Art & Culture Maven 
Art Pop: David Browning - Now You See Me (Independent / 14 January 2019)
Art Pop:David Browning - Now You See Me(Independent / 14 January 2019)• Stream it on SpotifyVancouver based musician David Browning teamed up with Grammy Award winning produce Ian Prince for this EP, his solo debut in the pop music world. David has the perfect voice for his brand of thoughtful and atmospheric pop - a nimble tenor range, with that slight edge of wistfulness and melancholy that matches the tone of the music.Stay Over is danceable ear worm material, with some nice changes and unexpected chord progressions inside radio-friendly edm. He builds his songs in layers, with clever lyrics, and changes in the music that follow the words. While love and its usual vagaries are the subject, he manages to offer an unexpected angle. From Call Me When You're Single:Remember the days in chemistry classWhen our chemicals mixed and we created a blastAnd the whole school was on fire...?Always Inside takes the energy down a notch with a more mellow anthem to strings and keyboards, his voice clear in the higher range. There's a nice mix of three different moods on the EP.South African born and Canadian based, David Browning's twin passions of making music and a mecial career have taken him across the world. He's played on a Disney cruies ship and recorded music at a studio in Bali. Today he has a practice as a Family Physician in Vancouver, where he continues to write music. He composed the soundtrack to the award-winning LGBT short lm 'Meet Cute.'Track List:1. Stay Over2. Call Me When You're Single3. Always InsidePersonnel: David Browning: Vocals and Keyboards; Ian Prince: Keyboards and programmingStay Connected:https://www.davidbrowningartist.com/https://www.facebook.com/davidbrowningmusichttps://www.instagram.com/dpbrowning/https://twitter.com/davidpbrowning
New Music Detroit: Smoke: Music of Marc Mellits(Innova Recordings - June 22, 2018)Composer: Marc MellitsPerformers: New Music Detroit; Shannon Orme; Erik Ronmark; Gina DiBello; Adrienne Ronmark; Samuel Bergman; Una O'Riordan; Gyan Riley; Vicky Chow; Ian Ding; Daniel Bauch• Buy the CDNew Music Detroit (NMD) and composer Marc Mellits are long time collaborators.Artistic Director and percussionist Ian Ding is quoted in a media release,"Marc is one of our oldest friends and collaborators so it was only natural to feature his music on our first official album. We were especially excited to record 'Smoke', which was commissioned and premiered by NMD."It's fresh and exciting music. Three of the compositions have never been recorded before, and in NMD, Mellits has found a good home for his idiosyncratic compositions.In Smoke, the results are eclectic and compelling, a mix of good old Detroit groove with sophisticated rhythms and melodic patterns, fleshed out with energy and a sense of abandon to the music. The instrumentation reflects the musics multi-genre roots. Smoke is performed on saxophone, guitar, marimba, and percussion, with some sections as driving as any radio-friendly song, only to veer into unexpected harmonic territory. The final movement breaks out a growly guitar rock vibe, layered over with patterns played on the marimba and syncopated percussion.The name of the movements in Red tell you what to expect: I. moderately funky; II. fast, aggressive, vicious...and so on. In a piece written for two marimbas, Mellits extracts a surprising range of moods and modes out of the limited instrumentation. The effect is hypnotic.String Quartet No. 3, Tapas, is carried by a strong rhythmic pulse. Mellits layers melody and rhythm, using the harmonic structure for momentum. Over eight short movements, the piece has a satisfying sense of emotional depth. It is perhaps the most conventionally classical piece in the European tradition on the release.Prime, written for bass clarinet, baritone sax, two percussionists, and piano, is full of drama and jumpy energy. It has the brash drive of a jazz jam, albeit with an exacting precision, and eccentric touches like the marimba rhythms that pop out underneath the melody.Jazz and new classical music afficionados will enjoy this highly original release.New Music Detroit, founded in 2006, is a collective of musicians dedicated to performing groundbreaking musical works from the late-20th century to the present day. A highly flexible ensemble with a cast of core members and prominent guest artists, NMD performs new and adventurous classical music in a wide variety of settings, for a wide variety of people.Composer Marc Mellits is one of the leading American composers of his generation, enjoying hundreds of performances throughout the world every year, making him one of the most performed living composers in the United States. From Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, to prestigious music festivals in Europe and the US, Mellits’ music is a popular mainstay on programs throughout the world.
