HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC ART OF YARDBIRDS GUITARIST CHRIS DREJA TO BE SHOWN AND SOLD AT ZEPFEST, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY 27, 28, 29

Valuable Historic Art of The 1960s Rock Elite by Acclaimed Musician/Acclaimed Photographer At ZepFest, 2011

Chris Dreja will be presenting and selling his art--historical photographs from London in the 1960s-- at the ZepFest, May 27, 28, and 29, at the National Harbor, on the Potomac River, at Waterfront Street and St. George Blvd., in Prince George’s County, MD. There are a variety of tickets and pricing plans available for the Fest, including one-day events and VIP get-togethers.  The full Fest is $325.00, and tickets are available at http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/10641 or http://zepfest2011.eventbrite.com/ .  For more information, please e-mail info@zepfest.com and visit the web site, http://ZepFest.com or http://ZepFest2011.com.
 
Dreja's classic historical art focuses on legendary portraits of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, including the back portrait from Led Zeppelin 1. One photograph, featuring Jimmy, has been autographed by both Chris and Jimmy for the event. Dreja will privately sell this at the Fest, and make others available in a special section of the Festival's Merchandise Table.

Dreja has been the Yardbirds rhythm guitrist since the group formed in 1963.  He was also always a talented photographer, chronicling London and theYardbirds' experience in the 1960s.  After the group broke up in 1968, Jimmy Page offered him the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become Led Zeppelin). Dreja declined in order to pursue a profession in photography.  Only occasionally did he took breaks to play in Box of Frogs in the 1980s and the Yardbirds since 1992.  in addition to being a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Chris has received acclaim and an award from the UK's Designers and Art Directors Association.
 
A sampling of Chris Dreja's photography can be seen on his web site, http://www.chrisdreja.com.

The ZepFest features over 50 bands on five stages. It’s also a completely Green festival.  ZepFest CEO and Festival Director Mark Boudreau says the Fest will include, “Descendants, disciples and influences.” There’ll be blues artists the Night Hawks and Willie Big Eyes Smith, contemporaries Vanilla Fudge, and fans Dread Zeppelin, tribute bands. The late Pinetop Perkins was scheduled to perform, and the entire ZepFest will be dedicated to him.

Other Yardbirds’ members will be on hand throughout the day to connect with fans.   The band’s tour manager, Henry “The Horse” Smith, an original Led Zeppelin roadie, will share stories.  Jim McCarty will be giving a Q&A Session. 

The Yardbirds is original members: rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja and drummer Jim McCarty, and a new generation of musicians: singer/acoustic guitarist/harpist Andy Mitchell (since 2009), bassist David Smale (since 2009), and lead guitarist Ben King (since 2005).

The Yardbirds innovated 1960s guitar, with fuzz tone, feedback, distortion, backwards echo, improved amplification….and using a bow to play guitar.  The group paved the way for the careers of Eric Clapton (1963-’65)  Jeff Beck (’65-’66), and Jimmy Page (66-’68, first as bassist, then guitarist when Beck left).  The group drew some repertoire from the blues acts of the day, including Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf, and Bo Diddley, and the Yardbirds hits were some of the best songs of the British Invasion: “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things,” “I’m A Man,” and “Over Under Sideways Down,” “Train Kept A- Rolling,”  “Dazed and Confused.” “I’m A Man,”  and “Over Under Sideways Down,” and “Better Man Than I.”

The Yardbirds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.  Soon after the induction, Jim and Chris reformed the Yardbirds, first playing at London’s Marquee club with the newly reformed Animals.

In 2003, Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label released their album BIRDLAND, an album of new songs that featured guest appearances from Vai, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, Steve Lukather, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, and John Rzeznik.  In 2005 guitarist Ben King joined the group, who recorded LIVE AT B.B. KING BLUES CLUB on July 19, 2006.  That came out in 2007, included a version of “I’m a Man” that played on the Simpsons that year.

The Yardbirds has continue to tour.  An institution in popular music, blues, rock and roll, the group made an indelible mark on the music and culture of both the 1960s and future generations.



  
  

JANN KLOSE’S DOING TIME TO AIR NATIONWIDE ON THE RESTAURANT ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK

Heralded Music Video To Reach an Audience of 13 Million Monthly Viewers

Jann Klose’s video for “Doing Time” will be airing to an audience of more than 13 million monthly viewers on The Restaurant Entertainment Network located in over 1,000 Quick Serve Restaurants (Arby’s, Carl’s, Hardee’s, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Taco Bell) across the country.

indoorDIRECT’s Vice President of Strategic Alliances, Jonna Birgans, said that “Jann Klose is an up-and-coming artist and we are happy to provide new artists such as Jann exposure to millions of our viewers at restaurants nationwide.” Birgans elaborated, “We pride ourselves on not just working with national and international acts such at Weezer and the Parlotones but also unsigned bands and artists that our viewers would enjoy hearing while they are enjoying a meal at the nation’s leading quick service restaurants.”

The music video for "Doing Time," a fan favorite from Jann Klose’s critically acclaimed album, REVERIE, was produced by the New York Film Academy on the streets of New York City. Producer Tamara Gunashvili and director Addison Neville incorporated Stop-Motion style filming, using state-of-the-art photographic equipment. Over 9000 individual pictures were taken during the two-day shoot 4000 ended up in the 3 minute 40 second long video. Members of Jann's band (bassist Chris Marolf; accordionist Lars Potteiger; violinist Leah Potteiger; drummer Patrick Carmichael) are also seen in the video that was shot entirely in Manhattan at three different locations, including Union Square.

