“ Nico Duportal capture the swing and Sounds reminiscent of Teddy Bunn,
Tiny Grimes, T.bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown and many others” (Lynwood
Slim, Los Angeles - California. 2007, singer/producer for Kid ramos,
Junior Watson, R.L Burnside, The mighty blue Kings, Rosebud Blue sauce,
Clarence gatemouth Brown, …). “ Fantastic Swingin’Blues and R&B !!!” (BBC-England). The American Blues scene has undoubtedly encountered its share of
adversity in recent years. wheneverI begin to doubt the uncertainty of
where this Music’s headed, along comes someone like Nico Duportal to
reassure me that everything’s gonna be just fine;
Jeff Scott Fleenor – Delta Groove Music (USA). “Nico Duportal sings and plays red hot guitar in a non stop trip into
the early roots of Rock’n’roll and R&B … this makes for the most
Swinging, the most rockin’ and definitely the most Jumpin’& rhythm
dance party sounds! the dance floor will be rammed for Mr Duportal
(Mark Hislop—Glasgow Rhythm & Blues festival). Nico Duportal a hot guitarist and Rhythm & Blues exponent, has
turned out a top class recording with his Rhythm Dudes providing
exquisite backing !!! recommended for Rockers, Strollers, Jiver and YOU
… (A. Smith – UK R’n’R Magazine). NICO DUPORTAL AND HIS RHYTHM DUDES
Born in Danville, Illinois, Jeff began playing trumpet at the age of
eight. After years of study in classical and jazz, he moved to L.A. in
1979 to pursue a career full time in music. He honed his live
performance skills on the LA club scene, then in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe,
and Atlantic City. Along the way, he developed an intriguing presence in
live performance that has to be seen (and heard) to be fully
appreciated. Now living in the San Francisco Bay Area, he continues to
play venues locally and around the country.In 2003 Jeff began to create loop based soundscapes using the computer
software program Sonic Acid. Uploading his music to MP3.com, his
innovative songs topped the ambient charts for months, with tens
thousands of downloads and streams worldwide.Soon after, Jeff began working with producer Will Ackerman, Grammy
winning guitarist and founder of Windham Hill Records. Together they
have recorded two albums, RELEASED and TRUE. Both albums have been voted
by broadcasters worldwide as Album of the Year, both have reached #1 on
Echoes, the nationally syndicated NPR radio program. Jeff's songs have
won Best New Age Song at the 2006 and 2008 Independent Music Awards,
and the music continues to receive airplay on XM/Sirius, Music Choice
and many other programs worldwide.Contributors to Jeff's recordings have included Bruce Swedien, legendary
mixing engineer of Michael Jackson's Thriller, Steely Dan's drummer
Keith Carlock, Grammy nominated artists Philip Aaberg, Eugene Friesen,
Michael Manring, and many other fine artists. JEFF OSTER
Lee Jones is a UK guitarist and composer. He has performed around the
national jazz scene in recent years and appeared as a special guest
with guitarist Martin Taylor at the Pizza Express, London.After
winning Jazz FM’s “Best New Instrumentalist” award, Lee completed the
BMus (Hons) jazz course at Birmingham Conservatoire in 2007; studying
with Partisans’ guitarist Phil Robson.He has released three solo
albums; “Swish” (2007), "Songs from the 13th Hour" (2011) and "After the
Pier" (2015) with former WEA producer Simon Tittley; recording
alongside Larry Coryell, Jean Toussaint, Dennis Rollins, Ric Sanders and
Chris Dagley amongst others. He also teaches guitar privately and for
various colleges.Lee is currently undertaking a PhD in jazz composition at The University of Salford.“…A fully developed personal style…” – The Observer"...an excellent composer and one heck of a guitarist..." LEE JONES
'A trio is the place where countless jazz pianists get their start,
finding security in the armature provided by a bassist and a drummer and
perhaps a sense of direction, too, from a long tradition that began in
the music’s early days and continues to evolve in nedirections.Theextraordinarily gifted Alexander Hawkins, by contrast, waited before
committing himself to a format so familiar as to represent, for a
creative pianist, a considerable test of the imagination.
