Fall 2022 Dedicated to Greta Thunberg & Pete Seeger Songs of Leadership

Free To Read Dan Berggren 

Dan Berggren’s “Free to Read” is a midtempo acoustic folk song with a marching beat.  It celebrates the freedom to read and the value of open access to information. In his comforting bass voice, Dan sings the titles of banned books. The chorus: “The books you choose are someone else’s walking shoes. We need to be free to read."    

Launched in 1982, banned books week is honoring its 40th Anniversary this Sept. 18-24 with the theme “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” Visit bannedbooksweek.org

danberggren.bandcamp.com/track/free-to-read

Dean Friedman’s upbeat “Ridin’ With Biden” uses traffic and car honks as part of the instrumental part adorning his cool jazz delivery of President Biden’s history, and why Dean-himself-- loves to be Ridin' with Biden" rhymes like "sleepy joe,” and “more decency in his toe than you know--Honk!!!”  Dean’s playing his first New York City show in FIVE years on October 8 at Chelsea Stage + Table.     

What’s a Place Like This Doing in a Girl Like Me?  *Val Kinzler’s “What’s a Place Like This  Doing in a Girl Like Me,” a finalist in the Open Space songwriting contest, is a “Rocky Horror”-esque women-in-the-workplace survival anthem.   

Save the Monarch John Hall & Dar Williams   Male & female duet on this hymn-like singer-songwriter song guitar/bass/drums, environment, Monarch, emperor, queen, king--animals with royal names that are endangered species."Save them from us"

What the Fuck is Going On  Elliott Murphy   Note: Live Recording Rock Troubadour Energetic and Angry hook, Pounding electric guitar, hand claps in time to the music, tempo like "one bourbon, one scotch, one beer": “What the fuck is going on.” song is about the economy. good for the greed factor. dream of a better world  There's one big ponzi scheme all over the world. They (politicians) must think we're stupid; well maybe we are" "Mother Earth" Vocals: Tom Waits Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen  But Jesus Christ, if he was here today, I think he’d be mad as hell.” 

Game of Chicken   Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius  Electric violin-driven hard rock. Dream Theater meets Rush meets Styx. "we're heating up as we run out of time."  People are deliberately daring one another to play with risk.  We're busy bickering while the planet is losing it.  

April Fools Michael Veitch  singer songwriter, male tenor, upbeat folk-rock with electric guitar, with pretty eagles-y harmonies  being fooled by leadership in a most rainy month “behind the curtain lies another strong man.  Pick a corrupt event when you have crazy leaders.  *Michael Veitch’s “April Fools” shows the foolishness a political troublemakers. 

Michael and his fellow songwriters from PBS’s “We Remember: Songs of Survivors” will share stories about writing songs with Holocaust survivors at New York City’s Cutting Room on September 18 and Saratoga’s Caffe Lena on the 22. 

'Ridin' with Biden' by Dean Friedman

One of the songs I'm promoting this week.  #cooljazz #DeanFriedman #RidenWithBiden #Biden #GoodTidings #Travel #Car #CarSounds #History

Blue Largo To Release “Got To Believe” September 9, 2022

Musical couple, Eric Lieberman and Alicia Aragon lead California-based Americana Soul Band with Songs to Inspire!

Blue Largo, named after an obscure Bill Doggett song from the 1950s, will be releasing their fifth album, “Got To Believe” on September 9, 2022. The Americana Soul band’s new album tends to life’s major issues about love, loss, confronting challenges and ultimately prevailing through the hard times. 

“Got To Believe” has ten original songs, plus a cover of Nina Simone’s “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” The album’s opening song, “A World Without Soul” will be the band’s official music video, simultaneously due out on September 9.

