“The Big Win” – Ready to Read Yacht Rock

 "Getting kids into reading and yacht rock is a noble quest!"

-Adam Bernard, Adam’s World Blog

The song, “The Big Win” is a gift for Yacht Rock lovers and their children. Appearing on both the digital release, “Leenie’s Library” and a new album, “Arise Together-Songs to Inspire,” now streaming on all major platforms,“The Big Win” might lay claim as the first Yacht Rock song written and recorded for children.  

Featuring a smooth melody, soft rock vibes, breezy lyrics, and the lucid tenor voice of Ricky Persaud Jr., the empowering song’s history dates back to the 1980s. Composer Gail Bluestone and her lyricist sister Eileen Bluestone-Sherman were hot off an Emmy-win of “The Odd Potato” for Chicago TV, and wrote "The Big Win" as the opening production number for a children's musical about robots and A.I.  Hence the song’s opening outer space vibe of zoning into the music!

Gail, who loves timeless R&B and Motown classics including her favorites Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, as well as the Temptations, the Four Tops, Sly and The Family Stone, plus soulful women artists notably Laura Nyro, Carole King, and the 5th Dimension, used their sensibilities to compose the song’s melody.

Then came the future—the second decade of the 21^st Century when both A.I. became a reality and the Bluestone Sisters began work on “Leenie’s Library” with the mission of inspiring the Next Generation of New Readers. They wrote and chose songs from their catalogue with catchy tunes and literacy-building content. Eileen and Gail knew that singer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Ricky Persaud Jr. was the man for the job. His rhythmic tribute “Selena” to the slain Latina pop star was played on regional and indie radio, and a favorite among Eileen, Gail, and their friends. Gail said, “Ricky is a gifted musician with a great thirst for learning, a great ear for listening, and great creativity with sound. He is a perfect collaborator and a true perfectionist.” Ricky is “The Big Win’s” sole instrumentalist, playing all the instruments and singing the song! Instrumentation on the piece includes keyboards, bass guitar, drums, glockenspiel/percussion. Ricky’s influences are like other musicians in the Yacht Rock community, including Prince, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Nirvana, Bob Marley and—of course-- Selena Quintanilla 2. 

“Leenie’s Library” is designed to promote literacy through repetition, rhyme, and engaging visuals. The recordings and videos are available for free on YouTube, making it accessible to families and educators everywhere.

“Arise Together-Songs to Inspire” benefits Pickleberry Pie, an organization that provides live entertainment in children’s hospital wards around the nation, comforting ailing children and their parents at the most difficult of times.    

A.I., the initial inspiration of “The Big Win” before the technology came to be, states these immortal words about the song, “If this is the beginning of a new genre—Yacht Rock for Kids—it might be ‘The Big Win’ is a simple part of musical history!”

Brian Tarquin Receives Two Josie Nominations Guitarist/Label Head Continues to Produce and Support Good Causes

Brian Tarquin has received his 7th and 8th nominations from the Josie Music Awards in Nashville. This year The Josies nominated him as Guitarist of the Year and his record label BHP Music-Guitar Trax as Label of the Year. "The Josie Music Awards are the real deal! There are no entry fees, no buying awards if you win, no BS like so many so-called award shows. It is purely based on the merit of the artist's talent. No buying vanity awards!" Brian previously won Best Music Video for “Speed of Sound,” his A.I. collaboration with Joe Satriani and Best Instrumental Album of the Year for "Beyond the Warrior's Eyes."

The Josie Music Awards in Nashville will be held at the Grand Ole Opry on November 2.  Created by Josie Passantino-Boone and her mother Tinamarie Passantino, the Josies honor independent artists from many genres around the globe. This event since its inception in 2015 is known for its grand, glamorous red-carpet, memorable award presentations, spectacular live performances, legendary recognitions, special presentations, and the positive, supportive atmosphere. 

Multi-Emmy award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composer/guitarist/ producer. Over the past 30 years he has enjoyed Top 10 radio hits in several formats as Smooth Jazz, Roots Music Awards, NACC Loud Rock, Metal Contraband, Jam Band & CMJ’s RPM charts. His music has been heard by tens of millions on a plethora of television and film scores such as: “CSI,” “Ellen,” “Extra,” “TMZ,” “60 Minutes,” “Sex and the City,” “20/20,” “SNL,” “Godzilla,” “Seinfeld,” “Cheers,” “Charmed,” “Good Morning America,” “The Watcher” (Keanu Reeves), “Desert Heat” (Van Damme), “The Sender” (R. Lee Ermey), and “National Lampoon’s Repli-Kate” (Ali Landry)….

