The Other Half of this Morning’s Soundtrack – Prog Rockers from Wales – 25 Yard Screamer!!

25 Yard ScreamerSo like I wrote earlier today,  this morning’s soundtrack was a little eclectic, as I listened to two albums at the opposite ends of the musical spectrum. The first was Herb Alpert’s new album Steppin’ Out and at the other end of the spectrum was a progressive rock album from a trio from the UK 25 Yard Screamer. I found 25 Yard Screamer’s name among the new prog rock releases early this morning.. Their new album is titled Something that Serves to Remind or Reward. A quick trip to MOG returned only the band’s 2011 release Until All are One. So that one went on the iphone and played in the background as I worked away, and it certainly made trying to figure out how to get NJDEP approval for our client more pleasant!! A little about the band from the ProgArchives: Read More

2013 Jazz – The Music of Omar Sosa – Eggun: The Afri-Lectric Experience

Omar SosaSo the other day MOG by way of their Just for You section introduced me to the music of Omar Sosa, and I’m glad they did!!  Sosa is a Cuban born composer, bandleader, and jazz pianist. His newest band  Afreecanos, combines Afro Pop, jazz, and a variety of European instruments. The band, which includes musicians from Africa, Cuba, Brazil, and France, released a CD in 2009 and went on a world tour in early 2010. Read More

Today in Music – Nov 18, 1959 – Jazz/Rock Drummer Cindy Blackman is Born! Happy Birthday Mrs. Santana!!

Cindy BlackmanThe first jazz artist that caught my eye when I reviewed the birthday list this morning at All About Jazz was Cindy Blackman and the reason was simple she is a drummer!!  I do believe that there are not that many of them around!!  What I didn’t know at the time, aside from who the hell she is, was that in the spring of 2010 Cindy sat in with Carlos Santana when the band’s drummer  Dennis Chambers had a previous commitment. Cindy and Carlos had first met several years earlier at a festival in Europe when Cindy was touring with Lenny Kravitz. .By July of 2010 Carlos proposed to Cindy and the two were married in December! So who besides Mrs Carlos Santana is this Cindy Blackman. A stop at Wikipedia was in order…… =&0=& (born November 18, 1959), sometimes known as =&1=&,[1] is a virtuoso drummer whose artistry spans the realms of jazz and rock.  Blackman is best known for recording and touring with Lenny Kravitz. Full Biography  and at her website I read……..

As a bandleader and as a musician, Cindy is a sound innovator with a passion for pushing creative boundaries and exploring movement and change.  She is as known for the nuances and colors she brings to her beats and fills as she is for the sheer power of her soulful playing.  “Some drummers act, some react.  Some keep time, others create it.  Cindy Blackman Santana is among the few who can,” writes Mike Zwerin for the International Herald Tribune. More Bio Read More

Jazz Trumpet from Chicago – Sounds of the City – Marquis Hill!

Marquis HillSo the other day when I was visiting All About Jazz to check on jazz birthdays I noticed an interesting name in the showcase sidebar – Marquis Hill and his new album The Poet. Since I didn’t recognize the name I thought I’d take a little trip to MOG to check it out. MOG only had two out of Marquis’ three albums – New Gospel and Sounds of the City. I decided that I’d check outSounds of the City first. It’s a great album at times sounding a little avant-garde and at other times it sounds like classic jazz. On the third track “The Wrath of the Lark” my ears perked up when I heard some great vibes! That sent me racing to see who the player was I found out the artist’s name is Justin “Justefan” Thomas. I continued my search and discovered that Justin has just released an EP titled The Prelude. I found that album on Spotify, gave it a listen and it’s certainly an EP  that will join the other vibes music in my library. But now back to Marquis and his music. From Marquis’ website: Read More

Today in Music -1947 – Nov 17, 1947 – Happy Birthday Tab Benoit!!

tab benoitOn this date in 1947 one of my favorite blues musicians Tab Benoit was born. For those who are being introduced Tab on his birthday this AM, from Wikipedia…..

Tab Benoit (born November 17, 1967, Baton Rouge, Louisiana)[1] is an American blues guitarist, musician and singer.[2] He plays a style that is a combination of blues styles, primarily Delta blues. He plays a Fender Telecaster Thinline electric guitar and writes his own musical compositions. Benoit graduated from Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, Louisiana in May, 1985. In 2003, he formed an organization promoting awareness of coastal wetlands preservation known as “Voice of the Wetlands.” Full Biography Read More

This Date in Music – Nov 17, 1947 – Happy Birthday Tab Benoit!!

tab benoitOn this date in 1947 one of my favorite blues musicians Tab Benoit was born. For those who are being introduced Tab on his birthday this AM, from Wikipedia…..

Tab Benoit (born November 17, 1967, Baton Rouge, Louisiana)[1] is an American blues guitarist, musician and singer.[2] He plays a style that is a combination of blues styles, primarily Delta blues. He plays a Fender Telecaster Thinline electric guitar and writes his own musical compositions. Benoit graduated from Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, Louisiana in May, 1985. In 2003, he formed an organization promoting awareness of coastal wetlands preservation known as “Voice of the Wetlands.” Full Biography Read More

Tab Benoit born on Nov 17, 1947. Happy Birthday Tab!

Tab Benoit
On this date in 1947 one of my favorite blues musicians Tab Benoit was born. For those who are being introduced Tab on his birthday this AM, from Wikipedia…..

Tab Benoit (born November 17, 1967, Baton Rouge, Louisiana)[1] is an American blues guitarist, musician and singer.[2] He plays a style that is a combination of blues styles, primarily Delta blues. He plays a Fender Telecaster Thinline electric guitar and writes his own musical compositions. Benoit graduated from Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma, Louisiana in May, 1985. In 2003, he formed an organization promoting awareness of coastal wetlands preservation known as “Voice of the Wetlands.” Full Biography Read More

Today in Music Nov 16, 1873 and 1939 – W.C. Handy and Clark are born – Happy Birthday’s W.C.s!!

W C HandyToday is the birthday of two  blues – W.C”s the first is W.C. Handy the “father of the blues” from Wikipedia…..

William Christopher Handy (November 16, 1873 – March 28, 1958) was a blues composer and musician.[1] He was widely known as the “Father of the Blues”. Handy remains among the most influential of American songwriters. Though he was one of many musicians who played the distinctively American form of music known as the blues, he is credited with giving it its contemporary form. While Handy was not the first to publish music in the blues form, he took the blues from a regional music style with a limited audience to one of the dominant national forces in American music. Handy was an educated musician who used folk material in his compositions. He was scrupulous in documenting the sources of his works, which frequently combined stylistic influences from several performers. Full Biography Read More