Jazz Single: Gabriel Vicéns 'Coming Back; (?2019 Outside in Music - February 1, 2019)
Jazz Single:Gabriel Vicéns - Coming Back(℗2019 Outside in Music - February 1, 2019)• Stream the Single on Spotify• Check out his album DaysJazz guitarist Gabriel Vicéns was born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and currently makes his home base in New York City, where he's made a career composing and playing with the likes of jazz legend Eddie Gómez, David Sánchez, Will Vinson, John Benitez, Luis Perdomo, Joe Martin, and Henry Cole, among others.He's just released a new single on the Outside In Music label called Coming Back. Gabriel describes it as, "an expressive blend of modern jazz with Afro-Puertorican folklore."The piece revolves around a theme played on the piano, met first with a churning percussion line, then echoed by the horns. It's melodic and expressive, with a sense of the restrained energy of the rhythm section underneath the more languid trumpet solo. The sax offers a more kinetic improvisational stretch, bouncing off the piano, and the guitar a pattern of liquid gold.Personnel: Gabriel Vicéns, Alex Sipiagin, David Sánchez, Jonathan Suazo, Bienvenido Dinzey, Dan Martinez, Leonardo Osuna, Paoli MejiasGet Connected:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gabvicensInstagram: http://instagram.com/gabrielvicensmusicYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/user/gabvicensWebsite: www.gabrielvicens.com
Classical/Music for Dance Rick Baitz: Into Light (Innova Recordings - Aug 24 2018)
Classical/Music for DanceRick Baitz: Into Light(Innova Recordings - Aug 24, 2018)Composer: Rick BaitzPerformers: Joyce Hammann; Mary Rowell; Beth Meyers; Ashley Bathgate; Brian Shank; Christian Lundqvist; Jeremy Smith; Brian Shankar Adler; Rick Baitz; Ken Thomson; Jessica Meyer; Stephen Gosling• Buy the CDAmerican composer Rick Baitz is perhaps best known for his film scores, along with pieces for concert and dance. Into Light showcases his talent for working with varied instrumentationChthonic Dances was written by Baitz for violinist Mary Rowell and her quartet, known as ETHEL at the time. It's easy to imagine movement as you listen to the piece, a sonic whirlwind where rhythms criss cross each other, and harmonic and melodic patterns emerge, only to subside again in the kinetic momentum that offers many changes in mood and tone.In a media release, Baitz credits influences he gained during his early years spent living in Brazil and South Africa. “The healing energy of dance is a constant wherever I’ve lived. From South African township music to Brazilian samba, the juxtaposition of dance and story-telling creates catharsis – and if you’re down, the act of dancing your pain is a force in transcending it. So the dance of chthonic spirits brings out their complement, the spirits of light.”Hall of Mirrors, commissioned by The Julliard School, uses interesting instrumentation, including mbiras, tabla, windwands, and electronic effects that add new dimensions to the sounds they make. The piece plays with rhythms and effects, including a drone that is sometimes present and sometimes not, and the result is whimsical and mesmerizing at the same time.Into Light was composed in 1984, opening with an interplay of sparkling piano and mournful violin, with clarinet gradually entering the fray. It's a compelling piece that bilds a swirling web of sound. Like the other pieces, it lends itself to interpretation in dance.Rick Baitz composes for the concert hall, media, dance and theater. His film credits range from HBO’s The Vagina Monologues to a series of installations at the acclaimed Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Raised in Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and Durban, South Africa, Rick has worked as a deckhand on a dredger in Durban and (like Philip Glass) a cabbie in New York City. He received his DMA in Composition from Columbia, and bachelor’s and master’s from Manhattan School of Music. Formerly Faculty Chair of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA in Music Composition, he continues to teach at VCFA as founding faculty. In 2018 Rick was honored with BMI’s esteemed Classic Contribution Award in recognition of his 10 years as Founding Director of their film scoring workshop, "Composing for the Screen." Rick composes and teaches out of his studio in New York City.
British Masterworks on Display for the First Time at the Denver Art Museum - Opens March 2 2019
From a media release:Recently Gifted Collection of British Masterworks to be on Displayfor the First Time at the Denver Art MuseumOpens March 2, 2019Exhibition showcases groundbreaking new scholarship on major Tudor paintingsDENVER – Feb. 13, 2018 – The Denver Art Museum (DAM) is pleased to present Treasures of British Art: The Berger Collection, an exhibition showcasing about 60 paintings recently gifted to the museum by the Berger Collection Educational Trust (BCET) in 2018. The BCET’s gift is the largest gift of European old masters to the DAM since the museum received the Kress Collection in the 1950s. Organized by the DAM and curated by Kathleen Stuart, curator of the Berger Collection at the DAM, the exhibition will present a chronological selection of works ranging from the 1400s through the late 1800s, telling the story of Britain’s rich cultural history.British School, Henry VIII, about 1513. Oil paint on panel, housed in its original frame; 15 x 9-3/4 in. Promised Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust, inv. TL-17964.Opening on Free First Saturday, March 2, 2019, the exhibition will invite visitors to immerse themselves in the places, personalities and events that shaped a nation over the course of five centuries. Select works in this DAM-organized exhibition previously traveled to five museums nation-wide in recent years.