Eric wrote the ballad “Soul Meeting” for Alicia. The driving, horn laden blues shuffle “What We Gotta Do” is about why musicians do what they do. “Soldier In The Army of Love,” about fighting against oppression and tyranny, is dedicated to the people of Ukraine. “Ronnie” is about the special friendship between Blue Largo’s piano player, Taryn Donath and the late San Diego musician Ronnie “Night Train” Lane, a larger-than-life Texas style bluesman, in a perennial cowboy hat and snakeskin boots. “Gospel Music” is about the incredible power of that music. Eric wrote the melancholy “Rear View Mirror” feeling that these days “there’s so much in the rear view mirror, and maybe not so much in the headlights.” The full-blown country song “Santa Fe Bound,” was written for a dear friend who passed away in 2019, and features pedal steel guitar virtuoso Dave Berzansky (Hacienda, Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash). Last but not least, “Disciple of Soul” is a reggae tribute to one of Eric’s greatest life long inspirations, musician/humanitarian/radio programmer/memoirist Stevie Van Zandt.

When Blue Largo formed in 2000, they played 1940s and ‘50s blues covers by the likes of Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Louis Jordan and T Bone Walker.  They released two albums: 2001’s “What A Day” (produced by Mavis Staples’ bandleader Rick Holmstrom) and 2003’s “Still in Love With You.”  

In 2006 Eric was diagnosed with a neurological condition known as Focal Dystonia, which severely affected the coordination in his right hand. But he said “no” to the potential end of his guitar playing, and for the next 15 years he spent five hours a day following a strict regimen to create new neurotransmitters to replace the damaged ones, including learning to read brail and taking formal piano lessons.

By 2015 Eric felt confident enough to record again, resulting in the band’s third album “Sing Your Own Song” and in 2018 they released “Before The Devil Steals Your Soul,” which was nominated for The San Diego Music Awards’ “Best Blues Album” for that year. Both of these albums saw a noticeable shift towards original song writing, which has now come to full fruition in “Got To Believe.”
 
Radio promoter David Avery, of Powderfinger Promotions calls “Got to Believe” a “powerhouse of various roots styles!” It ranges from vintage soul to Americana, reggae and country, and still it all seems to flow seamlessly. Moreover, the songs’ messages of love, hope and unity are most certainly something the world can very much use right now.  

 

Award-Winning Singer Songwriter Jann Klose Breaks Top 40 with Hit Song "Sugar My"

“Up is down, day is night — not what it seems! Like Alice in Wonderland, stuck in-between” sings Jann Klose on the chorus of “Sugar My,” from his upcoming 7th studio album, “Surrender.”

 

One of two new singles released by indie pop artist Jann Klose has broken in to the Mediabase Top 40 activator chart, landing at #39 this week. The song, a commentary on the sometimes baffling and inexplicable state of the world today, is a cinematic pop gem co-written with hit songwriter Alex Forbes (Chic/Nile Rodgers, Taylor Dayne). 

 

Jann recalls the writing session, “We wanted to create a feel of an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ vibe where there is a palatable sense of confusion and one is not sure what’s real and what’s not. We wrote it at the onset of the pandemic, so it was a strong reflection on how we were feeling ourselves!”

 

Released by Honey Rose Records, the song and music video for “Sugar My” are gaining momentum and airplay in the U.S. and South Africa. Filmed in Milford, CT, the high energy music video recently passed 120,000 views on YouTube. Jann partnered with director Alex Vishno and choreographer Eileen "EJ" Jaworowicz. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/miUgtAhOCMU 

 

Jann was raised in Kenya, South Africa, Germany and the United States. He is an ambassador for Desmond Tutu's TutuDesk campaign and Brick by Brick Uganda. He is the singing voice of Tim Buckley in the movie "Greetings from Tim Buckley" (Universal). His songs have been heard on the Grammy® nominated "Healthy Food For Thought" compilation, charted in the Billboard Top 10 compilation "Action Moves People United," as well as MTV Cribs and movies "Dead Broke" (Warner Bros.) featuring Paul Sorvino and “One Little Finger” alongside Quincy Jones, Siedah Garrett and Julian Lennon.

