After his mother gave him his first 4-string as a youngster, California
based veteran bass player Mitchell “Mitch” Coleman (a native of Cuba,
AL) spent most of his time practicing and evolving his technique,
eventually developing a unique style all his own. Even as a teen,
Coleman had been enthused and motivated by the artistry and skillfulness
of trumpeter Miles Davis and renowned bassists Marcus Miller, Stanley
Clarke, Mark Adams (founder of funk band Slave), Louis “Thunder Thumbs”
Johnson, and former Sly and the Family Stone alum and “Father of the
Thump” Larry Graham. But it was jazz-fusion virtuoso Jaco Pastorius who
influenced him the most. Jaco’s take-no-prisoners style inspired him to
remove all self-imposed limitations, while exploring the endless
possibilities his instrument presented. With such stellar role models to pull from, it’s no surprise that
Coleman’s love of funk, jazz and contemporary music continued to grow,
and he began to seriously hone his skills by performing live with local
groups while attending high school. He joined the United States Air
Force in 1985, and, after winning his first talent showcase for solo
performance, toured with the ‘Tops in Blue’ band. (He continues to work
closely with the ‘Air Force Showcase’ and the ‘Best of Talent’ show to
this day.) While stationed in Rome, NY, Coleman studied with local jazz
greats like Rick Montelbano (musical director for the late Lou Rawls),
and George Sessum (the Cabo Frio band). Ultimately settling in Los
Angeles in 1990, Coleman immersed himself in the city’s thriving music
scene, doing session work with other local musicians, while primarily
collaborating with producers Cario Johnson and Herman “Hollywood”
Dawkins. With the release of his first solo effort, “Soul Searching,” an
instrumental jazz/funk fusion collection that interweaves music inspired
by his much admired influences, Coleman has fulfilled a lifelong dream
of creating the music he hears in his heart and feels in his soul - and
sharing it with the world. The disc, independently released on Soul
Revelations Records, features some of L.A.’s funkiest players: his
long-time collaborator and “Soul Searching” co-producer, Hollywood
(pulling triple-duty on piano and vocals), Deron Johnson (formerly with
Miles Davis) is also on keyboards, Kayta Matsuno and Sean Fabian are on
guitar, Tim Anderson and Sal Avila are on saxophones, while industry
veterans and sisters, Pam and Joyce Vincent (formerly of Tony Orlando
and Dawn) and Jim Gilstrap (the “Good Times” TV show theme song singer)
perform background vocals along with newcomers Sean Thomas and Nodesha.
MITCHELL COLEMAN JR.
For years, our children have loved the poetry and stories of Shel
Silverstein, and my wife and I have been deeply moved by the "grownup"
messages that are delivered in ways that are equally meaningful to our
children. It occurred to me that the meter, spirit, and imagery (both
implied and brilliantly drawn) of these works were perfect foils for
musical inspiration. The first compositions were completed in the winter
of 2012-13, and I finished the last few in May of 2014. A few words
about each of the tunes (leadsheets of which will download for you in
PDF format):
Lester (The Wish-Waster) – Lester is a character who receives wishes
from a genie, and proceeds to use them to wish for more wishes, becoming
greedier and greedier but yet never actually accumulating anything. The
melodic fragments repeat and pile up on top of one another as the tune
rolls along, eventually ending with Lester’s dissonant demise, with
nothing to show for it. One of Lester Young’s favorite vehicles, “Oh,
Lady Be Good," provides a loose framework.
The Long-Haired Boy – This anti-bullying parable touches me deeply. The
song represents the boy’s long hair lifting him into the sky, and
helping him soar up and down amongst the clouds, finally bidding a
not-so-fond farewell to the townspeople who tormented him, and then
wanted him to be their friend once they discovered he can fly.
Ourchestra – Just a go-get-em, burnout-type tune. The poem is about
people playing a bunch of wild-sounding, body-part instruments, and the
crazy band they make up.
CHAD EBY QUARTET
In October 2012, vocalist Chelsea Reed brought five of her friends
together to play some tunes in a South Philly dining room. Secretly, her
plan was to form a band that played for swing dancers, so she could
finally have the chance to sing her favorite songs for an audience that
loved early jazz as much as she did. Since that fateful afternoon, those
unsuspecting handsome men have comprised the Fair Weather Five: Noah
Hocker on trumpet, Chris Oatts on saxophone, Jake Kelberman on guitar,
Joe Plowman on bass, and Austin Wagner behind the drums.Now, over a year later, Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five are at
home at swing dances, jazz clubs and concert halls alike. They have
played renowned Philadelphia venues like the Kimmel Center and World
Cafe Live in addition to touring around the country in a trusty blue
van. They love exploring the roots of jazz and finding creative ways to
interpret forgotten songs. Drawing upon the influence of artists such as
Bessie Smith, Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, Chelsea
Reed and the Fair Weather Five bring the intensity and passion of early
jazz to every stage they play to put on one heck of a show. CHELSEA REED AND THE FAIR WEATHER FIVE
Heavy
Water, performed by Fo’Reel includes an all-star performance by C.P.
