2Lot - Entropy
2ŁØT, the genre-blending band known for its unique sound and dedication to social advocacy, releases a new single and title track of its debut album Entropy, marking a significant milestone in its mission to inspire change through music. “Entropy embodies everything we stand for as a band,” 2ŁØT shares. “This album is the story of how and why the band was created. When we came together, each of us was dealing with personal challenges—family deaths, divorce, and other struggles life throws our way. Entropy is both a reminder of life’s inevitable changes and our commitment to push back against chaos and loss. It’s about living fully and encouraging others to do the same. This album represents our journey of overcoming despair, coming back to life, and being reborn.”
Entropy represents the band’s philosophy, derived from the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, which states that all things tend toward disorder over time. 2ŁØT—short for this natural law—was formed in response to the unpredictable challenges they were each facing in their own life. They are now united with a mission to channel chaos into meaningful art. With members Rudy Love Jr. (vocals / keys), Omar Jawar (drums), Sage Judd (keys), Chase Koch (guitar), and Robert Trusko (bass), the band merges elements of hip-hop, funk, jazz, rock, soul, and electronic music into what they call Electronic Jam Music (EJM), creating a unique sound with a purpose beyond entertainment.
Together, the group uses their platform to advocate for causes close to their hearts: addiction recovery, youth empowerment, and juvenile justice reform. 2ŁØT is a five-piece band known for their genre-defying sound, Electronic Jam Music (EJM). Formed during challenging times, the group combines elements of hip hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, and electronic music. More than just musicians, 2ŁØT is dedicated to advocating for social change, focusing on overcoming addiction, supporting youth, and criminal justice. Their mission is to activate and inspire audiences through both their music and their commitment to making a difference.
Anne Stott
The songs of Watershed Synapse Experience, Anne Stott’s third full length release, are teeming with bold aural atmospherics that embody narratives ranging from intimate observations to global visions to astral flares. In conjunction with platinum producer Barb Morrison (Deborah Harry, LP, Rufus Wainwright), and two-time Grammy-nominated engineer and musician Jeremy Kinney, she devises an eclectic sound that evokes Eighties alt-pop and Nineties grunge filtered through modern moody sonic landscapes. Jagged guitars, spacious electronica, ethereal choral arrangements, spoken word refrains and trash can percussive sections are all employed to create the most pop yet most raw album of Anne’s career.
“Working with Barb, there’s no talk of making a song fit into a specific genre or polishing off the rough edges, which is a huge relief and great pleasure for me,” says Anne. “I felt like the songs I wrote would all be respected for exactly what they were.” The album’s title, Watershed Synapse Experience, “Signifies those moments that we get very rarely in life,” says Anne, “where our perception of something shifts one one-hundredth of one degree, and yet it changes how we see everything.” The album features guest appearances from Kenny Mellman (Kiki and Herb, The Julie Ruin) playing powerfully fragile piano on “Future Ruin” and Terre Roche (The Roches) playing guitar and bringing vocal magic to “Fifty Times Around the Sun,” a track that ruminates about the earth’s orbit of the sun at 67,000 miles per hour. Background singers create a call and response chorus on “Water to Blood,” asking, “Time is here now/It’s not coming it’s come/What’s it gonna take/Water to Blood,” in what LA Blade called, “…the Earth Day anthem we forgot we needed.”
Anne Stott
“Love’s The Only High” is the new dance pop anthem from ANNE STOTT that will get people on their feet to celebrate their communities and the power of love. Written with producer Barb Morrison (Deborah Harry, Rufus Wainwright) and Jeremy Kinney (Asia Kate Dillon, Paear), the track’s anti-consumer proqueer lyrics combined with the infectious drum track, catchy guitar licks and sweet horns testify that a pop song can still hit hard and lift our spirits at the same time. Anne Stott is on a relentless quest for transcendent creative expression. Based in New York City and Cape Cod, Anne is a singer/songwriter of agitpop and indie rock, an actor and a political rabble rouser whose distinct song style embraces eighties alt pop and nineties grunge filtered through modern moody soundscapes. Musicians Barb Morrison—bass & horns, Jeremy Kinney—guitars & programming, Anne Stott—vocals, Bart Schoudel—programming www.AnneStott.com
Anne Stott
Audible Yays, comprised of the GRAMMY-nominated producers Barb Morrison (They/Them) and Bart Schoudel, take singer/songwriter, actor and political rabble rouser ANNE STOTT‘s grunge meets pop project into the dance music realm with their remix of “I Can’t Hide.” Official Video For “I Can’t Hide (Audible Yays Remix)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVLhKeo2ANM For Blondie, Barb Morrison was a songwriter behind Panic of Girls, one album that reflects why this collaboration was a good match with Stott’s elastic style that embraces eighties pop and nineties grunge, infused with a modern moody atmosphere. While Bart Schoudel’s Grammy nominations come from working on Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres, Justin Beiber’s Purpose and Beyoncé’s Beyoncé. Together as Audible Yays they masterfully treat Stott’s pop song with clean synths, a sublime house beat and their unique atmosphere.
While previous alternative rock songs by Stott such as her most recent releases “Water to Blood” and “Born Under a Full Moon” make you get up and dance, this remix of “I Can’t Hide” takes the dance party to the next level. On “I Can’t Hide,” Stott shares,” I don’t really feel like I wrote this song. It wrote me and channeled some of my most innocent wishes for myself and the world. And now through the inspired production of Barb and Bart, those vulnerable expressions have been transformed into a joyous dance celebration. Stott’s third album, Watershed Synapse Experience, produced by Barb Morrison drops in September 2024, until then have a happy pride month and keep rocking with Stott.
Beware Wolves Vol. 6
You wonder where Beware Wolves is going all the time. Always in flight, on the road, on the run. He’s a stochastic messenger, carrying a word of indeterminate character, at once mystical, earthbound and a little singed from a too-close brush with Hellmouth. Deeply rooted in Americana soil, the guitar is his tether. Meanwhile plaintive melodies ascend to the heavens, reaching their highest heights when he’s most pained. You hear flashes of Loudon Wainwright, Paul Simon, Lindsey Buckingham.
Then you hear Beware Wolves stretching, yearning for some kind of solace, almost finding a refuge in the clouds before crashing back to the ground and setting again, at speed, bearing another message, in search of another self. With New World, Volume 6 opens on a scene of discovery: “They came across the land for it/They came for it across the sea,” he sings before declaring that love is the undiscovered country. Note to Self is a wounded, hopeful life-affirmation, with wistful folk arpeggios holding back darker, lacerating thoughts of tragedies and wasted chances. When the searching falsetto repeats “Every knot comes undone/Just give it patience and time”, we feel the urgency and hope like hell it’s true. The propulsive Rabbit Run meanwhile makes a plea for more living, faster, now: “We must start without delay/See how now the hour is late/No time to hesitate today/Before the future is past.”
Rather be Fishing takes a different route. A polished gem of a toe tapper, it features a rare rhythm accompaniment and lush, gorgeous harmonies that would make the Louvin Brothers proud. A driving answer to Rabbit Run, album closer Round Again is an uptempo tour of a relationship flameout, awash in recrimination and something more enlightened than regret: “You never know what you’ve got ‘til it fades away/and everything comes round and round.”
Cluebagger
CLUEBAGGER is a Dakota-born guitarist & songwriter out of Fort Collins, at the base of the Rockies — an amalgam of old school instruments with modern synth, horns and girl harmonies into a genre-bending alternative. Lively yet refined — diverse technique, gripping melodies, and a splash of spice.
It’s a signature vibe — a brand — clean and lush, unique among the onslaught of synth-driven, homogenized chart-toppers. Songs with bravado, tackling uncommon themes — crime, ignorance, sex work — sin. The overall sound is a gumbo — take a pinch of cover-band bassist, sprinkle a dash of rhythmic finger picks — don’t forget the bottleneck — add a drop of sophisticated big band chords, mix in some blistering or mellifluous horns and a chukka-chukka pulse, and you’ve got the recipe. Let it steep! Now pepper it all with well-honed lyrics, full of depth. Serve it up as On My Raydio, ClueBagger’s latest, produced by Scott Key and Anthony Walker — a work of musical mastery and compelling thought.
