[MusicRatty] tag: rosey

Vandyman's Top albums

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:21:38 +0000

Well, if he isn't going to post any more albums, I think I will

If you look hard enough, you'll see the late Tommy Bolin's name on a plethora of albums released in the early 1970's. Bolin was equally at home playing guitar for the likes of Deep Purple and the James Gang as he was for jazz-fusion drummer Billy Cobham. Sadly, Bolin was only able to finish two solo albums before dying of a drug overdose at the age of twenty-five.

1976's Private Eyes, a hard rock/funk/jazzy masterpiece, was Bolin's second solo release. Adept at playing numerous musical styles, Bolin combined several within the context of the album, giving Private Eyes the feel of being more than just another Classic Rock CD.

Take, for instance, the epic Post Toastee, a nine-plus minute romp that smoothly combines elements of funk, rock, and jazz. (One has to admit it's a bit ironic hearing Bolin sing of the perils of drug usage considering the manner in which he passed, but it's still a classic piece of rock and roll.) From the fuzzy, menacing power chords that open the track to Bobby Berge's precise, heavy drumming Post Toastee is begging for the volume to be cranked up. Throw in some Deep Purple-like organ from Mark Stein and you have the makings of a great rock tune. Where Post Toastee gets down and dirty, though, is a couple minutes in, when bassist Reggie McBride gets funky. As the band starts turning the song into a funk track, Bolin begins an extended, quick-fingered acid-guitar solo over the top. (Listen for the part where Bolin literally makes his guitar growl like a monster, it's great.) Norma Jean Bell (sax/percussion/vocals) then uses her sax to turn Post Toastee in a jazz/funk direction, during which the band grooves while Bolin plays some wonderful scratch guitar. Finally everyone heads back into rock territory while Bolin solos away. A fantastic track worthy of repeated listening.

Bustin' Out For Rosey and Shake the Devil are also fine funk-rock tracks, albeit not quite as epic as Post Toastee. Bell stands out on Rosey as she throws in some soulful backing vocals as well as some nice backup percussion. Her sax works well toward the end of the song as she plays off Bolin's fast solo's while still keeping time with the band's tight riffs. Shake the Devil features more tight riffing, along with more heavy drumming from Berge. The organ and hand-clap percussion give the track a bit of a bluesy touch. Bolin follows Bell's sax solo effortlessly with a guitar solo of his own before the band turns the final minute into a jam session.

Lest you think Private Eyes is just one single exercise in funk-rock, check out Sweet Burgundy, Bolin's ode to the red wine. (After hearing Sweet Burgundy, I've often wondered how much influence Tommy Bolin had on Deep Purple's Come Taste the Band which featured a glass of red wine on the cover...) Burgundy is a nice, mid-tempo ballad featuring some nice slide-guitar work from Bolin and some slow-yet-festive sax playing from Bell. Or the lovely Gypsy Soul, a carefree, jazzy samba that picks up steam as Bolin plays some Spanish acoustic guitar. If it were an instrumental, you could play this as background music at your next outdoor Friday afternoon ****tail party - yet it doesn't sound a bit out of place as a part of Private Eyes. Hello Again is a lush, acoustic ballad with a gorgeous string arrangement from Del Newman. The subtle harp that sneaks in midway is a very nice touch.

Drummer Carmine Appice appears on Someday Will Bring Our Love Home, doing his usual solid job on the acoustic-flavored rocker. Thanks to the soulful organ and Bolin's slide guitar, the track has just a touch of country-rock tinge to it. Bolin and Bell match guitar and sax riffs at the beginning of You Told Me That You Loved Me, a mid-tempo rocker that fuses rock and jazzy sax with Stein's bluesy organ. Bolin's piercing/squelch-laden solo at the end is a perfect way to finish the CD.