“We are thrilled to honor the legacy of the collection’s founders—William M.B. and Bernadette Johnson Berger—with this historical exhibition,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM. “The Berger Collection represents one of the most remarkable collections of British art in America. We are delighted to present this gift from the Berger Collection Educational Trust in a way that honors the Bergers’ intention for the collection—namely that it serves as an educational resource to teach visitors about British art and culture.”Treasures of British Art will present 500 years of British cultural history through the stories of its people, captured by the enduring brilliance of artists of the time. The exhibition will feature devotional images, portraits, landscapes and sporting scenes by the greatest artists of the British School—including Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Lawrence and John Constable—as well as non-British artists who spent significant time in Britain, such as the Flemish artist Anthony van Dyck and American artists Benjamin West and John Singer Sargent.This exhibition will present groundbreaking results of recent research conducted on the collection’s renowned group of portraits from the Tudor era. Among the findings, conservators discovered—using dendrochronology (tree-ring analysis)—that the portrait of Henry VIII is one of five stylistically similar Tudor royal portraits painted on wood from the same tree. In an incredibly rare circumstance, this painting from 1513 remains in its original wooden frame. Additional details and analysis of the research will be unveiled when the exhibition opens in 2019.George Stubbs, A Saddled Bay Hunter, 1786. Oil on panel; 22-3/4 x 19 in. (57.79 x 48.26 cm). Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust, 2019.10“We are immensely proud to present the results of this scholarly research undertaken by curators and conservators at the Yale Center for British Art, the Hamilton Kerr Institute at Cambridge University and the National Portrait Gallery in London,” said curator Stuart. “By employing state-of-the-art imaging techniques—digital x-radiography, infrared reflectography, ultraviolet fluorescence and x-ray fluorescence—the researchers uncovered new information about the artists, sitters and processes used to create some of the oldest and most important paintings in the collection.”Beyond the groundbreaking forensic discoveries, visitors will be fascinated by the timeless relevance of artwork subjects featured in Treasures of British Art. The exhibition will display how international exchange influenced British art, history and culture. Visitors will recognize collection favorites such as The Radcliffe Family by Thomas Hudson and Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VI) by Hans Holbein and studio. Artworks rarely seen in recent years will also be on view, such as Papirius Praetextatus Entreated by His Mother by the Royal Academy founder Angelica Kauffman and Portrait of Three Girls by a follower of William Larkin. Not since the DAM’s 1999 landmark exhibition 600 Years of British Painting will so many works from the Berger Collection be on view.Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788), A Coastal Landscape, about 1782-84. Oil paint on canvas; 25-1/8 x 30 1/8 in. Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust, 2019.13Treasures of British Art will be on view on level 2 of the Hamilton Building. This exhibition will be included in general admission, which is free for members and youth 18 and under. A catalog accompanying the exhibition is already available in The Shop at the Denver Art Museum and through the online shop. A related academic symposium will be held at the DAM in September 2019. #TreasuresatDAMTHE DENVER ART MUSEUMThe Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Metro citizens support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations. For museum information, call 720-865-5000 or visit www.denverartmuseum.org.
#JUNOS 2019: Wesli Nominated for World Music Album of the Year
From a media release:#JUNOS 2019:Wesli Nominated for World Music Album of the YearJUNO Week 2019 March 11 to 17 in London, Ontario• Stream it on SpotifyMONTREAL – Montreal-based Haitian-Canadian WESLI receives JUNO nomination in the World Music Album of the Year Category, for his epic 21-song album RAPADOU KREYOL. Two Hearts, One Sound: Wesli’s welcoming approach to Haiti’s revered Afro-Diasporic rhythms takes tradition mainstream on Rapadou Kreyol. The album focuses on keeping the Haitian traditional music and instrumentation alive and well.Wesli is a born entertainer who's groove machine skillfully cooks Rara, rock Afrobeat and Haitian roots into a unique blend of spicy pot-o-feu.Since he strung his first oil-can to build a guitar, musician and songwriter Wesli has taken seemingly disparate elements and tinkered with them ingeniously until they turn into a powerful groove. Born in Port-au-Prince, tempered in West Africa and Montreal, the guitarist and songwriter takes Haitian traditions like voodoo, street styles like rara and finds links with everything from reggae to quirky funk hip hopBorn in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wesli (Wesley Louissaint) built his first guitar out of an old NGO- provided oil can and nylon shoe lace when he was just eight years old. Coming from a family of 8 children where music was a daily food for the soul, it became second nature to him, a unique and vital way out of the violence and misery found in the surrounding ghetto. Wesli’s musical journey started in the gospel choir of his local church and then he adopted the guitar as his main instrument.Ever since, Wesli has worked relentlessly, perfecting his art, his only hope for a better life. Very early, he took part in serious projects such as the afro-roots Jazz 4ever quartet and SoKute. He performed in many of Haiti’s concert halls and traveled abroad with Kreyol Mizik company. In his teens, Wesli produced and recorded the album Horizon with SoKute. Their soul music gathered wide success and even made them famous outside Haiti.UP COMING SHOWS15 Février Pan Piper Paris16 Février Toulouse France17 Février Marseille France1 Mars Atelier Scolaire Centre Belle Alliance IPE Canada2 Mars Centre Belle Alliance Charlottetown IPE Canada
