12/15/10

IAN ANDERSON'S OUT OF THIS WORLD FLUTE DUET

Stay tuned for Ian Anderson playing a unique flute duet live with NASA's Colonel Cady, who--AT 14.09 (2:09) EST heads off tonight on mission 26 to the ISS where she will rendezvous with Ian's flute which went up on a Russian supply rocket a few weeks ago. Says Ian, "We plan to play together - a space duet - in the New Year. Maybe Gagarin day - the 50th Anniversary of the first man in space on the 12th April."

The Revolution in Music, Space, and Air will be Televised on NASA TV.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public'

12/6/10

Anne Leighton on Grammy-Nominated Album

I'm on an album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT that was nominated for a Grammy in “Best Spoken Word Album for Children.” Also on the album is my artist Jann Klose, and former client Uncle Floyd, plus friends Beatle Bob, Michael O'Keefe, radio host Gene Shay, plus Moby, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Julian Lennon, and Tom Chapin. The album's creators are Kevin Mackie, and producers Jim Cravero, Paula Lizzi & Steve Pullara. It took Kevin and company over two years to put together this album. It is very well done.

http:www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2010&genre=4

http:healthyfoodforthought.com

On January 28, there'll be a record release party for HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT at Peter Max Studios, in New York City for The New York Coalition for School Food. I'LL BE PERFORMING AND WILL HAVE JOE DENINZON ON MANDOLIN, ACCOMPANYING ME!!! I am also bringing Jahmane Bright, who is my co-producer for my album, and he would love to meet you. That's my posse. I also understand Jann Klose is bringing his posse as he's performing at this event. Acclaimed-jazz clarinetist Oran Etkin will also be on stage.
Mr. Oran Etkin showing and playing his clarinet for kids! http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcmlwSeWko8
Contact for HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Paula Lizzi at soulcomfort@aol.com

Jim McCarty's SITTING ON THE TOP OF TIME



Jim McCarty, photo by Chris Dreja

Jim McCarty's SITTING ON THE TOP OF TIME features instruments and a chamber pop influence courtesy of flautist Ron Korb and pianist Donald Quan, guitarist Ray Hickey and bassist George Koller, plus guest guitarists Steve Hackett and Jean-Michel Kajdan (who, in addition to his exhaustive credits, was the Yardbirds guitarist for the 2008 French tour), and pianist Lou Pomanti.

Of course a debate could be made for Jim as one of the bearers of this progressive pop style of music, in addition to co-creating the Yardbirds. This drummer/singer/songwriter also co-founded Renaissance, Illusion and Stairway-- all important orchestral rock and pop bands.

Jim started the album at home, but had limitations in his studio, so he connected with Jason Relf (younger son of the late Keith Relf, who-of course— founded Renaissance with Jim). Jason is a studio wiz and teacher, and came to Jim's home in France to install a “state-of-the art” digital system. “The great thing with the system was that there was no limit to the number of ideas I could record, so I could put every one of them down, without judgment.”

With some basic tracks together, in June 2006, Jim went to Toronto, Canada and recorded in Quan's studio, Q Music. “There seemed to be a good group of session players available, very much like in London in the ‘60s and thanks to Ron, I soon had a good team together: Ron, Donald, Ray, and George.”

“It was a magical day for me, when all of a sudden my ideas from France came to life in a new way, each of the musicians adding their particular influence.” Each time Jim toured the States with the Yardbirds, he would go to Toronto to make more tracks on SITTING ON THE TOP OF TIME.

Online sources: Song Facts' Carl Wiser interviews Jim on his insights of making music through the years and his spirituality. http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/jim_mccarty_of_the_yardbirds/

Track by track analysis on MUSIC STREET JOURNAL, http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/index_cdreviews_display.cfm?id=102799

Music video created by fan of Jim's song, “The Outsider.” Lots of beautiful sites to come into your mind. Enjoy the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ5QrrfRWXQ

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drummersingersongwriter-Jim-McCarty-of-the-Yardbirds-and-Renaissance/122296587811690
http://www.jimmccarty.co.uk

Introducing JESSIE GALANTE


Album cover of Jessie Galante's SPITFIRE

Jessie is a dynamic and gifted singer who I've admired for years. I'm honored to be working with her-we're pals, gals and have a real gung-ho attitude about rock & roll. We're both from Buffalo-Jessie was “the first lady of rock,” and I was the first rock woman on middays in Buffalo radio.

Jessie's also played in Holland, Belgium, Hungary, Italy. She's rhythm & blues influenced rock akin to Janis Joplin, Ike and Tina Turner, Lenny Kravitz. Jessie's soulful "no apologies passion" signature sound folds together a fierce beauty, charged strength and graceful drama.

She's a determined singer, and her album, SPITFIRE reflects her energetic and unpredictable personality. It includes a cover of Gladys Knight's “Got to Use My Imagination.”

SPITFIRE features Hungarian and American musicians (bassist Jack Daley (Lenny Kravitz, Joss Stone), drummer Frank Ferrier (Psychedelic Furs, Guns 'n' Roses), guitarist Rob Bailey (Billy Joel, Mandy Moore) and popular players from Hungary; guitarist Janos Szucs and Peter Raso, bassist Tibor Ferenczi, and drummer Janos Takacs. Janos and Janos, Peter, Tibor are in her European band.

Live, Jessie's band features guitarists Angus Clark (Kitaro, TS0, Anna Phoebe) and Jeff McErlain, Jason Gianni (Eric Martin, in bands with members of Tower of Power and members of the Escovedo family), and bassist Pemberton Roach (hundreds of bands).

SPITFIRE was produced by double platinum producer Larry Swist (Lou Gramm, Spyro Gyra, Ike and Tina Turner) and eight-time Grammy award winner multi-platinum mixer Mick Guzauski (Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Anastacia, Kiss, Celine Dion, Earth Wind and Fire).

Netherlands DJ Hubert Van Hoof compared Jessie's performance to Chaka Kahn and Joyce Kennedy of Mother's Finest and a concert promoter in Holland enthusiastically proclaimed, “Jessie is a major victory for live entertainment in Europe!”

LET IT ROCK's Dmitry Epstein writes, “ Ms Galante's no slouch when it comes to go flaming… Blame the temper and the love to music on her Sicilian roots, but it's the combustible combination that's hard not to fall for.”

There's a great interview with Jessie in MAXIMUM INK
http://www.maximumink.com/index.php/articles/permalink/jessie_galante

Jessie Galante's powerful, life affirming video “No Fool No More.” What parts of the world are in this video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWsF8ru5X_k

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessie-Galante/74683638509
http://www.jessiegalante.com

Joe Deninzon Trio Release EXUBERANCE



“If the violin has a future in Jazz and Rock, it is with Joe Deninzon.”
-Relix Magazine


Progressive jazz violinist Joe Deninzon, is honored to announce the release of EXUBERANCE. Recorded with bassist Robert Bowen, and guitarist Stephen Benson, EXUBERANCE is the essence of three musicians in a room, playing live with no overdubs or production; a completely raw experience.

The group draws influences from jazz stylists including the gypsy explorations of Django Reinhardt and the hot swing of violinist Stephane Grappelli along with rock and pop standards of the past 40 years including songs by Steely Dan, Alice in Chains, Jimmy Webb and Radiohead. A few choice covers by Radiohead (“The Tourist”), Alice in Chains (“Heaven Beside You”), Steely Dan (“Bodhissatva”) and Fat's Waller's “Jitterbug Waltz” show just how wide the group's range goes.

One of the group's original songs, “Sun Goes Down” (featuring Luba on lead vocals), has been featured in the independent film, “What's Up Scarlet?” and a recent winner in the Jazz category of the Billboard and John Lennon International Songwriting Contests.

The album is also a tribute to Robert Bowen, who was killed when a car struck him as he rode his bike in Manhattan late August. Live, the band performs with bassists who were friends with Robert, plus drummer Luciana Padmore (from Joe's band Stratospheerius). The group has donated some of its earnings and CD sales to Robert's children.

Best known for his work on the 7-string electric violin and lead singing with the rock group Stratospheerius, Joe Deninzon plays acoustic violin in this Trio. Joe has performed as a solo violinist with the New York City Ballet, and on album or in concert with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Jane Monheit, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, and Les Paul. A 10-time BMI Jazz Composer's grant recipient and a winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, his original music has been used on CMT, MTV VH1, Comedy Central, National Geographic, the Travel Channel and the History Channel.


Band http://joedeninzongroup.bandcamp.com/album/exuberance

Joe Deninzon Group “Wichita Lineman” video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atAb_DbG7ao

http://www.joedeninzon.com

JANN KLOSE ON INVENTING A PERSONAL MUSIC BUSINESS THAT WORKS


Photo of Jann and Chris Marolf live in Youngstown by Heather Rebecca Heath

Pop Singer/Songwriter Available for Interviews on Unique Approach to the Business of Making Music



In an age when most music professionals are seeking to "re-invent" the troubled music industry, Jann Klose has developed a paradigm that works.

In the two years since the 2008 release of Jann's third full-length album, REVERIE, the songwriter has recouped recording costs a bit more than three times over. Beyond that, he has earned the respect of his peers, fans, and critics as a singer, musician, and songwriter. You can hear his work on TV, in movies, online, and via radio worldwide.