(Online, view http://www.indoordirect.com/watch )

The song “Doing Time” resonated quite nicely with music critics, as well: The Washington Post's Alexander Remington picked the song as his favorite, “His songs' immaculately tasteful orchestration sounds like Eric Matthews crossed with Nick Drake, best of all on the waltz 'Doing Time.' Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.”

Jann produced "Doing Time." Stewart Lerman (The Roches, Loudon Wainwright III, Dar Williams, and films THE AVIATOR and THE LIFE AQUATIC) mixed it.

Jann's music has also been featured on the GRAMMY-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT, MTV's Cribs, the soundtrack to the Paul Sorvino film Dead Broke. He's performed in touring companies of Broadway shows: The Who's Tommy, Jekyll & Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He also has released three albums and two EPs, which can be heard around the world, on over 140 FM stations and Sirius XM in the U.S., the BBC in England to Prambors Radio in Indonesia. In less than three months thousands have viewed (and reposted) Jann's remarkable video for DOING TIME, now featured on AOL/Spinner. Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/jannklose.

A citizen of the world, he's lived on three continents, making his home in the melting pot that is New York City. Before coming to the United States as an exchange student in Cleveland, Ohio, he lived in Germany, Kenya, and South Africa. As a singer/songwriter, his music reflects this lyrically, melodically, rhythmically and in his choice of eclectic instruments and musicians.

Jann will be touring this spring, starting April 29 in New York City, with Midwestern dates in May.

About indoorDIRECT
indoorDIRECT (www.indoordirect.com) is the owner of the Restaurant Entertainment Network, a powerful digital media network that delivers Internet-based entertainment and advertising to more than one thousand major brand quick-service restaurants nationwide. The Network entertains more than 150 million viewers annually at Wendy’s, Denny’s, Arby’s, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell and other restaurants in America’s top Designated Market Areas (DMAs). indoorDIRECT is privately held and based in Dallas, with additional offices in New York and Los Angeles.

JANN KLOSE TOUR DATES

April 27: VALERIE'S NEW YORK, WOR RADIO, New York, NY
April 27: MARIANNE MORRISON SHOW, www.centannibroadcasting.com, New York, NY
April 28: ALL NIGHT WITH JOEY REYNOLDS on NBC NY Non-Stop
April 29: ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL STAGE 2, New York, NY
May 7: LEHIGH VALLEY MUSIC CONFERENCE
May 13: CLUB CAFE w/ Colter Harper and Preach Freedom, Pittsburgh, PA
May 14: LOVELIGHT BOUTIQUE, New Castle, PA
May 15: THE LEMON GROVE, Youngstown, OH
May 17: INDY STYLE TV 8, Indianapolis, IN
May 17: BIRDY'S, w/ Jenn Cristy and Chad Mills, Indianapolis, IN
May 18: BEATNIK'S CAFE, Marion, IN
May 19: STEVE AND JOHNNIE SHOW, WGN RADIO, Chicago, IL
May 20: WGN MIDDAY NEWS, WGN Superstation, Chicago, IL
May 20: SKOKIE THEATRE, w/ Emily Hurd, Skokie, IL
May 21: THE WINCHESTER w/ Cuda, Renko, Cuda, Cleveland, OH
May 27: MAYFAIR FESTIVAL, Allentown, PA
June 12: STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, Beacon, NY
June 17: GODFREY DANIELS, w/ Cliff Eberhardt, Bethlehem, PA
August 11: MUSIKFEST 2011, Bethlehem, PA
October 26: IRON HORSE w/ Shawn Phillips, Northampton, MA
March 2, 2012: MASTER CLASS, LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Liverpool, UK

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IAN ANDERSON’S OUT OF THIS WORLD CONCERT

Colonel Catherine Coleman Taking Ian Anderson's Stance To The Universe
 
When worldwide fame and notoriety have been achieved, taking your music into outer space is the only place left to go.
 
On April 12th Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson will be taking part in a duet with US astronaut Colonel Catherine Coleman to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin’s first manned space flight in 1961.
 
However, this duet is no ordinary collaboration. Whilst Anderson will be live on stage in Perm, Russia, Coleman will be in orbit in the International Space Station as she contributes to Ian’s truly out of this world concert.
 
Coleman’s part of the performance will be screened by video link to the audience in Perm from somewhere in the galaxy as part of this gravity defying gig.
 
The pair will be playing an excerpt from Bouree from Tull's STAND UP album.
 
Coleman has been practising her Ian Anderson trade mark of playing the flute whilst standing (or in her case floating) on one leg. For 3 months, Anderson's flute accompanied Cady Coleman and her own flute in orbit allowing her to perfect her Anderson stance ahead of the duet.
 

THE YARDBIRDS HEADLINE ZEPFEST, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY 27, 28, 29

left to right: Ben King, Jim McCarty, David Smale, Chris Dreja, Andy Mitchell

The Yardbirds will be headlining the first annual ZepFest, playing all three nights May 27, 28, and 29—Memorial Day Weekend, at the National Harbor, on the
Potomac River, at Waterfront Street and St. George Blvd., in Prince George's County, MD.

