Fine fine music this week from Utah, Italy, California, London,
Sweden, just a hint of New York.
Lots of wind this week has finally turned Suffolk autumnal. We
don't get much of the golden stuff; the winds are just too strong
here on the "hill" so the leaves are whipped off in no time.
Ocean Passage - Projekt
(London, UK)
Projekt are a 4-piece northern rock'n'roll band all based in
London. They played their first gig in January 2009 and haven’t
stopped since, causing waves on the London circuit playing venues
such as Monto Water Rats, Proud Galleries, O2 Academy and The
Cavern Club.
The band are headlining at the Dublin Castle in London on
Thursday.
www.myspace.com/projektnorth
Hope is a thing - Lisbeth Scott
(Venice, CA, USA)
Lisbeth Scott was raised as a classical pianist, rehearsing hours a
day and headed for a concert career. She studied at The New
England Conservatory, Connecticut College and The University of
London throughout the 1990's. Lisbeth then headed to Los
Angeles where she really began to discover her voice... as did the
film world. Scott’s vocals can be heard on over 50
blockbuster films including
The
Passion of the Christ, Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The
Wardrobe, Shrek 1 and 2, and Steven Spielberg’s
Munich in which legendary composer,
John Williams wrote a five minute solo specifically for her.
Throughout her career she has worked closely with Steven Spielberg,
John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Harry
Gregson-Williams, John Debney and many others. Her songs have
been covered by other artists, including Macy Grey and Bliss.
Hope is a Thing is her
eighth studio solo album which is available on iTunes.
"
www.hopeisathing.com was originally created as a site
to garner financial support for my album of the same name. Through
many generous souls, the CD is done! The album was released on
November 10th. So it's time to turn this site over to YOU and see
just how big we can make this."
www.lisbethscott.com
www.myspace.com/lisbethscottmusic
Rebel Zion - Rebel Zion (Salt
Lake City, Utah, USA)
Kimo Watanabe and the band with a studio track, which I know Codger
has already played.
The band seem to be having such a blast in the studio, I do hope
they'll be able to get out for some fresh air and some gigs before
long.
www.sellaband.com/kimo-watanabe/
www.myspace.com/kimowatanabe
Tutto Come prima feat. Ketamo -
Jambassa (Irpinia, Italy)
Released on Monday evening (November 23, 2009) to mark the exact
anniversary of the earthquake which devastated the Irpinia area in
southern Italy.
New album:
Macchine
parlanti / talking machines.
An explicit anthem to identify the
living essence of this work. Jambassa confirms direction,
identity and sound, pushing the boundaries with 7 new tracks,
adding a very special spice for each one. Undisputed attitude.
Jambassa is a digital dub project, started in 2000 by Carmine
Minichiello (Gamino) & Raffaele Gargiulo (Papa Lele), and
settled in Irpinia -South of Italy-, a rugged and poor land, far
away from the nerve-centers, where digital dub music had way and
space to express itself: a physical and cultural isolation, which
develops in Jambassa an own original style, detached form the genre
standards.
A free download from the excellent
A Quiet Bump label at:
www.aquietbump.com/aqbmp023.html
www.myspace.com/jambassa
Podcrawl
The bash was part sponsored by Adnams (of Southwold) whose
Broadside fueled the discussions. Our collective thanks to them for
"getting" the whole thing. You can follow them on Twitter where
they are @adnams
Goths of summer - Mark Aaron
James (London & New York)
Mark has just been named one of the top 14 singer/songwriters in
Greenwich Village by UMO for the second time! (Check out
www.umo.com for info on
this organization). A live recording of his song
When Are You Gone is featured on the
Best Of... CD released this summer.
Some dates in the states before the end of the year - Florida,
Nashville and San Francisco.
Back in London he plays:
Every Monday @ 6:30 pm at BAR ROOM
BAR in the ARC.
This is a very cool club in Angel/Islington. They
have amazing brick oven pizzas. Every week I do a happy hour set,
then feature a guest singer/songwriter or band, then I do an
evening set. It’s a great night of music.
Every Tuesday @ 8:30 pm at HALO Acoustic.