Tommy Bolin was an incredibly talented guitarist who was taken from us all too soon - he passed away a few months after the release of Private Eyes. One can only wonder what Bolin could have accomplished had he lived longer and built upon the strength of this album. One can also question why one so talented feels the need to throw it all away, but that's a conversation for another time. Private Eyes is a wonderful piece of rock well deserving of an audience. Recommended to fans of classic-rock, funk-rock, jazz-rock, and guitar fans. Start with Private Eyes and his solo debut, Teaser, then work your way into Bolin's posthumous releases. Then you, too, can wonder what might have been.

The Complete Discography thread Van Morrison

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:15:45 +0000

Combining my love for the Music with my determination to complete a thread of significance and to be satisfied with the content in the end I present a labor of love with "Van Morrison: 30 Albums I can't live without" A chronological quest to review and discuss the majority of Van's body of work from 1967 to present as well as introduce or produce interesting insights, websites and highlights at a snappy and diligent pace. Here Goes...

Van Morrison began his career as a teenage front man for the appropriately named Northern Irish rock band "Them" in 1964. Van was one of six original members of what would become a revolving door of musicians across the board. Morrison recorded two albums with the group before departing to launch his solo career late in 1966.

The result of nine months of intense self examination and what Van would later call "self sacrifice of integrity and concept" to satisfy the bosses, was Van's solo debut and swan song with Bang Records. In the end Morrison tried to stop the albums release and still does not embrace the album, despite many fans doing so.

Blowin Your Mind (1967)

Obviously best known for the lead track Brown eyed Girl Vans solo debut and final album with Bang Records is an inconsistent effort, but one that clearly demonstrates his talent and potential and foreshadows the haunting masterpiece lying in wake (Astral Weeks) which would be released 18 months later following a switch to the Warner Brothers label. Album was produced to have a gritty and humble feel, which while aprapo of Van's nature as a person, seems to lack sincerity in it's production. Highlights of the album include a number of relatively poppy numbers and the more unrefined free form compositions like Who drove the Red Sports car and T.B Sheets. On the whole album is good but nothing sensational by Van standards...(continued at end)

1. Brown Eyed Girl My Beef with this song is only that is what everyone knows Van for, its a fine pop song, but Van did not write pop songs. I wont bother describing the song; you already know how it goes. Personally I like it, but it's the only Van song I'll ever cahnge when it comes on the radio or random play on my ipod or pc. 7.5\10

2. He Aint Give you None Has a slightly psychedelic nature to it; an avenue Van rarely ventured down. Elements of the freelance style he would fully unveil in Astral Weeks abound, but never fully surfaces. Electric in nature it collides rock with r&b in casual and cool style. More young love and inevitable angst amongst the lyrics which are clever from end to end. As good a song as Brown eyed girl, maybe played 1\1000 the amount of times on FM radio.7.5\10

3. T.B Sheets A song so out of place and time its unreal. This song is creepy good, from the blistering harmonica fills and interludes to the already grown and grizzled vocals of the barely two decade old phenomenon; its a gripping, emotional stumble of a song. Organ, acoustic guitar and percussion layer the song elegantly. Its hard to place where Van got this one from, it would stick out amongst any of his albums during his first and most prolific decade of music making. Like walking into a bar and instantly becoming the coolest guy there. Daring and devoted a classic amongst many hardcore fans. 8.5\10

4. Spanish Rose A Latin style ditty if ever Van had one. A simple and pleasurable song, somewhat predictable but not to the point of distraction. Undeniably catchy although probably equally campy. Nothing to report on lyrically it just progresses the song, the bridge is the songs highlight, it takes the song to the brink of honesty but ultimatley loops back to the refrain. Overall: Rather plain and does not stand out for me. 6.5\10

5. Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) - Van's first foray into his eventual blues heavy r&b staple. Featuring, in a capacity rarely seen since, back up vocals proclaiming the 8 bar chorus are used as a backdrop to Van's improvisational stream of feeling build as the song escalates and departs at a grueling pace. 7\10

