http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant_Home_Page
Private Page for Media, Journalists includes downloads and other bio and press materials.
http://www.gentlegiantmediakit.com
On November 10th 2009 Gentle Giant will be digitally releasing seven of their best-known albums and tracks in digital form for the very first time via their own Alucard label through EMI Music's Label Services unit.
This progressive rock band, which was active from 1970 through 1980, was made up of multi-instrumentalists, and lived to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular." The group's dozen albums combine a range of musical styles-jazz, pop, classical, British soul, rock, blues, medieval, pop, blues, Gentle Giant's legacy has become influential to a range of artists from the arena rock, jam band, virtuoso players, and chamber pop genres.
In a Glass House, The Power & The Glory, Freehand, Interview, Playing The Fool-The Official Live, The Missing Piece and Giant For a Day will become available through all digital channels.
The digital releases will also include previously unheard bonus tracks and artwork.
The band has chosen favorite live versions of songs from each album and some obscure radio sessions. Two of the bonus tracks “Intro 74” and “Intro 76” have been partially re-recorded, embellished and remixed by Kerry Minnear of the group.
Minnear, plus Gentle Giant bandmates Ray Shulman, Gary Green, John Weathers, and Derek Shulman are available for interviews. Other promotion includes radio, print, Internet, and mobile phone outreach. Digital listening parties are being set up on line, and will include competitions to win special Gentle Giant gift sets.
More Gentle Giant music will be available in a variety of formats in 2010, starting with the January release of the seven CDs Re-Mastered from the original 1⁄4 inch tapes through Hi-Resolution (24bit 96k) transfer. First quarter of 2010 will also find box sets and Limited Edition Vinyl LPs.
GENTLE GIANT DIGITAL RELEASES
TRACK LISTINGS
IN A GLASS HOUSE - 1973
1.The Runaway
2. An Inmates Lullaby
3. Way Of Life
4. Experience
5. A Reunion
6. In A Glass House
Digital Bonus Tracks:
The Runaway/Experience Live 1975
Way Of Life - Radio Session 1973
THE POWER AND THE GLORY - 1974
1. Proclamation
2. So Sincere
3. Aspirations
4. Playing the Game
5. Cogs in Cogs
6. No God's A Man
7. Valedictory
8. (The Power And The Glory)
Digital Bonus Tracks:
Intro '74
Proclamation - Live 1975
Aspirations - Radio Session 1974
Cogs In Cogs - Live 1975
FREE HAND - 1975
1. Just The Same
2. On Reflection
3. Free Hand
4. Time To Kill
5. His Last Voyage
6. Talybont
7. Mobile
Digital Bonus Tracks:
Just The Same - Live 1975
On Reflection - Radio Session 1975
Free Hand - Live 1975
INTERVIEW - 1976
1. Interview
2. Give it Back
3. Design
4. Another Show
5. Empty City
6. Timing
7. I Lost My Head
Digital Bonus Tracks:
Intro '76
Interview - Live 1976
Give It Back - Live 1976
PLAYING THE FOOL - THE OFFICIAL LIVE - 1977
1. Just the Same
2. Proclamation
3. On Reflection
4. Excerpts from Octopus
5. Funny Ways
6. The Runaway
7. Experience
8. So Sincere
9. Free Hand
10. Sweet Georgia Brown (Breakdown in Brussels)
11. Peel the Paint / I Lost My Head
Digital Bonus Tracks:
Just The Same - Radio Session 1975
Excerpts From Octopus - Radio Session 1973
THE MISSING PIECE - 1977
1. Two Weeks In Spain
2. I'm Turning Around
3. Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It
4. Who Do You Think You Are?
5. Mountain Time
6. As Old As You're Young
7. Memories of Old Days
8. Winning
9. For Nobody
Digital Bonus Tracks:
Two Weeks In Spain - Live 1978
I'm Turning Around - Live 1978
For Nobody - Live 1978
GIANT FOR A DAY - 1978
1. Words from the Wise
2. Thank You
3. Giant For A Day
4. Spooky Boogie
5. Take Me
6. Little Brown Bag
7. Friends
8. No Stranger
9. It's Only Goodbye
10. Rock Climber
Digital Bonus Track:
Giant For A Day - Live 1980
11/2/09
SONGS FOR SHOES, NOV. 8, NYC
"Songs for Shoes" is a fundraiser concert on Sunday, November 8th at 3:30 at St. Marks Church. This is a family-friendly event and children under 17 are allowed free of charge, but encouraged to bring a pair of children's shoes (new or gently used) to donate. Tickets for adults are $20 and can be purchased at the door.
Artists in the disciplines of music, dance, and story telling will showcase their many talents and proceeds will go to support the Casa Hogar Eirene Orphanage in Mexico. Casa Hogar Eirene is a grassroots organization whose mission is to show love to abandoned children in the area by providing a loving family environment, nutritious food, and medical care.
This concert is being produced by Musical Offerings, whose mission is to produce fundraiser concerts for charities because we believe "Everyone Can Help Anyone."
10/4/09
Gentle Giant.
The group is finally starting to release its catalog in digital format this November 3 on i-Tunes, Amazon, and all the other major web providers. For part of the campaign we'll be doing a blog tour. I'm looking to set up e-interviews in which bloggers and their readers will send in questions to Gary Green, Kerry Minnear, Ray Shulman, John Weathers, and Derek Shulman about Gentle Giant. And each day in November a different blogger will post the questions and answers on their site. So, if you're interested, let me know, and I'll let you know how it works. We'll be letting folks know about these blogs through Gentle Giant's web site, myspace, facebook, Twitter, last.fm....
http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant
10/3/09
Cevin Soling's THE WAR ON KIDS and its first cinema run, November 18-24 in New York City
THE WAR ON KIDS will be shown at the Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th Street, in New York City, from Wednesday, November 18 through Tuesday, November 24. Truly a New York institution, the Quad Cinema has been showing the best of foreign and independent films since 1972. Family owned and operated, the Quad continues to book films, which are unique, original, and intellectual to appeal to a loyal following of New York moviegoers. Film admission is $11.00 for adults, $8.00 for children and senior citizens. Tickets are available by calling 777-FILM #636 or on the web at www.movietickets.com.
THE WAR ON KIDS is a 95-minute documentary that shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission to educate effectively, they erode the country's democratic foundation and often resemble prisons. School children are interviewed as are high school teachers and administrators, as well as prison security guards, plus renowned educators and authors including:
Henry Giroux: Author of Stealing Innocence Corporate Culture's War on Children
Mike A. Males: Sociologist, Author of Scapegoat Generation
John Gatto: New York City and New York State Teacher of the Year
Judith Browne: Associate Director of the Advancement Project
Dan Losen: The Civil Rights Project, Harvard University
Dr. Peter Breggin: Author of Toxic Psychiatry and Talking Back to Prozac
Music in the film is performed by The Chumps, Tommy Gardner, John S. Hall, and Laura Mayer with Scott Grinthal.
THE WAR ON KIDS is directed by Cevin Soling and it won the NYIIFVF award for "best educational film" in 2009. His documentary, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS won NYIIFVF's best experimental feature film. Cevin has directed and produced a number of films, including: RELAX IT'S JUST SEX starring Jennifer Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams; A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel; and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. He also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG (which broadcast on both MTV and the BBC), CAPTAIN STICKMAN, as well as the short film, DESTRUCTION.
http://www.thewaronkids.com
THE WAR ON KIDS is a 95-minute documentary that shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission to educate effectively, they erode the country's democratic foundation and often resemble prisons. School children are interviewed as are high school teachers and administrators, as well as prison security guards, plus renowned educators and authors including:
Henry Giroux: Author of Stealing Innocence Corporate Culture's War on Children
Mike A. Males: Sociologist, Author of Scapegoat Generation
John Gatto: New York City and New York State Teacher of the Year
Judith Browne: Associate Director of the Advancement Project
Dan Losen: The Civil Rights Project, Harvard University
Dr. Peter Breggin: Author of Toxic Psychiatry and Talking Back to Prozac
Music in the film is performed by The Chumps, Tommy Gardner, John S. Hall, and Laura Mayer with Scott Grinthal.
THE WAR ON KIDS is directed by Cevin Soling and it won the NYIIFVF award for "best educational film" in 2009. His documentary, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS won NYIIFVF's best experimental feature film. Cevin has directed and produced a number of films, including: RELAX IT'S JUST SEX starring Jennifer Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams; A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel; and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. He also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG (which broadcast on both MTV and the BBC), CAPTAIN STICKMAN, as well as the short film, DESTRUCTION.
http://www.thewaronkids.com
Lizanne Knott's SOUTH OF GRACELAND album released in the UK on Proper Music Distribution
Lizanne Knott's SOUTH OF GRACELAND album entered Amazon's UK charts at number 7, above Taylor Swift this past week. SOUTH OF GRACELAND is being released in UK, Ireland, and Scotland on October 5 through Proper Music Distribution.
Lizanne's music was first introduced to British audiences through BBC-2 radio host Bob Harris and through her first UK tour in 2006 when Proper released her album, UNDER THE BURING SKY, with it receiving rave reviews.
She will also be returning to the UK and Scotland for a tour in June 2010. The tour is being booked by Stoneyport Associates. Please keep checking Lizanne's site for updates, as well as http://www.stoneyport.co.uk/artists/docs/lizanneknott.html!
The music of Pennsylvania-based singer-songwriter Lizanne Knott is natural, featuring captivating melodies and deceptively simple lyrics that resonate deeper insights in repeated listening.
SOUTH OF GRACELAND's roots-driven folk and dark, poetic ballads weave tales of life, tragedy and the search for redemption. Lizanne's signature sound is vocals infused with infinite warmth, and it takes flight again in this fourth collection of songs. The CD, produced by Grammy-winning Glenn Barratt (Elton John "Aida," Melody Gardot "Worrisome Heart") brings together some of the most sought after musicians from the United States, including; Jef Lee Johnson (George Duke, Billy Joel), John Doyle (Solas, Joan Baez, Mick Moloney), Chico Huff (Solas, Kate Taylor), Joel Bryant (Philadelphia International Records), Grant MacAvoy, Ed Wise and some special guests. Together, they merge Lizanne's delicately soulful sound with innovative riffs over infectious melodies, creating songs that will stay with you long after you turn off the radio.
"My Little Town" paints images of a town with its dog parade, gentle winds, and also the undercurrent of personally great loss and the dust on picture postcards. Such is Lizanne's gift in writing--both light hearted and happy while taking unexpected turns into deeper, contemplative places. "Too Much Love" starts out with a reference to Elvis Presley and gives mention to Bob Harris, "Everyone has something, and sometimes it's enough...but no one's getting too much love." Whether a bluesy fun remedy "Why Baby Why" or her melodic and metaphoric "Kill the Crows" there is something very worth listening to by everyone.
Confirmed Tour Dates for Lizanne Knott,
please visit lizanneknott.com for updates.
