mercoledì 17 settembre 2014

JOAN CHAMORRO & ANDREA MOTIS "FEELING GOOD"

The first time you hear Andrea Motis you will be amazed. Many of her videos have more than 200,000 views on YouTube. This young vibrant artist sings with a maturity and personality well beyond her 17 years, oh and she also plays the saxophone and trumpet brilliantly. Her mentor and teacher Joan Chamorro is responsible for her exceedingly rapid development.  But not only this, together with Joan Chamorro, a musician with a successful background, has also revealed herself as an excellent singer who manages to thrill to every note that comes from within.Now, under the leadership of Joan Chamorro, an album has been published where the young star Andrea Motis protagonists a good demonstration of the new Catalan jazz talents. With the name Joan Chamorro presenta Andrea Motis.The selection of songs chosen includes over an hour of classic jazz of the first half of the twentieth century, although there are forays into bossa nova. In this recording of standards, among others accompany, there are Ignasi Terraza, Bobby Gordon and David Mengual.The Quintet is accompanied by the guitarist Josep Traver, pianist Ignasi Terraza and Esteve Pi on drums. Joan Chamorro & Andrea Motis Group has performed at several festivals in France, Switzerland, in Brazil and have collaborated and recorded with some of the top musicians including: Dick Oatts, Scott Hamilton, Ken Peploski, Scott Robinson, Terell Staford, Wycliffe Gordon, Jesse Davis, Bobby Gordon and others. Do not lose the opportunity to follow them, especially Andrea Motis, who promises to be very successful at the jazz scene. Many people have compared her voice to Norah Jones. Discover them! JOAN CHAMORRO ANDREA MOTIS GROUP
 

domenica 14 settembre 2014

GILES COREY'S "STONED SOUL"

Giles grew up in Trumbull, CT and came to Chicago in 1993. His first gig was with Buddy Scott and the Rib Tips (who is the grandfather of the bass player on this album, Joewaun Scott-- he was 15 and Giles was 18 when they first met. Do the math if you must). Giles played every weekend at Lee's Unleaded Blues for over a year, honing his craft. Lee's Unleaded is now rather famous, as it is sadly the only functioning blues club left on the South Side of Chicago. After graduating the University of Chicago in 1997, Giles joined Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues. This was a pivotal gig for the young guitar player, and his first exposure to national and international touring. In addition, Giles played some shows and recorded with Syl Johnson and Buddy Miles at this time. In 2001 Giles was hired by his long-time guitar hero, Otis Rush, to play in his band. Giles toured with Otis Rush until the elder guitarist's 2004 stroke sadly made live performances impossible. In 2001 Giles Corey, along with drummer Rick King and pianist Marty Sammon (both on this session) founded the band Lubriphonic. Marty soon left to join Buddy Guy's band, but Giles and Rick managed to release 4 studio albums, and one live album. Giles was the singer and songwriter for the band. Lubriphonic's relentless tour schedule and energetic work ethic honed the skills of an inexperienced songwriter and front man. As Giles developed as a songwriter, he sought more of the truth he found in roots and blues music. Lubriphonic had been a fantastic live band with infectious rythms and catchy horn lines. However, Giles longed to try other ideas, ones that did not fit within the rubrick of Lubriphonic. When Lubriphonic stopped touring in 2011, the seed was planted for a new project. GILES COREY'S
 

sabato 13 settembre 2014

PETE ROTH BAND "CIRCUS IN THE SKY"