A student of the old, dean of the new, presenting buzz-saw vocals singing the plight of sideline sentries and midnight mourners in Wallflower, first-love reverie in What Mighta Been, a netherworld of fear and doubt in One More Sin, or cola war propaganda by and for social isolationists, sofa soldiers, and lazy brains ala Helium Head and DangerVision. Now confront rural-town murder in Why Do We Do, ogle a pole dancing mom looking for a new matinee in Blue Movie Queen, or rejoice for the era of Wolfman in retro-styled Time Machine; and maybe grieve solemnly to a string quartet soothing profound loss in Now You’re Gone. And all the while… Listen for that lost art — the instrumental break — in nearly every song. No, not just another guitar solo! There’s sax, lap steel, synth, cello, trumpet, steel drums; and don’t miss a world champ whistler making it eerie in the one about media stars and martial law. Cluebagger is an artist who does it right. On My Radio— his album to prove it.
Coleman Mellett
Coleman Mellett (1974-2009), was a talented, established jazz guitarist in the Chuck Mangione band. Unknown to most, he was also a passionate songwriter with plans to release an album of his original music. Coleman was killed along with 50 others, when Colgan Flight 3407 crashed 7 miles from the BuffaloNiagara International Airport on February 12th, 2009, while traveling to play with Mr. Mangione, his band and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Left behind, on Coleman’s computer in his modest home studio in East Brunswick, New Jersey, were the preliminary vocal and guitar tracks to eleven original tunes and one never-before-heard solo guitar, instrumental arrangement of James Taylor’s Fire and Rain. Shortly after the accident, Coleman’s wife, jazz singer Jeanie Bryson (Dizzy Gillespie’s daughter), and dear friend and jazz giant Barry Miles began the journey of completing Coleman’s music with his favorite artists and closest friends.
The album, Sing You A Brand New Song, is scheduled to be released on February 14th, 2025. Contributing Artists: Coleman Mellett (vocals), Barry Miles (producer & pianist), Chuck Mangione (flugelhorn), James Scholfield (guitar), Will Lee (electric bass), Cliff Schmitt (acoustic bass), Larry Goldings (organ), Ron DiCesare (percussion), Steve Gadd (drums), Terry Silverlight (drums), James Taylor, Natasha Roth & Jeanie Bryson (vocals).
Coleman Mellett
From his upcoming album Sing You A Brand New Song, COLEMAN MELLETT’s charming & upbeat single “Everymornin’” features Chuck Mangione, Barry Miles, Jeanie Bryson, Steve Gadd, Will Lee and others. Besides the audio album, a documentary film titled Sing You A Brand New Song will also be released. Mellett was known as a talented, established jazz guitarist in the Chuck Mangione band. Unknown to most, he was also a passionate songwriter with plans to release an album of original music. Tragically, Coleman Mellett was killed along with 50 others when Colgan Flight 3407 crashed seven miles from the BuffaloNiagara International Airport on February 12th, 2009. Mellett was on his way to playing with Mr. Mangione, his band, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sing You A Brand New Song documentary preview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8KgobGRH_Y&t=17s Left behind on Coleman Mellett’s computer in his home studio in East Brunswick, New Jersey, were the preliminary vocal and guitar tracks to eleven original tunes and one never-before-heard solo guitar, instrumental arrangement of James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.” Shortly after the accident, Coleman’s wife, jazz singer Jeanie Bryson (Dizzy Gillespie’s daughter), and dear friend and jazz giant Barry Miles began the journey of completing Coleman’s music with his favorite artists and closest friends. The album, Sing You A Brand New Song, is scheduled to be released on February 14th, 2025.
Collaborations
The ensemble behind the project COLLABORATIONS is brought to life by a dedicated family of musicians and vocalists. Ed Daniels lays the foundation with music and the theme for the songs, while cowriters like Anais Preller, Suzanne Kiss, Heather Joseph, Carla Zipay, Sylvia Jones, Sheila Fabrizio, Vita Rose Taytro, Bonnie Lee Panda and Alex Bach bring the theme to life while adding layers of emotion and depth with either their voices or lyrics. The harmonies are further enriched by Kevin Monroe’s direction of the backup vocals and Devotion’s talents, creating a rich and evocative sound. The recording sessions, held at Horizon Music Studios in West Haven, CT, are overseen and produced by Vic Steffens with coproducer by Matt Oestreicher, who also handles the orchestrations. The Collaborations Band, featuring notable award winning musicians such as Bobby Torello, Scott Spray, Al Ferrante, Jon Peckman, Tim DeHuff, Bill Holloman and Dave Eggar on strings brings each piece to life with skill and passion.
Displace
“All In” is the first song from the fourth and final installment in a concept discography by DISPLACE titled Accidental Necessity. This raging funk fiesta reflects the carefree and reckless attitude of abandoning caution – and perhaps common sense – to spontaneously pursue a wildly new direction in life, approving any and all consequences with amusingly neutral acceptance. The song features Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce) on trumpet.
Displace is a saxophone-driven funk fusion ensemble based in Tampa, Florida known for their energetic performances, improvisational prowess, and wildly diverse sonic palette. The Floridian four-piece effectively utilizes their extensive training in a variety of musical backgrounds to produce a truly eclectic blend of infectious pop melodies, complex jazz progressions, and danceable indie-funk grooves. Chris Sgammato – Lead Vocals, Solo Saxophone, Guitar, Kyle Sareyani – Clav, Organ, Rhodes, Darryl McGowan Jr. – Bass, Evan Thibeault – Drums, Eric “Benny” Bloom – Trumpet, and Mr. Whiskers & The Nine Lives Horn Section.
George Highfill
“George Highfill’s songs and vocals are what country music is all about, the swingiest, most irresistible two- step shuffles that we’ve heard in some time.” –Music Connection On his latest album, Thank A Trucker, GEORGE HIGHFILL sings real country & western music about lovers, losers, gamblers, honky tonks, train whistles and hard times. Highfill is one of the best and most promising of the new traditionalists, a singer and songwriter with roots firmly planted in the heartland of America. “My grandfather was a fiddle & guitar player in an early country western band, my grandmother was well-known locally as a poet, and my mother was a pianist in church. Music was a big part of my childhood,” says George.
Highfill polished up his lyrics in college English courses before heading to Music City, USA. After one year as staff writer for Tree Publishing, he returned to his native Oklahoma as the first director of the newlyopened Hank Thompson School of Country Music at Rogers State College. Six years later, at the beginning of the Urban Cowboy boom, George arrived in Los Angeles playing “hard core country places.” He soon found himself in demand as a session musician working on albums with Ricky Skaggs, Chris Hillman, Maria Muldaur and Billy Swan. He opened concerts for George Jones, Merle Haggard, the Judds, Carlene Carter, and others. His own music was also getting noticed and Warner Bros. released Highfill’s debut album, featuring the single “Waitin’ Up,” which gained popularity in the US and Europe. George’s European visits have become an annual tradition with more fans turning on to his traditional, pure country each year.
His music has been featured in several movies, including the 1987 hit, Masters of The Universe. Besides Highfill’s vocals, Thank A Trucker also features bassist Paul Marshall (Wanda Jackson, Hank Thompson), drummer John Lee White (Dwight Yoakam, Rick Shea), fiddler Candy Girard (Jerry Garcia, Delaney Bramlett), and other fine folks.
Hollywood Allstars
The Hollywood Allstars are the brainchild and handpicked Supergroup of Grammy-nominated Songwriter / Producer / Keyboardist, and former Epic/CBS Recording Artist, Steve Gaspár on Hammond Organ and Piano. After stints with James Brown, Edgar Winter, Peter Criss from KISS, and Gene Cornish from The Rascals, Gaspár has put together music’s supergroup of session royalty for The Hollywood Allstars release FIELD OF GRACE on Deko Entertainment. Featuring Tower of Power vocalist, Tommy Bowes, in addition to Chevy Chevis, Andy Abel, Scott Spray, Eddie Torres, Lee Finkelstein, and from The Rolling Stones “Steel Wheels Tour,” the incomparable Uptown Horns. When assembled, The Allstars throw down high octane rockin’ funk with blazing horns and a crunchy Hammond Organ.
Jason Blake
JASON BLAKE’s 11th solo album A Confusion Sequence will be released November 15 on Trey Gunn’s (King Crimson) record label, 7D Media. Intended as a follow up to Blake’s 2023 album Subsequent Ruins, his new record once again features drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steve Wilson, Joe Satriani). For his 2024 release, Blake decided to record the entire album playing his Warr Artisan semihollow guitar.