Oct. 7: ABC Special “Tune In” Taping, Oct. 7: "ABC Tune In Taping" Brittinghams Lafayette Hill, PA
Oct 10 The Eclectic Cafe Bay Shore, NY
Oct 17 Kennet Flash Kennett Square, PA
Oct 30 The Record Collector Bordentown, NJ
Nov 5 Clear Conscience Cafe Cambridge, MA
Nov 13 The Bluebird!! Nashville, TN
Nov 18, 19 NYSC Contest Finale New York, NY
Nov 20 The Kimmel Center! Commonwealth Plaza Stage Philadelphia, PA
Nov 21 Arts Against Abuse Presents In Concert Media, PA
Nov 28 Burlap and Bean Newtown Square, PA
Dec 1 Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA
Dec 10 Lansdowne Folk Club - Minas Anniversary show! Lansdowne, PA
Dec 11 WXPN Presents: Philabundance Benefit 4th Annual! - Lizanne and Friends
Philadelphia, PA
Dec 17 Sellersville Theater - Annie Haslam and Friends Holiday Concert! Sellersville, PA
2010 shows:
June 12 Concert @ Turners Hill West Sussex, London
June 14 BBC2 - Live show taping London
June 16 Edinburgh FC TBA Edinburgh, Scotland
June 17 Live at The Star Glasgow, Scotland
http://www.lizanneknott.com !
http://www.myspace.com/lizanneknott!
Jann Klose to open for RENAISSANCE 2009 this October (Pop singer/songwriter available for interviews in advance of shows)
Jann Klose will be opening for Renaissance on their 40th Anniversary Celebration this October. The tour will visit theatres and performing arts centers in the Northeast U.S. There are a total of nine shows. Headliner Renaissance features long time Renaissance members - singer Annie Haslam and guitarist Michael Dunford.
Jann has had a professional friendship with Annie, who saw and heard him perform at a record release party for a benefit album, SERENITY HOUSE, in September 2007. The following year the two collaborated, along with Renaissance's former keyboardist John Tout, and Jann's band for a sell-out show at the Sellersville Theater, in Sellersville, PA.
Jann's album, REVERIE continues to build momentum. The record has already become a critical favorite in regional America and is - as the LA Weekly states - becoming "a minor hit," heard on over 115 radio stations worldwide, including Sirius XM Radio in the U.S., the BBC in the U.K. and most recently, Prambors Radio in Indonesia.
Since the release of REVERIE, Jann has also opened for Jonathan Edwards, The Strawbs, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root and performed with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart and Roger McGuinn at the Martin Guitar 175th anniversary concert. (He'll be opening for Marshall Crenshaw at the Sellersville Theater, in PA on October 24.)
Jann and his band supported Elliott Murphy on tours of the East and West Coast. The two are planning on more shows together later this year. Jann recently returned from a European tour, which included his second run of dates in the U.K. and Germany as well as Georgia, France and Ireland for the first time. In addition to radio airplay and extensive touring - over 100 shows in 2008 alone.
There are also free downloads of songs from REVERIE available at http://jannklose.com/audio.html Jann and his band have been receiving positive press for REVERIE:
“The first thing that's totally unmistakable about Jann Klose is that voice - which is just light years beyond that of the typical singer/songwriter...a sound that is classy, distinctive and often irresistible.”- The Springfield Republican, Advance Newspaper Wire Service
“Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.” - The Washington Post
“Born in Germany and raised in Africa, Jann Klose brings an element of world music to his adult-contemporary pop-rock. His latest record Reverie offers songs of thoughtful introspection and longing. Rich arrangements feature orchestral strings, jazzy horns and old-world accordion in addition to the standard bass, drums and guitar. Highlights include the melancholy 'Mother Said, Father Said' and Latin-flavored 'Clouds.'” - Performing Songwriter
Confirmed Jann Klose tour dates, Fall 2009
please visit http://www.jannklose.com for updates
October 6 Rams Head On Stage Annapolis, MD w/ Renaissance
October 8 German House Theatre Rochester, NY w/ Renassiance
October 9 The Concert Hall New York, NY w/ Renaissance
October 11 Keswick Theatre Glenside, PA w/ Renaissance (SOLD OUT!)
October 12 The Birchmere Alexandria, VA w/ Renaissance
October 13 The Egg Albany, NY w/ Renaissance
October 14 Whitaker Center Harrisburg, PA w/ Renaissance
October 16 South Orange Performing Arts Center South Orange, NJ w/ Renaissance
October 17 Xanadu Theater at the Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, NJ w/ Renaissance
October 18 Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival Beacon, NY w/ Pete Seeger
October 24 Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA w/ Marshall Crenshaw
November 4 Acoustic Long Island Saint James, NY
November 5 Clear Conscience Cafe Cambridge, MA w/ Lizanne Knott
November 16 Uncommon Ground on Devon
Chicago, IL
November 17 and 18: 12th Annual Jeff Buckley Tribute Concert, Uncommon Ground Chicago, IL
November 20 The Blue Magoo Warren,OH
November 21 Rolling Plains Church Zanesville, OH
December 5 Stephen Talkhouse Amagansett, NY w/ Elliott Murphy
December 9 Johnny D's Boston, MA w/ Elliott Murphy
December 10 The Watercolor Cafe Larchmont, NY w/ Elliott Murphy
December 11 The Living Room New York, NY
http://www.myspace.com/jannklose
http://www.jannklose.com
Jann has had a professional friendship with Annie, who saw and heard him perform at a record release party for a benefit album, SERENITY HOUSE, in September 2007. The following year the two collaborated, along with Renaissance's former keyboardist John Tout, and Jann's band for a sell-out show at the Sellersville Theater, in Sellersville, PA.
Jann's album, REVERIE continues to build momentum. The record has already become a critical favorite in regional America and is - as the LA Weekly states - becoming "a minor hit," heard on over 115 radio stations worldwide, including Sirius XM Radio in the U.S., the BBC in the U.K. and most recently, Prambors Radio in Indonesia.
Since the release of REVERIE, Jann has also opened for Jonathan Edwards, The Strawbs, Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root and performed with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart and Roger McGuinn at the Martin Guitar 175th anniversary concert. (He'll be opening for Marshall Crenshaw at the Sellersville Theater, in PA on October 24.)
Jann and his band supported Elliott Murphy on tours of the East and West Coast. The two are planning on more shows together later this year. Jann recently returned from a European tour, which included his second run of dates in the U.K. and Germany as well as Georgia, France and Ireland for the first time. In addition to radio airplay and extensive touring - over 100 shows in 2008 alone.
There are also free downloads of songs from REVERIE available at http://jannklose.com/audio.html Jann and his band have been receiving positive press for REVERIE:
“The first thing that's totally unmistakable about Jann Klose is that voice - which is just light years beyond that of the typical singer/songwriter...a sound that is classy, distinctive and often irresistible.”- The Springfield Republican, Advance Newspaper Wire Service
“Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.” - The Washington Post
“Born in Germany and raised in Africa, Jann Klose brings an element of world music to his adult-contemporary pop-rock. His latest record Reverie offers songs of thoughtful introspection and longing. Rich arrangements feature orchestral strings, jazzy horns and old-world accordion in addition to the standard bass, drums and guitar. Highlights include the melancholy 'Mother Said, Father Said' and Latin-flavored 'Clouds.'” - Performing Songwriter
Confirmed Jann Klose tour dates, Fall 2009
please visit http://www.jannklose.com for updates
October 6 Rams Head On Stage Annapolis, MD w/ Renaissance
October 8 German House Theatre Rochester, NY w/ Renassiance
October 9 The Concert Hall New York, NY w/ Renaissance
October 11 Keswick Theatre Glenside, PA w/ Renaissance (SOLD OUT!)
October 12 The Birchmere Alexandria, VA w/ Renaissance
October 13 The Egg Albany, NY w/ Renaissance
October 14 Whitaker Center Harrisburg, PA w/ Renaissance
October 16 South Orange Performing Arts Center South Orange, NJ w/ Renaissance
October 17 Xanadu Theater at the Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, NJ w/ Renaissance
October 18 Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin Festival Beacon, NY w/ Pete Seeger
October 24 Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA w/ Marshall Crenshaw
November 4 Acoustic Long Island Saint James, NY
November 5 Clear Conscience Cafe Cambridge, MA w/ Lizanne Knott
November 16 Uncommon Ground on Devon
Chicago, IL
November 17 and 18: 12th Annual Jeff Buckley Tribute Concert, Uncommon Ground Chicago, IL
November 20 The Blue Magoo Warren,OH
November 21 Rolling Plains Church Zanesville, OH
December 5 Stephen Talkhouse Amagansett, NY w/ Elliott Murphy
December 9 Johnny D's Boston, MA w/ Elliott Murphy
December 10 The Watercolor Cafe Larchmont, NY w/ Elliott Murphy
December 11 The Living Room New York, NY
http://www.myspace.com/jannklose
http://www.jannklose.com
Elliott Murphy in the States this December
Elliott Murphy is coming back to the New York City area this December. A few dates are booked already.
December 4 The Living Room New York, NY
December 5 Stephen Talkhouse Amagansett, NY w/ Jann Klose
December 6 University Cafe Stony Brook, NY
December 9 Johnny D's Boston, NY w/Jann Klose
December 10 The Watercolor Cafe Larchmont, NY w/Jann Klose
December 11 The Turning Point Piermont, NY
http://www.elliottmurphy.com
December 4 The Living Room New York, NY
December 5 Stephen Talkhouse Amagansett, NY w/ Jann Klose
December 6 University Cafe Stony Brook, NY
December 9 Johnny D's Boston, NY w/Jann Klose
December 10 The Watercolor Cafe Larchmont, NY w/Jann Klose
December 11 The Turning Point Piermont, NY
http://www.elliottmurphy.com
Jay and the Americans Christmas Greetings
Jay and the Americans are coming out with a Christmas song, “Christmas in America.” I will have mastered MP3s of it by mid October. Please, let me know if you'd like it for your show, and I'll send it to you.
http://www.jayandtheamericans.net
http://www.jayandtheamericans.net
The book, STICKS'N'SKINS
Jethro Tull's Doane Perry, Tower of Power's David Garibaldi, Grand Funk Railroad's Don Brewer, and Stratospheerius' Lucianna Padmore are featured in the upcoming coffeetable book of drummers, STICKS'N'SKINS.
Visit the web site http://www.sticksnskins.com for links to myspace and facebook web sites.
Visit the web site http://www.sticksnskins.com for links to myspace and facebook web sites.
Here's news from friends.
print out this coupon, and you can get a discount to the cat show in Westchester this November.
If you like writing about animals, and live in the New York City area, join me, Animal Planet's Emergency vet Kevin Fitzgerald, and social networking and media maniac Peter Shankman for the Cat Writers Association Conference, November 19-21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, White Plains, New York. This will be the first time that the CWA conference is held in conjunction with the Westchester Cat Show.
The conference will also feature 18 seminars to help writers identify good sources, pitch to editors, learn new social media and interviewing skills and explore new topics. Editor/agent appointments will also be available on a first-come, first-serve basis after people register in full. I'll be at the pet book autograph party on Saturday afternoon with my UK book, PAWS FOR THOUGHT for sale at the Westchester Cat Show (anyone Christmas shopping?)
Conference registration can be made online at http://www.catwriters.org/annual-info.html.
Hotel reservations can be made online at http://www.crowneplaza.com\whiteplainsny, under the International Cat Writers' Association, or by phone at 914-682-0050 or 800-227-6963. For more information please visit http://www.catwriters.org.
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Congratulations to our friends in the band Tiles, who have a song, “Static” from their 1999 PRESENTS OF MIND album on the A&E show, “Parking Wars.”