Since 2009, Brian’s produced a range of fusion and rock compilations for his record label, BHP Music-Guitar Trax to help charities. Recent causes have included support for Catholic Charities of Central Florida and Hope for the Warriors.

Currently Brian is finishing work on an album, “Tyranny of Tone” to release in September to benefit the California Fire Foundation https://www.cafirefoundation. org .  The album will help survivors of the West Coast fires from earlier this year and will be released on BHP Music-Guitar Trax. The album will be a fusion collection of instrumentals including guitarists Joe Satriani, Gary Hoey, Gus G (Ozzy/ Firewind)  Guns N’ Roses/Asia’s Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, and Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), plus Kansas/Stratospheerius violinist Joe Deninzon, and bassist Stu Hamm.   

Robin Batteau's “Banned In Sparta”

Collaborative Album with Classical Greek Poets and Modern Folk Singers

On July 11, Robin Batteau is releasing “Banned in Sparta,” a new collaborative album of songs based on poems by Classical Greek poets, and recorded by friends Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, Carolyn Hester, Livingston and Kate Taylor, Matt Nakoa, Robin Lane, 2-time Tony winning actor James Naughton and his gifted children Keira and Greg. Robin was inspired by an Ancient Greek History class he took when he returned to Harvard during the Pandemic to finish a degree he started in the 1960s. Robin earned the World Record of taking a 50-year break (between 1970 to 2021) to return to Harvard and finish his degree in 2022.   

“Banned In Sparta” focuses almost entirely on poets from Ancient Greece between 700 and 400 BC.  One poet, Gaius Valerius Catullus (84 – 54 BC), as smitten with the ghost of Sappho as Robin or Alcaeus, is from Rome during Julius Caesar’s reign, for whom Eric Andersen performs “Cross (of Gold),” an ode to interlaced and conflicted feelings, “Odi et Amo"— I hate and I love.

The title “Banned in Sparta” finds its name from Archilochus, the Bob Dylan of the 7^th century B.C., a warrior-poet so irreverent he was “Banned in Sparta.”  James Naughton sings the song “Archilochus Re-Deemed (I Am a Servant of the Lord God of War).” Kate Taylor performs “Telesilla’s On the Wall,” from the female poet Telesilla, who led her fellow women warriors to victory against those same renowned Spartans. 

“The Greek Lyric poets performed live, and were the stars of their day,” says Robin. “They were singer/songwriters, they played the lyre (hence "Lyric") and danced around the stage like Tom Paxton and Taylor Swift.”

Robin, who studied Ancient Greece and Integrative Biology at Harvard, found that most of what was left of the poems were fragments and myth, “So I mosaic-ed songs to reflect their expressions and intentions— who they were, and are to me.”         

A range of female poets contributed to the lyrical history of Greece including Corrina, whose “In Her Loving Arms” is sung by Carolyn Hester, and Praxilla’s “The Most Beautiful Thing in the World,” a hymn to Adonis, sung by Keira Naughton.  Sappho’s writing inspires “Terra Cotta Heart,” sung by Robin Lane.  Livingston Taylor sings “My Sappho, Sweetly Smiling” from the smitten neighbor and rival Alcaeus. 

The fun and frolicking “Shake your Hair (You Thracian Filly),” sung by Tom Paxton. Pianist and folk singer Matt Nakoa offers a Bruce Hornsby-like treatment for Simonides of Ceos’s “Theatre of Memory (Man of Gold).”    

Sharing Grammy, Emmy, Clio, and Gold Record Awards and an Oscar nomination, Robin’s recorded over a dozen albums with Pierce Arrow, David Buskin (Buskin & Batteau), and many others.  His jingles feature in long-running, award-sweeping advertising campaigns from "I'm Lovin' It" for McDonalds to “Can’t Beat It” for Coca-Cola to "The Heartbeat of America" for Chevrolet. He’s played his 1898 Scarampella violin with everyone from Yo-Yo Ma to Benny Goodman to Bruce Springsteen and has had his melodies sung by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Judy Collins, Paul Newman, and more. His songs have supported charities and causes, including World Hunger Year, Ocean Alliance, Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, and Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for kids. The Boston Globe defines his music with David Buskin as "Acoustic Heaven."

“Banned In Sparta” songs

“Stolen in Love”  (Gorgias)  Greg Naughton (vocals: lead, harmony, background, descants),  Mark Dann (bass, synths), Robin Batteau— (acoustic guitar (custom 7-string Sigma), Greek Chorus oohs and aahs, fingerpop and heartbeat percussion). 