 

Jann has performed as an actor and singer in touring companies of Broadway musicals, including "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Jekyll and Hyde," and "The Who's Tommy" as well as made for TV movies, voice overs and commercials. He has won 4 Independent Music Awards (IMAs). His podcast, Making Sound with Jann Klose has featured industry legends like Renaissance’s Annie Haslam, Frank Bello (Anthrax), Simon Kirke (Bad Company) and kicks off Season 5 this autumn. 

 

Live and Online Performances by Songwriters from PBS’s “We Remember Songs of Survivors” Live Performances in NYC and Albany

 

“When Holocaust Memories Result in Deep Friendships and Beautiful Music”

 

Learn the stories of Holocaust survivors through original songs written in collaboration with singer-songwriters.

  

The We Remembers, who are the Singer-Songwriters from the PBS Special “We Remember: Songs of Survivors,” will be sharing songs and telling stories of writing with Holocaust Survivors at two performances this September.

 

On September 18, at 7 PM, the group will be at The Cutting Room,44 E 32nd St., in New York, NY 10016.  

Ticket info: www.eventbrite.com/e/we-remember-songs-of-survivors-tickets-388261820557?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

 

On September 22, at 7 PM, they’ll be at Caffe Lena is at 47 Phila Street, in Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 

Ticket info: www.eventbrite.com/e/we-remember-songs-of-survivors-tickets-387738164287

 

The Caffe Lena performance can, also, be viewed online during the Sept. 22, 7 PM show, and then any time through the 29^th of September.  Get your ticket in advance for the online event at caffelena.tv/programs/live-songs-of-survivors. (All donations go straight to our singer-songwriters.)

 

The We Remembers are: Elizabeth Clark, Jude Roberts, Kelleigh McKenzie, and Michael Veitch.

Arise Together (Promo) | Bringing Children together from Ukraine and Aro...

"ARISE TOGETHER is a global project to bring children together from Ukraine and around the world through arts and music, promoting Inclusion, Peace, and Diversity.”

https://youtu.be/aajKN2YGGeU

Let's Build a Fire

One of the songs I'm plugging this week.  Brijitte West's "Let's Build A Fire"

Full Hudson Valley Performances of Elizabeth Clark’s “Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera” August 27 & 28, September 23, 24, 25 Multi-Hyphenate World & Sacred Music Composer AKA Mamalama

The first performances of "Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera," in its entirety, takes place this summer and early fall in New York State's beautiful Hudson Valley.   

 

Confirmed performance dates are

August 27 & 28 at the Widow Jane Mine Theater, Rosendale, NY 

September 23, 24, 25 at the Byrdcliff Theater, Woodstock, NY  

"Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera" shows stories of rebirth in a post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The theme centers on “finding light and beauty in the darkest times, and remembering how connected we all are to each other,” says Elizabeth Clark, composer/producer/performer of this immersive theater/performance art. 

Using world and modern sacred music, “Seeds Under Nuclear Winter” offers sounds and visions of otherworldly realms that unfold in a non-linear and timeless path similar to the way we dream.  Ms. Clark's 'Earth Opera' combines an immersive experience from many creative disciplines including music, performance art, and movement, as well as experiments with light and audience interaction. 

The 'Earth Opera' includes an ensemble of 25 incredibly diverse Hudson Valley musicians, dancers, choreographers, actors, visual and performance artists.  Elizabeth orchestrated the Earth Opera's score for a world music 'pit' orchestra of harps, piano, ethereal choral voices, Native American/Andean flutes and traditional instruments, Indonesian gamelan, chamber strings, droning harmoniums, hammered dulcimer, French horn, wind chimes, and frame drums. 
 

Over 500 people came to the two 2021 performances of excerpts from “Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera” at Rosendale, NY’s Widow Jane Mine Theater. Ms. Clark describes that venue like “an earth womb.” Audiences praised: ”So beautiful, and healing" and “Sacred moments of pain and hope for the light....a celebration of our universal humanity. You took us on a journey." 