Born in Oxford in 1981, Hawkins has been heard in many contexts, among
them his own six-piece ensemble, the Ethiopian vibraphonist Mulatu
Astatke’s band, the multinational Convergence Quartet, the three-piece
Decoy (in which he plays Hammond organ), the quartets of the trumpeter
Nick Malcolm, the drummer Steve Davis and the bassist Dominic Lash, as a
solo pianist, and recently in duo, quartet and octet environments with
Louis Moholo-Moholo. To encounter him at last in a trio (with the
bassist Neil Charles and the drummer Tom Skinner) is like hearing the
final element of a piece of machinery click into place.
..' ALEXANDER HAWKINS
The legacy of reggae vocalist Denroy Morgan has been passed on to his
sons, who have performed as Morgan Heritage since 1991. While its
mellow, R&B-influenced vocals and Rastafarian lyrics have been
compared to Garnett Silk, the group has continued to pave its own
musical path. The band's many hits include "Let's Make Up," "Tell Me How
Come," "Set Yourself Free," "Mama and Papa," and "Protect Us Jah."
Initially an octet featuring eight of Morgan's 29 children, Morgan
Heritage began recording in the early '90s. Although they attended
school in Springfield,
Massachusetts, they spent their weekends in their
father's recording studio in Brooklyn. Their debut single, "Wonderful
World," was produced by their father and released in 1991. An album,
Growing Up, followed shortly afterward. The first break for Morgan
Heritage came the following year when they performed at Reggae
Sunsplash. Their performance was so impressive that MCA offered a
recording contract almost as quickly as they were off the stage. Their
first album for MCA, Miracle, released in 1994, was a major
disappointment as the album clung to mass market reggae formulas.
Touring the Ivory Coast in 1995, Morgan Heritage rediscovered their
musical roots. Toward the end of the year, the group traveled to Jamaica
to record their next album. Recording during the day with Lloyd "King
Jammy" James and at night with Bobby "Digital" Dixon, the group took a
major leap forward. Shortly after releasing their second album, Protect
Us Jah, in 1997, Morgan Heritage were reduced to a five-piece. In
addition to Una Morgan (born 1973), the group included
keyboardist/vocalists Peter Morgan (born 1977) and Roy "Gramps" Morgan
(born 1975), rhythm guitarist Nakhamyah "Lukes" Morgan (born 1977), and
percussionist Memmalatel "Mojo" Morgan (born 1981). Don't Haffi Dread
from 1999 and More Teachings from 2001 continued to carry the roots
reggae torch while Three in One from 2003 broadened their sound a bit
with a guest appearance from the alt-rock band Good Charlotte. Full
Circle from 2005 featured the massive Jamaican hit "Tell Me How Come"
and was followed a year later by the live album Live: Another Rockaz
Moment. Mission in Progress arrived in 2008 with the singles "Raid Rootz
Dance" and "Love You Right." The 2009 compilation The Journey Thus Far
rounded up their hits, while their 2013 effort Here Come the Kings
featured the single "Perfect Love Song" along with a guest appearance
from Shaggy. Shaggy returned for 2015's Strictly Roots which was
released by the band's own label CTBC (Cool to Be Conscious). The album
also featured appearances from J. Boog, Chronixx, Bobby Lee of SOJA,
plus solo artist and son of Gramps, Jemere Morgan. MORGAN HERITAGE
Departure Ave. were born in Rome in the summer of 2012. Six months later their first “All the Sunset in a Cup” appears. The
album, self-released, immediately received excellent reviews from the insiders and turned a light on the band. After
the album was released the band has begun the collaboration with Bomba
Dischi, the independent label which released “Yarn”.
Yarn is the second album by Departure Ave.
A rock album, oblique and visual, jazz coloured but also characterised
by different tinges and suggestions that recall electronic and reggae
music.
This album is a collection of twelve fables, each taking place in a
different setting, brought together by the fact that they have all been
conceived in the same place. DEPARTURE AVE
Proclaimed
“a staple of the Midwest’s band scene” and “a festival favorite” by the
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Altered Five’s delectable brew of blues and
soul has a wide audience taking notice. The quintet's sophomore album,
Gotta Earn It, is a 10-song set featuring seven originals. Singer Jeff
Taylor’s powerful voice anchors the sound and drives home the message in
songs like the brooding ballad “Three Wishes,” the wistful, burning
blues of “Older, Wiser, Richer,” and the yearning “Mona Lisa.” The
rhythm section of drummer Scott Schroedl and bassist Mark Solveson
grooves hard and enjoys telepathic interaction with keyboardist Raymond
Tevich and guitarist Jeff Schroedl. Guitar World magazine raves that
Schroedl has “hi-tech chops” and contributes “superlative solo work.”
