​Joe Porcaro, a veteran jazz drummer and educator whose three sons co-founded Toto, has died at the age of 90.
"The Porcaro family is heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved patriarch, Joe Porcaro," Steve Porcaro wrote on Facebook. "Surrounded by his wife Eileen and his family, Joe passed peacefully in his sleep on July 6 at 11:37 PM."
Steve also addressed the difficulty in responding directly to all those who would be reaching out to the family. "Please know that we so appreciate your love, thoughts, friendship and can’t wait to celebrate his amazing life with all of you."
Born April 29, 1930 in New Britain, Ct., Joe Porcaro began playing drums at the age of five. By the mid-'60s, he was gigging around nearby Hartford -- in jazz clubs and concert halls, even doing a stint on the road with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra -- when his childhood friend and fellow percussionist Emil Richards, told him there were better opportunities in Los Angeles.
He and his family made the move in 1966 and, within a few months he was playing with Chet Baker. Porcaro's versatility with various percussion instruments led to a prolific stint as a session musician, often working as part of orchestras contracted for TV shows like Mission Impossible, Hawaii Five-0 and Daktari. He also worked with jazz musicians and vocalists like Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones and Stan Getz, he earned plenty of credits on pop and rock albums, including those by the Rolling Stones, the Monkees, Glen Campbell, Boz Scaggs, Joe Cocker and Bonnie Raitt. His snare drum work can be heard on "Bring the Boys Back Home" from Pink Floyd’s The Wall.
His sons followed his career path, with Jeff also taking up the drums, Steve on keyboards and Mike on bass. In 1977, having established themselves as first-call session musicians in Los Angeles, they formed Toto with three other studio pros. The Porcaro children often brought their father into the studio to contribute to their records, including "Africa," where he played the bass marimba part and found himself having one of his children criticize his work.
“After 60 seconds or so, Jeff would stop and say, ‘Dad, hold back, you’re rushing,’” Joe recalled. “Can you imagine? He’s telling his father to lay back. He put me through the grind. I had to be right on.”
The night Toto won six trophies at the 1983 Grammys for IV, Joe was part of the ceremony, playing in the orchestra.
Joe outlived two of his sons. Jeff died in 1992 and Mike passed away in 2015.
In addition to his recorded output, Joe also helped found the Percussion Institute of Technology in Hollywood in 1980 and began teaching. Sixteen years later, he left them to form Los Angeles Music Academy, now called the Los Angeles College of Music.

​BIRMINGHAM, AL — National Jazz Hall of Fame musician and Fairfield native Cleve Eaton died Sunday morning. He was 80 years old.
Eaton was a staple in the Birmingham music scene and on an international level, with a career that spanned more than 60 years. Eaton, regarded as one of the best bass players of his time, wrote more than 300 songs, and accompanied legendary musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughn.
Born in Fairfield, Eaton earned a bachelor's degree in music from Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial University, then moved to Chicago where he played with the Ike Cole Trio and the Ramsey Lewis Trio.
Eaton won a Grammy Award for the song "Sun Goddess" with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, and was part of multiple gold records with the band during his 10-year-stint. Eaton then went on to play in the famed Count Basie Orchestra for 17 years.
Eaton was inducted into the National Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979.

​Countryrock-legende Charlie Daniels, bekend van de Grammy-winnende hit ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’, is maandag in een ziekenhuis in Tennessee overleden. De zanger werd 83.Daniels, lid van de Country Music Hall of Fame en het countrymuziekprogramma Grand Ole Opry, stierf aan een beroerte. Dat liet z’n publiciteitsagent Don Murry Grubbs weten in een verklaring. 

Daniels begon in de jaren 50 met het schrijven en maken van muziek. In 1964 was hij mede-auteur van het nummer ‘It Hurts Me’ van Elvis Presley. Verder werkte hij als sessiemuzikant voor producer Bob Johnston en was hij te horen op drie albums van Bob Dylan in 1969 en 1970.

Derde plek in Billboard Hot 100In 1971 nam Daniels zijn eerste soloalbum op: ‘Charlie Daniels’. Pas in 1973 scoorde hij z’n eerste echte hit met ‘Uneasy Rider’. In dezelfde periode speelde Daniels mee op meerdere albums van de Marshall Tucker Band. In latere jaren had hij succes als leider van de Charlie Daniels Band, onder meer met het rocknummer ‘The South’s Gonna Do It Again’.

In 1979 kwam zijn bekendste hit uit: ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia’. Het nummer bereikte de derde plaats in de Billboard Hot 100 en leverde Daniels een Grammy Award voor beste countryzanger op. Eind jaren 80 en jaren 90 haalden meerdere albums van Daniels nog de countryhitlijsten.
​

Severn Records announces a September 18 release date for Too Far from the Bar, the new album from Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, featuring Little Charlie Baty. Produced by Duke Robillard, who also adds his tasty guitar licks to four tracks on the new disc, Too Far from the Bar was recorded at Severn Sound Studio in Annapolis, Maryland, and boasts a value-packed 15 tracks, including a number of original songs penned by the band’s members, showcasing their songwriting abilities as one of the group’s many strengths. The core band for the recording sessions was comprised of Sugar Ray Norcia - vocals and harmonica; Charlie Baty – guitar; Anthony Geraci – piano; Michael Mudcat Ward – acoustic bass; and Neil Gouvin – drums.

The new album marks one of the last recordings from beloved/acclaimed guitarist Charlie Baty, who passed away unexpectedly in March of this year. Baty also contributed liner notes to the album, putting a perspective on when he first met and heard Sugar Ray Norcia and relating the genesis for them recording together.  He was in splendid form throughout the sessions, spicing up the songs with his retro guitar tones adding just the right touches to each track. “Little Charlie was so excited about this project and what a thrill it was to record together,” Sugar Ray Norcia says about the sessions. “Charlie and I seem to have been cut from the same cloth and musically we were like two peas in a pod. On this recording, we swing, we jump and we get low down. Sadly I'll miss my brother in the blues but his music will live forever.”