 

Elizabeth Clark is a composer, harpist, pianist, vocalist, poet, performing artist, and humanitarian, native to the Hudson Valley region. Her ever-evolving sacred and world music project is called “Mamalama” and manifests itself with interdisciplinary art forms in performance. “I see my exploration of music as a form of sung prayer and a way of healing,” she says. 

 

She has performed a variety of solo and group performances and special presentations at many theaters, festivals, retreat centers, listening rooms, and sanctuaries throughout the Northeast including The Omega Institute, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Kripalu Center for Yoga, Deep Listening Space Dream Festival, Bearsville Theater, The Colony, Levon Helm Studios (with Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends), at the United Nations, and others. She has spent many years offering live harp/vocal music at the bedside for those on hospice care. Elizabeth is also a composer/songwriter with the Hudson Valley non-profit organization Sagearts, collaborating on many original, life-reflective songs with local elders. Her work is part of the 2022 documentary PBS Special “We Remember: Songs of Survivors.”   

 

August 27 & 28 at the Widow Jane Mine Theater, 668 Route 213, Rosendale, NY, 3 pm,  845-658-9900  CenturyHouse.org

September 23, 24, 25 at the Byrdcliffe Theater, 34 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY   845-679-2079  WoodstockGuild.org

The We Remembers – Songwriters from PBS Documentary, “We Remember: Songs of Survivors” to Share Stories and Sing On the Road

Learn the stories of Holocaust survivors through original songs written in collaboration with singer-songwriters.

 

“When Holocaust Memories Result in Deep Friendships and Beautiful Music”

 

The We Remembers, who are the Singer-Songwriters from the PBS Special “We Remember: Songs of Survivors” will be sharing songs and telling stories of writing with Holocaust Survivors at two performances this September.

 

On September 18, the group will be at The Cutting Room,44 E 32nd St., in New York, NY 10016.

 

On September 22 they’ll be at Caffe Lena is at 47 Phila Street, in Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  That performance can, also, be viewed online during the show and a week afterwards.  Get your ticket in advance for the online event at caffelena.tv/programs/live-songs-of-survivors. (All donations go straight to our singer-songwriters.)

 

“We Remember: Songs of Survivors,” is a recent PBS Documentary that shares the stories of Holocaust survivors through songs written in collaboration with singer-songwriters. These songs, filled with joy and healing, celebrate the extraordinary lives of this resilient generation.

 

The We Remembers are four musicians who participated in this project to the stage to perform their original music along with the music from the film. Featuring Elizabeth Clark, Jude Roberts, Kelleigh McKenzie, and Michael Veitch, performances will include clips and stories from their life-changing collaborations with the Holocaust Survivors.

 

About The We Remembers:

Composer, harpist/pianist, vocalist, and performance artist Elizabeth Clark’s major works include her interdisciplinary project "Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera" which premiered in 2021, and the 2015 live-recorded album “Live at the Old Dutch Church.” She has performed with her world music ensemble 'Mamalama' at retreat centers and sanctuaries including the Omega Institute, Kripalu, and Chapel of Sacred Mirrors.

 

Jude Roberts has combined contemporary music with roots of English, Irish and Appalachian folk music and touches of baroque and Romantic-era classical pieces and European folk/pop. He’s performed at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and has toured throughout Europe.

 

Kelleigh McKenzie is a winner of NPR’s Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, her song "Gin" won the Independent Music Award for Best Americana Song in 2009 and was featured on her critically acclaimed album "Chances."

 

Michael Veitch’s song “Veteran’s Day” has been covered by Judy Collins. His latest album, “Wachtraum” (“wake dream” in German) broke the top 20 on the Folk Radio Charts with “Valentine’s Day” hitting number one. Previously his song, “Pledging Allegiance” reached #10 on the 2017 Folk/Americana charts. He’s played the Newport Folk Music Festival and Kerrville.

