Gregg Martinez—whose blend of blues, R&B and swamp pop music he describes as “bayou blues and Creole soul”—was born and raised and still lives in the Cajun country of south Louisiana—where he began singing in church at the age of eight. Ten years later, he was singing professionally. His powerhouse voice, which has been compared to Sam Cooke and Luther Vandross, took him from the bars and nightclubs of the bayou country to some of the finest resorts, casinos and clubs throughout the nation. He had an exclusive performing contract with Donald and Ivana Trump and a seven figure recording contract. By 1986, Gregg was on the brink of stardom in the music industry, yet like many great artists, somehow slipped through the cracks of the star maker machinery. The late Ed Bradley of TV’s 60 Minutes—upon seeing him perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2005—called Gregg Martinez one of America’s greatest hidden treasures. His talent is the stuff of legend and even after more than thirty years, Gregg is better than ever. He has performed throughout the U.S. and has toured South Africa, England, Wales, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Gregg has released ten recordings, Wonders Never Cease- 1991, Love Has A Voice- 1993, They That Wait- 1997, For The Ages- 1999, All The Days- 2001, Christmas- 2002, Bring Down The Thunder- 2004, Big Bad Daddy- 2006, South Of The Parish Line- 2011, and the brand new Creole Soul-2013, his first on Louisiana Red Hot Records. His music is played on radio stations in the U.S. and abroad. Gregg has shared the stage with many notable artists including Stevie Wonder, Foreigner, BTO, Dobie Gray, Shirley Caesar, Percy Sledge, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Patti Labelle, and Bobby “Blue” Bland. He is also the former lead singer of the Boogie Kings, for which, as a member of that legendary group, he was selected into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010. He wrote and recorded the title song for their final album, Never Go Away- 2007. Gregg and his band, the Delta Kings, are available to perform at selected venues and festivals. GREGG MARTINEZ
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Saxophone player with a degree in classical music, specialized in the United States on Berklee College of Music (Boston). In his career he has had many successes in different areas of music. From classical music, popular music, jazz, soul, funk, playing in various ensembles from small groups to orchestras, from club music (even playing on the street) to concert and sport halls, in fifteen years of his career, Igor Gerzina has worked with almost all important people on the Croatian music scene. Some of them are known outside Croatia such as: jazz vibraphonist Bosko Petrovic, jazz composer Miljenko Prohaska, guitarist Elvis Stanic, arranger Silvije Glojnaric. He has had more than 70 discography releases, around thirty music videos, the whole line of television shows and programs, appearances as a guest player in radio shows. He has won many awards, among which are two Porin awards, three Status awards, Crni macak award and many nominations. He has also got several awards on State competitions. IGOR GERZINA
Padam Swing is a highly unique New York gypsy jazz band which delivers a mix of classic American 30′s and 40′s jazz standards, Bossa Nova and French Songs. With a line-up of virtuoso musicians this ensemble features captivating violin and harmonica melodies, dazzling guitar stylings, and the sultry sounds of upright bass.Formed in 2013 Padam Swing is a unique Brooklyn-based “french gypsy jazz” band leaded by top-notch harmonica player Yvonnick Prene about to take the New York music scene by storm! Their incredibly thrilling music showcases virtuosic technique, electrifying improvisation, rapid tempos, daring key changes and eclectic musical literacy. Padam Swing melds the spirit of traditional gypsy jazz and french songs with modern grooves, improvisation and east coast attitude. Inspired by the music of Parisian genius Django Reinhardt during the 30′s and 40’s, they continue the heritage while also showcasing original tunes written by their members. YVONNICK PRENE & PADAM SWING