Jann's approach to building his career centers on principles of dialogue, cooperation, and commerce. This cooperative attitude includes the fans.

Jann and his team think both inside and outside "the box." They work “traditional” music business avenues, such as contacting the music industry media and venues. He also reaches out to regional and international leads in government, media, corporate, business, educational, and charitable organizations. He follows up with contacts that previously passed on his offerings. Unlike major labels that cease promotions of most releases within three months, his team continues to promote his career, and still campaigns for REVERIE.

He'll reach out to music lovers at conventions like NAMM through his endorsers LR Baggs Pickups and Martin Guitar. These companies have given Jann an enormous amount of support - most notably the opportunity to perform on stage with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart, and Roger McGuinn at Martin's 175th Anniversary Concert.

Jann's fans get as involved with his career as they are with his music. Among these fans is Renaissance vocalist Annie Haslam. Along with Renaissance's original keyboardist John Tout, they collaborated with him for a sold out show of the Sellersville Theater, in Pennsylvania. Haslam also invited Jann to open for the group's comeback tour in fall 2009, and he will open for Annie when she again plays Sellersville on December 18 and 19.

REVERIE was funded partly by fan support in a campaign Jann modeled after PBS' fundraising style. He's funding his forthcoming album the same way and calls the method The People Records Project. (http://www.peoplerecordsmusic.com), eschewing the new fan-sourced financing sites like Kickstarter, PledgeMusic, Indiegogo. He proved to be several steps ahead of them! His fan sourcing program includes: for a donation of $40, a fan can get Jann's favorite German recipe, hand-written. A birthday call is $75. Jann and his band will play a private concert in your living room (or any other room you choose, anywhere in the world) for $5000 + travel.

This universal strategy can be applied to all kinds of businesses. It just paid off as an album Jann appears on, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. Independent record producer Kevin Mackie created the album to help fight childhood obesity. He invited Jann to contribute a song, and also included recordings from Julian Lennon, Moby, Tom Chapin, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Uncle Floyd, and Michael O'Keefe. The CD's Production team developed a personal outreach strategy of awareness to the recording and encouraged music industry peers to listen to the album and consider it's recording qualities.

Jann's business partner is music services person Anne Leighton, publicist for classic rockers including such self-managed acts as The Yardbirds, Grand Funk Railroad, and Jethro Tull and Tull's leader, flautist, and vocalist Ian Anderson. Anderson networked Jann with Saori Jo who opened for Tull in 2008 and 2009. This resulted in Saori Jo and Jann planning to tour Germany in 2011.

Born in Germany, raised in Kenya and South Africa, Jann first came to the States as an exchange student in Cleveland, OH. After finishing his civil service in Germany, he returned to the US to start his career. Jann's music has been featured on MTV's Cribs and the soundtrack to the Paul Sorvino film Dead Broke. He performed in touring companies of Broadway shows such as The Who's Tommy, Jekyll & Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar. His three albums and two EPs can be heard around the world, on over 130 FM stations, Sirius XM in the U.S., the BBC in England and Prambors Radio in Indonesia.

Jann is available for interviews on this new means of funding a music career.


JANN KLOSE CONFIRMED TOUR DATES DEC. 2010 - JAN. 2011

December 7: NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Winsted, CT
December 18, 19: SELLERSVILLE THEATER w/ ANNIE HASLAM Sellersville, PA
December 20: BRONXTALK, BronxNet TV, Bronx, NY
December 22: CLUB CAFÉ, Pittsburgh, PA
January 28: PETER MAX STUDIO, New York, NY
** CD release party for the Grammy-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
January 29 WDFH Fundraiser, Yonkers, NY
February 12: AN BEAL BOCHT, Bronx, NY

“Doing Time” video and live performances at http://www.youtube.com/jannklose
http://www.jannklose.com

Notes From Friends!

CLASSIC ROCK put Bruce Kulick's album, BK3 as one of their top 50 albums of 2010.
http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/classic-rocks-top-50-albums-of-2010-so-far-part-one/

I would like to congratulate journalist Will Romano on his progressive rock book, MOUNTAINS COME OUT OF THE SKY; THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF PROG ROCK. He's included some of my artists (Ian Anderson, Martin Barre from Jethro Tull, David Cousins, John Hawken, Oliver Wakeman from the Strawbs. Former clients Tim Bogart from Vanilla Fudge and Dee Palmer, who you remember as David Palmer from Jethro Tull, are also in the book) in it. Publicity is being handled by Aaron Lefkove, marketing and publicity, at alefkove@halleonard.com .

11/23/10

ELLIOTT MURPHY TOURS DEC. 2010, THE MISTER LUCKY TOUR


http://www.elliottmurphy.com

Rock troubadour Elliott Murphy will be performing The Mister Lucky Tour this December 4 through the 12 with dates in New York City, Amagansett, NY, Bordentown, NJ, Piermont and Larchmont, NY. His band The Normandy All-Stars (guitarist Olivier Durand, drummer Alan Fatras, bassist Laurent Pardo will be on hand to rock).

Elliott Murphy first came to prominence over 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. 20 years ago he moved to France. At that point he last played the United States in 2000 at New York City's Bottom Line, and his last west coast dates were in 1996. In 2008, December, when his son Gaspard started studying at SUNY Purchase in New York, Elliott was invited to start performing in the States again.

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. In 2011, look for his album, ELLIOTT MURPHY, which was produced by Gaspard Murphy.

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, and was the subject of a story on an upcoming Bob Edwards' show on the satellite station. Recently he acted in the French movie "La Ligne Blanche."

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 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."

December 2010 Elliott Murphy Shows

Dec. 4: Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett, NY
Dec. 8: Turning Point, Piermont, NY
Dec. 9: Record Collector, Bordentown, NJ
Dec. 11: Rockwood Stage 2, New York, NY
Dec. 12: Watercolor Cafe, Larchmont, NY

http://www.elliottmurphy.com

10/5/10

Joe Deninzon Group celebrates life of Bob Bowen, October 14


Concert Celebrates Life of Late Bassist Bob Bowen

The Joe Deninzon Group will be having a record release celebration for its new album, EXUBERANCE at the P&G Bar, 380 Columbus Avenue (at 78th Street),in New York City, on October 14, at 10 PM. Admission is free. The venue phone is 212-787-5150. The web site is http://pandgbar.com/. This concert marks the Trio's public debut in New York City, although the group has performed at a number of private functions over the years.

"It will be a celebration," says Deninzon, "because we're remembering Bob Bowen," the Trio's bassist, who passed on early September, after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle in New York City.

Deninzon(violin) and Steve Benson (guitar), will have Bob Sabin (a friend of Bowen's) on bass plus drummer Luciana Padmore. There's be three sets--the last a late night jam with guest musicians. Bowen was a fixture on the local jazz scene. While admission is free, the sales of the EXUBERANCE CD at this event, plus donations to the tip jar will go to his two children. There've been a few fundraising concerts since his passing, and WKCR-New York presented a tribute to him.

Bowen played with Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Mark Murphy, Art Lande, Vassar Clemens, Roseanna Vitro, Mike Clark, Jack Wilkins, Eric Person's Metamorphosis, Tony Trischka and Joe Deninzon's rock group, Stratospheerious. He co-led the MOB Trio with drummer Matt Wilson and tenorman Ohad Talmor. Another collaborative project is Slog. Bob graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Music Composition from the University of Dayton, and studied in the classical double bass masters program at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and has a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. He was the bass instructor and director of the Jazz Combo Workshop at Hofstra University on Long Island NY, and helped develop the jazz prep program at the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music Queens College (CPSM), and the Manhattan-based Creative Music Workshop.

Bowen composed the album's title song "Exuberance In The Face Of Utter Anguish and Despair." The goal of the EXUBERANCE sessions was to capture the essence of three musicians in a room, playing live with no overdubs and a stripped down production. The Trio draws influence from jazz stylists including the gypsy explorations of Django Reinhardt and the hot swing of violinist Stephane Grappelli along with rock and pop standards of the past 50 years including compositions from Steely Dan, Alice in Chains, Radiohead, Jimmy Webb. “Sun Goes Down” (featuring Luba on lead vocals) is an original song by the trio that has been featured in the independent film, “What's Up Scarlet?” and a recent winner in the Jazz category of the Billboard and John Lennon International Songwriting Contests.

RELIX magazine wrote, “If the violin has a future in Jazz and Rock, it is with Joe Deninzon.” Best known for his work on the 7-string electric violin and as lead singer for STRATOSPHEERIUS, Deninzon has been called the "Jimi Hendrix of the elecric violin". He has collaborated with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Phoebe Snow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, and Les Paul. He has also performed as a solo violinist with the New York City Ballet. His original music has been used on CMT, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, National Geographic, the Travel Channel and the History Channel.He has taught rock violin at Mark O'Conner's String Camp in New York, and is writing a book about the electric violin for Mel Bay Publications.