There are a variety of tickets and pricing plans available for the Fest, including one-day events and VIP get-togethers. The full Fest is $325.00, and tickets are
available at http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/10641 or http://zepfest2011.eventbrite.com/ . For more information, please e-mail info@zepfest.com and visit the web site, http://ZepFest.com or http://ZepFest2011.com.

The ZepFest features over 50 bands on five stages. There’ll be speakers, authors, secret shows. It’s also a completely Green festival. ZepFest CEO and Festival Director Mark Boudreau says the Fest will include, “Descendants, disciples and influences.” There’ll be blues artists the Night Hawks and Willie Big Eyes Smith, contemporaries Vanilla Fudge, and fans Dread Zeppelin, tribute bands, and guest speakers most notably Atlantic Records’ Jerry Greenberg.

The late Pinetop Perkins was scheduled to perform, and the entire ZepFest will be dedicated to him.

The Yardbirds’ band members will be on hand throughout the day to connect with fans. Guitarist Ben King will be part of the Ultimate Dream Band in which a lucky fan gets a shot at playing before the Yardbirds. The band’s tour manager, Henry “The Horse” Smith, an original Led Zeppelin roadie, will be on hand to tell stories. Jim McCarty will be giving a Q&A Session. Rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, who became a professional photographer after the Yardbirds broke up in 1968, will be showing (and selling) photographs, including the iconic back lit shot of Jimmy Page, which will be signed by both Jimmy and Chris. A sampling of Chris’ work can be seen on his web site, http://www.chrisdreja.com.

The Yardbirds is original members: rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja and drummer Jim McCarty, and a new generation of musicians: singer/acoustic guitarist/harpist Andy Mitchell (since 2009), bassist David Smale (since 2009), and lead guitarist Ben King (since 2005).

The Yardbirds innovated 1960s guitar, with fuzz tone, feedback, distortion, backwards echo, improved amplification….and using a bow to play guitar. The group paved the way for the careers of Eric Clapton (1963-‘65) Jeff Beck (’65-‘66), and Jimmy Page (66-’68, first as bassist, then guitarist when Beck left). The group drew some repertoire from the blues acts of the day, including Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf, and Bo Diddley, and the Yardbirds hits were some of the best songs of the British Invasion: “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” "Shapes of Things," “I'm A Man,” and “Over Under Sideways Down,” “Train Kept A- Rolling,” “Dazed and Confused.” “I’m A Man,” and “Over Under Sideways Down,” and “Better Man Than I.”

The Yardbirds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Soon after the induction, Jim and Chris reformed the Yardbirds, first playing at London’s Marquee club with the newly reformed Animals.

In 2003, Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label released their album BIRDLAND, an album of new songs that featured guest appearances from Vai, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, Steve Lukather, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and John Rzeznik. In 2005 guitarist Ben King joined the group, who recorded LIVE AT B.B. KING BLUES CLUB on July 19, 2006. That came out in 2007, included a version of “I’m a Man” that played on the Simpsons that year.

The Yardbirds has continued to tour. An institution in popular music, blues, rock and roll, the group made an indelible mark on the music and culture of both the 1960s and future generations.



Please check out these fan videos from the Yardbirds on tour:

“For Your Love” – 7/10/09 Fillmore New York
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkdvX0EnuTk

“Shapes of Things” – 7/14/09 Ottawa Blues Fest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gPXRfqXNWE&feature=related

“Heart Full of Soul” – 7/10/09 Fillmore New York
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRHY8B7VJXM

“Dazed and Confused” – 7/6/09 Mohegan Sun Casino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Ue36zn8c4
“Train Kept A Rollings” 5/26/2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2OhdlQ1lQI

“You’re a Better Man Than I” 5/26/2010, BB Kings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_k4b1RMUS0&feature=related

Recommendations for Veronique Cordier, Hank Bordowitz

 
 
One of the things I'm finding in my fan power artist development work with my future classic rockers is that our long-time music industry colleagues, who've moved on to other things, are still fans, and still got the chops. The last half of 2010, I had a serious amount of work with all my artists, and asked a few folks to help me out in different capacities with some of my projects.   

One was Veronique Cordier of V Entertainment, who kicked butt, collaborating with me on Ian Anderson's tour. She got lesser selling venues way UP. Her approach really is marketing oriented, and multi-faceted engaging everyone from talk and sports radio to bloggers. She has been expanding her PR firm in the last few years to include clients such as Unicef  (Wiggles song to raise awareness) and Boys & Girls Clubs (benefit concert marketing), where she integrates her experience in entertainment with her passion for social change. Think partnerships.

The other is Hank Bordowitz.  Many know him as the guy who has written significant books that detailed the whys of the ups and downs in the music biz, including DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS OF THE RECORD BUSINESS.  He's done a lot through the years in the music biz.  He has a great sensitivity, as well, to all genres, all music, and understands what it's like to be an artist.  He is a darn good A&R Consultant, and can do hands on work with acts.  
 
If you're in a co-management/artist development and long-term growth relationship with artists and need help with that, while writing bios, press releases, Hank is great as a long-distance development person.  He's on SKYPE--most of the developing artists are, as well.  
 
And a reminder, he is available for writing work.  He does a good job.  Think versatility and team players.