Born in 1997 from the myriad of sounds that comprise the New Orleans music scene, Aural Elixir's eclectic piano and vocal jazz-rock-folk fusion has been delighting audiences for over fifteen years. Often compared to Tori Amos & Joni Mitchell, Jesse Maclaine's performance as Aural Elixir delivers versatile, soulful music that is both accessible and defies categorization. "Partially Domesticated Amazon: Exposed!" is the 1st in a series of 3 records entitled "Aural Elixir Three Ways." This series explores three different approaches to making an album from the same studio sessions. This first version is a live trio, 3 real time performances with no overdubs or other types of extreme electronic manipulation. With this CD, we pay homage to our musical ancestors. The few who were blessed with the opportunity to record their music did not have the luxuries afforded us by modern technology. They all gathered in one room and recorded their songs into one microphone, no computers, no special effects, no Auto-Tune, only people making music together in the same space and time."Partially Domesticated Amazon:Exposed!" shows our creativity, our strengths, our flaws, our individuality, our improvised synergistic convergences and captures the real moments involved in the mystical process of making music. AURAL ELIXIR
Based in the wonderfully named Fort Dodge in Iowa, Erick Hovey learnt the basic blues scale when he was only eight years old. Erick has improved on this in such a stupendous way that this album makes you wonder why you haven’t come across his name before? Out of these dozen tunes, the delightful Patchouli certainly grabbed my attention. It is songs like this which make you yearn for an extended version as this groove never becomes tiresome. Fight That Monkey opens with guitar but this is soon joined by vocals which blew me away. Pronounced by Real Blues Magazine as being among their top hundred new releases for 2009, I would urge others to follow their and my own advice to try their utmost to track down a copy of this very distinguished The opener on the Blues Farm CD, “Ball and Chain,” has a slow, moody, funky backdrop with some terrific understated guitar work. “Know Who You Are” is more upbeat, almost blues/rock with Hovey’s ragged but right guitar, and features some tasty harmonica from Andy Blumenthal and keyboards from Tom Gary. “Soda Pop Girl” is a gentle swinger about a girl who drives our protagonist around town while he drinks, and “Patchouli” is highlighted by Hovey’s stinging guitar fills. Other highlights include the atmospheric “Runnin’ With A Full Moon,” the jazzy workout, “Fight That Monkey,” “Missing Part,” and the guitar-driven shuffle, “I’m Through.” Hovey’s a fine guitarist and his vocals are solid and suit the material well, and he gets excellent support from Blumenthal (harmonica), Gary (keys), Jeff Foreman (drums), Dan Lodden (bass), and Heather Kelly (vocals). This is a pretty solid set of Midwest blues that will please most blues fans. Graham Clarke / Blues Bytes / MS, USA ERICK HOVEY
Elliott Ranney is a Jazz musician and recording artist. His album, An Aging Sailor’s Dream, was released in the Spring of 2001 through Wildstone Media, based in St. Louis, Mo. The recording was recently re-released internationally in 2012 through Inpartmaint, LLC, on the Rip Curl Records label, based in Tokyo, Japan. Ranney released his second album of original songs, Bellevue Shuffle, in Autumn of 2013. Elliott performs finger style classical guitar, backed with his cool mellow vocals. His original music is derived from Bossa, Swing, Ballads and popular Jazz standards. In his live show, Ranney covers all the bases with an energy that is laid back, yet engaging and in the groove. His brand of sound can be described as a Jazz/Acoustic hybrid, with undertones of Latin and Swing. Like a warm soft breeze blowing your troubles out to sea, if only for a little while. Elliott has shared the stage with Folk Rock icons: Brewer & Shipley, Shawn Phillips, and singer/songwriter, Jonatha Brooke. He is a regular performer at Blue Sky Vineyard, near Carbondale, Il.; Peaceful Bend Vineyard in Steelville, Mo.; and Picassos Coffee House in St. Charles, Mo. From time to time, Elliott is joined on stage by his wife, Ellen Claire Ranney on vocals his sons Stephen Ranney on upright bass, and Bryan Ranney on mandolin, and his long-time friend and superb Latin percussionist, Patrick Rodriguez. ELLIOTT RANNEY
