DEE LUCAS "THE SMOOTH FACTOR"

Born and raised in Tanner, Alabama, Dee Lucas had always loved listening to music, and many genres of music were often played in his family's home. However much he wanted to play an instrument when he was younger, he had instead gone into sports, and then later graduated from the University of North Alabama in 1988 with a degree in Marketing and concentration in Computer Information Systems. A year later, he moved to Atlanta and after a couple of years of getting settled in his corporate job, Lucas suddenly got an urge to pick up the sax for the first time - at the age of 28. Once he had picked up the horn, he knew that his years of listening to music from his personal and family collections would pay off. Dee often visited local jazz clubs to get a feel for the pulse of the local scene. "Listening to some of the talented sax players around the city was education enough to build a thirst to go home and mimic what they did," says Dee. "With the combination of listening to a plethora of music on CD while going to see local cats like Darien Emory, Antonio Allen, Sam Skelton, Jimmy Brown (Brick), and trumpeters Melvin Miller and Milkshake, that was truly enough to develop a personal vote of confidence." In 1997, Lucas got his start as a musician playing as a sideman in a local band, Between 9&7. The band recorded a CD, which was a moderate regional hit. Although he got performances, both rhythm and solos, Lucas felt it was time to develop his own by ensemble to demand more challenges within himself as both a musician and entrepreneur. So, on New Year's Eve of 1999, Lucas formed his own contemporary jazz trio, Xpressions. They produced and recorded a CD titled Footprints, which gained notoriety in regional markets. The record contained the classic hit People Make the World Go Round. All of the compositions were produced and arranged by friend and keyboardist Karey Davis and assisted by the saxman himself. DEE LUCAS
 

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DAVID VEST "ROADHOUSE REVELATION"

Although he now calls Canada home, Maple Blues Award winner David Vest is an authentic, Southern-bred boogie-woogie piano player and blues shouter. Born in Alabama in 1943, David grew up in Birmingham, not far from Tuxedo Junction. He played his first paying gig in 1957, and by the time he opened for Roy Orbison on New Year's Day 1962, he was a seasoned veteran of Gulf Coast roadhouses and honky tonks.At the age of 17, David went on tour with Jerry Woodard and the Esquires, some of whom later became key members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the Muscle Shoals Horns. While still with Woodard, he jammed with Ace Cannon, Bill Black's Combo and the Jimmy Dorsey Band in clubs along the Florida Panhandle, where fellow Alabaman James Harman would soon make his mark.He had seen Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash in the 1950s. He saw Bo Diddley, Jimmy Reed, and John Lee Hooker in the prime of their careers. Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter and Hank Ballard, too. About the time he turned 21 he found himself onstage backing Big Joe Turner, who said that David Vest's playing made him feel like he was back home in Kansas City.He had also worked the southern gospel circuit, appearing on programs with the Statesmen and the Blackwood Brothers. His first recording featured the last song written by Alton Delmore. David himself wrote the first songs ever recorded by Tammy Wynette, as detailed in Jimmy McDonough's bio of the country legend. He also dated a sister of the Louvin Brothers, toured with Faron Young (who threatened to kill him), backed Red Foley in a show where all the stars got robbed, worked in a theatre with Fannie Flagg and became the first American artist to record an album in Romania, after his appearance at the Sibiu Jazz Festival.Later David would receive the "direct laying on of hands" from piano legends like Big Walter The Thunderbird and Floyd Dixon. He would tour extensively with Jimmy T99 Nelson and Miss Lavelle White. Katie Webster told him, "I knows it when I hears it."From 2002 through 2006, he shared lead vocals and frontman duties in the Paul deLay Band, culminating in his performance on an award-winning live CD, which reached the Top Ten on Billboard's national blues chart. During his years in Portland, David won five Muddy Awards from the Cascade Blues Association, including Best Keyboard Player.After deLay's untimely death, Vest joined forces with Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne and various other pianists, including Ann Rabson, to form the supergroup Northwest Pianorama. DAVID VEST
 

PONTCHARTRAIN WRECKS "PONTCHARTRAIN WRECKS"

Miles Cabeceiras writes songs that accurately describe his vision of experiencing life in South East Louisiana, from hit and miss love affairs to the simple pleasures of life on the bayou. His band of seasoned musicians, The Pontchartrain Wrecks, lend credence to his musical mission and his goal of recreating the vibe of his influences which include Tom Petty, Gram Parsons, the Rolling Stones and others.The Pontchartrain Wrecks have a great name, albeit a slightly cringe-worthy one given recent events, which unfortunately hits a little too close to home on their debut. The South span of their meat-and-potatoes radio rock can jostle you all over the place, as on “Anyway, Anyhow,” but it can also hypnotize you with its sameness; they don’t sound locked in a groove so much as stuck in a gear. PONTCHARTRAIN WRECKS
 

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MICHAEL BELLAR THE AS IS ENSEMBLE "OH NO OH WOW"

Michael Bellar has performed music on six continents but being a native of North Carolina, he stands by his slow, southern roots. Along with creating music and touring with his group, the AS-IS Ensemble, Michael has also toured and or recorded with Amos Lee, Art Garfunkel, Howie Day, Wheatus, Jump Little Children, Teddy Geiger, Euro pop superstar Giorgia and Jay Clifford’s Rosebud. His national TV appearances include Late Night with David Letterman, the Late Show with Conan O’Brien Show, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Ellen Degeneres Show, TRL, Good Morning America, Regis and Kelly and the CBS Morning Show. Michael has produced and scored music for CUT Music (LA), Fluid (NYC), Bang Michael is the founder, composer and keyboardist of the AS-IS Ensemble. This highly excitable, alt-jazz group has performed at such venues as Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, South By Southwest and the JVC, Bell Atlantic and New York City Winter Jazz Festivals along with being the former house band at the world-famous Blue Note jazz club in NYC. They have opened for John Scofield, Tea Leaf Green, Medeski Martin & Wood, Grant Green Jr. and JFJO.  In a review of their first ever performance in New York City, they were hailed as “Generation Next” by Billboard Magazine. The group has recorded three studio CDs – “Turned On Turned Up” (2009), “Like It Is,” and “REACT!”Music and Razorhead. MICHAEL BELLAR
 

EDEN BRENT "JIGSAW HEART"

