Gary Lucas and friends Feifei Yang and Jason Candler release “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2”

On Chinese New Year Feb. 7th 2026 (Year of the Fire Horse), Gary Lucas released “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2,” featuring Chinese vocalist and erhu virtuoso Feifei Yang and multi-instrumentalist Jason Candler, on over 140 digital formats, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube.

"Even if you are totally, thoroughly unfamiliar with the genre known as Mid-century Chinese Pop music, you may still find yourself hypnotically drawn into this record “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2,” the latest collection from guitarist Gary Lucas, singer and musician Feifei Yang, and multi-instrumentalist Jason Candler. This is music originally recorded in Shanghai during the 1930s and '40s by some of the great female singing stars of China—in particular (for this program) Bai Kwong, Chow Hsuan, and Yao Lee—not exactly household names even for western aficionados, but with an indescribable allure nearly a century(!) later that is impossible not to warm up to and feel comfortable with. Gary Lucas is an adventurous musical soul whose affection for this vintage arcania is second nature, and he succeeds in delivering the magic."
—Arthur Levy, rock writer and editor emeritus, music historian, album annotator, researcher, archivist, mensch

"The ever-prolific Gary Lucas has just released a new album. With this one he is revisiting the music of his earlier album “Edge of Heaven” where he takes a deep dive into 1930s – ‘40s Chinese pop from Shanghai. “Edge of Heaven Volume 2” features Gary's guitar accompanying singer Feifei Yang with Jason Candler on reeds and percussion. It took me a while to get into that first album, but once I’d listened to a few of the original songs and then went back to the album, it all made sense. There's a dreamy, otherworldly feel to the music, although that is probably a response based on hearing it with Western ears...or maybe not. Fascinating stuff, give it a go if you haven't already.”
—Steve Froy, The Captain Beefheart Radar Station

Amazon Music album link: music.amazon.in/albums/B0GMKXYWHG

“The Edge of Heaven Volume 2”is the follow-up to Gary's album, “The Edge of Heaven – Gary Lucas Plays Mid-Century Chinese Pop,” originally released on the French government-backed Label Bleu, which received stellar reviews internationally and rose to #1 on the World Music Charts.  MOJO called it “simply gorgeous…played by a guitarist who learned his chops in Kowloon's dive bars before unleashing his skills with Beefheart.”

Both albums are filled with Chinese pop songs known as “shidaiqu,” Mandarin for "popular songs of the era"—a fascinating amalgam of Eastern and Western musical influences.

Lush, romantic, hypnotic, and melodic, these songs were originally recorded in Pathe Studios in Shanghai in the 30's and 40's, a cosmopolitan free port at the time known as "the Paris of the East."

Gary, Feifei, and Jason focus on the music of several of the best-known female vocal stylists of the era—part of a group known as the “Seven Great Singing Stars of China”:  

*Bai Kwong:  sensual, husky-voiced singer known as the "Mae West of China." Covered are "Pretense," "Old Dreams," "If I'm Without You," and "Where is My Home."

*Chow Hsuan: known as the "Golden Voice of China": "Tell Me," "On Two Roads," "Mad World," "Tale of the Man-Jong Game," "New Pair of Flowers," "Seeing Older Brother Off," and "Spring in Zhong Mountain."

*Teresa Teng: 1970/1980s’ Tawainese superstar. "The Moon Represents My Heart" was one of her hits.

* “The Edge of Heaven Volume Two” includes an instrumental version of “Rose Rose, I Love You,” made famous by Yao Lee, who dubbed vocals for leading Chinese actresses in the movies from the 1940s on.    

The musicians in the orchestras assembled for these recordings included many European refugees fleeing the Nazis, Fascists, and Bolsheviks.

For more information on The Golden Age of Chinese Pop, visit The Story of Shidaiqu:  interaction.sixthtone.com/feature/2026/Shanghai-Sessions/

Gary Lucas has been called “One of the most original guitarists in America...a modern guitar miracle” by Rolling Stone magazine. He has released over 50 acclaimed albums in every conceivable genre, written hits for Jeff Buckley and Joan Osborne, toured in over 40 countries, and played and collaborated with luminaries like Lou Reed, Jeff Buckley, Captain Beefheart, Nick Cave, Chris Cornell, Bob Weir, Leonard Bernstein, et al. he has composed music for film and tv and also live scores accompanying films both silent and sound, he’s received several Lifetime Achievement Awards and Songwriting Awards in Italy for his work with Jeff Buckley, and performed before the General Assembly of the UN for Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Feifei Yang is an internationally recognized Chinese string virtuoso, mezzo-soprano, and Voting Member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards). As a Global Music Award and Berlin Music Video Award winner, she has brought the erhu to major cultural stages. Featured by media outlets including CBS, NBC, and AFP, she is acclaimed for interpreting Chinese music with emotional depth, artistic refinement, and a distinctly modern voice.

Jason Candler is a multi-talented musician, producer, sound designer for films, and recording engineer who has played reed instruments, guitar and percussion with Gary Lucas in a variety of ensembles since the mid-‘90s, as well as working with the Hungry March Band and his own group Earth People.

Produced by Gary Lucas and Jason Candler
Recorded and mixed in NYC by Jason Candler
Cover design by Joe Dizney
Cover photo by Jesse Winter
Executive Producer: Bob Rubin

3XA video for "Old Dreams" 

 

Songs on “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2” and Their Songwriters

1. “Old Dreams”  Ho Shang and Usuay Shi Tsuen

2.  "If I’m Without You” Chang Hung and Lu Li

3. “New Pair of Flowers” Yan Hua

4. “The Mad World”  Li Qui Niu and Li Chun Ching

5. “On Two Roads” Yan Zhezi and Li Jongiua

6. “The Moon Represents My Heart"  Weng Ching-Shi and Sun Yi

7. “Spring in Zhong Mountain”  Fan Yanquiao and Li Jingjuan

8. “Pretense”  Ching Geng and Yay Yi Fong

9. “Rose Rose I Love You”  Chen Gexin and Wu Sun

10.“Seeing Older Brother Off” Wang Luobin

11.“Tell Me” Yan Zhexi

12. “Where is My Home” Chen Re Jing and Hsu Soo Ling

  

“The Edge of Heaven-Volume 2” webpage:  https://garylucas.com/www/edgetwo/edgetwo.shtml

Kathy Zimmer’s “Extremist” on All Streaming Video

 Kathy Zimmer’s song and music video “Extremist” is out on all streaming media including on

 The digital link for “Extremist” streaming on platforms like Amazon, Apple, Spotify is https://bit.ly/3VBPCi3.

