You are browsing the Blog for United States.

← Previous Entries
Avatar of Michele Wilson-Morris

by Michele Wilson-Morris

Film Review: The Heart Of The Peloton 3 DVD set

December 2, 2012 in Indie Films by Michele Wilson-Morris

| Amazon |

The Heart Of The Peloton is a riveting 3 DVD set from First Run Features that goes behind the scenes of professional bike racing. It’s one big shot adrenaline from beginning to end, and biking fans are sure to enjoy these immensely.

Blood Sweat and Gears is about a the forming of the professional bicycle racing team Team Slipstream, product of the vision of Johnathan ( JV) Vaughters, former racer and now manager of Team Slipstream, a collection of riders who race competitively all around the world in hopes of getting a invite to the Tour De France and sponsorship. The sport suffered from rampart drug use to enhance performance and he was determined to change that, so he created a dope free team. With frequent testing, he and his athletes remain drug free and very competitive. Realizing his dream, he recruited riders like David Miller, Christain Vende Velde, Mike Freidman, Magnus Backstedt, and the rest of Team Slipstream. See what it takes to form a team, get a sponsor, and get the invitation to the biggest race of the sport. There is only one way to do that and that is what this very uplifting documentary is about. Can they win their way into sponsorship and the race? The dedication to the sport by these athletes is really something that will impress and inspire you along with the vision of Jonathan Vaughters who is the one making it happen in the U.S. first. He’s a real innovator and believer of fair play. Highly informative, viewers sett what happens in the struggle for real improvement in, a sport that needs to be drug free! I applaud Team SlipSream, and was fascinated by this DVD.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Avatar of Michele Wilson-Morris

by Michele Wilson-Morris

Halie Loren Releases ” Heart First “

October 5, 2012 in News by Michele Wilson-Morris

| Website | Facebook | My Space | Twitter | You Tube | ITunes |

Halie Loren’s “Heart First” opens with a big sound and a sweet voice. Supremely talented and very versatile, Halie wields her voice as an instrument, making each note pitch perfect and sung with just the right tone, color, and warmth. Her voice defies her youth, as she comes across like a very seasoned performer who has been singing for decades . If you like jazz, you’re going to love Halie and “Heart First.”

One testament to Halie’s rich and authentic vocal ability is her rendition of “Waiting In Vain” by Bob Marley. It’s a song she treats with great care and does a great job on, and that’s coming from a true Marley fan!. Changing from style to style, she effortlessly glides between notes with expression, emotion, and passion. The musicians accompanying her are outstanding as well. From French to English to Spanish and back, she sings to the world, capturing hearts and fans in the process.”Heart First” is truly an amazing CD, and it belongs in every jazz connoisseur and music lover’s collection. Halie delivers on every track, hitting a home run on each. “My One And Only Love” is the quintessential love song, and is destined to be a classic. The bass and piano were perfect. Her range is incredible and her projection is perfect. I cannot say enough about this young lady or the musicians who accompany her, but “Heart First” shines brightly and beautifully. There’s something for everyone on this CD, and I very highly recommend the buy. You won’t be disappointed.

Loren’s tour expanded beyond the continental US in 2011 and 2012, she embarked on numerous international and national tours, including sold out shows at the Blue Note and Cotton Clubs in Japan, performances in New York City, LA, Seattle, Canada, Hawaii, Korea, Hong Kong and more. In July, Loren traveled to Palermo, Italy, where she was the featured vocalist with Orchestra Jazz Siciliana.