Jason Blake states, “I wanted to give this album more of an acoustic feel. I incorporated different aspect of my playing into each song, from heavy/dark passages to pretty/contemplative sections. In that sense, A Confusion Sequence feels like a representation of me.” The album also includes an intriguing video for the track “Dormant Visions,” created by Fumihito Sugawara @ Fumanstudios in Austin. Jason Blake is a Warr guitarist from Chicago, Illinois. The Warr Guitar is a twelve-string instrument incorporating the range of a guitar and bass. It is played by tapping the strings, a technique known as touchstyle guitar. As a solo artist, Blake is not one to pigeonhole himself as his musical output spans a wide variety of genres. In the ambient realm, he signed with Wayfarer Records in 2021 and has released five albums to date with the label. From his drone series that included The Perfect Fallacy and Dreaming in Numbers to his progressive ambient trilogy, The Ternary Instinct, his music has been featured on radio stations and charts all over the world.
Jerry Burton
I chose to record Soul Man because it is the ultimate American soul song and thus the flagship of my album, Great American Soul Book, Reimagined. Vol l. It’s staying power is singular. This release marks its third incarnation since originally performed by Sam and Dave in the sixties ( whom I saw perform it live). Secondly , it was performed by the Blues Brothers of Saturday Night Live fame, who even used the original backing musicians of Steve Cropper( guitar) and Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn( bassist), on their recording and live dates. And now, of course, my take on it. It is everything that I like about authentic soul music, a great hook, great singers and a great band with screaming horns. Soul Man lent itself to reinterpretation like few other songs did. There were many great soul songs out there to chose from to be the flagship of my new album, but in choosing Soul Man, I chose what is arguably one of the greatest soul songs ever written. www.JerryBurton.com
Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius
“Deninzon is perhaps the finest electric violinist of his generation.” –ProgressiveRockCentral Progressive rock band JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS spent six years making their sixth album Impostor!, partly between Deninzon’s worldwide tour dates as the violinist for KANSAS. The songs on Impostor! share stories of emotional battles Joe has observed in his life and the outside world. “Sometimes you write a bunch of songs and don’t see the thread that binds them together until they are all on one album.” The title track addresses impostor syndrome and the epic “Chasing the Dragon” about “midlife crisis and unrealized dreams and expectations, ‘Are we ever satisfied?’ The dragon represents that elusive goal, always just out of reach.” The song features guest vocalist Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra). “Outrage Olympics is a rebuke of cancel culture. “Cognitive Dissonance” features guest vocals from Randy McStine (Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree) and explores how religious intolerance destroys childhood friendships.
“Storm Surge” explores anxiety and features some legends in the prog world, including pianist/flautist Rachel Flowers, guitarist Fernando Perdomo and Saga vocalist Michael Sadler, who co-wrote the song with Joe and the group’s drummer Jason Gianni. Inspired by Friedrich Burgmuller’s 19th century piano piece, “L’Orage (the Storm).” Official Video For “Outrage Olympics” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS3aa0g-bXQ The album also includes the Jean Luc Ponty/Jerry Goodman-inspired instrumentals “Voodoo Vortex Part I & II.” The song title “Tripping the Merry-Go-Round” is taken from Bruce Springsteen’s lyric in “Blinded by the Light.”
Joe performs most of the acoustic strings and describes the song; “If Gentle Giant wrote ‘Eleanor Rigby.’ It’s a snapshot of a long relationship where the ‘merry-go-round’ of life keeps people from making adequate time for each other.” Stratospheerius also covers King Crimson’s “Frame by Frame” with backup vocals from Val Vigoda (Groovelilly). Impostor! is being released on Trey Gunn’s 7d Media and features Joe (electric 7-string violin, acoustic violin, viola, chin cello, lead and background vocals, and producer), Michelangelo Quirinale-(Guitars), Paul Ranieri (bass), Jason Gianni (drums), and Bill Hubauer (keyboards). Impostor! was mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser (Tears for Fears, Dream Theater, Weezer). Joe’s music’s been compared to Rush, Muse, Dream Theater, and Kansas, who welcomed Joe into the band in May 2023. “While Kansas became my main gig, it was my work with Stratospheerius that got their attention. Looks like all that “dragon chasing” paid off for Joe and his bandmates!
Joe Deninzon and Stratospheerius
“Outrage Olympics” is the new single from JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS’ forthcoming album, Impostor. A scathing rebuke against cancel culture with references to George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, the title for “Outrage Olympics” was taken from a phrase stated by Bill Maher during one of his “New Rules” monologues. “Our society is so easily outraged,” states Deninzon, “that we live in fear of saying the wrong thing or offending someone unintentionally at the risk of being cancelled. Sometimes it seems like everyone is secretly policing each other. As someone who was born in the Soviet Union and grew up hearing stories about life there, this hits close to home.” Joe Deninzon is the violinist/guitarist for classic rock band KANSAS.
He has also played with the Who, Bruce Springsteen, 50 Cent, Ritchie Blackmore, and as the concertmaster for Renaissance. His Stratospheeriuus bandmates include drummer Jason Gianni (The Ultimate Queen Celebration, TransSiberian Orchestra, Neal Morse Band), guitarist Michelangelo Quirinale (Thrilldriver), keyboardist Bill Hubauer (Neal Morse Band/Crack the Sky) and bassist Paul Ranieri (Mark Wood, Riot Act). The band’s new album Impostor also features guest artists Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Michael Sadler (Saga), Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree), and Rachel Flowers among others.
Journos
Relentless forces are attempting to undermine democracy and the rule of law at home and around the world. Journos calls them out. Journos’ previous album In The Key Of WTF! garnered critical acclaim, indie radio airplay. Songs like “Dirty Money,” “Oh Tyranny!,” “Don’t Wake The Trouble,” “Something Worth Feeling Again,” and many more, directly take on the challenges facing the USA today. More great new music is coming soon… With In The Key Of WTF!, Journos (Bryan Russo & Ryan Abbott) told us what’s gone wrong; and in early 2025 Journos will re-introduce us to the characters who got us here with their upcoming album The Burning Question, and tell us how to get started fixing things.
Already working the new material out on the road, the early reviews of The Burning Question are making waves in the indie Americana/Blues Rock underground! Praise for Journos and In The Key Of WTF! “Journos has that rare ability to make a statement while at the same time remaining entertaining and…engaging. Journos stands up and counts for something.” – Malcolm Burn, Grammy winning producer, radio host of “The Long Way Around” “WTF indeed!
I put this on for a spin, and wasn’t just immediately hooked, I’m on my third listen in a row. Bursting with originality and old-fashioned, hard-driving songs of activism and pure joy.” – Tony Frankel, Stage & Cinema “Bryan Russo is bluesy as hell, like a young Tom Waits or Billy Joel.” – David Ivory, multi-platinum engineer, and Grammy nominated producer
Karl Latham
The highly-acclaimed jazz and rock drummer KARL LATHAM on Living Standards II turns rock favorites into jazz fusion jams. With an all-star cast that includes bassist Mark Egan (Pat Metheny, Gil Evans) and special guest vibraphonist Wolfgang Lackerschmid (Chet Baker, Larry Coryell), Latham digs into pieces associated with Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, the Doors, Steppenwolf and other rock icons, giving them new life and fresh ideas. Back in 2016, drummer Karl Latham recorded Living Standards, a trio set with bassist Mark Egan and the late guitarist Vic Juris that transformed 11 rock pieces into jazz.
On Living Standards II, Latham expands upon the idea by exploring seven other rock classics. The fusion-oriented set has the drummer heading a quintet that also includes bassist Egan, guitarist Mitch Stein, keyboardist Henry Hey, and percussionist Roger Squitero. In addition, the group’s special guest vibraphonist Wolfgang Lackerschmid is among those featured on “Break On Through (To The Other Side). Mark Egan has had a long and productive career, becoming famous for his contributions to the bands of Pat Metheny, Gil Evans and countless others in addition to co-leading Elements and heading over a dozen albums of his own. Mitch Stein, who in his career has worked with such notables as Tania Maria, Adam Holzman, the Brecker Brothers and David Sanborn, is a powerful force throughout Living Standards II, often operating as the lead voice and contributing many blazing solos. Keyboardist Henry Hey, who earlier in his career uplifted the music of saxophonist Bill Evans, Victor Bailey, Joe Locke, Chris Creek, Jeff “Tain” Watts, David Bowie, and Tedeschi/Trucks, displays plenty of virtuosity on electric keyboards and organ, both as a soloist and in the inventive ensembles. Roger Squitero, who contributed to the music of Dave Valentin, Dave Grusin, Spyro Gyra, Ron Carter and many others, adds to the power and color of the ensembles. With Karl Latham driving the ensembles and inspiring the soloists, the quintet has its own powerful musical identity.
