Tony Bennett: Singer/Artist/Author

Mr. Bennett released his 60th studio album DUETS ll, out September 16, 2011.The iconic traditional pop/jazz singer brings in 17 special guests from every genre to perform classical pop songs with him:

Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Amy Winehouse, Michael Bublé, k.d.Lang, Aretha Franklin, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Natilie Cole, Andrea Bocelli, Faith Hill, Alejando Sanz, Carrie Underwood, and Mariah Carey.

The album was released celebrating his 85th birthday, August 3, 2011. His original DUETS: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC Album celebrating his 80th birthday was released in August 2006. No doubt he is planning his 90th gig as he has no plan to retire.

He was recently on the 'Jay Leno Show', and the guy is ageless, his voice is as sharp and crisp as it ever was. He even had a little swagger going which made the audience roar with approval of his excellent performance.

It is hard to believe in 1979 Bennett suffered a near fatal cocaine overdose. He was down and out of luck,  without a major recording contract from 1972-1986, divorced and the IRS was hovering. His son Danny a musician, was instrumental in bringing him back to the forefront, and creating the Tony as we know today.

In 1993 Bennett won his second Grammy, the first in 1962, and today he is a 15 time Grammy winner, with many accolades to his credit. He is an author, with 3 books, and a world renowned artist. His paintings are sold in galleries all over the world and his painting titled ‘Central Park’ sits in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC.
Highlights of the album: Lady Gaga, “The Lady Is A Tramp”, Amy Winehouse, "Body & Soul", Sheryl Crow, “The Girl I Love”, Norah Jones, “Speak Low”, Andrea Bocelli, “Strangers in Paradise”, and Carrie Underwood “It Had To Be You”. Their performances bring a new respect for their talent at this level. DUETS ll, is an album you will want in your collection even if you are not a fan. It is timeless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRm08pVt-xc&feature=relmfu
We could go on and on, but the talent of this man is ageless, and no matter what his age, he has survived 6 decades and continues to teach us that the "Classics' are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago. Maybe his legacy in life is to teach us music appreciation and remind us we need to keep the American Classics alive for generations to come.
http://tonybennett.com/nogo.php


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MAYER HAWTHORNE: SINGER/SONGWRITER

Mayer Hawthorne, the blue eyed ‘Soul Man’ released his 2nd single “The Walk”, August 2011, from the much anticipated album, ‘HOW DO YOU DO’ scheduled for release October 2011. His debut album with a major label. His first single for the album was released in May 2011 “Alongtime”.

You can listen to “The Walk” on his web-site:  http://mayerhawthorne.com/

Hawthorne, an American, singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, audio engineer and multi-instrumentalist comes to us from Ann Arbor Michigan and has entwined his music with a retro Motown sound. The mixes, textures and arrangement of “The Walk” will definitely remind you of the Motown sound. He has uniquely captured the past and moved it into this decade with “The Walk”. A song about an ex-love, which he sings “Baby what you doing now, you’re pissing me off” and later “But you’re shitty f**king attitude has got me changing my mind,………… so you can “Walk” those high heels right out of my life” and it all just seems to flow into the perfect soulful melody. It is sure to put a smile on your face as you strut your stuff to this tune.

“Alongtime” will remind you of Smokey Robinson/Supremes as Hawthorne steps up to his falsetto, and again a soulful melody. Not a favorite as he cannot carry the falsetto without dropping his delivery and go flat. After listening to his other stuff, “The Walk” is the best number he has out to date. He tends to use his falsetto voice often and has difficulty holding the note and goes flat. With that said if he continues to produce and arrange and sing like he does on “The Walk” only good things will come. It will be interesting to listen to his the entire album  ‘HOW DO YOU DO’  when it comes out for good, strong vocals, and the retro R&B soul sound that we know he can deliver.

He also produces and releases instrumental version’s of his songs/albums.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpfcydeSGeo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYHYAwvdHzY&feature=relmfu



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LENN HAMMOND: REGGAE SINGER/SONGWRITER

Lenn Hammond released his 2nd studio album RAW SOUL, August 13, 2011.

Constantine (Lenn) Hammond was born in Port Maria, St. Mary, Jamaica, and later emigrated to Canada in 1989 as a young man. In 2001 he released his debut album LENN HAMMOND.

The album won Hammond Canada's biggest reggae trophy, the 2001 Juno award for Best Reggae Recording. (Comparable to the US Grammy). He was also named Male Vocalist of the Year by the Canadian Reggae Music Association. The album brought Hammond recognition in Jamacia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Hammond has created his own persona apart from other artists in his development of smooth, idealistic reggae sound known as lovers' rock, not the rap and dancehall sound of U.S. Reggae chart makers like Shaggy, the Jamaican-American reggae singer/ rapper and Beenie Man the Grammy award winning Jamaican reggae artist, who proclaims to be the "King of the Dancehall".

