We call a collection of songs an "album," and never has the term been
more apt than in Irene Kelley's new bluegrass powerhouse, "Pennsylvania
Coal." It's like leafing through the generations of a family photo
album, while Kelley lovingly fills in the details and fleshes out the
characters.One photo is literal. On the back cover is a 100-year-old shot taken at
the mouth of the Crabtree, Pennsylvania coalmine, and among the miners
is Kelley's grandfather. Her title song is both centerpiece and
fountainhead for the stories that follow. From this first-generation
American tale of hardship and struggle comes the strength, hope and
humility shown in the lives of succeeding generations.Kelley goes "back to her ('grass) roots" on this project. A bluegrass
album with top bluegrass players has been on her "bucket list" since her
days singing at the Bean Blossom and Clinch Mountain festivals in the
1980s. With seven-time Grammy winner (and longtime Ricky Skaggs bassist)
Mark Fain producing, legendary pickers such as Stuart Duncan and Bryan
Sutton, and a cast of singers including Rhonda Vincent, Claire Lynch and
Trisha Yearwood, that dream has come true in a very big way.Not all the contributors are big names, though. Not yet anyway. Kelley's
talented daughters Justyna and Sara Jean are all over "Pennsylvania
Coal" as singers and co-writers, reinforcing family ties in songs where
they are often enough part of the story.Kelley herself had an early start. At 19 she took offense to fellow
'grassers singing the praises of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee,
etc. and took it on herself to write a song defending the rural beauty
of her native state. "Pennsylvania Is My Home" opened many doors, from a
PBS documentary to a grassroots campaign for a Pennsylvania State Song
senate bill, and eventually to Nashville, where she lives today. IRENE KELLEY
Rachel & The Ruckus was born in the Rocky Mountains of Boulder,
Colorado, bringing a blend of killer Pop music infused with Blues &
Rock to the Colorado music scene. Singer/keyboard player Rachel Alena
and guitarist Alec Sims met in 2010 while sharing the stage with the
popular Front Range band Girls On Top!, and formed the band shortly
thereafter. Drummer Kyle Comerford joined in 2012. Bassist Vince
Carmellini (a.k.a Big Nasty) and sax player/flutist Max Reed joined to
round out the group in 2013. The band has since earned lots of positive attention from music lovers,
bringing their vast musical influences and experience together to create
compelling Pop music with Soul. It’s the sound of the blend of powerful
lyrics, Rachel’s enchanting voice and a band with rocking,
in-the-pocket grooves.The band has since earned lots of positive attention from music lovers,
bringing their vast musical influences and experience together to create
compelling Pop music with Soul. It’s the sound of the blend of powerful
lyrics, Rachel’s enchanting voice and a band with rocking,
in-the-pocket grooves.
RACHEL & THE RUCKUS
The Soggy Po' Boys were born on Mardi Gras, 2012. Makes perfect sense given their name, and the fact that they’re a New Orleans flavored octet.Residing in Seacoast, New Hampshire, the Po’ Boys have been honing their craft every Tuesday night, first at the late Barley Pub, and now at Sonny’s Tavern – both in the band’s hometown of Dover. Much in the spirit of the great residency that exists at New Orleans’ own Spotted Cat Music Club where the legendary Vipers have thrown down on every Monday for the past god-knows-how-long, the Po’ Boys are steeped in tradition while in search of creating tradition all their own.With a repertoire of New Orleans standards, spirituals, contemporary music, and swing tunes, the Po’ Boys offer a lively blend of fun and insanity. Sure, it’s served messy, but at the heart of the mess is a sincerity for sprightly composed tunes that are accessible to absolutely anyone that hears it. New Orleans music is supposed to be messy. It’s supposed to be steeped in feeling. When you feel music, you find the real beauty behind what makes music so mesmerizingly addicting. That’s exactly what the Po’ Boys are producing. Their music is enduring. It’s infectious. It’s inviting. It’s irresistible. Don’t let their birthplace fool you. The beauty of New Orleans music is that it’s celebrated and appreciated everywhere. From the street corner, to the communing pub, to the theater. The Po’ Boys are doing their part to spread the tasteful soundtrack of the greatest music on the planet from their roost in the Northeast and while out on the road touring the country. SOGGY PO' BOYS
North
American singer/songwriter and guitarist Sally Station created Xumapaz
as a melting pot for her own musical experiences and those of the
musicians she has collaborated with in the US, Colombia, France and the
UK. The resulting “global soul” is peppered with performances by a
wonderfully eclectic group of musicians who wrap Station’s words and
music in deliciously diverse grooves to sweetly penetrate the hearts and
souls of listeners.The sparse solo and acoustic trio performances
on UK-produced 6 Outta Sunderland were captured while Sally was writing
and performing between Paris and London and the stateside recording
Chicago Reel is a celebration of Sally’s return to the US after more
than 10 years abroad. The songs on the latest CD, Xumapaz, recorded in
Colombia where Sally has lived off and on since she was 16, feature
Afro-Latin rhythms laid down by renowned Colombian percussionist and
perennial Xumapaz collaborator Luis Pacheco and guest pianist/arranger
Michel Haase. Other veteranos del sabor invited to the party include
Cuban bassist Diego Valdés, Colombian vibraphonist Jorge Emilio Fadul
and American jazz pianist Eugene Uman. The thread running through all
of these productions, however, are the warm and direct lead vocals –
whether in English, Spanish or French, and Sally’s unique and undeniably
feminine point of view.Xumapaz has performed at the Jazz al Parque
and Rock al Parque festivals in Colombia, at Miles of Music and Summer
Fest in Chicago, at Glastonbury and the Fringe festivals in the UK and
Printemps de Bourgs and l’Estival in France, as a 10-piece super-group