Eden Brent piano playing and singing style ranges from a melancholic whisper to a full-blown juke joint holler. She's simultaneously confident and confiding, ably blending an earthy meld of jazz, blues, soul, and pop as she huskily invites listeners into her lazy, lush world.That world lies just north of Greenville, Mississippi on the two-lane Highway 1, which follows the twists and turns of the river through fecund swampland, time-forgotten plantations, and blink-and-you'll-miss-'em communities like Rosedale, Beulah, and Stovall before it dead ends into Highway 61 just south of Onward.It was there that Brent was able to develop her gutsy vocal-and-piano chops via family sing-a-longs and a 16-year apprenticeship with the late blues pioneer Boogaloo Ames, who ultimately dubbed his protégé "Little Boogaloo.""Music school taught me to think, but Boogaloo taught me to boogie-woogie," says Brent, who appeared alongside her mentor in the 1999 PBS documentary Boogaloo & Eden: Sustaining the Sound and in the 2002 South African production Forty Days in the Delta.Where most 21st century roots musicians merely emulate their heroes, Brent and Ames were both "soul mate and road buddies," says lifelong friend (and acclaimed journalist) Julia Reed. "She was a young white woman of privilege and he was an aging black man in the Mississippi Delta, but theirs is a phenomenal story of mutual admiration and need."Yet much more than the blues flows through Brent's talented hands: Critics laud her "Bessie Smith meets Diana Krall meets Janis Joplin" attitude, compare her to jazz/pop dynamos Norah Jones and Sarah Vaughn, and wax effusively about her "whiskey-smoke" voice, which serves as a constant reminder that Greenville, nestled into a bend of the Mississippi River, is located a few hundred miles north of New Orleans.Whether booked as a solo artist or bandleader, Brent's performance is fresh and spontaneous, often filled with audience requests and participation. Her unshakable talent and her carefree demeanor have taken her across the country and around the world, but the 2009 Blues Music Awards cemented Eden's place as one of the fresh voices propelling this vital American music forward. She was nominated in four categories, winning both "Acoustic Album of the Year" and "Acoustic Artist of the Year" honors (joining Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and Janiva Magness as the only multi-category winners for the year). As Chip Eagle, publisher of Blues Revue, BluesWax, and Dirty Linen says, "in Eden's huge playing and singing you can hear the ghosts of Mississippi in a duet with the future of the blues." EDEN BRENT
 

HUNTER AND THE DIRTY JACKS "SINGLE BARREL"

Hunter and The Dirty Jacks comprise a virtual all-star cast of Los Angeles and Orange County-area musicians that have been playing locally and regionally for over ten years apiece. Fronted by lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Hunter Ackerman, and anchored by Jon Siembieda and Carmelo Bonaventura on guitar, Aaron Barnes on bass, Moana Avvenenti on vocals, and Brian Lara on drums, the Dirty Jacks put forth an extremely high energy, emotionally compelling performance coupled with a rare combination of soulful originals and tasty covers. The sound is rock and roll with a bluesy edge, ala the Black Keys, Rolling Stones, Black Crowes, and Jet. The band is very seasoned for all players being in the late 20s and early 30s. The Dirty Jacks debuted at House of Blues Sunset Strip on 9/29/12 to a resounding success and have played numerous venues and have had numerous tours ever since. HUNTER AND THE DIRTY JACKS
 

CATHY LEMONS "BLACK CROW"

Cathy Lemons is a vocalist, songwriter, song publisher, band leader, and show producer who has been a staple of the blues scene in the Bay Area for 25 years. She has been described as “the finest light-skinned female blues vocalist in the U.S.” (Real Blues 2010) with a “velvety and hypnotic voice—resonant of “a female Howlin’ Wolf” (Fulltimeblues 2010). Hailing from Dallas, TX she honed her chops with the likes of Anson Funderburg and performed with Stevie Ray Vaughan. She has worked with some of the great names in blues including John Lee Hooker (she toured as his send-off singer in 1987), Tommy Castro, Ron Thompson, and many others.Her current band is called "CATHY LEMONS & the blues xcentric" with Stevie Gurr (of Elvin Bishop and Dr. John), Paul Olguin (of Maria Muldaur), Kevin Zuffi (of Joe Lewis Walker), and Theron Petersen (Primus) Cathy Lemons writes songs that are as haunting as they are autobiographically revealing. She has 3 CD’s out: “Dark Road” (2000) and “Lemonace” on Vizztone ( 2010). Her 3rd, “Black Crow” (Vizztone) released March 25 2014.CRITICS: "One thing is certain…once you hear her, you will be a fan for life. This is music with a timeless quality that will have all the hitting power twenty years down the road that it does today. " Bill Wilson "A dandy dose of hot stuff that just doesn’t quit, Lemons isn’t about affectation and iconography, she’s the real deal .... Smoking, velvet soul blues that’s right in the pocket throughout, Lemons impresses throughout with this mighty release. A winner throughout." Chris Specter (Midwest Record). CATHY LEMONS
 

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JOEL HARRISON & ANUPAM SHOBHAKAR "MULTIPLICITY"

Leave the Door Open is the debut album from Multiplicity, a multi-cultural, genre-defying collaboration between Guggenheim Fellow and world-renowned American guitarist Joel Harrison and North Indian-native, virtuoso classical Sarodist and composer Anupam Shobhakar. The album beams with an amalgamation of styles influenced from the worlds of Indian Classical, jazz, blues and roots music, featuring a stellar cast of some of the finest contemporary creative musicians in the world: Gary Versace (piano, B-3 organ, accordion), Dan Weiss (drums and tables), Hans Glawischnig (acoustic & electric bass), as well as special guests David Binney (alto saxophone), Todd Isler (percussion), Bonnie Chakraborty and Chandrashekar Vase (vocals).The music was cooperatively developed and composed by the two leaders between 2010 and 2012 as a result of Shobhakar being featured in a multi-movement work Harrison composed for sarode, classical percussion quartet and jazz quintet. The two developed an immediate rapport, sharing an eagerness to learn about and experience as much music as possible. And it’s a natural pairing, as each leader has been involved with a remarkable amount of diverse music over the years: Harrison has released 15 albums to date, has won multiple awards for composition and is known for being a restless soul who is no stranger to taking risks with his music, while Shobhakar hails from the Maihar Gharana, a family whose contribution to the world of Indian instrumental music is unparalleled. Shobhakar’s ability to operate so far outside the usual confines of his instrument is remarkable, and he is known for his wide-ranging compositional palette as well, which has been influenced by his experiences performing in rock bands just as much as classical Indian music.Harrison explains, “We both added components to each other’s compositions and worked hard to figure out how to reconcile our different backgrounds. We felt strongly that we should include a ‘folk’ element, adding straight-to-the-heart simplicity with the thornier jazz pieces. As principles of Indian music slowly work their way into the jazz lexicon, alliances such as ours are becoming less rare. It’s a fascinating journey to be taking part in.” JOEL HARRISON & ANUPAM SHOBHAKAR 
 

