Trombonist, trumpeter and vocalist Nick Vayenas is a forward-thinking musician who incorporates different styles of music into the jazz idiom. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Vayenas started his music studies with trombone and piano at age 12. He has since become an accomplished trumpeter and vocalist.Since 2003, Nick Vayenas has been a long-standing touring band member for Grammy® Award-winning recording artist Michael Bublé. Vayenas has performed on several Bublé recordings, including Crazy Love and the Grammy® Award- winning Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden.In 2009, Vayenas became a leader in his own right, releasing his critically acclaimed debut album, Synesthesia, on drummer Kendrick Scott’s World Culture Music label. "A well conceived album and more than casually ambitious", wrote Nate Chinen of the New York Times. In 2012, he returned with his sophomore release, Nick Vayenas, on Whirlwind Recordings. The recording displayed his astonishing breadth of skills on vocals, trumpet and trombone, as well as his unique composing and arranging style. "One of the most impressive of Whirlwind issues, showcasing a multi-talented individual likely to appeal to a wide constituency of jazz fans, 4 stars", said Jazz Journal.His new 2013 release, Some Other Time takes the concept used on his previous album and expands upon it. Some Other Time is a balance of instrumental and vocal, originals and covers. The recording features guitarist Doug Wamble, pianist Dan Kaufman, alto saxophonist Patrick Cornelius, bassists Michael Janisch and Peter Slavov, and drummers Rudy Royston and Joe Saylor.Vayenas earned scholarships to attend Berklee College of Music, the Manhattan School of Music and the Thelonious Monk Institute, which were key to his technical development as a musician and composer. His musical influences range from Louis Armstong, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, J.J. Johnson, Frank Rosolino, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Chet Baker to Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Donny Hathaway, Paul Simon, Joao Gilberto, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Beethoven and Debussy. Along the way, Vayenas studied with such jazz luminaries as trombonists Hal Crook, Conrad Herwig, Bill Watrous, David Taylor and Steve Turre, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, and pianist Herbie Hancock.A quintessential sideman as well as a leader, Nick Vayenas has appeared on many albums, including works by Patrick Cornelius and Dayna Stephens. He has worked with prominent artists such as Josh Groban, Bryan Adams, David Foster, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Scott, Aaron Parks, Dayna Stephens, Lionel Loueke, Vicente Archer, Patrick. NICK VAYENAS
This is a singer/songwriter’s album. The songwriter in question is almost entirely Diane Forsyth, with a bit of help here and there. Town Hall Brawl is her band, and it consists of Don Forsyth on electric and slide guitar, Billy Reed on keys, Marty Vadalabene on drums, and Diane herself on vocals and bass.I say this is a singer/songwriter’s album because that’s a wide a category as is available to me. I don’t want to put this CD (or this band) into a bag like “Blues” (although they can get real bluesy), or “Alt-Country” (although some tunes have a strong country flavor) or even that catch-all, “Americana.” These folks play Diane’s songs in a way that transcends categories. Each song is an individual piece, and this bunch of veteran musicians has enough skill and experience to make them come individually alive. The level of craftsmanship here brings The Band to mind, or some of Dylan’s latter day efforts, “Love and Theft” perhaps, or “Modern Times.”Diane voice and delivery make me feel right at home, with a warm, familiar feeling like we’re sitting on the steps of her front porch talking about life. Her songs are all about life – days gone by, regrets, anger, embarrassment, hard work for low pay, the need to just pull it together and keep on keepin’ on. Except for Billy Reed’s lilting instrumental tune, “Daytrip to Havana,” this isn’t a particularly cheerful album. But it’s the kind of album that’s likely to make a person feel better – like a good long conversation with a friend. I’d be hard pressed to pick out favorites from this set – the concurrent variety and consistency of material here is one of the album’s strong points, if that makes any sense.The music itself is fine. Don Forsyth is an excellent, creative guitarist, and I particularly liked his intense slide work. Billy Reed is great throughout – he’s played with everyone in town, and his versatility shows on this recording. He’s the central support for many of the songs, creating an underlying fabric that holds the songs together. Marty’s crackling drums are just right, and Diane’s simple and solid bass works well for the songs she writes and sings. Seattle legend Conrad Uno was at the board for this recording, and the overall sound and production is up to his internationally renowned standards. TOM HALL BRAWL
Vexine has been thrilling audiences with their unique sound since 2012. Their much-anticipated live CD will be released February 21, 2014 on ZAP Records. The CD was recorded live at The Rutledge in Nashville, TN in May 2013. It features Gleason’s “explosive” vocals, Pearce’s “high-octane” guitar solos, and “tight, steady rhythms” from Santamaria and Skiffington that will make your heart rate rise.Vexine’s well-received, self-titled debut was released January 25th, 2013 on ZAP Records. It was included in the “RVA Playlist: Best Richmond Releases of 2013”. The CD features ten original songs and has been described as taking "sultry to bodacious levels, combining rock and roll attitude and country soul". The songs tell stories that the listener can relate to with rhythms you can groove to.Featuring Sarah Gleason’s incendiary vocals, Vexine delivers a powerful, high-energy show with Paul Pearce on guitar and vocals, Michael Skiffington on bass guitar and electric upright bass, and Jorge Santamaria on drums and percussion. The band has been featured throughout local media, including television, (CBS 6’s “Virginia This Morning”), radio (WTVR Lite 98’s “Wake Up Show”), internet (“Radio Rubber Room”), and in print (Richmond Times-Dispatch, Style Weekly). Vexine will be touring throughout 2013 in support of the cd which is available at cdbaby, iTunes, and other online retailers. VEXINE
Fanfare was made in Los Angeles over a 9-month period. “There
were a few weeks of sessions with the band tracking live, as well as
many weeks with just myself and engineer Bryce Gonzales. There were many
weeks at a time of just me working alone, as I did with Gentle Spirit.
