3/26/14

Jann Klose Has Four Nominations in 13th Annual Independent Music Awards

Pop Singer-songwriter up for eclectic categories in performance and design

Pop Singer-songwriter Jann Klose has received four nominations in the 13th Annual Independent Music Awards (IMA).  Some of the other nominees are Willie Nile, George Benson, Vienna Teng, Suzzy Roche and daughter Lucy Wainwright Roche, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Martha Redbone, and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus!

Also nominated are three artists Jann's opened for or shared the stage with: the late Pete Seeger, Antigone Rising, and Melissa Ferrick.

Jann's nominations are for: Cover Song, Website, Swag, and Album: Spoken Word with Music Accompaniment. 

The Cover Song, for which Jann is nominated, is an a-cappella version of Tim Buckley's "Song To The Siren" off his new album, MOSAIC. "I fell in love with the song when I worked on the movie, GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY." Jann sings Tim's parts in the feature film, and soon after its release met Larry Beckett, who co-wrote the song and many others with Tim.  Now Jann and Larry are writing together.

In the Album: Spoken Word with Music Accompaniment category, Jann sings "Humble Wish," on the compilation ACTION MOVES PEOPLE.  The song was written by Krista Wallhagen and Kevin Mackie.  Backing Jann are musicians from the band Renaissance (bassist Dave Keys, drummer Frank Pagano, and keyboardist Rave Tesar), plus guitarists Kevin Mackie and Tim Gleeson.  Jann opened for Renaissance's 40th Anniversary tour in 2009.  He has also performed shows with both the group's long time singer Annie Haslam and co-founder Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds). 

Jann is the only musical nominee, in this year's contest, up for two design categories: Website and Swag.  In the spirit of true independence, he's always created his own promo materials. "My swag is my T-shirt design which includes the lyric 'If you don't know love, you don't know life' from MOSAIC's first song, "Make It Better."  

The LA-ist was truly on point when it wrote that Jann “can be accurately described as the man chosen to carry on the legacy of great musicians like Tim Buckley and Paul McCartney.” Soon after MOSAIC entered the Roots Radio charts above Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow and Wilco at #22, the album ended up on first round ballots for the 2014 GRAMMY® Awards for Album of the Year and Pop Vocal Album.
Jann hopes that you will vote for him in all categories and would like for you to please tell your friends, "Thank you!" To vote you will need to register at www.independentmusicawards.com
These are the links to vote.  Just click the translucent stars to the right of Jann's entries:

1) COVER SONG: TIM BUCKLEY'S SONG TO THE SIREN:

2)  SWAG (Merchandise):

3) MUSIC WEBSITE:

4)  ALBUM: VARIOUS ARTISTS: SPOKEN WORD WITH MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENT
ACTION MOVES PEOPLE: 

Nearly 400 Self-Released & Independent Label Artists are nominated in the IMAs.  The Music Resource Group (MRG) that runs the IMAs stated receiving thousands of entries from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Greenland and Europe.

Jann is asking his fans to vote in the Vox Populi (fan voice) competition before the July deadline when those winners will be announced.

Judges will also be voting for results to be announced in May.  The judges are made up of artists and music industry people, including Raul Midon, Heart's Ann & Nancy Wilson, Suzanne Vega, Sharon Jones, G. Love, and the Smithereens' Dennis Diken. All judges are listed at  http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/judges/13th-annual-ima-judges/

The Independent Music Awards honor exceptional independent artists traditionally ignored by mainstream media and big box retailers. For the past 13 years, artists and labels from around the world have found new fans and prominence through The IMAs. Produced by Music Resource Group, publisher of the popular industry networking database The Musician's AtlasOnline, The IMAs uses its unrivaled access to performance, promotion & distribution opportunities to connect Winners and Nominees to new audiences and revenue opportunities.

Winners of The 13th IMAs will receive active promotions, distribution and performance opportunities that will place them in front of nearly 1 billion music fans. Artists, managers and labels credit The IMAs with increasing recognition among music fans and industry gatekeepers.

