Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Brenda Earle - Canucks and New Yorkers are in Luck
Brenda Earle
Brenda is a jazz artist who draws inspiration from a myriad of influences, including songwriters Pete Yorn, Neil Finn and Elvis Costello, classical composers like Brahms and Whitacre, rock radio and Brazilian music. As a composer, Brenda has written hundreds of arrangements and compositions for choirs, small and large jazz ensebles, brass quintet, string quartet and orchestra. An emerging artist with a diverse palette of sounds, she is a leading voice in modern jazz.
Brenda is a jazz artist who draws inspiration from a myriad of influences, including songwriters Pete Yorn, Neil Finn and Elvis Costello, classical composers like Brahms and Whitacre, rock radio and Brazilian music. As a composer, Brenda has written hundreds of arrangements and compositions for choirs, small and large jazz ensebles, brass quintet, string quartet and orchestra. An emerging artist with a diverse palette of sounds, she is a leading voice in modern jazz.
EFK Sample:
If you have not heard this swinging singing sensation, then you are missing out!!!! Check her out live at the following locations. This is enough in advance to plan, plan, plan.
Cornelia Street Café, New York City
Brenda Earle Sacred Voices Project
October 3rd, 9:45pm
The Rex Jazz Bar, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Brenda Earle Quartet
November 6th,
The Beatniq Jazz Club – Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Brenda Earle Quartet
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
"Home Cooking" is #1 Choice
"Home Cooking" what is clearly becoming the single on Silveroot’s second album Big Difference is heating up the airwaves across the U.S and Canada with its sassy lyrics and playful vibe. Big Difference lives up to its title in earnest when compared to the first release Full Measure and its all acoustic sound, the group's first widely acclaimed CD. While the cut “Ozone” still holds a firm grip on the groups “previous” sound, this release displays a more developed weave, rich in overtones and complexity. The main reason is the addition of bass, drums and "banjotronics" that places this collection of tunes firmly in the mainstream of Americana. The always stellar songwriting of Patrick Flynn still shines full force on all of these selections, and the musical collaboration of Flynn, Darryl Webb, and Emily Palen, is stunning in its originality and genre busting abilities. Adding to the overall complexity are three tunes with Mardell Mardeaux on violin, that exude another distinct element altogether, and guest vocalist Ilaya, joins Darryl on the powerful “Brazil.” Also included is a song by Darryl Webb’s the late grandfather Bill "Stotle" Smith: "Kansas City Redball."
All this adds up to a fascinating array of musical virtuosity from a most unusual group of versatile players who re-define the bounds of music appreciation in a most enjoyable and convincing way.
“Can pop hits grow up to be Jazz standards?”
REVIEW: Craig Buhler’s “Skykomish”
The jazz created by Craig Buhler goes everywhere from blues to gospel to pop and soul, and he covers all of this and more in a very well-rounded album called Skykomish (Discernment Music).
If you are to base your opinion of the album with “Roll Over Redmond” (the opening track), you might think Buhler is a traditionalist, taking it deep into its roots, but then hear him play a cover of The Doobie Brothers‘ “What A Fool Believes” and you’ll think differently. Think smooth jazz in a big band setting, soft and delicate but not overly doughy, and then hear him do a solo at around the 1:45 mark, and it’s as if he’s auditioning for the Doobie Brothers circa 1979. Jazz artists have been tapping into the Doobie catalog in recent years, specifically the Michael McDonald-led era, with “What A Fool Believes” being covered more often. This version is one of the best I’ve heard. What will also turn some heads is his take of Stevie Wonder’s “Creepin’”, fans of the original will love Buhler’s arrangement and sample-junkies will definitely find an element or two for the taking. Another interesting performance is his cover of Foreigner’s “Waiting For A Girl”, and if you didn’t pay close attention you might not realize that it is that early 80’s chestnut.
Buhler himself states in the CD digipak “can pop hits grow up to be jazz standards?” and that’s the difference: here is someone who is taking cherished songs and showing that maturity and age is a good thing. Buhler and the musicians on the album (Paul Kreibich on drums, Chris Conner on bass, Jamie Findlay on guitar, Karen Hammack on piano, Brian Atkinson on vibes, Dan Barrett on trombone, and Lee Thornburg on trumpet and flugelhorn) are top-notch, with most of them doing incredible session work over the years. Now they help Buhler fulfill his mission.
(SIDENOTE: Buhler was a member of one of the more underrated bands of the 70’s, Honk. Surfing fans will definitely know Honk from their “chicken skin moment” song, “Pipeline Sequence”, in which Buhler played the saxophone solo.)
Kat Walker, Southern Richness and Complexity
| By C. Michael Bailey |  Comments    |
At first brush, Kat Walker's Jazz Skat Gumbo appears to be just one more collection of jazz standards sung by one of the deluge of singers streaming into the already crowded jazz vocals market. Kat Walker indeed sings the standards, but she and her band hail from New Orleans, a fact that adds a decidedly Southern richness and complexity to the performances. This does not manifest as an incorporation of Dixieland elements, but rather an earthier, peatier quality to the songs, a quality first realized in Walker's slightly odd and raspy voice.Walker's voice is unusual in that it is not exactly pretty, but it is unique, accurate, and precise, not unlike that of Louis Armstrong's. She adds a sensual edge to her singing that complements the two-fisted barrel-piano playing of Bart Ramsey, who propels all of the selections with his assertive style. Tenor saxophonist Dominick Grillo does not mire himself with prim balladic niceties, instead opting for an almost Texas Tenor approach; full bore and wide open. The sum of this is that these performances are gleefully more "Gimme a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer" than "Moonlight in Vermont."