Meet Jazz Guitarist/Composer Cidou Dagnon
Meet Jazz Guitarist/ComposerCidou Dagnon• Stream his 2017 album Kwabo on Spotify• Listen on SoundcloudCheck out my talented Facebook friend Cidou Dagnon aka Placide Dagnon. A jazz guitarist, singer, and composer, he's from Benin in West Africa, and first made a name for him himself playing clubs in and around the city of Cotonou.Cidou moved to France in the 1980s, and has had a busy career there since then. He's played with contemporary jazz greats like Lionel Loueke (Herbie Hancock) and fellow Beninese Angélique Kidjo.From his album Kwabo:You can catch him playing in a duo with award winning bassist/guitarist George Guy in clubs in the east of France. They play a varied repertoire of blues, jazz, reggae, various African musical genres, and zouk. Cidou often blends genres in his compositions.He's looking to travel more and perhaps cross the pond for festivals and other venues, so you may just be able to see him on the road sometime soon.• Connect on Facebook
Old Miami Is New Again: The Biltmore Miami Coral Cables
Old Miami Is New Again:The Biltmore Miami Coral CablesNew hotels are nothing new in Miami, where areas like Collins Avenue and the Design District seem to welcome another shiny new hotel opening on the reg. The Biltmore Miami offers a distinctly different experience, now boasting a tony $25 million renovation, a project that took about 18 months to complete in stages.Biltmore Miami, Coral CablesWhen real estate developer George Merrick arrived in what is now Coral Gables, Florida, in the early 1920s, there was nothing to see but the bounty that Mother Nature blessed Florida with. What his real estate developer's imagination saw was a Mediterranean style fantasy, a home and playground for America's newly minted wealth.He built the Biltmore as the flagship of one of America's first planned neighbourhoods, and with its 315-foot tower, it was the first structure to grace what is now an upscale hood. It was also the tallest building in Florida at the time it was built in 1926.The architecture was modeled after La Giralda, the famous bell tower of the Seville Cathedral in Spain, and the interior was decorated with Spanish tiles and Moor inspired frescoes. The hotel served as the home away from home for the rich and famous, including President Roosevelt, Judy Garland, and Ginger Rogers. Johnny Weissmuller toiled as a swimming instructor before his glory days as Tarzan on the silver screen. Today, it's still a favourite haunt of celebs like Jennifer Lopez and Bill Clinton. The hotel's hallways are hung with photographs of its famous occupants, and the guestbook is also on display.Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, filmed in the 1940's by Pedro Serramalera OlivéDuring WWII, the hotel was taken over by the War Department, and converted into an army hospital, renamed in 1946 to Pratt General Hospital. Many of the windows were sealed, and the gorgeous marble floors were covered in linoleum. By 1973, the Army had left, and the building's ownership was transferred to the City of Coral Cables. Sadly, it was empty for about a decade before reopening as a hotel on New Year's Eve 1987. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.Biltmore Miami Coral Cables - renovated lobbyThe recent renovations walked a delicate balance between preserving the hotel's rich history and updating for modern conveniences. The colour palette is jewel tones that reflect Merrick's original Mediterranean dreams, and rich detail like the carved wood panel elevators have been refurbished - to the tune of about $500K each - alongside glorious new details like the richly hued custom carpeting, colourful frescoes, silk curtains, and new chandeliers that recreate the older ones in reverse. Beautiful birdcages house the finches that have become iconic residents of the Biltmore. The hotel has a resident restoration and fresco expert on hand for regular maintenance and repairs.Biltmore Miami is an enormous property, with 275 rooms. The pool alone measures half a square mile, and is filled with 600,000 gallons of water - at one time, the largest swimming pool in the world. The 18-hole golf course - itself the subject of $3 million of renovations - was designed by Donald Ross, who also designed Pinehurst in North Carolina, and other U.S. Open venues. The golf course reopened in January 2019. The renovations touched every one of the guest rooms, along with all the public areas of the hotel, including upgrading to hurricane-proof windows.Biltmore Miami Coral Gables, Fontana Italian RestaurantThere are four restaurants inside the hotel, including casual dining that overlooks the golf course and pool, the Fontana specializing in Italian cuisine, and the upscale Palme d'Or restaurant, with a menu of French classics by chef Gregory Pugin. Guests can choose from two servings of high tea in the opulent lobby, and a Sunday brunch that has become legendary in the city.There's no place quite like it, in Miami or anywhere else.Images courtesy of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Classical Remix: Chris Lastovicka - Fortune Has Turned (Remixed) (Ahari Press / April 12, 2019) - Preview Single Now