“Producing this album was extremely special for me,” Duke Robillard adds. “Sugar Ray and the boys - who I've known forever it seems - plus Little Charlie on guitar was obviously going to be a killer combination. There was just no doubt about it. Right from the first track it was in the groove. Ray and the guys had written some great material and Sugar pulled out a few obscure tunes that knocked me out. Helping pick takes and make suggestions was part of my job but the vibe and flow of the session made it smooth enough that I even jumped in for a few numbers! The band got to do a few tours with Charlie in the guitar seat and I was fortunate to do one of them on second guitar. These guys were so hot on this session they even set one of the multi-track tape machines on fire!”

The incident Robillard is referring to is noted in the searing, appropriately-titled original instrumental, “Reel Burner,” which is also reprised at the end of the album on an alternate take. It’s one of nine original songs on Too Far from the Bar written by Norcia, Ward or Geraci.  
The cover tunes picked are the cream-of-the-crop, with “Don’t Give No More Than You Can Take,” a jumping number original recorded by the 5 Royales kicking things off in grand style.

Other choice covers come from the likes of Sonny Boy Williamson (“Bluebird Blues”), Little Walter (“Can’t Hold Out”), Jerry McCain (“My Next Door Neighbor’) and Otis Spann (”What Will Become of Me” - with pianist Anthony Geraci channeling the spirits of both Otis Spann and Pinetop Perkins), as well as the blues/jazz chestnut, “I Got a Right to Sing the Blues.”

As Charlie Baty closes in his liner notes, “This historic CD features many original tunes and some spirited guitar exchanges between Duke Robillard and myself. It features the stellar vocals of Ray Norcia and his incredible harp playing. This recording showcases the enthusiasm and originality of two different forces of swing and jump blues, backed by a top notch band, and guided by one of the premier guitarists and producers of our generation. Blues aged like a fine cognac – don’t stray Too Far from the Bar!”

Too Far from the Bar is the band’s eighth album for Severn Records and follows their highly-successful 2016 CD, Seeing Is Believing, which garnered them Blues Music Award nominations for Album of the Year, Band of the Year and Traditional Blues Album; plus individual nominations for Sugar Ray Norcia (Traditional Blues Male Artist, B.B. King Entertainer of the Year) and additional nominations for band members in their respective instrument categories. Their 2014 CD, Living Tear to Tear, grabbed seven Blues Music Award nominations.
​
Websites: www.sugarrayandthebluetones.com; www.severnrecords.com
​

Ted Russell Kamp is a musician who wears many hats and all of them well. Aside from focusing on his own career, he is a well-known bass player holding down the bottom end for bands as diverse as Shooter Jennings, Jessi Colter, Whitey Morgan, and others. He recently played on the 2020 Grammy-winning Country Album of the Year, Tanya Tucker’s While I’m Living and has produced several well-received albums for fellow artists, working out of his home studio, known as The Den.

Kamp writes, records, and travels the world performing his own brand of country/roots/Americana music and Down in the Den marks record number 12 with Kamp as the artist and frontman. Down in the Den is a 14-song record featuring Kamp playing bass and singing lead vocals on all of the songs. He also plays acoustic guitar, keyboards, and percussion on most of the songs as well as adding his trumpet, trombone, dobro and banjo to the mix. Some familiar names in the Americana genre add their talent and/or voice; Jon Schreffler, Matt Szlechetka, Bart Ryan, Brian Whelan, Jamie Douglass, Eric Heywood, Sarah Gayle Meech, Kirsten Proffitt, and more (see credits for full list).

His co-writing crew includes Szlechetka, Trent Summar, and Michael Supe Granda (Ozark Mountain Daredevils), Dylan Altman, Gordy Quist (Band of Heathens), Brian Wright, Dave Kennedy, Billy Burnette (John Fogerty), Andi Zack, Penny Dale, Shane Alexander, and Kirsten Proffit.

“I am co-writing more now than I used to,” Kamp acknowledged. “I had a publishing deal in Nashville for 4 years and really liked co-writing. I work a lot playing in the Shooter Jennings Band and with other people and I spend a lot of time producing records for other people, so I don’t often have time to write on my own. I’m also a very social and collaborative person. Creating a song with someone based on our conversation and common experience has been really wonderful and valuable for me.”

Down in the Den has more of a soul and New Orleans influence than many of Kamp’s earlier records. The trumpet was Kamp’s first instrument and he brought back his Dad’s old Conn trumpet for this record. “It was my Dad’s trumpet that we both played in our high school and college years. I also play an old valve trombone that was given to me by one of my Dad’s old jazz-loving friends. It was apparently owned by a trombone player for KC and the Sunshine Band and the backstage pass is still in the case.”

“Originally this was going to be a real Memphis Southern soul record,” Kamp added. “Some of the first songs I wrote for it were ‘Word For Word’ and ‘Every Little Thing You Need’ and I even considered naming the record “Ted in Memphis”. Then I realized I wanted it to be a more eclectic record so I could include some more of the sensitive singer-songwriter moments like, ‘Take My Songs With You’ and ‘Stick With Me’. I definitely wanted to lean towards soul and gospel still with songs like ‘Hold On’ and ‘Saint Severin’.”

Zomer '20 in Missy Sippy: 8 intieme sessies met Missy Sippy All Stars.
Een warm en muzikaal weerzien met de vele huismuzikanten.
Iedere woensdag een duo concert, zittend en niet te luid. Van 20u tot 22u.
Keurig volgens de corona maatregelen. Gezellig zoals we dat in Missy Sippy regelen.
Het aantal plaatsen is beperkt! Reserveren is noodzakelijk en kan per bubbel via info@missy-sippy.be
Vrije bijdrage.

