Highland School Orchestras to Perform with Electric Violinist, Joe Deninzon, May 4, in Medina, OH

  

Highland Middle School and Highland High School Orchestras will present two concerts on Wednesday, May 4 in the Highland High School Auditorium, featuring electric violinist and recording artist Joe Deninzon. The HMS Orchestra concert begins at 6:30 p.m.; and the HHS Orchestra concert begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. The program will include original songs by Deninzon, as well as some of his arrangements of popular songs from composers including Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon/Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Kurt Cobain and Muse’s Matthew Bellamy.    

Deninzon, the music world's expert on alternative violin techniques, will also lead a two-day workshop with Highland orchestra students, focusing on rock stylings and improvisation. A musician who transcends many genres, Deninzon has recorded and performed with a variety of artists including Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Les Paul, Phoebe Snow, Jane Monheit, Robert Bonfiglio and President Bill Clinton. An active clinician, he has taught at Mark O’Connor’s renowned String Camp and Mark Wood’s Rock Orchestra Camp. He leads the band Stratospheerius, which was a winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition. Additionally, he was awarded the Online People's Choice Awards in the Cornucopia Festival, and named "Best Jam Band" in Musician's Atlas Independent Music Awards. He is also a member of the classical hip hop Latin jazz string quartet, Sweet Plantain.  

The Highland Orchestras are under the direction of Mrs. Rachel Gamin who holds both a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University and studied violin performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Under her leadership, the Highland Orchestra Program has grown from 41 students in 2009 to over 300 presently. The concert and workshops are made possible through the generous support of The Highland Foundation.

highlandschools.org

 

Vonda Shepard Plays New York City November 21

www.vondashepard.com

Schmooze with us after the work week.

Vonda Shepard will be performing at (le) Poisson Rouge on November 21 at 7:45 pm.
(Opening act—to be announced) is on at 7 pm.
(le) Poisson Rouge is at 158 Bleecker St., in New York City, near the A, D, F train lines.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.
The venue phone is 212-505-FISH.
The website is lepoissonrouge.com/ lepoissonrouge.com/

This is an “after work schmooze” with Vonda Shepard. This intimate room with Vonda (and her band or solo) should bring some wonderful memories.

ROOKIE, Vonda’s 14th album, is a title that bears no little irony, since last year marked 25 years since the release of her self-titled Warner Bros. debut and her hit “Don’t Cry Ilene” from 1989. Being of independent ways and means now, Shepard doesn’t necessarily have to raise a fortune to make a record that’ll sound like a million bucks, thanks to the ongoing participation of producer/maestro Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Crowded House, Bonnie Raitt, Paul McCartney), who’s been behind the boards for all of her albums since 1999’s BY 7:30.

ROOKIE promises a mixture of moods and tempos, with perhaps slightly more emphasis on the upbeat than some past efforts. Vonda says. “I felt a need to go a little bit crazy on this album.” The album features classic Vonda Shepard, whose pop-singer songwriter style weaves soulful and heartfelt pop ballads, with influences from gospel, country and jazz.

Vonda belts the mighty song “Rookie,” which is about not being a rookie. “It’s actually the opposite of what the title suggests,” she says. “It’s about a person who’s been around the block, around all the blocks! The chorus says ‘I’m not a rookie,’ and it really conveys this feeling that I’m a ‘bad-ass’ who’s going to throw it down.” “Need Your Love,” and the empowering “Walk On Water” are some of ROOKIE’S soulful highlights.

Her styling of ballads including “Saturday,” and “I just Don’t Get It” (with its surprising twist on love and shyness) is passionate. Vonda’s relationship songs also include ROOKIE’S “Train To Inverness” and “Long For The Days,” which offer both depth of dialog with ear-catching melodies.

ROOKIE ends with two live tracks of recent songs that have become show stoppers in Vonda’s sets, the funky “Downtown Dirtytown,” and the tender-hearted pop ballad, “Roll In The Dirt.”