Guitarist Steve Benson is one of the most highly demanded Broadway and session guitarists in New York, being comfortable in a variety of musical settings including jazz, classical music, rock, rhythm and blues, Broadway, bluegrass, and Klezmer music. He has performed and/or recorded with Phoebe Snow, John Sebastian, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Natalie Cole , Giora Feidmand, Jackie McLean, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Lukes and the American Symphony Orchestra. He currently performs on Broadway in the orchestra pits of The Lion King, Chicago, Mary Poppins and Hair. He is on the jazz faculty at Montclair State University.

http://www.joedeninzon.com/joe-deninzon-jazz-trio.php
www.myspace.com/joedeninzontrio

10/1/10

JESSIE GALANTE'S BUFFALO MUSIC HALL OF FAME ACTIVITES INCLUDES INDUCTION ON OCTOBER 7 AND A PERFORMANCE AT THE SPORTSMAN TAVERN ON WEDNESDAY, OCT.6


Buffalo News focused on Jessie in advance of the Induction to the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.


The First Lady of Buffalo Rock, Jessie Galante will be on hand for a variety of activities in Buffalo this October.

On Wednesday, October 6, she will be performing at the Hall of Fame-sponsored "Writers in the Round" at The Sportsmen’s Tavern, 326 Amherst Street, in Buffalo. Also performing are Buffalo Music Hall of Famers Phil Dillon, Gretchen Schultz and Doug Marano. Admission is $10. The venue's web site is http://www.sportsmenstavern.net, and the phone is 716-874-7734.

Referred to as Buffalo’s “First Lady of Rock” in the 1980s with her band Actor, Jessie has been touring actively both in the States and in Europe. Actor's song "Checkin' Out" still finds airplay on Buffalo's classic rock station 97 Rock and she hosted the local music show, Buffalo Lix on the Fox in the '90s.

In Buffalo she connected with Spyro Gyra's producer Larry Swist, and he (along with 8-time Grammy winner Mick Gazauski) produced her current album, SPITFIRE, a powerful hard, old school R&B album that's finding attention from fans and media, and is a hit in Europe.

Jessie will be inducted into the BUFFALO MUSIC HALL of FAME on Thursday, October 7, 2010, at the Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main Street in Buffalo's downtown Theatre District. She'll also be performing "Checkin' Out" and a song from SPITFIRE. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show. There are special VIP tickets, as well, for $40 in advance and $50 day of. Please call 1-800-745-3000.

After the Induction ceremonies, Jessie will be at the Post-Gala All-Star Jam, at the Smith Theater, 658 Main Street, in downtown Buffalo, at 10 PM. Admission is a $5 donation, but free to those attending the Induction.

http://www.jessiegalante.com

9/14/10

CAPITOL/EMI TO RELEASE JETHRO TULL’S ‘STAND UP’ IN EXPANDED COLLECTORS EDITION ON OCTOBER 25


2CD/DVD Audio and Digital Audio Packages Include Previously Unreleased
‘Live At Carnegie Hall’ Concert Recording




NOTE: Media Contacts:
ONLY LEGIT MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT
Jennifer Ballantyne - EMI Music North America
(323) 871-5494 / jennifer.ballantyne@emicap.com

Candice Dorsey - EMI Music North America
(323) 871-5755 / candice.dorsey@emicap.com



Hollywood, California - September 14, 2010 - On October 25, Capitol/EMI will release an expanded Collector's Edition of Jethro Tull's Stand Up in a deluxe 2CD/DVD Audio package with replicated original album art and newly-written liner notes by Tull's Ian Anderson. The Collectors Edition is housed in a digipak with a 12-page booklet and for the first time reinstates the original vinyl LP's pop-up element. On the same date, a digital version of the Collectors Edition, including the 31 remastered tracks from the physical version's two CDs, will also be available for download purchase from all major digital service providers.

The Collectors Edition's first disc includes the remastered original album, plus three tracks recorded during the band's first US tour, and the singles “Living In The Past” and “Sweet Dream,” which later appeared on the Benefit album. Also included are four songs from sessions for John Peel's “Top Gear” BBC Radio program and two US radio spots.

Disc two contains an edited version of Jethro Tull's 1970 Live At Carnegie Hall concert, a benefit for a drug rehabilitation center in New York City. It was a typical raucous Tull affair, drawing heavily from Stand Up as well as presenting a few new songs from Benefit. John Evan had joined the band by then and his classical piano training is amply demonstrated in this live concert. This is exemplified in songs such as “Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square” and an instrumental interpretation of Bach's BourrĂ©e in E minor titled “BourĂ©e,” with the latter remaining a concert favorite even today.

Live At Carnegie Hall has never before been released in its entirety and it is presented in a completely new mix. The Collectors Edition's DVD contains the unedited concert audio in 5.1 surround sound, as well as a new audio interview with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson.

Released in 1969, Stand Up was Jethro Tull's second album, and it marked a shift from the blues-rock sound of their debut This Was, a result of the departure of guitarist Mick Abrahams, who was replaced by Martin Barre. Ian Anderson, playing 12-string guitar, flute and vocals, took over all vocal and songwriting duties and, with his bandmates Barre, Clive Bunker (drums), and Glenn Cornick (bass), created a more folk-inspired album, which topped the UK chart and reached the Top 20 in the US.

In his new liner notes essay, Ian Anderson writes, “In rehearsal and recording, we all tried different approaches to the songs. Clive and Glen formed the basic backbone of the group, leaving Martin and me to experiment a bit more with different sounds and, for the time, some radical techniques in sound recording. We often plugged instruments into the rotating Leslie speaker cabinet to treat the sound with the typical Hammond organ-like tones. Martin's guitar in 'A New Day Yesterday' was recorded with me standing on the guitar speaker cabinet, swinging a microphone, Roger Daltry-fashion around the outside to get a phasing, swirling sound for the main riff.”

It was the songs from Stand Up that introduced Jethro Tull to the US and Europe. For many it was their first taste of the eclectic style and varied material of the band and was savoured by enthusiastic and growing audiences wherever they played. Many of these songs still form part of the rotating set lists of Jethro Tull concerts to this day.

In October and November, Ian Anderson will travel to 22 North American cities on a solo tour. For more information and tour dates, please visit www.jethrotull.com.

Jethro Tull Stand Up (Collectors Edition) [2CD/DVD Audio; digital audio]
CD 1
Original album, remastered
1. A New Day Yesterday
2. Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square
3. Bourée
4. Back To The Family
5. Look Into The Sun
6. Nothing Is Easy
7. Fat Man
8. We Used To Know
9. Reasons For Waiting
10. For A Thousand Mothers
Bonus tracks
11. Living In The Past
12. Driving Song
13. Sweet Dream
14.17 [mono]
15.Living In The Past [original mono single version]
“Top Gear” BBC Radio session recorded 6/16/69; broadcast 6/22/69
16. Bourée [mono]
17. A New Day Yesterday [mono]
18. Nothing Is Easy [mono]
19. Fat Man [mono]
20.Stand Up US radio spot #1
21.Stand Up US radio spot #2
CD 2
Live At Carnegie Hall [1970]
1. Nothing Is Easy
2. My God
3. With You There To Help Me/By Kind Permission Of
4. A Song For Jeffrey
5. To Cry You A Song
6. Sossity, You're A Woman/Reasons For Waiting/Sossity, You're A Woman
7. Dharma For One
8. We Used To Know
9. Guitar Solo
10.For A Thousand Mothers
Disc 3 - DVD Audio [physical package only]
Live At Carnegie Hall [1970]
Carnegie Hall audio: DTS & Dolby Digital 24 bit 48kHz
5.1 surround sound and 2.0 24 bit 48 kHz LPCM stereo [audio only]
1. Introduction
2. Nothing Is Easy
3. My God
4. With You There To Help Me/By Kind Permission Of
5. A Song For Jeffrey
6. To Cry You A Song
7. Sossity, You're A Woman/Reasons For Waiting/Sossity, You're A Woman
8. Dharma For One
9. We Used To Know
10. Guitar Solo
11. For A Thousand Mothers
DVD Bonus Feature
An interview with Ian Anderson [London, 2010]

* * *

9/13/10

WDFH-FM 90.3 soon to be up and running in new studio space


Local Community/Public Radio Station Also Seeking New Volunteers, Funding

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. (September 13, 2010) - WDFH, the only community/public radio station in the lower Hudson valley, has acquired new studio space in Yonkers. The station, which reaches about 400,000 potential listeners in central and northern Westchester, eastern Rockland, southern Putnam, and far western Connecticut, has been providing mostly pre-recorded programming since 2006 while seeking a new studio location.

“We've been laboring for years under a double challenge,” said Marc Sophos, WDFH's founder and executive director. “For most of our history, very few people could hear our signal. And since we lost our studio space in 2006, our ability to produce new programming has been limited. This combination has made it almost impossible to create a large public following.”

The first part of the challenge was resolved in 2009, when WDFH completed a 7_ year signal expansion project. This project involved moving the transmitter from Ossining to a new tower site high above Mount Pleasant, increasing the station's power, and installing a new antenna. Once the project was completed, the population reached by WDFH's 90.3 FM signal increased 40-fold to about 400,000 people.

And in June, with major support from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, the station signed a lease for new studio space. Construction has been in progress this summer, and WDFH's new broadcast studio is now nearly ready for use. Mr. Sophos said that when live broadcasting resumes in the near future, it will be the first time that WDFH has ever had a studio and a viable signal at the same time.