​SHARON PAIGE R.I.P....Many of you are aware of Sharon Paige as the female voice of Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, collaborating on a number of songs. She also took on a larger role after the departure of lead singer Teddy Pendergrass in 1976. . Paige took a more prominent role on the second post-Pendergrass LP, 1980's The Blue Album. Paige also released a few solo songs, including the beautiful “You Don’t Even Know My Name.”
Sharon Paige left us some real musical gems. She died yesterday, July 5. May she rest in peace.

​De Amerikaanse soulzanger J. Marvin Brown is op 66-jarige leeftijd overleden. Marvin Brown was de leadzanger van The Softones. De groep was in het begin van de jaren zeventig in de Verenigde Staten populair en nam drie albums en twaalf singles op voor Avco Records (later H&L Records). De bekendste nummers waren 'My Dream', 'Can't Help Falling In Love', 'I'm Gonna Prove It' en 'That Old Black Magic'. De laatste bereikte de 29ste plaats van de Amerikaanse Billboard Hot 100. De eerste single, 'Any Street', werd opgepakt door het kleine label Thereway uit Baltimore, samen met enkele andere vroege opnamen. Oorspronkelijk heette de groep The Soft Tones, tot de release van hun eerste album eind 1973. Zoals latere opnamen voor Avco van The Stylistics werd The Softones geproduceerd door de labeleigenaren Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore en Van McCoy. Het orkest van McCoy diende daarbij als huisorkest voor de meeste Avco-acts. Hoewel The Softones niet zo succesvol was als tijdgenoten The Stylistics en The Moments, haalden een aantal van hun singles de hogere regionen van de Amerikaanse R&B charts. De hoge falsetto stem van J. Marvin Brown was een van de handelsmerken, net als die van Stylistics' leadzanger Russell Thompkins Jr. en Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey. De overige groepsleden waren Steven Jackson, Elton Lynch en Byron Summerville. The Softones bleef actief in die bezetting tot het overlijden van Byron Summerville in 2012. J. Marvin Brown ruste in vrede!
 
Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

​De Amerikaanse muzikant Max Crook is op 83-jarige leeftijd overleden. Crook werd in 1961 wereldberoemd door zijn spel op de Musitron (een eigen uitvinding) op Del Shannon's wereldhit 'Runaway'. Maxfield Doyle Crook werd geboren in Lincoln, Nebraska. Zijn moeder Helen Crook was een klassiek pianiste. Crook leerde eerst op de accordeon spelen, voordat hij pianolessen nam. Op 14-jarige leeftijd had Max al zijn eigen studio gebouwd. In 1957, tijdens zijn studie aan de Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, formeerde hij een rock 'n roll band genaamd The White Bucks, die de single 'Get That Fly' uitbracht. In 1959 bouwde Crook een synthesizer, die hij de Musitron noemde. Hij gebruikte de Musitron voor het eerst tijdens een opnamesessie in Berry Gordy's studio in Detroit, op een demoversie van 'Bumble Boogie' (later een hit voor B. Bumble & The Stingers). Het geluid van Crook's Musitron was van grote invloed op muzikanten en producers, waaronder Berry Gordy, Joe Meek, Ennio Morricone, John Barry en Roy Wood. Later in 1959 ontmoette Crook ene Charles Westover, die de artiestennaam Del Shannon zou aannemen. Westover vroeg Crook als toetsenist bij zijn band Charlie Johnson & The Big Little Show Band. Tijdens live-optredens speelde Crook op zijn Musitron. Crook en Del Shannon schreven het nummer 'Runaway', waarin de Musitron een grote rol speelde. 'Runaway' bereikte de eerste plaats van de Amerikaanse Billboard Hot 100. Crook nam ook een reeks instrumentale nummers op. Eind jaren zestig zette hij zijn samenwerking met Del Shannon voort en ging hij ook met Brian Hyland platen maken. Zo was hij in 1970 als toetsenist te horen op Brian Hyland's hit 'Gypsy Woman'. Max Crook ruste in vrede!
 
Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

Ibe verraste zijn fans recent met zijn vierde nieuwe single 'Dark Maze'.

Over 'Dark Maze' vertelt IBE:  

"Dark Maze was één van de eerste songs die ik schreef, en gaat over hoe ik de start van mijn carrière en alles wat dat met zich meebracht ervaarde een dik jaar geleden. Alles was toen nieuw voor mij: werken met een label & manager, meteen grote shows spelen, eigen muziek uitbrengen…
Toen dit zalige avontuur begon wist ik nog van niets. Ik had het gevoel dat ik soms wat verloren liep, en dat gevoel heb ik beschreven in Dark Maze. Die song is de perfecte vertaling van mijn gevoelens toen. Alles was cool, alles was nieuw, maar het voelde soms wat als tasten in het duister.
Ondanks die overweldigende gevoelens had ik wel vanaf de start de “go with the flow” mindset, en daar ben ik nu blij om. Intussen heb ik al heel wat beleefd én geleerd, maar ik probeer nog steeds in het moment te leven en van elke nieuwe ervaring te genieten."

​​De eerstvolgende concerten van IBE staan (onder voorbehoud van de coronamaatregelen) gepland op:
20.09.2020 | Cactus, Brugge
25.09.2020 | Het Depot, Leuven
26.09.2020 | Geruis, Dendermonde
03.10.2020 | Trix, Antwerpen (sold out)
07.11.2020 | Ik Zie U Graag 2020, Breda (NL)
16.01.2021 | C-Mine, Genk

Naar aanleiding van de genomen maatregelen door de Belgische regering om het coronavirus (COVID-19) in te dijken, kunnen heel wat evenementen niet plaatsvinden op de voorziene datum. Ook de concerten van Doe Maar worden hierdoor uitgesteld. Het concert dat zou plaatsvinden op 3 oktober in de Ancienne Belgique wordt verplaatst naar 2 oktober 2021. De voorziene concerten in De Roma, die zouden doorgaan op 6, 7 en 8 november, verhuizen naar 5, 6 en 7 november 2021.
 