Vonda is charging into an active touring season in the States and Europe after enjoying her belated debut as a musical stage actress, portraying sassy tart Martha in Randy Newman’s FAUST at New York’s City Center this past summer. Ms. Shepard earned such grand reviews from New York’s tough theater critics, you could almost believe she’d paid off the devil! Said Playbill: “Indie-pop singer/songwriter Shepard was the find of the evening, at least for audiences unfamiliar with her five years of acting and singing on Ally McBeal.” The Theatermania.com critic called the Newman/Shepard duet of “Feels Like Home” “one of the year’s great stage moments to date.” New York Times theater critic Christopher Isherwood weighed in with a rave, too, calling her duet with the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer on “Feels Like Home” “the song that received the warmest reception” and adding: “Ms. Shepard’s soulful singing brought out the yearning quality in Mr. Newman’s own.”

With over 12 million album sales to her name, two Golden Globes, two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actor's Guild Awards as well as the Billboard prize for selling the most television soundtrack records in history for the hit TV series “Ally McBeal,” Vonda is a world-renowned artist who continues to delight audiences with her magnanimous live performances. She dedicates songs, tells stories, and-at the same time-projects dynamic charisma and intimacy with her audience.

Over the past few years Vonda has opened for Sugarland, who once opened for her, and she has performed live with the Indigo Girls and The Funk Brothers (a highlight of her life), and has shared the stage at music festivals with Sting, The Eurythmics, Santana, and Matchbox 20. She is also known for "Can't We Try," her duet with Dan Hill, which hit number 6 in 1987. She played keyboards and sang with Rickie Lee Jones, Al Jarreau, and Jackson Browne, eventually opening for Browne in the U.S. and Asia. Fans all over the world have been listening to Vonda for years, and there's a reason why Vonda Shepard live is getting the attention of fans everywhere.

Vonda Shepard's "Need Your Love"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The LA-ist was truly on point when it wrote that Jann “can be accurately described as the man chosen to carry on the legacy of great musicians like Tim Buckley and Paul McCartney.” Soon after MOSAIC entered the Roots Radio charts above Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow and Wilco at #22, the album ended up on first round ballots for the 2014 GRAMMY® Awards for Album of the Year and Pop Vocal Album.

Jann hopes that you will vote for him in all categories and would like for you to please tell your friends, "Thank you!" To vote you will need to register at www.independentmusicawards.com

These are the links to vote.  Just click the translucent stars to the right of Jann's entries:

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

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/13th/Song/Cover

2)  SWAG (Merchandise):

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/13th/Design/Swag

3) MUSIC WEBSITE:

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/13th/Design/Music-Website

4)  ALBUM: VARIOUS ARTISTS: SPOKEN WORD WITH MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENT

ACTION MOVES PEOPLE: 

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/13th/Album/Spoken-Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

JANN KLOSE ON THE ROAD

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

www.jannklose.com

www.independentmusicawards.com/ima

Photo opp: Jann Klose with Tim Buckley collaborators Jim Fielder and Larry Beckett

Left to right:   JIM FIELDER (Bassist--Neil Sedaka, formerly in Tim Buckley and Blood Sweat And Tears), 
JANN KLOSE, LARRY BECKETT (Poet, songwriter w/ Tim Buckley) 
Photo by laura mason fletcher

Ever since Jann Klose sang and played guitar for Tim Buckley's parts in the movie, GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY (due on DVD/Blu Ray September 17) he's been on a journey to find out what made Tim Buckley tick as an artist.  This included connecting with some of Tim's collaborators, including (original bandmate and bassist) Jim Fielder and (poet/lyricist) Larry Beckett.  The three performed shows in the Pacific Northwest in Beckett and Fielder's hometown of Portland (August 21) and in Seattle (August 24).

Larry, who co-wrote many of Tim Buckley's songs including "Song To the Siren," which Jann covered on his current album, MOSAIC, is now writing songs with Jann. The first two songs are SUGAR DADDY and AFTER THE LAST.  Jann and Larry are BMI songwriters, and look forward to creating more music together.

A prolific songwriter, Jann is also collaborating with Gary Lucas (Jeff Buckley, Captain Beefheart) and Dan Beck (Dion), and has written with Annie Haslam and David Bendeth, who co-produced MOSAIC with Jann and James Frazee (Esperanza Spalding, Blondie, My Morning Jacket). 