DANA ROBBINS "DANA ROBBINS"

“Dana Robbins is Music City's saxophone MVP,with a fluent, commanding and original approachto R&B, blues, soul, rock, jazz, funk and off-the-cuff improvisation. And through it all her bold, warm tone is ever ready to shift from slow burn to utter conflagrance — whatever it takes to get to a song's emotional core." She is currently playing for DELBERT MCCLINTON and ARETHA FRANKLIN. She has also performed with CHAKA KAHN, RON ISLEY, JEFF LORBER, AL GREEN, CECE WINANS, RUFUS THOMAS, THE O'JAYS, BILL CHAMPLIN, JOHNNY LANG, JAMES BROWN, JOE SAMPLE, JEWELL, JIMMY HALL, LEROY PARNELL and STEVE CROPPER. Motown sound. Dana started studying piano at age four and saxophone when she was ten. Dana enjoyed the luxury of excellent junior high and high school band directors. Summers were spent playing in a jazz band program directed by the famous trumpet player, Louis Smith. Her father, a University of Michigan professor who loved jazz, and her mother, an accomplished classical pianist, showed her a wide variety of musical styles. She eventually studied music at the University of Michigan. Pursuing her love of jazz and blues, Dana left Michigan and enrolled in The Berklee College of Music in Boston. There she studied for two years. DANA ROBBINS
 

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DAVE KELLER "SOUL CHANGES"

Dave Keller is one of the finest soul and blues men of his generation.  He is a 2014 Blues Music Award Nominee for Best Soul/Blues Album, for his CD Soul Changes.  He is the 2012 winner of the Best Self-Produced CD award at the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, TN.   About.com recently said, "Dave Keller is gonna be huge!", and it's starting to seem that way. In 2009, after being discovered by legendary guitarist Ronnie Earl, Keller appeared as a singer and co-writer on Earl's.BMA-nominated CD, Living In the Light.  Next, blues and soul fans got to hear Keller with his own band on his all-original critically-acclaimed release Play for Love (Sept. 2009).  In Oct. 2011, Keller released his latest gem: Where I'm Coming From.  In addition to winning the IBC award, the CD reached #2 on B.B. King's Bluesville, Sirius/XM radio, for May 2012. Where I'm Coming From is an album of deep soul songs recorded with The Revelations, one of the hottest soul bands on the scene today.  Produced by Bob Perry (Wu-Tang Clan, 50 Cent, Brian McNight, Foxy Brown), it even includes a duet with acclaimed soul singer Tre' Williiams. With all this forward momentum, Keller has hit the road even harder, with shows in NYC (Southpaw, Hill Country BBQ), Philly (World Cafe), Boston (Johnny D's, Harper's Ferry, Beehive, Berklee's Cafe 939), RI (Chan's), CT (Bridge St. Live, Black-Eyed Sally's), all over VT and NH, and festival work from ME to PA, including the biggest blues fest in New England (North Atlantic Blues Festival).  In the past year, Keller has performed with Ronnie Earl, Otis Clay, The Revelations featuring Tre' Williams, Darrell Nulisch, Dwight Ritcher (of Dwight and Nicole), Jesse Dee, and Anthony Gomes.  He recently opened for soul legend Swamp Dogg, and has toured the northeast backing Johnny Rawls, BMA winner of best soul album of 2010. DAVE KELLER
 

BRETT WELLMAN AND THE STONE COLD BLUES BAND "ROOTED IN THE BLUES"

Brett Wellman & the Stone Cold Blues Band are thrilling audiences whenever they take the stage!Born from the influences of Chicago blues greats Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Little Milton to the Mississippi Delta of Robert Johnson, Ledbelly, and Honey Boy Edwards their sound covers 100 years of down and dirty American blues.Reminiscent of Delta and Chicago jukehouses their shows are raucous dance parties. Come on out and see what it's all about.With "Carolina Charles" on drums, David Messler on bass, Chris Balding on harmonica (harp) & vocals, and Brett Wellman on guitar & vocals, this band is a guarantee for providing a great show and an evening of fun music! "Brett Wellman and The Stone Cold Blues Band's “All I Had Was Gone” is a fresh take on traditional blues. Sterling guitar work, gritty harmonica, powerful vocals and great songs combine to make much more than the sum of the parts. This recording should be in heavy rotation with all blues fans. Highly recommend!" Del Suggs, Saltwater Music (Mar 7, 2013)"Brett Wellman and The Stone Cold Blues Band is putting out one of the best Blues CD's I have heard in years." – Rick Ott, From the Heart Recording Studio (Mar 7, 2013)"We had a superb 3 days at the BBC. Brett Wellman & The Stone Cold Blues were impressive. They played to a near sell-out crowd on a Thursday night! Good mix of blues--contemporary and traditional- with an excellent acoustic second set. Got to find a good weather night for a bonfire set from these guys." - Gary Anton, Bradfordville Blues Club Owner (Aug 2, 2012)"Local blues act, Brett Wellman and the Stone Cold Blues Band, will play at Backwoods Bistro this Friday, September 14, bringing the rawest, most organic version of the genre to town." - Ricky Kent, FSView (Sep 13, 2012)"You guys ROCKED tonight!! Awesome sounding band!" - Gary Hudson, Folkstone Guitars - June 2013"Brett Wellman & The Stone Cold Blues Band - a tight little unit hitting it hard tonight here in Tally!" ~ Charle Boyer, Jazz & Blues of Florida - July 2013“Heart of Gold”, an original tune from their debut album “All I Had Was Gone” in the top ten on the Blues City Radio playlist for 8 weeks in a row and 9 out of the last 10 weeks - August 2013". . . these guys have an excellent blues roots show . . ." ~ Gary Anton, Bradfordville Blues Club, Tallahassee - August 2013. BRETT WELLMAN AND THE STONE COLD BLUES BAND
 

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NAOMI WACHIRA "NAOMI WACHIRA"