WDFH is a community radio station - a type of public radio station that relies on volunteers to do almost all of the day-to-day work of running the station. "Part of the station's current goal," said Vinny Cohan, a WDFH volunteer for more than 10 years, "is to greatly expand the number of volunteers. For the next several months, we will be focusing on creating new local news, public affairs, environmental, social justice, and arts and culture programming, so we need people who are interested in doing that kind of work. Down the road, when we start expanding our music programming, we will also need people who are knowledgeable about rock, folk, blues, and jazz,” he said. “Most importantly, we need people who understand that running a radio station isn't just about programming. There are many things that have to happen behind the scenes, and we are looking for people willing to play a role both on and off the air.”

Despite this new beginning, the road ahead is full of challenges. Because WDFH has never had a studio and a viable signal until now, Mr. Sophos noted, it has been difficult to establish the station in the public eye, and this has limited its success in fundraising.

“As we said several months ago, WDFH is struggling financially,” said Melissa Fogarty, another longtime WDFH volunteer who is working on fundraising. “What's happening right now with the new studio and the expanded signal is giving us a new beginning, and we're very excited about that. But at the same time, our financial position is precarious, and our community is in real danger of losing WDFH as a local resource. We need a significant and quick influx of funding in order to survive even the next several months. We know that there are people in our area who have the ability to make very significant donations, and we hope that they will come forward at this critical juncture.”

Other funding sources the station plans to develop, Mr. Sophos said, are listener contributions, foundations, corporate grants, and underwriting - the public radio term for sponsorships by local businesses. He said that once the station's local fundraising reaches $100,000, WDFH will become eligible to apply for annual grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

It took Mr. Sophos about 20 years to secure the broadcast license for WDFH because, as he explained, the FM dial in the New York City area was already relatively saturated by the time his effort began in 1973. The station went on the air in 1995, but he described the path since then as “bumpy, to say the least.”

“Our very generous donor has given us a tremendous opportunity, and it's essential that other members of the community step forward now with financial support,” he said. “Our donation income is much, much lower than our expenses, and without financial support from others, we're simply going to run out of money almost as soon as we start broadcasting from our new studio. There is almost no possibility that there will ever be a chance for another local public radio station in our area, so if we allow WDFH to slip away, we'll be losing an important asset that can never be replaced.”

Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to WDFH at 21 Brookside Lane, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522. It is also possible to make contributions online through the station's web site (http://wdfh.org). People interested in joining the station as volunteers should e-mail info@wdfh.org .

About WDFH

http://www.wdfh.org

WDFH is the lower Hudson valley's only community/public radio station. The station's parent organization is Hudson Valley Community Radio, Inc., a local nonprofit organization that is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. WDFH is an affiliate of the Pacifica Radio Network and is the lower Hudson valley's on-air source for Democracy Now! and Free Speech Radio News. The station can be heard at 90.3 FM and online at http://wdfh.org.

9/6/10

ACOUSTIC STRAWBS EXPERIENCE ANOTHER EQUINOX IN THE STATES



David Cousins, Dave Lambert, and Chas Cronk Offer Intimate Versions of Strawbs Classics


As summer transitions into fall, the Acoustic Strawbs will observe the Autumnal Equinox, not at Stonehenge, but among the more modern edifices of New York City.  Moving into their fifth decade of musical innovation, they will spend dates around the Equinox in the Midwest, East Coast and then electric Strawbs shows in Canada, continuing the tour that has charmed audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
 
David Cousins who was hailed, “the most talented Dylan influenced songwriter to come out of England,” by the influential All Music Guide, still leads the group. Strawbs often are mentioned in the same breath as progressive rockers like Yes, The Moody Blues, and Renaissance.  In fact, Rick Wakeman left Strawbs to join Yes, and Wakeman's son Oliver, who has replaced his father in Yes, played with the most recent electric version of Strawbs!

Beyond progressive rock, Strawbs brought another key component to their complex and intricate songs. Initially they fell in with the British Folk movement of the mid-'60s, starting life as the Strawberry Hill Boys and playing bluegrass.  Even so, frontman Cousins maintains, “I've never sung a folk song in my life!”

Moving more into the mainstream, the Strawbs joined forces with Sandy Denny. They recorded their first album with her for a Danish label. While she left them soon afterwards to join the seminal Fairport Convention, this record brought them to the attention of A&M records, which promptly signed them.  The Strawbs were the first English band on the A&M roster.

On the strength of albums like Grave New World, Bursting at the Seams, Hero and Heroine, and Ghosts, and songs like “Benedictus,” “Lay Down,” and “A Glimpse of Heaven,” Strawbs has retained a devoted following, a fan base that continues to grow.  This acoustic tour features singer/guitarist Cousins, 37-year-long Strawb guitarist Dave Lambert and 36-year-long member bassist Chas Cronk. The group will also play five nights in Canada as the full electric Strawbs line-up.

On the American dates, fans can also buy recent CDs including, All Our Own Work by Sandy Denny and the Strawbs (sorry, no press copies), the Acoustic Strawbs Live at Hampton Court Palace and Dancing to the Devil's Beat, as well as Cousins' book Secrets, Stories & Songs (sorry, no press copies available). 
 
ACOUSTIC STRAWBS TOUR DATES
Thursday 9 September  The Ark Ann Arbor MI
Friday 10 September   Abbey Chicago IL
Saturday 11 September  Beachland Ballroom Cleveland OH opener: Jann Klose
Sunday 12 September   Thunderbird Cafe Pittsburg, PA
Tuesday 14 September  The Turning Point Cafe Piermont NY
Wednesday 15 September   Music on Main Street Woodbridge NJ
Thursday 16 September   Sellersville Theatre Sellersville PA
Friday 17 September Strand Theatre Lakewood NJ opener: Patrick Fitzsimmons
Saturday 18 September   Towne Crier Pawling NJ
Sunday 19 September  University CafĂ© Stony Brook NY

Tuesday 21 September   BB King's New York NY opener: Aztec Two-Step
Wednesday 22 September   Showcase Live Foxborough MA
Thursday 23 September  8th Step at Proctors  Schenectady, NY
Friday 24 September   Redhouse Syracuse NY
Saturday 25 September  Lovin' Cup Rochester NY 

ELECTRIC STRAWBS DATES
Saturday 2 October   The Place  Hamilton
Tuesday 5 October   Hugh's Room Toronto
Wednesday 6 October   Hugh's Room Toronto
Thursday 7 October  Outremont Theatre Montreal
Friday  8 October  Barrymore’s  Ottawa
  
          

http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk

http://www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk

9/4/10

IAN ANDERSON TOURS FALL, 2010


Jethro Tull frontman to play North America this October and November


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 North America. Ian will be performing a selection of acoustic and electric songs and tunes from the Tull back catalogue, as well as some news songs--some specifically written for the 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.

Ian's band includes David Goodier (Jethro Tull bassist), Scott Hammond (from Bristol, UK-based drummer), German rock and flamenco guitarist Florian Opahle, and Classical musician John O'Hara, who also plays keyboards and accordion with Jethro Tull.

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 recent 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.

IAN ANDERSON TOUR DATES, 2010

OCTOBER 14 ST. DENIS THEATRE MONTREAL, QUEBEC
OCTOBER 15 LE THEATRE CAPITOLE QUEBEC, QUEBEC
OCTOBER 17 NATIONAL ARTS CENTER OTTAWA, ONTARIO
OCTOBER 18 TURNING STONE CASINO VERONA, NY
OCTOBER 19 PARAMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS PEEKSKILL, NY
OCTOBER 21 MAYO CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS MORRISTOWN, NJ
OCTOBER 22 SCOTTISH RITE AUDITORIUM COLLINGSWOOD, NJ
OCTOBER 23 STRAND-CAPITOL PERFORMING ARTS YORK, PA
OCTOBER 24 PENN'S PEAK JIM THORPE, PA
OCTOBER 26 CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF HOMESTEAD MUNHALL, PA
OCTOBER 27 THE DETROIT THEATER ANN ARBOR, MI
OCTOBER 28 PLAYHOUSE SQUARE CLEVELAND, OH
OCTOBER 29 STATE THEATER KALAMAZOO, MI
OCTOBER 30 RIALTO SQUARE THEATER JOLIET, IL

NOVEMBER 11 RUTH ECKERD HALL CLEARWATER, FL
NOVEMBER 12 HARD ROCK LIVE@ UNIVERSAL ORLANDO, FL
NOVEMBER 14 THE NATIONAL RICHMOND, VA
NOVEMBER 15 THE BIRCHMERE ALEXANDRIA, VA
NOVEMBER 17 WELLMONT THEATRE MONTCLAIR, NJ
NOVEMBER 18 CALVIN THEATRE NORTHAMPTON, MA
NOVEMBER 19 THE WARNER THEATER TORRINGTON, CT
NOVEMBER 20 LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM LOWELL, MA
NOVEMBER 21 VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM PROVIDENCE, RI
NOVEMBER 23 PALACE THEATRE STAMFORD, CT
NOVEMBER 24 THEATRE AT WESTBURY WESTBURY, NY


http://www.jethrotull.com
Official Jethro Tull radio: http://www.jethrotull.com/live365/jethrotullradio/mini/index.html

8/20/10

THE SMITHEREENS 30TH ANNIVERSARY HOMECOMING CONCERT, IN CARTERET SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4


Contact: Anne Leighton
718-881-8183
LeightonMedia@aol.com
www.officialsmithereens.com
http://www.myspace.com/officialsmithereens

Contact for Children's Charity & Ethnic Day Festival
732-541-3801
732-541-3817
www.carteret.net

THE SMITHEREENS 30TH ANNIVERSARY HOMECOMING CONCERT, IN CARTERET SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
(Hometown Favorites to Perform and Receive Keys to Borough at Children's Charity Carnival & Ethnic Day Festival)

Carteret, NJ Mayor Dan Reiman and the Carteret Business Partnership will be presenting the Smithereens' 30th Anniversary Homecoming Concert in true New Jersey style at Carteret Park, Elmora Ave, in Carteret, on September 4 at 8 PM.