E-mails for both these terrific talents:
Veronique: ventnet@aol.com
Hank: Hank@bordowitz.com

JETHRO TULL Celebrates AQUALUNG's 40th Anniversary With A North American Tour

In celebration of the park bench, dribbly-nosed voyeur's 40th Anniversary, Ian Anderson returns to the USA with his band Jethro Tull, starting June 8 in Denver, CO and ending on the 27 in Chicago, IL.

The group features longtime members Ian Anderson (flute, vocals, acoustic guitar) and Martin Barre (guitars), Doane Perry (drums), as well as David Goodier (bass) and pianist John O'Hara. The latter two joined in 2006 after working with Ian on some of his solo projects.

The group will be performing the Aqualung album in its entirety plus a range of their other favorites from the lat 42 years. Critics dubbed AQUALUNG “a concept album,” particularly for Ian's critical, skeptical views of organized religion, mostly on side B ("My God," "Hymn 43"). Anderson has disputed - almost resented - the assessment seeing the record as "just a bunch of songs." This led the band to give the critics a full-blown concept album with the following studio release THICK AS A BRICK which topped the Billboard charts in 1972.

On AQUALUNG, the group explores the struggles of the less fortunate in our society (e.g., "Aqualung," "Cross-Eyed Mary," "Up to Me"). Teenage angst and formal education difficulties (e.g., "Wind Up") are explored, and Ian returns to his parental themes with "Cheap Day Return," a tune encompassing Anderson's feelings while traveling North on the train to visit his sick father. "Locomotive Breath" touches on the issues of globalization, population expansion and runaway economics. Sound familiar?

Formed in 1968, Jethro Tull released its first album THIS WAS late in that year and followed up in 1969 with STAND UP. In the 1970s, the group was one of the most successful live performing acts on the world stage, rivaling Zeppelin, Elton John and even the Rolling Stones. Surprising, really, for a group whose more sophisticated and evolved stylistic extravagance was far from the Pop and Rock norm of that era.

With now some 30-odd albums to their credit and sales totaling more than 50 million, the apparently un-commercial Tull continues to perform over a 100 concerts per year with its rich variety and depth of expression, wherever fans, young and old, want to hear Rock, Folk, Jazz and Classical-inspired music. Music for boys in long trousers and girls with brains.

In 2011, Tull will tour in Australia, Ireland, and Germany. And Ian will perform solo shows in Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Panama, Mexico, Czech Republic, the UK, Sweden, Denmark and Finland finishing with his customary charity Christmas concerts at three UK cathedrals.

In 2006, Ian was awarded a Doctorate in Literature from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement in Music and, in the New Years Honours List 2008, an MBE for services to music. In 2012, he expects to be awarded the Smithsonian Medal of Honor for smelling OK for someone his age and having ears still in proportion to the rest of his head. His bladder remains elastic and his prostate the size of a pinhead.


###

June 8: Red Rock Amphitheater, Morrison, CO
June 10: Comerica Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
June 11: The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
June 12: TBA, Valley Center, CA
June 13: The Grove, Anaheim, CA
June 14: TBA, Saratoga, CA
June 16: Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene, OR
June 17: McMenamins Edgefield Concerts On The Lawn, Troutdale, OR
June 18: TBA, Woodinville, WA
June 19: Centre for the Performing Arts, Vancouver, BC
June 21: Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton, AB
June 22: Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB
June 23: Casino Regina, Regina, SK
June 25: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
June 26: Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
June 27: Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, IL

TOWER OF POWER CELEBRATE ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH ALBUM, DVD AND REUNION

New Collection Features TOP alumni like Lenny Pickett and Chester Thompson; Special Guests Include Soul Legend Sam Moore.

It’s spring! As we celebrate the start of the baseball season, the end of the basketball season and the release of Tower of Power’s 40th Anniversary album, the operative phrase in everyone’s ears is “We Came To Play.”
But then, Tower of Power has “come to play,” every single time they take to the stage over the last 42 years. The horn driven soul and funk machine has toured consistently playing to so(u)ld out crowds around the world. And after 40 years, four of the original musicians still play with the band.
Similar to sports teams, however, Tower of Power has had numerous players take free agency with other musical prospects. So the 40th Anniversary show gave the band an opportunity to stage their version of “Old Timer’s Day,” bringing 20 former members to work with the ongoing ten player line-up.
“When we were young and we’d lose somebody, it seemed like the end of the world,” TOP founder Emilio Castillo told Gary Graff. “But it started happening at such an early age in our career, and we always overcame it and always got great people to come in.”
Captured live at the Legendary Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco in 2008, this extraordinary show welcomed such former members as Greg Adams, TOP’s trumpeter and arranger for 20 years and subsequently one of the architects of the “smooth Jazz” sound; Chester Thompson, who moved on to play keys for Santana and Elton John; and chart topping “smooth jazz” sax player and first call session guy Richard Elliott.
At a show recorded on the band’s actual anniversary, former TOP member Lenny Pickett, long time sax player for the Saturday Night Live band, joined in. He’s in the bonus footage and is interviewed. Legendary vocalist Sam Moore, of Sam and Dave, added to the funkified festivities with “I Thank You,” and Otis Redding’s “Mr. Pitiful.” The DVD is dedicated to Steve “Skip” Mesquite, long time alto player for TOP, who made the show and passed on shortly afterward.
The CD and DVD package is a slam dunk of soulful funk, with such great Tower of Power hits as “What is Hip?” “You’re Still A Young Man,” the ever timely “Only So Much Oil In The Ground,” and “This Time It’s Real.” After 40 years, this band can clearly still hit it out of the ballpark.
“It was probably the most special night of our entire career,” said Castillo. “Getting together and playing again with those guys we’d spent so much time with on the road. It was magic.”
#030111#