Tickethouders worden persoonlijk via mail gecontacteerd.
 
De gezondheid en veiligheid van artiesten, fans en medewerkers is onze grootste prioriteit. De richtlijnen van overheden volgen. Verantwoordelijkheid nemen. Het virus een halt toeroepen. Daar draait het om. Dank voor jullie begrip. Take care, stay safe.
 
De concerten in Antwerpen zijn een coproductie van Live Nation en De Roma.
​

NIEUWE DATA!
 
ZATERDAG 2 OKTOBER 2021 - ANCIENNE BELGIQUE BRUSSEL
 
VRIJDAG 5 NOVEMBER 2021 - DE ROMA ANTWERPEN
 
ZATERDAG 6 NOVEMBER 2021 - DE ROMA ANTWERPEN
 
ZONDAG 7 NOVEMBER 2021 - DE ROMA ANTWERPEN

CONCERTEN UITVERKOCHT !

Proving the old adage about cats having nine lives, rockabilly guitarist and icon Danny B. Harvey has returned with a new descendent of the rockabilly project he started back with Lemmy of Motörhead and Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats. The Head Cat, as they dubbed themselves, released a studio album Fool’s Paradise in 2006 as well as a live album, Rock N’ Roll Riot On The Sunset Strip. Years later, after the passing of Lemmy (who lived more lives than all these other cats combined) Harvey recruited 69 Eyes crooner Jyrki 69 for (what else) The 69 Cats. And now, the man who filled Lemmy’s motorcycle boots in the legendary space rock band Hawkwind, Alan Davey, has teamed up with Harvey along with Frantic Flattops drummer Paul Vezelis for the newest litter, Headcat 13!
 
Following in the paw prints of the previous groups, this outing offers some more fantastic covers of early rock classics such as “Route 66,” “Susie Q,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,” which features a special guest performance by Annie Marie Lewis, niece of The Killer himself Jerry Lee Lewis. But the real cream in this batch comes from the original songs penned separately by Harvey and Davey including the standout lead-off track “Let’s Go Crazy!” 
 
Harvey, who also produced the album, shares this about the single “I’m so happy that Cleopatra is releasing ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ as the first single off my new Headcat 13 album. Last year, when Alan ‘Boomer’ Davey joined Headcat 13 onstage as my bassist for the North American  Space Ritual 2019 in Austin TX, I knew it would be a travesty if Alan and I didn’t get into the studio and record an album of songs together right away. A few months after the festival, Alan loaded up his car with his infamous Ric bass and his favorite amp and drove all the way from Death Valley to Austin in 100+ degrees heat. We spent five intense but fun days in studio, composing, learning, arranging and recording the songs. This album is a throwback to the way albums were recorded in the golden age of rock’n’roll, go in with nothing and 5 days later come out with a finished masterpiece. When people ask me what this album sounds like, I quote Lemmy and say, ‘It’s fucking rock’n’roll, what do you think it sounds like?!’”
 
Headcat 13 will be available on digital as well as CD in a special digipak and on a very limited edition vinyl!
 
Stream the single: https://orcd.co/headcat_13_lets_go_crazy
​

 Naar aanleiding van de genomen maatregelen door de Belgische regering om het coronavirus (COVID-19) in te dijken, kunnen veel evenementen niet plaatsvinden op de voorziene datum. Het concert van Parkway Drive in Vorst Nationaal, initieel voorzien op 16 april 2020, vervolgens uitgesteld naar 22 november 2020, wordt nogmaals verplaatst. Het concert zal nu plaatsvinden op dinsdag 6 april 2021 in Vorst Nationaal met Hatebreed en Crystal Lake als special guests.
 
Tickethouders worden hierover persoonlijk via mail gecontacteerd.
Er zijn nog tickets te koop voor deze nieuwe datum, meer info via livenation.be.
 
De gezondheid en veiligheid van artiesten, fans en medewerkers is onze grootste prioriteit. De richtlijnen van overheden volgen. Verantwoordelijkheid nemen. Het virus een halt toeroepen. Daar draait het om. Dank voor jullie begrip. Take care, stay safe.
 
Het officiële persbericht kunt u hier terugvinden.

 IN VERKOOP!
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De Japanse intro (in video-versie) is een ode aan de afgelaste Olympische Spelen in Japan en loodst je de wonderwereld van Bombataz binnen, als een geüpdate versie van A-ha’s ‘Take On Me’. “Beat the records in a row” zingt Vitja Pauwels, terwijl hij tegelijkertijd een gouden medaille wint en zijn liefdesleven probeert te balanceren.
In de song wordt de liefde een topsport-gehalte aangemeten als symbool voor onze concurrentiemaatschappij. Maar dan een pak minder zwaar op de hand dan dat statement doet vermoeden; dit is synthpop in de meest zuivere zin van het woord. De zoete melodie wordt als een oorwurm in je hoofd geprent.

​ABOUT
Bombataz ontstond toen conservatoriumstudenten Vitja Pauwels (gitaar, stem), Hendrik Lasure (toetsen), Ruben De Maesschalck (bas) en Casper Van De Velde (drums) ontdekten dat hun gemeenschappelijke liefde voor muziek zich niet beperkt tot jazz, maar tot letterlijk àlle genres. Ze betrokken hetzelfde huis in Schaarbeek en de rest is geschiedenis. Hun eerste EP '¡Kapao!' verscheen in 2019 bij Fake Records. en maakte duidelijk waar Bombataz voor staat: speelse popmuziek, die tegelijkertijd grappig en melancholisch is.
 