The new versions of the rock classics devised by Karl Latham retain their melodies, chord changes and spirit while adding much more improvising and many subtle surprises. Living Standards II consists of songs associated with the Doors (“Break On Through To The Other Side”), Buffalo Springfield (“Rock And Roll Woman”), Led Zeppelin (“What Is And What Should Never Be”), Eric Clapton (a surprisingly uptempo version of “Layla”), King Crimson (“Matte Kudasai), Steppenwolf (“Magic Carpet Ride”) and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (the two part “Carry On”). These new treatments will delight both rock collectors and fusion fans. Karl Latham has performed with a long list of major jazz and rock artists in his career including The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, Paquito D’Rivera, the Bernie Worrell Orchestra, Michal Urbaniak, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, Attila Zoller and as co-leader of Big Fun(K) with Don Braden. Living Standards II, his fifth album as a leader, features the drummer in prime form, giving the band drive, power, and additional creativity while clearly enjoying reinventing the rock anthems.
King Llama - Album
KING LLAMA’s new album fata implexis is something special, commanding, and category-elastic. The fiery and whip-smart instrumental band’s tune “Lora Ky” packs an immediate and visceral punch within its sophisticated changes, spidery guitar riffs, tricky unison lines and mosaic-like structure, built from material conjured up by guitarist-songwriter Ryan T. Bailey. It serves as a prelude and on-ramp to an electrifying journey unfolding over six tracks. Official Video For King Llama’s “Bus Stop”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGp5V1gOon4 What to call this music? Drummer Luis Briones wonders if it’s something along the lines of “experimental fusion-influenced jamband music?” Math rock? Prog rock? By whatever name or genre identifier, this music makes a bold statement and paves the way for a bright future for this unique band. At the core of the operation is a deep musical connection between guitarist-composer Bailey and Briones, who have tended the King Llama fires for many years and released their debut, Return to Ox in 2016.
A critical third party entered the equation when veteran producer Dennis MacKay (Return To Forever, David Bowie, Stanley Clarke) met Bailey through record exec Michael Caplan and agreed to work on King Llama’s new album. Among MacKay’s conceptual ideas was the addition of guitarist Billy Paulsen, as a secondary voice to expand Bailey’s guitar-based compositional road maps. Bassist Anthony Crawford provides a firm foundation, along with standout solo moments, and MacKay put in a call to his old friend, Brand X bassist Percy Jones, to add his distinctive fretless bass sound to the atmospheric closing track, “Vita et Mors.”
King Llama
KING LLAMA’s new single “Bus Stop” was originally written years ago, but according to the band, “it was initially a bare bones track compared to the fascinating fusion of instrumental styles that it evolved into. It has taken on a life of its own.” “Bus Stop” is from King Llama’s forthcoming album fata implexus (or “fate intertwined”), which was produced by Grammy-winner Dennis MacKay (Return To Forever, David Bowie, Stanley Clarke). At the core of King Llama is a deep musical connection between guitarist-composer Ryan T.
Bailey and drummer Luis Briones, who have tended the King Llama fires for many years and released their debut Return to Ox in 2016. As with much of the music world, the band’s forward motion was interrupted by the pandemic and the shuttering of live music, which then led to a long process of composing, rethinking and expanding the vision of the band. The result is an instrumental masterpiece of funk, rock, jazz, and jam sensibilities morphed into a unique sound on fata implexus. Among MacKay’s conceptual ideas, along with his addition of melodic and structural ideas on the pieces, was the introduction of another guitarist, the naturally skilled Billy Paulsen, as a secondary voice to expand Bailey’s guitar-based compositional road maps.
Bassist Anthony Crawford provides a firm foundation, along with standout solo moments. Fata implexus also features performances by bassist Percy Jones (Brand x), Dominique Xavier Taplin on Piano/Keys (Toto, Ghost Note), Nate Werth on Percussion (Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note), and Anthony Crawford on bass (Allan Holdsworth). www.KingLlama.com
LD Levy
Jazz multi-instrumentalist and playwright L.D. Levy returns with an album of improvisational originals, d n a n d. A veteran of the jazz scene and self-taught virtuoso, Levy has toured Europe as a woodwinds soloist and played in the past with the likes of Beaver Harris, Ed Blackwell, Don Cherry, Richard Davis, collaborating with the Astral Weeks bassist for a full LP, 1979’s Cauldron. In 1980, Levy’s followup LP, The Eagle and the King was awarded five stars by DownBeat. On d n a n d, Levy takes on the role of multitasker, picking up duty for woodwinds, piano, and bass, constructing improvisations against himself and drummer Paul Westfahl (Max Devereaux, Troubadours of Rhythm). The result is a collection of tracks both tenebrous and intriguing, the record’s often sparse instrumentation laying bare the physicality of the instruments as evinced by Jack Griffin’s stark production.
On album opener “Map,” Levy’s piano chords lay the groundwork for a dynamic improvisation whose whispered woodwinds give way to inflections of controlled chaos. “Smoke” lives up to its name, conjuring images of the hazy nightclubs of jazz’s past. “Saxophone per se I & II” serve as the record’s closer, a solo saxophone suite showcasing Levy’s improvisational virtuosity. d n a n d is an act of pure expression from a singular artist. L.D. Levy: bass clarinet, alto flute, alto sax, piano, bass; Paul Westfahl: drums
Lefty
Produced by the legendary Paul A. Rothchild, widely known for his work with The Doors, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Joni Mitchell, to name just a few. Deko Entertainment and LEFTY bring you this treasure trove of music made the old-fashioned way. They PLAYED IT! Featuring David “Lefty” Foster (Vocals) Keyboardist Mike Finnegan (Bonnie Raitt) Guitarist Kal David (Etta James) Drummer Jack Scarangella (Blood Sweat & Tears) Drummer Mark Williams (Don Henley) Percussionist Joe Lala (Whitney Hou ston) Bassist Harvey Brooks (Miles Davis) and from Earth Wind & Fire, the incomparable Phenix Horns! Lefty states, “I’m very excited to be partnering with Deko Entertainment, and to have the opportunity for the world to finally hear this record and these legendary tracks.”
https://www.dekoentertainment.com/inthesquare/david-%22lefty%22-foster
Linda Marks
In her 15th studio album The Silence Of The Stars, multi-award winning singer/songwriter LINDA MARKS takes a deep dive into her lived experience & illustrates the relationship between the personal and the universal. The title song, one of several autobiographical tracks on the album, is at the heart of her musical journey, telling the story of a little girl whose passion for music was quashed by her angry father, afraid his daughter could never make a living by following her heart. This album and its songs represent the heroine’s journey the little girl embraced, overcoming a litany of life’s obstacles (including several years away from her music career to raise her son as a single mom with no child support while caring for a mom with Alzheimer’s) to write songs at the heart of our times that can touch the heart, heal our wounds, and inspire us to reach for the stars & live a purpose-inspired life. Boston-based, piano playing singer songwriter Linda Marks is a healer at heart. An emotional alchemist whose music gracefully uplifts the spirit and transforms sorrow into gold, her music offers a full genre buffet anchored in folk. The Silence Of The Stars includes poignant, timely songs with a touch of humor thrown in for good measure.
Writing songs at the heart of our times is a passion for Linda, addressing issues like domestic violence, mental health, building bridges across political divide and the experience of our children. Linda’s production team includes Erik Balkey (Hudson Harding Music), Glenn Barratt (Morningstar Studios), Doug Hammer (Dreamworld Productions) and Doug Kwartler (Hollow Body Studios) Linda is a voting member of the Recording Academy, leader of artist- alliance group ISSA Boston/Northeast, and has won Global Music Awards, World Songwriting Awards, was a Finalist in the Great American Song Contest and has been nominated for Josie Music Awards, and World Entertainment Awards. She is a guest artist on the Grammy nominated album, The Fury by Antonio Vergara. Marks’ pandemic-inspired livestream, approaching its 5th year, has brought her a global following.
Neybas - Album
Extended Flow is the upcoming studio album from NEYBAS (pronounced “nay-bahz”), a Trad Rock-Alt-AmericanaJamband from Connecticut. The album features 16 hook-laden original songs spanning multiple genres. Extended Flow’s tracks date back to recording sessions from 2019 at Connecticut’s Massiphonic Studios with producer John Bolduc engineering, producing, and mastering. The band had set out to record 19 original songs written by singer/songwriter/guitarist Russ Waesche, but with studio deadlines looming, the band had to pick the 12 songs that were ready to go.