Walker and company's approach is best heard on a bossa "Cry Me A River" and an extra humid "Fever." Ramsey wedges solos into the pieces sideways, giving them the overall structure of a cubist painting. Grillo demands attention when soloing, affairs all well conceived and performed. "Ain't Misbehavin" and "Over the Rainbow" are special treats, each presented with a swinging momentum. Walker's interpretations satisfy the desire for the standard fare performed in a non-standard manner. This is beautifully funky, viral, infectious music.
Monday, July 27, 2009
More humidity than Ma Rainey and more sex than Lena Horn.
Mia Vermillion is reviewed today by C. Michael Bailey on All About Jazz. C. Michale describes Mia in this way. "Mia Vermillion has a big vocal presence. She sings with the wild abandon of Janis Joplin controlled by the fluid precision of Bonnie Bramlett, the gusto of Big Mama Thornton, and the blues foundation of Bessie Smith. She infuses her singing with more humidity than Ma Rainey and more sex than Lena Horn."
Tell Us Your Thoughts....We want to hear from you!
Review Link - Click Here
Friday, July 24, 2009
Kat Walker, Whisky Soaked Voice
Review by: Chris Spector, Midwest Record Report, Volume 32/Number 266
A singer with a history as a performance artist with other stops along the way gets in touch with her inner Nawlins jazz singer and serves up an interesting set. A singer that’s paying for the date that knows how to lay out and let the instrumentalists heat things up? Pretty interesting already. With the kind of whiskey soaked voice we’re all such suckers for, Walker works through a set of standards with a few coming from unexpected places and all having change ups that make them fresh and she simply knows how to be a first class entertainer. More of a sneaky pomo (post-modern, a province for contemporary hipsters) date than an item for the traditional jazz vocal fan, Walker is really making traditional music for those who think young, as she seems to herself. Great fun for playing in the car with the windows rolled down (ok, that part is our Chicago perspective. You’re free to dig this in your own fashion. Just dig it.)
Mike Arroyo, Supremely Conversant
EFK: http://www.karionpresskits.com/mikearroyo2/mikearroyo2.html
Mike Arroyo is reviewed in The Borderland (UK), Musicwatch column issue #14. John M. Peters describes Mike as; "Mike Arroyo is a jazz guitarist supremely conversant with all styles of latin jazz, and his new album is one of the best audio calling cards I've heard in a long time."
Brenda Earle "Songs For A New Day"
Brenda Earle "Songs For A New Day"Brenda Earle's "Songs For A New Day" features an engaging array of standards, original compositions and covers of songs by artists ranging from Crowded House to Marc Anthony. Preview the CD here, purchase at iTunes.com. Writers your copies are in transit, let me know when they arrive.
Ramm/Moretti/Cunliffe moving up at KWCR
Moving on UP!! JAZZ
1 MEDESKI MARTIN AND WOOD Radiolarians II Indirecto
2 CURT RAMM, DAN MORETTI, BILL CUNLIFFE Foundations
3 ETIENNE CHARLES Folklore Self-Released
4 ED
5 SIMON FISK TRIO Vague Hotels WARNER MUSIC
6 BILL BANFIELD BAND Spring Forward Innova
7 CHARLES MINGUS Mingus Ah Um Legacy-Sony Legacy
8 GREG SKAFF
9 VARIOUS ARTISTS Black
10 GERRY HEBERT QUARTET The Beat Niq Session Volume 2: Constructive Interference Plunge
Foundations is Captivating and Powerful
Kari Gaffney RAMM/MORETTI/CUNLIFFE "Foundations" is reviewed in the Metro Spirit. J. Edward Sumerau describes the disc as "Merging their combined talents, these musicians inspire each other, captivate instrumental enthusiasts and provide a powerful sound to build upon."
Metro Spirit Catches the "Jazz Skat Gumbo" Vibe!
Kari Gaffney J. EDWARD SUMERAU reviews Kat Walkers "Jazz Skat Gumbo." He describes the CD as “Jazz Skat Gumbo” is exactly that – a big pot of mixed up sounds that sooths the aches, pains, and hunger of today’s music scene." Read the entire review on this link! It's smokin'
Mia Vermillion Interviewed
Kari Gaffney Bev Crichfield | Skagit Valley Herald interviews Mia Vermillion who is clearly making a mark on the Blues genre with her new CD "Along Together With the Blues." Writers your copies should be arriving, let me know if this wonderful offering is on your docket.
Kari Gaffney Get your Americana on with a "Big Difference." Silveroot style, the second CD out by this fantastic "Rootsy" group is making its second sighting at Radio and Press, Patrick Flynn's writing is witty, gritty and makes you smile. "Home Cookin" is frying up the airwaves, get your sample here.
Donald Malloy on the RMR Chart of 8 weeks
Kari Gaffney Donald Malloy on the RMR jazz chart again this morning 8 weeks on the chart peaking at #8. Get your "Spirituality" on with this wonderful CD. C. Michael Bailey of All About Jazz wrote an interesting take on Donald's CD. Check it out...
Nicki Gonzalez is in the "Hot" Category on KCAC
Kari Gaffney Nicki Gonzalez is in the "HOT" Category on KCAC, in Camden AR. We could not agree more!! Burn her name across your heart!!!
Lara MacMillan Reviewed at Celebrity Cafe
Full Review: http://thecelebritycafe.com/cd/full_review/14454.html
Kari Gaffney Lara MacMillan is reviewed today in Celebrity Cafe her music is called "A new face on the scene. Her debut album “Miss Mercury” is blatant and engrossing."
Kari-On Productions
In an effort to bring you quality artists and their latest releases we are publishing our new blog where you can keep updated about our artists and their latest information!
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