Born in Germany, raised in Kenya, South Africa, and Hamburg, Jann came to the States as an exchange student in Cleveland. He performed in touring productions of Broadway shows (JEKYLL & HYDE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR) and portrayed The­­­­­ Pinball Wizard in THE WHO’S TOMMY before he started his band. Jann’s music is heard on the GRAMMY-nominated HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT, on MTV CRIBS, the movie “Dead Broke” (Warner Bros.) featuring Paul Sorvino. He maintains a steady touring schedule of about 75-100 shows a year in the U.S., Europe and Asia.




JANN KLOSE ON THE ROAD

April 27, 2014 - New York, NY: THE LAST WALTZ LIVE at Highline Ballroom
May 31, 2014 - Park Ridge, NJ: Acoustic Cafe Concert Series w/ Toby Walker
June 6, 2014 - Youngstown, OH: Private Event
June 7,  2014 - Bloomington, IN: TBA
June 21, 2014 - Baiting Hollow, NY: Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard
July 2, 2014 - Woodbridge Township, NJ: Woodbridge Wednesdays at Parker Press Park
July 9, 2014 - Bronx, NY: TBA
July 12, 2014 - New York City, NY: Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2
July 17, 2014 - Amagansett, NY: The Stephen Talkhouse
August 9, 2014 - Berlin, Germany: The Castle Pub
August 15, 2014 - Braunschweig, Germany: Unplugged Bistro
August 16, 2014 - Hamburg, Germany: Prinzenbar
August 23, 2014 - Kiel, Germany: Prinz Willy Strandfest Open Air
September 19, 2014 - Newton, NJ: Newton Theatre w/ Paula Cole
January 30, 2015 - Tehachapi, CA: Fiddler's Crossing




3/19/14

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams Celebrate Release of New Album at New York City's Webster Hall, April 12

A BOX OF EVERYTHING to be released on Red River Entertainment April 1

Joziah Longo
Listen to songs from A BOX OF EVERYTHING on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/slambovia/sets/a-box-of-everything

On April 12  The Slambovian Circus of Dreams perform at Webster Hall's Marlin Room, at 7:30 PM
Webster Hall is at 125 East 11th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues) in New York City.
Webster Hall is near the N, Q, R, W, L, 4, 5, 6 subways.
Admission is $25.
Admission is only for those 19 years and over
The venue phone is 212-353-1600
The web site is www.websterhall.com

A BOX OF EVERYTHING is The Slambovian Circus of Dreams' first new release with the Sony / RED-distributed Red River Entertainment.  Due out April 1st, A BOX OF EVERYTHING is a compilation of "the greatest Slambovian hits you've never heard" newly remastered with three new studio cuts - the upbeat title track "A Box of EveryThing," Syd Barrett-inspired "A Very Unusual Head" and the anthemic "Alligators'"that justifies the Pink Floyd-esque descriptions of the band. The A BOX OF EVERYTHING CD Release Show at Webster Hall April 12th is a special one-time event, with special guests (who played on the album) performing with the band and a multimedia show created for the upcoming tour. 

From Sleepy Hollow, New York, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (AKA The Grand Slambovians) pioneered the alt-folk/americana genre totally under the radar for over a decade. Defying traditional rules of success (like changing their name at whim), they built their career from the ground up with a loyal fan base fueling and supporting them since open mic days in New York to national tours of the US, Canada and the UK.  

"We've done very well as an independent band, but one of our goals has been to find someone who plays business like Sharkey plays guitar. We think that Bob Frank of Red River is that guy. We're inspired to have Bob (former president of E1 Music Worldwide/Koch Records) on board at this point in our career," says lead singer/songwriter Joziah Longo. "He's a force of nature, constantly building creative alliances with people that any band would love to have on their team."

Though approached by labels for years, in 2013 the band decided to dance with Red River having been among the first artists tapped to sign with their newly formed company.