The show is a first-hand, and decidedly playful, look at what happens when citizens come face-to-face with the parking authority, whether it's ticketing, booting, or towing -- it's PARKING WARS! This episode will broadcast Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 PM. Additional show times and program details are available at http://www.aetv.com/parking-wars/.
http://tiles-music.com/.
****
One of the folks who helped me in my career--Howard Bloom is releasing a new book, THE GENIUS OF THE BEAST. The book is about what America and its people need to do to revitalize itself (and a lot is connected with being aware of people's needs, regarding them as being worthy, and being of service to one another). He also runs think tank chats on SKYPE Sunday nights from 9 till midnight east coast time.
Back in the 1970s and '80s, Howard created the "heavy metal magazine" by becoming the first editor of CIRCUS. He also created one of the legendary music publicity firms in the 1980s. (His roster included Tower of Power and other superstars including KISS, Diana Ross, AC/DC, Queen.... Renaissance was also one of his artists.)
Send an e-mail to howlbloom@aol.com , and he will send you an e-galley of his book.
http://www.howardbloom.net
VIRGIN/EMI TO RELEASE ‘JETHRO TULL: LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 1978’ DVD/CD & DIGITAL AUDIO COLLECTIONS
Hollywood, California – September 24, 2009 – On October 20, Virgin/EMI will release a classic Jethro Tull concert for the first time, in DVD/CD and digital audio collections. Filmed and recorded live in New York City on October 14, 1978, Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978 features more than 90 minutes of music and video presented in 5.1 DTS and Dolby Surround©.
Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978, documented during Tull’s “Heavy Horses" tour, includes stellar performances of many of the band’s most popular songs, including “Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” “Songs From The Wood,” “Thick As A Brick,” “Heavy Horses,” and many more. This concert also marked the first time a rock act was beamed live from America on British television.
Jethro Tull has released 30 studio and live albums, selling more than 60 million copies since the band first performed at London's famous Marquee club. Tull’s founder, the influential singer and flautist Ian Anderson, will tour to 20 U.S. cities in October and November, following a tour of the U.K. this month.
http://www.jethrotull.com
Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978 (DVD/CD)
DVD
1. Sweet Dream
2. One Brown Mouse
3. Heavy Horses
4. Opening
5. Thick As A Brick
6. No Lullaby (including flute solo from God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
7. Songs From The Wood
8. Band Intro
9. Quatrain
10. Aqualung
11. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
12. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die
13. My God/Cross Eyed Mary
14. Locomotive Breath (Encore) (including Dambusters March)
CD
1. Sweet Dream
2. One Brown Mouse
3. Heavy Horses
4. Thick As A Brick
5. No Lullaby (including flute solo from God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
6. Songs From The Wood
7. Quatrain
8. Aqualung
9. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
10. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die
11. My God/Cross Eyed Mary
Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978 (digital audio)
1. Sweet Dream
2. One Brown Mouse
3. Heavy Horses
4. Thick As A Brick
5. No Lullaby (including flute solo from God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
6. Songs From The Wood
7. Quatrain
8. Aqualung
9. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
10. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die
11. My God/Cross Eyed Mary
Ian Anderson: confirmed U.S. tour dates
OCTOBER
6 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
7 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
9 Schenectady, NY Proctor's Theatre
10 Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
11 Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Resort - MGM Grand
13 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
15 Baltimore, MD Lyric Opera House
16 Glenside, PA Keswick Theater
17 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
18 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre
NOVEMBER
3 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
5 Anaheim, CA The Grove of Anaheim
6 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
7 San Luis Obispo, CA Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center - Harmon Hall
8 Modesto, CA Gallo Center for the Arts - Mary Stuart Rogers
9 San Francisco, CA The Warfield Theatre
10 Santa Rosa, CA Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
13 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
14 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
15 Spokane, WA Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
* * *
Media Contacts:
For Virgin/EMI: Jennifer Ballantyne – EMI Music North America
(323) 871-5494 | jennifer.ballantyne@emicap.com!
For Ian Anderson: Anne Leighton – Leighton Media
(718) 881-8183| SKYPE: AnneRLeighton | LeightonMedia@aol.com!
9/7/09
MEDIA ADVISORY: CEVIN SOLING OFFERS NO HOPE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA’S MESSAGE TO INSPIRE SCHOOL CHILDREN OR ADMINISTRATORS
THE WAR ON KIDS’ filmmaker Cevin Soling says the uproar on President Obama’s Tuesday address to school children is absolutely misguided by both those in favor and those opposed to it.
In fact, Soling believes President Obama is misguided about inspiring school children with his speech, “They all have faith in the institution of schools.”
While he acknowledges the uproar against having school kids watch the film is “purely political,” Soling believes that today’s school systems are doing more harm than good for our children. His movie, THE WAR ON KIDS shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission educate effectively, they erode the country's democratic foundation and often resemble prisons.
THE WAR ON KIDS won “best educational film” at the New York City International Independent Film and Video Festival this past April. It will be shown on September 30 at Harvard University in Boston. It runs November 18-25 at the Quad Cinema, in New York City.
Cevin’s documentary, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS won NYIIFVF's best experimental feature film. Cevin has directed and produced a number of films, including: RELAX IT'S JUST SEX starring Jennifer Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams; A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel; and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. He also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG (which broadcast on both MTV and the BBC), CAPTAIN STICKMAN, as well as the short film, DESTRUCTION.
In fact, Soling believes President Obama is misguided about inspiring school children with his speech, “They all have faith in the institution of schools.”
While he acknowledges the uproar against having school kids watch the film is “purely political,” Soling believes that today’s school systems are doing more harm than good for our children. His movie, THE WAR ON KIDS shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission educate effectively, they erode the country's democratic foundation and often resemble prisons.
THE WAR ON KIDS won “best educational film” at the New York City International Independent Film and Video Festival this past April. It will be shown on September 30 at Harvard University in Boston. It runs November 18-25 at the Quad Cinema, in New York City.
Cevin’s documentary, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS won NYIIFVF's best experimental feature film. Cevin has directed and produced a number of films, including: RELAX IT'S JUST SEX starring Jennifer Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams; A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel; and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. He also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG (which broadcast on both MTV and the BBC), CAPTAIN STICKMAN, as well as the short film, DESTRUCTION.
8/30/09
please spread the word: It's good to talk with your federal representatives
This is your mouth on open--Use it!
I want to start by writing that I think most of my Facebook friends are smarter than many people who work in TV news. I am seeing that many news folks are sensationalizing unfacts or how people react at Town Halls. We need to spend time getting to the source for news stories, the web has a lot of information related to most of the news stories. We can actually go to sites like http://thomas.loc.gov/ to read pending legislation, works that are still in committee, and also get the voting record of the folks in DC. After that, we can contact our legislators (thomas.loc also has leads to each legislator at every State.)
I spoke with aides at Eliot Engel's (my congressman) and Kirsten Gillibrand's (one of my senators) offices. Both stated that the Public Option is still in both bills. The Senator's office stated that a lot of work still needs to be done in creating the first bill for insurance reform, including regulation for the insurance agencies. The companies don't want that regulation because they want to make more money. But aren't you sick of spending money to companies who act entitled to everything, but don't value their customers?
My younger brother is a Republican, who worked in Washington, DC in the '80s. He continues to follow current events. He will publicly state the bad customer service practices of insurance companies, and knows they have to be reigned in and regulated. His wife, who works in hospice, also knows that freedomworks is not doing right by the American people by stating the government is going to help Granny die. There is no Death panel for anybody in any of these bills before Congress.
After you chat with your representatives, have them answer your questions, and give insight to what's in these bills, which are still being worked on. Then I urge you to talk with friends and family in different parts of the country. URGE them to call their federal representatives with questions. Urge your friends to urge your federal representatives include the public options for health care. I'm a New Yorker--we have our health care taken care of through a sliding scale. We can have check ups, and pay what we can afford whenever we have cash on hand. It works, and most New Yorkers are very supportive of this. This health care system is one of the reasons that New York City is an extremely productive community.
But there are folks all over this country who are not lucky enough to have the benefits that New Yorkers have. I want the same compassion for them.
Understand that when people are not flooding their hard-earned money to life Insurance company executives' extravagances, they will have more money to spend. It's also okay for a little bit of "sin" tax on sweets and sodas--we know that's extra.
We also should not construe "socialism" with investing in our needs or helping our neighbor. As I see it, more recent than how our country was founded was the way our country was built. If someone's house burnt down, our great grandparents would have helped them rebuild their house. And what the heck, if you consider paying taxes to help the poor people to be socialism, then get to know a poor person-- be social; you'll want to help them after you get to know them. Believe it or not, some of my best friends and I are financially-challenged. But boy are we smart, resourceful, and we can teach the richest person something about budgeting!
The poor people paid their share of taxes to help America hurt other countries. Let's have them get helped because everyone is productive in this country.
Something I realized is the amount of service that many poor people give to the very well-to-do. From waiters and shop workers who sell cigars to auto mechanics, and contractors, even publicists--people are very much of service to rich people. They are only paid a certain amount of money for their work. Making sure everyone gets health care will allow the rich to continue paying whatever they currently pay, while the people who service them will keep their health, and also keep money flowing. That's capitalism, and actually very close to what Adam Smith had intended.
Please think about what the news is saying, and get some answers from your representatives. And remember, Health Care Reform--part one, Insurance Reform is going to take some time to get into a passable amendment, and then take into effect. A lot of our elected officials have not given up on it. Keep after these folks the same way you would go after a job or something else that would benefit you.
Location for Congress bill: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.3200:
(note: that Congress.gov will be undergoing maintenance on Sunday, August 30, and will be back online at 7 PM)
5/31/09
Jann Klose’s “Reverie” continues to build in the U.S. and abroad Indie Pop Singer-Songwriter breaking new ground on the road and in the media
Jann Klose's album REVERIE is continuing to build momentum. The record has already become a critical favorite in regional America and is – as the LA Weekly states – becoming “a minor hit,” heard on over 100 radio stations worldwide, including Sirius XM Radio in the U.S., the BBC in the U.K. and most recently, Prambors Radio in Indonesia. George Graham just included REVERIE in his list of Best CDs of 2008 alongside Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Guy and Peter Gabriel. Mr. Graham produces the longest running “Adult Contemporary” Radio show on WVIA FM in Pennsylvania.
Since the release of the album, Jann has opened for Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root and rising jam band Old School Freight Train. He performed with Renaissance's Annie Haslam and John Tout at the Sellersville Theater as well as with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart and Roger McGuinn at the Martin Guitar 175th anniversary concert. This winter and spring, Jann and his band supported Elliott Murphy on tours of the East and West Coast. The two are planning on more shows together later this year. Hits Magazine’s Roy Trakin calls Jann a “promising opening act.” This summer Jann will again be touring in the United Kingdom, Germany and in Ireland for the first time.
In addition to radio airplay and extensive touring – over 100 shows in 2008 alone – Jann and his band have been receiving positive press for REVERIE: The Washington Post writes: “Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.” Performing Songwriter says: “Born in Germany and raised in Africa, Jann Klose brings an element of world music to his adult-contemporary pop-rock. His latest record Reverie offers songs of thoughtful introspection and longing. Rich arrangements feature orchestral strings, jazzy horns and old-world accordion in addition to the standard bass, drums and guitar. Highlights include the melancholy 'Mother Said, Father Said' and Latin-flavored ‘Clouds.’”