6. Ro Ro Rosey Hard driving blues number thats more in the way and style of the album overall. Vocally driven Chorus and blues harmonica interludes are a nice touch and were clearly isolated as Van's strengths by the albums producer. Still lacks the originality and creativity present throughout a lot of Vans stuff with Warner. A worthwhile listen most times through, but nothing I seek out. 6.5\10

7. Who drove the Red sports Car Slowest jazziest\blues number of the album. Pounding piano and crying guitar are the dueling harmony of man and woman.Van's vocals act as mediator with partiality relative to the perspective of the narrative. As gentle a track as the album contains but not without a pounding presence of emotion explding through the vocals and lyrics at just the necessary points. 7\10

8. Midnight Special Cover track, blues style standard. A creative but not unique take on it with another visit from the back-up vocals which while not of poor quality don't fit the puzzle just right. Deliberate and structured Van gives a great effort that sounds more like a 50 some year old man then a 20 some year old one. His voice is a natural for the blues, but his heart is not limited to one genre. 6.5\10

...This album takes a while to find it's identity and probably misses the mark when it does, settling for what was working at the time instead of what was working for the artist. Eclectic out of the gate with a lot of quality but no direction, it's at least a compelling mystery. Later it becomes a careless presentation of several above average but unspectacular blues numbers that lack the creativity Van so clearly thrives on. Still it's like a young star athlete playing on a par team. He stands out despite what's going on around him.

First Time I Listened to it: 1976
Defining Track(s): Brown eyed Girl for the obvious reasons and T.B Sheets for the not so obvious ones.
Line in my head: "I can almost smell your T.B Sheets"

Star rating: (1-5) (from my personal catalog) ***1\2
How it made me feel today: (1-10): 7
Overall Ranking: TBD

Next up: Astral Weeks - 1968

Album Review Playlist: Volume 5

Wed, 21 May 2008 09:12:58 +0000

(Play Playlist - Yahoo Music Unlimited)

(Play Playlist - Rhapsody)

Our Album Review Playlist series takes a random group of new or reissued albums, pulls a single track from each into a playlist, and includes a mini-review for each album. Anything is game, and you’ll never know what’s coming next. The edition features 12 new albums or reissues for you to check out. Listen in full with Rhapsody or Yahoo Music Jukebox.

1. “She Left Me For Jesus” - Hayes Carll
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Trouble In Mind
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

Hayes Carll has delivered my favorite Americana record of 2008 to date with Trouble In Mind. This is the Texas songwriter’s third full-length release and his first with a major label (Universal’s Lost Highway). His wit-filled lyrics, and delivery are akin to an artist like Steve Earle, but the sound is more traditional country twang. The last track, “She Left Me For Jesus”, is a hilarious romp that should not be missed. The album contains 13 originals and one Tom Waits cover, which earns the record extra credit on an already flawless performance.

2.”Change Gonna Come” - Otis Redding
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

If a law was passed that said only one company could produce reissues of classic albums I would lobby as hard as I could for Rhino Records. The company has done it again with this fine expanded and remastered reissue of Otis Redding’s third album, Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul. The deluxe packaged 2-CD set includes both the original mono and original stereo versions of the record, 18 alternate, live and b-side tracks and excellent liner notes by Rob Bowman.

3. “Alone Again Or” - Love
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Forever Changes
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

Along with the Otis reissue above, Rhino Records has also released a similarly packaged 2-CD set filled with bonus material for Love’s seminal 1967 album Forever Changes. The album is still not well known among most mainstream rock fans, but music historians and psychedelic-era fans know it as one of the most important and influential records of the late 1960’s hippy era. The record is discussed at length at the Rock’s Backpages blog here at Yahoo Music.

4. “It’s A Ruse” - Rosey
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Luckiest Girl
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

It goes without saying that sultry, cross-over jazz cut from the same mold as Norah Jones will continue to proliferate – considering the incredible success Norah has seen. And although there are many artists who pale in comparison, Rosey actually has that special undefinable something… She takes what could be confused for Muzak in the hands of a lesser talent, and turns it into something truly worthy of your ears. File it under “Jazz That Sells”.