“De nieuwe STUFF. heet Bombataz” schreef Indiestyle. “Beraadgeslagen meets Animal Collective, maar dan in de 80’s” volgens Humo. “Dansbare jazzy-elektro-glitchy-retro-funky artpop die melancholie koppelt aan bevreemdende samples”, oordeelde de Brusselse website STOEMP!.
 
Bombataz is een popgroep, die werkt vanuit een jazzy benadering. Fusion dus, in de elektrisch geladen traditie van Miles Davis. Al vinden ze de discussie of het ‘jazz is of geen jazz’ totaal oninteressant. Andere projecten van de heren zijn SCHNTZL, An Pierlé Quartet, Donder, Warm Bad en Woolvs (…).

BOB BELAND is an American born musician/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA, where he has performed, written and recorded original music from 1974 to the present. He is releasing his 8th album “Happy Camper” on June 30th on the Wrong Way Works label. The music reflects upon his experiences living and performing in California since 1967.
 
Beland recently collaborated with 10cc legend Kevin Godley on a song that will be released on Kevin's first solo album “Muscle Memory “ in December 2020. The collaborative track “Big Bang Theory” will be released as a single in August 2020.
 
BOB BELAND - “Happy Camper”
As I was assembling the songs for my 8th album, “Happy Camper,” I started to see a theme develop. It was a personal travelogue of sorts about my time here in California. I came to the Golden State by rail via the Santa Fe Super Chief with my Mom, Dad, five brothers and one sister. We arrived in Los Angeles in 1967. From that year on I would spend time and play music both in the Northern part of the state in San Francisco from 1970 to 73 and then back down South to Los Angeles in 1974. These songs reflect upon those experiences either directly, as in ‘Big Sur,” “I'll See You There” and “Orange Groves,” or indirectly as with “Honey In The Hive,” “Underneath The Sweeping Sky” and “Pal O' Mine.” “Heartbreakers and Soultakers” main storyline revolves around a pair of young people from different ethnicities venturing out into the nightlife of club land. In the song there’s also a hidden reference to a certain famous band and their leader's A.K.A. if you listen closely. For “Something/Anything?” I had this driving acoustic rhythm guitar riff happening but I needed something lyrically to fit it. For some unknown reason I thought of Todd Rundgren's great double album “Something/Anything?” and realized that he hadn't any song on that album or anywhere in his catalog and the phrase fit perfectly so I hope he's not offended by my 'borrowing' it. 
 
The title track , “Happy Camper.” came as a surprise to me as I had no intention of writing a song with that title. I had it in mind only for the album title two thirds of the way through when I suddenly became ill in February 2020. While recovering, the lyrics of the song came to me fast. So fast that I felt more like a stenographer taking notes than a songwriter. A melody came as soon as I reviewed what I had written but it took another 3 days for me to feel good enough to go into the studio and put it to music and the piano. The music came together very quickly as well. This song didn't come to me in a dream. It came to me in the middle of the day while I was sick and anything but alone with my thoughts in a busy family household. However, what I did feel was the presence and words of my mother and father, who had passed away decades ago, coming back to me and whispering into my ear. I was listening to the spirits from long past and it was an intense but beautiful feeling of resolution. I hope those who listen feel the same way I did.
 
Now, a little background on the players who contributed their time and talents to “Happy Camper.”
 
Bob Gross is someone I’ve known since the early 1970’s. Among the other acts he's worked with was Delaney Bramlett of Delaney & Bonnie fame, Bob Wier's Jemima Puddleduck and currently can be seen and heard gigging with the Deanna Bogart Band. Richard d'Andrea is a friend and former Furys alumi who's been a mainstay in the L.A. rock scene since the 70's most notably founding the Know with Gary Valentine and working with musicians such as the Roosters and Carla Olson. Marty Korth is a long standing friend of mine who also spent some time in the Furys and has played bass on other songs that I've written and recorded over the years. Greg Embrey is also from the Furys. Smokey Fennell is Canada's “most OK est” steel guitarist according to Smokey. In classic Canadian humility he actually is a much in demand musician who can be heard on the British singer/songwriter David Gray's smash it, “Babylon,” as well as on two of Gray's best selling albums. Paula Kuhr is a classical violinist who has performed on two of my albums before this one. She is a member of the MESTO orchestra who perform worldwide.
 

Social Media Patforms:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/belandbob/?hl=en
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bbeland
​

“Across the Evening,” by ambient experimental guitarists Jon Durant and Robert Jürjendal, further extends the ambient/jazz/world crossover music both musicians have traversed throughout their diverse careers. Featuring appearances from Colin Edwin (UK) on bass, Aleksei Saks (Estonia) on trumpet, and Andi Pupato (Switzerland) on percussion, “Across the Evening” is a multi-dimensional, trans continental delight.
 
With sounds that caress and envelop, rhythms that percolate and inspire, the two guitarists nimbly play off each other and their guests, rarely allowing the listener to imagine that they are hearing guitars.
 
From the sublime “Reflective Sea” to the deep middle eastern vibe of “Beguiling Eyes,” the album crosses multiple stylistic boundaries. The final two tracks, “Return to Russia” and “Balkan Blue” are live recordings from the ensemble's live performance in Tallin, Estonia in 2019.
 
