 |
 |
VIRGINIA SCHENCK VA Virginia Schenck is an accomplished jazz vocalist in both straight-ahead jazz and free improvisation to the centuries-old tradition of circle singing, which she studied under legendary Bobby McFerrin and his Voicestra member, Rhiannon. A graduate of Florida State University’s School of Music, Virginia is also a nationally recognized music therapist and educator. Virginia weaves all of these influences into her singing, which she takes from classroom to experimental theatre to jazz club. Virginia has trained with such jazz stalwarts as Karrin Allyson, Sheila Jordan, and Lisa Sokolov. She has performed at numerous jazz venues in her hometown Atlanta, both sitting in with artists and fronting her own quartet. Virginia’s recent appearances have been in Seattle for “The Gift”, a play with improvised music; “Singing Darwin”, a 24-hour improvisation based on The Origin of Species at Virginia Tech University; and “dis/connect” with aerial dancers at UC-Davis’ Robert Mondavi Center. VA is going for adds May 21, 2012. File Under Jazz Vocals ~ Suggested Tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11 Get more info on Virginia here and visit her website here. |
|
 |
 |
SARAH ELGETI QUINTET Into The Open With her own fully formed instrumental voice and a distinctively personal compositional style, Sarah Elgeti has developed practically hidden from U.S. ears in the relative obscurity of her native Denmark. But a talent as imposing as hers cannot be concealed forever and the release of Into The Open should assure that she will not remain a secret much longer. Into The Open is going for adds April 30, 2012 Get more info on Sarah here and visit her website here. |
|
|
 |
RHIANNON Spontaneous In the moment, spontaneously created new music which was entirely improvised in two live settings with audience: LA Sound Studio and David Friend Theater on the Berklee College campus in Boston. Spontaneity and tradition are counterpoints in hula as in improvisational music. Without form/tradition we cannot express the complexity, the delicacy, the power of motion, horizontal and vertical. Without improvisation/spontaneity there is no vital life force/mana, no rushing of the heart, no connection to the soul and wholeness of all. We need both. Spontaneous is going for adds April 16, 2012 ~ Jazz Vocal Improv Suggested Tracks: 2, 4, 7 Get more info on Rhiannon here and visit her website here. |
|
|
 |
UNTEMPERED ENSEMBLE The Untempered Ensemble was founded in 1992 by Bill Cole as a trio. The first members of the group were Bill Cole, Warren Smith and Joe Daley. Later in the 1990's bassist William Parker and multi-instrumentalist Cooper-Moore joined the group. Soon after that the reed player Sam Furnace was asked to join and then at the end of the 1990's Cole's son Atticus became a member of the group, playing hand drums. This group recorded four CDs for Boxholder Records during the early 2000's and gave numerous performances, including at the Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Music Hall in New York. Untempered Ensemble is going for adds February 27, 2012 ~ Avant-Garde Jazz. Get more info on Untempered Ensemble here and visit Bill Cole's website here. |
|
|
 |
BILLY BANG & BILL COLE The recently deceased Billy Bang recorded this excellent duo album with wind player Bill Cole in 2009 at the University of Virginia Chapel in Charlottesville. Three of the set’s six tunes are improvisations, and each track features Bang on violin and Cole on one of the following: digeridoo, nagaswarm, sona, flute or shenai. The what I assume to be is the natural reverb from the chapel gives the recording a spacious feel, and it sounds as if you are there with them. The pair create a wide range of colors and sonorities (the violin and shenai combination is laden with overtones), and they weave in and around each other – each player displaying an ease with, and understanding of, the approach of the other player. Just check out “Improvisation (violin, flute)”. These are two sensitive musicians who are in total communication with each other and who work towards new modes and forms of expression. –Outside Inside Out Billy Bang Billy Cole is going for adds February 27, 2012 ~ Avant-Garde Jazz. Get more info on Billy Bang & Bill Cole here and visit Bill Cole's website here. |
|
|
 |