5. “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” - Soweto Gospel Choir
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From In The Name Of Love Africa Celebrates U2
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

Bono’s charitable work for Africa is well known, not just among fans of the band, but among world leaders and throngs who have been beneficiaries of the good fight he continues to wage. This compilation is a sort of “thank you” from Africa. In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 features the music of U2 as remade by some of the African continent’s most respected musicians. A portion of the project’s proceeds directly benefit The Global Fund.

6. ”Black Lungs” - The New Frontiers
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Mending
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics
If you like your indie rock more on the accessible side than the arty side, than The New Frontiers Mending is one you should really pick up. It stays grounded with a plethora of solid melody and stays on the edge of being epic without ever going overboard. This is a band that does not depend on volume, but uses every instrument to maximum effect. I count myself lucky to have stumbled upon this one.

7. “Perfect Music” - Poi Dog Pondering
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album 7
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

I seems hard to believe that I bought Poi Dog Pondering’s debut album almost two decades ago, and it’s even harder to think that the band is still going strong, albeit with a different line up. The aptly titled 7 is the band’s seventh full-length, and combines Frank Orrall’s blissful wanderings with well thought out and perfectly executed arrangements. The quirkiness we have come to love from PDP is still palpable, but all the rough spots have been smoothed into nonexistence.

8. “Lovin’ Arms” - The Wood Brothers
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Loaded
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

The Wood Brothers features vocalist and guitarist Oliver Wood and upright bassist Chris Wood of Medeski, Martin and Wood fame. John Medeski produced and appears on this record, which is a low key, lovable work of Americana. The brothers wrote the songs in a true collaborative manner after loosing their mother to ALS last year. The melancholy shows up in the songs, but never turns depressing and in fact, it may just leave you feeling uplifted.featured

9. “Island Groove” - Mickey Hart
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Planet Drum
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics
I featured Mickey Hart’s latest effort Global Drum Project awhile ago and referred to this record in that review. Well Shout! Factory has recently reissued Hart’s Planet Drum, which has the distinct honor of being the first record to ever receive a “World Music” Grammy award. The 1991 album spent an unprecedented 26 weeks at #1 on the Billboard world music chart, and continues to sell as a perennial favorite. Now’s a good time to get acquainted if you haven’t in the last 17 years.

10. “Half Life” - Absentstar
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Sea Trials
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

Absentstar have just released their major label debut titled Sea Trials and it certainly has a good shot at reaping the same commercially successful kudos that bands like Snow Patrol, Keane or even Coldplay have achieved in years past. They have a knack for pulling off the epic dynamic bursts of sound that end up attracting attention and earning placement on major movie soundtracks. Whether that is a good thing I will leave for you to decide.

11. “Who’s That?” - LMNO & Kev Brown
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
From the album Selective Hearing
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics

On Selective Hearing, LMNO teams up with producer Kev Brown, known for his contributions to albums by Jazzy Jeff, De La Soul, Marley Marl, Biz Markie, Raheem De Vaughn, and more, to deliver eleven tracks of solid backpacker hip-hop followed by eleven instrumental versions. The addition of the instrumental versions is notable — for all you aspiring rappers, let’s see what you can do with these tracks.

12. “World Outside” - Dizzee Rascal
on Yahoo! Music Jukebox
on Rhapsody
From the album Maths + English
Last.fm page / Search for lyrics
Maths+English has been highly anticipated stateside. This is the third LP from Mercury Prize-winning British MC Dizzee Rascal. It reached #7 on UK pop charts last year. Includes four tracks not included on the original release plus an exclusive remix of “Sirens.” The record features Lily Allen, the Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner, UGK’s Bun B and the late Pimp C and was named one of Pitchfork’s Top 50 Albums of 2007.

