venerdì 10 ottobre 2014

BEES DELUXE "TROUBLE IN PARADISE"

Bees Deluxe is a full-tilt, acid blues/funk/rock collective comprised of Boston-based musicians. Their unique repertoire includes over three sets of originals and 60s, 70s, and 80s covers from Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Charles Mingus, B.B. King, Kenny Burrell, Freddie King, Herbie Hancock, Albert King, Etta James, Muddy Waters, The Meters, Little Feat, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, Curtis Mayfield, The Butterfield Blues Band, Derek Trucks, Donny Hathaway, Amy Winehouse, Steely Dan, Etta James, ZZ Top, Robben Ford, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, SoulLive, Derek and the Dominoes, Robert Cray, Edgar Winter, Amy Winehouse, among many others. Taking the road less traveled, they discover and share off-the-beaten songs and instrumentals and fuse them into their own original works. They dare to be risk-takers on stage, digging deep into the vaults of blues/jazz antiquity. The result is an effortless take no-prisoners-approach that wittingly captures the audience's hearts. Among their favorite venues, they've played the Foundation Room at the House of Blues in Boston, Smoken' Joe's in Brighton, Johnny D's in Somerville, the Newport Blues Café, the Grog in Newburyport, Salvatore's in Medford, Jake's Dixie Roadhouse in Waltham, the Chicken Bone in Framingham, Tres Gatos in Jamaica Plain, Stella Blu in Nashua, Bull McCabe's in Somerville, Fat Boy Bill's in Milford, Frankie Dee's in Kingston, the Honey Fitz in Malden, the Milky Way in Jamaica Plain, Firefly's in Marlboro, The Burren in Davis Square, Glory in Andover, Thirty One Main in Ayer, and Stella Blu in Nashua. They've hosted the Weekly Sunday Blues Jam at the Loft in Harvard Square, (the venue formerly know as The House of Blues), and at Johnny D's in Somerville. They have played at MIT and Northeastern University, public non-profit benefits, private, and corporate bookings. BEES DELUXE
 

EUFORQUESTRA "FIRE"

Eufórquestra (pronounced yoo-FOHR-keh-struh, think euphoria+orchestra) is energy and rhythm personified. An ever-evolving sound that has been influenced by music from all over the world with an emphasis on funk, pocket and groove. For over a decade the band has been igniting dance floors across the country, blending the roots of funk, soul, afrobeat, reggae and dub to create a sound that “explodes, dances and melts in your ear with sheer bliss"Eufórquestra’s fifth full-length record, FIRE, was produced by Kyle Hollingsworth (of The String Cheese Incident) and captures the passion and musical maturing of these road warriors. Over the course of 14 tracks, the band takes you on an hour-long adventure that will touch your heart and mind, and keep your fingers and toes tapping. A handful of special guests, including Elliot Martin (John Brown’s Body), Gabriel Mervine and Kim Dawson (The Motet) and Mr. Hollingsworth himself, put their own touches on the band’s already cohesive sound that is “tight and engineered to a fine, funky precision.” (Jeremy Frazier; Chicago Jam Scene) The result is a record that is distinctly modern, maintaining one foot in the future and firmly planting in the musical roots traditions of the past. With almost 1,000 shows under their belt, Eufórquestra shows no sign of stopping. A perpetually heavy tour schedule keeps the band and fans happy, as performing live in front of an audience has always been the band’s top priority. As noted in a live show review by Grateful Web, “...the boys seem to play like the apocalypse will happen at any second and they want to die doing what they do best...” EUFORQUESTRA
 

SKYLA BURRELL BAND "BLUES SCARS"

