BJ BLOCK DAWN PEMBERTON "THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE"

BJ Block and Dawn Pemberton are a powerful musical force, who have masterfully crafted songs rooted in soul, jazz, R&B, and funk. The duo's newest release entitled "II", is the result of a unique collaboration between the two accomplished musicians and is a potent follow up to their 2010 release, "The Land of Make Believe" which was nominated for a 2011 Western Canadian Music Award. "II" explores the grit and the goodness of life lived and loved and reflects a deeper lyrical and musical evolution.Learning 40 tunes in two days for a four hour set in a club with no air conditioning in the middle of a record heat wave.   Debuting new songs at a gritty east side club more accustomed to hard rock and than soul.  Surviving jazz school and attempting to find a voice that will be heard through the cluttered maze of the music industry.  These are just some of the experiences that would provide the context and inspiration for this unique collaboration.In the Spring of 2010 BJ Block began work on a follow up to his debut instrumental album 'Glitterball'.  This next record was to be another instrumental album with the addition of an occasional background vocal for ambiance.  After playing a number of gigs together around the city it seemed only natural to recruit Dawn Pemberton, a staple of the Vancouver RnB, Funk and Jazz scene, to provide the vocals.  Dawn agreed and the two would meet a few months down the road to collaborate once the tunes were mapped out. The album was nearly finished when the two ventured on an experiment; there was one song in particular that had potential for lyrics throughout, so for the fun of it and with no expectations in mind, the two began writing together, with Dawn taking on the task of writing melodies and lyrics to the track.  After only one writing session, the two met a week later and effortlessly played the song from beginning to end.  This first draft would remain unedited and became "Just Be", the first single off the debut album.  Initially approached as a children's album for grown-ups, "The Land of Make Believe" explored adult challenges through the eyes of a child.  Rooted in Soul, Rn'B, Jazz and Funk, the album is uplifting, playful and thoughtful,  showcasing musicianship developed from years of playing, practicing and touring. The duo's newest release entitled "II", is the result of a unique collaboration between the two accomplished musicians and is a potent follow up to their 2010 release. DAWN PEMBERTON
 

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