Blue Dice Band, one of Tampa Bay's premiere Independent Recording Artist, formed in 1995. Blue Dice Band is an 8 piece Horn Driven, Hard Hittin' Funk, Jazz, and Rockin' Blues Powerhouse, inspired by the soulful talents of 8 musicians who write, compose and introduced the band with all of their original music ideas and material recorded to date. The flavor and multiple genre's of the music continues to evolve. Blue Dice Band performs throughout the south in various Blues and Jazz Music Festivals, Universal Studios, Disney World and several West Coast Florida venues that support the Blues and Jazz Independent Recording Music scene. To date, the group has released 3 CD's, with a 4th CD soon to be released. Blue Dice Band's 2nd CD "Why Now" was co-produced by the legendary producer Jim Gaines. Jim's resume, as a producer, includes national recording artists Carlos Santana, Huey Lewis, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Miller Band, Bernard Allison, Tower of Power, and many more. Blue Dice Band live in concert is an inspiring soulful event that will satisfy any music lover's taste buds. BLUE DICE BAND
ValerieTroutt è una cantante e chitarrista di blues e jazz, con padre di Oakland e sua madre una predicatrice. E' cresciuta cantando musica gospel in chiesa con il vescovo Walter Hawkins, ha studiato jazz presso la The New School in New York City e ha trascorso due anni come membro del patrimonio culturale nel coro di Linda Tillery. La fusione di vita spirituale e creativa di Troutt emerse presto, all'età di sette con il suo primo assolo di chiesa. Per poi aprirsi al mondo del jazz presso la stessa scuola che ha prodotto jazzisti del calibro di Joshua Redman e Benny Green, infine, il programma della nuova scuola Jazz Performance con contemporanei come Oliver Bilal e Tiombe Lockhart, sempre circondata da docenti e discenti, sia verticalmente che orizzontalmente, per la sua fioritura musicale. Ha avuto fasi di condivisione con artisti importanti come Les Nubians, e leggende come Bobby McFerrin, poi influenze varie e disparate nelle sue registrazioni come Bjork, Dianne Reeves, Carmen McRae, Joni Mitchell, Walter Hawkins e Cassandra Wilson. Il suo primo CD è stato intitolato "The Sound of Peace". Progetto che è stato registrato con trii e quintetti di musicisti, tra cui Gray Garian e Sawyer Jazz David Yule sul contrabbasso e Raoul Paralez al basso elettrico e batteria. VALERIE TROUTT
Tenore sassofonista compositore e arrangiatore Russ Nolan continua la sua esplorazione Musicale sul suo quarto CD "Relentless", pubblicato dalla sua etichetta di Rhinoceruss Music. Dispone dei contributi del pianista cubano Manuel Valera nominato ai Grammy, così come alla sezione ritmica di Michael O'Brien al basso, il batterista Brian Fishler e Yasuyo Kimura alle percussioni e congas. La musica di Russ Nolan è spesso descritta come High-Energy, Jazz moderno che soddisfa l'intelletto dei suoi coetanei e parla a tutti su un livello soulful. Uomo Rinascimentale Russ è un ballerino di Salsa, tematica che ha avuto un impatto ancora maggiore sulla sua musica. Nolan ha imparato liberare il suo corpo e la sua mente agli effetti dei ritmi, e ha permesso a questa stessa mentalità di penetrare nella sua musica. C'è una pesante influenza del latino su questo gioiello e si dimostra un camaleonte dotato della capacità di cambiare tono, fraseggio e dinamiche al volo. Abili arrangiamenti che permettono a se stesso e ad altri membri della band di swing di presentare con stile belle melodie, e spiccato senso della lirica. Nolan gioca da un luogo profondo dentro di sé, pur rimanendo incredibilmente accessibile all'ascoltatore passivo. Prolifico solista e arrangiatore, Russ Nolan è un artista che rimane fedele al suo mestiere. RUSS NOLAN
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