Loren’s newest release, ‘Heart First’ was released in Japan (JVC/Victor) in December 2011, garnering Jazz Critique Magazine’s 2011 coveted “Golden (top) prize” in the Vocal Jazz Album category.  Playing to sell-out audiences both abroad and in the US, Loren continues touring in support of ‘Heart First’, which was released by Justin Time Records worldwide in March 2012.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Avatar of Michele Wilson-Morris

by Michele Wilson-Morris

I Want Jam: Live Concerts Worldwide From The Comfort Of Your Home

September 19, 2012 in News by Michele Wilson-Morris

| Website |

Cairo born and raised brothers Moataz El-Gohary and Moe Gohary faced their fair share of challenges in trying to get their music both seen and heard in a region where Arabic pop reigns supreme. There’s an old saying that necessity is the mother of invention. As the brothers confronted the problem of booking venues while facing an uphill battle of trying to fill seats, they came up with their own solution for reaching a much larger audience, global in fact. The answer was IWantJam, a website they designed together and are ready to share with artists and fans around the world.

IWantJam is a very unique and innovative music site that connects a global network of musicians and fans through live shows, video streaming, and social media. Utilizing IWantJam, an artist’s performance at any venue can be seen live and in real time by fans worldwide, with the potential to exponentially increase the scope of their fan base. Fans no longer have to “wish they could be there,” as they’re seeing the entire concert from beginning to end right in the comfort of their own homes or anywhere their laptop or digital device allows. And, at the end of the show, viewers can provide feedback to the artist, making it a more personal experience. Artists get immediate gratification from comments, or a strong signal to give their act a much needed “shot in the arm” with the hope of having better luck the next time around.

Moataz commented, “I thought it would be a great idea to be able to set up “where” and “when” I wanted my live event to happen. I can even promote the live event. In other words, I can simply organize and promote my events and also receive feedback without the need of any third party involvement. I believe these tools are very powerful for the exposure of any musician.”

Though Moataz lives in Cairo and Moe now resides in the U.S., the pair says that it doesn’t cause any problems with their collaboration on IWantJam. “Nowadays, businesses are based on long distance communication, using phones, emails…etc. Nothing was complicated.” Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Avatar of TMC

by TMC

Prayers Before Sleeping is coming

August 8, 2012 in News by TMC

| Website | Facebook |

ARTIST: JOHNNY PIERRE  I guess you could say that I was born to be a musician. My earliest musical memories began in New Orleans where I lived for several years in the early sixties. I clearly remember being engaged by the earthy sounds of Professor Longhair and Fats Domino. My perceptions of music were never the same after living in New Orleans; the sounds and rhythms of that city have stayed within me my entire life.

After falling under the spell of the British Invasion in the mid-sixties, I started singing in some local rock & roll bands. My first paid gigs took place while I was a teenage Army brat living in France back in 1966. It was during this period of my life that I started writing my own songs as well. As the sixties drew to a close, I returned to the States where I had a brief fling with the folk music coffee house scene in Pennsylvania. From 1970 to 1974, I attended The University of Dayton in Ohio. While there, my friend Billy Cairns and I assembled a seminal rock combo named the Freelance Vandals.

By 1977, I moved to the Long Island area of New York where I became involved in launching a new version of the Freelance Vandals. This band proved to be quite popular on the Long Island music scene and for the next seven years we performed in a wide variety of venues; opening up for such artists as John Hiatt, Dr. John and NRBQ. During this period of my career, my work as the band’s lead singer/frontman received accolades in such trade publications as Variety, The Hollywood Press and Creem Magazine; my onstage antics earned me the nickname “The Jellyroll Joyboy of Rock & Roll”. The band released several vinyl record projects during this period; a double 45 rpm collection known as The Dogpak (Dog Records, 1978) and a live album, Yer Money Or Yer Ears (Gunga Din Records, 1984) before disbanding in 1985. In 1996, the Freelance Vandals staged a reunion tour to promote the release of the studio anthology, Songs That Never Made Us Famous (FV Productions, 1996). Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Avatar of TMC

by TMC

World5 ” Global Experience “

July 9, 2012 in Alternative, Featured Artist by TMC

| Website | Review | Activity | Facebook | Twitter | You Tube |

World5 coalesced around the idea that music can transcend distance.The five members had all played together in various bands in the U.S. and Europe.But that was then.Today, they live on three difference continentsspanning 19 time zones from the U.S. to Australia.