“In Her Loving Arms” (Corinna)   Carolyn Hester  (lead vocals), Jennifer “Genevieve” Vitanzo (harmony vocals), Jerry Marotta (drums), Mark Dann (bass, electric 12-string guitar, synths) Robin Batteau (violin (1898 Scarampella, muted), Sigma guitar).     

“Archilochus Re-Deemed (I Am a Servant of the Lord God of War)”  (Archilochus) James Naughton (lead vocal), Jerry (drums), Neale Eckstein (acoustic guitar), Robin (harmony vocals, handclaps, drums, Sigma guitar, violins).

“Telesilla’s on the Wall”  (Telesilla) Kate Taylor (lead vocal),  Mark Dann (bass, synths),  Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (violin, acoustic guitar (1948 Martin 0-17, nylon-strung), background vocals, descant).

“My Sappho, Sweetly Smiling”  (Alcaeus)  Livingston Taylor (lead vocal, acoustic guitar), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (violin, Martin guitar, synths, background vocals, descant).

“Terra Cotta Heart” (Sappho)   Robin Lane (lead vocal), Mark Dann (bass, electric 12, synths), Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (Martin guitar, drums, percussion).

“Shake Your Hair (You Thracian Filly)” (Anacreon)   Tom Paxton (lead vocal), Eric Schwartz (piano, organ), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Neale Eckstein (acoustic guitar, drums),Robin Batteau (Sigma, drums).

“Man of Gold (Theater of Memory)” (Simonides) Matt Nakoa (lead vocal, piano, synths, bass, drums, electric guitar).

“How Can You Love Me”  (Stesichorus)   Robin Batteau (lead vocal, harmony vocals, Martin, violins, synths, drums, percussion), Yani Batteau (harmony vocal, banjo), Neale Eckstein (drums, percussion).

“The Most Beautiful Thing in the World” (Praxilla)  Keira Naughton (lead vocal), Robin Batteau (Martin Guitar).

“Cross” (Catullus)   Eric Andersen  (lead vocal),  Abby Newton (cello-1897 Scarampella), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Robin Batteau (Martin guitar), violin, percussion (inspired by Marshal Rosenberg)

“Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” By Brian Tarquin & his Heavy Friends

  

Lifting up our veterans through music is something that Brian Tarquin & his Heavy Friends will do until there are no more wars. Brian’s friends include superhero musicians that love working with him on a number of albums he’s released from hard rock to jazz over the past (20) years). “‘Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” (out January 19, on Downtown Music/Dashgo Distribution) honors military soldiers who defend our freedoms. I wanted a true star-studded musician tribute of soaring instrumental songs. So, I was very fortune to get such iconic players as Jean Luc Ponty, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford and Steve Morse to help me express our gratitude.”

A heavy and glorious fusion-prog collection, “Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes” is Brian and his friends (Jean Luc Ponty, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford (Miles Davis), Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Dean Brown (David Sanborn), Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), Chris Poland (Megadeth), John Tropea (Billy Cobham), Steve Kindler (Jeff Beck), Carl Verheyen (Supertramp) & Larry McCray (John Mayall), the late Phil Naro, and the Budapest Symphony Orchestra) latest collaborative album. “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” mission is to support the charity, Hope For The Warriors, who provide medical care, mental health counseling, professional training and education, physical conditioning and transition services for wounded, ill, and injured Marines and Navy members. https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/

“Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” Special Donation Page:

https://support.hopeforthewarriors.org/Beyond-The-Warriors-Eyes

The album “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” was produced, engineered and composed entirely by Brian Tarquin. Well-connected with star musicians, he is a one-man army playing all instruments except drums where studio drummer Reggie Pryor lends his services. The album was recorded in Tarquin’s Jungle Room Studios on 2” analog tape through a vintage Trident London 24 console and a host of analog outboard gear. Brian transferred the recording to either Pro Tools or Logic, finishing the recording digitally. He lastly recorded all final mixes down to an Ampex 440C ¼” 2 track analog tape.  Tape Op Interview on process: https://tapeop.com/interviews/158/brian-tarquin/

What about some of the “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” tracks? “Behind the Iron Curtain” with Chris Poland is a thundering and glorious orchestration of guitar playing. Chris loves working with Brian, “This particular project I felt was a bit more important. Here we honor our veterans for their courage and sacrifice.”

Jean Luc Ponty was inspired to play his electric violin on the album, when he heard the title track, “Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes.” Steve Morse and John Tropea soloed and blended their lead guitars on a dreamy yet danceable instrumental, “Faith & Hope.”  The combination of guitar work from multi-genre-rocker Eric Johnson and fusion’s Dean Brown on “The Gates of Valhalla” is an upbeat and magical journey that takes the listener away from his or her troubles.