There’s no doubt that there’s a better future in store for Naomi, especially after her great breakout year in 2013. Named the Best Folk Singer in Seattle by alt publication Seattle Weekly and featured on their cover, Naomi became the toast of the town, which in turn led to a friendship with the much-loved indie songwriter Damien Jurado, who came onboard to produce this album. Other key collaborators that Naomi brought in, renowned Seattle bassist Evan Flory-Barnes, cellist Natalie Hall (Macklemore), drummer Darren Reynolds (Patrick & The Locomotive), and Latin percussionist Lalo Bello, all brought their own ideas to the accompaniment, guided by Jurado’s desire to keep the music as vibrantly alive as possible. The result is Naomi Wachira’s debut full-length, a portrait of a Kenyan artist at home in the Pacific Northwestern United States. When you listen to Naomi’s songs, you’ll hear the lifelong influence of two powerful, groundbreaking female songwriters: Miriam Makeba and Tracy Chapman. Makeba became one of the biggest stars on the continent through her socially aware songwriting, something she shared closely with American songwriter Tracy Chapman. Chapman was a voice for social change as well, but Naomi loved her positive idealism, a concept that informs all the songs on Naomi’s album. Makeba’s also a personal icon for Naomi, who cites “the way she carried herself, her grace and character,” as influencers. “She was able to maintain her integrity as an African. She didn’t need to change who she was to fit with Western audiences.” That’s why you won’t hear any stereotypical African music on Naomi’s debut. She’s making music inspired both by the music she discovered in America and the music she grew up with in Kenya, not a Western conception of how African music should sound. The daughter of a Kijabe pastor, Naomi joined the traveling family band at five years old, spreading the good word through gospel song. This explains the beautiful harmonies on her album, for as she says “In my family everyone sang and everyone knew their part. Harmony was second nature for us.” Larger African concepts also play a part in Naomi’s music, like the Zulu idea of Ubuntu. This concept means “I am because we are,” and it’s a community-based worldview that focuses on caring for each other.

NAOMI WACHIRA
 

MONTY ALEXANDER "HARLEM KINGSTON EXPRESS" VOL.2 THE RIVER ROLLS ON

In a career spanning five decades, pianist Monty Alexander has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica, finding in each a sincere spirit of musical expression. In the process, he has performed and recorded with artists from every corner of the musical universe and entertainment world: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, Quincy Jones, Ernest Ranglin, Barbara Hendricks, Bill Cosby, Bobby McFerrin, Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare, among others. Born on D-Day (June 6, 1944) and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, he took his first piano lessons at age six, although he is largely self-taught. As a teenager, he witnessed concerts by Louis Armstrong and Nat “King” Cole at Kingston’s Carib Theater. These artists had a profound effect on Alexander’s aspirations. He formed Monty and the Cyclones in the late 1950s and also recorded on sessions with the musicians who would catapult Jamaican music to international recognition as The Skatalites (Bob Marley’s first backing band). Alexander and his family came to the United States at the end of 1961. Less than two years later, while playing in Las Vegas with Art Mooney’s orchestra, he caught the eye of New York City club owner Jilly Rizzo and his friend, Frank Sinatra. Rizzo hired the young pianist to work in his club, Jilly’s, where he accompanied Sinatra and others. There he met Modern Jazz Quartet vibraphonist Milt Jackson, who hired him and eventually introduced him to former Charlie Parker collaborator and legendary bassist Ray Brown. Alexander recorded and performed with the two jazz giants on many occasions. Jazz’s greatest luminaries welcomed Alexander to their “musical fraternity” in the mid-1960s. Among these earliest enthusiasts for his playing were none other than Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Miles Davis. MONTY ALEXANDER
 

THE DELINES "COLFAX"

The name “The Delines” came to Willy in a dream. He claims we were playing a nice venue somewhere and it was written across the kick drum. The idea for the band itself came long before on a tour with Richmond Fontaine. Amy was singing the female roles from the High Country and Post to Wire, originally sung by her sister Deborah. Backstage Amy would sing soul and opera numbers to warm up and get her mind off the psycho logger tunes and a-holes she was locked in a van with. Some of the soul singing must have found its way into Willy's consciousness however and upon returning home he penned several songs he hoped Amy would sing. Willy sneaked over to John's studio and whipped out some demos to share with Amy and Sean. They dug em! Amy chose her keys and Tucker came over to work out parts in the basement. We called Freddy in to lay down the bass and Jenny to play rhodes and organ. Finally we got Amy up from Austin and after some quality time in the basement hit the studio. Collin put down a little cello and John some baritone guitar. Crow sent us up backing vocals that Amy and Deb had done down in Austin. John mixed them all up nice here in Portland and voilà “Colfax” was born. We are planning to release May 2014 on Decor and El Cortez Records. THE DELINES
 

SAM CRAIG BIG BAND "AFTER HOURS"

Currently based in Birmingham, Sam Craig is one of the country's top upcoming instrumentalists. Specialising in Jazz and Pop as a saxophonist, pianist, vocalist and woodwind player, Sam's services are currently in great demand right across the country. Growing up in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Sam took up the piano aged 9, followed by the clarinet and saxophone within the next few years. By his mid teens he had developed a real passion for music and was set on pursuing it beyond his time in formal education. Whilst nowadays Sam's real passion lies within the creative aspects of jazz and composition, he originally was on a more classically orientated path. Aged 16 he joined the Lichfield Sinfonia as guest soloist for a performance of Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1 shortly after achieving distinction in his grade 8 ABRSM exam. Studying under the tutelage of Clarinettist Megan Barr and Pianist Marian Brannan, he also went on to reach grade 8 standard in saxophone and piano before securing a place to study music at York University.Despite only studying in the Yokshire city for a year, it was during this time that Sam really began to find his way into Jazz. Academic studies with Jonathon Eato and working instrumetnally with the brilliant saxophonist Joel Purnell lured Sam away from the classical world and into the shadows of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Miles Davis.It was at this point that Sam secured a place on the illustrious BMus Jazz Degree course at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Studying with Mike Williams, Andy Panayi, Percy Pursglove, Andrew Bain, Hans Koller, Iain Dixon, and Trevor Lines under the direction of Jeremy Price in an extremely creative environment has given Sam four years of unbelievable opportunities to expand on his own abilities, and he is set to graduate there in the coming summer.A member of both the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra (MYJO), Fat Chops Big Band and the Birmingham Conservatoire Mingus Band, Sam is becoming increasingly known as a rising figure on the Big Band scene. Having played with Mark Nightingale, Martin Williams, Claire Teal, Marlene VerPlank, Jeff Hooper, Jacqui Dankworth, Alan Barnes and Stephen Triffett amoungst numerous others, Sam is regularly on call for the bands of many of these superstar names as well as many others. SAM CRAIG BIG BAND
 

TERRY QUIETT BAND "TAKING SIDES"