Left to Right: Sharkey, Joziah, Tink and Eric
THE NEW YORK TIMES says of the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, "Their songs are imbued with mystical stirrings and idealism... they take the stage by storm!" They've been compared to an array of artists including the Waterboys, Jethro Tull, The Decemberists, a quirkier Tom Petty or Buffalo Tom with an exotic instrumental arsenal. The group's "dusty Americana ballads" may evoke Dylan, Cracker, or the Wallflowers, but then along comes one of those Pink Floyd-esque cinematic anthems with otherworldly slide mandolin, accordion and cello and suddenly you're in a whole different dimension!  Although there are lots of comparisons, UK'S MAVERICK MAGAZINE calls them "Mightily impressive and hugely original."  

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams are: Joziah Longo songwriter/vocals/guitar/ harmonica, Sharkey McEwen - guitar/mandolin, multi-instrumentalist Tink Lloyd - accordion, cello, uke, theremin, melodica and Eric Puente, percussion. 

A BOX OF EVERYTHING - Coming April 1st, 2014


3/13/14

Ian Anderson Launches HOMO ERRATICUS' Making Of Video



Ahead of the release of legendary prog pioneer Ian Anderson's new album 'Homo Erraticus', he is giving fans a glimpse into the recording process of the new album.   

In 1972 Jethro Tull released iconic concept album Thick As A Brick, based on a poem by child prodigy Gerald Bostock; in 2012, as fans wondered what happened to Bostock, Ian Anderson explored the different paths his life might have taken in Thick As A Brick 2. With Homo Erraticus enfant prodigy Gerald is back for real. Following a 40 years' political career, Bostock reunited with Anderson taking the role of tour manager on a string of shows. Homo Erraticus marks his return to songwriting, and it's based on an unpublished manuscript by amateur historian Ernest T. Parritt (1865-1928).

In Homo Erraticus Parritt examines key events of British history with a string of prophecies stretching to the current day and the future; visions of past lives caused by the delirium of malaria generate the characters through whose eyes the stories are told, including a nomadic Neolithic settler, an iron Age blacksmith, a Christian monk, a turnpike innkeeper and even Prince Albert.

As Ian's publicist, my vibe on the album is that it offers opportunity that allows the listener to imagine a world.  I'm not going to publicly note the world I'm imagining from Ian's writing as my job is to get reporters to state what they see.  

Ian Anderson begins an extensive touring schedule in the UK in April, which will include various summer festivals, the US and mainland Europe - check  www.jethrotull.com  for regular updates

'Homo Erraticus' is due to be released on 11th April in Germany, the 14th April in UK & Europe; 15th April in USA & Canada via on his own label imprint Calliandra Records in conjunction with Kscope.
http://www.kscopemusic.com/artists/iananderson/


3/3/14

Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Gipsy Kings Announce Second Leg of North American Tour


GRAMMY Winners Continue Their 25th Anniversary Celebration In Support of New Album, SAVOR FLAMENCO 


GRAMMY winners Gipsy Kings will be returning to the States this May for the second leg of the group's 25th Anniversary Tour.  The band will be performing shows in Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Jersey, the Mid West, and Canada.   

Opening for the Gipsy Kings will be Ole Noys, comprised of Mickael Baliardo, Cosso Baliardo and Yohan Reyes, sons of the Gipsy Kings Toninno Baliardo and Nicolas Reyes.  Ole Noys' music is a mixture of old gipsy folk songs mixed with the more contemporary sounds of today. 

CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND's Caitlin White writes of the Gipsy Kings, "There is a certain childlike lack of self-consciousness in their music. It is unbridled and swept away in its own momentum"

The band won its first GRAMMY this year in the Best World Music Album category for their album SAVOR FLAMENCO.  This is the group's sixth Nomination, and a record for the most nominations in the world music category.  

Gipsy Kings' album, SAVOR FLAMENCO on Knitting Factory Records, is the group's first new release in six years.  SAVOR FLAMENCO also marks The Gipsy Kings' 25th Anniversary of their first U.S. Release, GIPSY KINGS in 1987.  It is also the first time that the Kings have produced themselves and written all of their material.