Bandcamp fans can listen and download “Extremist” at kathyzimmer.bandcamp.com/track/extremist.

The song, which declares, "You make me happy AND depressed," is about the love and hate in relationships. "I was looking for a simple way to bring different visual extremes together in one video," says Kathy, "and we opted for the day-night quick edits that you see. Kind of a stark difference to go from bright daylight right into moonlight, and back again. It may even be a little disorienting, which is exactly right! The video was filmed on my rooftop on the lower east side of Manhattan."

The production was helmed by cinematographer Alex Levin, who has worked with major brands including Nike, Conde Nast, RedBull, NatGeo. He says, “I believe a good story deserves to be told no matter the scale.”Kai and Victoria Vallas-Cullen edited “Extremist.”

Kathy’s an indie-pop-singer-songwriter for fans of artists like Kacey Musgraves, Phoebe Bridgers, Weyes Blood, Maggie Rogers…. A resident of New York City, Kathy Zimmer is a native of rural Nebraska. Her original love of acoustic guitars and tight vocal harmonies was the product of being raised in a large musical family. In school, Zimmer studied classical music, her education culminating in a master's degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Rock n’ Reel Magazine has declared Kathy as the “latter day Joan Baez.” The Roots Music Report proclaims, “At various turns enchanting, haunting and soothing—and at times a bit of all of these—Ms. Zimmer’s sophisticated song crafting never fails to charm.” 

EXTREMIST

Everybody needs a little balance
A kiss from heaven, kick from hell
A proper love and a shadowy dalliance
A swimming pool, and a deep dark well

All things in moderation
Sweet and sour, this and that
A little virtue, salacious temptation
A puffed-up ego and a trip and fall flat

But you make me happy and depressed
You are nothing in the middle
My own personal extremist

One moment, I’m on top of the world
Tightrope walking, I can see for miles and miles
Next minute, cut me down to size
A wrecking ball
You capsize me

Night is dark and day is light
Don’t know to expect love or a fight
I open up to snap back shut
I can’t figure out, what do you want? 

C 2022/2023 by Kathy Zimmer, BMI, Zimmer, Katherine Louise, All Rights Reserved 

*www.kathyzimmermusic.com*  ~cosmopolitan folk in your ears~

Mandoki Soulmates’ “Living in the Gap/Hungarian Pictures” The Band of Bandleaders

Number 1 in Hungary & Germany, Building in North America

"Living in the Gap/Hungarian Pictures” is the 11th album by Mandoki Soulmates. It’s finding and building support in North America, because of the music and unity themes. We’re setting up interviews with Leslie Mandoki, the leader of “the band of bandleaders.” 

The release of “Living in the Gap/Hungarian Pictures” (Cleopatra Records) follows the 2018 USA tour of Mandoki Soulmates, including a performance at New York City’s The Beacon Theater. Just passing 350,000 streams of the album, and reaching over 1.3 million people on Facebook.

Mandoki Soulmates is currently planning to tour the USA and Germany late 2021. In the meantime, Leslie’s finding ways to thank and support, “all the frontline workers, doctors, nurses, grocery clerks, supermarket workers--all the people, who kept the world turning and took care of our daily needs and our lives…”

The album “Living in the Gap/Hungarian Pictures” features a Who’s Who of Classic Rock: Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, David Clayton-Thomas, Bobby Kimball, Tony Carey, Simon Phillips, Chris Thompson, Al DiMeola, Mike Stern, Randy & Ada Brecker, saxophonist Bill Evans, Supertramp´s John Helliwell and Jesse Siebenberg, bassists: Steve Bailey and Richard Bona, former Snarky Puppy keyboardist Cory Henry, and the Cutting Crew’s Nick Van Eede.

Leslie teamed up with his Soulmates Ian Anderson, John Helliwell, Bobby Kimball, Al DiMeola to record the song “WeSayThankYou,” donating all royalties to US charity organizations (The United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the WHO (World Health Organization) and The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City).

The album topped the Amazon Classic Rock Charts in Germany end of 2019, and is growing throughout the world including “Eccelente supergruppo” writes StoneMusic.it. Mandoki Soulmates is finding support on prog, classic rock, singer-songwriter and fusion playlists, especially with the songs: “The Torch,” “Living in the Gap,” “Wake Up,” and both “Young Rebels” and “Old Rebels.” Thanks to a great campaign from the Planetary Group, over 70 radio stations in North America, alone, are playing Mandoki Soulmates. This includes medium and high rotation on tastemaker and buzz stations KFAI-Minneapolis/St. Paul, KPSU-Portland, WDCE-Richmond, VA, WICR-Ithaca, New HD Radio w/ Zach Martin, KVCU-Boulder, WRHU-Hempstead. 

WUSB-Stony Brook’s Captain Phil Merkel’s been spinning Mandoki Soulmates all summer, “my biggest takeaway from the entire work is the amount of caring and empathy Leslie has for everyone, especially us here in the USA as we struggle to cope with that monster COVID 19.  I am so glad we have Leslie looking out for us.  Give it a listen, you won't be disappointed.”

Making a Scene writes “Leslie Mandoki is making a scene! The band is pure sophisticated jazz rock, or as Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake, & Palmer) put it, ‘One of the best bands you’ll ever see.’”  The late Mr. Lake, also, dubbed Mandoki Soulmates as “the band of the bandleaders”!