TWO MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS ON JANN KLOSE

Fundraising and Teaching

FUNDRAISING:
Jann Klose's fundraiser for his next album will be celebrating in the form of a fundraising concert at the Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, 196 Allen Street, New York, New York, at 7:30 PM, on April 29, 2011.  Admission TBA, there will be very special guests. The venue phone is 212-477-4155.


(Jann Klose on the Red Carpet for the Grammy Awards)

Unaffiliated with overpopulated crowd-funding sites, Jann is funding his new album on his own site, http://www.peoplerecordsmusic.com. 

Fans can choose from over 40 exclusive items, including: download of new album: $10, Jann's favorite German recipe (hand-written) for $40, Skype video chat with Jann singing a song of your choice for $40, a music career consultation on Skype with Jann and me for $250, and "Executive Producer" and "Patron" credits for $10,000 and $25,000.  Details of the fundraising campaign are at Jann's site, http://www.peoplerecordsmusic.com.

REVERIE recouped three times over, received airplay on over 140 radio stations, praise from the media including this Washington Post quote, “Klose wins over the listener with soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come."  Later this year, Jann will be releasing a speciahis sol REVERIE collectors edition with two extra songs from the sessions and the music video "Doing Time."
 
TEACHING:
On March 2, 2012, Jann will be presenting a Master Class on DIY TOURING AND CAREER BUILDING at The Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts.  The school was founded by Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Faetherstone-Witty, in 1996. Jann is excited to be returning to one of his favorite UK cities for his fourth UK tour, which will include a few more classes and even more shows.  He will also be touring his native Germany again, where he gained representation with Nic Events late 2010.  

At Liverpool Institute, Jann will his explain his approach to building and sustaining his music business on principles of dialogue, cooperation, and commerce. This cooperative attitude includes collaborations with regional and international leads in government, media, corporate, business, educational, charitable organizations, and the fans.  

In the past three years Jann has shared the stage or opened for many artists: Rusted Root, Martin Harley Band, Old School Freight Train, Marshall Crenshaw, Shawn Phillips, Willy Porter, The Strawbs, Melissa Ferrick, Michael Glabicki, Antigone Rising, Elliott Murphy, Marty Stuart, Rosanne Cash, Roger McGuinn, Pete Seeger, Annie Haslam, Renaissance, and Les Paul.  WGN-Chicago Radio's Steve & Johnnie, Rock Hall inductee Joey Reynolds and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson have all personally lent a helping hand in his career.
   
Jann is available for interviews on this new means of building, sustaining, and funding a music business.
  
JANN KLOSE TOUR DATES

March 11: IBS CONVENTION, New York, NY
March 12:  WDFH, Private Event, Yonkers, NY
March 18: A JEFF BUCKLEY TRIBUTE EVENT CURATED BY GARY LUCAS @ KNITTING FACTORY, Brooklyn, NY
April 2: NJ PROGHOUSE w/ Muriel Anderson at Rockn' Joes, Kendall Park, NJ
April 29: ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL STAGE 2, New York, NY
May 7: LEHIGH VALLEY MUSIC CONFERENCE
May 13: CLUB CAFE, Pittsburgh, PA
May 17: BIRDYS w/ Micaela Kingslight, Indianapolis, IN
May 19: STEVE AND JOHNNIE SHOW, WGN RADIO, Chicago, IL
May 20: WGN MIDDAY NEWS, Chicago, IL
May 20: SKOKIE THEATRE, W/ Emily Hurd, Skokie, IL
May 21: TBA w/ Micaela Kingslight, Kalamazoo, MI
June 12: STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, Beacon, NY
August 11: MUSIKFEST 2011, Bethlehem, PA
March 2, 2012: MASTER CLASS, LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Liverpool, UK
                                          
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http://www.jannklose.com
hi res photos and bios:  http://jannklose.com/press.html
“Doing Time” video and live performances at http://www.youtube.com/jannklose 
http://www.jannklose.com

WDFH FM 90.3 to Inaugurate New Studio w/ Musical Performances, March 12

Dania Abu-Shaheen on WDFH's New Studio Launch, March 12

Contact information (not for publication): Marc Sophos
marc@wdfh.org
212-924-9833 or 914-674-0900 ext. 58 after 3:00 p.m.

pdf: http://wdfh.org/press_releases/2011-01-31-studiolaunch.pdf
doc: http://wdfh.org/press_releases/2011-01-31-studiolaunch.doc

WDFH, community public radio for the lower Hudson valley, will inaugurate its new studio with a special broadcast of live performances by musicians from our region. The broadcast will take place on Saturday, March 12, starting at 8:00 p.m.

WDFH's long history has resembled a roller coaster. Marc Sophos, the station's founder, spent about 20 years -- starting in 1973, when he was a student at Dobbs Ferry High School -- to secure the station's broadcast license from the FCC. Since WDFH's first broadcast in 1995, the station has built studios and then lost them twice, most recently in 2006. Its transmitter has been shuttled from location to location. The station was even forced off the air entirely for nearly a year in the late 1990s.