and in solo and acoustic trio formations allowing for more intimate
contact with the audience. XUMAPAZ
Doug has been crafting his songwriting skills since the late 60's. Many bands and recordings later, 2013 saw the release of his 3rd solo effort, Blues in the Key of Sea. This new release features Billy Payne from Little Feat. This CD features what has become the core band, with special guests, including Mike Wesolowski (Blues World Order) on blues harp, Danny Gotham on mandolin, Johnny Gallagher (Ireland) on electric guitars, and Tony Bowman on keys (Edgar Winter Band) as well as engineering/co-production. Tom Maxwell (Squirrel Nut Zippers) also contributes on production. The 11 songs on this release are all over the map stylistically, yet form a cohesive Blues/Rock/Americana blend, with truth and heart at the core. One of the common threads throughout Doug's recordings have been his musical connection with Tommy Hartley, a guitar virtuoso who permeates the music. DOUG PRESCOTT BAND
Open Road is a band comprised entirely of lead singers, strong
instrumentalists, daring soloists, and creative entertainers. Drummer
Paul Pierce and saxophonist Kenneth Rice began working together in San
Diego. As Motown, Soul and R&B performers, Kenny and Paul began the
journey which has become Open Road.The addition of San Clemente Guitarist Buddy Mercer, son of Vaudevillian
Bud Mercer, added an important element to Open Road; the ability to
switch musical gears in an instant from soulful blues ballads to high
energy rock and roll classics to George Benson-flavored jazz hitsHolding down the bottom on bass guitar is Tony Isabel. With his funky
bass lines, clean, clear vocals and powerful stage presence “Anthony
Wayne” is the driving force behind the grooves that have become
signature Open Road favorites. Their second guitarist, Tommy Matranga, rounds out Open Road. Tommy
grew up in the Pomona, California area and worked with the likes of
Tommy Lee and Vince Neil of Motley Crue before directing his attention
to his own original music projects. OPEN ROAD THE BAND
Although Meshell Ndegeocello scored a few hits early in her career, the
bassist, singer, and songwriter later opted to concentrate on more
challenging material by exploring the politics of race and sex, among
other topics. From her 1993 Maverick label debut through her releases of
the 2010s for Naïve, she built a discography of recordings that defied
classification through progressive mixtures of jazz, R&B, hip-hop,
and rock. Initially held in regard primarily for her bass playing and
bold lyrics, her songwriting, which often examined dark interpersonal
issues, was just as exceptional.Michelle Lynn Johnson, born on August 29, 1968, spent the first few
years of her life in Germany. Her father was both a military man and a
jazz saxophonist. She relocated with her family to Virginia in the early
'70s. As a youngster, Johnson developed an interest in music; during
her teenage years, she began to play regularly in the clubs of
Washington, D.C., but eventually settled down in New York City after a
stint of studying music at Howard University. By this point, she was
going by Me'Shell NdegéOcello — her adopted last name Swahili for "free
like a bird." After auditioning for several bands, including Living
Colour, NdegéOcello struck out on her own and often performed solo with
just a bass, drum machine, and keyboard. In the early '90s, she was one
of the first artists signed to Madonna's Warner-affiliated Maverick
label.NdegéOcello's debut album, 1993's Plantation Lullabies, was produced
with David Gamson, as well as with André Betts and Bob Power, and
involved input from a wide range of musicians, including DJ Premier,
Joshua Redman, Bill Summers, Wah-Wah Watson, and David Fiuczynski. An
impressive first album, it spawned the hit "If That's Your Boyfriend (He
Wasn't Last Night)" and received three Grammy nominations. A duet with
John Mellencamp on a cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night," released a
year later, brought her more mainstream attention; it peaked at number
three on the Billboard Hot 100. MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
Philip Maurice started his musical journey early in life, being taught
to sing by his mother when he was four years old. He later developed a
love for percussion, and eventually played in a jazz quintet at 13 years
of age.
By the time Philip entered college, his musical taste and desire
shifted towards contemporary jazz and classical music. Philip also
discovered that the acoustic piano made a statement in the pieces that
won his heart. He soon experienced a transformation causing his ear to
be tuned to a menagerie of ideas, styles, and compositions.
Philip Maurice believes making "Life Music" is one of the purposes
for his life on the earth. Many have described the musical renditions of
Philip Maurice as soothing, stress-relieving, atmosphere- changing
experiences. These musical experiences are carefully crafted and
designed to take you on a journey of relaxation. Many have commented
that they are the perfect companion for driving! PHILIP MAURICE
Multi - faceted performer Holly Burke is "an orginal voice and she makes
the flute shout and weep" Gabriel Hasselbach #1 Smooth Jazz Award
Winner 2011. Holly Burke has a Bachelor's Degree in Music and Theatre
and a teaching credential from Cambridge University. Holly's credits
include an International Broadcast Award from the Hollywood Radio and
Television Society. She has performed on CBC TV and radio, NPR, CITR
and at the San Diego Jazz Festival and the Vancouver Du Maurier Jazz
Festival. She has many VO and TV credits including Special Unit 2, Cold
Squad V1, The Dead Zone, and It's a Girl Thing, with Mia Farrow. Holly
has recorded on over twenty five projects including working with Terry
and Scott Jacks, Linton Garner and Clark Burroughs. Holly has recently
released her own CD "Nature Girl" which was conceived during a 6 month
sojurn in the Costa Rican rainforest where she gained a new appreciation
for nature and all its wonders. Holly & her band The Naturals bring
depth, wonder and fireworks to every performance. Don’t be surprised if
you find yourself singing and dancing.
HOLLY BURKE