The LAist's Matthew Bramlett states, Jann "can be accurately described as the man chosen to carry on the legacy of great musicians like Tim Buckley and Paul McCartney."  

Hear Jann and Gary Lucas perform Tim Buckley/Larry Beckett's "Song To The Siren" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oQdWo4cOgw
 

CHAMBER POP SUMMIT: JIM MCCARTY, JANN KLOSE AND JOHN HAWKEN PERFORM AT HUGH'S ROOM, OCT. 5

Jim McCarty headlining at Hugh's Room w/ bassist George Koller and guitarist Jean-Michel Kajdan.
photo by Jon Richard, © 2011

Panoramic of Jann Klose performing Yardbirds songs at Hugh's Room, Toronto, the 2nd date of the Canadian tour 2011. L TO R: John Hawken, Ron Korb, Jim McCarty, Jann Klose, Larry Crowe, George Koller, Jean-Michel Kajdan. (October 5th, 2011).
(C) 2011 Jade Yeh


John Hawken, Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, and Jann Klose at BB King Blues Club, New York, NY, Sept. 7

Jim McCarty, Jann Klose, and John Hawken will be performing at Hugh's Room,2261 Dundas Street, W., in Toronto, on October 5 at 8:30 PM. Admission is $20 in advance and $22.50 at the door. The web site is http://www.hughsroom.com, and the phone number is 416-531-6604.

Jim McCarty and Jann Klose, and their bands create unique styles of "chamber pop." This style uses interesting musical instruments, classical and other genre influences (blues, jazz, multi-cultural, folk, theatre) to create beautiful melodies with international overtones. Their works, which have unintended parallels, have been critically acclaimed.

The Yardbirds’ Jim McCarty's history is phenomenal, having been partially responsible for discovering Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and reuniting with Page in a 1980s group called Box of Frogs. He's been making music every decade, with emphasis on creation. He and the other original Yardbirds members have been inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jim founded Renaissance with Yardbirds' mate, the late Keith Relf in the late 1960s. This band was a classical rock band that was fronted for the first album by Keith's sister Jane. After Jane left, Jim and Keith auditioned Annie Haslam, who fronted the line-up of Renaissance that became popular in the States.

Jim McCarty's current album SITTING ON THE TOP OF TIME features Toronto flautist Ron Korb, pianist Donald Quan, guitarist Ray Hickey and bassist George Koller. Much of it was recorded in Quan's studio, Q Music, “There seemed to be a good group of session players available, very much like in London in the ‘60s and thanks to Ron, I soon had a good team together: Ron, Donald, Ray, and George.”

Joining Jim’s band for this show is John Hawken. John was in Renaissance and Illusion with Jim (2001), and most recently in the Strawbs. He has also played with The Nashville Teens, Spooky Tooth, Vinegar Joe (with Robert Palmer), Third World War, and Renaissance Illusion.

Renaissance's Annie Haslam was one of the music business people who discovered Jann Klose, and collaborated with him and John Tout (from Annie's Renaissance lineup) in the fall of 2008. Jann then opened for Renaissance's 40th Anniversary comeback tour, Fall 2009. He has opened for the Strawbs a few times, and has shared the stage and/or opened for Pete Seeger, the late Les Paul, Rusted Root, Shawn Phillips, Marty Stuart, Roger McGuinn, Rosanne Cash, Marshall Crenshaw, Vonda Shepard, Elliott Murphy.

Genya Ravan, who recently featured Jann's "Waiting For the Wave" on her Sirius XM show "Goldie's Garage" on Little Steven's Underground Garage channel says, "Gee, if I had a label I would sign Jann immediately, this is a hit song.  I am going to play it, even though its not garage, too damn beautiful to pass on." Jann music is on the GRAMMY-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT, his music's been featured on MTV's CRIBS and Paul Sorvino's movie, DEAD BROKE (Warner Bros.) His most recent recordings are REVERIE (2008) and SACRIFICE EP (2010). and he's releasing a new album in 2012.

Jann Klose & Jim McCarty, photo by Steven Triolo

Bronx Music Fans: "Tell Paul McCartney to Have Jann Klose Open The Show at Yankee Stadium, July 15 and 16."