Classical Remix:Chris Lastovicka - Fortune Has Turned (Remixed)(Ahari Press / April 12, 2019)• Stream The First Single"Fortune Has Turned (Remixed)" traces the journey from deep suffering to the fullness and freedom of the heart. It is a quest to find the Self. I asked Jeremy Allom to take the original, raw recordings for this album and bring out their vitality with his own powerful, creative stamp."When I was thinking about who I'd like to remix my album, I thought about my favorite album, Massive Attack's "Blue Lines". I wondered if I would be able to even get Jeremy Allom, who mixed that album. I did, and it has been an incredible experience working with him and getting to know him. - Chris LastovickaThe 7th Chapter Of Job is the first single from the upcoming release, a moody composition with a narrative flow. It could easily be an evocative film soundtrack. Chris uses voice as a shimmering layer above the ebb and flow of strings and piano, mining the atmospheric and dramatic possibilities of the music.The track is emblematic of Lastovicka's style as a composer, characterized by a sweeping and cinematic sensibility, building drama and momemtum in layers of sound. It's accessible and melodic, with a contemporary edge. In Abraxas, the composer uses the harmonic structure to play with tension and emotion.The composer's website says of their work, Most of Lastovicka’s music can be loosely categorized as mystic minimalism or post-minimalism.Luckily, it's not necessary to know the right words to describe it to enjoy the music for its emotional intensity and its dramatic momentum. Lastovicka's website describes them as both composer and music designer. "Chris Lastovicka designs music dealing primarily with psychological and metaphysical subjects."That's why it sounds like a natural film score - because movie music plays with emotions. The composer uses mesmerizing repeated rhythms and patterns through a fairly standard orchestration. Shanti builds melodic layers over a shivering piano pattern. The simiplicity brings focus to the emotion of the piece. The End OF Tyranny is sweet and hopeful, with soaring strings that build to a n achingly sweet crescendo.Lastovicka is the recipient of a Presser Award, a Hatz Award, a CAP Award from New Music USA, and grants from NYSCA and NYFA. Lastovicka is the winner of the inaugural Melodia Women’s Choir (NYC) Commission Competition. At age 14, Lastovicka became the youngest winner in the history of Chicago’s Gruenstein Memorial National Organ Competition. At 15, Chris won the Otto B. Schoepfle National Organ CompetitionPersonnel:Composer: Chris LastovickaViolin: Eric Bates, Anne T. Horvath, Katrin St. Clair, Lara Theilmann-Messerly; Viola: Missy Hydockl Cello: Christina M. Coletta, Heidi Mausbach, Tom Guth, Kenneth Woods; French Horn: Robert Garcia, Kristin Johns; Soprano: Kimberly Tobolal Mezzo-Soprano: Diana Cataldi; Contralto: Laura Backley; Piano: Chris LastovickaStay Connected:https://twitter.com/chrislastovickahttps://www.instagram.com/chrislastovicka/https://chrislastovicka.com/https://www.facebook.com/chris.lastovicka.music/https://aharipress.bandcamp.com/https://soundcloud.com/aharipresshttps://www.youtube.com/chrislastovicka
Mark Peters and The Dark Band - Sum Of All Parts - Album Drops January 28 2019
Mark Peters and The Dark BandSingle: Sum Of All Parts / Release Date: Jan 14, 2019Album: Sum Of All Parts / Audio Heart Records / January 28 2019• Stream The Single/Album on SpotifySum of All Parts is the brand new single from Mark Peters and the Dark Band in advance of the EP by the same name, due to drop January 28. The Vienna, Austria based singer songwriter's roots are planted firmly in the classic rock tradition, with a mastery of the form that elevates it above the ordinary.The first single from the album features a notable and liquid guitar line that adds flourishes to the spare rhythm. Peters' vocals range from plaintive to urgent, the emotion rising in a rousing cry against the disintegration of a relationship.The older I become,The less I believe in anything...The angsty vocals play against a hypnotic 3/4 beat. Peters leverages the music against the emotion for dramatic effect with a real sense of authenticity.Looking forward to the rest of the EP later this month. After the release on January 28, the band will be touring Europe for about six weeks.Track List:1. Sum Of All Parts2. Failure Is My Friend3. Bone Dry4. Highs And LowsMusicians:Mark Peters: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar; Fabian Natter: Drums; Markus Manahl: Bass; Martin Burtscher: Electric GuitarStay Connected:https://www.facebook.com/markpetersmusic/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCsWRQdA_QV6XCbtdfB1GwA?view_as=subscriberhttps://soundcloud.com/markpetersmusic
Folk/Pop: Todd Warner Moore - Spark (Independent / October 31, 2018)
Folk/PopTodd Warner Moore - Spark(Independent / October 31, 2018)• Stream/Buy on Bandcamp• Stream on SpotifyIn the balance, there's more folk than pop to Spark, the recent album from Todd Warner Moore that falls squarely into singer songwriter territory.Spark, the title track is classic folk, the melody lilting over a simple acoustic guitar rhythmic pattern. The sweet vocal harmonies flavoured by traditional folk light up the song with a rhythmic sense of phrasing.It was a spark that set a motionIn her brainUnder the long dark spell,Then suddenly, a flameThe lyrics are philosophical and upbeat; it's simple music that is carried by his conviction and a sense of authenticity. Vocally Moore has a pleasant tenor that carries the melody with the help of Jamie Howell, whose clear high soprano that matches his tone perfectly.Noodles ventures into country territory in a song about...making spaghetti for his baby to come home to. Do You Really Know adds piano and strings to the bedrock of acoustic guitar for a fuller sound.With a fairly standard approach to instrumentation, he pulls a variety of sounds. Drift Awake is a stand out track, a slow country waltz with a mournful string line that embellishes the vocal melody. In Gem, a sweet song about love lost, the strings add a counterpoint to the acoustic guitar.You were already gone,I just couldn't see through it...Right Inside This Room is highlight of the album, a jazzy pop song with a Latin flavour to the melody, interesting chord changes and rhythms.With enough variety to keep you listening through the whole album, it should please you if you like folk-pop and adult contemporary with an uplifting message.Todd has crossed the globe working as a musician, including several years in Hungary, and, for the last eight years, a home on Lamma Island in Hong Kong, where he plays at local pubs and music festivals.Track List:1. Prologue 2. Spark 3. Gift 4. Noodles 5. Do You Really Know? 6. Drift Awake 7. Mess 8. Gem 9. In the Water10. Right Inside This Room 11. Crashing Down 12. Already There 13. Bird's Eye View14. Epilogue 15. The Lens (Bonus Track) [with Tea Thieves, Live from a Garden in Wales]Personnel:Todd Warner Moore: Vocal: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar; Leah Hart: Backing Vocal; Michael Kentish: Backing Vocal; Jamie Howell: Electric Guitar; Roberto Diana: Dobro, Steel Guitar; William Stewart: Violin, Viola; Daniel González: Cello; Davide Severi: Piano; Issar Shulman: Double Bass; Larry Salzman: PercussionStay Connected:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMa8GbjgItXYLrkKUCoKjDFyFNMRnnzP_http://thebandcampdiaries.com/post/180043527207/todd-warner-moore-spark-a-collection-of-trackshttps://toddwarnermoore.com/homehttps://twitter.com/toddwarnermoore