Says Jon, “Robert and I had known each others' work for some time - I'm really fond of his group Uma (with Aleksei Saks), and between my collaborations with Tony Levin and Colin Edwin, he'd been following my work as well. But we hadn't connected personally until recently. When the idea of collaborating was floated, we met it with great enthusiasm. We are both very interested in the textural possibilities with guitar but approach it differently, both in terms of tools and techniques. In the end, the two approaches blend wonderfully, and it's often hard to believe that what you’re hearing is guitar. When we began working, we realized that while it's great to be able to work remotely, there was a strong desire to also work together in the same room. I arranged a trip to Tallinn, and Robert organized a concert at Philly Joe's Jazz Club in Tallinn. We were very fortunate to have Aleksei Saks join us on Trumpet, and Inna Kovtun came up from Kiev to sing with us. It was an incredibly inspiring evening, and two tracks on the album are from the recording of that show. The album includes ideas and concepts born out of our few days of rehearsing and improvising together, and flushed out with fantastic performances from Colin Edwin (bass) and Andi Pupato (percussion).” 
 
THE ARTISTS
 
Jon Durant - Guitars
 
Jon Durant brings a unique sense of texture and melody to his instrument. His unique “cloud guitar” soundscapes and engaging lead work have graced numerous CD recordings and film soundtracks and his very distinctive use of fretless guitar has been widely admired. He has previously released 9 solo albums and three Burnt Belief records (with Colin Edwin). Durant's acclaimed 2018 solo release “Parting Is” was his first “solo guitar” recording and the follow up solo guitar album “Alternate Landscapes” continue to stretch the boundaries of what a guitar record can sound like. Both solo CDs have been nominated for “Best Ambient Album” in various US new age radio publications, while “Alternate Landscapes” also spent multiple weeks at the top of the NACC Chill Charts.
 
Robert Jürjendal - Guitars
 
Robert Jürjendal is an Estonian guitarist and composer who studied classical guitar and composition (Anti Marguste) at Tallinn Georg Ots Music School. In 1992-1997 he participated in Robert Fripp Guitar Craft Courses. He has written music for classical and contemporary guitar, cembalo, mixed ensembles, choirs; documentaries, art exhibitions and theater. His compositions include both traditional and contemporary elements, from folk music to post-rock and ambient-jazz. Robert Jürjendal is working as a freelancer composer / artist / lecturer. He is also the  curator of the music program SOOLO at Tallinn Art Hall. Recent albums include “Source Of Joy” (Unsung Records 2013), “Balm Of Light” (iapetus - media 2014) and “Simple Past” (Strangiato Records 2016). “Another World” (with Colin Edwin) (Hard World 2018), “Five Seasons” (Albany Records 2018), With Noya and Godwin, “Samliku” (New Dog Records 2019), with Sandor Szabo “Electric Poetry” (Greydisc 2019).
 

Jon Durant's official website: http://www.jondurant.com 
Robert Jürjendal's official website: http://robertjyrjendal.com

​De Maastrichtse zanger, schilder en culturele duizendpoot Walter Nita is dinsdagochtend op 69-jarige leeftijd overleden. Nita was bekend van bands als The Walkers, The Chaplin Band, The Press, The Run en Underberg. In de jaren tachtig maakte Nita enkele soloplaten, waaronder de singles 'Ela Ela' en 'Boogie On The Bebop’. Zijn grootste successen vierde Nita met de feitelijke opvolger van The Walkers: The Press. De single 'I'm Gonna Shoot The Dee-Jay' bereikte in 1980 de dertiende plaats van de Nederlandse Top 40. 'Cantara Pepe’ schopte het in 1981 tot de elfde positie van die hitlijst. Met zijn kenmerkende stemgeluid drukte Walter Nita een eigen stempel op het Limburgse popgeluid van de jaren tachtig. Zijn uitdossing in flamboyante witte kostuums leverde hem de bijnaam ‘De Witte Waanzin’ op. Walter Nita ruste in vrede!
 
Met dank aan Leo Weijers.

​Mary J. Blige is getting us all excited for the summer with the launch of her new wine. The singer partnered with Fantinel Winery to curate two wines for the ‘Sun Goddess’ wine collection which is set to be released in August.
Blige made the announcement on social media. She writes:
“It’s finally here! @sungoddesswines I’ve been creating this for 3 years now and I hope this brings you some joy during these trying times. I hope you love it and it makes you smile. Available in NY & NJ Pre-Order on wine.com & Available worldwide in August 🔗 in bio”
The name “Sun Goddess” was inspired by a nickname Blige’s mother gave her when she was young.  “Sun Goddess struck me as the perfect name as it conveys the connection between nature and the personality of wines I enjoy the most,” she said, according to The Drinks Business.
The Delish describes the wine as:
The Sun Goddess collection includes two wines, a pinot grigio ramato (similar to rosé), and a sauvignon blanc. The rosé features peach, melon, and blackberry notes while the sauvignon blanc has tropical and spicy notes of yellow bell pepper, banana, and melon, Wine.com explains.
Both bottles will be available for preorder in New York and New Jersey via Wine.com starting today for $19.99.