Based in Camargue, the very famous land by the Mediterranean Sea, the Gipsy Kings are made up of two families--the Reyes family from Arles and the Baliardos from Montpellier.  The musical adventure of these two families started in the 1960s when Jose Reyes was singing with Manitas de Plata (Ricardo Baliardo) performing all around the world in theaters including Carnegie Hall in New York City. There is music by Manitas de Plata y Jose Reyes on youtube.  Their fans included Pablo Picasso, Salvador DalĂ­, Miles Davis and Charlie Chaplin.

When the duo parted ways, Jose Reyes became even more popular after starting his own band, Los Reyes.  His sons backed him up.  When the elder Reyes passed away in 1979, Nicolas and Andre began playing with the Baliardo brothers in Les Saintes Maries de la Mer during the The Gypsy's Pilgrimage.  They traveled, busking nearby on the streets of Saint-Tropez, performing on beaches during the day and for celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot by night. "Los Reyes" means "The Kings," and the band changed their name to The Gipsy Kings. 

The Gipsy Kings' musical style has been called "Rumba Flamenca" which allows Gipsy Kings to combine traditional flamenco styles with Western Pop and Latin rhythms, Latin and Cuban styles, Arabic, reggae, jazz, and--of course--gypsy styles!

The band speaks French, and performs music in Spanish dialect of Gitane, the native Gipsy language, that is a mixture of Spanish, French, and Catalan.  The root of the Gitane culture is in the southern part of Spain that includes Seville and Granada. One of the economically depressed areas of Europe, this region has given the world flamenco music, bullfighting and Moorish-influenced Architecture.  The people in that area are known as "Gitanos,"  Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).  (The term "gitano" comes from "Egiptano," a Spanish term for "Egyptian" as the English word "Gypsy" comes from "Egyptian.")

The Gipsy Kings have sold over 25 million albums worldwide. 

Gipsy Kings' first U.S. album, GIPSY KINGS was released in the United States in 1987, and charted for 40 weeks. This 25 year old album has been certified gold or platinum in at least 15 countries.  The group is a multi-GRAMMY-nominated act.

The single from GIPSY KINGS was "Bamboleo," which was used in a Burger King commercial and recently covered on the TV show, GLEE. 

Gipsy Kings' "Hotel California" is in the movie, THE BIG LEBOWSKI and HBO series ENTOURAGE.  

The 2010 film TOY STORY 3 featured a Gipsy Kings version of the movie's popular, Randy Newman-penned theme, "You've Got a Friend in Me."  The band also performed the song on DANCING WITH THE STARS.

PBS filmed a documentary about the Gipsy Kings called TIERRA GITANA.    


May Shows For the Gipsy Kingst caling
APTC
05/13/14   Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL    on sale March 7
05/14/14   Mahaffey Theater - Saint Petersburg, FL      on sale March 7
05/15/14   Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock - Hollywood, FL   on sale March 7
05/16/14   Florida Theatre - Jacksonville, FL     on sale March 7
05/18/14   House of Blues -  Houston, TX   on sale March 7
05/19/14   Majestic Theatre - San Antonio, TX   on sale March 7
05/20/14   Strauss Square at AT&T Performing Arts Center - Dallas, TX  on sale March 28
05/21/14   The Moody Theater - Austin, TX     on sale March 7
05/23/14   Socorro Ent Center - Socorro, TX   free show
05/24/14   Fox Tucson Theatre - Tucson, AZ       on sale March 7
05/25/14   Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino - Chandler, AZ   on sale March 7
05/28/14   Count Basie Theatre - Red Bank, NJ     on sale March 7
05/30/14    Casino Rama Entertainment Centre - Orilla, Ontario      on sale March 19
05/31/14    Hard Rock Rocksino - Northfield, OH    on sale March 14
06/01/14    Chicago Theatre - Chicago, IL       on sale March 15
06/02/14    Riverside Theater - Milwaukee, WI   on sale March 14
8/30/14      The Greek Theater - Los Angeles, CA   TBA