I’ve always worked alone in some capacity since I first started
recording, it’s a very important part of the process for me.”Produced by Wilson at his Fivestar Studios in Echo Park, Fanfare was recorded to 2″ analog tape and then mixed down to 1/2 inch tape at
Jackson’s Browne’s Groove Masters studio in Santa Monica through a Neve
8078 analog console. The “next generation hi-fi” attention to the
smallest sonic details is the kind you might expect from a consummate
craftsman/perfectionist that Wilson is.“Analog simply captures things better and it takes the edges off. It creates a beauty much like film,” Wilson says. “Fanfare
is a vehicle to explore fully blown out analog production, from the
strings to the hi-fi cymbal sounds. The recording used a live echo
chamber extensively. ”Featuring vocal and instrumental contributions from heavy friends like
Graham Nash, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Josh Tillman (aka Father John
Misty), Wilco’s Patrick Sansone, Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith and Mike
Campbell and Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, the
album is a celebration of friends and family. Additionally, Wilson and
British folk legend Roy Harper co-wrote several songs on the record.Sometimes Wilson seems to need a pinch to believe his good fortune: “There are an awful lot of wizards on this album. Wizards of all ages
and life experiences. All these amazing voices and musicians. There is a
high degree of musical prowess and pedigree here. Cross-generational
musical sharing and passing down traditions is very important to me and
something that must continue. This is the way you keep the Fanfare’s
blowing, this is how you keep the energies interacting.”In “Lovestrong,” one of the last songs on the record, Wilson sings,
“Just a while ago and up the road a piece, a Fanfare when you are born, a
ballad when you are released. All the while these were the lyrics that
you sang, every lifetime plays the song of every living thing.” And so
it goes… JONATHAN WILSON
This album bills itself as the “Sound of Asbury Park.” Bingo. Guitarist
Danny Petroni has done the Garden State proud. Somewhere “The Boss” is
smiling. Somewhere “Miami Steve” is smiling. Somewhere “Southside
Johnny” is smiling. And blues-loving jazz heads everywhere will be
smiling, too, when they hear this disc. Petroni created this project to
provide a little bit of work for the musicians, engineers and studios of
Asbury Park that suffered so badly in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. He
assembled a star-studded New Jersey cast to perform here—from Gary
Oleyar on violin and Gene Boccia on bass to Dave Halpern and John Allen
on drums and many more. It’s an eclectic blues stew with a sharp jazz
edge. At the centerpiece of this excellent recording is a true surprise
for jazz fans. Ku-umba Frank Lacy adds deep, cool vocals—not to mention
amazing horn arrangements that compete with the best of the Miami Horns.
The result is one of my favorite albums of the year, so far. “I’ve Seen
Everything” swings hard as a hysterical opening tune. The next track,
“Tastes Like Chicken,” ain’t far behind! “I’ve Changed My Ways” slides
in as a beautiful ballad. “Peanut Butter & Jelly” delivers. “Mouse
In The House” offers a sad look at the extermination business of love.
And Petroni’s beautiful, reverb-filled “Diminishing Returns” offers a
touching conclusion to this 10-song set. Sandy couldn’t take these guys
out. It just spurred their artistry. They deserve a few minutes of your
attention.THE BLUE PROJECT
Léna and The Deep Soul agrippe les hanches, dégrippe les articulations,
agite pieds et mains. "Free your mind and your ass will follow", comme
disait l'autre.