The concert is part of the Children's Charity Carnival & Ethnic Day Festival, which begins at 5 PM with special guest performances. Fireworks will follow The Smithereens. The event is free to the public.

In conjunction with the Festival, the group and their parents--many immigrants--will be honored. Very heartfelt is the story of The Smithereens' guitarist Jim Babjak and his parents who struggled in a Hungarian refugee camp.

Mayor Daniel J. Reiman will present the hometown heroes, The Smithereens with keys to the borough of Carteret. Says Mayor Reiman, “As some of New Jersey’s homegrown rock n’ roll heroes, the Smithereens will provide for a very special highlight to our already popular Ethnic Day festival, and allow for a memorable evening that will join them as a part of our local history." The phone numbers for the Festival are 732-541-3801 and 732-541-3817.

It all started at Carteret Park for the Smithereens 30 years ago with Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken, and original bassist Mike Mesaros (who is now living in San Frncisco and invited to the ceremony). Singer/guitarist Pat DiNizio joined a few weeks later. Bassist Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion joined the group four years ago.

Recently the group released "The Smithereens Play Tommy," a tribute to the landmark rock opera The Who's Tommy.

The Smithereens has released 7 albums -- and reaching Gold and Platinum status along the way -- during their career, spawned several Top 40 radio hits, including, "A Girl Like You," "Too Much Passion," "Blood and Roses" and more. It's said that Nirvana's Kurt Cobain listened to the Smithereens as he wrote 'NEVERMIND."

5/11/10

Jann Klose releases music video & 2-song EP




Contact: Anne Leighton
1-718-881-8183
LeightonMedia@aol.com
http://www.jannklose.com
http://www.youtube.com/jannklose
http://www.myspace.com/jannklose
http://www.twitter.com/jannkloseband
http://www.facebook.com/jann.klose
hi-res image downloads available at http://www.jannklose.com/press.html


JANN KLOSE RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO AND 2-SONG EP

The music video for “Doing Time,” a fan favorite from Jann's critically acclaimed album, REVERIE, was produced by the New York Film Academy on the streets of New York City. Producer Tamara Gunashvilli, Paul Simon, Tanushree Hegde, and director Addison Neville incorporated Stop-Motion style filming, using state-of-the-art photographic equipment. Over 9000 individual pictures were taken during the two-day shoot - 4000 ended up in the 3 minute 40 second long video. Members of Jann's band are also seen in the video that was shot entirely in Manhattan at three different locations, including Union Square.

“Doing Time” resonated quite nicely with music critics, as well: The Washington Post's Alexander Remington picked the song as his favorite, “His songs' immaculately tasteful orchestration sounds like Eric Matthews crossed with Nick Drake, best of all on the waltz 'Doing Time.' Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.”

“Doing Time” is online at http://www.youtube.com/jannklose.

Jann produced "Doing Time." Stewart Lerman (The Roches, Loudon Wainwright III, Dar Williams, and films THE AVIATOR and THE LIFE AQUATIC) mixed it.

Jann's new digital EP (“This Sacrifice”/”Waiting For the Wave”) features songs recorded during the REVERIE sessions, but were not included on the album. The download will be free for Jann's fans, and available for sale at all major online music retailers.

His concerts have become significant events, having recently toured the Midwest, and packing venues as a headliner and in collaboration with WGN Radio's overnight team Steve and Johnnie, presenting Jann in concert at the Skokie Theatre. In the last year, Jann has also opened for an array of great acts, including tours with Renaissance and Elliott Murphy, plus one-offs with Willy Porter, Marshall Crenshaw, Shawn Phillips, Rusted Root's Michael Glabicki, Pete Seeger, and others. Jann and his upright bassist/Kora-player Chris Marolf have also shared the stages with Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart and Roger McGuinn at the Martin Guitar 175th Anniversary Concert. This summer Jann will be opening for Melissa Ferrick and Antigone Rising. He's finishing playing UK and Germany. This European tour included performances at the International Pop Overthrow at the Cavern Club, Liverpool, radio appearances on three regional BBCs, and

Born in 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.

In 2000 Jann relocated to New York. He has since performed in Broadway touring companies of JEKYLL & HYDE and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR 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 in Indonesia.


JANN KLOSE DATES
June 12 Deja Vu Hamburg, Germany
June 27 Sellersville Theater w/ Melissa Ferrick Sellersville, PA
July 8 Rocks Off Cruise w/Antigone Rising New York, NY
July 31 Rockwood Music Hall New York, NY
August 15 Corn Festival Beacon, NY



###

5/10/10

YOSO is


http://www.yosohq.com
http://www.youtube.com/yosohq


YOSO is Bobby Kimball (vocals), Tony Kaye (keyboards), Billy Sherwood (bass), and new members: Johnny Bruhns (guitar), Scott Conner (drums, vocals).


Tour dates being announced:
8/11 Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
8/12 State Theatre, Falls Church
8/15 Ram's Head On Stage, Annapolis, MD
8/17 BB King's, New York, NY
8/19 Kent Stage, Kent, OH
8/20 Syndicate Dinner Theatre, Newport, KY
8/21 Lake Clementia Amphitheatre, Rancho Murieta, CA

4/21/10

Anne Leighton, Writer....and Recording Artist

I’m starting work on an album of poetry. Most of the poems are mine and there are covers of favorite writings by Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Mars Bonfire.

I’m looking to cover a poem by a writer, as well, if I get something that feels right. Because you work in the media, I bet you might have something lyrical going in your mind. So mail me up to four poems to this address: ANNE LEIGHTON, Media Music Services Motivation, Box 670922, Bronx, NY 10467. Deadline is June 1. Include SASE.

YOSO--For Classic Rock Fans!

I’m starting work with YOSO, a band signed to a new management company, 2 PLUS MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT led by Leonardo Pavkovic and Derek Shulman.

The group features singer Bobby Kimball (ex TOTO vocalist), keyboardist Tony Kaye (Yes), and former Yes member/producer/bassist Billy Sherwood, and guitarist Jimmy Haun. Drummer is Jody Cortez.

The group has recorded its debut, YOSO CD. To hear live music, please visit http://www.youtube.com/yosohq.



2 PLUS MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT FACEBOOK PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116296188396521

YOSO
http://www.facebook.com/pages/YOSO/241734054172?ref=ts

http://www.yosohq.com

EMI To Release Gentle Giant Albums On Vinyl

(IN A GLASS HOUSE, THE POWER & THE GLORY, FREE HAND out on vinyl
May 18, More DVDs and gift packs to follow in 2010)

On May 18, 2010 Gentle Giant will be re-releasing three albums on vinyl: In A Glass House (originally released 1973), Free Hand (1975) and The Power & The Glory (1974) via their own Alucard label through EMI Music's Label Services unit and Caroline Distribution.

Later this year, there will be a new CD, Gentle Giant at King Alfred’s College, Winchester from an early Gentle Giant show; it includes songs never released on any commercial release. There will be a DVD, GG at the GG, which is a 1978 performance of Gentle Giant on the BBC. Box sets and live recordings are also being planned.

All seven of the albums are remastered from the original ¼ inch tapes through Hi-Resolution (24bit 96k) transfer that the band recorded at UK’s Abbey Road Studios in the 1970s. Band member Ray Shulman was in charge of the mixes. Fred Kevorkian moe., Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, Ryan Adams) handled the albums’ mastering.

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, chamber pop, jazz, and—of course—progressive rock genres.

Kerry 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.

http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant_Home_Page
(There are many Gentle Giant facebook and myspace pages.)

GENTLE GIANT vinyl
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

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


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

Jann Klose is Doing Time



The cover of Jann's Sacrifice EP

I’m reaching out to folks who’ve covered Jann Klose in the past, encouraging everyone to show some interest in his new projects—a video and a digital EP.

The video is “Doing Time,” which is from Jann’s album, REVERIE. Both are great. It’ll be available May 14, and you will see it at http://www.youtube.com/jannklose.

I can e-mail or send-space his digital EP (“Sacrifice”/”Waiting For the Wave”) to you, which will be released May 14 on all the online stores. His fans get the digital EP for free. These songs were recorded during the REVERIE sessions. TIME OUT NEW YORK ran a valid blurb on Jann’s music, “Bronx-based singer-songwriter Jann Klose writes warm, hooky pop music, like a more mature, toned-down version of Jason Mraz.”