Beloved regional musician and music teacher remembered for his dedication to mentoring up and coming musicians and producers. Drummer, Bandleader, and record producer, Eddie Ray Johnson (born, Billie J Atkins II), died on June 25, 2020 after a brief hospitalization for diabetes related complications. He was 58 years old. Johnson was born in Cambridge Massachusetts and his family relocated to Wareham when he was a child. His interest in music took root at the age of 8 when he saw the Jackson 5 on the Flip Wilson Show, and took an immediate interest in the drums. Opting to continue with music over sports in school, he also began playing the tuba and Sousaphone in High School, earning a music scholarship to Dean College. While at Dean, at the age of 19, he was hired by a touring agency as a sub drummer for touring bands, eventually playing with such legendary artists as Wilson Pickett, and Rufufs Thomas. He spent over 30 years as a touring drummer before returning to Wareham where he worked as a drum instructor as well as various carpentry and technology jobs. During this time he formed the regional soul band, West Side Soul, touring throughout the Northeast Region, as well as the Big Bad Wolf Blues Band. 
His career as a drummer spanned more than forty-one years culminating with co-founding the soul-funk band, The Groovalottos. Billie co-produced The Groovalottos' first single, "Do You Mind(IfWeDanceWitYoDates)?" which spent 41 weeks in the top ten of the Indie Blues/Americana Charts; followed by co-producing the band's six time Grammy-nominated album, "Ask Yo Mama" (Liberation Multimedia, 2017). He was a gifted music teacher, sharing his love of music and giving drumsticks to any kids who showed an interest in drumming. He received the NAACP Unsung Hero Award in 2019 in recognition of his dedication to the arts and youth in the community through his work as President of Song Keepers, Ltd, a nonprofit arts and education organization. Countless numbers of musicians reflect the legacy of his artistry as his former students and mentees, including all members of The Groovalottos.  The band was an annual headlining feature at the Boston Jazz Fest and Song Keepers, LTD was an annual co-sponsor. Festival organizer, James Braxton said of Johnson that he was, "a great guy and excellent musician."
Band co-founder and keyboardist, Mwalim said of his bandmate, "We spent thousands and thousands of hours with each other on the road, in the studio, at gigs, promoting gigs, rehearsing, watching movies, talking, planning, dreaming, laughing, arguing... he was my brother through and through. If you were in a bad mood, it wouldn't last long if you were in Billie's presence. His laughter and stories made every gig and tour a wonderful experience for his band mates and audiences. The sound of his laughter will live on in the memories of all who knew him. You could literally see the unbridled joy on his face whenever he played. His joy was infectious; and, heaven is blessed with a back-beat like it's never experienced before." 
He and his bandmates had just completed building the new Polyphonic Studios in Bourne, which is set to complete two albums by the band that had been put  on hold due to the Corona Virus shutdown. Johnson, who's skills included carpentry, will leave a lasting memory on the facility, having modified the rooms that became the control rooms and live recording rooms. He is survived by his brother, Ira Atkins of Wareham; long-time partner, Katherine Simons, three children: Jasmine, Dion, and Billie J III; and his bandmate/brothers, Richard Johnson, Mwalim (MJ Peters), ZYG 808 (MJ Peters II), and Charles Vermette.
Due to the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 crisis, Johnson's income as a teacher and musician was sharply impacted, as well as his savings. Assistance for the funeral fund can be made at https://gf.me/u/yb6ugg

​She is another in the line of talented singers who made the 1970s a tremendous decade for soul music. Today we say a sad goodbye to vocalist Sandra Feva.
Born as Sandra Richardson, Feva may be best known for her work as a background singer for Aretha Franklin, Parliament, and Prince. But she also moved to the front of the stage for several albums in the 70s and early 80s on multiple labels. And what a voice! Compared at times to Aretha or perhaps even more, Gladys Knight, she had the talent to be a star.
“Tell ‘Em I Heard It” was a top 40 hit in 1981, and followed more regional success with “Love To Be Your Woman,”, “I Feel A Song” and “The Need to Be.” Feva continued to record sporadically into the late 80s, and charted last in 1987 with “Here Now,” as she focused more on her work supporting other artists.

Op 6-7-8-9 augustus zou de 46ste editie van Festival Dranouter plaatsvinden. Een festival organiseren is niet toegestaan, maar dat wil niet zeggen dat we dit weekend onopgemerkt laten voorbij gaan. Tijdens het festivalweekend vinden er heel wat exclusieve Zomersessies plaats op festivalterrein De Voute in Dranouter.

Willem Vermandere verklapte in het programma Vive La Vie al dat hij zou langskomen in Dranouter, dus krijg je van ons meteen het programma van 6-7-8-9 augustus.  

• Op donderdag 6 augustus is er een Dranouter Zomersessie met Willem Vermandere, Vera Coomans en Elixir.
• Op vrijdag 7 augustus staan er optredens gepland van Portland, Mooneye (solo) en Salut La Copine.
• Zaterdag 8 augustus wordt een Zomersessie met optredens van Flip Kowlier (solo), Spilar en EMY.
• Op zondag 9 augustus is het de beurt aan een Zomersessie van Novastar (solo), Wör en Meskerem Mees.

​
TICKETVERKOOP ZOMERSESSIES VAN FESTIVALWEEKEND START OP DONDERDAG 2 JULIDe ticketverkoop voor de optredens van 6, 7, 8, 9 augustus 2020 start op donderdag 2 juli om 10u. Een ticket voor een Zomersessie kost 35 euro. We vragen onze bezoekers om tickets per contactbubbel te bestellen. Dat maakt onze voorbereidingen makkelijker. Er is slechts een beperkt aantal tickets beschikbaar voor de Dranouter Zomersessies. Per bestelling kan je dus minimum 4 tickets en maximum 10 tickets aankopen.
Verzamel je vrienden, familie en Dranouter-buddies & zorg ervoor dat je op donderdag 2 juli om 10u klaarzit achter je computer om die tickets te verzilveren!

Volg Festival Dranouter op Facebook, Instagram & schrijf je in op onze nieuwsbrief (onderaan op de homepagina). Zo mis je niets van alle festivalplannen.

EXTRA TICKETS VOOR ZOMERSESSIES VAN JULIHet kan niet op met positief nieuws. Zoals je wellicht vernam via de media, is het mogelijk om de capaciteit voor evenementen uit te breiden. Er komen dus een beperkt aantal extra tickets vrij voor de Zomersessies van juli, met op de line-up o.a. Absynthe Minded (duo), Stef Kamil Carlens, Geike (trio), Faces On TV (solo)... Het grootste deel van de Zomersessies was razendsnel uitverkocht. Ook de ticketverkoop van deze extra tickets gaat goed: de Zomersessie van Brihang en de Zomersessie van Yevgueni zijn intussen opnieuw uitverkocht. Klik snel op de button hieronder om je (extra) tickets te bemachtigen!