400: An Afrikan Epic
From a media release:400: An Afrikan EpicDrummer, Composer and Educator Dr. Mark Lomax, II Presents a Monumental 12-Album Cycle Honoring the 400th Anniversary of the Translantic Slave TradeCD Release Concert on Saturday, January 26 at Wexner Center, Columbus, OH• Find Out More400: An Afrikan Epic is a landmark exploration of the ancient history, 400-year struggle, and inspired future of Black America, depicted in a stunning variety of musical settings.In 1619, a Dutch ship carrying 20 enslaved Africans landed off the coast of the British colony of Jamestown, Virginia, marking the foundation of slavery in America. To honor those four centuries of struggle, triumph, tragedy and community, drummer, composer, activist and educator Dr. Mark Lomax, II will unveil his monumental new project, 400: An Afrikan Epic on January 23, 2019.400: An Afrikan Epic is the culmination of a lifetime of musical and historical study for Dr. Lomax. By his early teens Lomax was establishing himself as a gifted drummer on the jazz scene in his native Columbus, Ohio, while being introduced to an Afrocentric view of American history via the work of his father, the renowned pastor and educator Dr. Mark A. “Ogunwale” Lomax. Early in his career, Lomax envisioned a melding of the two pursuits, leading to an ambitious, wide-ranging composition that offers an educational opportunity as well as a breathtaking listening experience.The 12-album cycle comprises three suites. The first four albums make up “Alkebulan: The Beginning of Us,” which spans the thousands of years that civilization and music had developed in Africa prior to the encroachment of colonialism. Titled for the original Arabic name for the continent, “Alkebulan” begins with “First Ankhcestor,” featuring a gathering of master percussionists, and continues with “Song of the Dogon,” a tribute to the West African people credited with establishing ancient Nubia and Kemet (the original name of Egypt). “Dance of the Orishas” is inspired by the religion, culture and art of the Yoruba people, while “The Coming” introduces the onset of the slave trade via the words of Daniel Black’s novel of the same name, read by the author.The bulk of “Alkebulan” features Lomax’s longstanding Quartet, featuring saxophonist Eddie Bayard, pianist William Menefield, and bassist Dean Hulett. Those same collaborators recombine in various trio and duo combinations throughout 400, reflecting the deep relationship they’ve forged over more than 15 years together. “These are the musicians I trust most with my compositions.” Lomax says. “We’ve developed a music and a language that have made me a better musician, and I’m grateful to have them a part of this project.“The second suite, “Ma’afa: Great Tragedy,” focuses on the 400 years from that fateful day in 1619 until the present moment. The first piece, “Ma’afa,” is envisioned as a ballet that takes place during the 90-day voyage of a slave ship. “I was intrigued by the idea of a ballet set in a place where you’re physically confined but spiritually free,” Lomax says. That piece features the composer’s large group, The Urban Art Ensemble, which teams a traditional string quartet with an improvising trio.“Up South: Conversations on American Idealism” consists of two extended pieces examining the North’s economically-driven, complicity in southern slavery, before Lomax narrows his lens to focus on individual icons. “Four Women,” written for UCelli: The Columbus Cello Quartet, pays tribute to Queen Nzinga, the 17th-century leader of Angola who used a combination of hard and soft power to resist Portuguese colonization; Ida B. Wells, the pioneering journalist and early Civil Rights leader; Angela Davis, the fierce 1960s counterculture activist; and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the modern-day Nigerian novelist. “Blues in August,” meanwhile, is inspired by playwright August Wilson’s century-spanning Pittsburgh Cycle.The final suite, “Afro-Futurism: The Return to Uhuru,” envisions the healing and thriving of Black America, and all of humanity, over the next 400 years. “The last stage points to where humanity is headed,” Lomax explains. “It’s about what it means to be a fully optimized human being, collectively as well as with regards to Africans in America who have slavery in their lineage and Africans on the continent who are still dealing with the ramifications of colonialism.” The overwhelming history ends as it began, with the unaccompanied drum.In embracing the story of the African diaspora, Dr. Lomax has not only created a landmark composition but a living, breathing work of musical storytelling that will continue to grow and evolve. He has adapted the full work into a more compact suite for performance, and has created a curriculum to present the story in classrooms through performance and lectures. He also plans to launch a website called “The 400 Years Project,” which will promote artists throughout the African diaspora who are using their creative abilities to tell this story.“My research gave me a cultural and historical context,” he explains, “and the music started to come from the research. This has become my life’s work.”