Those 12 songs were included on the Neybas’ 2019 album Flow, released locally to fans just before the pandemic. Of the 7 songs that were unfinished from those 2019 sessions, three were re-worked and included on 2022’s Sunshine Hotel. The positive response to those three songs, and the Hotel album in general, spurred the band to revisit the remaining four tracks. In 2023, the band returned to Massiphonic Studios with producer Bolduc and finished those four tracks, which they included with the 12 original Flow tracks and release as Extended Flow. A regional favorite in the northeast for decades, Neybas music is organic, energetic, and danceable, with good-vibes and echos of the late 60s and early 70s. The band has played with such talent as the Georgia Satellites, Joan Osborne, NRBQ, Great White, Felix Cavaliere, Todd Snider, and Rick Derringer.
Their most recent album, Sunshine Hotel, released in June 2022, received strong reviews and received enough airplay across the country that it was on the Relix/Jambands.com Radio Chart and the AMA Americana Radio Chart for four months. Neybas: Russ Waesche: lead vox, acoustic & electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, percussion; Kevin “English” Bornstein: vox, bass; Nicholas “Toad” Eckert: vox, acoustic & electric guitars; Emmet Hale: Drums, vox; Greg Marshall: keys. Guest musicians: John Bolduc: vox, percussion; Kate Hubbard: vox; Peter O’Connell: harmonica; Mike Ryan: percussion.
Neybas "N.E. Girl"
Extended Flow is the upcoming studio album from NEYBAS (pronounced “NAY-buhz”), a Trad Rock-Alt- Americana-Jam band from Connecticut. The album features 16 hook-laden original songs spanning multiple genres, and will be released on One House Records in June, 2024. The second single from the album is “N.E. Girl,” an upbeat Adult Alternative Rock number which was one of the first songs written for the album. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Russ Waesche got the idea for the song when his wife was getting ready for bed; she had to work in the morning, while he’d be staying home to write songs: “She’s a hard-working girl, in a holiday world…” The lyrics reflect the singer’s love for a no-nonsense New England girl (N.E. – New England).
N.E. Girl was recorded at Connecticut’s Massiphonic Studios in 2023 with producer John Bolduc engineering, producing, and mastering. A regional favorite in the northeast for decades, Neybas music is organic, energetic, and danceable, with good-vibes and echoes of the late 60s and early 70s. The band has played with such talent as the Georgia Satellites, Joan Osborne, NRBQ, Great White, Felix Cavaliere, Todd Snider, and Rick Derringer, to name a few. Their previous album, Sunshine Hotel, released in June 2022, received strong reviews and received enough airplay across the country that it was on the Relix/Jambands.com Radio Chart and the AMA Americana Radio Chart for four months straight. Music reviewers described the album as “amazing ”… “organically-crafted and totally rockin’”… “an astounding stylistic variety”… “they certainly know how to get a party started and keep it going.”
Neybas: Russ Waesche: lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, percussion; Kevin “English” Bornstein: vocals, bass; Nicholas “Toad” Eckert: vocals, acoustic and electric guitars; Emmet Hale: Drums, vocals; Greg Marshall: keyboards. Guest musicians: John Bolduc: additional vocals, percussion.
Nuke The Soup
Baltimore-based rock singer-songwriter Mark Davison is the principal creative for NUKE THE SOUP. From the forthcoming album Dancing On The Edge, their new single “Biggest Storm” was produced by Grammy-winner Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello) and Gerry “Spooky Ghost” Leonard (David Bowie). The track features a lively ensemble of standout musicians, including keyboardist Brian Simms, guitarist Gerry Leonard, bassist Mike Mennell, and drummers Chester Thompson and John Thomakos. Together, this fiercely independent band crafts delicious rock-and-roll, blending introspective and socially conscious lyrics with infectiously catchy melodies and an effortless natural spirit. Creatives like Davison draw from real-life experiences to craft music that feels honest and fresh. For Mark, an avid skier, being sidelined by back issues presented an immense challenge. The thought of missing out on powdery, freshly fallen snow taunted him—so much that he could no longer bear it. With the difficult choice between physical recovery and soulful rejuvenation, Mark decided to follow his heart, heeding the call of the mountains.
With its catchy hooks and bouncy melody, “Biggest Storm” mirrors the pure, free-spirited joy of gliding down those snowy peaks. Nuke The Soup’s previous albums, Make Waves Not War (2009) and Deeper (2018), boldly tackled “big picture” topics such as politics, climate change, and the complexities of personal relationships. Now, with their highly anticipated upcoming album, Dancing On The Edge (out April 4), NTS continues to push boundaries, delivering a collection of energetic, ear wormy songs that explore life’s deeper questions while keeping listeners hooked with their signature sound.
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Pam Linton
Songs Of The Carter Family is a brand new “old” album born of PAM LINTON’s respect and admiration for what the Carter Family has meant to bluegrass and country music. Recorded in North Carolina with some of the genre’s finest musicians, including Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Jeremy Stephens, and David Johnson, Linton has crafted a truly remarkable album that honors history and brings a fresh treatment to these classic songs. Pam Linton has been described as “Hollywood down home.” She has the style of a celebrity superstar and the friendly qualities of the girl next door. Growing up in St. Stephen, Minnesota, Linton began her musical journey singing and playing guitar with her sister in church, for local events, and eventually local television. In time they caught the attention of legendary Midwest entertainer Sherwin Linton. With his show, Pam gained recognition from Nashville to Las Vegas. After Pam and Sherwin were married, she began managing his career and developing her own musical identity. Audiences are captivated by the “Big Voice” of this petite lady and her diverse repertoire of Traditional Country, Folk, Gospel, Rockabilly and Rock-N-Roll. Pam was humbled to receive a 2002 induction into the National Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame recognizing her dedication to the preservation of Music Americana.
Professor Louie and the Crowmatix
Grammy-nominated all-star band Professor Louie & The Crowmatix from Woodstock, NY have been expanding the borders of the Americana, Roots & Blues genres. The group began as the studio ensemble for Aaron Hurwitz’s musical productions for The Band. Rick Danko, bass player and singer of The Band, christened him “Professor Louie” due to his work with The Band and its individual members. Hurwitz co-produced and performed on The Band’s last three albums.
The Crowin’ Around radio sampler is a peak at three tracks from the upcoming 18th album by Professor Louie & The Crowmatix. All 18 albums are on Hurwitz’s Woodstock Records label, and so far all have landed on various radio charts, reflecting AAA, Americana, college, blues, and Jamband radio airplay. Besides being recording artists, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix also perform 150 shows a year in the US and abroad. They’ve been inducted into the New York State Blues Hall of Fame and hold a permanent place in the Canada South Blues Museum.
Professor Louie is also the recipient of the Robert H. Chambers Award for Excellence in the Traditional Arts from Common Ground On The Hill in Maryland. ~ The Crowmatix ~ Professor Louie (keys-accordion,vocals), Miss Marie (vocals-percussionist-keys), Frank Campbell (bass-vocals), Todd Mihan (guitar-vocals), Dan Hickey (drums), Woodstock Horns
Professor Louie and the Crowmatix
“Great piano playing bursts with soulful exuberance. Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have concocted a classic Holiday genre brew!” –Christmasreviews.com “A Different Christmas” is a bonus track on the upcoming album Crowin’ Around by PROFESSOR LOUIE & The CROWMATIX. The new album will be released by Woodstock Records in early 2025. “A Different Christmas” was written for the Holiday season and to celebrate the band’s performance at the CBS6 TV special Melodies Of Christmas, where the group will perform four nights in front of a live audience at The Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY. Professor Louie & The Crowmatix once again will be joined for their performance by The Empire State Orchestra and The Melodies Christmas Chorale.
Net proceeds from tickets sales will benefit the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancers at Albany, NY Medical Center. Professor Louie is a seasoned live performer, prolific recording artist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with the greatest musicians worldwide. Producing and performing with The Band, Levon Helm, Graham Parker, and Commander Cody to name a few.