CYNTHIA FELTON Freedom Jazz Dance Freedom Jazz Dance is a collection of my favorite standards to sing. From familiar ballads like My Funny Valentine to more obscure songs such as Duke Ellington's Sound of Love, this cd covers a wide gamut of jazz classics. The title track, in addition to being a fun song to sing, encompasses words that are historically germane to the development of this musical tradition. Having those two words - Freedom and Jazz linked together, gives insight into the journey and evolution of jazz music. Jazz, America's true art form, has a history that is rich, and it plays a critical part of America's culture and achievement. Freedom Jazz Band is going for adds February 20, 2012. Jazz Vox - Suggested Tracks: 1, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 Get more info on Cynthia Felton here and visit her website here. |
|
|
 |
FRANK RUSSELL Circle Without End This bass guitarist’s follow up to his critically acclaimed debut CD, “Covering All Basses,” is titled “Circle Without End” and he does come full circle as he writes and records with some of the musicians who worked with his biggest influence as a musician, the legendary Miles Davis. They include, Robert Irving III, Darryl Jones, Richard Patterson, Dede Sampaio and Miles emissary, the great Wallace Roney on trumpet. Brilliant guitarist, Henry Johnson is also on board, co-producing and playing along with an all-star cast of modern Chi- town stars. Frank also pays homage to the world renowned South African singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whom he worked with for six years. Described by noted bass guitar author, Jon Liebman, Frank demonstrates a wide variety of bass playing, from funky slapping, R & B grooving, lyrical fretless and tasteful five-string, stating also this dutiful sideman is solidifying his standing as an established solo artist in his own right. Circle Without End is going for adds January 30, 2012. Jazz - Suggested Tracks: 1, 2, 5, 8, 10 Get more info on Frank Russell here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
LIZ CHILDS Take Flight A generous program of 17 selections that blends ballads, bossas, standards and blues with jazz taken from folk classics (a pair by Leonard Cohen and one from Bob Dylan) and a Liz Childs' contemporary original (title track) and pages out of the Great American Songbook. Take Flight is going for adds January 16, 2012. Jazz Vox - Suggested Tracks: 5, 7, 8, 2 10 Get more info on Liz Childs here and visit her website here. |
|
|
 |
DOUG MUNRO and LA POMPE ATTACK A Very Gypsy Christmas Jazz guitar virtuoso Doug Munro has an insatiable appetite for all things jazz. On his latest CD, “A Very Gypsy Christmas” Doug demonstrates his long standing love affair with the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Greppelli with 15 of the swingingest Gypsy Jazz versions of Christmas favorites you’ve ever heard. These are not the same old tired versions of traditional Christmas songs but brand new, reworked arrangements. Each track is a musical event unto itself. The CD features special guests swing clarinet king Ken Peplowski, rising vocal star Cyrille-Aimee Daudel, and violinist Howie Bujese. A Very Gypsy Christmas is going for adds November 25, 2011. Get more info on Doug Munro here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
JASON KAO HWANG/SPONTANEOUS RIVER Symphony of Souls Jason Kao Hwang’s improvising string orchestra, Spontaneous River, performs a symphony that emanates from blues, jazz, classical and world sources, “like a whole tree, in which you can hear each soul as individual leaf in motion". Spontaneous River is an orchestra of over 37 string improvisers plus drum set. It is only in recent years that so many string players have engaged in the art of improvisational music. Spontaneous River is an ensemble and a community that represents this emerging movement. The power of Spontaneous River is drawn from both the sonic unity of strings and the undeniable individualism of each musician’s “voice.” Symphony of Souls is going for adds September 5, 2011. File Under: Jazz // Suggested Tracks: 1, 3 , 9 & 10. Get more info on Jason Kao Hwang here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
JASON KAO HWANG/EDGE Crossroads Unseen Jason Kao Hwang (composer, violin/viola) has created works ranging from jazz, classical, “new” and world music. Jason Kao Hwang’s jazz quartet EDGE, founded in 2005, has released three CDs: EDGE (Asian Improv, 2006), Stories Before Within (Innova, 2007), and now Crossroads Unseen (Euonymus, 2011). EDGE will tour Poland this October with music from Crossroads Unseen. Also, being released simultaneously, is Symphony of Souls (Mulatta), performed by his improvising string orchestra, Spontaneous River. Downbeat Magazines Critics Poll recently voted Mr. Hwang as #2 Rising Star of 2011 for Violin. Commitment, The Complete Recordings, 1981-1983, featuring the collective quartet that was Mr. Hwang’s first band, was voted as “2010 Reissued Recording of the Year” by the New York City Jazz Record. His octet Burning Bridge, commissioned by Chamber Music America/ New Jazz Works, recently performed at the Chicago World Music Festival, the Freer Gallery (Washington, D.C.), and Edgefest (Ann Arbor, MI). Mr. Hwang has also received support from the Nationa Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer/New Residencies, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, US Artists International, and others. As violinist, Mr. Hwang has worked with Reggie Workman, William Parker, Anthony Braxton, Vladamir Tarasov, Henry Threadgill and many others. Crossroads Unseen is going for adds September 5, 2011. File Under: Jazz Get more info on Jason Kao Hwang here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