Frederico7 Announces Debut Album 'Exotico American' - Out February 23, 2019
From a media release:Frederico7 Announces Debut AlbumExótico American - Out February 23, 2019Album Release Party February 23 at the Empire Control Room - Austin, Texas• Get the tix, details & CD at the LinkAustin TX based musician Frederico7 is proud to announce his debut solo album Exótico Americano, set for release on February 23, 2019. The album is an amalgamation of Frederico’s diverse background and experiences living in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina before setting his roots in the "Live Music Capital of the World." Exotico Americano fuses Afro-Brazilian rhythms with American Funk, Soul, Dub and Psychedelia, coming together to form Frederico7’s cohesive 21st century vision of Pan-American Soul.Exótico Americano is an apt title for Frederico7’s debut album and the title track. Frederico explains, “The inspiration is the American Continent and its people. The revelation in the record is that we are ALL ‘Exótico Americanos’ regardless of race, national background, etc. I wrote the lyrics of the title track ‘Exótico Americano’ specifically to highlight that universality. It’s important to honor the indigenous keepers of the land and paying respect to the suffering source of the blues music. Also understanding that the riches we now enjoy were built upon the backs of millions and understanding we all have more in common than not.”Frederico’s path began growing up in Brazil in a multi-cultural family during an economic crisis and the struggle to ‘fit into’ a socio-economic norm. From there, at the formative age of 16, his family moved to Mexico for a better economy. In Mexico, Frederico dove right in to the ancient mysteries, cultural riches and the creative and psychedelic adventures with a rich tradition. He learned Spanish and English and met Alex Marrero (Brown Sabbath/Brownout) and Pablo Larios and started a Latin Fusion band called Ghandaia that hit success with performances at Austin City Limits Festival (2006) and the San Jose Jazz Festival. At their peak, life gave Frederico a beautiful surprise; that he was going to become a father, and left the band and put music on hold to focus on family life, knowing that he would return.And return he did. In 2010, he settled back in Austin, TX and collaborated with world class musicians in three standout bands including Os Alquimistas with percussionist Michael Longoria, with the World Funk Psychedelic band Suns of Orpheus, and the Brazilian 70s funk orchestra Macaxiera Funk. In 2015, Frederico recorded five demos during his travels to Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, which were originally intended for an Os Alquimistas EP, but after the project dismantled, Frederico kept recording new music, which would evolve into his debut album with the help of co-producer Greg Jones. The album came to fruition over the next few years starting in Frederico’s home studio Lion’s Lair and then in acclaimed ATX studios including Adrian Quesada’s (Black Pumas, Brownout) Electric Deluxe Studios, Beto Martinez’s (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, Money Chicha) Lechehouse Music, and the Texas Recording Conservatory Academy with Greg Jones.Although it took Frederico three years to finish, a great feat for a father of two and full-time educator, the results are well worth the wait. Across the diverse set of ten tracks (and one remix), Frederico sings in three languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese) and brings all his influences from previous projects and personal experiences into the mix. For example, the title track (“Exótico Americano”) is a journey through the American continent fusing its cultures and stories with Frederico’s personal stories sung in both English and Spanish. The song is an anthemic blues rock track oozing with LatinX soul. With “La Miranda del Halcon” Frederico moves into a dreamy psychedelic ballad produced by Adrian Quesada, and on “Nature of Love” Frederico dedicates an upbeat dance tune drenched in soulful horns and sung in English to his wife. “Vibran los Ancestros” is a cumbia reggae tune with a Brazilian backbeat perfect for those hazy relaxing days, and the album closes with a bonus remix from Adrian Quesada of “Perola Negra” aimed at the dancefloor with its psychedelic disco soul. Americano is an album that speaks to the times. The project is Frederico’s personal story of resilience, of being an immigrant, and of an artist who has been learning and growing across many cultures in the American Continent. It’s about being “the other” and not quite fitting in here nor there, but embracing all of the differences to unify rather than divide. Frederico concludes, “Everyday I’m reminded that my story is really that of many. In my heart we are all Exotic Americans that bring unique flavors and journeys to this melting pot that is AMERICA and THAT’s what makes this CONTINENT great.”Stay in Touch:http://www.frederico7.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frederico7musichttps://www.instagram.com/frederico7musichttps://twitter.com/frederico7musichttps://soundcloud.com/frederico7
#CUTMR2019 Come Up To My Room Part of the DesignTO Festival Gladstone Hotel Toronto till January 20 2019
#CUTMR2019Come Up To My RoomPart of the DesignTO FestivalGladstone Hotel Torontotill January 20 2019The city of Toronto is locked in the grip of the dreaded polar vortex this weekend, bringing inhumanly cold temperatures and snow to the city. All the more reason to feast your eyes on the glory that is Come Up To My Room at the Gladstone Hotel.The four floors of the iconic boutique hotel have been transformed by artists and designers. The main cluster of installations is on the second floor, with the functions of other floors - bars, guest rooms - intact with the addition of more works of artistic design.Saturday January 19: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, with celebration 7:00 – 10:00 pm, and free Love Design Party 10:00 pm til lateSunday January 20: 11:00 am – 5:00 pmAdmissionGeneral admission: $10Family of 4: $25Tickets at the linkHere's a sampling of what is on offer.Jasmine Cardena - Broken TelephoneThe work of this Ecuadorian-Canadian artist consists of disconnected parts, repeated and altered in an exploration of memory and how we process it.Kristina Guison & Merhnaz Rohbakhsh - Acoustic ArcheologiesAn installation that explores the sonic relationships in a site specific installation.Bruno Billio - TRON209The artist and designer transformed his studio into a black light negative version of itself. "I love to contextualize common objects and space into visions from my dream world."Charlize Nhung - Transform In FringeThis artist's sculptures morph into different shapes, inspired by the work she saw produced by her grandfather's loom during a childhood spent in Vietnam.Safoura Zahedi - Connect Beyond The SurfaceSafoura's experimental design explores geometry as a universal design language.Natalie King - (Femmes of Fire) Always SurvivingHighlighting the presence of overlooked identities in queer communities.Sonie Gemmitit & Christy Stoeten - Cabinet Fantastique Ghost CityThis installation looks at the links between memory and geography, especially the geography of where we live.Chromatic Aberration - PenumbraThe artist group known as Chromatic Aberration consists of glass, light, and mixed media artists who create narrative installations together.Kelsey RedmanA giant rainbow knitted blanket with a variety of thrifted yarns. One of several students and faculty of the Haliburton School of Art & Design represented at the show.J.P. King & Sean Martindale - Our Desires Fail UsAn installation that confronts the connections between waste and consumer culture.Five Percent - PochéThis installation by a group of students from the Ryerson School of Interior Design explores notions of space. The term poché is used in architectural drawings to designate solid elements such as walls and corridors on a drawing.Cole Swanson - TerrafloraThis artist created a wall mural sprawling over the third floor, using pigments made from local and regional soils and clays, hand rendered and painted as microflora and spores.