REVERIE was recorded at Hoboken, New Jersey’s renowned Water Music Studios. It was produced by Jann Klose with Stewart Lerman (Dar Williams, Antony and the Johnsons, The Aviator Soundtrack); engineered by James Frazee (Spiderman 3, The Hold Steady) and mastered by Dominick Maita (Fall Out Boy, Bryan Ferry, Plain White T’s). The album features musicians Chris Marolf (upright bass), Lars Potteiger (keys, accordion), Patrick Carmichael (drums) and Leah Potteiger (violin). Additional musicians on the album include: Pedro da Silva (Portuguese guitar), Megan Marolf (oboe), Ryan Scott (electric guitar), Dan Brantigan (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Doug Hinrichs (percussion).
Born in Mannheim, Germany, raised in Nairobi, Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa, Jann spent his teenage years in Hamburg, Germany before coming to Cleveland, Ohio as an exchange student. He returned to Germany to fulfill mandatory civil service, and then relocated to Northeast Ohio, where he studied voice with Emmy winner David Gooding, sang in the Cleveland Opera Chorus, and released two CDs on local label G21 Records (1997’s ENOUGH SAID and 1999’s THE STRANGEST THING).
In 2000 Jann relocated to New York. He has since performed in Broadway touring companies of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and JEKYLL & HYDE as well as a regional production of THE WHO’S TOMMY. Songs from his 2003 EP BLACK BOX, produced by Grammy winner Marlon Graves, were licensed to the Warner Bros. DVD “Dead Broke,” featuring Paul Sorvino, car maker SAAB’s 60th Anniversary CD in France and Prambors Hits 3 in Indonesia. Jann now resides in the Bronx, New York.
June 19 Mocha Maya’s w/ Sarah Blacker Shelburne Falls MA,
June 20 Coffee Planet Ballston Spa NY
June 20 Jonesville Store Clifton Park NY
June 21 Rockwood Music Hall New York NY
June 24 The Winchester w/ Dave Brooks Cleveland OH
June 25 Vic's (Victorian's Midnight Cafe) w/
Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk and Diana Chittester Columbus OH
June 26 The Boom Room Youngstown/Warren OH
July 2 Sellersville Theater w/Acoustic Strawbs Sellersville PA
July 24 Kukuun Hamburg, Germany w/ Duncan Townsend
July 28 Kultiviert Anders, Leipzig Germany
July 30 Brauhaus Suedstern, Berlin Germany
July 31 Blue Note Dresden, Germany
August 3 Connemara FM Radio Letterfrack Connemara Ireland 87.8 fm & 106.1 fm, online at http://www.connemarafm.com/
August 4 Flirt FM Radio 101.3 fm, online at http://www.flirtfm.ie Galway Ireland
August 4 Roisin Dubh Pub & Music Venue Galway, Ireland
August 5 The Hard Rock Cafe, Dublin Ireland
August 5 The Zodiac Sessions, Bruxelles Bar Dublin Ireland
August 8 The Regal Room at Distillers London UK
August 10 The Yardbird Birmingham UK
August 13 The Musician Leicester UK
August 15 The Zanzibar Club Liverpool UK
August 16 CB2 w/ The Fancy Toys and Tom Copson Cambridge, UK
October 18 Beacon Sloop Club, Pumpkin Festival Beacon, NY
www.jannklose.com
www.youtube.com/jannklose
www.myspace.com/jannklose
Since the release of the album, Jann has opened for Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root and rising jam band Old School Freight Train. He performed with Renaissance's Annie Haslam and John Tout at the Sellersville Theater as well as with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart and Roger McGuinn at the Martin Guitar 175th anniversary concert. This winter and spring, Jann and his band supported Elliott Murphy on tours of the East and West Coast. The two are planning on more shows together later this year. Hits Magazine’s Roy Trakin calls Jann a “promising opening act.” This summer Jann will again be touring in the United Kingdom, Germany and in Ireland for the first time.
In addition to radio airplay and extensive touring – over 100 shows in 2008 alone – Jann and his band have been receiving positive press for REVERIE: The Washington Post writes: “Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.” Performing Songwriter says: “Born in Germany and raised in Africa, Jann Klose brings an element of world music to his adult-contemporary pop-rock. His latest record Reverie offers songs of thoughtful introspection and longing. Rich arrangements feature orchestral strings, jazzy horns and old-world accordion in addition to the standard bass, drums and guitar. Highlights include the melancholy 'Mother Said, Father Said' and Latin-flavored ‘Clouds.’”
REVERIE was recorded at Hoboken, New Jersey’s renowned Water Music Studios. It was produced by Jann Klose with Stewart Lerman (Dar Williams, Antony and the Johnsons, The Aviator Soundtrack); engineered by James Frazee (Spiderman 3, The Hold Steady) and mastered by Dominick Maita (Fall Out Boy, Bryan Ferry, Plain White T’s). The album features musicians Chris Marolf (upright bass), Lars Potteiger (keys, accordion), Patrick Carmichael (drums) and Leah Potteiger (violin). Additional musicians on the album include: Pedro da Silva (Portuguese guitar), Megan Marolf (oboe), Ryan Scott (electric guitar), Dan Brantigan (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Doug Hinrichs (percussion).
Born in Mannheim, Germany, raised in Nairobi, Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa, Jann spent his teenage years in Hamburg, Germany before coming to Cleveland, Ohio as an exchange student. He returned to Germany to fulfill mandatory civil service, and then relocated to Northeast Ohio, where he studied voice with Emmy winner David Gooding, sang in the Cleveland Opera Chorus, and released two CDs on local label G21 Records (1997’s ENOUGH SAID and 1999’s THE STRANGEST THING).
In 2000 Jann relocated to New York. He has since performed in Broadway touring companies of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and JEKYLL & HYDE as well as a regional production of THE WHO’S TOMMY. Songs from his 2003 EP BLACK BOX, produced by Grammy winner Marlon Graves, were licensed to the Warner Bros. DVD “Dead Broke,” featuring Paul Sorvino, car maker SAAB’s 60th Anniversary CD in France and Prambors Hits 3 in Indonesia. Jann now resides in the Bronx, New York.
June 19 Mocha Maya’s w/ Sarah Blacker Shelburne Falls MA,
June 20 Coffee Planet Ballston Spa NY
June 20 Jonesville Store Clifton Park NY
June 21 Rockwood Music Hall New York NY
June 24 The Winchester w/ Dave Brooks Cleveland OH
June 25 Vic's (Victorian's Midnight Cafe) w/
Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk and Diana Chittester Columbus OH
June 26 The Boom Room Youngstown/Warren OH
July 2 Sellersville Theater w/Acoustic Strawbs Sellersville PA
July 24 Kukuun Hamburg, Germany w/ Duncan Townsend
July 28 Kultiviert Anders, Leipzig Germany
July 30 Brauhaus Suedstern, Berlin Germany
July 31 Blue Note Dresden, Germany
August 3 Connemara FM Radio Letterfrack Connemara Ireland 87.8 fm & 106.1 fm, online at http://www.connemarafm.com/
August 4 Flirt FM Radio 101.3 fm, online at http://www.flirtfm.ie Galway Ireland
August 4 Roisin Dubh Pub & Music Venue Galway, Ireland
August 5 The Hard Rock Cafe, Dublin Ireland
August 5 The Zodiac Sessions, Bruxelles Bar Dublin Ireland
August 8 The Regal Room at Distillers London UK
August 10 The Yardbird Birmingham UK
August 13 The Musician Leicester UK
August 15 The Zanzibar Club Liverpool UK
August 16 CB2 w/ The Fancy Toys and Tom Copson Cambridge, UK
October 18 Beacon Sloop Club, Pumpkin Festival Beacon, NY
www.jannklose.com
www.youtube.com/jannklose
www.myspace.com/jannklose
Acoustic Strawbs-back in the USA, June 21
Acoustic Strawbs: Chas Cronk, Dave Cousins, David Lambert
The Strawbs are touring as an acoustic trio this summer in the United States. Dave Cousins, the group's leader, is bringing his bandmates guitarist Dave Lambert and bassist Chas Cronk for 13 shows (eight with Van Der Graaf Generator, six on its own).
Formed first in 1965 at the Strawberry Hill Boys, the group soon included Sandy Denny who recorded an album's worth of pop-flavored songs written by Cousins, and the first recording of Denny's mesmerizing "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." Before a label could be found, Sandy decided her future lay elsewhere, and the album ALL OUR OWN WORK stayed in the can until PART OF THE UNION charted in 1973.
The Strawbs became the first UK act signed to Herb Alpert's A&M Records in 1969, and then added Rick Wakeman (who went on to join Yes), and Richard Hudson and John Ford on drums and bass respectively.
The 1972 ground-breaking album, GRAVE NEW WORLD brought Dave Lambert, and a harder rock style. The song "Lay Down" became a major hit for the group, and recently appeared on the BBC's TV show, "Life On Mars."
Hudson and Ford left, and former Nashville Teens' keyboardist John Hawken joined, with Stealers Wheel's Rod Coombes, and bassist Cronk. The classic album HERO AND HEROINE and GHOSTS were released. This five-piece lineup has toured the States over the past few years, tho' Hawken retired from touring in 2008.
This summer (2009) the Strawbs will be performing as a three piece, including songs from the Acoustic Strawbs' 2001 album, BAROQUE AND ROLL.
JUNE ACOUSTIC STRAWBS US GIGS
Sunday 21 June - Nokia Theatre, New York NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday, 22 June, Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett NY
Tuesday, 23 June, Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 24 June - State Theatre, Falls Church VA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Thursday 25 June - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Friday 26 June - The Abbey, Chicago IL w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Saturday 27 June - Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday 29 June - The Tralf, Buffalo NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Tuesday 30 June - Rex Theatre, Pittsburgh PA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 1 July - Ramshead, Annapolis MA
Thursday, 2 July, Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville PA (opening: Jann Klose)
Friday, 3 July, Strand Theatre, Lakewood NJ
Saturday, 4 July, Towne Crier, Pawling NY
Sunday, 5 July, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY
www.strawbsweb.co.uk
www.myspace.com/strawbsmusic
www.twitter.com/strawbsweb
Tower of Power, climbing a powerful tower
Tower of Power’s THE GREAT AMERICAN SOULBOOK on the group’s label, Tower of Power records, is receiving a lot of radio airplay from a variety of formats--AAA, public radio, urban, talk. The album features covers of vintage soul songs, and has guest singers: Sir Tom Jones, Joss Stone, Huey Lewis, Sam Moore.
The Voice of America's Doug Levine sums the album up quite nicely, "Followers of the Great American Songbook are familiar with its timeless works of popular music by composers George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and others. Now, there's the Great American Soulbook. Many of Tower of Power's horn-driven hits, some dating back to the early 1970s, are now considered soul classics. But, after a 41-year run, the group decided to take a break from their usual offering of original funk and blues to pay tribute to their own musical heroes with an album called The Great American Soulbook." Read article at www.voanews.com.
Sonic Boomers' Bill Bentley also takes the "Songbook" angle, "It may be a stretch to call these dozen soul standards part of the great American songbook, but by this time in our country's culture when so much is up for grabs, why not? The well-oiled Oakland aggregation has been supplying the bump and jump at countless clubs and concerts for 40 years, building a loyal audience of young and old rockers and boppers. They have a supertight rhythmic attack that so much of rhythm & blues is built on, and a state-of-the-art horn section that should be patented it's so strong," at sonicboomers.com.