The Skyla Burrell Band is a full time, hardworking traveling blues band. With co-founder Mark Tomlinson on lead guitar and Skyla Burrell on vocals/lead guitar, the band's live show consists of all original high energy electric blues.The band released their debut studio CD, "Working Girl Blues" in 2004, containing 12 original songs. Several of the cuts topped the charts on independent music websites and internet radio stations and received local, national and international airplay on blues and mainstream radio. "Working Girl Blues" was selected by WTMD 93.7 as one of the top 5 blues releases in 2004 and Mark Tomlinson received an Honorable Mention for his track  "Bad Dream" in the 14th Annual Billboard Songwriting Contest. In 2005 the band was a semi-finalist in the 22nd Annual International Blues Challenge. In 2006 the band recorded and toured in Europe, and released their sophomore effort, "Livin' Day to Day" which again received local, national and international air play on mainstream and blues radio and was featured on cable television's Rockin' Cookin' Kitchen show as well as being named one of the top 50 blues CD's released worldwide by Delta Art and one of top 10 Blues CD's by WTMD FM.  The band played 240 shows in 2006 and secured the #1 Top Booked Band slot on Sonicbids.The band kept up their busy schedule (between 2006 and 2007 playing a total of 465 shows) and expanding their tour radius to include the Mid-West and New England and in the late summer shot of 2007 filmed a live DVD with the Digital Cafe Tour in NYC at the Baggott Inn. In the fall the band went back into the studio to begin work on their 3rd studio CD. In 2008 the Skyla Burrell Band signed with Blues Boys & Divas Talent and released their third CD of all original material, "Tough Luck" . Cuts off of "Tough Luck" received airplay on over 150 blues stations in the US and abroad. In 2009 the band kept up their busy touring schedule covering the Mid-West, South-East and North-East regions of the US all the while writing tunes for a new studio CD. The band sold a track from "Tough Luck" to the producers of the CBS/CBC drama "The Bridge, which aired over the spring in Canada and was the #1 rated drama, and made its US debut in the late summer. Skyla traveled to Toronto to record vocals for 4 cover tunes which were also featured on the show. The band also filmed a commercial for the Lazy Dog Cafe and a segment for the "The Straight Ahead Guitar Show." The band kept up their hard working schedule of touring and started work on writing tunes for their next CD in 2010. "Real Love" the band's 4th studio CD was released in the early Fall of 2011 containing 14 new original tracks and saw the band touring extensively and working hard.   With 2012 came more tours up and down the East Coast and recognition within the Blues Industry with an induction into the Blues Hall of Fame representing Pennsylvania. 2013 was a busy year of touring with several high profile Festivals including the Bonita Blues Festival, The Western Maryland Blues Fest, and the Winchester Blues House Festival. SKYLA BURRELL BAND
 

THE RIGHTEOUS BLUES BAND "THE RIGHTEOUS BLUES BAND"

Christian Blues Band formed in Jan 2012. We plan to use our music to help spread the message of The Gospel of Jesus and bring glory to God while having a great time playing some good music.“Thought I would take a minute to review the CD I recently purchased from The Righteous Blues Band. I won’t lie, I am a die hard rock fan, but I like a smattering of all genres of music. I really liked the praise music on this CD. Having been raised catholic with a father who loved old time gospel music I am familiar with many hymns, but my favorite (and my father’s) has always been “Amazing Grace”. The Righteous Blues Band’s rendition of this song is hauntingly beautiful. Other favorites of mine from the CD are the “Righteous Shuffle” and “Water Grave”. All of the music is great, and I can’t wait to see what the band will put out next time. Great job guys!” “This is an absolutely EXCELLENT Believer’s Blues album! I’ve heard a lot of Christian Blues music that had the title but only a couple of songs that really had the substance. These guys got it NAILED! Very Good Christ-centered messages, excellent guitar playing, good vocal work, rockin’ rhythm section, and NO cheesy electronic keyboards like what most Christian music is dominated by! I find it difficult to choose a favorite….Go Straightway to their site & order your copy, I Highly recommend it!”  THE RIGHTEOUS BLUES BAND
 

G'S WAY "PATCHWORK"

Almost 3 years after the release of his first album "Seventy Seven" G's Way is back with his new album entitled "Patchwork". It is with the same ingredients that G's Way comes to light: a powerful rhythm section, served by a heavy brass section and talented soloists from the international scene. Always influenced by his mentors like Fania all stars, Deodato, or Fela Kuti and Grover Wahington Junior, "Patchwork" offers us a journey from funk to Latin music, through jazz and afro-beat. But this time, "G's Way" has invited 3 rappers to complete this musical revolution, marking a major change compared to Seventy Seven .. With this touch of Hip-hop, "Patchwork" finally lives up to its name, and bring G's Way in another dimension ... I hope you like it! G'S WAY
 

sabato 4 ottobre 2014

THE HEAVY CHEVY BAND "OPEN UP"

MUD MORGANFIELD & KIM WILSON "FOR POPS" "A TRIBUTE TO MUDDY WATERS"