Canada’s LetItRock calls “Living in the Gap/Hungarian Pictures”, “A glorious thing.” Classic rock’s Strutterzine gets the message: “The impact now is so much bigger and the result is a journey which should be heard by as many people as possible…”

Why are so many of us pushing for Mandoki Soulmates to be heard?  Leslie says, “Music is the greatest unifier and nothing is more timely than to raise our voice to unify the world and to build bridges over the gap we are living in, to get out of our news bubbles and echo chambers.”

House of Prog Radio writes, “the coming together of such a diverse cast perfectly expresses the album’s lyrical theme of unity, which couldn’t be a more timely message for today’s world.”

Since escaping from the Iron Curtin in the 1970s, first becoming a refugee in Germany, and then creating a life that included running the largest recording studio in Europe, Leslie’s life has been dedicated to unity, and it shows—in part—because of the pleasant and hard things he went through in order to achieve the Great European Dream. Recently Leslie told Germany’s Tekdeeps.com that “rock and roll means revolution and rebellion for a better world.”

 

  

"The Greatest Lives" Live On Digital Media

New Song Inspired by Muhammad Ali about Leadership and Respect)

In support of Black History Month (February 2020), D-Zone Entertainment is proudly releasing the single, “The Greatest Lives” in digital stores and streaming sites on Friday, January 31.

The song will be on “The Greatest Lives Songwriter’s EP,” due out March 21. It is sung by Thembeka Mnguni, finalist for South Africa’s The Voice in 2016. Her name is pronounced “Them-bek-kah  Mmn-Gu-Nee.” From Durban, SA, she is signed to Universal Records. Her greatest cause is as a spokesperson for Autism. She is also a brand ambassador for MUD Designer Makeup SA and for Body Confidence International. In South Africa, Universal is releasing a new song “Stimel” from her upcoming album, which will also include “The Greatest Lives” as a bonus track.  Visit her on social media at instagram.com/thembeka_thediva.

Here are digital links as of Friday morning, January 31, 2020

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2U7f5DI

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6mTQ9HzW8iesGTEjtkkXsA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/na/album/the-greatest-lives-single/1495292266

GooglePlay:   http://bit.ly/2u41eDm

 YouTube: https://youtu.be/pl4T0t-NwtM

The idea for the song came to Anne in 1984 when Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She wrote on a newspaper article, “What would he want us to know?” and filed it in her box of song ideas. “It would have been a totally different song if I wrote it then, because I was more sentimental.” Instead she worked on the song as her first assignment for when she was offered a songwriting deal. South Africa’s Sheer Publishing handle one of Anne’s favorite songs, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”   

She started watching South African news, and discovered many women expressing hope for a kinder world. Many went through bullying and abusive situations, and the females were open enough to talk about their experiences. The lyrics for “The Greatest Lives” came from Muhammad Ali’s quotes and philosophies. They became a message about leadership and treating people right.

Joe Deninzon, who grew up in Cleveland, OH, went to college in Bloomington, Indiana, and played throughout the Midwest, knew Muhammad Ali’s hometown of Louisville. He understood the Midwestern sound that Anne was looking for, made a demo, and then the two began to put musicians to work. Using John Mellencamp's "Ain't Even Done with the Night" as a role model, they asked Cactus and Vanilla Fudge's Carmine Appice, who also played with Rod Stewart.  

Thembeka loved THE GREATEST LIVES’ message about having strong character. Joe and Anne chose her because they thought she was one of the greatest singers they ever heard. Thembeka showed she was (as the song says) a master by being the runner up on “the Voice South Africa.” She liked the recording enough to also want to include it on her upcoming album.

After they heard Thembeka’s performance, they found inspiration from keyboards on albums from the late Oliver Mtukudzi. Joe knew the perfect keyboardist, Jeremy Beck, who used both acoustic piano and Hammond B3. Hence, the hashtag #BeckDeninzonAppice. 

“Joy and optimism in this song, I think, come from its mission and inspiration. Muhammad Ali dealt with obstacles with optimism and a wink and smile,” Joe says. Joe and Anne, and their musicians, know “The Greatest Lives” will make a difference, and are proud to—as their lyric says--take a “Never say die” attitude in promoting it!

"Iguana," the new album by Joe Olnick

cc

Avant fusionist available for all media
Joe Olnick’s new avant-fusion album, IGUANA is out, and available on every major streaming/download platform online in the world: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon, Google, CD Baby. Look for the album on Bandcamp, plus CDs through CDBaby. Here's the SmartUrl: http://smarturl.it/4a8362   
The media is giving a thumbs up to IGUANA, which is Joe’s 7^th album.  

Jeff Collins, host of Hard Rock Hell’s radio show, The Rock Jukebox” calls IGUANA “one of the best of the year!  a magnificent album!” KOCF Eugene, Oregon’s Andy Goldfinger says Joe’s album has “that feel of cool. It crosses the boundaries of genre and lets the listener just feel the music." Vents Magazine’s Steve Kinrade offers an eclectic comparison in his review of the album, mentioning its range from musical styles from Yes, Ian Dury, James Brown to an obscure British singer-songwriter named Peter Greenwood. He writes that the album is “worth a thorough investigation.”

Olnick, and bandmates—bassist Jamie Aston and drummer Stew Bradley are performing live, "Our live shows have become a really cool multimedia experience, with custom videos being projected during most of the show. And our concerts have always expanded on themes from the recordings, using exciting improvisational techniques that come from playing for many years. Every concert is unique, and a lot of fun.”   

Along with the album release, the group's second track is “Don’s Theme,” an introspective instrumental based on the Iguana (from the album cover) walking into the room in a slow and thoughtful way.  

Designed by artist Ron Good (of the horror series, God-Awful Comics), the album art tells the story of a misunderstood iguana named Don, who struggles to find his own hot rock to rest on. Joe says there are parallels of the animal’s life and his career, as it’s a struggle to find support for creating original, instrumental music!     

Joe calls his music “avant-jam” and fusion like Medeski, Martin & Wood and New Mastersounds. In addition to guitar, Joe plays sax and bass, plus works as a recording engineer. In 2012, he released his first CD, and continued self-producing with albums from ambient to jazz/rock genres.  