The album closes with a song, “These Colors Don’t Run,” which pays tribute to our soldiers. The late Phil Naro sings on this with guitar from Steve Morse, who gives “kudos to Phil for his vocal performance, and add that he loves working with Brian, who “is a great guy to work with and is very versatile at all parts of this music business.” 

The Emmy award winning guitarist/composer has radio hits in several formats as Smooth Jazz, NACC Loud Rock & CMJ’s RPM charts.  He’s had songs on major TV shows and popular movies including CSI, Seinfeld, Good Morning America, The Watcher (Keanu Reeves), Desert Heat (Van Damme), The Sender (R. Lee Ermey), and National Lampoon’s Repli-Kate (Ali Landry)…. He’s won 3 Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series” for All My Children, a Global Music Award, honors from SESAC and a number of nominations from the Josie Music Awards for best guitarist, producer and album. Brian has appeared on 50 releases, has 38 million streams on Pandora, Spotify & Apple: selling over 140,000 records in his career. Brian is an award-winning published Author; below is a list of his books. 

Brian and Joe Satriani won “Best Video” for “Speed of Sound” from the recent “Brothers in Arms” album and a Global Music Gold Award for his release “Orlando In Heaven,” put together to pay tribute to the victims shot at the Pulse Nightclub in 2016.    

Brian’s weekly NPR radio show called Guitar Trax on WFIT 89.5FM (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFIT)  on the Florida Space Coast is streamed on www.wfit.org. He hosts in depth interviews with world-renowned guitarists every Monday night from 10pm-Midnight.

Track Listing

01    “Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes” w/ Jean Luc-Ponty

02     “The Gates of Valhalla” w/ Eric Johnson & Dean Brown

03    “Quiet Desperation” w/ Robben Ford

04    “Behind the Iron Curtain” w/ Chris Poland

05     “Faith & Hope” w/ Steve Morse & John Tropea

06     “A Soldier’s Journey” w/ Steve Kindler & Budapest Symphony Orchestra

07    “La Sierre Del Norte” w/ Carl Verheyen

08     “Common Valor” w/ Larry McCray

09     “These Colors Don’t Run” w/ Steve Morse & Phil Naro

Quotes from Artists on “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes”

Jean Luc Ponty: “Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” is the song that inspired me the most to play on when Brian asked me to collaborate on his album, and I am very happy to be part of this project to help U.S. Veterans get what they need.                  

Hal Lindes (Dire Straits)  Brian Tarquin’s superb latest offering is brimming with fresh, funky, killer grooves and majestic soaring guitar melodies featuring French virtuoso violinist Jean Luc Ponty, shredding it up on “Beyond The Warrior Eyes.”

 Chris Poland (Megadeth): It's always my pleasure to play on anything Brian brings my way, but this particular project I felt was a bit more important. Here we honor our veterans for their courage and sacrifice.

Steve Morse (Deep Purple): Brian is a great guy to work with and is very versatile at all parts of this music business. Kudos to Phil Naro, coming up with another great vocal part for “These Colors Don't Run”!                                                                

Carl Verheyen (Supertramp): Collaborating on “La Sierra del Norte” with Brian was a joy. The challenge was to play as melodic as possible in 6/8 time with a completely different tone than the melody.  

Dean Brown (David Sanborn): Brian has put together a stellar group of guitarists and provided wonderful vehicles for creative improvisation. I'm thrilled to be a part of the project and this worthy cause.                                                                    

Note: Tarquin is pronounced  -- “Tar – quin”     

linktr.ee/guitartrax
www.bhpmusic.com

Brian Tarquin
Multi Emmy Award Winning Composer/Guitarist

Press Links:
Vintage Guitar Magazine just did a spread on Brian in the April edition.
https://www.vintageguitar.com/56401/brian-tarquin-3/

Music Connection
https://www.musicconnection.com/industry-profile-brian-tarquin-shredding-for-u-s-vets-and-victims/

Big Blend Magazine
https://issuu.com/bigblendmagazines/docs/_2big_weekly_blend_magazine_vol._1_issue_18_no

Books By Brian Tarquin

Survival Guide for Music Composers (Hal Leonard) - 2018 USA Best Book Winner Award 

Guitar Encyclopedia (Allworth Press) - 2014 USA Best Book Winner Award 

Guitar Amplifier Encyclopedia (Allworth Press) - 2017 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Stomp on This: The Guitar Pedal Effects Guidebook (Cengage) - 2015 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Insider’s Guide to Home Recording (Allworth Press) - 2015 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Insider’s Guide to Music Licensing (Allworth Press) - 2014 USA Best Book Finalist Award 

Recording Techniques of the Guitar Masters (Cengage) interviews with Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson.