Writing and performing music was something that always seemed a natural progression to me. Ever since the early beginning of my musical journey at age 11 when I picked up the guitar for the first time.I was very lucky to be able to perform publicly from a very early age on by being involved in the school’s band led in a passionate way by Miss Kern, a brilliant piano player in her own right. Many wrong notes later and at least 10 bands later I have found myself backing a major artist at a prime time television show "Hitparade der Volksmusik". I took this as an incentive to take music to the next level and moved to Guildford 30 minutes south of London to study popular music and Jazz under the brilliant Stefan Redtenbacher.It was here where my love for variety in music such as Jazz and Latin got fed with the right ingredients. I found myself in a very vibrant environment and started gigging almost immediately. It was in this scene where I was allowed to be part of projects which put me on an inevitable path. Just after my first studio recording for Radio Capitol FM. I started as musical director on a private Television show called "Virtuoso Song Contest". An X-Factor type of idea. The show unfortunately never got off the ground. If it was because of me, many apologies, I don't hope so. On the back of this I was offered a contract to go on a cruise ship and ended up 6 months on and off and seeing nearly the entire world from Southampton to Vietnam.It was from then on when things really started to pick up and I had a run of performing with some of England’s most prestigious Jazz and Classical musicians. There were unforgettable moments when I was asked to play with the London Gala Orchestra under the Musical Direction of the brilliant Steve Bell. I turned up at the gig with a newly bought acoustic nylon string guitar, my pride and joy, for 500 pounds. I got it out of the case and showed it proudly around thinking this must be the best thing those guys have ever seen. The violin player next to me then got her violin out of the case which was a 250.000 pound instrument. I sat quietly in a corner for the rest of the evening:-).  There were many others such as Maria Friedmann a protégé of Stephen Sondheim and Michel Legrand, Teatro a platinum selling vocal group, the mad Irish Sam Flynne who made his name as piano player for the Eurhythmics, Roachford and Stevie Wonder or the unforgettable Rosemarie Squires best known for singing with Les Paul and the magic Brian Dee who made his name Mding Miles Davies.In the five years of my professional life I had the luck to play in some of the best venues in Europe such as the Purcell Room in the Royal Festival Hall being on the same bill with one of my heroes John Schofield. All in all there are too many to name. PETE ROTH BAND
 

AMY HART "CONGRATULATIONS"

Born and raised in the Chicago Area, Amy Hart got her start playing blues in festivals as a teenager opening for such artists as Koko Taylor, Junior Welles and James Cotton. Putting her own stamp on the groove she migrated to LA and released "Too Cruel" a track on the Mercury Records Soundtrack for the cult movie "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt and from there hit the road as a singer/songwriter.
Decades, deals and several disks later she has returned to her blues roots, with the lastest release, "Congratulations" on Painted Rock Records.was born and raised in Chicago. She began her musical career at the family piano at age 2.  When she was in high school she began playing guitar and writing songs. Her first professional gig was in 1979 with Flash Point, a west side Chicago Blues Band. Her first appearance was at Mayor Jane Byrne's Summertime Chicago Concert Series on Broadway at the Armory in Chicago. She was soon a regular on the Blues stages, playing at Kingston Mines on Lincoln Avenue and at B.L.U.E.S. with Junior Welles. She has also opened for Koko Taylor and James Cotton. She entered and won the WLUP sponsored Chicago Rocks Contest twice and released two compilation records with the radio station. She took her music to California to work with producer John Ryan (Doobie Brothers, Santana) and released a song on the Mercury Records Soundtrack "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" in 1985. ​The song "Too Cruel" was co written by Tim Tobias and Amy and Tim were a duo for some time performing in L.A. The movie has achieved cult status, and continues racking up royalties around the world for Amy Hart.
AMY HART
 

venerdì 12 settembre 2014

THE PATRIK JANSSON BAND "HERE WE ARE"

Patrik Jansson Band was formed in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden in late 2007. After playing drums in various blues bands and jazz combos, hard-rock and metal acts for several years, Patrik decided it was time for another challenge. He picked up the guitar and started playing and singing in hopes of developing as a songwriter and a musician. “I’ve always loved to learn new things” he says. With a passion for heavy Texas blues and with a new mission in life he started looking for musicians to play with. “I had a pretty clear idea of what I was looking for” he says, “I wanted to play blues with a more modern approach. Blues is supposed to feel fresh and alive, it’s a most vital music in my opinion. In short I wanted to play the kind of music that I would like to hear myself and that I think a lot of other people would like and appreciate”. In the beginning of 2011 PJB released their self-titled critically acclaimed debut album on the Sneaky Foot Records label. The music could best be described as a mix of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Freddie King and Joe Bonamassa, to name a few of the influences. After some line-up changes it was time to start writing songs for the follow up to the debut album and in late 2013 the band entered the studio to record “Here We Are” their second full length album, an album full of heavy, funky, groovy blues with a focus on strong melodies and great songwriting. With guest appearances from Mikael Fall (Harmonica world champion 2013) and the great Swedish female blues singer Lisa Lystam, the record is full of great songs and great performances. A lot has happened since the start in 2007 and since the first record, and it becomes even clearer when you listen to the new record. It’s a heavier, darker and more mature band you'll be hearing. "I put a lot of time and effort into making this record and I really try to make my music mean something, I try to write songs that make you feel something, songs that matter and I believe we're gotten closer to that goal with the new record and I think you will hear it when you listen to it. I hope you enjoy it”. THE PATRIK JANSSON BAND
 