The group also puts its stamp on three covers: a driving, bluesified
take on the early Marvin Gaye hit “Ain’t That Peculiar”; a revved-up
reading of Buddy Guy’s 1961 Chess recording “Watch Yourself”; and the
cool, sassy groove of another Motown original, “You’ve Got to Earn It.”Award-winning
blues journalist Dave Rubin declares: "As authentic as a tangy Memphis
soul stew, Altered Five breathes fire into deep groove, original R&B
and blues. Led by the passion and polish of barrel-chested singer Jeff
"JT" Taylor and the explosive, fret-bending guitarist Jeff Schroedl, the
five blues brothers play vital music that nurtures the spirit and moves
the body."ALTERED FIVE BLUES BAND
Free of genres, EYOT brings a beautiful eclectic sound that swims from rock to jazz, punk and ambient, impressionism to
romanticism, all
formed into strong compositions. Their live performances are filled with
energy and emotions that bring the listener deep into their personal
world and create a unique experience.After their critically acclaimed albums “Horizon” and “Drifters” that
brouth them more then 100 concerts in 18 countries, EYOT brings us
“Similarity”. Forged in Nis - Serbia, Crafted in Bristol UK, produced by
Get the Blessing’s Jim Barr, this album brings a mix of many styles.
Pink Floyd mixed with Nirvana, Radiohead and legacy of famous Eastern
European composers of classical music, spiced up with the Balkan
traditional music, it’s a recipe that EYOT presents to you in it’s own
way. EYOT
John O'Gallagher is considered one of the most compelling alto saxophonists and composers at work today on the New York jazz scene. He is known for an innovative style which pushes the boundaries of jazz while rooted in it's tradition."Mr. O'Gallagher is an exploratory alto saxophonist with a clear melodic streak" - The New York TimesBorn in Anaheim Califorina in 1964 he began playing alto saxophone in grade school after his family moved to Spokane, Washington. Upon graduating high school he studied briefly at Eastern Washington University before moving to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music. There he studied with legendary saxophone gurus Joe Viola, Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone. During the past 25 years living in New York he has become known for his projects as a leader, and as a sought after sidemen, working with artist such as Joe Henderson, Maria Schnieder, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Hart, Tony Malaby, Jeff Williams, Tom Rainey, Chris Cheek, Ralph Alessi, Rudresh Manhathappa, Mike Formanek, Ben Monder and numerous others.Jeff Williams was raised in Oberlin, Ohio where he began playing drums at age eight. Self-taught, with the aid of his parents' collection of jazz recordings as a guide, he started playing gigs with local professionals at age fourteen. Jeff's mother, Ann Williams, moved to New York to pursue a jazz singing career when he was nine, introducing him to a number of musicians who would be his early mentors, including drummers Jo Jones, Herb Lovelle, Elvin Jones, and Oliver Jackson. In 1967 Jeff made his recording debut with the psychedelic group Ant Trip Ceremony (Cicadelic).Sam began playing the double bass aged 16, taking classical lessons and teaching himself jazz. Whilst studying both disciplines at Trinity College of Music with Corin Long and Steve Watts respectively, he began to perform professionally on the British jazz scene. Since graduating seven years ago, Sam has appeared regularly at many established jazz venues in London and around the UK, as well as embarking on numerous international tours throughout Europe, America, Canada and Brazil.Sam is a member of Jeff Williams' UK-based quartet, award-winning saxophonist Julian Arguelles' quartet, vocalist Emilia Martensson's band, and Andrew McCormack's UK trio. As a sideman he has performed with Ethan Iverson, John O'Gallagher, Stan Sulzmann, Martin Speake, Nikki Iles, Bobby Wellins, and Jim Hart among many others. He is also proud to be involved in a number of exciting projects with his contemporaries, including the George Crowley Quintet and the Michael Chillingworth Sextet. SAM LASSERSON