Jewel of the South: Birmingham Museum of Art
Jewel of the South:Birmingham Museum of ArtThe Birmingham Museum of Art is worth at least an afternoon's leisurely perusal, and, with more than 24,000 paintings, sculptures, and more, possibly a second visit to properly appreciate all the collections on view.Birmingham Museum of Art, main entranceWell attended by locals, the Museum probably doesn't make it on many touristy lists, and that's just wrong. There is a large, interesting, and diverse collection to be discovered in a gorgeous and colourful building.Courtyard, Birmingham Museum of ArtAt the east end of the building, you'll find the Museum's signature work. The New York based artist was bowled over by his trip west in 1859, and completed this painting from sketches and studies back in his Manhattan studio. It's internationally recognized as a particularly fine example of landscape art.Looking Down Yosemite Valley, California. 1865Oil on canvas. 64 1/2 × 96 1/2 inchesby Albert BierstadtAmerican; born in Germany (1830-1902)It's on display beside a large abstract painting by artist Helen Frankenthaler. Frankenthaler's abstract works are inspired by the landscapes she's experienced, and she creates her work by pouring acrylic paint on a canvas, then apply brushstrokes. A third piece nearby forms a kind of intriguing triptych.Hungry Man's Cross (2006) - leftMixed media by Lonnie Holley, born in Birmingham AL 1950Like this area, the current shows mix historic and contemporary works in thought provoking ways, while the Museum's various collections are organized in more conventional geographic and historic categories.Birmingham Museum of Art, main floorA long hallway runs through the entire ground floor, itself mounted with a current exhibition. Along the hallway, doors lead to a labyrinth of smaller galleries winding off to each side, with walls painted in a distinctive array of colours.Birmingham Museum of ArtHere are some of the highlights and recurring themes you'll find.Birmingham Museum of ArtSmall European TreasuresThere are some surprising small treasures of the Eurocentric tradition. We can all now recognize at what cost the Eurocentric world came to be, but perhaps the one thing we can gain from the exercise is the notion that, in a society that flourishes, the arts do as well, and I think you can see that principle in play all over the world as the shadow of colonialism begins to lift. In the meantime, there is Gainsboroough.Two by Thomas GainsboroughEven a Dali.Perseus - Homage to Benevenuto Cellini (1976)Salvador DaliBronze, gift to the MuseumCivil Rights MovementThere's an emphasis on the city's key role in the Civil Rights Movement and its history, including some key photographs and other artistic expression of the movement and time period.First Desegregated Bus Ride: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Rev. Ralph Abernathy on first desegregated bus ride - Montgomery, AL December 1956, printed 1994 by Ernest C. Withers, American (1922-2007)LocalThere is a deliberate emphasis on including local and regional Southern American artists of colour in the collections and exhibits.oil paintings by Charles Eugene ShannonAmerican (1914-1996)A native of Montgomery, AL - his work focuses on the everyday world of African Americans, a subject that was not at all the norm in its day.Birmingham Museum of Art - Wedgwood collectionWedgwoodThe Museum houses the largest collection of Wedgwood ceramics outside the UK - luminous and endless galleries of beautiful decorative items.Vintage Wedgwood from the Birmingham Museum of Art collectionUpstairs from the foyer, you reach a gallery level, with similar smaller galleries off a central promenade. The collections on the second level feature works and artefacts from all over the globe.Birmingham Museum of Art, foyer & stairsBirmingham Museum of Art2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd(Formerly 2000 8th Ave. N)Birmingham, AL 35203T: 205.254.2565F: 205.731.9425Birmingham Museum of Art, Asian galleryBirmingham Museum of Art, Native American (First Nations) galleryBirmingham Museum of Art, Callaghan GalleryMUSEUM GALLERIESTuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pmSunday: Noon-5pmFirst Fridays: open until 9pmClosed Mondays and Major HolidaysGeneral Admission is FREEBirmingham Museum of Art, Pre-Columbian sculptureBirmingham Museum of Art, 18th century French sculpture & artBirmingham Museum of Art, Japanese galleryCAFE AND LIBRARYOSCAR'S AT THE MUSEUMLunch served 11am-2pm,Tuesday through FridayBrunch on select Sundays