 

"Tramps": Elliott Murphy Book Advisory

Elliott Murphy’s latest novel TRAMPS takes place in the legendary 1980’s era New York City blues bar of the same name, where ex-punk musician Hoover has found his muse in the basement standing among the rat poison snorting cocaine with his best friend, bartender and drug dealer Jacky, while trying to make sense of a post-Elvis world, burying himself in the black shawl of the blues and looking for redemption in the rarified uptown elegance of the Frick Collection. Home is a call girl with a heart of gold as the Mafia and nihilism closes in from all sides. TRAMPS is the second in Elliott’s trilogy of rock novels, and his 3rd published novel. Available on Amazon.com and www.elliottmurphy.com.

BITLY LINK:  https://amzn.to/2TWlAW7

Elliott’s previous novels include the rock tragicomedy MARTY MAY and the neo-western: POETIC JUSTICE.  Other published works include the short story collection PARIS STORIES, and two collections of poetry FORTY POEMS IN FORTY NIGHTS and THE MIDDLE KINGDOM. In a career spanning over 45 years, Elliott has released 36 albums, his most recent being ELLIOTT MURPHY IS ALIVE!

“The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” an earlier story, has been made into the feature film Broken Poet, starring Elliott Murphy in his first major acting role. Cast members include the legendary Marisa Berenson, Academy Award nominee Michael O’Keefe, and acclaimed French actress Joana Preiss as well as rare cameo appearances by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa. The film is directed by award-winning Spanish Director Emilio Barrachina and is scheduled for a Spring 2019 release.

Singer-songwriting superstar Billy Joel is also a fan and in his November 2018 induction of Elliott into the Long Island Music Hall of fame, he said—“I’ve long envied his bravery and integrity, and I’ve always admired his lyric skill” and invited Elliott to join him and his band on stage at Madison Square Garden to sing Walk on the Wild Side by the late Lou Reed, a fellow Long Islander and also an early admirer of Elliott’s music.

In 2015 Elliott Murphy was awarded the Chevalier des arts et des lettres medal by the French minister of Culture.  

Elliott Murphy first rose to national prominence with the release of his debut 1973 album Aquashow,     

#######

Visit the ELLIOTT MURPHY Amazon author page at BITLY:  http://amzn.to/2lMcsmQ

Got My Eye on You, Santa Digital Store Links

iTunes: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

Amazon: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

CDBaby: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

Spotify: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

GOT MY EYE ON YOU, SANTA

Performed by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

on Optimistic Kitty Records, available digitally, Christmas 2017

http://anneleighton.com/got-my-eye-on-you-santa/

Black Friday Store Links: Got My Eye on You Santa

iTunes: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

Amazon: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

CDBaby: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

Spotify: Got My Eye on You, Santa by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

GOT MY EYE ON YOU, SANTA

Performed by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren)

on Optimistic Kitty Records, available digitally, Christmas 2017

http://anneleighton.com/got-my-eye-on-you-santa/

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius’ new album, GUILTY OF INNOCENCE Out Now on Melodic Revolution Records

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius’ new album, GUILTY OF INNOCENCE (Melodic Revolution Records) is now in stores, both online and in the real world. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Innocence-Joe-Deninzon-Stratospheerius/dp/B074HXF6FJ/ref=sr_1_cc_5?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1506544568&sr=1-5-catcorr&keywords=Joe+Deninzon

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/guilty-of-innocence/id1266400538

Along with the album’s release, Deninzon is touring actively this fall with Stratospheerius, as well as his Latin jazz String Quartet Sweet Plantain (who also will be part of classic rock group Renaissance’s concerts for the recording of their upcoming Symphonic Album. Joe is soloing on electric violin for the performances, as well). 

Joe & Stratospheerius are rocking PROGTOBERFEST, in Chicago, on Saturday night October 22. They are having record release shows in favorite towns in the Midwest and the New York area, including the PROG HOUSE (Roxy & Duke’s in Dunellen, NJ) and on three SonicVoyage Fest dates this fall. See tour dates below.

Released on Melodic Revolution Records, a leading progressive rock label based in the U.S., GUILTY OF INNOCENCE features 10 tracks. Most of the album’s songs fuse lyrical and sonic elements heard in Tool, Tom Morello, Jack Bruce, and Jean-Luc Ponty. "Dream Diary Cadenza” is an instrumental solo piece from Joe's "DREAM DIARY" Concerto for Orchestra and Electric Violin, which he debuted with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra in 2015.  The album’s closing song is an epic 12 -minute piece which has Joe singing, “If music be the food of love, play on." The song features Testament/TSO/Metal Allegiance guitarist Alex Skolnick, Renaissance’s keyboardist Rave Tesar, and the Fringe’s Randy McStine.  

Stratospheerius' members include French guitarist Aurelien Budynek (Cindy Blackman, Vernon Reid), bassist Jamie Bishop (The Syn, Francis Dunnery), and drummer Lucianna Padmore, praised by Modern Drummer Magazine for her “Deep grooves and serious fusion chops.” Lucianna wrote “Affluenza,” on the album, and Joe wrote everything else except for “Hysteria,” a reimagined, Queen-esque version of the hit by the UK band Muse.

Joe produced the album. Engineers on the album are Rave Tesar, Alex Salzman, Tom Tedesco, and Joe.  Mixed by Alex Salzman. Nic Hard, and Joe Deninzon. Mastered by Rave Tesar.

Reviews of GUILTY OF INNOCENCE have been exciting. Zachary Nathanson’s MUSIC FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM blog states, “While Joe’s vocal arrangements are brilliant, alongside his electric violin comparing to Curved Air’s Darryl Way, Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Jerry Goodman, and Frank Zappa alumni Jean-Luc Ponty, they take inspirations between Zappa, King Crimson, Yes, and Muse…Guilty of Innocence is not only great, but one of the most hectic and heart-stopping albums I’ve listened to.”

