L'attirail

The extremely talented group Weather Report have released their most recent CD on the Legacy Recordings recording label, entitled Black Market.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn’t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all.

Black Market is a pleasantly varied, mix of 7 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly talented musicians. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.

Listen to Black Market and I believe you’ll find there’s not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and this is clearly the work of a group of musicians in top form. So much so that if you’re even mildly into Jazz music you’ll enjoy this album.

While the entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are track 2 – Cannon Ball, track 4 – Elegant People, and track 7 – Herandnu

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With the recent rise of groups in the UK such as Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire, the internet is proving its worth more and more in the music industry. As traditional formats decline in use, the internet is providing independent musicians with a myriad of possibilities for promoting their music. Indeed, unsigned bands can reach their audiences without needing a record label.

Emerging artists used to spend most of their time down at the post office, licking envelopes, sending off cassettes and making further copies of their cassettes. Looking back, it seemed like the dark ages. Today’s indie music scene sees many bands sat at their computer screens, looking for new ways to promote their music. The emergence of several top bands over the last few months thanks to the Internet is proof that the cream will always rise to the top, and using the net, they have every chance of doing so.

Almost all artists have band pages nowadays. In fact, it seems to be the first step on the way to internet recognition. A band page will commonly feature a news page, a separate page for downloading music for free, a photos page, and a contact page. These band pages are, in effect, business cards for musicians. The website receives promotion on various music websites and forums, and the band can create their own image through web branding.

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I can describe the latest release from Pop sensation Mariah Carey for you with just one word… Outstanding!

This one grabs your attention right out of the gate with Heartbreaker and doesn’t let go until the very last note of the very last song Thank God I Found You, which by the way is another great track.

Pop music fans will recognize some of the well known contributors on the project including Dean Parks and David Foster plus a few other notables as well.

I give Rainbow my highest recommendation. It just plain belongs in any serious music collectors collection regardless of genre preference.

While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 2 – Can’t Take That Away, track 9 – Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now), and track 14 – Thank God I Found You

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Heartbreaker. Good stuff!

Rainbow Release Notes:

Mariah Carey originally released Rainbow on November 2, 1999 on the Columbia label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Heartbreaker – (featuring Jay-Z) 2. Can’t Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme) 3. Bliss 4. How Much – (featuring Usher) 5. After Tonight 6. Ex-Girlfriend 7. Heartbreaker – (remix, featuring Da Brat/Missy Elliott) 8. Vulnerability (Interlude) 9. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) 10. Crybaby – (featuring Snoop Dogg) 11. Did I Do That? 12. Petals 13. Rainbow (Interlude) 14. Thank God I Found You – (featuring Joe/98 Degrees)  Read more...

The Durango Independent Film Festival, happening in Durango, will have an array of festival events including late night parties for filmmakers and VIPs running through March 8. The annual Chicago International Movies and Music Festival brings together movies and music, showcasing films about music, movie scores and soundtracks, and other syntheses of moving images and musical performance such as the world premiere of musician Martin Atkins’ directorial debut about his foray into the Chinese musical underground, ’16 Days In China’, during the festival’s run March 5-8. Interactive discussion panels planned for the Puerto Rico Music Business Conference enable its participants to receive strategies, recommendations and true-life tales, applicable to any music genre, from experts currently shaping industry events. The Miami International Film Festival whose program is international in scope, but with a special emphasis on Ibero-American cinema, hosts over 350 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry representatives from around the world, during it’s run, March 6-15. Entertainment industry career guidance group urnetworkalliance is hosting a series of power breakfast sessions on Saturdays during the month of March. At the opening session Lelia Shearer, Casting Associate of Elissa Myers Casting, currently casting a mini series for PBS, will be in attendance. Joining the sessions is possible through the group’s Meetup page (www.meetup.com/urnetworkalliance/calendar/9613814/) or email to: info@urnetworkalliance.info  Read more...

Jagged Edge, very talented Pop group have released their latest CD titled Jagged Era and Wow! It’s really a good one.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Jagged Era is a nicely varied, mix of 10 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly superb musicians. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

If you’re a Jagged Edge fan, or just a fan of Pop music this is a CD your collection simply should not be without.

While the entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 2 – Addicted To Your Love, track 6 – The Way That You Talk, and track 10 – Ain’t No Stoppin’

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Slow Motion. Great track!

Jagged Era Release Notes:

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