a step further, utilising vintage synths and drum machines to create their raw sound.

The pair initially met via very different artistic disciplines, with Kriistal Ann having studied classical music and piano at the Prague State Conservatory, while Toxic Razor is a synth and drum machine enthusiast who had been recording his fledgling ideas on tape. Apart, they have both created successful solo work and collaborated with other musicians. As Paradox Obscur, the pooling of their talents has been critically acclaimed and led to their inclusion at numerous festivals and events, where they have shared stages with other important artists on the minimal-electro, cold wave and post-punk scenes.

MORPHOGENESIS
TRACKLISTING
1  Cocoon
2  Stellaire
3  Animal Reactor
4  Evo-Devo
5  Wild Silk
6  Monoclone
7  Krankes Herz
8  Pollar
9  In Vitro

available HERE

 

Cheers! Life is a flowing river, let's dive into every drop as it deserves and give meaning to every ripple! May you all have a wonderful 2023, filled with exciting new
experiences!
Yours Ann & Razor

bandcamp  |  facebook  |  instagram  |  youtube

"DE KONINGIN VAN ONDERLAND” VULT DUURSTE VAKJE IN OP SPELBORD MONOPOLY JOMMEKE

Het album “De Koningin van Onderland” krijgt het duurste vakje op het Monopoly-spelbord van Jommeke. In november kondigde Groep 24 en Standaard Uitgeverij een nieuwe versie van het bekende bordspel aan.

 

In deze versie worden alle vakjes aangepast naar locaties uit de Jommeke albums. Onder andere De Purperen Berg, Paradijseiland en het labo van Gobelijn zullen terug te vinden zijn op het bord, maar er was nog één plekje over. Groep 24 en Standaard Uitgeverij hebben alle fans van de reeks opgeroepen om te stemmen op hun favoriete album. Het album met de meeste stemmen zou de duurste locatie op het bord krijgen. De stemmen zijn geteld en het resultaat is gekend: De Koningin van Onderland werd het meest gekozen als favoriet. Bijgevolg zal het Kasteel van Achterberg, waar het album zich grotendeels afspeelt en dat te zien is op de cover van het album, het duurste vakje op het spelbord worden.

 

Na edities rond de Rode Duivels, FC De Kampioenen en Thuis, krijgt nu ook één van de beroemdste avonturenstripreeksen van ons land een eigen Monopoly versie. Het spelbord zal ingevuld worden met de bekendste locaties uit de reeks maar ook de typische uitvindingen krijgen zeker een plekje, denk maar aan de Vliegende Bol.

 

Uit de poll bleek dat Paradijseiland, De jacht op een voetbal en De Purperen Berg bijzonder geliefd zijn bij de fans. Maar uiteindelijk was het dan toch de Koningin van Onderland die met de winst ging lopen.

 

“De koningin van Onderland is een echte klassieker in de reeks! Niet verwonderlijk dat het album jong en oud aanspreekt. Het zit ‘m in de griezelfactor en het Disney-eske. Wist je trouwens dat Jef Nys enorm opkeek naar Disney en zelfs nog gesolliciteerd heeft om er te mogen werken?” aldus Stéphanie Lauwers van Standaard Uitgeverij. 

 

Monopoly Jommeke ligt vanaf najaar 2023 in de winkel, maar wie zeker wil zijn van een exemplaar van deze gelimiteerde oplage kan al een pre-order plaatsen via de website www.monopolystore.be/jommeke.

DUMMER FRED WHITE (EARTH, WIND & FIRE) OVERLEDEN

De Amerikaanse drummer Fred E. White is op 1 januari op 67-jarige leeftijd overleden. White, die eigenlijk Frederick Eugene Adams heet, was een van de vroege leden van Earth, Wind & Fire. Daarvoor speelde hij op albums van The Salty Peppers, Donny Hathaway, Albertina Walker, Howdy Moon, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat en Pieces of Peace. Daarnaast hanteerde White de drumstokjes op albums van Deniece Williams, Jennifer Holiday. Ramsey Lewis en The Emotions. Earth, Wind & Fire, inclusief Fred White, zijn halfbroer Maurice White, en broer Verdine White, kreeg in 2000 een plek in de befaamde Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Fred White speelde mee op de albums ‘That's The Way Of The World’ (1975),’Gratitude’(1975),’Spirit’ (1976), ‘All n' All’ (1977),’ I Am’ (1979),’Faces) (1980),’Raise!’ (1981), ‘Powerlight’ (1982) en ‘Electric Universe’ (1983). Fred White ruste in vrede!

 

Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

TICKETKNOOP ONTWARD - ‘RAPUNZEL’ KRIJGT EXTENSIONS

v.l.n.r.: Liv Van Aelst, Laurenz Hoorelbeke, Sandrine Van Handenhoven, Helle Vanderheyden, Walter Beale, Jasmine Jaspers, Saïn Vantomme

Extra shows in Antwerpen, Hasselt en Gent.

 

Wanneer je aankondigt in maart en april 2023 met een bigger and bolder versie van ‘Rapunzel’ naar Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen, Trixxo Theater Hasselt en Capitole Gent te trekken, en je strikt daarvoor o.a. Helle Vanderheyden (Rapunzel), Walter Baele (koning) en Sandrine Vanhandenhoven (heks), dan weet je dat dat verhaal een staartje zal krijgen.

Het gev(l)echt om tickets barstte dan ook instant los en woedt dermate hevig en permanent, dat producent Deep Bridge zich als conditioner dient op te werpen om deze knoop voor de lieve vrede te ontwarren. 'Rapunzel' krijgt extensions, waardoor jong en minder jong ook kan gaan genieten tijdens de extra shows in Antwerpen tijdens de paasvakantie op 7 en 8 april, in Hasselt op 16 april en Gent op 22 april.

De familiemusical ‘Rapunzel’ speelt in maart en april 2023 in Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen, Trixxo Theater Hasselt en Capitole Gent. Tickets & info: www.deepbridge.be

 

!! RANG-UPGRADE !!
Boek tot 8 januari 2023 je tickets en krijg een gratis rang-upgrade cadeau.
Voor Golden Seat betaal je de prijs van Categorie 1, voor Categorie 1 betaal je de prijs van Categorie 2, enzovoort.