The son of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield and Fabulous Thunderbird frontman Kim Wilson come together for this tribute release. FOR POPS (A TRIBUTE TO MUDDY WATERS) represents some of Mud’s favorite songs from his father including the iconic “I Just Want to Make Love to You” plus “Blow Wind Blow” and “Just to Be With You”. When you hear Mud belt out his version of the classic “My Dog Can't Bark” it’s clear that the apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree. Kim Wilson lives up to his reputation as the finest purveyor of the "Little Walter" harmonica style by laying down some of his best work to date. Backing them is the crack team of Billy Flynn and Rusty Zinn (guitars), Barrelhouse Chuck (Piano), Steve Gomes (bass) and Robb Stupka (drums). FOR POPS only scratches the surface of the impressive catalog left by the master bluesman, but this collection is a must for Blues fans everywhere. We’re certain “Pops” is proud of his boy. MUD MORGANFIELD
 

giovedì 2 ottobre 2014

ADAM MECKLER ORCHESTRA "WHEN THE CLOUDS LOOK LIKE THIS"

Adam Meckler is a trumpet player, composer and educator living in Saint Paul, MN. He holds a B.M. in Jazz Studies from Lawrence University, and a M.M in Trumpet Performance from the University of Minnesota. Adam has toured with Youngblood Brass Band, The Jana Nyberg Group, Lulu's Playground, the Jack Brass Band, and Todd Clouser's A Love Electric. He also plays regularly with Nooky Jones, The Graydon Peterson Quartet, The Brass Barn Polka Band, The Good The Bad The Funky and The Pete Whitman X-Tet.Meckler was the 2014 recipient of MacPhail Center for Music's Artist Development Grant resulting in When the Clouds Look Like This, a full length album of original music for Jazz Orchestra composed and directed by Meckler.Meckler holds Faculty positions in trumpet and Jazz at McNally Smith College of Music, and MacPhail Center for Music. He is also one of three founders of SoKillingMan.com, a site dedicated to transcription and analysis of jazz solos. He is an active educator/clinician maintaining a trumpet studio in the Twin Cities and performing clinics and workshops all over the US. ADAM MECKLER 
 

mercoledì 1 ottobre 2014

KELLEY HUNT "THE BEAUTIFUL BONES"

In some ways Roots R&B/Americana singer/songwriter/piano player/guitarist KELLEY HUNT is a rarity and a challenge to the music industry's penchant for easy artist definitions -- a woman who has muscled her way onto the scene on her own terms with an identity steeped in blues/roots/gospel traditions and a refreshing originality. She makes music with it's righteous roots intact that also crosses boundaries, has an open-minded, exploratory attitude and takes on social and political issues. Together with a commanding, passionate stage presence and superior vocal, keyboard and songwriting skills she has earned the respect of critics and fans across North America and Europe.Born in Kansas City, Hunt’s love for her craft was ignited listening to early blues, R&B, roots rock, jazz and Gospel influences -- artists like Ruth Brown, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Ann Peebles, Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Charles Brown, Wanda Jackson and a crossection of the New Orleans/St. Louis/KC piano traditions of Professor Longhair, Toots Washington, Johnnie Johnson and Kansas City masters Jay McShann and Mary Lou Williams among others. Before that came the sound of her mother singing jazz and blues - her first musical memories - and the influence of her New Orleans Gospel singer grandmother. Reminders of these very traditional influences are evident in Kelley’s live performances and recordings but the lyrics, soul and passion are all her own. Her career path so far has been a story of fierce independence, incredible will, unassailable cred as a blistering live performer and hard-won accomplishment. That narrative includes 1500+ performances with appearances on a long list of premier North American and International festival stages, six times on American Public Media's 'A Prairie Home Companion', nearly 150,000 indie units sold on her own label and critical praise reflecting her conviction from the outset to make her path in the roots music world not just as a performer, but as a forward-thinking songwriter as well.Hunt's world has not been short on substantive, impressive critical praise, including a fresh swell of kudos for the new generation of music first unveiled on her 2008 88 RECORDS release MERCY (EER0804, her 4th commercial release): "Kelley Hunt resides among those bluesy, soulful piano players who write great songs." "...the main attraction here is Hunt, whose rich, soulful voice is an instrument in and of itself, with a toughness that shines on cuts like "You Got To Be The Vessel." "Her piano playing and songwriting also function at the highest levels." "Emerald City" is a brilliant political statement…” -VINTAGE GUITAR. “… Her fourth release "MERCY" shifts the focus to her songwriting skills and immense voice." "...a superb live performer, immediately drawing you to the power of her music and her voice... " -ELMORE. "Surprises don't often crop up on the well-trodden blues circuit. So welcome Kelley Hunt. This Kansan is a full-blown phenomenon: Powerhouse singer, hardboogieing pianist, polished songwriter…” -MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE. “…the freshest slant on classic R&B you're likely to hear these days. She's a tough woman who makes a hip and burly sound." - WESTWORD Denver. KELLEY HUNT