But recent events have enabled WDFH to rise from the ashes. In January
2009, the station completed a 7-1/2 year project to expand its FM
signal, increasing the number of potential listeners to 400,000, forty
times more than it could reach earlier. In 2010, a donation from a
community minded supporter enabled the station to acquire space to build
a new studio. The studio, completed in September, includes vastly
upgraded equipment from the studios of WQXR, donated to WDFH in 2010 by
The New York Times after the legendary classical music station was sold
to WNYC. This is the first time in the station's entire history that it
has had a viable signal and a studio at the same time. Mr. Sophos
started training volunteers in the studio during the fall, and just
recently, the first live broadcasts on WDFH since 2006 took place.

"This is a very exciting time for us," said Vinny Cohan, a longtime WDFH
volunteer who hosts a music program on Saturday evenings at 9:00.
"We've spent the past few years laying the groundwork, and it's
thrilling that the pieces are finally coming together to create this new
beginning." Mr. Cohan and fellow program hosts Dave Foster (Tuesdays at
7:00 p.m.) and John Dyer (Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.) share their deep
knowledge and play music from WDFH's library of more than 100,000
recordings. These programs are repeated at various times during the
week. The station broadcasts a freeform mix of rock, folk, blues, and
jazz, and plans to introduce new music hosts in the coming months.

Mr. Sophos said that in an age when musical entertainment has moved to
computerized radio stations and online services, it's refreshing to hear
the occasional crackle of vinyl records and to realize that there's a
real human being choosing the music personally. "It's a rarity these
days," he said. "Many radio stations today broadcast a song rotation
chosen by a computer and played off a hard drive. That's part of the
reason that many people have turned to online music; they figure that if
radio isn't giving them music chosen thoughtfully, they might as well
customize their own playlists. But something really important has been
lost, and I think that a lot of people are starting to realize that.
We're a proud throwback to an earlier age, when radio meant records and
CDs and a real person carefully choosing what music to play. We curate
our presentation of music in the way that a museum curator creates an
exhibit -- with a human touch. Computers can't do that."

While the station is working to increase the number of volunteer music
program hosts, it is also creating new public affairs programs. On
January 19, it launched Village Green, a new weekly program about
environmental sustainability hosted by Maxine Margo Rubin. It has just
started work on a program that will give voice to LGBT youth. More
original programming is in the planning stages. Continuing public
affairs programs include Recovery Talk, hosted by journalist Robyn
Leary; the show explores recovery from addiction, trauma, illness,
domestic violence, and more. In Focus, a local news discussion program
hosted by WDFH veterans Jane Botticelli and Mr. Cohan, features in-depth
reporting by Gary Cahill, the publisher and editor of The Gazette. The
show focuses on Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Cortlandt, and Croton. WDFH
is now exploring possibilities for the expansion of the program to cover
a wider range of communities. The station also carries public affairs
programs from independent producers and the Pacifica Radio Network,
including the daily news programs Democracy Now and Free Speech Radio News.

The live inaugural broadcast on March 12 will mark WDFH's official
celebration of its new beginning. Musical guests will include the
critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Jann Klose, who will be making
his debut on WDFH. He has performed with or opened for Annie Haslam and
Renaissance, Marty Stuart, Willy Porter, Pete Seeger, Melissa Ferrick,
Marshall Crenshaw, Rosanne Cash, and Les Paul. Also performing will be
Starnes&Shah, the duo of Zilpha Starnes and Dania Abu-Shaheen, joined by
bassist Nick LaBate. Ms. Abu-Shaheen has performed several times on
WDFH, first with her three-piece combo including Sarah Nurbhai on violin
and Matt Noble on bass and later with her band The Antics.

"We're delighted to have this chance to showcase musicians from our
local area," said Mr. Sophos. "We have some very good public radio
stations with signals that can be heard in our area, but their
programming focus is elsewhere. WDFH is based right here in the lower
Hudson valley, our volunteer staff comes from here, and our programming
is intended to serve our local interests, not those of the city."

He added, "Visits from musicians were a regular part of our programming,
but when we lost our studio in 2006, everything came to a stop. Now
that our new studio is up and running, we'll be working to regain our
position as a leading forum for live performances and in-depth interviews."

In addition to Ms. Abu-Shaheen, the roster of musical guests who have
appeared at WDFH includes the actor and folksinger Dominic Chianese,
known for his roles in The Godfather Part II and on HBO's The Sopranos;
jazz musicians Theo Bleckmann and Ben Monder; Rachelle Garniez; David
Bennett Cohen of Country Joe and the Fish; Susan Kane, Dave Goldman, and
others from Tribes Hill; the Tony Rivera Band; Chicago bluesman
Fruteland Jackson; The Almost Original Synthetic Swampgrass Jug-Band;
Josh Holmes; Elisa Peimer; The Shermans; Real Live Girl; Alex Sweeton;
Bethany Yarrow; Don Brewer; Melanie; synthesizer gurus Richard Lainhart
and Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and the supergroup Liquid Tension
Experiment; and others.