Writes Haydn Seek at SkeletonPete.com: “Deninzon and company’s virtuosity is undeniable, but their arrangements smartly favor the integrity of the song. Like the best heavy rock tunes of the past, soloing is integral to structure rather than presented for the sake of blowing. It’s progressive music that’s not afraid of a catchy chorus. Even the 12 minute closing track “Soul Food” is a well crafted multi-tempo road trip. It ventures into magnum opus territory where ’70s rockers Kansas were at home, and features guest artist guitarist Alex Skolnick.”

Warlock Asylum International News loves Joe’s cover of Muse’s “Hysteria.” “Deninzon’s perfect vocal delivery and skills as a violinist. Stratospheerius is as tight as ever and really create a strong organic melody comparable to the original. Bravo! This is music!”

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius has showcased their “frenzied melange of progressive rock, jazz fusion and funkabilly” at colleges, festivals, and clubs throughout the US and has opened for Tim Reynolds, Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Mike Stern, Project Object, and John Scofield. The group was a winner of the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition and the Musicians Atlas Independent Music Awards, and Joe is a repeat recipient of a BMI Jazz composers award. A favorite among violinists everywhere and an active clinician, Joe is the author of the Mel Bay-published book, ”Plugging In: A Guide to Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century.”

“Guilty of Innocence” track listing

1. Behind The Curtain

2. Take Your Medicine

3. Guilty of Innocence

4. Face

5. Hysteria

6. Affluenza

7. Parallel Reality

8. Game of Chicken

9.  Dream Diary Cadenza

10. Soul Food

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Tour Dates

Oct 19th Noon, 12 PM with Stratospheerius at Sweetwater. Ft. Wayne, IN 

Oct 19th eve with Stratospheerius & King Llama at New Paradigm. Elkhart, IN

Oct 20th with Stratospheerius, King Llama, White Bush Unicorn @ The Frequency. Madison, WI

Oct 21st with Stratospheerius at Progtoberfest III. Reggie's. Chicago, IL

Oct 31st Stratospheerius Halloween CD Release Party with Ad Astra and Van Davis

Nov 10th Stratospheerius CD Release Party at Cyber Cafe West. Binghamton, NY

Nov 11th, Stratospheerius Cleveland CD Release Party with EGO at Wilberts. Cleveland, OH

Dec 15th with Stratospheerius at Olives. Nyack, NY

Dec 16th Stratospheerius, Randy McStine, and Piktors Metamorphosis. 2 PM. Nj Proghouse. Roxy & Dukes. Dunellen, NJ.

Shows with Sweet Plantain & Renaissance at: https://joedeninzon.com/shows/

GUILTY OF INNOCENCE on Spotify: 

http://bit.ly/GuiltyOfInnocence
 

www.JoeDeninzon.com

www.Stratospheerius.com

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius Press Page: http://mrrmusic.com/joe-deninzon-stratospheerius/

Elliott Murphy: "Could have written a novel, but wrote an album" is now obsolete! :)

ELLIOTT MURPHY BOOK ADVISORY

In addition to his thirty-five albums and a globe spanning forty-four year career in music, ELLIOTT MURPHY has written and published two novels MARTY MAY & POETIC JUSTICE, a collection of short stories PARIS STORIES, and a book of poetry FORTY POEMS IN FORTY NIGHTS that are all receiving rave reviews. Join his ever increasing throng of delighted readers - visit the ELLIOTT MURPHY author page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elliott-Murphy/e/B004MQG6P6/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1488489154&sr=1-2-ent ​
OR BITLY: http://amzn.to/2lMcsmQ ​

Downloadable photo art of Elliott's books at https://www.flickr.com/photos/8320698@N05/albums/72157611847817960/page2 ​

www.ElliottMurphy.com ​

John Hall's Memoirs: STILL THE ONE: MY ROCK'n"ROLL JOURNAL FROM CONGRESS AND BACK

John Hall's memoir, STILL THE ONE: MY ROCK'N'ROLL JOURNEY FROM CONGRESS AND BACK is available in hardcover and Kindle.

The Kindle version is now on sale on the Amazon.com Kindle store for $4.99. The direct link is: https://www.amazon.com/Still-One-RocknRoll-Journey-Congress-ebook/dp/B01K8AA0E2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1471017275&sr=1-1&keywords=john+hall

The book is also available for mail order, as a personalized autographed book, right now via email and phone from Oblong Books & Music. Here is the link: http://www.oblongbooks.com/still-one-paperback-signed-john-hall. The phone number is 845-876-0500.

John Hall is doing an in-store at Oblong Books, in Rhinebeck, on the 22nd of September at 6 pm. This is the store's website,http://www.oblongbooks.com.

More in-stores to be announced to local media and on John’s Facebook page at 'www.facebook.com/JohnHall.memoir/?fref=ts

Best known as the founder of the band Orleans, with hits including “Still The One,” and “Dance With Me,” John co-wrote Janis Joplin’s “Half Moon,” Steve Wariner's #1 country hit "You Can Dream of Me," and also “Power,” which became the theme of the NO NUKES concerts in the 1970s. John has collaborated in the studio or on the stage with Little Feat, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Graham Nash, Chet Atkins, Carly Simon… 

His environmental concerns led him into community activism, which got him on the road into politics, first serving in the Ulster County, New York legislature, then as trustee and president of the Saugerties school board.  Hall won a seat in Congress in 2006, and returned to music in 2011 with Orleans.  

John is looking forward to taking the book on the road where he’ll tell stories, play songs, sign books, and talk with fans and anyone interested in crossing from a "normal" career to politics.  

John’s optimism comes through in stories from his life in the musical and political worlds in STILL THE ONE: A ROCK’n’ROLL JOURNEY TO CONGRESS AND BACK.    

#####

www.facebook.com/JohnHall.memoir
www.johnhallmusic.com

Gary Lucas & Jann Klose's STEREOPTICON In Digital Stores Now

Guitarist Gary Lucas and singer Jann Klose’s new album, STEREOPTICON is now out on Cosmic Trigger Records/The Orchard. This is a songwriter’s album, probably most at home with fans of AAA, indie, acoustic folk-pop/“urban Americana” music.