Tower of Power fan Jack Silva wrote a discography of the band's horn section, which is online at www.towerofpower.com/discography/hornsection/
As you know, TOP's members are very involved with educating musicians. The horn section runs clinics. Drummer David Garibaldi has made educational videos, Rocco Prestia's been covered in a number of bass publications. In general the band members offer great insight on finding and keeping sanity as performers. In July, TOP's trumpet player Mike Bogart is leaving the road to focus full time on teaching. He's being replaced by original TOP member/and a recent educator Mic Gillette. Mic was in the band 25 years ago, and will join the group at the band's gig at the San Mateo Fair this August. Once again, half the members of TOP are of the original lineup from 41 years ago.
www.towerofpower.com
twitter.com/top
The Voice of America's Doug Levine sums the album up quite nicely, "Followers of the Great American Songbook are familiar with its timeless works of popular music by composers George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and others. Now, there's the Great American Soulbook. Many of Tower of Power's horn-driven hits, some dating back to the early 1970s, are now considered soul classics. But, after a 41-year run, the group decided to take a break from their usual offering of original funk and blues to pay tribute to their own musical heroes with an album called The Great American Soulbook." Read article at www.voanews.com.
Sonic Boomers' Bill Bentley also takes the "Songbook" angle, "It may be a stretch to call these dozen soul standards part of the great American songbook, but by this time in our country's culture when so much is up for grabs, why not? The well-oiled Oakland aggregation has been supplying the bump and jump at countless clubs and concerts for 40 years, building a loyal audience of young and old rockers and boppers. They have a supertight rhythmic attack that so much of rhythm & blues is built on, and a state-of-the-art horn section that should be patented it's so strong," at sonicboomers.com.
Tower of Power fan Jack Silva wrote a discography of the band's horn section, which is online at www.towerofpower.com/discography/hornsection/
As you know, TOP's members are very involved with educating musicians. The horn section runs clinics. Drummer David Garibaldi has made educational videos, Rocco Prestia's been covered in a number of bass publications. In general the band members offer great insight on finding and keeping sanity as performers. In July, TOP's trumpet player Mike Bogart is leaving the road to focus full time on teaching. He's being replaced by original TOP member/and a recent educator Mic Gillette. Mic was in the band 25 years ago, and will join the group at the band's gig at the San Mateo Fair this August. Once again, half the members of TOP are of the original lineup from 41 years ago.
www.towerofpower.com
twitter.com/top
STRATOSPHEERIUS: Less than Six Degrees of Separation with Famous and Little People!
Joe Deninzon & his wild jam band Stratospheerius are back to playing festivals and clubs this summer, and he's started mixing the group's CD, ONE FOOT IN THE NEXT WORLD.
Winter and spring have been busy seasons for Joe and his bandmates, with a variety of amazing projects. You might know that Joe and his wife Yulia Ziskel had a baby named Max this past January. Max enjoys cooing after he listens to people talking to him on the phone. Joe says that it's pretty easy to comprehend what babies and animals say, "it's when the babies start talking that we have problems understanding them!"
In addition to parenthood, sessions, jazz gigs, working with aspiring violinists, Joe's been writing an instructional book on violin improvisation for Mel Bay.
His bandmates have been part of groups with a variety of famous players.
Guitarist Aurelien Budynek has been touring Europe with guitarist Vernon Reid (Living Colour), drummer Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz), and bassist Steve Jenkins.
Bassist Jamie Bishop replaced Chris Squire, and toured with British prog legends the Syn in the States.
Upcoming Stratospheerius shows:
June 19 and 20: Freedomfest, Harmony, ME
June 26: Lucky Mojos, Long Island City, NY
June 27: Old Bay, New Brunswick, NJ
July 10: Lucky Mojos, Long Island City, NY
July 11: Great South Bay Music Festival, Patchogue, NY
July 17: Ray Kelly's Pub, Bridgeport, CT
October 2, 3: Harvest Festival, Harmony, ME
www.stratospheerius.com
www.joedeninzon.com
www.myspace.com/stratospheerius
www.myspace.com/joedeninzon
Winter and spring have been busy seasons for Joe and his bandmates, with a variety of amazing projects. You might know that Joe and his wife Yulia Ziskel had a baby named Max this past January. Max enjoys cooing after he listens to people talking to him on the phone. Joe says that it's pretty easy to comprehend what babies and animals say, "it's when the babies start talking that we have problems understanding them!"
In addition to parenthood, sessions, jazz gigs, working with aspiring violinists, Joe's been writing an instructional book on violin improvisation for Mel Bay.
His bandmates have been part of groups with a variety of famous players.
Guitarist Aurelien Budynek has been touring Europe with guitarist Vernon Reid (Living Colour), drummer Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz), and bassist Steve Jenkins.
Bassist Jamie Bishop replaced Chris Squire, and toured with British prog legends the Syn in the States.
Upcoming Stratospheerius shows:
June 19 and 20: Freedomfest, Harmony, ME
June 26: Lucky Mojos, Long Island City, NY
June 27: Old Bay, New Brunswick, NJ
July 10: Lucky Mojos, Long Island City, NY
July 11: Great South Bay Music Festival, Patchogue, NY
July 17: Ray Kelly's Pub, Bridgeport, CT
October 2, 3: Harvest Festival, Harmony, ME
www.stratospheerius.com
www.joedeninzon.com
www.myspace.com/stratospheerius
www.myspace.com/joedeninzon
News Briefs
Cevin Soling's THE WAR ON KIDS' documentary won "Best Educational Film" in the New York International Film and Video Festival this past April. The film shows how public schools have been taking away children's civil rights. More info--including a screener-- at www.thewaronkids.com.
When he's not touring with Jethro Tull, drummer Doane Perry has been working on a new album with his own band, Thread. The last one came out in the 1990s.
Elliott Murphy has come in first place in the 2008 Concert Poll in Austria's prestigious Concerto magazine in the category "Best Singer: Rock and Pop" and third place in the category "Best Singer: Folk, World, Singer/Songwriter" - the only artist to win in two categories! Look for Elliott to return to the East Coast this December.
Jay and the Americans have festivals, fairs, and benefits this summer--visit the "show page" at www.jayandtheamericans.net.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds will be back in the States soon, which shows starting June 12 in Syracuse. Friend Kim Wilson, Randy Bermudes, Mike Keller, Johnny Moeller and Jason Moeller on myspace.com/fabulousthunderbirds.
Talented writer Jennifer Chance wrote a really good article on Grand Funk Railroad at Stage Shottz magazine. Also visit www.grandfunkrailroad.com for updated tour info.
When he's not touring with Jethro Tull, drummer Doane Perry has been working on a new album with his own band, Thread. The last one came out in the 1990s.
Elliott Murphy has come in first place in the 2008 Concert Poll in Austria's prestigious Concerto magazine in the category "Best Singer: Rock and Pop" and third place in the category "Best Singer: Folk, World, Singer/Songwriter" - the only artist to win in two categories! Look for Elliott to return to the East Coast this December.
Jay and the Americans have festivals, fairs, and benefits this summer--visit the "show page" at www.jayandtheamericans.net.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds will be back in the States soon, which shows starting June 12 in Syracuse. Friend Kim Wilson, Randy Bermudes, Mike Keller, Johnny Moeller and Jason Moeller on myspace.com/fabulousthunderbirds.
Talented writer Jennifer Chance wrote a really good article on Grand Funk Railroad at Stage Shottz magazine. Also visit www.grandfunkrailroad.com for updated tour info.
News from friends
Dan Berggren, my radio teacher from Fredonia State, is coming out with a traditional folk record called NORTH RIVER, NORTH WOODS on Independence Day, July 4. He's made snippets of the album's songs available on his web site,
www.berggrenfolk.com.
Willy Porter, who's opened quite a bit for Jethro Tull, toured with Martin Barre, and has had a number of radio hits including "Angry Words," has a new album, HOW TO ROB A BANK, which is available as of June 2 from iTunes, Amazon, and also as a CD! Be a "Porter supporter" and interview Willy--contact Chris Web at 646-688-5442 and cwebb@weaselrecords.com. Web site: www.willyporter.com
A UK friend of mine named Neil Fishwick has a web site www.stillgigging.com that is looking for upcoming writers. Neil is seeking pieces on artists who are either classic rockers or have a classic rock sound.
4/23/09
TOWER OF POWER's GREAT AMERICAN SOULBOOK enters Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts at Number 3
Tower of Power's "Great American Soulbook" album, which features covers of classic soul songs has entered Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts at Number 3. It is the highest placing debut album of the week. The album has also entered the Soundscan Jazz charts for record sales at Number 6.
"The Great American Soulbook" features guest vocalists. Sir Tom Jones duets on Sam and Dave's "I Thank You." Joss Stone shares two songs and Tammi Terrel and Marvin Gaye's "(Heaven Must Have Sent) Your Precious Love" and Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston's "It Takes Two." Sam Moore joins the group on Otis Redding's "Mr. Pitiful," and Huey Lewis shares vocals on Wilson Pickett's "“634-5789” The album also features a 4-song "James Brown medley, and songs originally performed by Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, Tavares, Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band, and Billy Paul.
4/17/09
Cevin Soling says Columbine Massacre did not have to happen, April 20, 1999
http://www.thewaronkids.com
http://www.waronkids.com
CEVIN SOLING, DOCUMENTARIAN OF THE WAR ON KIDS AVAILABLE AS A SOURCE ON COLUMBINE MASSACRE
Cevin Soling says the attack 10 years ago on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School, in Littleton, CO did not have to happen.
Soling observes that security measures that have been used by schools in response to Columbine were already in place at Columbine at the time of the shootings. “Creating an oppressive environment replete with security cameras, locker searches, dress codes, zero tolerance policies, unfettered pharmacology, and an authoritarian culture of suspicion can instill psychosis in students. Schools across the country have adopted these tactics, and it doesn’t work.” Soling believes that it is no surprise that numerous school shootings have taken place since Columbine. “To adjust to this stifling atmosphere, many students are prescribed drugs some of which have side effects that include mania. Such was the case of Eric Harris.”
Soling talked with students currently at Columbine High School for the making of his documentary, THE WAR ON KIDS. They, and other students across the country, complained about the prison-like state that schools have become. In the film, principals and politicians complain that security in school has become the major focus of attention and resources even ahead of education.
Pharmacological abuse and the indiscriminate medicating of youth, Soling argues, have exacerbated much of violence. Most recently in the April 14th issue of USA Today, Soling claims “writer Greg Toppo outright lied when he reported that neither Columbine shooters were on anti-depressant medication when in fact Eric Harris’ autopsy revealed that he had therapeutic levels of Luvox in his system.”
(See: http://www.acolumbinesite.com/autopsies/eric9.gif)
Soling adds, "I'm very concerned about the misinformation being disseminated by the media about Columbine, the state of public schools, and prescription drugs. Almost everyone gets it wrong by examining individual participants rather than looking at the bigger picture and seeing the problem lies with the institution itself.”
Cevin Soling, who is a Masters candidate at the extension school at Harvard University, is working on a second installment of THE WAR ON KIDS to focus on the silent movement to deprive youth of all civil rights. He has produced and directed a number of award-winning films including the documentaries A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel, and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. Other works include the feature film, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS. He has also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG, and CAPTAIN STICKMAN.