Jann Klose’s up-and-coming concerts are turning out to be significant events. He’ll be opening for Willy Porter, Shawn Phillips, Melissa Ferrick, Antigone Rising. Along with Chicago singer-songwriter/violinist Anne Harris, he’s also performing a special event that WGN-Chicago’s overnight team of Steve King and Johnnie Putman are hosting. In the UK, he’s playing the IPO International Pop Overthrow. Over there he’ll be performing shows with German singer-songwriter Robert Carl Blank, Martin Harley, and Steve Rodgers. He’s also speaking and performing at a luncheon for students attending the Rock'n'Roll Fantasy Camp in London.

April 21 Revolution Hall w/ Willy Porter Troy, NY
April 22 Fairfield Theatre StageOne w/ Willy Porter Fairfield, CT
April 28 Therese's Living Room Concert Series Youngstown, OH
April 29 11 PM EST Steve and Johnnie, WGN Chicago, IL
April 30 The Skokie Theatre w/ Anne Harris Skokie, IL
May 1 The Strutt w/ Micaela Kingslight Kalamazoo, MI
May 2 Haiti Benefit Concert at Rolling Plains UMC Zanesville, OH
May 14 Audio Media Solutions w/ Shawn Phillips East Hartford, CT
May 25 The Cavern Club (IPO Festival) Liverpool, UK
May 26 The Musician w/ Martin Harley and Robert Carl Blank
Leicester, UK
May 27 Denbies Wine Estate w/ Robert Carl Blank Dorking, UK
May 28 Riga Music Bar w/ Robert Carl Blank and Steve Rodgers
Essex, UK
May 29 CB2 w/ Robert Carl Blank Cambridge, UK
May 30 Live#the Square, Birmingham, UK
May 31 The Yardbird w/ Robert Carl Blank Birmingham, UK
June 1 The Cavern Club (IPO Festival) Liverpool, UK

June 9 Kulturpalast Linden Hannover, Germany
June 10 Big Buttinsky OsnabrĂĽck, Germany
Jun 11 Jazzkeller Krefeld, Germany
June 12 Prinzenbar Hamburg, Germany
June 27 Sellersville Theater w/ Melissa Ferrick Sellersville, PA
July 8 On the Rocks Off Cruise w/Antigone Rising New York, NY
August 15 Corn Festival Beacon, NY

http://www.facebook.com/jann.klose
http://www.jannklose.com

Joe Deninzon Goes To Jail


Joe Deninzon is gigging quite a bit. He’s got a new jazz trio CD, EXUBERANCE. He’s writing a violin book for Mel Bay. Another wish for Joe is coming true. Ever since he was a teenager, growing up in Cleveland, OH, Joe has wanted to see the inside of a prison and find out what life is like there. But he didn’t want to go through the usual root of living a life of crime. He always wanted to play in a prison, and finally Joe will find the answer. On May 21, he will be performing at the Marble County Regional Correctional Facility, in Rutland, VT with his wild band Stratospheerius. What do you suppose is the moral of this story?

Well, here are Stratospheerius’ upcoming shows:

May 19 Fat Baby w/ Ben Tyree Trio and Superfrog New York, NY
May 20 Nectar’s Burlington, VT
May 21 Dover Brickhouse Dover, NH
June 18, 19 Freedom Fest Harmony, ME
July 12 Great South Bay Music Festival Patchogue, NY
July 17 Bean Runner Café Peekskill, NY
September 11 Riverfront Concert Series Chattanooga, TN
September 25 Long Beach Jazz Festival Long Beach, NY

http://www.stratospheerius.com

"A-metal-cana"'s Bill Leverty

I’m starting to send out Bill Leverty’s DEEP SOUTH, which is “A-metal-cana music”: traditional folk songs played through a combination of rock influences. Bill’s the guitarist for Firehouse, whose “Don’t Treat Me Bad” was a favorite song of mine when I worked at HIT PARADER around 1990. DEEP SOUTH is his exploration—as a grown up—into folk songs. His family helped him, he studied the music online, did a range of research. I love the results, and he’s continuing the exploration.

The songs on DEEP SOUTH are “Trouble So Hard,” “Run On,” “Boll Weevil,” “Nine Hundred Miles,” “Samson And Delilah,” “Walk Beside Me,” “Hit The Road Jack,” “Rain And Snow,” “Wade in the Water,” “Man of Constant Sorrow.”

Let me know if you’d like to compare music and notes with Bill Leverty—he is continuing on with this research and creation and development of these songs, which translate really well to his harder rockin’ style….. Maybe ‘cause it’s about the song.


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LevertyMusic?ref=ts
http://www.leverty.com

Jethro Tull's June Shows


Jethro Tull is David Goodier (bass), Doane Perry (drums) Ian Anderson (flute, vocal, guitar, and more), Martin Barre (guitar), John O’Hara (keyboards).

Here are the group’s North American tour dates.

June 4 Boca Raton Mizner Park Amphitheater
June 6 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park
June 8 Vienna, VA The Filene Center
June 10 Ledyard, CT Foxwoods Resort Casino
June 11 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Music Theater
June 12 Atlantic City Caesar's Atlantic City - Circus Maximus
June 13 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
June 15 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavillion
June 17 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
June 18 Toronto Molson Amphitheatre
June 19 Windsor, ON Caesars Windsor

http://www.jethrotull.com

Cevin Soling Says School Bullies are the Fault of the Schools!

(THE WAR ON KIDS director available to discuss the failing institution of schools.)

Filmmaker Cevin Soling says that the institutional environment of schools, where children are completely powerless, is responsible for creating bullies. After the suicide of South Hadley High School student Phoebe Prince, pundits debated the horrible ramifications of classmates bullying other classmates. Some have blamed students and believe there is a growing wave of cruelty in youth culture. Others have blamed parents for not raising their children to be respectful, and others blame the teachers and administrators for not intervening and disciplining the abusive children. No one has questioned whether the oppressive environment of school is responsible.

Cevin Soling argues "When people are forcibly trapped in an environment where they are subjected to authoritarian power, the try to find spaces where they can exert some kind of power. Bullying is a learned act which mimics the way kids are treated by administrators and teachers and is inevitable as long as students are deprived of any control over their lives."

Cevin is concerned that none of the proposed remedies will have any meaningful impact since no one is addressing the cause. "The exact same pattern of behavior can be observed in a prison environment. No one wants to examine this issue seriously because it would mean having to completely overhaul schooling."

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, Toxic Psychiatry, Talking Back to Prozac

The Huffington Post's Jonathan Kim calls it a "must see documentary." Ronnie Shreib of Variety writes, "A startling wake-up call about appalling conditions prevailing in American schools," Jeannette Catsoulis in the New York Times notes, "A shocking chronicle of institutional dysfunction, 'The War on Kids' likens our public school system to prison and its disciplinary methods to fascism. At least now you know why little Johnny won't get out of bed in the morning." John Whitehead, who established the human rights organization, The Rutherford Institute, cites THE WAR ON KIDS as an insightful film. He writes: "Ironically, America's public schools were once considered the hope of freedom and democracy, the place where young people were to be instructed in the principles of freedom so that they could someday effectively participate in the democratic process. Sadly, that is no longer the case."

THE WAR ON KIDS is directed by Cevin Soling who 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
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-War-On-Kids/186264283398?ref=ts

The Yardbirds On Tour in May



The Yardbirds


The Yardbirds will be playing east coast and Ohio dates this May. A true institution, in the brief period from 1963 to 1968, The Yardbirds made an indelible mark on the music and culture of the time, and then on future generations.

To the casual music fan, The Yardbirds are best known as the band that honed the skills of future “guitar gods” Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page; and for their slew of chart hits, including “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” "Shapes of Things," “I'm A Man,” and “Over Under Sideways Down.” However, led by core members and songwriters Jim McCarty (drums), Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar/bass) and the late Keith Relf (vocals/harmonica), the band's experimental explorations also provided the crucial link between British R&B, Psychedelic Rock, and Heavy Metal, while pioneering the use of innovations like fuzz tone, feedback and distortion. Even their 1968 break-up set the stage for Rock 'n' Roll's future…leading Jimmy Page to form the New Yardbirds, later re-christened Led Zeppelin.

Reuniting decades later, McCarty and Dreja with a new generations of talented players including the raw talents of young lead guitarist Ben King, bassist Dave Smale, and vocalist/harmonica player Andy Mitchell, the group has been steadily touring and making new music.

The Yardbirds' 2003 CD, BIRDLAND on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label featured guest appearances from Vai, and friends Brian May, Joe Satriani, and Slash.

In 2007 Favored Nations released the YARDBIRDS: LIVE AT BB KINGS, again showing the power of the band, and its legacy of great songs.

This season, The Yardbirds return to the States under the leadership purposeful and insightful Dreja and McCarty and the future music superstars: King, Smale and Mitchell.

May 21 Parilla Center Rockville, MD
May 22 Chesapeake Blues Fest Annapolis, MD
May 23 Tangiers Akron, OH
May 25 Sellersville Theatre Sellersville, PA
May 26 BB Kings New York, NY
May 27 Boulton Center Bay Shore, NY
May 28 Showcase Live Foxborough, MA
May 30 Remember The Music/Heroes Virginia Beach, VA

http://www.theyardbirds.com

Some news from new friends:

Three different lady rockers have caught my ears lately, and you can contact them for more information on their music…. All of them would like reviews on their music, so please keep that in mind when you contact them.