Also active songwriters, Gary and Jann collaborated on songs over the past three years. Their friend Dan Beck, who has written with Dion DiMucci, the Iron City Houserockers, Felix Cavaliere, joined them as lyricist on 6 songs. In September 2014 and June 2015, Jann and Gary recorded 10 songs at New York City’s premiere analog studio The Maid’s Room.

STEREOPTICON can be found on all digital stores, including iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stereopticon/id1065240432 and on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018ZPIXGE.

DCRocks’ David Hintz writes about the album, "This is quite an exciting collaboration that makes a lot of sense. Lucas is more the veteran creative songsmith and Klose the younger, though well beyond rookie status, singer songwriter. They both understand the trippier original aspects to song structures with Lucas’ resume bordering on unbelievable as he has worked with Captain Beefheart, Peter Hammill, and Bryan Ferry.”

Music writer Arthur Levy posts of seeing Gary and Jann live at the Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3 in New York City, “Memorable night indeed, the Gary and Jann project exceeded all expectations, and what a great little music room.”

STEREOPTICON is produced by Jann, Gary, and Dan, who call themselves “Dr. Tre.” The album was engineered by Jack McKeever (Joan As Police Woman, Anna & Kate McGarrigle) and Jason Candler (Queen Esther), who also plays soprano sax on “Nobody’s Talking” and tenor sax on "Well of Loneliness." STEREOPTICON was mastered by Ben Kesler (Robert Randolph and the Family Band).     

Gary’s co-written hits with Joan Osborne: “Spider Web,” and Jeff Buckley’s signature songs “Grace” and “Mojo Pin” from the singer’s double platinum album, GRACE. He’s worked extensively with Captain Beefheart. ROLLING STONE says Gary is, "One of the best and most original guitarists in America...a modern guitar miracle.” He just received the Premio Ciampi Lifetime Achievement Award in Italy, named for one of Italy's most famous songwriters. In 2014, Gary received the Ambassador's Award for Cultural Diplomacy from the US Consul General of Milan. His long-awaited GARY LUCAS’ FLEISCHEREI: MUSIC FROM MAX FLEISCHER CARTOONS is now available on Cuneiform Records. He is currently collaborating with Steve Kilbey (The Church), and Chris Shinn (new lead singer of Live), and was (this fall) Music Director of "State of Grace,” a multi-artist Australian tribute to Tim and Jeff Buckley.

Born in Germany and raised in Kenya, South Africa and the United States, Jann Klose is currently collaborating with Ann Hampton Callaway, Renaissance’s Annie Haslam, Hall & Oates’ John Oates and The Yardbirds’ Jim McCarty. In 2015 Jann and his music appeared in the short film THE BEAUTY OF DISASTER (Glimmer Girl, USA) and the award-winning Australian feature documentary A VENUE FOR THE END OF THE WORLD (BrinkVision, USA). His most recent album, MOSAIC won three 2014 Independent Music Awards and charted for several months on the AMA and Roots Rock charts.

Gary and Jann both worked on the movie GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY (Tribeca Film/Focus/Universal). Jann is the singing voice of Tim Buckley, while Gary consulted and played guitar. Tony Award winner Frank Wood plays Gary in the film. 

####  

SECRET WINGS music video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvNeh8ozt_I&list=PL1385B6196B218BDD

www.LucasKlose.com
www.GaryLucas.com 
www.JannKlose.com
Contact: Anne Leighton, 718-881-8183 Anne@AnneLeighton.com
Dan Beck: Dan@bighonchomedia.com

PopDose Premieres Gary Lucas and Jann Klose’s New York City Music Video, “Secret Wings”

Pre-Order Link Of Songwriters’ Album On Amazon; more links to come for album to be released January 8
 

POPDOSE's website is premiering Jann Klose and Gary Lucas’ new music video “Secret Wings” at http://popdose.com/popdose-premiere-gary-lucas-and-jann-klose-secret-wings/.

Coming out January 8, STEREOPTICON is now available for pre order on Amazon at www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018ZPIXGE and at itunes.apple.com/us/album/stereopticon/id1065240432 .

Says the eclectic website’s Senior Associate Editor DW Dunphy, ”POPDOSE is thrilled to be the first line when it comes to exposing the audience to new and upcoming music. As a site which is steadfastly genre-agnostic, having the ability to post these premieres is important to us, and goes to the core of our mission statement as a multimedia venue."

The music video “Secret Wings” is a video Jann and Gary’s first song collaboration together when the duo started writing songs three years ago after Gary heard Jann perform the song “Mojo Pin” that Gary wrote the music to with lyrics by Jeff Buckley.  

Jann says that “SECRET WINGS” is about the City beating you down and us making it through the crap that can pile up." The SECRET WINGS video was created by DeAngela Napier and will be seen on YouTube, VEVO, Gary & Jann’s Facebook pages. The video features scenes of the City, with motion from skateboarders, pigeons, cabs and bike riders, trains, runners, dragon dancers, commuters and shoppers, fine art, street art, musicians, including a scene of Jann and Gary playing in the Rockwood Music Hall. (In fact Gary will be sitting in with Jann at the Rockwood Stage 3 on Monday, the 21st of December at 8:30 PM. After that date, the two will be back on the road in Germany, Washington, DC…).

This January 8, 2016 STEREOPTICON will be released on Cosmic Trigger Records/The Orchard. The album was recorded in New York City’s premiere analog studio The Maid’s Room in September 2014 and June 2015.  It is a 10 song album with mainly voice, guitar and sax on 2 songs. The album’s genres are songwriter/AAA/Roots music.  

STEREOPTICON is produced by Jann, Gary, and Dan, who call themselves “Dr. Tre.” The album was engineered by Jack McKeever (Joan As Police Woman, Anna & Kate McGarrigle) and Jason Candler (Queen Esther), who also plays soprano sax on “Nobody’s Talking” and tenor sax on "Well of Loneliness." STEREOPTICON was mastered by Ben Kesler (Robert Randolph and the Family Band).     