WDFH, which is nonprofit, noncommercial, and powered by volunteers, is
supported by tax-deductible contributions from the public and local
businesses. It is working to develop other funding sources as well, and
once it reaches $100,000 in local funding, it plans to apply for grants
from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The live broadcast on March 12 will be attended by an invited audience
of WDFH's friends and supporters. A limited number of invitations will
be offered to new donors who make tax-deductible contributions of $150
or more. Mr. Sophos said that the station is encouraging people to
donate early because space at the March 12 broadcast is limited.

About WDFH

WDFH is the lower Hudson valley's only community public radio station.
The station's parent organization is Hudson Valley Community Radio,
Inc., a local nonprofit organization that is tax exempt under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. WDFH is an affiliate of the
Pacifica Radio Network and is the lower Hudson valley's on-air source
for Democracy Now! and Free Speech Radio News. The station can be heard
at 90.3 FM in central and northern Westchester and eastern Rockland. It
can also be heard anywhere online at http://wdfh.org. A separate audio
stream is optimized for iPhones and other mobile devices.

Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to WDFH at 21 Brookside Lane,
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522. Contributions can also be made online through
wdfh.org.

WDFH is also seeking volunteers to create programming and work behind
the scenes. Anyone interested in joining the staff should visit
wdfh.org and click on the "volunteer" link.

##

Anne Leighton's MY BRAIN, THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS

A heads up that my poetry and prose book, MY BRAIN, THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS will be published in July 2011.

The web page for it is up, and includes this downloadable flyer that you can share with friends and art lovers!

Here's the site: http://workinggalrockandroll.blogspot.com.

Jann Klose on Grammy-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT

Singer-songwriter Jann Klose is part of a Grammy-nominated album put together and marketed by a coalition of musicians, poets, childrens health experts, entrepreneurs, and-- of course-- album producers. The album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT is up for a Grammy in the category: "Best Spoken Word Album For Children." http://www.grammy.com/nominees.

The album's producers, Kevin Mackie, Jim Cravero, Paula Lizzi, and Steve Pullara assembled the 60-track, 2-record set (and digital release) over the course of two years. Other acts who contributed to the release include: Russell Simmons, Uncle Floyd, Julian Lennon, Michael O'Keefe, Tyler Grady, Tom Chapin, Sweet Honey In the Rock, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Moby, Trout Fishing In America, and Sara Hickman.

Everyone donated their time and talents to create this album, and are assisting the project's publicist Paula Lizzi in spreading the word about the album's release. All the profits from this project will go to the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food; www.healthyschoolfood.org. And the album has already made a profit with Midwest Books picking it up for distribution before the nominations.

There will be a CD release and fundraiser at the New York City studio of famed artist Peter Max on Friday, January 28. Tickets are $25, and available through the web site. http://healthyfoodforthought.com.

Klose's involvement comes from the heart, "I've grown up and traveled a lot in my lifetime already and see that people everywhere struggle with eating right. I think it's something we have to work very hard on. I personally try to cook as much as possible, using fresh and as many unprocessed foods as possible. It makes a big difference in taste alone!"

The Washington Post writes, “Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.”

A citizen of the world, Jann Klose has lived on three continents, making his home in the melting pot that is New York City. Before coming to the United States as an exchange student in Cleveland, Ohio, he lived in Germany, Kenya, and South Africa. During the course of his career, Klose has worked live or in the studio with artists ranging from pioneers like Pete Seeger and Les Paul to classic rockers like Roger (The Byrds) McGuinn, and Annie (Renaissance) Haslam to major country stars like Rosanne Cash and Marty Stuart, to award winning mentors like voice teacher David Gooding and producers Marlon Graves, and Stewart Lerman. He warranted endorsements from Martin Guitars and L.R. Baggs. WGN Radio's Steve & Johnnie, Rock Hall inductee Joey Reynolds and Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson have all personally lent a helping hand in his career.

In addition to the Grammy-nominated HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT, Klose's music has been heard on MTV's Cribs, the soundtrack to the Paul Sorvino film Dead Broke, or seen and heard him in touring companies of The Who's Tommy, Jekyll & Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He also has released three albums and two EPs, which can be heard around the world, on over 130 FM stations and Sirius XM in the U.S., the BBC in England to Prambors Radio in Indonesia. In the past half year, thousands have viewed (and reposted) Jann's remarkable video for DOING TIME, now featured on AOL/Spinner. Watch the video at www.youtube.com/jannklose

Time Out New York succinctly explained, “Jann Klose writes warm, hooky pop music.” The Advance Wire Service states: “The first thing that's totally unmistakable about Jann Klose is that voice - which is just light years beyond that of the typical singer-songwriter … a sound that is classy, distinctive and often irresistible.”

Jann Klose is available for interviews on his music, contribution to the album and ways he's helped his friends fight obesity.

Contact for HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Paula Lizzi:
215-620-0086
plizzi@comcast.net

JESSIE GALANTE HEADING BACK TO EUROPE

Looking forward to dates in Netherlands and Italy supporting her latest album, Spitfire
 
While Jessie Galante might have earned the title of Buffalo’s First Lady of Rock, more than half the dates she has played over the last decade helped set Europe on fire, particularly the Netherlands and Hungary.  In support of her latest release, the rocking, ultra-soulful Spitfire, she’s heading back over the pond from New York to revisit some of her favorite stages and spread the love to some new ones.