Tour Dates:
Nov 9: Blairstown NJ – Roys Hall
Nov 12: Buffalo NY – The Cave
Nov 22: Syracuse NY – The Westcott Center
Nov: 23: West Falls NY – West Falls Center For The Arts
Nov 30: Greenwich Village NYC – Café Wha
Dec: 8: Hudson Falls NY – The Strand Theater
Dec 15: Palmer MA – Don Odells Legends
Dec 19-22: Schenectady NY – Proctors Theater -CBS 6 Melodies Of Christmas
Dec 28: Woodstock NY – The Colony
Jan 10: Bay Shore NY – The Boulton Center
Jan 18: Bethlehem PA – Godfrey Daniels
Jan 25: Piermont NY – The Turning Point
Feb 8: New Paltz NY – The Lemon Squeeze
Mar 1: Westminster MD – Carrol Arts Center
Professor Louie and the Crowmatix
“Great piano playing bursts with soulful exuberance. Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have concocted a classic Holiday genre brew!” –Christmasreviews.com “A Different Christmas” is a bonus track on the upcoming album Crowin’ Around by PROFESSOR LOUIE & The CROWMATIX. The new album will be released by Woodstock Records in early 2025. “A Different Christmas” was written for the Holiday season and to celebrate the band’s performance at the CBS6 TV special Melodies Of Christmas, where the group will perform four nights in front of a live audience at The Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY. Professor Louie & The Crowmatix once again will be joined for their performance by The Empire State Orchestra and The Melodies Christmas Chorale.
Net proceeds from tickets sales will benefit the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancers at Albany, NY Medical Center. Professor Louie is a seasoned live performer, prolific recording artist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked with the greatest musicians worldwide. Producing and performing with The Band, Levon Helm, Graham Parker, and Commander Cody to name a few.
Tour Dates:
Nov 9: Blairstown NJ – Roys Hall
Nov 12: Buffalo NY – The Cave
Nov 22: Syracuse NY – The Westcott Center
Nov: 23: West Falls NY – West Falls Center For The Arts
Nov 30: Greenwich Village NYC – Café Wha
Dec: 8: Hudson Falls NY – The Strand Theater
Dec 15: Palmer MA – Don Odells Legends
Dec 19-22: Schenectady NY – Proctors Theater -CBS 6 Melodies Of Christmas
Dec 28: Woodstock NY – The Colony
Jan 10: Bay Shore NY – The Boulton Center
Jan 18: Bethlehem PA – Godfrey Daniels
Jan 25: Piermont NY – The Turning Point
Feb 8: New Paltz NY – The Lemon Squeeze
Mar 1: Westminster MD – Carrol Arts Center
R. Shayne Floyd
R. SHAYNE FLOYD’s musical journey reaches a new milestone with his forthcoming third album, Heights of the Land, a bold departure from the traditional bluegrass sound that defined his earlier work with the band River Boy. While Floyd’s previous albums celebrated the rich traditions of bluegrass, this latest project showcases the diverse musical influences that have shaped Shayne’s artistry over the years. In Floyds songs, listeners will find echoes of Tim O’Brien’s storytelling, the nuanced melodies of Watchhouse, and the genre-blurring styles of Tyler Childers, Lyle Lovett, Gordon Lightfoot, and Sierra Ferrell. The harmonious voices of Alexa Rose and Clare Elich add richness to the album and provide an extra layer of depth and emotion.
Shayne’s collaboration with ultra-talented musician and producer Ryan Stigmon has brought these songs to life with a fresh, dynamic sound that reflects his broadening musical horizons. R. Shayne Floyd: Lead Vocal, Ryan Stigmon: Acoustic Guitar, piano, Hammond Organ, pedal steel, dobro, banjo, Norbert McGettigan: Bass, Chris Gelb: Drums & percussion, James Schlender: fiddle, Matt Menefee: banjo, Alexa Rose, Clare Elich & Thomas Aufdemberge: backing vocals.
R. Shayne Floyd
R. SHAYNE FLOYD’s musical journey reaches a new milestone with his forthcoming third album, Heights of the Land, a bold departure from the traditional bluegrass sound that defined his earlier work with the band River Boy. While Floyd’s previous albums celebrated the rich traditions of bluegrass, this latest project showcases the diverse musical influences that have shaped Shayne’s artistry over the years. The new single from Floyd’s album is called “I’m Alive Today,” which finds a way to put a positive spin on unrequited love. R. Shayne Floyd explains: “I think ‘I’m Alive Today’ is sort of unique for a heartbreak song because it’s upbeat and encouraging. I was friends with this woman and and wanted it to be more (i.e. romantic), but it just wasn’t happening. Instead of being down in the dumps about it, I thought – ‘hey, my life is great! I want you, but I don’t need you. And I’ll get over you, given a little time’.” In Floyds songs, listeners will find echoes of Tim O’Brien’s storytelling, the nuanced melodies of Watchhouse, and the genre-blurring styles of Tyler Childers, Lyle Lovett, Gordon Lightfoot, and Sierra Ferrell.
The harmonious voices of Alexa Rose and Clare Elich add richness to the album and provide an extra layer of depth and emotion. Shayne’s collaboration with ultra-talented musician and producer Ryan Stigmon has brought these songs to life with a fresh, dynamic sound that reflects his broadening musical horizons. Musicians R. Shayne Floyd: Lead Vocal, Ryan Stigmon: Acoustic Guitar and Hammond Organ, Norbert McGettigan: Bass, Chris Gelb: Drums, James Schlender: Violin.
Reagan Hudson- Album
House Arrest Ankle Bracelet is an album filled with unique songs and stories about everything from happy times to heartaches. The title track, “House Arrest Ankle Bracelet,” is all about having fun and partying while under house arrest, while “Broken Pieces of My Heart” and “Everyday” are songs about lamenting lost loves. “Mama’s Going to Rehab” is about a dysfunctional family where each induvial has their own unique problems, leading into the comedic ending. The other songs and stories on the project cover a variety of topics and experiences. Reagan Hudson is a cattle farmer in western NC, and has played with many bluegrass, country, and gospel bands in the area. He is an avid history buff and possesses a wealth of knowledge in folklore and country living. Musicians Reagan Hudson: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, Dale Meyer: electric guitar, bass, keyboard, James Brock: drums, Jim Ashton: steel guitar
Robert Sarazin Blake
Let The Longing Run Wild & Free is the 13th album by ROBERT SARAZIN BLAKE. The album is an investigation into and celebration of the human condition. It evokes nostalgia and longing, a sense of remembering where one has been, where one might have gone and the relentless onward thrust. Robert has a gift for expressing complex emotions and ideas in simple terms, quickly drawing listeners in with his evocative storytelling and poetic lyrics. Throughout the album, Robert’s rich baritone shifts from the haunting vibrato of Edith Piaf to the gravelly intensity of Chris Cornell. At times, his tender delivery echoes the quiet depth of early Leonard Cohen while in other moments he finds the resonant power of a young Johnny Cash. One of the highlights of Let The Longing Run Wild & Free is the inspired, first-hand account of the song “New York City/Brooklyn Bridge.” According to Blake, “I wrote the song while sitting in East River Park late morning to sunset. As humanity buzzed around I took notes. I generally require privacy to write and rehearse, but noises of the city allowed me to blend with the texture. Attitudes shift immediately in a New York City park. The guard goes down, the view opens up. It’s a common space, it’s a backyard, it’s a picnic.” Let the Longing Run Wild & Free features Robert’s longtime collaborators Lee Falco, Brandon Morrison, Will Bryant, and Connor Kennedy, along with Cindy Cashdollar (featured on Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind).
Their textured contributions give the songs depth and dimension. A careful listener may hear echoes of Joni Mitchell’s Hejira, Lou Reed’s New York, and Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels On A Gravel Road woven throughout. Robert Sarazin Blake has been a fixture of the Pacific Northwest roots scene since 1996. He’s also toured extensively around the U.S. and beyond. He became well-known on the East Coast from 2001 to 2003 and continues visiting regularly. Annual tours through the midwest and south brought Robert fans and friends, and he was welcomed in Milwaukee, St. Louis and Austin. Blake also regularly toured Ireland, culminating in an album collaboration with piper John McSherry. Blake has also toured Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Ross Valory
ROSS VALORY always had pieces of music tucked away that he’d written, although his songwriting contributions as the bassist for Journey slipped away after the first three “experimental” albums. As a member of Journey, Valory concentrated on shaping the rhythm section and contributing his baritone vocals to the background blend. During the band’s second coming, following the 1995 reunion album Trial By Fire, Ross Valory began sorting through his files and polishing up some of his old notes.