TRAE THA TRUTH BECOMES FREE AGENT AND GOES ON NATIONAL TOUR - NEW MUSIC DOWNLOADS

Tue, 06 May 2008 23:18:48 +0000

CLICK ABOVE IMAGE TO GO TO TRAE’S MYSPACE PAGE

Anyone who has followed the career of Trae tha Truth knows that the Houston artist is no stranger to adversity. He has overcome much to be where he is and willingly shares his experiences in his music. Trae though is not one to be kept down and has a knack for turning negatives into positives. With 2 critically acclaimed albums under his belt under Rap-A-Lot Records (Restless and Life Goes On), and a final project for that label set to drop this year (a much-anticipated group effort with ABN, including cousin and fellow rapper, Z-Ro), Trae has fullfilled his contractual obligations to the Houston label and is now a free agent. Not one to sit around and wait for things to come to him, Trae is taking to the road this month to let the world know (tour dates and cities below.)

Another classic example of Trae’s ability to turn negative experiences into postive ones was his recent live shows at the Ramsey 1 Unit of the maximum security prison in Rosharon, Texas where he made rap history. When you think of Texas and it’s criminal justice system, several things come to mind; the hanging state, the red state, 3 strikes state, lynching state, but not warm-and-fuzzy things like ‘let’s throw our prisoners a rap concert and make their day’ state. However, on March 29th, 2008 Trae took ABN members Clip and Easy, Slim Thug (himself a free agent now) and Boss Hogg Outlaws PJ-Rap Hustla and J Dawg, along with DJ Hi-C and performed 2 live shows in front of several hundred maximum security inmates.

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The unprecedented shows, called Hopefest, were set up by Trae’s long-time friend, Rosey Ruiz, once an inmate herself, who now volunteers within the TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) as a mentor and motivational speaker both for G.R.A.D. (Gang Renunciation and Disassociation) and with the general prison population on a daily basis; offering hope and inspiration to those who often have none. With many family members and close friends on lock, including his older brother Dinkie who is serving 3 consecutive life sentences, the work that Rosey does is very close to Trae’s heart making the shows mean that much more to everyone. Each of the guys performing shared their own experiences with incarceration but also stressed the fact that if they themselves could overcome and get their lives together, so could each of the inmates - a message that was met with overwhelming warmth and gratitude. More shows are planned in the coming months at different TDCJ facilities and Trae plans to invite other artists to join him in delivering this message of hope.

Below are links to download Rich Boy’s Wrist Out tha Window ft. Trae and Shawty Lo and Watch Ova Momma. Post them on your websites, put them on your mixtapes and get the word out……….Trae tha Truth IS Houston, he is now a free agent and he is coming to a city near you soon.

DOWNLOAD LINKS

Wrist Out tha Window Clean - http://www.mediafire.com/?iyzjktxtzxg

Wrist Out tha Window Explicit - http://www.mediafire.com/?llf2xgjdeth

Watch Ova Momma - http://www.mediafire.com/?rpnjn4t4mc0

For further information, drops, mixtape hosting and media opportunities, kindly contact Nancy Byron, OGPR (832) 220.6071 or nancyb@ogpr.net

