Flying Colors-PICK OF THE WEEK-Flying Colors-02/25/12

So we have yet another super group and another band that Mike Portnoy is in? Well, yes that is a fact and those of you that enjoy great rock music of all sorts should be rejoicing right now because a classic album is waiting to hit those starhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifved ear drums and to relieve you of all the garbage that is out there on the internet and radio. This relief comes in the form of the new band Flying Colors. The members are Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Steve Morse (guitar), Dave LaRue (bass) and Casey McPherson ...more...

F. E. D.-PICK OF THE WEEK-Awakening-02/19/12

F.E.D. is the intensely talented composer and pianist that hails from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Awakening is his much anticipated debut album. Contributing artists include James Racine (violinist), Maureen Manoly (violinist), and singer Annelise Collette. F.E.D. or Frantz Eddy Daniel Jr. has played with the Mini Orchestra, Little Chamber Orchestra and Holy Trinity Philharmonic Orchestra in Haiti. In 1997 he formed the New Age Trio but went solo in 2000 with a debut performance and a soundtrack for the Haitian play The Legend of Quisqueya ....more...

Hulon-PICK OF THE WEEK-After Hours-02/12/12

After Hours is an interesting mix of contemporary R&B with smooth jazz. The two vocal tracks are very much in the adult contemporary R&B genre, while the rest of the album straddles the two. Overall the music tends to be a little funkier than your average smooth jazz, and let me go ahead and say right up front that for a medical doctor frontman Hulon sure does play sax well. The musical reserve that's a primary characteristic of smooth jazz is in evidence on every track. On “Second Opinion,” however, the players do let their chops show a ...more...

Danny John Trio-PICK OF THE WEEK-Mr. Twister-02/04/12

Yesterday I had never even heard of Daniel John and today he is one of my favorite guitarists ever. Danny grew up in Canberra, Australia. He picked up the guitar at age eight and taught himself to play. After gaining an enthusiastic response in Australia he dropped everything and moved to Hollywood where he attended Musicians Institute of Technology. After three years of studying and playing with the best he felt like he was ready. He moved back to Australia and played with the best musicians Australia has to offer. His latest venture ...more...

Anderson/Wakeman-PICK OF THE WEEK-The Living Tree In Concert Part One-01/28/12

Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman have been very busy since they teamed up to release Jon’s solo albums The Living Tree (2010) and Survival & Other Stories (2011). Anderson has made an amazing comeback from a debilitating health issue that took away his angelic vocals. Since fighting his way back and then watching his former band mates in Yes go on without him, well let’s just say there have been plenty of motivational tools to keep those creative fires burning in his belly. Rick Wakeman has proved to be a true friend of Jon’s and has not only...more...

Dan Wolff-PICK OF THE WEEK-Old Fashioned Love-01/21/12

Dan Wolff did not pick up a guitar until he was 18 years old. He then went off to college and immersed himself in music and continued to follow that path successfully. Old Fashioned Love is his third studio effort and it certainly sounds like a polished veteran of the recording studio is at work on this recent release. The vocals he provides will immediately remind you of Al Stewart (“Year of the Cat”) and John Mayer, if you happen to be familiar with either artist. That isn’t the only way to connect to Wolff’s music though. What you
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Christina LaRocca-PICK OF THE WEEK-I Stand Tall With My Eyes Open-01/14/12

Christina LaRocca is an award winning singer and songwriter with a unique blend of folk and R&B. Hearing her for the first time, it is easy to see the roots of her music coming from her time listening to greats like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Natalie Cole. After trying out theater in her teens and discovering musical greats like Alanis Morsette, she began writing her own music. Forming the group Heavy Weather with fellow musicians Carl Gallagher and Dorian Lake, the band has received international attention. After releasing two ....more...