In just a few years the Terry Quiett Band has become a mainstay across America's Heartland. From 6th Street in Austin...to the windy city of Chicago...through the mountains of Colorado...across the deserts of Arizona...jamming down on Beale Street in Memphis...wherever they go the TQB has won over young and old with their energetic and soulful sound.During this time, the Terry Quiett Band has shared the stage with legends including Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, B.B. King, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Johnny Winter, Walter Trout, Robin Trower, Tab Benoit, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Bernard Allison, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, .38 Special and Los Lonely Boys.Electric blues and rock fans searching for a new guitar hero need look no further than Terry Quiett, roaring from the heartland like a tornado on his latest, greatest release. Ten albums since 1999 have proven his staying power while allowing him to develop his exceptional talents as a singer, songwriter and virtuosoinstrumentalist in preparation for “overnight success” he has earned and deserves.Twelve scorching, soulful originals, along with one classy cover, range from raw country blues to grooving R&B driven hard by bassist Nathan Johnson and drummer Rodney Baker and augmented by “Mississippi” Hal Reed (harp), Scott Williams (keyboards and tenor sax), Brad Turgeon (trumpet) and Jordan Northerns (trombone). The stomping “Come the Morning” with Quiett ripping on his resonator guitar and Reed matching on “Mississippi Saxophone” contains the sly demand “Be gone come the morning, mama, don’t call my bluff. Oh, but before you take off and start your new life, I need to get me your jelly roll for one more night.” “Nothing At All” continues the musical onslaught, revealing Quiett as the new “King of the Slide,” with chilling commentary: “Down to the ground in a fiery rain, some live a lie, others kill for nothing.” The dark remake of his earlier “Cut the Rope” finds Quiett employing a wah pedal and his slashing slide to intensify the stinging confessional lyrics “My lies are growing quite thin, you see right through each of them.” TERRY QUIETT BAND
 

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SHOESTRING BOURBON "SHOESTRING BOURBON"

Shoestring Bourbon was formed in the fall of 2012.  ‘Bourbon plays originals as well as blues, soul and rock n roll covers.  You can find Shoestring Bourbon playing local Victoria venues along with occasional shows on the mainland and beyond.  ‘Bourbon is bluesy, rocking, funky, and always dirty!
Bre Levere - Vocals
Dan Favell - Guitar
Matt Bromley - Guitar
Martin Schoeps - Keys
Dustin Beckner - Bass
Brandon Reventlow - Drums  
Recorded at Electric City Sound Studios. Engineered and tracked to tape by Matt Gibbs, Martin Schoeps and Justin LaPointe.
Mixed and Mastered by Martin Schoeps at Marty Island Music.
Album artwork by Greg Szabo at IDESIGNSTUFF.ca.
Special thanks to Justin LaPointe Music. SHOESTRING BOURBON
 

ANDRES BOIARSKY "CROSSTALK"

As one of the most versatile and highly trained reed players of his generation, Andres Boiarsky brings a wealth of experience to his excellence as a sideman and leader in the jazz world. From his home in Buenos Aires to the Royal College of Music to the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and beyond, Andres has followed in the footsteps of the great tenor players with a style worthy to take the place of one of his mentors, James Moody, in the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band.Beginning his musical life with piano lessons at the age of six, Andres later switched to reed instruments as he became more deeply involved with the strong revivalist jazz scene in Argentina during the mid seventies. With that stylistic jazz idiom, Andres also began playing the tenor, alto and soprano saxophones.In 1978 he began his studies at the renowned Royal College of Music in London where he received an A.R.C.M. degree. During this time, Andres also formed his own group and recorded his first solo album for Spotlight Records as well as numerous recordings for the BBC. After completing his studies in England, Andres returned to Argentina for six years during which time he recorded two solo albums for CBS records.In 1988, with the encouragement of Paquito D'Rivera and Carlos Franzetti, Andres moved New York where he joined the Lionel Hampton Orchestra; he would later become the band's musical director for six years.Also, beginning in 1993, Andres was a member of the United Nation Orchestra under the direction of D'Rivera. ANDRES BOIARSKY
 

THE STEVE CAL' BAND "THE STEVE CAL' BAND"

Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Steve Cal’ released his debut album, which fans of the blues, Buddy Guy, and Cream will thoroughly enjoy. The Steve Cal’ Band, which also features Sandy Eldred (bass) and Melinda Gervasio (drums) delivers nine songs (a couple of which are covers) on their self-titled album The Steve Cal’ Band that have a vintage feel to them. The recording themselves seem raw and live. Not many bells and whistles on these recordings. It pretty much sounds like a couple of musicians jamming in a room. Cal’ has a decent blues voice but guitar playing is the star of the show on a lot of these songs. He plays a nasty lead and digs into scales while thrashing at his guitar. First up is “I’m The One,” which sounds similar to an old Cream song tinged with a bit of Hendrix. Cal’ sings over drum fills as the guitar is vacant for a beat only to return with a vengeance. It isn't long before Cal’ starts soloing and makes you feel like an amateur. “Real Long Day” had a solo and riff that sounded similar to the one on “Stairway To Heaven.” He implements an A - G - F progression. “I Ain’t Messing Around” is the kind of blues-rock you can imagine playing at your local bar while the townies are slamming back boilermakers and playing pool. It has a classic feel to it. ”Through Your Eyes” was one of the highlights on the album. Cal’ delivers one of his best vocal performances while the song pours out a decent amount of nostalgia and melancholy. He even tips his hat to “The Wind Cries Mary” for a brief moment. Cal closes the album by covering two of the greatest blues artists of all time. He does justice to “Come On In This House” by Junior Wells and “Malted Milk” by Robert Johnson. THE STEVE CAL'BAND

LISA MANN "MOVE ON"

Powerhouse bassist and front woman Lisa Mann hails from the blues-steeped city of Portland, OR. She is currently the Cascade Blues Association's Female Vocalist of the Year and Bass Player of the Year, and her band is the Contemporary Blues Act of the Year. She and her aptly named “Really Good Band” have been mainstays of the Northwest music scene for several years, and have graced the stage at some of the finest blues events, such as the Waterfront Blues Festival, Bronze Blues & Brews, Untapped Blues Festival, Sunbanks and others. She was inducted into the Cascade Blues Association’s Hall of Fame in 2011 after winning the Muddy Waters Award for Bass Player of the Year for the third time in a row. She has received numerous nominations for Vocalist of the Year, winning in 2009 and 2012. In 2011, she and her Really Good Band represented the CBA at the International Blues Challenge, where they made it to the semi-finals. Lisa also won the Portland Music Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blues in 2012.Her influences run the gamut, from low down blues sisters Etta James and Koko Taylor, to singer-songwriters like Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow, to R&B belters like Little Milton. She writes the majority of her recorded material, and her songs paint pictures of a gritty (and sometimes humorous) personal experience in life, love and the not-always-pretty music business. LISA MANN
 

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DAWN HOLT LAUBER "EVERLASTING"