"And Your Jann Can Sing"

Jann Klose performing the Beatles' "Something" at BanglaDesh-revisited, BB Kings, Nov. 2009

Preeminent singer/songwriter Paul McCartney received an offer from the Bronx-based singer/songwriter Jann Klose to open for the legendary Beatles star in the Bronx at Sir Paul's upcoming shows July 15 and 16 at Yankees Stadium. Not for $3000, as the recurring 1970s SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE "Reunite the Beatles" gag used to go, but because the prospect makes sense.

Paul McCartney is performing on Jann's home turf in the Bronx, where Jann has lived for the past 11 years. He has become an international representative of this borough, one of the most multi-cultural cities of the world. He has performed at Bronx Week and An Beal Bocht, and been profiled in Bronx media on TV, radio, internet, and print including a number of Daily News articles. Venues in his community around the Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester County, include shows at the venerable Tarrytown Music Hall, The Concert Hall, Rockwood Music Hall, the Bitter End, and BB Kings. He's influenced countless residents to make better eating decisions as he appears on the GRAMMY-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT along with Julian Lennon, Sweet Honey In the Rock, Russell Simmons, Moby, and St. Louis, MO scenester Beatle Bob.

When he's not in the Bronx, Jann tours throughout North America, France, Germany, Georgia, and the UK--including having performed a number of shows in Liverpool, UK-- two at the Beatles former stomping ground, the Cavern Club. In March 2012, Jann returns to Liverpool, where he'll be teaching a Master Class on DIY touring and the importance of collaboration at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts (the college Sir Paul McCartney co-founded).

Like the Beatles, Jann started performing in Hamburg, Germany, where he spent his teenage years. Hamburg was also where Jann first heard music by Paul McCartney and the Beatles. Born in Germany, raised in Kenya, South Africa, and Germany, Jann first came to the States as an exchange student in Cleveland. After fulfilling his civil service in Hamburg, he returned to the States to start his career.

After a stint in touring companies of Broadway plays (JEKYLL & HYDE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR) and portraying the Pinball Wizard in the NJPac production of TOMMY, Jann released BLACK BOX EP and the album REVERIE, both critically-acclaimed. In the past seven years, Jann's shared the stage with and opened for an array of artists, including Rusted Root, Renaissance, Marshall Crenshaw, Jonathan Edwards, Roger McGuinn, Pete Seeger, and the late Les Paul. He is now an eligible artist for the 2011 New York Music Awards, listed right between "Carole King" and "Lady Gaga." His music has been featured on MTV Cribs, the soundtrack to the Paul Sorvino film Dead Broke (Warner Bros), plus on compilations in France, Indonesia, and the UK. Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson found him representation in Germany.

Through the years Jann's praised Paul McCartney in his interviews. On the eve of Paul's 2009 tour, The Washington Examiner asked Jann about the former Beatle's impact and reason for longevity. Jann explained the singer's influence, "The melodies are so powerful and catching without being boring. You just don't forget them. I think more than anything that's what has staying power."

SCORE MUSIC's Paul Barile reviewed Jann's album, REVERIE, and wrote, "This sounds like what the Beatles would have made if they had grown old together." Some of the album's songs can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/jannklose .

Links to live music, including Jann's performance of "Something" from ABBEY ROAD at an annual BANGLADESH tribute and cancer benefit from New York City's BB Kings are at http://www.youtube.com/jannklose.

Paul McCartney and his staff have received invitations to any of Jann's upcoming shows. Come on out.

July 1: ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL w/ Tom Brislin, New York, NY
July 2: RECORD COLLECTOR w/ Tom Brislin, Bordentown, NJ
July 3: THE IRIDIUM, sitting in w/ Gary Lucas, New York, NY
July 9: HOUSE CONCERT, Trenton, NJ
August 11: MUSIKFEST 2011, Bethlehem, PA
September 10: STEPHEN TALKHOUSE w/ Jonathan Tiersten, Amagansett, NY
September 11: COFFEE WORKS w/ Jonathan Tiersten, Voorhees, NJ
October 26: IRON HORSE w/ Shawn Phillips, Northampton, MA
November 26: HIGHLINE BALLROOM, BanglaDesh revisited, New York, NY
March 2, 2012: MASTER CLASS, LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Liverpool, UK

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