DEE DANIELS "INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS"

Whether accompanying her self at the piano, fronting a trio, big band or symphony, Dee Daniels' musical career is as varied as her four-octave vocal range is thrilling. She is a unique talent who transcends musical borders when she brings her jazz styling, infused with gospel and blues flavoring, to the stage. One critic says, "Daniels' voice has a hypnotic quality, delivering an impressive range that gives the romantic songs and verse of 50 years ago new life and raw emotion."Though Dee has a B.A. Degree in Art Education and taught high school art for a year in Seattle, she quickly realized that her true calling was music. Her vocal style was born in her stepfather's church choir in Oakland, California, refined through the R&B era, polished during a five-year stay in The Netherlands and Belgium from 1982 to 1987, and brought to full fruition upon her return to North America. During those years to the present, she has performed and recorded with many 'Legends of Jazz' including Toots Thielemans, Houston Person, Clark Terry, Lionel Hampton, Ed Thigpen, Monty Alexander, John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton, Hank Jones, Bill Charlap, and Russell Malone – to mention a few.Dee's international career includes performances in twelve African countries, Australia, South America, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, throughout North America, and many countries within Europe. Career highlights include Dee being named Artistic Director, in September 2011, of the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival - a camp dedicated to Jazz Vocals with around 60 participating schools; a nomination for Atlanta Theater’s 2010 Suzi Bass Award; the 2009 receipt of an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Fine Arts and 2008 President’s Award, both from Capilano University; 2003 recipient of the prestigious Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and induction into the University of Montana’s School of Fine Arts Hall of Honor as well as a 1997 University of Montana Distinguished Alumni Award; a 2002 inductee into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame with a plaque installed on Vancouver's Granville Street Walk of Fame; and a command performance for the King and Queen of Belgium’s 25th Wedding Anniversary. Sharing the stage while singing the blues with the late Sarah Vaughan, and singing gospel and blues with the late Joe Williams remains at the top of her list! DEE DANIELS
 

MISSY ANDERSEN "IN THE MOMENT"

Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Queens, New York, Missy’s first real memory of singing is at age six. Her mother entered Missy in a child talent contest and everyday she practiced with her after school. It was her favorite thing to do. For some reason the contest was cancelled and her afternoon practice sessions stopped, but Missy was hooked from then on. “Singing would always be my friend and I would turn to it whenever I needed to express something I couldn’t find the words to say,” says Missy.Her parents had an extensive music collection that included lots of soul, R&B, blues, jazz, and gospel. Her favorite songs were always the ones that told a story. It wasn’t always the most popular song on the album, but she would play them over and over and over. She listened to Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, The Staple Singers, Teddy Pendergrass and a host of others. And like many before her, Missy mimicked other singers until she found her own voice. Later she would discover Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday and that eventually lead her to O.V. Wright, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, James Carr, Ray Charles, Ann Peebles, and Irma Thomas.Although singing is her love, she had her first stab at the music business while in her teens with the rap single, “Be For Real” under the moniker, Denyce "Flip" Isaac. Although the record’s success was small, it still led to her being the opening act for Cissy Houston in a string of club dates. It wasn’t long before Missy turned back to singing, honing her skills fronting local bands as well as doing studio sessions as a background vocalist. Moving to San Diego, California, she met local blues man, Earl Thomas in the late 90’s. It was then that she became one of the original Juke Joint Jezebelles, a gospel, blues, and soul quartet, who provided backup vocals for Earl’s stage show. She played and toured with Earl for several years hitting festivals and venues in the U.S. and Europe. Earl Thomas and the Jezebelles shared the stage with Ray Charles, B.B. King, Robert Cray, John Hammond, Keb’ Mo’, Kenny Neal, and The Meters. MISSY ANDERSEN
 