From Bach & Mozart, to Ellington & Brubeck, soprano Dawn Holt Lauber's commitment to excellence in sacred song and it's mission shines through the music. Hailed by The Chicago Tribune as "exquisite" for the world premiere performance of William Russo’s Jubilatem, with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Lauber also performed with the CJE on Russo’s Chicago Suite 2, and Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts. She shares sacred jazz music for many initiatives of compassion, mercy, and justice - including for World Vision, Jimmy Carter Foundation, and World Bicycle Relief. She first performed Ellington’s Sacred Concerts as a regular soloist with The Riverside Church of New York City, which ignited an interest in jazz, both secular and what has come to be known as sacred jazz, or even church jazz. Moving from New York to Chicago, Lauber became acquainted with Dave Brubeck's sacred music through her work at the historic Fourth Presbyterian Church - including a performance there with Brubeck's quartet and the Morning Choir. This work led her to Andy Tecson's ensemble, Churchjazz, with whom she regularly performs in concerts and worship services, and the annual performances of The Jazz Nativity and The Jazz Passion. A classically trained soprano with an MM in Vocal Performance from the Hartt School of Music, Lauber is also a featured soloist in many oratorio and concert settings - including the recent Midwest premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Abyssinian 200, with the DuPage Chorale and Orchestra, for The Chicago Humanities Festival in "Noyes Fludde", with conductor John Nelson at Wheaton College in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and in Handel’s Messiah with the Elmhurst Chorale and Orchestra, among other ensembles. With the The Riverside Church, Lauber performed Bach’s Magnificat, Mozart’s C Minor Mass, Faure’s Requiem, and Kodaly’s Missa Brevis featuring the Jose Limon Dance Troupe, among other standards of the classical sacred repertoire. DAWN HOLT LAUBER
 

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KAREN LOVELY "LIVE IN LOS ANGELES"

Karen Lovely shot onto the blues scene out of  the Pacific Northwest like Stack O' Lee's .44 placing 2nd at the 2010 International Blues Challenge followed by three 2011 Blues Music Award Nominations for BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST, BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM and BEST SONG for her sophomore release STILL THE RAIN. She is a two time “#1 Pick to Click” artist on XM Radio Bluesville and has just been selected as the 2014 Featured Blues artist by KJZZ FM in Los Angeles. Lovely’s records have topped the national blues and roots charts and made the Top 10 favorite artist list for dozens of nationally syndicated radio stations.Known for her passionate, driven performances and always backed by stellar musicians, this powerhouse vocalist delivers a blistering mix of contemporary & old school blues. Lovely's standout performances have garnered awards, critical acclaim and standing ovations at festivals and venues throughout the US, Canada and Europe.Karen has just completed 4 successful European tours, playing to packed houses and sold out shows in France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.  Her performance at the 44th Internationale Jazzwache in Burghausen, Germany was taped for broadcast and began airing on German TV in December 2013. KAREN LOVELY
 

GAROTAS SUECAS "FERAS MITICAS"

Sweaty, funky, exotic, committed. Garotas Suecas ("Swedish Girls," in Portuguese) hail from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and their hearty, full-throated stew combines the best elements of their country's homegrown Tropicalia with Anglo-American Soul and freakbeat. Escaldante Banda offers a brew of Otis Redding soul grooves and Os Mutantes craziness. The Garotas' most accomplished recording to date and the ideal stateside introduction to Brazil's best-kept secret, the record bursts with fuzz guitars, polyrhythms, scorching female backing vocals, big horn sections, and heavy Psychedelia. Its grooves are thick, and it comes to make America shake. The perfect late-summer dance record."Após burilar sua musicalidade em uma série de EPs e ganhar a simpatia dos gringos, o Garotas Suecas finalmente lançou um álbum completo. Calcado em levadas de funk, soul e jovem guarda, o debute retrata uma banda afiadíssima, que sabe trabalhar bem todas essas influências. Já estava na hora de o Brasil também descobri-los." GAROTAS SUECAS
 

TANGLED EYE "DREAM WALL"

A CD jewel full of top recordings and rich with atmosphere. For Dede Priest, it is the feeling that counts first, and she chooses clearly for the best musicians in the right places. Whoever has seen her perform live, of course, doesn't need to be convinced anymore. DEDE PRIEST grew up in Dallas, Texas, raised by her hard-working, young mother.  As a little girl, Dede would sing along to whatever she could find.  As she grew older, it was the rawness of Blues and Gospel that shaped her talent the most.Moving to Austin, Texas to attend the University of Texas, she earned a degree in Philosophy, then followed her heart and let the music lead. In Austin, Texas, a thriving live music haven, Dede began singing professionally. Brandishing vocals rooted in the Texas Blues tradition, Dede Priest has shared the stage with Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Leon Russell, Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble), and Harry Belafonte, among others.  Pinned early on as a “Modern Day Blues Queen”, Dede Priest is now gaining wider international recognition for her powerful delivery of a unique style that crosses lines and “turns Blues, Soul, and Jazz inside out”.  Performing in the USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Romania, Dede Priest continues to forge ahead with successful shows, radio play, and television appearances, including prestigious events such as Rhythm & Blues Night Oosterpoort - The Netherlands, Belgium Rhythm & Blues - Peer, Simply Blues Viana - Portugal, Trasimeno Blues Festival – Italy, Martin Luther King Keynote – Austin, Texas, to name a few. TANGLED EYE

EVERETT B WALTERS "CATCHING THE H TRAIN"

Guitarist, Michael Everett Brown and Bassist, Harold Walter Brown III, the two brothers from the south side of Chicago are the founders and driving force behind the jazz/funk group Everett B. Walters. Along with Stan Small on Keyboards/Lead VocalsEd Morales Percussion Lay down some funky, smooth and danceable rhythms make for an outstanding live show and those same fresh grooves are carried throughout their album, Always High Reaching which features Keyboardist, Brian Simpson on the title track. Always High Reaching is a stellar recording with a host of talented musicians including Shawn Rivera (Az-yet), Alexx Daye, Mike White-drums, Alex Alessondroni-keyboards, Alex Al- bass, Simone Sello-Guitar and Leo Crowe-Guitar. The track “And The Story Goes” was a popular European single on JAZZ FM double CD compilation, The Very Best of Smooth Jazz. After hearing this track on the compilation CD, Rendezvous recording artist, Brian Simpson decided to cover it on his hit Smooth Jazz album, It’s All Good.From the beginning:Growing up in Chicago, the Brown brothers started their career in the Chicago Vocational Music Program but it was a neighborhood friend, Tom Washington (Tom-Tom 84), who recorded and arranged with super-group Earth, Wind and Fire that influenced them most. Tom would come by their practices and invited them to record with him and introduced them to writing & pre-production. After high school they performed regularly around the Chicago area at community events, private events and clubs including the infamous Cotton Club, The Click and also opened for the late Bernie Mac in the early 90’s. Looking to expand their performance opportunities, Michael and Harold left Chicago and headed for Las Vegas and began playing regularly at Caesar’s Casino, the MGM Casino, Chez’s and The Hop. EVERETT B WALTERS
 