The album is a blended sound of reggae, rap, R&B, with a little Rastafarian spirit incorporated. The cover song “How Can You Mend” (A Broken Heart) written by the BeeGee’s is included in the album and probably the best track of the 18 songs. Hammond’s rendition is soulful and showcases his vocal ability. Also “I Love You” is a beautiful memorable tribute to his son, with the reggae beat. Other notable songs include, “Now that You are Gone” and “Take Me Girl”.


His style of writing is real, he says what it is, and does not sugar coat words or phrases just to sound good. Each word/phrase has a meaning and place in his life.

Take a look at his video’s (link) and maybe you will find something you like in the repertoire of an up and coming Reggae artist.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoj7fJ6ScF4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkGJ0n6rewU&feature=related


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HUGH LAURIE: SINGER/MUSICIAN

Hugh Laurie, you know the guy from the TV show ‘HOUSE’ released his debut album  LET THEM TALK, out 9/6/2011. The blues album brings the well rehearsed piano man to the front line of the music scene. The talented actor also plays the guitar, drums, harmonica and saxophone.

The album is quaint, quirky, and has a quality about it that is unexpected. Laurie’s New Orleans style may remind you of Dr. John, or Alan Toussaint as he covers some old/new songs on the album like “Swanee River”, “Battle of Jericho” or “St James Infirmary” a traditional N’awlins sound. Favorites are “You Don’t Know My Mind’, “Winin Boy Blues”, and “Let Them Talk”.

While it is not the best blues album on the market, it has an element about it that is catchy, and keeps you listening for his English accent to come out, or some kind of recognition of the actor within the music. Maybe it just plain curoisty that brings you to look at him as a musician, but once you hear this album you will realize he is a talented actor and a pretty good musician that can hold his own on a blues album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQsfwqIJuj8&feature=fvwrel

http://www.hughlaurieblues.com/

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ERROL LINTON: HARP PLAYER/BLUES SINGER

Out August 2011, “MAMA SAID”  is the US debut album of Errol Linton from London England. He has 2 other albums released previously in the UK.
The blues harp player is sometimes dubbed as a Reggae/Blues artist. He does infuse Caribbean rhythms, with a definite bluesy vibe and with his velvet voice, which is subtle yet commanding, the result is a great combination of rhythms and vocals. 

Linton was discovered by a BBC producer while he was busking in the London Underground. He is typically accompanied by Jean Pierce Lampe on bass (upright), and Sam Kelly percussionist. This trio is a well oiled machine, and a fine example on the Album is “Sunrise”.  Lampe pounds his base while Kelly’s percussion, sometimes as simple as a bottle, truly showcase the musicality of the ‘Blues Vibe Band’

You are guaranteed to tap your toes, or get up and get moving or sing along as the music vibrates straight to your heart. The contagious melodies makes at least one body part move to the beat with every track. This album is refreshing, entertaining, and truly a gift, and you will be a fan almost instantly, and wonder where has he been? Hopefully he will get enough recognition to produce another album in the not so far future. His last album was in 2002, and it has taken him this long to earn the money to record “Mama Said”.  The youtube recordings highlight his previously recorded tracks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMCj4OXHvfM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsIqiLyKRjU&feature=related

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ANA POPOVIC: BLUES GUITARIST/SINGER

Ana Popovic, the lady blues guitarist, and singer songwriter, released her 4th solo studio album August 16, 2011, UNCONDITIONAL, which includes 8 original songs, plus favorite cover songs.The blues rock album has slamming guitar riffs, and sultry vocals. The enticing album cover has stirred up a little controversy, but comes with the territory. Popovic is not just a pretty face/body, she is a serious musician.  A blues guitarist of Popovic’s caliber is typically male, and she is as talented as some of the best   male blues guitarist around today.

Unconditional, Ana explains, "Describes what I feel on stage. That place is simply unconditional. It is magical. It’s just me and my guitar, notes, sounds and drum grooves. I let the band lift me up, and I feed off of their energy. I hate to think when playing. I only feel. Unconditional is how I stand towards my music -it’s mine, it’s sacred, and it’s with no boundaries. Absolute, definite. I tend to put everything I have into it and don’t let anything or anyone get in between, except the people that truly inspire me."

Ana Popovic grew up in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (Serbia) where she became enamored with her father’s blues record collection, and the beginning interest in music. By the time she was 8 years old she was an opening act for likes of Jr. Wells, and other great blues performers. By the time she was 18 she had her own band HUSH, and they released their first album in 1998. Shortly after that she moved to the Netherlands to study Jazz Guitar, where she became well known on the Dutch blues scene, and later in Germany. She is currently touring in the USA.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WfKtdFiO2k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkz7-iAw-3E&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j23puGHD40M&feature=related


http://www.anapopovic.com/_index.php



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