TOUR DATES

May 16th - Victoria, TX

May 17th - Bryan, TX - Tonix Nightclub

May 18th - Waco, TX - Legacy - Official Car Show Afterparty

May 23rd - Texarkana, TX - The Paradise

May 24th - Little Rock AR

May 25th - Memphis, TN

May 26th - Nashville, TN

May 30th - Abilene,TX - Abilene Civic Center

May 31st - San Angelo, TX

June 1st - Lubbock, TX

June 2nd - Odessa, TX

June 3rd - El Paso, TX

June 4th - Laredo, TX

June 5th - San Antonio, TX - Club Rio - Ozone Magazine Bash

June 6th - Austin, TX - Spiro’s - Ozone Magazine Bash

June 7th - Dallas, TX - (TBA) - Ozone Magazine Bash / DUB car show

June 8th - Houston, TX - (TBA) - Ozone Magazine Bash

June 16th - Ft. Worth, TX - Club 820

June 17th - Wichita Falls, TX - The End Zone

June 18th - Oklahoma City, OK

June 19th - Amarillo, TX

June 20th - Albuquerque, NM

June 21st - Phoenix, AZ - Buzz Nightclub

June 22nd - Las Vegas, NV

June 23rd - Los Angeles, CA

June 24th - Los Angeles,CA

June 25th - Oakland, CA

June 27th - Dallas, TX

June 28th - Dallas, TX

June 30th - Tyler, TX - Club Nico’s

July 1st - Shreveport, LA - Municipal Auditorium

July 2nd - Beaumont, TX

July 3rd- Baton Rouge, LA - Official Birthday Bash

July 4th - New Orleans, LA- Essence Music Festival

July 5th - New Orlean, LA

July 6th - Monroe, LA - Krystal’s

July 7th - Jackson, MS

July 8th - Birmingham, AL

July 9th - Atlanta, GA

July 10th - Pensacola, FL

July 11th - Tallahassee, FL

July 12th - Jacksonville, FL

July 13th - Orlando, FL

July14th - Tampa, FL

July 15th - Miami, FL

Rosey - Luckiest Girl Review

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:05:46 +0000

As the back of the CD of Rosey’s Luckiest Girl says, “There is something undeniably seductive about jazz music.” Rosey personifies that statement on her 12 tracks of spicy hot jazz and pop.

Never is this atmosphere more apparent than on the opening track “It’s A Ruse”, which makes you feel like there should a spy thriller playing in front of you like a good James Bond classic. Other tracks that suck you into this passion play are “Love,” “My Love,” and the title track “Luckiest Girl.” Actually, you could say that about the entire album, the atmosphere is one of intrigue and smoking hot passionately interpreted lyrics. All of this intersects with the artist and her feelings towards the timeless music of days gone by…like when Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald where at their prime making music that we will never forget.

Could an artist like Rosey make music like this someday? Perhaps, if the timing is right and she finds herself surrounded by the right people. This album, while very good and entertaining, is just scratching the surface of a woman who has tons of potential and happens to have good musicians on her latest release. The foundation has been built now let’s see what it looks like once the house is built, that being said, the realization of the most difficult jump in Rosey’s career is now staring at her right in the face. What comes next? I feel more of the same would be appropriate especially if people start paying attention to this young attractive and very talented woman.

Luckiest Girl is full of warmth, playfulness, sincerity, and it paints a picture that comes to life for you as the music plays and Rosey uses her charms and expressive vocals to make you feel right at home. I enjoyed this CD, every bit of it. I do not think this is breaking any new ground but it has a lot of consistency and I believe the artist accomplishes what she intends to, and that it is to convey how important jazz music has been to us and the reason it became a fabric of our society so long ago. That kind of sentiment and thinking is a welcome friend in the crazy world we live in.

Artist: Rosey
Title: Luckiest Girl
Genre: Jazz-Pop
Label: Quango
Website
E Card

Tracks:
01.It’s A Ruse
02.Who Am I
03.Love
04.I Remember
05.My Love
06.Those Eyes
07.Be Somebody Blues
08.Luckiest Girl
09.It’s Easier On Me
10.Hand In Hand
11.First Time
12.The Old Fashioned Way

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

Rosey - Luckiest Girl

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:25:35 +0000

EPK

As the back of the CD of Rosey’s Luckiest Girl says, “There is something undeniably seductive about jazz music.” Rosey personifies that statement on her 12 tracks of spicy hot jazz and pop.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-April 14, 2008