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DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS "SUNSHINE"

Davina Sowers and the Vagabonds have created a stir on the national blues scene with their high-energy live shows, sharp-dressed professionalism, and Sowers’ commanding stage presence. With influences ranging from Fats Domino and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Aretha Franklin and Tom Waits, the band is converting audiences one show at a time, from Vancouver to Miami and across Europe. The band’s latest recording, 2011’s Black Cloud, was named one of the 10 best releases of the year by the Minneapolis Star; Tribune. In 2012 the band performed in 21 states and 6 countries in Europe, and the band is hard at work on a new record (due for release Fall 2013), spending time in the studio between tours. So much more than just a blues act, DATV’s shows are filled with New Orleans charm, Memphis soul swagger, dark theatrical moments< that evoke Kurt Weill, and tender gospel passages. Davina’s voice and stage presence defy category in a different way.  Davina has been compared to Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin,Billie Holiday and Betty Boop, but comparisons don’t suffice: Sowers is a true original. Something unique to this “blues” project is the instrumentation. This rollicking quintet is held together by Sowers’ keyboard playing, with acoustic bass, drums, and a spicy trumpet and trombone horn section. The group’s focused, clean sound and emphasis on acoustic instruments is novel to both blues and jazz worlds, and sets the show closer to New Orleans than to Chicago. This has set the Vagabonds apart at blues festivals in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Sighisoara, Romania, Sierre, Switzerland, Kemi, Finland, and 2012’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Davina and band will make their debut at the Monterey Jazz Festival this September.  Catch this one-of-a-kind live show while they are in town! DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS
 

VINCENT HAYES "THE GRIND"

The Grind was recorded in the spring of 2013 at Redwall North Studios in Grand Haven, MI, and marks the first major independent release for producer Bill Chrysler, who has been one of the most sought after sound engineers in the music world for artists such as Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and recently, Ray Lamontagne, including a long standing gig of nearly a decade as John Mayer’s right hand sound man. The disc was co-produced by Joe Sturgill and Vincent Hayes, and mastered by Brian Lucey (Black Keys, “Brothers, El Camino”) at Magic Garden Mastering in Columbus, Ohio.Following the highly successful award winning debut recording Reclamation, Hayes and his band decided to return to their roots as a three-piece power trio, and drop the “Vincent Hayes Project” moniker in favor of Hayes’s name. “It’s a simpler identity, says Hayes, and it gives me more freedom as a writer to explore other sounds, and let the songs lead me, rather than to be dependent on arranging around two keyboardists.” Returning on The Grind are Bassist, David “The Butcher” Alves, and Donnie Hugley on percussion, who back Hayes with both power and precision on the 10 guitar driven tracks. “With the keyboards gone, I finally felt free to make a big guitar record, and I’m really excited about the guitar tones on this disc, states Hayes. Joe and I spent a lot of time crafting guitar sounds. We agreed on the first session ‘no rules’, just whatever it takes to make it big, fat and beautiful.”  Hayes says of the studio, “There is just a vibe here. It’s a combination of a lot of factors, and none of us really have put our finger on just one thing. Its a great studio with great engineers, and a lot of passionate musicians, including national acts like Hayes, who says “reminds him of what it must have felt like back in the days when the cats at Chess Records and Motown realized that something special was happening there.” VINCENT HAYES
 

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DIVERSE "OUR JOURNEY"

Since the inception of the group, Diverse’s musical intent has always been to connect with all types of audiences. Diverse plays a brand of jazz that is heavily influenced by other modern day genres yet keeps a firm grasp on the tradition. The core members of this Kansas City based group are Hermon Mehari (trumpet), Ryan Lee (drums), and Ben Leifer (bass). Parisian pianist Tony Tixier has recently joined thegroup.Diverse released its sophomore album, "Our Journey" in 2014 featuring Tony Tixier and alto saxophonist Logan Richardson.  This documents the musical results of the group’s growth as a result of their individual and collectives travels and experiences. In 2009, Diverse released their self-titled debut album on Origin Records as a result of winning the 2008 Gene Harris Jazz Competition in Boise, Idaho. This album of twelve original compositions reached the Top 50 of the JazzWeek charts and stayed in the Top 120 for more than six months.Diverse has also taken initiatives to collaborate with many artists and play in a variety of musical settings. The group has performed with jazz greats Bobby Watson, Jaleel Shaw and Logan Richardson in a series of concerts designed to promote these respective artists’ music to a new audience. Diverse has also collaborated with many Kansas City based artists of other genres to perform shows in tribute to Michael Jackson, Common’s “Like Water For Chocolate” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Low End Theory”. The Diverse Trio, consisting of Mehari, Leifer and Lee, has conducted both stateside and European tours in the past two years. DIVERSE
 

LEEANN ATHERTON "HEART TRAVELED ROAD"

Leeann Atherton is sometimes known as the "Queen of South Austin". She eschews the title but it is given to her because she is the heart of a vibrant musical community in the "Live Music Capitol of the World". In Heart Traveled Road she shares the journey of that heart. Whether rocking a hot "Kiss" , admitting poison love in "Change of Heart", the Jazzy goodbye in "Remember Me", or the soulful affirmation of "Looking for a Rainbow", this CD speaks to the many paths the heart takes. Her delivery of Mike Stevenson's road song "Ode to Nowhere" comes through like a James Taylor traveling tune. "Ride Out the Blues" Leeann highlights her considerable harmonica chops along with some tasty guitar licks. Rich Brotherton's innovative string arrangement pulls the listener into the somber mood of "Soul Song" "Bougainville Sunset", my personal favorite, is a romantic memory set to a soft Latin Beat. Lush Lyrics painted on a canvas of Spanish guitar and solid rhythm.Every song on this CD is a pleasant surprise. It is a tour de force of Atherton's songwriting, her vocal delivery, and Rich Brotherton's artistry as a producer. Heart Traveled Road is a wonderful musical trip with the Queen of Hearts, Leeann Atherton. LEEANN ATHERTON
 

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T-BEAR & THE DUKES "ICE MACHINE"