Former NY Loose singer Brijitte West has a new band, The Desperate Hopefuls and some darn good punk-delivery in her vocals. Her web site is http://www.brijittewest.com. Contact her at bw@brijittewest.com. For MP3 files to review, e-mail Paul Unger at punger@neo.rr.com

My friend, guitar maker/piano tuner Rick Davies and Jane Sytek turned me on to Micaela Kingslight, who is doing a show with my artist Jann Klose on May 1 in Kalamazoo at the Strutt. Her album is called STILL. She is an incredible guitarist in a vibe to recordings you’d hear by Mark Almond Band, some of the more stretchier ELP and Led Zeppelin songs, while leaning towards softer rock.E-mail booking@micaelakingslight.com. http://micaelakingslight.com/

I think Susan Barth is a devilishly feminine singer in a vocally-melodic realm as the Carpenters. “Perfect Storm” is a hit song. “Chatworth” is an anthem about inconsiderate people. E-mail Pinksoxsongs@aol.com. The web site is http://www.susanbarth.com.

And while I’m at it, the very manly (and Grand Funk Railroad guitarist) Bruce Kulick has another new album, BK3. http://www.kulick.net. BruceKool@aol.com.

4/4/10

Anne Leighton presents unstaged reading of original play, "The Passion of Mary," April 7

I will be presenting an unstaged reading and group discussion of her original, three-act play, THE PASSION OF MARY, on April 7 at 6 pm, at the Bronx Library Center, 310 East Kingsbridge Road (at Briggs Avenue), in the Bronx, NY. The library phone number is (718) 579-4244. Admission is free.

I am looking for folks to read the play, as well. Those interested should call me at 718-881-8183.

There are some fascinating readers, including friends from music, theatre, and local media. Former Arista A&R exec Valerie Kiligrew, who is now an award-winning playwright, will be the play's narrator. Jonathan Kruk, who is the best storyteller in the Hudson Valley will portray William Dyer. Radio crystal blue personality Dan Herman is the Reverend John Wilson. Irish Center actress/dancer Siobhan Dunne will be "God." NYC commedienne Mindy Matijesavic portrays Endicott, the Governor of Massachusetts. My bands are also stretching their talents: Stratospheerius vocalist/electric violinist Joe Deninzon portraying an angel, Woody Allen/Jann Klose drummer Patrick Carmichael as Roger Williams, and Jann's keyboardist/accordionist Lars Potteiger is Lord Oliver Cromwell and Reverend Joseph Cotton.

After the play is read, there will be a question and answer session.

THE PASSION OF MARY focuses on the story of Mary Dyer, a Quaker from 17th Century America, who was hanged by Puritans in the Boston Commonwealth.

Mary Dyer was one of the early crusaders for religious freedom in America. THE PASSION OF MARY has many historical characters including Anne Hutchinson, who lived for a while in the Bronx and Lower Westchester, plus Roger Williams who founded the State of Rhode Island.

I am a working writer, who -- in addition to promoting Bronx-based pop singer songwriter Jann Klose and working with a number of influential classic rockers (Neil Innes, Jethro Tull, Tower of Power, the Yardbirds, Strawbs, Grand Funk Railroad) -- has an active writing career. My books are USING YOUR ART AND THE MEDIA TO COMFORT PEOPLE (published by Free to Run books) and PAWS FOR THOUGHT: HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CAT IS THINKING (UK's Rockwell Books and now available in the States through mail order by Daedalus).

My first play Reach for the Sun was performed by Poets Repertory Theater of Long island in 1977. In 2005 I presented a staged reading of her play, ONE WAY TO HEAVEN at the Howl Festival in New York City and as part of the Bronx-based series, HIDDEN TREASURE. The play was also performed by the River City Living Church in San Antonio, Texas and won the Jacob C. Hammer playwriting award at Lehman College in the Bronx.

3/27/10

JANN KLOSE TO PLAY THE SKOKIE THEATRE


Please save this picture file, print it out, and give it to friends in the Chicagoland region.

(Anne Harris Sharing the Bill with Special guest emcees: WGN's Steve and Johnnie)

Contact: Anne Harris: c/o Aaron Krossovitch
630-697-9593


Jann Klose and Anne Harris will be performing at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Avenue, in Skokie, on April 30 at 8 PM. The venue phone is 847-677-7761, and the web site is http://www.skokietheatre.org.

WGN’s Steve King and Johnnie Putman suggested this event after Jann performed on their show this past November when he was part of the Uncommon Ground's Jeff Buckley Tribute for the second year.

In the past few years, Jann's music has been picked up by scores of Chicago-based media people, The Chicago Examiner's Roger Reis, who calls pop singer-songwriter Jann Klose's latest album, REVERIE a "timeless work of art." Popmatters' Lisa Torem praises his live show, writing that he is a "confident performer" who, when one listens, "you can feel a pin drop." Jann's album is being played on over 120 radio stations, including WGN's Life after Dark with Steve and Johnnie.

Based in the Bronx, NY, Jann was born in Germany, raised in Kenya, South Africa, and first came to the United States as an exchange student in Cleveland, Ohio. Recently Jann supported Renaissance on its 40th Anniversary tour, and dates with rock troubadour Elliott Murphy. He has also collaborated with Renaissance's lead singer Annie Haslam and original keyboardist John Tout. Jann has opened for Pete Seeger, Marshall Crenshaw, Willy Porter, The Strawbs, Jonathan Edwards, Old School Freight Train, and Rusted Root's Michael Glabicki.

He has shared the stage Marty Stuart, Roger McGuinn, Rosanne Cash for Martin Guitar's 175th Anniversary Concert, and with members of Alan Parsons Project, Dire Straits, the Rolling Stones horn section for the 3rd Annual Concert for Bangladesh Revisited at B.B. Kings, in New York City.

Chicago based singer-songwriter and violinist Anne Harris was handpicked for this event by Steve and Johnnie, and her new album GRAVITY AND FAITH has been receiving rave reviews from the media, as well. The Chicago Tribune's Andy Downing writes, "Anne Harris' songs frequently sound born of a spiritual awakening." Illinois Entertainer writer Andy Argyrakis says, Anne delivers a "soulful blend of folk, pop, and roots rock...brimming with socially conscious lyrics, as memorable as thought-provoking." The publication also cited GRAVITY AND FAITH as one of the best local albums of 2008.

JANN KLOSE CONFIRMED TOUR DATES 2010

April 10 The Rockwood Music Hall New York, NY
April 21 Revolution Hall w/ Willy Porter Troy, NY
April 22 Fairfield Theatre Stage One w/ Willy Porter Fairfield, CT
April 28 Therese’s Living Room Concert Series Youngstown, OH
April 29 11 PM Steve and Johnnie, WGN Chicago, IL
April 30 The Skokie Theatre w/ Anne Harris Skokie, IL
May 1 The Strutt w/ Micaela Kingslight Kalamazoo, MI
May 2 Haiti Benfir Concert at Rolling Plains UMC Zanesville, OH
May 14 Audio Media Solutions w/ Shawn Phillips East Hartford, CT
May 25 The Cavern Club (IPO Festival) Liverpool, UK
May 26 The Musician w/ Martin Harley Leicester, UK
May 27 Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp London, UK
May 27 The Bedford w/ Robert Carl Blank London, UK
May 29 CB2 w/ Robert Carl Blank Cambridge,UK
June 1 The Cavern Club (IPO Festival) Liverpool, UK
June 12 Prinzenbar Hamburg, Germany


HI-RES IMAGE DOWNLOADS AVAILABLE AT JANNKLOSE.COM/PRESS.HTML


###

3/24/10

NEIL INNES: A PEOPLE'S GUIDE TO WORLD DOMINATION CROSSES THE POND





“I've suffered for my music,” he tells America. “Now it's your turn.”


Neil Innes will be performing 15 dates across the States this April and May.

He is available for interviews in advance of the show, please call Anne Leighton at 718-881-8183 orAnne@AnneLeighton.com .


Neil's upcoming album, INNES OWN WORLD -The Best Bits will be available at the start on the tour. It features a selection of bits from his UK radio shows studded with 8 fabulous songs - a few new ones.

For five decades, Neil Innes made us laugh and sing along. One of the funniest men to hit the charts, he wrote songs like “Camelot” (“Living here in Camelot/We eat ham and jam and Spam a lot”) and “Sir Robin's Song” (“When trouble reared it's ugly head/He bravely turned his tail and fled”) from Monty Python and the Holy Grail; “Cheese and Onions” from The Rutles; the lone hit for the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, “I'm The Urban Space Man”; and his theme song, “How Sweet to be An Idiot.”

Now you can discover how sweet it is to be an idiot by shelling out some cash to see Innes as his one man show A People's Guide to World Domination crosses the Atlantic and lands, waterlogged, in America. In a performance that has been called “A wonderfully wayward evening,” “the hottest ticket in town,” and “you're not wearing those trousers, are you?” Innes lampoons the human condition, lambastes bankers and other latter day clowns, and doesn't leave a dry seat in the house.