Brian Tarquin and fellow composers Terry Walker and Jerry Pilato won Emmys for their work in General Hospital in 2002, 2003, 2005  

Dec 4 The Indie Collaborative Plays New York City's Green Room 42

 

The highly diversified and always entertaining, international music group, THE INDIE COLLABORATIVE returns to New York City on Monday night, December 4 to celebrate the holiday season in grand musical style at one of New York’s most exciting nightclubs, The Green Room 42.   A cast of award-winning artists from the Classical, Broadway, American Roots, Jazz, and Global Music worlds will take the stage to honor Hanukkah, Christmas, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice in song and dance, beginning at 7 PM.

Co-founded in 2015 by Emmy Award^® Winning writer and producer, Eileen Sherman, and Billboard Top Ten charting American Roots singer/songwriter, Grant Maloy Smith, “THE IC” boasts a distinguished group of over 2000 independent artists, many of whom are Grammy, Emmy, Tony, and music chart toppers from around the globe. Grant and Eileen conceived the idea of an arts organization that would foster unique and exciting collaborations (crossing genres and continents) while forging lifelong friendships.  

Members of THE IC can be found any night of the year, performing in the world’s most prestigious concert halls, but every so often, Eileen and Grant curate an Indie Collaborative Concert highlighting a variety of their members. Every production is unique. Previous shows include evenings at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and just this past summer, Eileen and Grant produced a special showcase in Newcastle, England.  Each show amazes the audience by its sheer diversity and extraordinary artistry and December 4 in New York City will be no different. 

Per IC tradition, Grant Maloy Smith will serve as the emcee, with a line-up that has something for everyone!  As always, be on the lookout for terrific on-stage IC collaborations.

Honoring Diwali, is South Indian-born composer and piano prodigy, Charu Suri with outstanding Jazz guitarist, the Indian-born Noshir Mody. They will be performing Charu’s “Floating,” from her highly acclaimed album, RAGAS AND WALTZES. 

Native American Connor Chee, a multi-award winner and brilliant pianist and composer will perform an original composition honoring the Winter Solstice.

The Bluestone Sisters’ Songwriting Team (Gail/music; Eileen lyrics) will offer two songs from their holiday catalog. The jazzy and very comical “The Dreidel Song” from their Emmy Award^® winning Hanukkah musical THE ODD POTATO, will be performed by one of Broadway’s most sought-after dancers, Ryan VanDenBoom (MJ, Something Rotten!, Bandstand, Annie) with the award-winning jazz pianist, Alex Otey.

The Sisters’ second song honors the holiday of Kwanzaa. “Kwanzaa’s Pure Light” will be performed by Gospel star Yocontalie with the Jennifer Tibbetts Singers. This piece has been described as a “musical gumbo,” part Jazz, part Gospel, part Afrobeat, part Spoken Word, and all brilliantly arranged by Yocontalie (vocals), Keith Middleton (percussion), and Alex Otey (instrumental /chorus). Joining Yocontalie is Jennifer Tibbetts (Youth Choir Director and her young choir), remarkable percussionists Ricky Persaud,Jr.,  Jean Carno-Rosneberg, and Valerie Persaud, with the very adept musical theatre composer Jerome Brooks, Jr. (piano), jazz/fusion artist, Mowgli Giannitti (bass), and Alex Otey (flugelhorn).  

The gorgeous vocals of Elaine Romanelli will melt holiday hearts with her original Christmas Song, “Christmas Any Time.”

Providing the classical component of the evening is two-time GRAMMY^® winner Herschel Garfein, with world-renowned cellist, Sophie Shao. Together they will perform Mr. Garfein’s “When the Moon Was Covered,“ from his newest album, LAYERS. All About the Arts called it “intensely emotional and inspired chamber music.”

And no IC concert is complete without some music from IC co-founder Grant Maloy Smith, who will be presenting a unique Christmas medley. He’ll be joined on stage by one of New York’s favorite sax players, Thomas Hutchings (saxophone), Noshir Mody (guitar), Charu Suri (piano), Mowgli (bass), and more. 

As always, the grand finale of every IC concert will be the sing-along theme song “We’ll Stay Together,” performed by a variety of surprise IC guest stars! 

Show: THE INDIE COLLABORATIVE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

Venue: The Green Room 42

Address: 570 10th Ave, New York, NY 10036 (inside Hotel Yotel)

Date:    Monday, December 4, 2023

Showtime:  7:00 P.M. 

Tickets Available at  https://tinyurl.com/GreenRm42