When you’ve been around on this earth for a while, that thought does come to you once in a
while. It could hit you when you see a nice old car, a music instrument, a real ”old school”personality being interviewed on the TV…. and if you’re into the blues, this thought definitelycomes more often as the years keep passing by. Our heroes pass away, and many of the young
musicians who try to pick up this heritage will sound like scholars for a long time before they
might come out as a full-fledged blues musician.But here’s a guy that startles you as soon as you hear the sound of his guitar, his voice and the way he deals with the tradition. Raw and direct, well not ”too raw” but just sounding like himself.A straight-forward approach, with that special ”bite” that we associate with some of the greatbluesmen.Where does he find it? Maybe in the deep forests of Värmland, a sparsely populated region inSweden, near the Norwegian border. But mostly in his deep long-term love story with the blues,with heroes like Albert Collins, Albert and Freddie King, Luther Allison and other greatrepresentatives of modern electric blues with a twist of funk. And one thing he has in common with these musicians is that he will never play a set with only shuffles, but keeps varying his tempos and beats. Not only is he a natural talent on the guitar, but his expressive and direct voiceand his creative songwriting contribute to his sound, raw and mature at the same time.The band T-Bear and the Dukes of Rhythm was started by Torbjörn Solberg in his hometown Arvika, Sweden, in 2004, and they have released two CD’s with their previous lineup, including a horn section: ”Let The Sweet Talk Flow” and ”Broadway Twist”.The new band is a quartet, featuring Hammond wizard Paul ”Palle” Wagnberg, a professionalmusician since 1985, including 20 years in soul jazz group ”The Real Thing”. Bass player JanLillsäter has been supporting T-Bear for more than 20 years, steady as a rock, no matter if he’splaying electric bass or upright. The new drummer Henrik ”Henke” Berg was carefully chosenfor his good beat and good spirit, and the new band made a great impact during their first tour in Benelux May 2013. T-BEAR & THE DUKES
 

YOLANDA DUKE "TE LLEVO BAJO LA PIEL"

La Duke.The lights go down, the band strikes the opening notes of the first song and for the next two hours Yolanda Duke mesmerizes the crowd with her mastery of Latin jazz, Merengue, Ballads, Bossanova, Salsa and Bolero.While that is a very real scenario today, it was but a recurring dream for young Yolanda growing up in New York City. She was the gifted little girl with the big voice, who––after taking singing lessons––began to take command of her talent and gain confidence in her ability to entertain.In her early teens she entered singing contests and eventually won a local competition. Soon after she began her singing career, performing in local clubs in NYC and Toronto. This lead to her being booked as the headliner of a Vegas-style show at the number-one showplace in the Caribbean, La Fuente Nightclub, at the prestigious Hotel Jaragua, where she refined her performing skills and stage presence, beginning her transformation into ‘La Duke.’ She followed the success of that appearance by recording a hit tropical album for RMM/SONY Music. Yolanda then recorded a tribute to the famous Latin songstress La Lupe, who gained international fame performing with the Tito Puente Orchestra. A copy of the cd made its way to Tito, who was so impressed that he invited young Yolanda to appear as a guest vocalist at several concerts over the next few years. Then he made her an offer she couldn’t refuse––becoming a permanent singer in the band from 1994 -97, thrilling audiences all over the world. La Duke had the privilege of sharing stage with the likes of Ray Charles, BB King, Arturo Sandoval, Dianne Reeves and Al Jarreau.As her fans will attest, what sets Yolanda apart is that she doesn’t just interpret a song, she takes it and makes it her own. Her voice is a wondrous instrument that yells with exuberance, cries with soul and whispers with intimacy. In the course of one song, she can inspire your mind, touch your heart and move your feet like no other singer. YOLANDA DUKE
 

DEXTER PAYNE QUARTET "PRA VOCE"

Dexter Payne went to Latin America for a year and stayed for almost 3. But Brazil, he never left. Ranking in Downbeat Readers Poll twice and member of International Blues Challenge winners Lionel Young Band, he finds his muse in a variety of genres. But Brazil is where he hangs his hat. Check out the group with his name on it. WIth Bill Kopper, Dave Willey, Victor Mestas Pérez, Raoul Rossiter.It's like a fever when you start listening to this album—the way summer gets in the brain. By the time you get to the final song, "Lembrei do Ceara," you'll be contemplating a plane ticket to the Southern hemisphere. Downbeat Readers Poll Finalist ‘04 & ‘06, NBC Today Show, 9 yrs with the Big Sky Mudflaps, partnered with the late Judy Roderick 16 yrs, toured 3 yrs with BarBQ Bob. Lived and performed 2 1/2 yrs in Latin America (12 countries), playing with Thiago de Mello, Ruben Gonzales, Cachaito, recorded with Beth Carvalho. Performed with Thiago de Mello & Sharon Isbin at 92nd St Y, Hamptons Music Festival, and Mostra Internacional de Musica em Olinda (MIMO) Pernambuco, Brazil. World premier of Brazilian composer Thiago de Mello's A Flame in the Dark in NYC celebration of the International Declaration of Human Rights. Co-released two CDs with de Mello. DONT MISS: 25 yr old sessions of Judy Roderick with Dr John. Latest on Dexofon Records: Lionel Young Band "On Our Way To Memphis" Dexter currently tours internationally with Lionel Young Band, 2011 IBC champs. DEXTER PAYNE 
 

THE RICH O'BRIEN PROJECT "HORIZONS"

Heralding from the suburbs of Bristol, Rich comes from a family of musicians that draw influences from an array of differing musical styles, ranging from Jazz, Funk and Soul, to Rock/Pop, Blues and Hip-hop. Aside from being an active member in a number of projects such as Mango Factory, Trip The Switch, Murrumbidgee, In Extremis and The Trish Brown band, his latest solo project, self-titled, The Rich O'Brien Project,  merges grooves reminiscent of a Marcus Miller or Soulive record with ambient melodies that explore a range of musical styles.he Rich O'Brien Project are a formidable 5/6 piece Nu-soul/Jazz/Funk outfit heralding from the cultural hub of Bristol. Fronted by bass player, Rich O'Brien, who's playing merits also include working with the likes of Roni Size, Joker, Robert Brian (Suissiex siex), James Morton, Jay Wilcox, William Cartwright and Celestine (from BBC's "The Voice"), the project features Rich's beautifully rich and succinct original compositions. Merging grooves reminiscent of a Marcus Miller or Soulive record with soul-drenched melodies, The Rich O'Brien Project’s modern blend of Funk, Nu-Soul, Jazz, and R’n’B styles appeals to both astute listeners and dance floor goers alike. With the rich ‘grooves for moves’ and soulful melodies characteristic of smoke-filled jazz clubs seen in their acclaimed award winning début album, "Hot Potato", their new album, "Horizons" is not to be missed. "This is unquestionably music that is destined to fill, and captivate, jazz and soul clubs the length and breadth of the country and beyond." (John Toolan, 2012).THE RICH O'BRIEN PROJECT