Dan Beck (Dion DiMucci, Iron City HouseRockers, Felix Cavaliere) contributes lyrics on six of STEREOPTICON’s songs. His co-write “Mary Magdalene,” has found support from a variety of New York City-area stations as the song is dedicated to the New York and New Jersey people still struggling to get their lives back to normal since Oct. 29, 2012's Superstorm Sandy. Gary and Jann encourage their fans to donate to the Island Park Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O Box 500, Island Park, NY 11558 or online at 2ndbattalion.org/departments/island-park/.

Gary’s co-written hits with artists Joan Osborne: “Spider Web,” and Jeff Buckley’s signature songs “Grace” and “Mojo Pin” from the singer’s double platinum album, GRACE. He’s worked extensively with Captain Beefheart. ROLLING STONE says Gary is, "One of the best and most original guitarists in America...a modern guitar miracle.” He’s currently writing with Chris Shinn, lead singer of Live. In 2014, Gary received the Ambassador's Award for Cultural Diplomacy from the US Consul General of Milan. His long-awaited GARY LUCAS’ FLEISCHEREI: MUSIC FROM MAX FLEISCHER CARTOONS will be released on Cuneiform, February 2016.   

Born in Germany and raised in Kenya, South Africa and the United States, Jann is currently collaborating with Ann Hampton Callaway, Renaissance’s Annie Haslam, Hall & Oates’ John Oates and The Yardbirds’ Jim McCarty. In 2015 Jann and his music appeared in the short film THE BEAUTY OF DISASTER (Glimmer Girl, USA) and the award-winning Australian feature documentary A VENUE FOR THE END OF THE WORLD (BrinkVision, USA). His most recent album, MOSAIC won three 2014 Independent Music Awards and charted for several months on the AMA and Roots Rock charts.

Gary and Jann both worked on the movie GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY (Tribeca Film/Focus World/Universal). Jann is the singing voice of Tim Buckley, while Gary consulted and played guitar. Tony Award winner Frank Wood plays Gary in the film. 

Pre-sale link at: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018ZPIXGE

Stay tuned for announcement of iTunes’ Pre-Sale at www.twitter.com/JannKloseBand and www.twitter.com/LucasGary.  

www.LucasKlose.com
SECRET WINGS music video: youtu.be/kvNeh8ozt_I
www.vevo.com/artist/lucas-klose

www.GaryLucas.com
www.JannKlose.com

Contact: Anne Leighton, 718-881-8183 Anne@AnneLeighton.com
Dan Beck: Dan@bighonchomedia.com

Billy Sherwood's New Single "Just Galileo and Me" Features XTC's Colin Moulding

Billy Sherwood Available for Interviews in Advance of Album Release of CITIZEN due November 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—October 13

Frontiers Music Srl has released the single, “Just Galileo And Me” from Billy Sherwood's upcoming concept album, CITIZEN: and it can be heard on youtube at youtu.be/9Rp-Gblyzpw. The song features XTC’s Colin Moulding on lead vocals. 

"Just Galileo And Me" is about Galileo’s friend and confidante trying to convince the scientist to keep his theory that “the earth is not flat,” which is also the song’s hook, to himself for fear he’ll be labeled a heretic. The friend does acknowledge the scientist’s conviction, and the lyrics show how he knew that “eventually they would see.”

CITIZEN will be in stores and online November 6th.  Billy Sherwood created this concept album based on a lost soul that is reincarnated into various periods of history. Each song places the Citizen into a unique set of circumstances where decisions are made that have serious personal and global consequences. 

Fans can pre-order the album on Amazon at radi.al/BillySherwoodAmazon and on iTunes: http://radi.al/BillySherwoodiTunes radi.al/BillySherwoodiTunes . All digital pre-orders include instant downloads of "No Man's Land" and "Just Galileo And Me."

 Billy Sherwood was recently handpicked by Chris Squire to fill in for him on bass and vocals in Yes, before he left for cancer treatment and ultimately, his untimely death. Billy started his career in the band Lodgic and then as a member of World Trade, who have two critically-acclaimed albums. He has produced and engineered for many artists including John Wetton, Motorhead, Queensryche, Paul Rodgers, and Yes. He joined Yes first as touring member on the “Talk” tour in 1994, and was a full time member from 1997 to 1999. He recorded two albums with Chris Squire as the “Conspiracy” project and released six albums with Circa, the band he formed with Tony Kaye.  

CITIZEN is Billy’s eighth album of new material, though he sees this as a group effort, "While I've created a lot of this record myself I couldn't have done it without the amazing talents brought to bear by all the great artists who participated. So I feel it's much more of a collective effort than a solo album. It's my desire to take this production onto the stage and some of these amazing artists can help bring this concept to life.”

#### 

Listen to "Just Galileo And Me" at youtu.be/9Rp-Gblyzpw

Amazon pre-order link: radi.al/BillySherwoodAmazon
iTunes pre-order link: radi.al/BillySherwoodiTunes
CITIZEN EPK: youtu.be/0t2xBIRHW7I
BillySherwoodHQ.com
Facebook.com/BillySherwoodMusic
   

Blackmore's Night Gets Brave on "Will O' The Wisp" Video, Latest Single From ALL OUR YESTERDAYS

Among the things informing the songs of Blackmore’s Night are sagas and symbolism. In the case of the supernatural “Will O’ The Wisp,” the rock-based song continues the band’s vision involving what singer and lyricist Candice Night describes as “nature and folklore from around the world.” “Will O’ The Wisp” is from the group’s tenth album All Our Yesterdays now, offering us a mystical experience.

The “Will O’ The Wisp” video can be seen on Billboard by cutting and pasting this link: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6693008/ritchie-blackmore-blackmores-night-will-o-the-wisp-song-premiere. We are unable to embed that page or the video currently as Billboard is premiering the video!