I host the best night of
acoustic songwriters in greater London. HALO was voted the PRS Indy
venue of the year. Every week I perform original songs and
introduce top notch up and coming performers. I’m really proud of
this night. Check it out.
Every Saturday @ 8 PM at The Black Sheep in Oval.
This is a great
traditional English pub, just a short walk from the Oval Tube and
the cricket grounds. Perfect grub and a rowdy crowd that sings
along with every song, beers in the air. Come join the
chorus.
Available at
http://markaaronjames.bandcamp.com/
www.markaaronjames.com
www.myspace.com/markaaronjames
Free
Tom Waits album
preview
I was intending to give you a link to a free download of a special
preview of the Tom Waits remarkable new live album Glitter and Doom
but to would appear to have been a very short-term I can't find it
anywhere now, but I have the tracks. :)
www.tomwaits.com
Silly Love - Diversifyd (San
Marcos, CA, USA)
Chad Makihele, who wrote most of the lyrics and arranged the
tracks, plays bass/rhythm guitar and produced the album. Grew up
with a background of music ranging from reggae, rock, pop to
alternative music. Lieni Makihele arranged most of the vocals and
has a background of music from pop, jazz and rhythm and blues. John
Naki plays the drums and also arranged songs on the album. He grew
up with island music, choir and oldies. Sione Malimali plays the
percussions and has music background in roots reggae and was also a
member of the 90's reggae group called "Mission Irie" where he was
known as "Baby Rasta". Marcus Snapp who plays the lead guitar, has
his background in funk, neo soul, rock and alternative music.
Finally we have Jelani Jones who plays the keyboard and has toured
with "The Bonedaddys"
www.diversifyd.com
www.cdbaby.com/cd/diversifyd
Vienna - Tom Norris (London,
UK)
From the album
Edge of the
world.
The opportunity for a sabbatical from the London Symphony Orchestra
is providing Tom with the time needed to showcase and promote his
new album 'Edge of the World'. The album, recorded in Austria and
the U.K, features songs written in the early days as well as more
recent additions.
Pop elements, acoustic beats and lush string arrangements, along
with Tom’s warm, well-balanced voice effectively combine to a rich,
dramatic sound. Apart from the violin and vocal parts, Tom also
performs the viola and the piano, making his wide experience as a
classical musician evident throughout this recording. Many tracks
feature members of the LSO and acclaimed musicians from around the
world.
Besides producing
Edge of
the World, Tom has also dedicated his time away from regular
performing to developing the eclectic ‘Living Room in London’ – a
quintet featuring an unusual combination of hang drum, bass
clarinet and string trio. His passion of exploring and
experimenting with multi-art projects, especially in the field of
music and theatre, has led to early work with Gogmagogs and more
recently Teatro Vivo’s sell-out production,
Hothouse. He has recently started
writing and recording his next album.
Tom Norris
"Vienna" (mp3)
from "Edge Of The World"
(LeeBelle Music)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
tomnorris.net
www.myspace.com/tomnorrismusic
When the lights go out - Pixie
Carnation (Malmo, Sweden)
The product of two years of musical experimentation has culminated
in what is now Pixie Carnation, a Swedish based, and yet very
American sounding band. From the time that childhood friends
Ola Pålsson and Tobias Hellkvist reconnected a few years ago there
was an instant artistic connection, and it was only a matter of
time before their sound and the band’s lineup became what it is
today.
Despite it taking about a year and a half for Pålsson
and Hellkvist to find like-minded musicians, Pixie Carnation has
now evolved into a seven-member band and made their first
recording,
Fresh Poems EP,
self reeled in 2009.
A classic rock influenced, Americana infused,
musical tapestry with orchestral elements, Fresh Poems is already
making waves on the west side of the Atlantic as evidenced by their
song
When the Lights Go
Out being named KEXP’s song a the day on. Drawing
comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, KEXP proclaims that when the
music begins, “Immediately you start to think that maybe The Boss
has entered the room.”
There have only been a few times when I've been this impressed
since I was tour managing The Wailers and we played a residency
with Springsteen at Max's Kansas City in New York. That tells you
it was a long time ago!
www.myspace.com/pixiecarnation