Called the seventh member of Monty Python's Flying Circus, Neil Innes has made people laugh and sing since breaking through with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, fresh out of college in the mid-'60s. A talented artist, musician, and actor/raconteur, he fell in with Monty Python, and later, along with former Python Eric Idle, put together The Rutles, the legend that would last a lunch-time. His BBC Television Show The Innes Book of Records has become much watched on YouTube. He also was involved with hundreds of episodes of children's shows, including the long running BBC favorite Raggy Doll.
While Neil says, “If I could describe what it is I do on stage in a sentence or two, or even a cleverly constructed paragraph, then there would be absolutely no need for me to go on stage and do it,” he will continue to perform to small but beautifully formed audiences around the world, and one by one, raise an international army of 'EGO WARRIORS', sworn to defend self-esteem wherever it may be. This is his life's work.

APRIL 11 OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY TOMS RIVER NJ (732) 349-6200
APRIL 13 TURNING POINT PIERMONT NY (845) 359-1089
APRIL 14 NIGHTCAT EASTON MD (443) 786-2750
APRIL 15 JAMMIN JAVA VIENNA VA (703) 255-1566
APRIL 16 RECORD COLLECTOR BORDENTOWN NJ (609) 324-0880
APRIL 18 IRON HORSE NORTHAMPTON MA (413) 586 8686
APRIL 20 BB KING'S NEW YORK NY (212)-997-4144
APRIL 21 THE LOVIN CUP ROCHESTER NY (585) 292-9940
APRIL 22 HUGH'S ROOM TORONTO ON (416) 531-6604
APRIL 23 THIS AINT HOLLYWOOD HAMILTON ON (905) 529-9500
APRIL 25 THE DOIUG FIR PORTLAND OREGON OR (503) 231-9663
APRIL 26 TRIPLE DOOR SEATTLE WA (206) 838-4333
APRIL 28 COBBS SAN FRANCISCO CA (415) 928 4320
APRIL 30 McCABES LOS ANGELES CA (310) 828-4497
MAY 1 ACCOUSTIC MUSIC SAN DIEGO CA (619) 303-8176
MAY 2 SKYE PHOENIX AZ (623) 334-0010


http://www.neilinnes.org
Industry Page: http://www.neilinnes-on-tour.com/

3/21/10

PRISON SHIRTS AND HATS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS ONLINE AT www.thewaronkids.com

(Filmmaker Cevin Soling says, "if kids are going to be treated like prisoners, let them dress the part and dispel any hypocrisy.)





An authentic prison T-shirt and cap at http://www.thewaronkids.com

Cevin Soling is making available authentic prison shirts and hats in support of his movie, THE WAR ON KIDS.  These shirts and hats are the same clothing issued to prisoners when they have to serve time.  No logo or web site appears on the clothing, just black and white stripes will be on these shirts, while the word “Inmate” is printed on the hats.  The cost for a shirt or hat is $15.00, and the shirts are available in Small, Medium, and Large. Visit http://www.thewaronkids.com, and click on "buy the DVD."

Soling is making people aware that schools have taken away children's civil rights and THE WAR ON KIDS shows the uncanny similarities between schools and prisons.  As a result of appearances on THE COLBERT REPORT, MSNBC, The Leonard Lopate Show, Mancow, and other top media, THE WAR ON KIDS is also heavily downloaded illegally online.

The Huffington Post's Jonathan Kim calls it a "must see documentary."  Ronnie Shreib of Variety writes, "A startling wake-up call about appalling conditions prevailing in American schools," Jeannette Catsoulis in the New York Times notes, "A shocking chronicle of institutional dysfunction, 'The War on Kids' likens our public school system to prison and its disciplinary methods to fascism. At least now you know why little Johnny won’t get out of bed in the morning."  John Whitehead, who established the human rights organization, The Rutherford Institute, cites THE WAR ON KIDS as an insightful film.  He writes: "Ironically, America’s public schools were once considered the hope of freedom and democracy, the place where young people were to be instructed in the principles of freedom so that they could someday effectively participate in the democratic process. Sadly, that is no longer the case."

Soling is interested in following up on stories about kids who wear these shirts to school.  He predicts that efforts will be made by teachers and administrators to prohibit them from dressing like a prisoner which would be supremely ironic. Soling states: “Every aspect of their being is so rigidly controlled that they are not permitted to display the degree to which they are controlled.  By not being allowed to wear the shirts, students would then become instruments of propaganda designed to present an image of free choice when no real choice is permitted.  How are children expected to grow up and perform the most essential obligation of citizenry in a democracy - protest tyranny - when any attempt to exercise civil rights in school is immediately squelched? If students are not permitted to complain about unbearable conditions in their school, they will not attempt to protest breaches of government power."
 

3/4/10

YOSO, New Classic Rock Super-Group to Play the Frankfurt Musikmesse Festival: March 24th to 27th


Billy Sherwood {Bass,Vocals}
Bobby Kimball {Vocals}

Jody Cortez {Drums}
Jimmy Haun {Guitar,Vocals}
Tony Kaye (Organ,Keyboards}

photographer: Michi Sherwood


Management: Derek Shulman
Leonardo Pavkovic

http://www.myspace.com/yosohq
http://www.youtube.com/user/YosoHQ


YOSO, New Classic Rock Super-Group to Play the Frankfurt Musikmesse Festival: March 24th to 27th
(Creative Force of YOSO features former YES and TOTO members)

On March 24-27, YOSO will premiere in Europe at the "Frankfurt
Musikmesse" Festival in Frankfurt, Germany 24th March, as well as
another to-be-announced venue in Frankfurt on March 26th.

Close to 700,000 people attend Musikmesse every year to play the latest gear, and see very well known bands, as well as selected new acts. YOSO lead singer Bobby Kimball says, "We couldn't have gotten luckier, than to play
Musikmesse, because the crowd ranges from promoters, equipment company
endorsement people, and musicians of all levels."

YOSO was formed in late 2009 by Kimball (TOTO’s lead vocalist) and
YES keyboardist and founding member Tony Kaye. Former YES member/producer
Billy Sherwood plays bass and vocals, and Jimmy Haun of CIRCA handles all guitars.
Drummer Jody Cortez, who has toured with Boz Scaggs and Crosby, Stills and Nash, rounds out the group.

The group made its premiere appearance in Mexico in November 2009.
YOSO will be releasing its debut CD "YOSO" via the group's
on line web-store, coming soon to http://www.yosohq.com."
The CD will then be made available to all worldwide retail and digital
outlets via major distribution in the late Spring/Early summer of 2010.
YOSO will be filming several live concerts and producing a YOSO LIVE
DVD in the Spring of 2010.

In the works are tours in Europe, South America, NORTH AMERICA,
SOUTH-EAST Asia, and include dates further dates Mexico in mid April.

To hear YOSO live, (music & videos), please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/yosohq or http://www.myspace.com/yosohq

3/1/10

"DESTINATION" and "DIGITAL EARTH" win the LET'S GET A GENUINE UNSIGNED BAND INTO THE CHARTS Contest

Contact for "Let's Get a Genuine Unsigned Band into the Charts”:
Oliver Tooley
(0)20 8926 0857
oliver.tooley@ntlworld.com
http://www.facebook.com/unsigned
Excerpts of songs from all entrants: http://www.french4tots.co.uk/unsignedbands/
Complete songs of the semi-finalists:
http://www.french4tots.co.uk/unsignedbands/index3.html


Two artists hope Facebook group members will buy MP3 singles--Destination's "If I Ruled The World" and Digital Earth's "Charlatan Old Boy."

There are two bands that won the LET'S GET A GENUINE UNSIGNED BAND INTO THE CHARTS contest, and therefore the contest's organizers are spreading the word to have its Facebook group members buy the group's digital singles. Both are, broadly speaking, pop/dance acts: Destination and Digital Earth.

As both Destination and Digital Earth were very close with votes--even swamping the lead throughout finals week, they checked with their fans to see how they felt about both being the winning acts. It was agreed to try and get two unsigned bands into the chart instead of one. Group members and the extended social network will all be buying the singles from Sunday 28th Feb to Saturday 6th March, in the hope of entering the top 40 singles charts on the 7th of March.

Organizer Oliver Tooley started the group on 1st January this year thinking that by summer he might have enough members to achieve the 4,000 - 5,000 sales needed to get a top 40 hit in an average week. In four weeks he had over 5,000 members and over three hours of song samples to consider from six different countries and every possible genre. A series of stages reduced over 100 bands down to just ten of which Destination and Digital Earth were clear leaders from start to finish.

Synthpop duo "Destination" are singer, Bridget Gray, from Aberdeen Scotland and synth maestro, Glynn Jaine, from Huddersfield who collaborate over the internet on songwriting. Despite having less than 300 fans on Facebook they managed nearly 1,000 votes in the contest, which strongly suggests people were listening to the music and voting for the song "If I Ruled The World" and not giving a partisan vote for a particular band.

Digital Earth combine many genres seamlessly, touching on jazz, soul, funk and hip hop. They also polled more than twice their Facebook fanbase for their song "Charlatan Old Boy" once again proving that people were voting for the music and not their mates.

The group has already started taking nominations for the next competition but Oliver says, "Everyone was asked when they joined the group to promise to buy the winning single. If they keep that promise then we will succeed. If they don't then the group will die, I will have to give up on the next contest, and big business will retain total control over what you listen to."