Charlie Apicella & IRON CITY The Business "Apicella is a lithe, swinging guitarist with an affinity for the contrasting styles of both Grant Green and Wes Montgomery...An all-around impressive debut by a guitarist of substance." - Mark Gardner, Jazz Journal "Apicella is a no-nonsense player of unquestioned chops and whose soul drips from each note... This is "organic" music, and Apicella is an exciting young player." -John Heidt, Vintage Guitar Magazine "What I love about Iron City's CD is the tight ensemble playing and well crafted solos. As a member of Grover Washington Jr.'s band we had the nickname "The Locksmiths;" we were so tight, yet responsive to the soloist. I feel Charlie's compositions capture the flavor of our music in the 1970s where you put the groove first.” -John Blake Jr. Violinist and recording artist with McCoy Tyner and Grover Washington Jr. The Business is going for adds August 2011. File Under: Jazz Get more info on Charlie Apicella here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
JAZZ LINKS ENSEMBLE The Drive This two year labor of love features an ensemble of the next generation of jazz performers whose debut on this CD project is just the beginning. "The Drive" aptly titled after one of the original compositions on the CD, signifies what it takes to be a young jazz performer. The selected tunes exemplify the passion of these young musicians for this ageless music. Accompanied by Producer and Mentor for the project, Robert (Baabe) Irving, III; with Ari Brown and Corey Wilkes on some numbers, the performers not only had an opportunity to "shine" but to do so along-side world renowned jazz artists. A Jazz Institute of Chicago "Jazz Links" youth program project. The Drive is going for adds August 2011. File Under: Jazz Instrumental Get more info on Jazz Ensemble here. |
|
|
 |
SKIP WILKINS After Second piano trio album from the internationally-regarded pianist and composer, Skip Wilkins. A set of new pieces, featuring Skip with his veteran New York Trio, Scott Lee on bass and Jeff Hirshfield on drums. After is going for adds August 15, 2011. File Under: Jazz Piano Get more info on Skip Wilkins here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
FRED FRIED AND CORE Encore Unique pianistic 8-string acoustic guitar jazz trio. Wonderful interplay and great original and highly melodic tunes. Encore is going for adds July 2011. File Under: Jazz Guitar Get more info on Fred Fried here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
MARC POMPE Everyone But Me Everyone But Me is going for adds July 2011. File Under: Jazz Vocal Get more info on Marc Pompe here and visit his website here. |
|
|
 |
| Radio promotions is my personal passion! Kate Smith Promotions specializes in non-commercial community public, college, internet and satellite radio airplay; artist interviews and chart ratings for world, jazz and jazz related CD projects. We have worked with diverse artists such as Von Freeman, Wayne Wallace, either/orchestra, Grazyna Aujuscik, Kahil el' Zabar and The Stryker/Slagle Band. |
 |
| KATE SMITH PROMOTIONS
of CHICAGO 1326 Home Ave - Berwyn, IL 60402 Cell: 814-482-0010 Email: katesmithpromotions.kate@gmail.com |
 |
| If you are an artist
or group in need of show bookings or concert promotions, Kate Smith
is here for you. Click here to learn more. |
 |
| WAYNE WALLACE's Grammy Nominated ¡Bien Bien! 81 Weeks on the Charts WAYNE WALLACE LATIN JAZZ QUINTET "TO HEAR FROM THERE" JULIAN YEO “YOU AND THE NIGHT/ night and the music” TOM GRAF “GRAFITTI” PETER MACDONOUGH “THE WOO” A Latin Jazz Suite for Soprano Saxophone BRIAN “MR. HO” O’NEILL, Artistic Director PHIL HAWKINS “SUGARCANE SUITE" CHARLIE APICELLA & IRON CITY MR. HO'S ORCHESTROTICA presents “THIRD RIVER RANGOON” GELBER & MANNING JOHN VANORE & ABSTRACT TRUTH "CONTAGIOUS WORDS" SKIP WILKINS “I CONCENTRATE ON YOU” JANE STUART "DON'T LOOK BACK" FRED FRIED & CORE “ENCORE” SUSIE MEISSNER "I’M CONFESSIN" ELIANE (L’ E on) AMHERD MARC POMPE “EVERYONE BUT ME” ADIA LEDBETTER “TAKE 2: RENDEYVOUS WITH YESTERDAY” SKIP WILKINS “AFTER”
|