THE WAR ON KIDS is a 95-minute documentary that shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission to provide education, they erode the country’s democratic foundation by denying the most basic civil rights to youth and often resemble prisons.
The Columbine Massacre occurred April 20, 1999, in the suburban town of Littleton, Colorado. High-school seniors Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris planned to kill hundreds of their peers, and ended up murdering 12 students and one teacher before killing themselves.
http://www.waronkids.com
CEVIN SOLING, DOCUMENTARIAN OF THE WAR ON KIDS AVAILABLE AS A SOURCE ON COLUMBINE MASSACRE
Cevin Soling says the attack 10 years ago on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School, in Littleton, CO did not have to happen.
Soling observes that security measures that have been used by schools in response to Columbine were already in place at Columbine at the time of the shootings. “Creating an oppressive environment replete with security cameras, locker searches, dress codes, zero tolerance policies, unfettered pharmacology, and an authoritarian culture of suspicion can instill psychosis in students. Schools across the country have adopted these tactics, and it doesn’t work.” Soling believes that it is no surprise that numerous school shootings have taken place since Columbine. “To adjust to this stifling atmosphere, many students are prescribed drugs some of which have side effects that include mania. Such was the case of Eric Harris.”
Soling talked with students currently at Columbine High School for the making of his documentary, THE WAR ON KIDS. They, and other students across the country, complained about the prison-like state that schools have become. In the film, principals and politicians complain that security in school has become the major focus of attention and resources even ahead of education.
Pharmacological abuse and the indiscriminate medicating of youth, Soling argues, have exacerbated much of violence. Most recently in the April 14th issue of USA Today, Soling claims “writer Greg Toppo outright lied when he reported that neither Columbine shooters were on anti-depressant medication when in fact Eric Harris’ autopsy revealed that he had therapeutic levels of Luvox in his system.”
(See: http://www.acolumbinesite.com/autopsies/eric9.gif)
Soling adds, "I'm very concerned about the misinformation being disseminated by the media about Columbine, the state of public schools, and prescription drugs. Almost everyone gets it wrong by examining individual participants rather than looking at the bigger picture and seeing the problem lies with the institution itself.”
Cevin Soling, who is a Masters candidate at the extension school at Harvard University, is working on a second installment of THE WAR ON KIDS to focus on the silent movement to deprive youth of all civil rights. He has produced and directed a number of award-winning films including the documentaries A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel, and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. Other works include the feature film, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS. He has also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG, and CAPTAIN STICKMAN.
THE WAR ON KIDS is a 95-minute documentary that shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission to provide education, they erode the country’s democratic foundation by denying the most basic civil rights to youth and often resemble prisons.
The Columbine Massacre occurred April 20, 1999, in the suburban town of Littleton, Colorado. High-school seniors Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris planned to kill hundreds of their peers, and ended up murdering 12 students and one teacher before killing themselves.
3/21/09
Tower of Power's THE GREAT AMERICAN SOULBOOK
There are two links on the right side of this web page to videos for--if I could twist Casey Kasem's words--Tower of Power’s “short distance” dedication to an American soldier stationed in Iraq, who was able to get a leave to be with his wife at a show in Las Vegas.
This is the rest of the story.... A while ago, Tower of Power received an e-mail from Tim Lorenzen, who is in the army and stationed in Iraq. His request was for the band to possibly dedicate "You're Still A Young Man" to his wife Mona, who would be at the Orleans Casino show in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 7.
He wrote that TOP was their favorite band, and on their last day together they took a ride in his convertible, top down, listing to TOP music, despite the fact that it was raining.
Tim was able to get a leave, and come to the show, and surprise his wife with roses after TOP frontman Larry Braggs called her onto the stage.
Here is a link to the story on the band's message board!
Tim Lorenzen (on the right) and his buddies in Iraq.
Tower of Power is coming out with a new CD April 7. It’s called The Great American Soulbook. I love the album, how it sounds and Tower of Power's signature take of the arrangements. Right now I'm grooving on Larry's interpretations--my favorite covers are “Me and Mrs. Jones” and “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel.” He sings lead on those; the LP has guest singers who share vocals with him on a few songs: Sir Tom Jones, Joss Stone, Huey Lewis and Sam Moore.
This is the rest of the story.... A while ago, Tower of Power received an e-mail from Tim Lorenzen, who is in the army and stationed in Iraq. His request was for the band to possibly dedicate "You're Still A Young Man" to his wife Mona, who would be at the Orleans Casino show in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 7.
He wrote that TOP was their favorite band, and on their last day together they took a ride in his convertible, top down, listing to TOP music, despite the fact that it was raining.
Tim was able to get a leave, and come to the show, and surprise his wife with roses after TOP frontman Larry Braggs called her onto the stage.
Here is a link to the story on the band's message board!
Tim Lorenzen (on the right) and his buddies in Iraq.
Tower of Power is coming out with a new CD April 7. It’s called The Great American Soulbook. I love the album, how it sounds and Tower of Power's signature take of the arrangements. Right now I'm grooving on Larry's interpretations--my favorite covers are “Me and Mrs. Jones” and “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel.” He sings lead on those; the LP has guest singers who share vocals with him on a few songs: Sir Tom Jones, Joss Stone, Huey Lewis and Sam Moore.
David Buskin & Robin Batteau (Buskin & Batteau)
I’m just starting to work with a great acoustic songwriting duo, Buskin & Batteau. The two have been working together since the late ‘60s, first in a group called PIerce Arrow, then as members of Tom Rush’s back up group. That’s were David Buskin and Robin Batteau ended up singing and writing songs together. Their most famous song is “Boy With The Violin,” which you can hear on myspace.com/buskinbatteau.
They have a lot of tour dates coming up. The duo have just put the finishing touches on their long-anticipated new CD, RED SHOES AND GOLDEN HEARTS, to be released by Nouveau Retro Media on April 1'st. (No fooling.) In their new album and in their performances, they continue to offer their audiences, in the words of The Washington Post, "an irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit."
March 20 2009 Wilde Auditorium West Hartford, Connecticut
April 10 2009 me&thee coffeehouse Marblehead, Massachusetts
April 17 2009 The Tin Angel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 18 2009 Panzer House Concerts Columbia, Maryland
April 19 2009 Focus Alexandria, Virginia
May 16 2009 Goodfolk Coffeehouse Rowayton, Connecticut
August 8 & 9 2009 The 12th Annual Avalon Music & Arts Festival Paw Paw, West Virginia
They have a lot of tour dates coming up. The duo have just put the finishing touches on their long-anticipated new CD, RED SHOES AND GOLDEN HEARTS, to be released by Nouveau Retro Media on April 1'st. (No fooling.) In their new album and in their performances, they continue to offer their audiences, in the words of The Washington Post, "an irresistible amalgam of melodic, sensual pop, folkie grit and killer wit."
March 20 2009 Wilde Auditorium West Hartford, Connecticut
April 10 2009 me&thee coffeehouse Marblehead, Massachusetts
April 17 2009 The Tin Angel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 18 2009 Panzer House Concerts Columbia, Maryland
April 19 2009 Focus Alexandria, Virginia
May 16 2009 Goodfolk Coffeehouse Rowayton, Connecticut
August 8 & 9 2009 The 12th Annual Avalon Music & Arts Festival Paw Paw, West Virginia
Ian Anderson's Fall, 2009 North American Tour
Ian Anderson, known throughout the world of rock music as the flute and voice behind the legendary Jethro Tull will be touring this October and November in the United States. Ian is inviting a number of guests from the jazz, classical, rock, and world music world to share the stage for this eclectic acoustic tour.
Widely recognized as the man who introduced the flute to rock music, Ian Anderson remains the crowned exponent of the popular and rock genres of flute playing. In addition to classical flute, he also plays ethnic flutes and whistles together with acoustic guitar and the mandolin family of instruments, providing the acoustic textures, which are an integral part of most of the Jethro Tull repertoire.
When not touring with Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson appears more and more frequently in solo concerts with a variety of line-ups from the music world, including orchestral.
For the 2009 Ian Anderson Plays The Acoustic Jethro Tull, his band includes jazz artists: bassist David Goodier (Jethro Tull) and Mark Mondasir (John McLaughlin). Classical musician John O'Hara, who also plays keyboards and accordion with Jethro Tull will be joining the line up, as will German Rock and Flamenco guitarist Florian Opahle. Ian will have a range of other guests on this tour.
As a solo artist, Ian Anderson has recorded four diverse solo albums in his career: Walk into Light (1983), the flute instrumental Divinities (1995) which reached number one on the Billboard Classical chart, and the more recently recorded acoustic collections of songs, The Secret Language of Birds (2000), and Rupi’s Dance (2003).
In 2006, he was awarded a Doctorate in Literature from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, the Ivor Award for International Achievement in Music and, in the New Years Honours List 2008, an MBE for services to music. In 2008 he celebrated 40 years as a recording and performing musician.
OCT
6 Milwaukee Pabst Theater
7 Chicago Vic Theatre
9 Schenectady, NY Proctor's Theatre
10 Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
11 Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Resort - MGM Grand
13 New York Beacon Theatre
15 Baltimore, MD Lyric Opera House
16 Glenside, PA Keswick Theater
17 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
18 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre
NOV
3 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
5 Anaheim, CA The Grove of Anaheim
6 Los Angeles The Wiltern
9 San Francisco The Warfield Theatre
13 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall -
14 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
http://www.jethrotull.com
Widely recognized as the man who introduced the flute to rock music, Ian Anderson remains the crowned exponent of the popular and rock genres of flute playing. In addition to classical flute, he also plays ethnic flutes and whistles together with acoustic guitar and the mandolin family of instruments, providing the acoustic textures, which are an integral part of most of the Jethro Tull repertoire.
When not touring with Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson appears more and more frequently in solo concerts with a variety of line-ups from the music world, including orchestral.
For the 2009 Ian Anderson Plays The Acoustic Jethro Tull, his band includes jazz artists: bassist David Goodier (Jethro Tull) and Mark Mondasir (John McLaughlin). Classical musician John O'Hara, who also plays keyboards and accordion with Jethro Tull will be joining the line up, as will German Rock and Flamenco guitarist Florian Opahle. Ian will have a range of other guests on this tour.
As a solo artist, Ian Anderson has recorded four diverse solo albums in his career: Walk into Light (1983), the flute instrumental Divinities (1995) which reached number one on the Billboard Classical chart, and the more recently recorded acoustic collections of songs, The Secret Language of Birds (2000), and Rupi’s Dance (2003).
In 2006, he was awarded a Doctorate in Literature from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, the Ivor Award for International Achievement in Music and, in the New Years Honours List 2008, an MBE for services to music. In 2008 he celebrated 40 years as a recording and performing musician.
OCT
6 Milwaukee Pabst Theater
7 Chicago Vic Theatre
9 Schenectady, NY Proctor's Theatre
10 Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
11 Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Resort - MGM Grand
13 New York Beacon Theatre
15 Baltimore, MD Lyric Opera House
16 Glenside, PA Keswick Theater
17 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Theatre
18 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre
NOV
3 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
5 Anaheim, CA The Grove of Anaheim
6 Los Angeles The Wiltern
9 San Francisco The Warfield Theatre
13 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall -
14 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
http://www.jethrotull.com
Congrats to Kim Wilson, lead singer and harpist of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. He married Amanda Taylor at sea, this past January 30, when the group had a cruise tour.