 

 

 #####

 

(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow

Hank Wedel’s Summer Single, “(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow is available on all streaming platforms. The song is produced by Declan Sinnott (co-founder Horslips, Christy Moore, Mary Black, Moving Hearts). 

"(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow" is based on an 18th Century Irish folk song, by Edward “Pleasant Ned” Lysaght (1763-1809).  The original version is about the debauchery, bad behaviour and fun reported in Mallow during the latter half of the 18th Century when the local warm water spa became a major attraction to the town. 

 

Hank Wedel's version is updated, and features Declan Sinnott (producing, guitar), Greenshine’s Mary Greene and his niece—actress/dancer/singer Clodagh Mai both on vocals. The single is an updated version of the old song.  Hank says, “Mallow had a hot springs spa supplying warm water bathhouses. It was something of an Irish ‘Sin City’ for a while with all kinds of carrying on…” Mallow is also the Irish hometown of Hank’s mother. “In her time, the 1950s, Mallow was a bustling rural town, the railroad crossroads of Southern Ireland with a sugar factory, a chocolate factory and other agricultural manufacturing industries.”

 

Hank and friends dressed as 1750's Rakes when they made the video in September 2021. The project made national headlines in Ireland, as the video features performers from several performing County Cork towns--Doneraile's Art for The Heart Performance Troupe, dancers from Mallow's renowned "Centre Stage" performance school, the Cork City-based Aatma Indian Dance Troupe, well known Irish actor Martin Lucey, and members of Hank's circle of family and friends. In addition, Clodagh Mai singing and dancing and representing the youth of Mallow in the second verse, Hank’s wife Eileen (who was born and reared in Mallow) walks down the street with Hank at end of the video.

 

The video and song tie together all of Mallow’s history from the 1750s to his mother’s time, and then his years growing up in the 1970s and ‘80s. “The video looks towards a hopeful future, like a ghostly vision I had of where my life had brought me.”

 

Hank is planning a multi-part podcast later this year to explore the song’s travels through time and space, which includes the music in a famous fight scene in John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara classic “The Quiet Man,” the theme song of the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish (U.S.) Football Team, in Indian culture—Krishna as a mischievous youth….. 

 

“(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow” launched this year’s Mallow Arts Festival, July 20-24, with a concert at Mallow’s Hibernian Hotel Ballroom.   

 

Hank plans to release a new ten-song album produced by Declan Sinnott, which will include “(We Are) The Rakes of Mallow,” and his 2021 singles “Poe Park 2am” and “The Time We Share.”  Stay tuned for more information.

 

Hank Wedel was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA 1963, raised in New York City and Mallow County Cork, Ireland.  Now based in Cork City, this guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/recording artist/band leader has performed thousands of gigs from The North Pole to Lanzarote from Oklahoma to Azerbaijan, solo or with bands Princes Street, Open Kitchen, Small Town Talk.  Hank has a 28-year Monday night residency at "Charlies," in Cork City with mandolin maestro Ray Barron... Hank has performed onstage with Shane McGowan, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Kila, Philomena Begley and Bono.
 

####

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius FYC Rock Performance, Rock Song

Game Of Chicken

Rock Performance and Rock Song

Stratospheerius is: Joe Deninzon-lead vocals, electric 7-string ”Viper” violin Michelangelo Quirinale-guitar, vocals Paul Ranieri-bass, vocals Jason Gianni-drums, vocals 

Backdrop videos edited by Joe Deninzon & David P. Levin www.brainstorm-inc.com

Live audio mixed by Matt Vanacoro  

 Live video edited by Joe Deninzon with assistance from David P. Levin 

Filmed by Matt Urban Backdrop video projection (2019): David P. Levin Backdrop video projection (2021): Brando Jenkins Sound engineer: Joel Simches Stage monitor engineer: Robert Frazza Livestream filmed by Erik Nielsen