In between tour dates, he pulled together a tight-knit group of collaborators and began to finish what he’d started. After a lifetime in music, Ross scrupulously etched out All Of The Above. The album was co-produced by Valory, Jacob Stowe, and Eric Levy. From the Latin-fired intensity of “Wild Kingdom” to the ethereal dirge of “No One Wins a War,” the raucous party on “Low Rider” or the brilliant reprise of Santana’s “Incident of Neshabur,” the album presents an evolved artist fully in command of his vision, a lifetime of experience behind the project, augmenting his core associates with guest musicians such as Gregg Errico of Sly & the Family Stone, drummer Steve Smith, and saxophonist Marc Russo.
The nine tracks on the album represent the full maturity of Valory’s musical gifts. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with Journey. He is stepping out from behind his bass and, for the first time in his more than half-century as a professional musician, representing his vision and his compositions.
Ross Valory
“I have been revisiting material that has been accumulating, and I am sharing some of my favorite songs for the first time!” – Ross Valory ROSS VALORY, regarded as one of rock’s best bass guitarists and an original member of the multiplatinum band Journey until his 2020 departure, returns with the single & video “Tomland” from his new album All Of The Above. Penned by Valory, the all-instrumental “Tomland” marks the first track done entirely at his new studio in the East Bay area of Northern California. “Tomland” builds to a ripping, climactic solo by red-hot guitarist Miles Schon, drummer Prairie Prince and keyboardist Eric Levy.
Ross Valory had the basic parts of the song kicking around since shortly after leaving the Steve Miller Band in 1972, a bluesey set of chords that roll into each other mellifluously, something he had jammed on a lot over the years. He pulled it out to fashion a piece that not only recalls the passing of collaborator Tom Size (engineer known for his work with Mr. Big, Y&T, and Aerosmith), but also offers an affirmation of resolve to move forward, the sunlight of optimism illuminating the process.
Official Video for Ross Valory’s “Tomland” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw6tKIAmUok ROSS VALORY always had pieces of music tucked away that he had written, although songwriting contributions to Journey slipped away after the first three “experimental” albums. As a member of Journey, Valory concentrated on shaping the rhythm section and contributing his baritone vocals to the background blend. During the band’s second coming following the 1995 reunion album Trial By Fire, Valory began sorting through his files and polishing up some of his old notes. In between tour dates, he pulled together a tightknit group of collaborators and slowly began to finish what he started. After a lifetime in music, Ross Valory scrupulously etched All Of The Above. The album was produced by Valory and co-produced by Jacob Stowe and Eric Levy. www.RossValory.com
Sam Kuslan - Album
SAM KUSLAN’s solo debut album, Runaway Love, is the refreshing new upbeat sound of American pop, inspired by Sam’s musical heroes, Jamie Cullum, Sammy Davis Jr. and John Mayer, with generous helpings of New Orleans tradition and vintage Americana, soul and jazz. Sam wrote and arranged the nine tracks on the album, and sings and plays piano and guitar on them all – from the rock ‘n’ roll feel of the title track, “Runaway Love,” to the lush love ballad, “Without Your Love,” to new country pop like “(I Wanna Call Love An) Old Thing.” Recorded at Studio in The Country in Bogalusa, LA, the album features a brilliant cast. Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph (Galactic, Tank and the Bangas), Kayla Jasmine (GRiZ, Ha Sizzle) and Sasha Masakowski (Nicholas Payton, Jason Lindner) lend their voices throughout the album as well as appearances from the Naughty Professor horns (“I Wanna Call Love an Old Thing”) as well as Brad Walker (Sturgill Simpson), Scott Frock (Nathaniel Rateliff) and Mark Mullins (Bonerama). The rhythm section throughout the album is held down by Kevin Nolan (Lainey Wilson, Rude Music) and Max Bronstein (Slugger) both on slide and electric guitar, Calvin Morin-Martin (Noggin) on bass and Shawn Myers (Leyla McCalla).
Sam tours extensively in the USA and Europe, either as a featured artist with jazz-funk Naughty Professor, as a sideman with Nashville Country/American-folk artist Sean McConnell, rock’n’roller David Shaw, or as musical director and leader of the National Park Service Centennial Band. He’s highly sought after as an arranger, artist and performer for his musical versatility. having shared the stage with Anders Osborne, Marcus King, Chali 2na, Shaun Martin, Isaiah Sharkey, Leroy Jones, and many more. Sam writes and records with Alex Ebert (Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes) and tours with Naughty Professor.
Sam Kuslan
“Runaway Love” is the first single from New Orleans artist SAM KUSLAN’s upcoming album by the same name. Drawing inspiration from country, R&B, boogie woogie, and Stevie Wonder, “Runaway Love” is about the kind of love that you want, but that can be hard to get ahold of. According to Kuslan, “this song flowed out of me like water, in about an hour. Like water, love can easily slip out of your hands.”
Runaway Love is the first solo album Sam Kuslan has released. It features 9 original songs written and arranged by Kuslan and calls upon elements on jazz and pop music; likened to his musical heroes, Jamie Cullum, Sammy Davis Jr. and John Mayer. Sam sings and plays piano and guitar on all tracks – moving from the raucous rock ‘n’ roll of the title track to lovey lush ballads like “Without Your Love,” to country pop tunes like “(I Wanna Call Love An) Old Thing.” Recorded at Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, LA, the album features a brilliant cast.
Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph (Galactic, Tank and the Bangas), Kayla Jasmine (GRiZ, Ha Sizzle) and Sasha Masakowski (Nicholas Payton, Jason Lindner) lend their voices throughout the album as well as appearances from the Naughty Professor Horns, as well as Brad Walker, Scott Frock and Mark Mullins. The rhythm section throughout the album is held down by Kevin Nolan (Lainey Wilson, Rude Music) and Max Bronstein (Slugger) both on slide and electric guitar, Calvin Morin-Martin (Noggin) on bass and Shawn Myers (Leyla McCalla).
Sluka
“Sluka carries the torch of glam-tinged theatrical rock and roll.” – Music News UK
Cautionary Yell is the 14th studio album by the band that Big Takeover described as giving us “glimpses of the future,” SLUKA. The San Diego outfit’s latest release is their best record yet, and is also the third produced by Grammywinner Alan Sanderson (Fiona Apple, Weezer, Fleetwood Mac). Asked to describe what Cautionary Yell is about, bandleader Christopher Sluka said, “my lyrical inspiration is about being optimistic in the face of impending doom. The album title is about remaining calm while facing horrific events in our world.” While Christopher covers guitar, keyboards and vocals, he’s joined by bassist Anna Eppink as she was on their previous two albums. “Anna has a very unique style,” says Sluka. “She comes up with bass parts I never would have thought of. She also has many visual ideas for our videos and live show.
She also influences me greatly through our discussions of life on this planet.” Official Video for “Sunset Screamer”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGYK4FPF2Qc Musicians on Cautionary Yell Christopher Sluka – Vocals, Keys, Drums, Guitar, Anna Eppink – Bass, Michael Bedard – Drums, Nico Hueso – Violin & Viola, Erdis Maxhelaku – Cello, Brad Steinwehe – Bassoon, Piccolo, & Flute.
Sluka
“Sluka is slightly experimental with a heavy dose of the dramatic thrown in. It generally takes more than a quick listen to appreciate, so take a little time when you do.” –Slate The third single from SLUKA’s forthcoming album Cautionary Yell is “When The Genie’s Out,” released on July 16th to coincide with the anniversary of the first atomic bomb explosion in 1945 at the Trinity test site in Nevada… the genie was out of the bottle. The track was produced by Grammy-winner Alan Sanderson (Elvis Costello, Rolling Stones, Fiona Apple). Official Video for “When The Genie’s Out”: https://youtu.be/ikMEpQ6ezXk Christopher Sluka first rose to prominence in New York City performing at legendary venues such as CBGBs, The Ritz, and The Palladium.
In 1989 his band Sluka released their first full length album on Mitsubishi’s Meldac label, leading to success in Japan and Europe and multiple albums throughout the ‘90s. An obsession with flight led Chris into a hiatus from music, opening a flight school, and piloting jet planes, and yet songs continued to emanate from his musically inventive mind. Anna Eppink – Bass, Michael Bedard – Drums, Christopher Sluka – Vocals, Piano, Synths, Nico Hueso – Violin & Viola, Erdis Maxhelaku – Cello. Produced, Engineered, and Mastered by Alan Sanderson at Pacific Beat Recording Studio in San Diego, CA.