Yet distance was no barrier to their creativity and shared sense of musical purpose. Thanks to the power of home digital recording, each member recorded his part in the comfort of his own home.Sure, it eliminated the intimacy of playing in the same room.

But it also freed them from the traditional stresses of recording. No scary red recording lights to rattle their nerves. No worrying about paying for recording studio time. No plates of unappetizing cold cuts moldering in the control room.

That didn’t mean they didn’t talk.There were weekly chats on Skype and a steady flow of email to hone the vision of each song. And the occasional midnight phone call to hammer home an important point.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment »

Avatar of TMC

by TMC

Straight Shooter Band Oklahoma Top Variety Band

July 8, 2012 in News by TMC

| Website | Facebook |

Straight Shooter, a country and rock band from Oklahoma was formed in July 1996 by the Duggins Brothers.

They played small clubs until they got their first break and landed the house band job at the Cimmaron a country show case in Oklahoma City . Playing there they entertained as many 1500 people a week with their shows , humor and original music. Wanda Jackson ( Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ) spent her birthday there watching the guys just like the half million others who came from all over the country every week for seven years.

After releasing a successful CD the band hit the road playing venues all over the southwestern united states. They are still based out of Oklahoma City ands still going strong.

Dr. Bud Kurtz is a professor at OCU and sings lead and plays guitar and mandolin. A prolific recording artist Bud has shared the stage with members of the Blues Brothers, BB Kings Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top and countless well known Texas and Oklahoma musicians. He has a three octave range and sings songs most bands can’t. He is also a virtuoso guitar player and the bands rock and roll guitar god.

Mike Duggins is a medical technician and plays acoustic guitar, keyboards and sings lead .Jim and Mike Duggins have been playing music since they were old enough to stand, and trace deep musical roots to their cousin the great music star, Conway Twitty. Mike has a smooth baritone voice that gives an authentic flavor to the country songs he sings and adds a bottom to the bands three part harmonies. He may know the words to every country song ever written .

Charlie “Hotrod” Hutson plays drums and percussion Charlie has been a DJ for KEBC and has drummed for many top bands throughout the years. Charlie is the bands engine and probably it’s hardest working member. He arrives early and is the last to leave. If you have a problem he is the fixer. He is also a great announcer with a DJ voice if needed.

Dave Tichenor has played behind many well known artists and is a member of the Oklahoma Porsche Club. He probably drives too fast but his bass playing is right on time. Dave has a huge voice and sings rock like it was meant to be sung.

Jim Duggins has a degree in pharmacy from SWOSU. He plays lead guitar and sings back up. He is a country picker with no equal. Jim is in a state of semi-retirement from performing but continues to play a few gigs and does the booking and scheduling. Call him to book the band and to talk with a musical treasure. Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment »

Avatar of TMC

by TMC

Ray Tarantino – Changing man

June 11, 2012 in News by TMC

| Website | Facebook | Twitter | My Space |

It’s fair to say that Ray Tarantino has experienced enough in his relatively short time on earth to fit into several lifetimes. This native Italian Nashville-dwelling singer-songwriter’s story is not typical of the many tune smiths who have come out of that most independent of cities.

Emerging from a 100mph car wreck near Rome five years ago, Ray walked away from the mangled BMW sports car and into a very different future. As he so poetically puts it, the accident saw him “break out of the golden cage of respectability”. And into what? A new life in America.

Just two months later, Ray had produced his debut album – the wonderful ‘Recuscant’ – alongside former Simply Red bassist and co-founder Tony Bowers. Now, Ray has delivered yet another poignant, beautiful set of songs that show he has taken the songwriting form to yet more exulted heights.

The eponymously titled album, available online at www.raytarantino.com and through all e-stores, is the culmination of both a physical and emotional journey and is by far the best work of Ray’s brief but illustrious career. Read the rest of this entry →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

← Previous Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers:

-
-