Spotlighted in the video and the lyrics are lights (the will o’ the wisps), an ancient rock, castle ruins, a forest, as well as the crescent moon.  There is also a path.  Candice saw that path as part of the “Will O’ The Wisp”’s folklore as she watched the Disney/Pixar film Brave with her two children.  She was entranced by an early scene in which the heroine, Princess Merida is led through the woods to a cottage by a will o’ the wisp, a light that floats over swamps and moors. “The visual was amazing,” she says.  Beyond that, the soundtrack of Ritchie’s music spoke to her to blend his music and her lyrics into this enchanting song.

The video enhances the lyrics’ ancient feel.  In stark black and white, the only color element is the title character, a small, light blue will o’ the wisp that leads Night through ruins and moors and wide open spaces that the Celts would have approved of.  The wisps were symbolic and mysterious lights that led her through ancient stone circles to a destination that would ultimately change her fate.      

With concepts for this epic video running back and forth for weeks, Blackmore’s Night admits they took “forever” to finish it, and at the end of the entire production, Candice, Ritchie and the band, pretty much, used symbolism of the path of the light meeting a second light—two Will O’ The Wisps.  

Candice is adamant about one thing, though. “The concept,” she insists, “is in the lyrics.”  

Fans can also watch Blackmore’s Night’s first music video (and single), the title song from the upcoming ALL OUR YESTERDAYS’ album, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8gCGcSlRuw.  

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS will be released on a variety of formats: CD, CD/DVD and Digital versions on September 18 and in LP and Box Set configurations on October 16 (in North America). Pre-orders for the CD, CD/DVD and Digital versions are available on Amazon.com here: http://radi.al/BlackmoresNightAmazon and the Digital version on iTunes/Apple Music here: http://radi.al/BlackmoresNightiTunes     

DETAILS:   

* CD/DVD Deluxe edition includes the full album plus a DVD with music videos for "All Our Yesterdays” and “Will O’ The Wisp,” plus an extensive interview with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night on the making of the new album * LP vinyl edition with a gatefold sleeve * Box Set Limited Collector’s edition includes CD/DVD deluxe edition, LP, T-shirt (L size ONLY), poster, lithograph  

 

Blackmore’s Night is a true musical and spiritual collaboration between vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Candice Night and her husband, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. The two met in 1989 when Deep Purple challenged Candice’s then radio station to a charity soccer match. In 1993 she sang on Rainbow’s DIFFICULT TO CURE tour. They co-wrote four songs for Rainbow’s STRANGER IN US ALL and in 1997 they formed Blackmore’s Night; they continue to play festivals and concerts in great, historic venues all over the world.  

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius' new single "GUILTY OF INNOCENCE on Feb. 14

www.stratospheerius.com

Buy “Guilty of Innocence” at www.cdbaby.com/cd/stratospheerius4

Progressive rock/jam Band Has Four Singles From Upcoming 2016 Album Release 

Joe Deninzon &  Stratospheerius are releasing four singles throughout 2015, culminating in a full-length album in 2016.  The songs will be available for downloads (CDBABY, Amazon, BANDCAMP, iTunes) and streaming (SPOTIFY, Reverbnation…)  and anywhere that mp3’s are in orbit.

The songs are performed and produced by Stratospheerius, and engineered and mastered by Rave Tesar (Renaissance), mixed by Alex Salzman.  

The first single was “Behind the Curtain” which LET IT ROCK’S Dmitry Epstein writes “Deninzon sings, yet the only magic to happen here comes from his strings attack when Joe loosens it all to get into the eye of the hurricane where the calm reigns. There’s madness, too, but one you would like to be in sometimes – if only for the attention it draws. Step in the zone, the.”   Behind the Curtain was also picked up in China for mobile phone distribution.

The cover of Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius'
single, GUILTY OF INNOCENCE

The next song will be released by Valentine's Day (February 14) and is called "Guilty of Innocence." Joe says it was “inspired by my 2012 stint in jury duty and deals with crime and punishment. I was presiding on a rape trial and the guy who I thought was guilty got off practically scot-free.  

Get “Guilty of Innocence” at www.cdbaby.com/cd/stratospheerius4

The lyrics include: “We are all guilty of innocence 

We are all blissful with ignorance 

We're planting doubt with a weak defense 

Run to the hills and jump the fence 

…. We're all in handcuffs theoretically   

A room full of people in solitary

Coming up after that will be “Take Your Medicine” and “Face.”  Dates are currently to be announced.

Stratospheerius' members are Joe Deninzon-electric violin/mandolin/vocals), French guitarist Aurelien Budynek (Cindy Blackman, Vernon Reid), bassist Jamie Bishop (The Syn, Francis Dunnery), and drummer Lucianna Padmore (Primordial Jazz Funktet).

Stratospheerius' musical range combines progressive hard rock with elements of jazz, "fiddle funk," and Gypsy influences. The group was a winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, won the Online People's Choice Awards in the Cornucopia Festival, and was named "Best Jam Band" in Musician's Atlas Independent Music Awards.  The band has recently been profiled in both PROGRESSION (the Bible of progressive rock) and DOWNBEAT ONLINE. 

BLOGCRITICS compares Deninzon to "Jeff Beck (as a) "fiddlemaster with a streak of humor."  

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER praises Stratospheerius for its "funky electric violins, driving guitar rhythms, and fevered drumming layered in an explosive fashion." 

The band is on the soundtrack of the Will Ferrell/Adam McKay-produced movie, VIRGINITY HIT.

Joe has written the book on Electric Violin--literally; Mel Bay books has released his "PLUGGING IN: A Guide To Gear and New Techniques for the 21st Century Violinist." Joe has been called "The Jimi Hendrix of the Electric Violin," because of his innovative performances on the electric seven-string violin.  While leading Stratospheerius since 2001, Joe has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Les Paul, Phoebe Snow, and Ritchie Blackmore, and performed for President Clinton.  He can be heard on over 100 recordings and jingles as a violinist and string arranger.  He is writing his first electric violin concerto to premiere in 2016.

  ###