Love, legendary New Orleans soul singer; Johnny Neel, Grammy Award
winning keyboardist; Jon Smith, renowned tenor saxophonist; Rick Lawson,
singer songwriter; Daryl Burgess, drums; Allyn Robinson, drums; David
Hyde, Bass; Ward Smith, baritone sax; Barney Floyd, trumpet; Mark
Domizio, guitarist and creator of the project.Heavy
Water is a high energy blend of Contemporary Blues that includes a lot
of funky grooves that will make you want to move. Every song on the CD
is a joy to hear, the vocals are passionate, the guitar playing is deep
and full of emotion and the keyboard and horns are a driving force to
the overall distinctive style and sound. Anyone who enjoys strong
driven, energy filled music will love this CD. It not only embraces
traditional Blues, but it hits the listener with a variety of
interesting styles like Swing, Funk, R&B and a Latin tinged Rumba. FO' REEL BAND
The Gravel Project is a Boston based band with a sound that spans
multiple genres, including modern blues, funk, and rock. Having played
to packed rooms at various clubs throughout Greater Boston, including
The Middle East, Church, Tommy Doyles (former House of Blues), in
addition to a residency at The Savant Project, The Gravel Project
electrifies crowds with both inventive original songs and creative
interpretations of well known classics. With the release of More Ways
Than One, the band’s first full-length album, The Gravel Project has
taken great strides to further define and solidify their musical style.
The breadth of material on the album is both impressive and expansive,
spanning everything from the smoldering Muscle Shoals soul groove of
Dollar Bill, to the eccentric back-beat driven Lost, and the infectious
funk-based arrangement of The Beatles I’ll Cry Instead.The Gravel Project is the brainchild of guitarist/singer/songwriter,
Andrew Gravel. Though a Boston native, Gravel lived in both England and
Australia for three years. While abroad, Gravel was a first-call
guitarist for a number of well known acts on the London blues circuit,
which led to tours throughout Europe and Australia. After relocating
back to the US, Gravel was the guitarist for the legendary Martha’s
Vineyard based Entrain before forming The Gravel Project. Marking a milestone event for the band, and demonstrating an inspired
growth in their songwriting and stylistic definition, the release of
More Ways Than One speaks to music lovers of many stripes and colors,
garnering new, enthusiastic fans with each listen. Drawing on influences
from the danceable grooves of bands like The Meters, the raw soul of
B.B. King, the psychedelic ambition of The Allman Brothers, and the jazz
complexities of John Scofield, The Gravel Project pushes funk and blues
into fresh new territory, while maintaining a strong connection with
the roots.
THE GRAVEL PROJECT
Joshua Howell started
playing harmonica when he was 14, and by 17, he was sitting with many
of the San Francisco Bay Area's blues bands. He quickly became the
desired house harmonica player in clubs such as Eli's Mile High and Your
Place Too, though his under-age status limited his exposure to only
those clubs that could circumvent the age restrictions. During this
period, he took up guitar, intently focused on learning the techniques
of the Mississippi greats such as Fred McDowell, Bukka White, Robert
Johnson and RL Burnside. While living in Santa Cruz, Joshua pursued a
successful career in guitar making, developing the Howell & Forsyth
Guitar Company. Though he continued to focus on playing music and
gigging locally, music as a profession took a back seat to lutherie. It
wasn't until he moved to Thailand that he dedicated himself entirely to
musicianship, taking on over 15 gigs a week as a solo artist. After
three years playing professionally in Thailand's mountainous north,
Joshua returned to the U.S. and continued to perform in the San
Francisco Bay Area. When he crossed paths with drummer and percussionist
Pete Devine, they recognized their similar influences and musical
sensibilities. Their common approach effortlessly generated a powerhouse
combo of inspired and unaffected blues. HOWELLDEVINE
Melly
Frances & The Distilled Spirit is a USA based American blues, rock
and soul band formed in 2012 by vocalist and songwriter Melly Frances.
They are set to unveil their first studio album cleverly titled "The
Album" on May 1st 2014 as unsigned artists independent from a record
label. The band--Melly Frances (lead vocals, songwriter), Bryan Whelan
(guitar), Matthew Labarber (bass, vocals), Peter Williams (drums), Devon
Shae (fiddle) and Lance Dieckmann (harmonica). Frances brings forth
hard-hitting soul vocals that deliver a blast from the past. Singers
like Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin, Nina Simone, Otis
Redding, and Etta James are key influences and can be heard in her
raspy, sultry, vocal style. The band themselves are a classic fusion of
these roots rock favorites: The Black Crowes, Alabama Shakes, Led
Zeppelin, Marshall Tucker Band, The Band, Canned Heat, Little Feat, Neil
Young with Crazy Horse, Van Morrison, & The Rolling Stones. MELLY FRANCES AND THE DISTILLED SPIRIT
Harpist Brandee Younger, is known for sharing the stage with Jazz
Royalty Jack Dejohnette & Ravi Coltrane, laying down tracks with
Grammy-Winning Rapper Common and Artist and Producer Ryan Leslie, as
well as bringing to life the Classic Impressionistic work of Maurice
Ravel. Her ability to feature the Harp in genres of music where the
instrument is often absent is a testament of her love for the
instrument, and her cross-reaching ability as a musician.The Brandee Younger Quartet makes you rethink the traditional jazz
combo. No piano...instead, a concert harp, upright bass, drumset &
tenor sax/vocalist, the sound is reminiscent of vintage Dorothy Ashby
and ethereal Alice Coltrane, with a whole new identity. THE BRANDEE YOUNGER QUARTET
Halley was born in Manhattan and moved around the US before settling
back in New York City, where she and the band call home. Halley’s voice
is huge - somewhere between Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin. She
earned a BFA in acting at Boston University, and that pedigree shows in
the her performances. In fact, Halley fronted Janis Joplin’s legendary
band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, on a recent US tour and
brought down the house every night.Well-seasoned road gods, the band members have earned their chops with
the likes of Roger Waters, Shawn Mullins, Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal,
Gatemouth Brown, Zen Tricksters, and Mickey Dolenz. Halley and the band
have shared the stage with Gov’t Mule, Bonnie Bramlett, Jimmie Vaughan,
Son Seals, Johnny Winter, Donna the Buffalo, John Hammond and Antigone
Rising. THE HALLEY DEVESTERN BAND