 Filmed on October 13th, 2019 at ProgStock Festival Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway, NJ www.progstock.com 

ProgStock Festival Volunteer Team: • Robert Pashman • Rob Rutz • Tracy Rutz • Marty Dorfman • Jim Robinson • Andrew Colyer • Rita Kay Drew • Asad Rahman • Scott Mays • Michelle Mays • Alan Benjamin • Amy Benjamin • Jason Rubenstein • Joel Barrios • Scott Corcoran • Kurt Matson • Katherine Hinton-Matson • Donna O’Donnell • Robert Richardson • Ross Beiler • Ed Unitsky (logos and artwork

Joe Deninzon uses Mark Wood electric violins, D’Addario strings, Fender amps, Coda bows. 

Paul Ranieri uses Trace Elliott Amps, Alembic Basses, Zoom electronics, Gator Cases, Gig Gloves Accessories 

Jason Gianni uses Yamaha drums, Vic Firth drum sticks, Remo drum heads, Paiste symbols, Humes and Berg drum cases, Prologix Percussion, kickport percussion and Hudson music

All songs music & lyrics by Joe Deninzon © 2022 Fiddlefunk Music. All rights reserved
 

All About Love

One of the songs I'm plugging this week. John Roy Zat's "All About Love" 

Holiday Music Christmas and New Years

Come On Christmas by Elliott Murphy: slow-mid tempo Christmas, holiday, male singer, acoustic slide guitar, mention of Santa's iPhone & It's a Wonderful Life. "Come on Christmas, bring us some good news for heaven's sake." modern, topical

First Day by Michael Veitch  gentle tempo, male tenor, acoustic guitars, and light background vocals and strings  "first day of a new year" a motivational song about a new life in the new year. simple and effective lyrics.  

New Lang Syne by  Dean Friedman    piano, harmonica, male voice.  reflective lyric about the end up the year with observations of champagne and drinking vessels and personal growth amongst the universe, love's affections & rejections 

 

A Christmas Song  Jack & Lara Hicks  father & daughter singalong,  some annoying things that grown men do like snore and sing off key with a sense of humor, laughter, bells, piano and guitar

Ave Maria Aeone / Stephen Melillo  gentle soft, new age voice, like Clannad, an alto Eva Cassidy with a classical orchestra.

 

This Christmas  The Kings Harmonic pop rock. Elvis Costello, Smithereens-y, celestial chimes.  the theme of the song is wishing for love for your family who is so far away and for strangers that are alone. Canadian Content. 

 

Jaclyn Bradley Palmer feat. Eva Waterbolk - Love The Bodies We're In (Of...

One of the songs I'm plugging this week.

intimacy, "Love the Bodies We're In" 

Female, acoustic 

"crawl into my bones, give me your skin"   

The Festival of Possibilities to Take Place July 16-17

The Festival of Possibilities to Take Place July 16-17: (NEW YORK, NY) -- The Foundation for New American Art, an art education nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the visionary artists of tomorrow, is hosting a two-day festival of multi-cultural arts, music, dance and creative experiences for all ages. The family-friendly, free festival of fun will be held July 16 & 17 at The Clemente Cultural and Educational Center, in the heart of the lower east side at 107 Suffolk St, New York, NY. The Festival of Possibilities will feature performances and workshops by master artists and musicians from Africa, Latin America and Asia.

#Gratitudes to NewJerseyStage.com for sharing Phoebe Legere's Festival of Possibilities happening in less than a week in the #lowereastside. Performers and Educators from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the United States including Phoebe! Thank you to the NATIONAL FOUNDATION AND ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS and other folks that helped make this event with professional musicians happen. #JoinUs to celebrate and inspire the artists of today and tomorrow. www.newjerseystage.com/articles2/2022/07/08/the-festival-of-possibilities-to-take-place-july-16-17/