Zomersessies kort uitgelegd

• Met een ticket voor een Zomersessie krijg je toegang tot het festivalterrein De Voute in Dranouter. Klik hier voor meer info over de locatie.
• Per Zomersessie vinden er 2 à 3 optredens plaats: een mix van de beste Belgische acts en nog te ontdekken talent. Met je ticket pik je dus alle optredens van die dag mee. Klik hier om de line-up per Zomersessie te ontdekken. 
• De versterkte optredens eindigen om 22u. Het festivalterrein sluit telkens om middernacht. Klik hier voor de openingsuren en alle praktische info.
• Op het gezellige festivalterrein zal je ook kunnen genieten van een drankje en iets om te eten. Want een festival is meer dan optredens alleen ;-) 
• Kortom: dankzij de Zomersessies pik je dat heerlijke festivalgevoel mee!

​​

​Samenwerking met grote externe muzikanten
Cronin is het muzikale project van de Ierse broers Johnny en Michael Cronin. Net als bij het veelgeprezen debuutalbum The First Kiss of Love, hebben ze ook dit keer voor de productie de hulp ingeschakeld van Karl Odlum (Glen Hansard, The Frames) en Ger McDonnell (U2, Manic Street Preachers).

Daarnaast heeft de band nieuwe externe instrumentalisten binnengehaald. Zo is Waterboys-violist Steve Wickham op twee nummers te horen, Damien Rice-celliste Vivienne Long speelt mee op de track ‘Need’ en Terry Edwards (PJ Harvey) op de remix van ‘Little London’. Hun invloed is duidelijk hoorbaar!
 
Corona zorgt voor onverwachte nieuwe draai
Mick Cronin over het maken van A View From the Next Room:
"Sommige van deze mixen bestaan al een tijdje, andere zijn vers. Omdat we niet in de studio konden werken, dachten we dat het nu een goed moment was om deze als mini-album uit te brengen. Het is een diverse mix in vergelijking met onze releases tot dusver, het laat een andere kant zien van wat we in ons hoofd hebben. "

Het mini-album telt zes nummers, allen met diepe orkestrale arrangementen. In elk nummer zijn interessante vernieuwingen aangebracht. In juni bracht de band openingsnummer ‘Several Perceptions’ als single uit, met videoclip.
De albumillustraties zijn gemaakt door Paul Gallagher, de oudere broer van Oasis’ Noël en Liam. 
  

Graham Bramblett 
The Great Inbetween 
Release Date : July 17th 
Label: Independent 
​

​The Great Inbetween is the newest release from Nashville based songwriter Graham Bramblett. The six tracks are presented in a more stripped down format than his previous albums allowing the quality of the songwriting to really show through. The subject matter ranges from a play on words about a hero of Graham's (Tom T. Hall T-Shirt) to the way a person feels after what they perceived was a great first date. All of the songs on the album are either written or co-written by Bramblett.

Graham Bramblett was born in raised in Dallas, Texas before embarking on a journey where he called many places home. Bramblett attended college in Missouri but found himself paying as much attention to writing and performing songs as much as his school. Upon graduation, he moved to Nashville to chase that songwriting dream and spent a number of years on Music Row homing his craft. However, in 2010 he left Tennessee for the Twin Cities after burning out. "I ended up in St. Paul because I had family there and it seemed like a good place to reboot.  Music had become a chore and I was out of tune with Nashville. Mostly, I had forgotten why I started writing songs in the first place." After a few years, the fire reignited and Bramblett found himself writing and performing around the cities frequently. His debut album,  "Under The Lights", was released in August of 2016. In the Spring of 2018, he released  "Standard Harmony" to a sold out crowd at The Icehouse and had the single,

In the Fall of 2018, Graham  made the move back to Nashville which happened to coincide with Americana Fest. "I unpacked the U-Haul and then met up with 8 of my buddies from Minnesota that night. I got lucky, very lucky that the timing worked out."  In late 2019 Bramblett found himself with another batch of songs that he wanted to take into the studio. He says of the recording of The Great Inbetween:

“This all started in the fall of 2019. I had a pile of songs and I wanted to get them recorded. I knew Elliot from back in MN and he had introduced me to Davis in Nashville. They had a studio and so we started putting the whole thing together. I have two full length/ full band records, so I thought it might be nice to take a more stripped down approach here and let everything breath. No bass, no electric guitar, no drums- most of the percussion you hear we improvised on the spot. It was a really fun way to work.”

1. Tom T. Hall T-Shirt  (3:00)
2. Rain on The Roof  (3:36)
3. Stickers  (3:57)
4. The One That I Want (2:17)
5. What Do You Do (3:42)
6. You Can’t Dance (3:16)

All Songs FCC Clean
Focus Tracks : 1, 3, 4

Produced by : Elliott Blaufuss Davis Corley & Grahm Bramblett
Steel Guitar- Ken Wilson
Trumpet- Andrew Golden
Background Vocals- Sarah Morris, Kensie Coppin, Davis Corley
Guitar, Rhodes- Elliot Blaufuss
Guitars, Vocals- Graham Bramblett

​Johnny Mandel, an American composer, jazz musician and songs arranger, died on June 29, 2020, at the age of 94. Johnny's cause of death identified as suicide, his obituary is yet to be identified.
An Oscar winning jazz musician and singer of ”Emily”, ”The shadow of your smile”, ”Quietly There” and “MASH”, Johnny Mandel is dead at the age of 94 following an unidentified cause of death in New York, United States. He has worked with great artists like Anita O’Day, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Diane Schuur, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra. He passed away leaving fans and loved ones in total sadness, Johnny Mandel's death has caused so much heartbreak to the beloved family. We are yet to observed the deceased cause of death and obituary.