Photos of the wedding, including a shot of Dion serenading the couple and Amanda in a mermaid wedding outfit are online at the Thunderbirds site.
Kim’s been experiencing so much creativity, and that’s reflecting in more & more solo dates with the Kim Wilson Blues Revue, which features: Kim w/ guitarists Rusty Zinn and Billy Flynn, drummer Richard Innes and bassist Randy Bermudes.
Kim & Amanda
Kim Wilson Blues Revue
Mar 26, 2009 Wilmington, NC Market Street Saloon
Mar 27, 2009 Norfolk, CT Infinity Hall
Mar 28, 2009 Raleigh, NC Loafers Beach Club
Mar 29, 2009 Sellersville, PA Sellersville Theatre 1894
Mar 30, 2009 Annapolis, MD Ram's Head On Stage
Mar 31, 2009 Washington, DC Blues Alley (2 shows)
Apr 2, 2009 Fall River, MA Narrows Center for the Arts
Apr 3, 2009 Hyannis, MA Harry's
Apr 4, 2009 Londonderry, NH Tupelo Music Hall
Apr 5, 2009 Patchogue, NY Bobbique
Though it’s going to be a while before the upcoming album from the Thunderbirds is released, there are parts of songs online at myspace.com/fabulousthunderbirds.
The group has a lot of international dates, but here are the North American shows this spring.
Apr 15, 2009 Brampton, Ontario Rose Theatre Brampton
Apr 16, 2009 St. Catharines, Ontario Centre for the Arts - Brock University
Apr 17, 2009 Oakville, Ontario Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts
Apr 24, 2009 Wendover, NV Pepper Mill Wendover Casino
May 03, 2009 Painesville, OH Lake County Fairgrounds
My American musicians! Grand Funk Railroad, Jay and the Americans
Jay and The Americans have dates online, as well, at the site. But the guys (Jay Reincke, Howie Kane, Marty Saunders, Sandy Deanne)are also encouraging folks to join the http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Jay-and-the-Americans/63380664448?ref=ts"_blank"> Jay and the Americans’ Facebook fan page.
Grand Funk Railroad is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Tourdates posted at Grand Funk Railroad.com. Grand Funk Railroad features original members drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher, plus the all stars: singer Max Carl, guitarist Bruce Kulick and keyboardist Tim Cashion.
Grand Funk Railroad is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Tourdates posted at Grand Funk Railroad.com. Grand Funk Railroad features original members drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher, plus the all stars: singer Max Carl, guitarist Bruce Kulick and keyboardist Tim Cashion.
Music news from friends:
John Lappen is working a new Keith Reid album, and Terry Reid is on it. Send a note to jlappen@earthlink.net .
In December 2007, I gave the Mark Freeland Award to Art Voice editor Jamie Moses at the Buffalo Backstage Music Awards. Mark was a very popular, dynamic, and super creative and off-the-wall songwriter in the Buffalo scene while I was working in radio back in 1980. He had passed on early that year, and the gentleman who sponsored the award (Ray Roehner) turned out to be in a Jethro Tull tribute band called Living with the Past. In June 2008 Living with the Past played a special show in Buffalo with former Tull bassist Dave Pegg. Living with the Past is releasing a DVD of the event, "Life's a Long Song - 40th Anniversary Tribute to Jethro Tull.” Artist Ed Unitsky is doing the DVD cover. It will be available at the http://www.universerecords.com website for $10 plus shipping. And for more information, here’s the e-mail: ray@universerecords.com
In December 2007, I gave the Mark Freeland Award to Art Voice editor Jamie Moses at the Buffalo Backstage Music Awards. Mark was a very popular, dynamic, and super creative and off-the-wall songwriter in the Buffalo scene while I was working in radio back in 1980. He had passed on early that year, and the gentleman who sponsored the award (Ray Roehner) turned out to be in a Jethro Tull tribute band called Living with the Past. In June 2008 Living with the Past played a special show in Buffalo with former Tull bassist Dave Pegg. Living with the Past is releasing a DVD of the event, "Life's a Long Song - 40th Anniversary Tribute to Jethro Tull.” Artist Ed Unitsky is doing the DVD cover. It will be available at the http://www.universerecords.com website for $10 plus shipping. And for more information, here’s the e-mail: ray@universerecords.com
3/11/09
ELLIOTT MURPHY AND JANN KLOSE’S “MEMORY AND DESIRE” TOUR
Olivier, Jann, Elliott singing Elliott's "How's the Family" on the west coast. photo by Steve Triolo.
http://www.elliottmurphy.com
http://www.jannklose.com
Elliott’s EPK
“Memory and Desire.” That’s what Rock Troubadour Elliott Murphy and multicultural pop singer-songwriter Jann Klose are calling their April 22-26th tour. Elliott borrowed the opening lines of T.S. Eliot’s poem, “The Waste Land” for this tour, which will include shows in Fairfield, CT, Asbury Park, NY, Fall River, MA, Hoboken, NJ and Amagansett, NY.
Of course the conclusion is Elliott and Jann’s music encourages the audience to come out of the early spring doldrums that the poet T.S. Eliot writes in the opening lines….
“APRIL is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain….”
And everyone will remember the show for years to come, including the performers. Desire? Well, everyone desires the best music around. Voila—Elliott Murphy and Jann Klose!
Elliott Murphy first came to prominence 35 years ago with the release of the now-more-relevant-than-ever album, AQUASHOW. That, along with NIGHT LIGHTS, LOST GENERATION, and JUST A STORY FROM AMERICA was played on mainstream radio throughout the United States. These albums were also picked up internationally, especially in Japan and Europe, where Elliott has found international stardom. 19 years ago he moved to Paris, France. Before his recent Northeast/California tour he last played the United States in 2000 at New York City's Bottom Line. Elliott’s full band, the Normandy All Stars will be on this tour—it features guitarist Olivier Durand, drummer Alan Fatras, and bassist Laurent Pardo.
Elliott has released 30 albums; his latest is NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND, which has received 5 stars on the prestigious music site, ALLMUSIC.COM. Some of the musicians who've collaborated with Elliott on his recordings are Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, and the Rolling Stones' Mick Taylor. Elliott was also honored with a monumental exposition, LAST OF THE ROCK STARS-RETROSPECTIVE at Paris' Town Hall, and has been cited in literature in the work, SAVAGE DETECTIVES by the late Roberto Bolano, who now has a best-seller book called, 2666.
Elliott’s music is already being played on Sirius-XM's the LOFT, and he was the subject of a story on an upcoming Bob Edwards show on the satellite station. This spring will see the release of the French movie "La Ligne Blanche" in which Elliott appears as an actor.
Opening all dates will be Jann Klose, whose new album REVERIE is an independent release that has been picked up by over 95 radio stations, including Radio Caroline, Bob Harris' show on the BBC-2 and Sirius-XM's The Loft. Born in Germany, raised in Kenya and South Africa, Jann has collaborated on stage with Renaissance's Annie Haslam, songwriters Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart, and Roger McGuinn. Upright bassist Chris Marolf supports Jann's set.
The tour has received praise in every city it's played so far from Boston, MA to Hollywood, CA.
Daily Variety's Stephen Mirkin writes that Elliott accompanied by guitarist Olivier Durand, performs "with an energetic intimacy. " THE WASHINGTON POST'S Christopher Porter notes, "Murphy engaged his campfire crowd with direct eye contact, making the evening's intimacy even more intense. His textured voice -- as with his songwriting, it's equal parts Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen -- also exhibited tonal strength and beauty."
The Schenectady Gazette's Brian McElhiney says, "Murphy gives hungry cadre of stateside fans what they came for." Indeed the fans are receiving more than their money's worth. One Boston fan blogged, "Murphy sang with the resilience of a survivor who will always continue to grow and change. His performance let us in on a taste of what his journey has been like. I know I felt changed by it. Murphy's show was a true rock 'n' roll baptism." A woman working in Washington, DC media had never heard of either artist, and her boyfriend was curious about the venue they played in. She said, "This was the most memorable night of rock & roll I've ever had. Both artists are great."
ELLIOTT MURPHY AND JANN KLOSE ROAD TRIP DATES
April 22 Stage One at the Fairfield Theatre, Fairfield, CT
**Special pre show Q&A with CT POST Theatre critic/cultural blogger Joe Meyers
April 23 Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA
**Special pre show Q&A with a "to-be-announced" local personality.
April 24 The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, NJ
April 25 Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ
April 26 Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY
3/9/09
THE WAR ON KIDS to make debut, March 25, NYC
see trailer at this link for The War On Kids
THE WAR ON KIDS to make its film debut on March 25th in New York City.
THE WAR ON KIDS will be making its debut at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, on Wednesday, March 25, at 6 PM. The film will be shown at Village East Cinema's screen seven. Village East Cinema is located in the heart of the East Village at 181 2nd Avenue off of 12th Street.
THE WAR ON KIDS is a 99 minute documentary that shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission to provide education, they erode the country’s democratic foundation and often resemble prisons. School children are interviewed as are high school teachers and administrators, and prison security guards, plus renowned educators and authors including:
Henry Giroux: Author of Stealing Innocence Corporate Culture's War on Children
Mike A. Males: Sociologist, author of Scapegoat Generation
John Gatto: New York City and New York State Teacher of the Year
Judith Browne: Associate Director of the Advancement Project
Dan Losen: The Civil Liberties Project, Harvard University
Music in the film is performed by The Chumps, Tommy Gardner, John S. Hall, and Laura Mayer with Scott Grinthal.
THE WAR ON KIDS is directed by Cevin Soling who won the NYIIFVF award for best experimental feature film, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS, in 2005. Cevin has directed and produced a number of films, including: RELAX IT'S JUST SEX starring Jennifer Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams; A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel; and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. He also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG, CAPTAIN STICKMAN, as well as the short film, DESTRUCTION.
The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF) was founded in 1993. NYIIFVF has been recognized by the film and entertainment industry as one of the leading film events on the independent festival circuit. The festival hosts film, music and art events in the two entertainment capitals of the United States: New York and Los Angeles.
Attracting many global entries, both novice and famous filmmakers/actors have been featured at the Festival, including Abel Ferrara, Andy Garcia, Calista Flockhart, Selma Blair, Ewan McGregor, Dominique Swain, Cameron Diaz, Christopher Walken, Daryl Hannah, Eva Herzigova, Guy Pearce, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Modine, Rod Steiger, Tippi Hedren, Tony Danza, Willem Dafoe and Vin Diesel. In an interview with MOVIE MAKER, Abel Ferrara said, "This festival is the real deal; everybody else just talks about doing it and these guys just do it."
The phone number for the NYIIFVF is 702-361-1430 and the web site: http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/
THE WAR ON KIDS to make its film debut on March 25th in New York City.
THE WAR ON KIDS will be making its debut at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, on Wednesday, March 25, at 6 PM. The film will be shown at Village East Cinema's screen seven. Village East Cinema is located in the heart of the East Village at 181 2nd Avenue off of 12th Street.