Made from the same mold as Janis Jopin, Tina Turner, and Nancy Wilson (of Heart), Jessie tears up a stage and takes no prisoners live. And scores of those prisoners over the past ten years were taken in the Netherlands and Budapest.

As befits Buffalo’s First Lady of Rock, Jessie was raised in Buffalo, NY.  In her late teens she joined the band Actor.  They had a hit with the song “Checkin’ Out.” Actor remains a Buffalo legend, and you can still hear “Checkin’ Out” on some that City's radio stations.

After a short stint in Los Angeles, which included Michael Wagener's production of her band Fire and a recording that found its way all over the world including reviews and radio airplay, like on Piccadilly Radio, England,and Radio Flash 97.6, Italy. Jessie came back to Buffalo, and there she hooked up with producer/engineer Larry Swist. Swist's incredible career has seen him helming the studio with artists ranging from Ike and Tina Turner to Sly and the Family Stone, Spryo Gyra to Foreigner’s Lou Gramm. He saw that, “Her extraordinary stage presence and ability to explode with excitement in performance makes ‘The Jessie Experience” the real deal.”

Jessie’s next move was to conquer Europe.  She moved to the Netherlands, and played festivals and clubs and opening for National bands like Golden Earring. Jessie's band in the Netherlands is comprised of musicians previously with the Dutch national band Volumia. She built a huge fan base and earned tons of media attention, throughout the Netherlands and Hungary.  Radio host Hubert Van Hoof of Netherland’s L1 Radio compared her to rockin’ soul greats Chaka Kahn and Mother’s Finest lead vocalist Joyce Kennedy.  Even when she moved back to the United States, Jessie spends a good portion of each year in Europe.

“My audiences in Europe are incredibly enthusiastic,” Jessie says.  “We’ve made a heart to heart connection.”
 
The musicians on “Spitfire” epitomize this cosmopolitan attitude, as well. She recorded with American musicians, who previously played with artists ranging  from Lenny Kravitz to Anastacia, Everlast to Joss Stone and Billy Joel, and the European artists who comprise her band during her annual trips there.  Swist co-produced the album with eight-time Grammy-award winner Mick Guzauski (mixed Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Anastacia, KISS, Celine Dion, Earth Wind & Fire).
 
The result is an album made to cross borders. Musical borders like soul and rock disappear on songs like the title track and merge on her cover of Gladys Knights “(I’ve Got To Use) My Imagination." International borders crumble like the Berlin Wall on “Get Away,” co-written with her Hungarian guitarist Peter Raso.

What brings all these people, energy, sounds and other musical elements together?  Simply Jessie Galante’s incredible voice and amazing stage presence.  Anyone who’s heard her gets hooked on the passion, power, and puissance of her voice, just as she’s hooked on singing.  “Some people crave chocolate, I need to sing,” she explains. “The physical energy of singing is an extreme act for me.  In fact, it’s a fix.”
 
Give her a listen and get the addiction.
 

RIP Gerry Rafferty, from the Strawbs' and Stealers Wheel Rod Coombes

From Rod Coombes on behalf of bandmates (Tony Williams, Paul Pilnick) in Stealers Wheel.


"It is very sad that Gerry has passed. He had a long hard battle with alcoholism. Gerry was a consummate craftsman and gave a lot to the music world.

He leaves a brilliant legacy as a songwriter, so in his life he achieved
that. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his daughter Martha, his
granddaughter Celia and brother Jim."

Full story about Gerry Rafferty's life and passing at http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jan/04/gerry-rafferty-obituary

IAN ANDERSON'S OUT OF THIS WORLD FLUTE DUET

Stay tuned for Ian Anderson playing a unique flute duet live with NASA's Colonel Cady, who--AT 14.09 (2:09) EST heads off tonight on mission 26 to the ISS where she will rendezvous with Ian's flute which went up on a Russian supply rocket a few weeks ago. Says Ian, "We plan to play together - a space duet - in the New Year. Maybe Gagarin day - the 50th Anniversary of the first man in space on the 12th April."

The Revolution in Music, Space, and Air will be Televised on NASA TV.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html?param=public'

Anne Leighton on Grammy-Nominated Album

I'm on an album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT that was nominated for a Grammy in “Best Spoken Word Album for Children.” Also on the album is my artist Jann Klose, and former client Uncle Floyd, plus friends Beatle Bob, Michael O'Keefe, radio host Gene Shay, plus Moby, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Julian Lennon, and Tom Chapin. The album's creators are Kevin Mackie, and producers Jim Cravero, Paula Lizzi & Steve Pullara. It took Kevin and company over two years to put together this album. It is very well done.

http:www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2010&genre=4

http:healthyfoodforthought.com

On January 28, there'll be a record release party for HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT at Peter Max Studios, in New York City for The New York Coalition for School Food. I'LL BE PERFORMING AND WILL HAVE JOE DENINZON ON MANDOLIN, ACCOMPANYING ME!!! I am also bringing Jahmane Bright, who is my co-producer for my album, and he would love to meet you. That's my posse. I also understand Jann Klose is bringing his posse as he's performing at this event. Acclaimed-jazz clarinetist Oran Etkin will also be on stage.
Mr. Oran Etkin showing and playing his clarinet for kids! http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcmlwSeWko8
Contact for HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Paula Lizzi at soulcomfort@aol.com