New Album Releases for April 8, 2008

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 05:25:00 +0000

Leona Lewis - Spirit
P.O.D. - When Angels And Serpents Dance
Ray J - All I Feel
10 Years - Division
Foals - Antidote
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
The Breeders - Mountain Battles
James Otto - Sunset Man
Meat Beat Manifesto - Autoimmune
Was (Not Was) - Boo!
Man Man - Rabbit Habits
Clinic - Do It!
Jim Noir - Jim Noir
The Young Punx - Your Music Is Killing Me
Marcia Ball - Peace, Love & BBQ
Rosey - Luckiest Girl
Esoterica - The Fool
Gran Ronde - Secret Rooms
Ike Reilly - Poison The Hit Parade
Hayes Carll - Trouble In Mind
Tina Dico - Count To Ten
Miss Murgatroid & Petra Haden - Hearts and Daggers
Tapes 'N Tapes - Walk It Off
The Gibson Brothers - Iron & Diamonds
Eric Avery - Help Wanted

Full list of new and future releases
.

Rosey

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:18:09 +0000

From the artist: "A longtime jazz lover who began her eclectic career as a pop, rock & soul singer on Island/Def Jam, Rosey is unique in her ability to find the delicate balance between the...

Over The Weekend: Rockers vs. Mods, Kristy Kruger, Moonlady Festival

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:22:12 +0000

Rosey has the mod thing down. (Melanie Gomez)

The highlight of our weekend was definitely the Rockers vs. Mods opening night party at Amsterdam. There were cool bikes, good people and plenty of drinks. All things we like.

Rockers vs. Mods

Despite the name (and the inspiration), the mods and rockers were having a damn good time together at Friday's kick off for the weekend long motorcycle and scooter shindig. We met an original mod, who was at the 1964 rocker-mod riots in England, and a trio of rockers who travelled from Oklahoma for the gathering. After the drinking and the partying, everyone hit the streets for a ride.

Kristy Kruger at Opening Bell Coffee

Singer/songwriter Kristy Kruger is a treat to see live. Her country-meets-folk sound is refreshing and soulful. Her Friday night show was super intimate, and nearly everyone left Opening Bell Coffee enchanted by her timeless vocals.

Moonlady Festival

Tarot readings at the Moonlady Festival. (Rebecca King)

Saturday was hippie night -- super hippie night – out at White Rock. Drum circles, psychic readings, henna tattoos and the like were prevalent at the Moonlady Festival (photos), and we'll admit it was fun. The vibe was uplifting and the dancing was free-spirited.

Easter in the Park

So, we're not real into the religious side of Easter, but damn if we don't dig the bunny. We popped in at Lee Park Sunday to get in the springtime mood. Typically we're anti dressing up pets in costumes, but, admittedly, we totally enjoyed the pooch parade. Then we did the picnic thing and checked out the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. It was laid back, and a pretty awesome afternoon. -- Chelsea Ide

UKs YUKAWA-CHAN Piano Duo Cross the Pond to Carnegie Debut, Thursday 3/20

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:00:00 +0000

As two of the latest artists to burst onto UK’s contemporary music scene, the YUKAWA-CHAN DUO brings their incomparable keyboard chemistry to a New York City debut concert. Dedicated to eclectic programming, the dazzling young piano virtuosi presents an expansive recital including works by Rachmaninov and Piazzolla, avant-garde pieces by John Cage, and the world premiere of Binary, a work by composer/conductor Victoria Bond. Described as the “yin and yang of perfection (Sunday Independent),” Royal College of Music alumni Cassie Yukawa and Rosey Chan have found new ways of exploring the compelling dialogue of two pianos. Without neglecting the standard works, they stay true to their stout belief in the contemporary cause. Applauded for their imaginative and experimental repertoire, their programming extends from Mozart to contemporary composers such as Louis Andriessen. NAXOS is scheduled to release the duo’s debut international album this year featuring new and recent works by Michael Nyman. To learn more, visit http://www.yukawa-chan.com.

When: Thursday, March 20th @ 8:00pm

Where: Weill Recital Hall @ Carnegie Hall.
Corner of 57^th Street/7^th Avenue.
Train N/Q/R/W to 57^th Street

How: General $40/Students & Seniors $25. To buy tickets or for more info, call 212.247.7800, or visit http://www.carnegiehall.org