Sluka
“Sluka is slightly experimental with a heavy dose of the dramatic thrown in. It generally takes more than a quick listen to appreciate, so take a little time when you do.” –Slate Produced by Grammy winning producer Alan Sanderson, the new single “Sunset Screamer” by SLUKA is a reflection of our polarized society. The fascinating track focuses on someone who was once dismissed as a lunatic ranting and screaming at the sunset, and whose followers want him to resume the US presidency and dismantle or eliminate our democratic institutions. “Sunset Screamer” is the second release from the new upcoming album Cautionary Yell to be released later in 2024.
The single will be serviced to radio (worldwide), new video, press, and social media across multiple platforms. Video for “Sunset Screamer”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGYK4FPF2Qc&t=72s Christopher Sluka first rose to prominence in New York City performing at legendary venues such as CBGBs, The Ritz, and The Palladium. In 1989 his band Sluka released their first full length album on Mitsubishi’s Meldac label, leading to success in Japan and Europe and multiple albums throughout the ‘90s. An obsession with flight led Chris into a hiatus from music, opening a flight school, and piloting jet planes, and yet songs continued to emanate from his musically inventive mind.
Anna Eppink – Bass, Michael Bedard – Drums, Christopher Sluka – Vocals, Piano, Synths, Nico Hueso – Violin & Viola, Erdis Maxhelaku – Cello. Produced, Engineered, and Mastered by Alan Sanderson at Pacific Beat Recording Studio in San Diego, CA.
Tristan Israel
“A magical track about home” “Massachusetts” is the new single from the forthcoming album Snake Hollow by the TRISTAN ISRAEL BAND. Although the song is about a specific place, everyone can relate to Israel longing for his New England family and home, no matter how far he roams. Snake Hollow (coming Feb. 28) will be the fourth album from Tristan Israel, a unique songwriter and vocalist who’s been performing and recording for almost 60 years. The new album showcases the band’s virtuosity and Tristan’s insightful and gripping songwriting abilities. From Monarch butterflies to the Astrolabe, an ancient seafarer’s navigational tool, Tristan’s songs take the listener to a variety of moods and places.
The lyrics are poetic and well thought out. Tristan’s music varies in style but is always consistent in its surprising deliveries. He says that although this may well be his best album, he will continue to create new music at his home in Snake Hollow on Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Although Israel has called Martha’s Vineyard home for many years, he grew up near New York City, influenced by many musicians and genres of music. Musicals on Broadway, the Village folk scene, jazz at the Vanguard, and early rock and roll at the Brooklyn Fox all helped to shape his own music. His mother also instilled in him a love for poetry that still guides the way he crafts his lyrics. His songs are poems that create unique paintings of the world as he sees it. Musicians: Tristan Israel – vocals & guitar, Paul Thurlow – bass, guitar, keys, Nancy Jephcote – violin, Mike Israel – drums.
Tristan Israel
“House Always Wins” is the new single from the forthcoming album Snake Hollow by the Tristan Israel Band. This will be the fourth album from a unique songwriter and vocalist who’s been performing and recording for almost 60 years. Snake Hollow showcases the band’s virtuosity and Tristan’s unique songwriting abilities. From Monarch butterflies to the Astrolabe, an ancient seafarer’s navigational tool, Tristan’s songs take the listener to a variety of moods and places. The lyrics are poetical and well thought out. Tristan’s music varies in style but is always consistent in its surprising deliveries. He says that although this may well be his best album, he will continue to create new music at his home in Snake Hollow on Martha’s Vineyard, MA.
Although he’s called Martha’s Vineyard home for many years now, Tristan Israel grew up near New York City, influenced by many musicians and genres of music. Musicals on Broadway, the Village folk scene, jazz at the Vanguard, and early rock and roll at the Brooklyn Fox all helped to shape his own music. His mother also instilled in him a love for poetry that still guides the way he crafts his lyrics. His songs are poems that create unique paintings of the world as he sees it. Musicians: Tristan Israel – vocals & guitar, Paul Thurlow – bass, guitar, keys, Nancy Jephcote – violin, Mike Israel – drums.
TT
Refuge. Resilience. Redemption. For TT, that’s what music has always represented: an opportunity to turn life’s challenges into something beautiful and empowering. TT began making that discovery when he was diagnosed with a chronic kidney condition at six years old, decades before he began recording his upcoming album, Man on the Corner. The newest single from the album is “My Confession.” TT explains the origin and meaning of the track: “There were many times in my deeper relationships where I felt that I was an inadequate provider. It’s not always a romantic relationship, it can also be children, friends and those in need – I just don’t feel like I ever give enough. At the same time, I have been blessed and grateful to have strong women in my life.
They have the ability to support, console, and assist. “My Confession” is about exactly this—a man and a woman who are struggling with financial hardship, they’re both good people, and it’s the strength of their bond that keeps them together. The man feels guilty because he wants to provide his wife with a good lifestyle. Yet, he keeps failing. She’s a wonderful woman who remains a rock and is steadfast and loyal. But his feelings of failure persist, and this is his confession.” Musicians: TT: vocals & guitar, Terry Watkin: drums & percussion, Holger Fath: guitar, Mick Mahan: Bass, Kara Britz Burnell: backing vocals.
TT
Refuge. Resilience. Redemption. For TT, that’s what music has always represented: an opportunity to turn life’s challenges into something beautiful and empowering. TT began making that discovery when he was diagnosed with a chronic kidney condition at six years old, decades before he began recording his upcoming album, Man on the Corner. TT’s new album may be inspired by his own experiences, but his songs cast a wider net. The album’s single “Let Us Breathe,” for instance, tackles the looming threat of a rapidly changing planet.
According to TT, “’Let Us Breathe’ is a plea to those who can stop climate change, but it’s also about acknowledging that things we build up can sometimes also destroy us.” The single’s momentum is driven forward with the help of Pat Benatar bassist Mick Mahan and drummer Terry Watkin. Official Video For “Let Us Breathe” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoXk0YQWwG8 While TT’s condition left him crippled as a child, it also gave him the opportunity to hear a lot of music at home while he struggled with physical ailments. “My mother used to sing musical theatre tunes around the house, and I also heard a steady stream of country, rock and classical music. As I was relearning walking, music was a big inspiration in every way.”
Kidney issues eventually improved enough that TT bought a guitar before his teens with money he’d earned from caddying and bussing tables. He eventually moved to Los Angeles and began playing gigs across the area while supporting a family via business. Unfortunately, while working in Southern California, his kidney condition came out of remission and he was given a limited time to live. For TT, this meant a stronger dedication to his music and general well-being. The positive result is not only his forthcoming album, Man On The Corner, but thankfully his kidney condition has gone into remission once again. The healing power of music! Musicians: TT: vocals, guitar, keyboard, Terry Watkin: drums & percussion, Holger Fath: guitar, Mick Mahan (Pat Benatar): Bass, David Kelly: keyboards, Lacy Watkin & Justin Richard: back-up vocals.
Ute Lemper
“I wanna live my dreams and not my fears.” With this powerful message, UTE LEMPER perfectly encapsulates her new single on Jazzhaus Records. “I do not want to falter and surrender to my fears, instead I want to thrive on fulfilling and living my dreams,” explains Ms. Lemper. “I wanna live my dreams and not my fears” is a track that captivates with its distinctive guitar line and Lemper’s unmistakable vocals. Her voice – powerful, expressive, and at the same time experimental – has long made her an international icon. Having called New York City home for many years, Ute Lemper embodies the glamour and cosmopolitan ease of the metropolis like few others. This is also reflected in her music, which always shines with elegance and sophistication.
In “I wanna live my dreams and not my fears” Lemper combines her characteristic, often expressionistic vocals with a groovy and melodic guitar sound that gives the piece a refreshingly danceable vibe. The single also has an unmistakable influence from Al Jarreau. “For decades, I have been inspired by Al Jarreau and his work,” states Ms. Lemper. “The impression and inspiration he’s given me are simply unforgettable – his creativity was endless.” This homage to one of the greatest jazz artists of our time lends the piece a deep emotional layer and connects tradition with a modern, groovy approach. “I wanna live my dreams and not my fears” is a bold and life-affirming statement that perfectly matches Ute Lemper’s personality and charisma. The single will be released digitally on all platforms on December 13.
Musicians: Ute Lemper – vocals & keys, Jim Hickey – guitar, Andy Ezrin – keys & bass, Todd Turkisher – drums & percussion. Produced by Ute Lemper & Todd Turkisher