C'est de funk dont il s'agit, canal historique, avec George Clinton
comme figure tutélaire. Son Mothership ne cesse d'accoucher une nation
(under a groove) de funkateers parmi lesquels Léna and The Deep Soul
forme un commando de choc. Avec ses propres armes, le couteau entre les
dents : un fantastique gang de sept musiciens rodés à la scène, des
compositions originales chargées de soul, des orchestrations qui
combinent le foisonnement psyché des 70's et le clinquant discoïde des
80's, des solos qui claquent, des jams qui nous mettent la fièvre. Et
Léna : l'âme, la voix, l'énergie, le glamour; la foi chevillée dans le
groove.
I Want to Funk U, chante Lena and The Deep Soul, mais ne prenez pas
peur : ça pulse, ça tourne, c'est jouissif et ça ne fait pas mal, c'est
même pour votre bien. LENA AND THE DEEP SOUL
Sometimes, it takes a breakup to make a great album. Just ask Charlie Faye,
who split up with her longtime partner, Will Sexton, during the
creation of her latest record. Soldiering forward while their
relationship crumbled, the two co-wrote most of the album together,
taking the opportunity to put into music the things they couldn’t put
into words.It’s not the happiest album you’ll hear this summer, but You Were Fine, You Weren’t Even Lonely
(out August 6) does find a way to make heartbreak beautiful. It doesn’t
hurt that Faye has an A-list backing band at her disposal, including
players like Greg Leisz and Jay Bellerose. On “It’s a Fighter,” she
sings about a war-torn heart while the others back her up, adding
brushed percussion, light guitar and Rhodes to the mix.“‘It’s A
Fighter’ is a song about doing battle with your own heart — and
ultimately, losing the fight,” Faye tells us. It’ll lead you down some
crazy paths, it might have some stupid, self-defeating ideas and try to
drag you down along with it… you can try to fight it with reason, but
the odds are against you — the heart almost always wins.” Charlie Faye
Lady Daisey (Daisey Traynham - Brooklyn, NY) is a soul/funk singer who
spent her childhood touring the U.S. with her parent’s band. Raised on
the road, home-schooled and surrounded by music, it was natural for her
to blossom into the artist that she is. Since then, she’s been following
her musical path and developed her own playful style, ranging from
sultry love songs to powerhouse feel-good old-school soul. Lady Daisey
has played venues and festivals around the globe, spreading her message
of love and positivity, soulfully presented over head noddin' Batsauce
beats. A small woman with a huge voice, Lady Daisey is sure to grab the
attention and steal the hearts of everyone within ear's reach.Daisey’s
music career started in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to singing
lead for a few local pop/rock cover bands, she also performed solo
acoustic guitar sets, writing her own songs, in search of her own sound.
In 2002, she met Batsauce (producer/husband). His influence and
dedication sent Daisey in a new direction. His beats and production,
together with her unique and soulful vocals, developed a loyal following
gaining recognition in local press and media. The husband/wife duo
paired up with Paten Locke (aka Therapy, from Asamov) and formed the
Smile Rays in 2005, releasing albums on Rawkus, 6-Hole, Jakarta and
Subcontact. After recording a track with George Clinton and being
selected as Rawkus 50 artists, they quickly won the hearts of the indie
hip hop scene. They toured and played festivals throughout Europe, which
propelled Lady Daisey to the next chapter of her musical career,
releasing “In My Pocket” (bbe) and now finishing her second album “In My
Headphones” (bbe). LADY DAISEY
TCLB
Live has been a long time in the making for The Captain Legendary Band.
Since it's inception, fans have enjoyed the band's sometimes rowdy and
always entertaining live shows. Winning the Academy of Texas Music's
"Live Band of the Year" award in 2010 solidified TCLB as one of the
premier live acts in the South. With the awards and vigorous touring
schedule came the clamoring for a live record from fans old and new.
With the support of The Captain Legendary Band's loyal fan base, the
group pulled off a two set fan appreciation extravaganza that just
happened to be recorded. The band put on two shows, one acoustic, and
one electric to a packed house at the historic "Firehouse Saloon" in
Houston, TX. It included many of the band's fan favorites along with
several new songs that are soon to be standards as well. Throw in the
engineering magic of Grammy winner Adam Odor and you have TCLB Live. It
really is like you were there! THE CAPTAIN LEGENDARY BAND
