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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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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