CHRISTOS ANESTOPOULOS "WISH YOU COULD STAY"

Christos Anestopoulos born in Patras,Greece in 1971.
He study classic guitar and he got diploma on the instrument.
He study electric guitar and he got lessons and clinics from many great jazz guitarist.He is a teacher of Guitar.He has compose music for dance and theater,movies and he release two albums with his music``swinging over the surfaces`` and ``wish you could stay``
There’s no avoiding the influence of Bill Frisell on this recording. And considering that fellow-guitarist Anestopoulos names two separate tracks “Friselland” indicates he’s fully invested in Frisell’s sound as both musician and fan. As a huge Frisell fan, this album totally floated my boat. There are tracks that sound eminently like Frisell pieces. There are tracks that sound nothing like Frisell pieces, but the use of electronics and looping and effects, and a strangely ominous jazz-folk hybrid put it smack dab in the middle of Frisell territory. A couple tracks incorporate some elements of Anestopoulos’ native Greece, and nothing about that breaks the album’s cohesion. Kind of jazz, kind of folk, kind of rock, all of them but none… music with personality and dramatic expressionism. Not just for fans of Frisell. A series of guests contribute to this album, on a variety of wind instruments, strings, and percussion. Very cool. CHRISTOS ANESTOPOULOS
 

TAMUZ NISSIM "THE MUSIC STAYS IN A DREAM"

Jazz singer, songwriter and pianist Tamuz Nissim from Tel Aviv in Israel has spent the last six years in Europe performing with the most talented musicians in festivals and music venues, leading her own projects as well as singing in different bands, theatre shows and movie soundtracks.Her debut CD “The Music Stays in a Dream” (2013) featuring her original compositions was presented in radio shows in Israel, the Netherlands and Greece and in several festivals such as the Athens Technopolis Jazz Festival, the Preveza Jazz Festival, the Montofoli Festival and the Tinos Jazz Festival. Her performances won warm reactions from the audience and the press, describing Tamuz as a “very charismatic artist” (BHMagazino), “a voice that caresses your soul” and “a proof that jazz is a living art and that stars are still being born” (Athens Digital).Tamuz grew up in an artistic family; her mother is a dancer and a choreographer and her father is a writer. Both of them play an instrument and have a great love for classical and jazz music. She started playing classical piano at the age of 6. She started to sing when she was 14 and she was accepted to the Jazz music department of the Ironi Alef High School of the Arts. Her high school band appeared twice at an open stage at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival. At this time she won twice a scholarship from the American Israeli Art Foundation. By the age of 16, Israeli jazz giants such as Ofer Ganor, Amos Hoffman and Shay Zelman had recognized her potential and performed with her. In 2005 she sang in the soundtrack of Ilan Heitner’s movie ‘Bruno in Love’. At this time she also worked with a group of dancers and composed the music to a dance show, her mother’s adaptation of ‘A Street Car Named Desire’.She moved to the Netherlands in 2007 to study at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Den Haag; from there she received a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts. In the Netherlands she met musicians from around the world and started collaborating with the guitarist Giorgos Nazos, the bassist Vassilis Stefanopoulos and the pianist Francesca Tandoi, with whom she recorded her debut CD. In 2012 she played the main role in a Jazz Musical “One doubt Arose in the mind of a noble Vigilante” The performances ware fully booked and well accepted.Tamuz spends her time travelling between Greece, Israel and Holland, performing with her band and as a guest artist in music venues and festivals. She leads two versions of her quartet, one in Greece and one in Israel, both with the guitarist Giorgos Nazos, with whom she has been playing for the last 6 years. She also performs with other influential artists such as the Greek singer Martha Mavroidi; their project of voice improvisations was presented in 2013 at Women’s Festival in Israel. TAMUZ NISSIM