THE WAR ON KIDS is a 99 minute documentary that shows how American public schools continue to become more dangerously authoritarian. In addition to failing in their mission to provide education, they erode the country’s democratic foundation and often resemble prisons. School children are interviewed as are high school teachers and administrators, and prison security guards, plus renowned educators and authors including:
Henry Giroux: Author of Stealing Innocence Corporate Culture's War on Children
Mike A. Males: Sociologist, author of Scapegoat Generation
John Gatto: New York City and New York State Teacher of the Year
Judith Browne: Associate Director of the Advancement Project
Dan Losen: The Civil Liberties Project, Harvard University
Music in the film is performed by The Chumps, Tommy Gardner, John S. Hall, and Laura Mayer with Scott Grinthal.
THE WAR ON KIDS is directed by Cevin Soling who won the NYIIFVF award for best experimental feature film, THE WAR ON THE WAR ON DRUGS, in 2005. Cevin has directed and produced a number of films, including: RELAX IT'S JUST SEX starring Jennifer Tilly, Lori Petty and Cynda Williams; A HOLE IN THE HEAD, which was broadcast on Discovery and The Learning Channel; and URINE: GOOD HEALTH. He also created a number of animated works, including THE BILL JOHNSON SHOW, BORIS THE DOG, CAPTAIN STICKMAN, as well as the short film, DESTRUCTION.
The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF) was founded in 1993. NYIIFVF has been recognized by the film and entertainment industry as one of the leading film events on the independent festival circuit. The festival hosts film, music and art events in the two entertainment capitals of the United States: New York and Los Angeles.
Attracting many global entries, both novice and famous filmmakers/actors have been featured at the Festival, including Abel Ferrara, Andy Garcia, Calista Flockhart, Selma Blair, Ewan McGregor, Dominique Swain, Cameron Diaz, Christopher Walken, Daryl Hannah, Eva Herzigova, Guy Pearce, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Modine, Rod Steiger, Tippi Hedren, Tony Danza, Willem Dafoe and Vin Diesel. In an interview with MOVIE MAKER, Abel Ferrara said, "This festival is the real deal; everybody else just talks about doing it and these guys just do it."
The phone number for the NYIIFVF is 702-361-1430 and the web site: http://www.nyfilmvideo.com/
1/6/09
ELLIOTT MURPHY: BACK IN THE U.S.A. FOR A WEST COAST TOUR, WITH OPENER JANN KLOSE
(Beloved Rock troubadour returns after a 12 year absence from the west coast)
Rock troubadour Elliott Murphy and multi-cultural singer-songwriter Jann Klose continue their U.S. tour this week, with shows in San Francisco, Felton (Santa Cruz), Tehachapi (near Bakersfield and Edwards Air Force Base), Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego. The two will also be performing at the NAMM Convention.
Elliott Murphy first came to prominence 35 years ago with the release of the now-more-relevant-than-ever album, AQUASHOW. That, along with NIGHT LIGHTS, LOST GENERATION, and JUST A STORY FROM AMERICA were played on mainstream radio throughout the United States. These albums were also picked up internationally, especially in Japan and Europe, where Elliott has found international stardom. 19 years ago he moved to France. He last played the United States in 2000 at New York City's Bottom Line, and his last west coast dates were in 1996.
Elliott has released 30 albums, his latest is NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND, which has received 5 stars on the prestigious music site, ALL MUSIC.COM. Some of the musicians who've collaborated with Elliott on his recordings are Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, and the Rolling Stones' Mick Taylor. Elliott was also honored with a monumental exposition, LAST OF THE ROCK STARS-RETROSPECTIVE at Paris' Town Hall, and has been cited in literature in the work, SAVAGE DETECTIVES by the late Roberto Bolano, who now has a best-seller book called, 2666.
Elliott, who is already played on Sirius-XM's the LOFT, will be the subject of a story on an upcoming Bob Edwards' show on the satellite station, and he will be releasing his 31st album this March 16, his 60th birthday. And this spring, he'll be acting in the French movie "La Ligne Blanche" out in spring 2009.
Opening all dates will be Jann Klose, whose new album REVERIE is an independent release that has been picked up by 90 AAA radio stations in North America, a variety of folk and jazz stations, some European stations including regional BBCs and Radio Caroline, and played on a mixture of formats including talk, classic rock morning and "Acoustic Sunrise"-styled shows, and Sirius-XM's The Loft. KMMT-Mammoth Lakes, a top 40/modern rock station, has also picked up on Jann's album. Born in Germany, raised in Kenya and South Africa, Jann has collaborated on stage with Renaissance's Annie Haslam, songwriters Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart, and Roger McGuinn.
The tour has received praise in every city it's played so far from Boston, MA to Larchmont, NY. THE WASHINGTON POST'S Christopher Porter notes, "Murphy engaged his campfire crowd with direct eye contact, making the evening's intimacy even more intense. His textured voice -- as with his songwriting, it's equal parts Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen -- also exhibited tonal strength and beauty."
The Schenectady Gazette's Brian McElhiney writes, "Murphy gives hungry cadre of stateside fans what they came for." Indeed the fans also are receiving more than their money's worth. One Boston fan blogged, "Murphy sang with the resilience of a survivor who will always continue to grow and change. His performance let us in on a taste of what his journey has been like. I know I felt changed by it. Murphy's show was a true rock 'n' roll baptism." A female working in Washington, DC media had never heard of either artist, and her boyfriend was curious about the venue they played in. She said, "This was the most memorable night of rock & roll I've ever had. Both artists are great."
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
Jan. 7: Cafe Du Nord: San Francisco, CA
Jan. 8: Don Quixotes: Felton, CA
Jan. 9: Mama Hilly Beans, Tehachapi, CA
Jan. 10: Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA
Jan. 13: Acoustic Music San Diego, San Diego, CA
Jan. 14: The Blue Cafe, Long Beach, CA
Jan. 16: Jann Klose at NAMM's Martin Guitar booth and at L.R. Baggs' booth,
Anaheim, CA
Jan. 17: Elliott Murphy at NAMM's Taylor Guitar booth, Anaheim, CA
Jann Klose at NAMM's Hilton Hotel Lobby, Anaheim, CA
April 14-26: The next tour. Dates will include Buffalo, Cleveland, Hoboken, Chicago....
Other dates for Elliott are in Europe, including his special 60th birthday show on March 14 at New Morning, in http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifParis, France. Please visit http://www.myspace.com/elliottmurphy
Jann's shows are:
Jan 21 2009 SOhO Restaurant & Café benefit for Legal Aid Foundation, Santa Barbara, California
Feb. 5, 2009 Conscience Coffeehouse, Boston, Massachusetts
Feb. 19, 2009 World Café Live, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Feb. 21, 2009 Crossing Borders at the Lost Dog Café, Ithaca, New York
March 8, 2009 Rockwood Music Hall, New York, New York
http://www.elliottmurphy.com
http://www.jannklose.com
Bruce KulickIn addition to Elliott and Jann at NAMM, other artists are scheduled to appear.
Grand Funk Railroad's Bruce Kulick will be hanging at NAMM on Thursday the 15th of January. His web site is http://www.kulick.net
Alex Skolnick will be there for all three days, rotating between Peavey Amps, Rockhouse Instruction, Yamaha Acoustics and Heritage Guitars. Before and after NAMM, Alex is touring the West coast between San Diego and San Francisco. Visit http://www.alexskolnick.com.
Carmine Appice will be hanging at the DDRUM and Calzone booths.
Long time friends Simon Phillips and Jeff Berlin have some special events:
On Thursday, Jan. 15 at 8 PM and 11:30 PM, Hoshino USA celebrates Simon's 30th Anniversary in the Anaheim Marriott Ballroom, as he and friends will play material from his full career: Judas Priest, MSG, Stanley Clarke, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, 801, and Toto. He'll also be at the Tama booth throughout the week.
Jeff Berlin will join what's called Muriel Anderson's All-Star Guitar Night on January 17 at 7:30 PM in the Hilton Anaheim Ballroom. Stu Hamm and Danny Gottlieb are also on the bill.
Joe Deninzon-Metro Strings, Stratospheerius
Electric violinist Joe Deninzon has one last Stratospheerius show before he and his classical violinist wife Yulia Ziskel discover the creative world of parenthood. The Deninzons are due a son late January/early February. So while "junior" is growing up, Joe will be writing a book on gear for string instruments and finishing up the next Stratospheerius album, plus gigging with Metro Strings and other pro gigs in the New York City/New Jersey area.
Joe Deninzon
He has two APAP showcases with two different groups:
Stratospheerius, his wild jam/metal/funk/blues/everything group plays Thursday, January 8 at 9 PM at Fat Baby in New York City.
Metro Strings, which includes Brazz Tree's Mazz Swift-Camlet on violin, cellist David Gotay and viola player Hiroko Takuchi, will be performing at Drom, 85 Avenue A (between 5th and 6th Streets), in New York City, at 7:15 on January 12. The group combines vocal and instrumental rock, hip hop, jazz, funk, and electronic music. There are some recordings of covers at myspace.com/metrostrings.
And for fun, visit this link to hear Joe jamming on "If I Were a Rich Man" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. I think it is the way the song should be performed, especially in today's economy. How about you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAqe4bkUNRU
http://www.joedeninzon.com
Joe Deninzon
He has two APAP showcases with two different groups:
Stratospheerius, his wild jam/metal/funk/blues/everything group plays Thursday, January 8 at 9 PM at Fat Baby in New York City.
Metro Strings, which includes Brazz Tree's Mazz Swift-Camlet on violin, cellist David Gotay and viola player Hiroko Takuchi, will be performing at Drom, 85 Avenue A (between 5th and 6th Streets), in New York City, at 7:15 on January 12. The group combines vocal and instrumental rock, hip hop, jazz, funk, and electronic music. There are some recordings of covers at myspace.com/metrostrings.
And for fun, visit this link to hear Joe jamming on "If I Were a Rich Man" from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. I think it is the way the song should be performed, especially in today's economy. How about you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAqe4bkUNRU
http://www.joedeninzon.com
over the NEW Rainbow, singing together
My friend Lisa Walker is publicizing the new Rainbow, which features Ritchie Blackmore's son, Jurgen "JR" Blackmore on guitar, Joe Lynn Turner on vocals, Tony Carey on keys, Bobby Rondinelli on drums, and Greg Smith on bass. How does the younger Blackmore feel about sharing the stage with musicians he grew up watching perform in concert with his legendary father? "I have not worked with them," says Blackmore, "But, I have admired them since I was young. That makes them like brothers.”
Contact: LisaWalker@ToTheMax1.com
And finally, my radio teacher Dan Berggren turned me on to this amazing story about Brian Eno telling NPR the importance of family singing together, because there are physical and civilizational benefits in singing, dancing, and camping. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97320958
Eno says, " if I were asked to redesign the British educational system, I would start by insisting that group singing become a central part of the daily routine. I believe it builds character and, more than anything else, encourages a taste for co-operation with others. This seems to be about the most important thing a school could do for you."
Contact: LisaWalker@ToTheMax1.com
And finally, my radio teacher Dan Berggren turned me on to this amazing story about Brian Eno telling NPR the importance of family singing together, because there are physical and civilizational benefits in singing, dancing, and camping. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97320958
Eno says, " if I were asked to redesign the British educational system, I would start by insisting that group singing become a central part of the daily routine. I believe it builds character and, more than anything else, encourages a taste for co-operation with others. This seems to be about the most important thing a school could do for you."
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