SPOTLIGHT ON BILL WARFIELD BIG BAND

Artist Information

Biography
Recognized as a dynamic and innovative trumpeter, composer and bandleader, Bill Warfield has energized audiences for more than a decade. His two groups the Bill Warfield Octet and the New York Jazz repertory orchestra play a salsa and funk-tinged style of Hard-Bop ranging from classic to modern. Bill has performed with such artists as Ornette Coleman, Dave Liebman, Paul Anka, Mel Torme, Randy Brecker, David Sanborn and Sonny Stitt among others. He currently has 7 recordings on the market that have garnered much critical acclaim

Instrumentation
Leader and trumpet- Bill Warfield
Trpts- Bob Millikan, Danny Cahn, John Owens
Trbs- Tim Sessions, Sam Burtis
Reeds- Mark Phaneuf, Dave Riekenberg, Dave Richards, Frank Basile,
Piano- Tim Harrison, Guitar- Vic Juris, Bass- Gene Perla
Drums- Scott Neumann, Percussion- Memo Acevedo

Discography
New York City Jazz(Interplay), The City Never Sleeps(Seabreeze), Nomad, with Dave Stryker(Steeplechase), A Faceless Place(Laurel Hill), Sambra(Laurel Hill), Live at Zoellner, with Gene Ludwig(18thand Vine), Le Jazz Hot with Dave Liebman(Planet Arts, July 1, 2009 street date)

Links
http://www.myspace.com/billwarfieldbigband

SPOTLIGHT ON EIGHT TO THE BAR

Artist Information

Biography
Drawing its influences from American roots music - swing, jump blues & boogie-woogie - ETTB is known for its outstanding instrumentalists and sophisticated arrangements, highlighted by female vocals. This powerful sextet performs year-round from Maine to Miami and overseas.

Instrumentation
Cynthia Lyon - keyboards, vocals
Collin Tilton - tenor & alto saxophones
Brinna Jones- vocals, percussion
Shawn Meehan- drums, percussion
Tommy Whalen - guitar, vocals
Michael Corsini - bass guitar, vocals

Discography
ETTB has just released its tenth CD titled, "Calling All Ickeroos!" (2007). It's a high energy mix of mostly original swing, jump blues, jazz, vocalese, even a little Latin! A dancer's dream! Songs from the CD as well as from their earlier releases, can be heard at www.eighttothebar.com and on jazz radio stations throughout New England.

Previous CD titles include:
You Call This Swing? (2005)
Superhero Swinger Undercover (2003)
Hey, Sailor (2001)
Behind the Eight Ball (1998)
Beat Me Rocking (1996)
Something Old, Something New, Something Rhythm, Something Blues (1993)
Redheads of Rhythm (1989)
Swinging School (1983)
The Joint Is Jumping (1980)

Links
http://www.eighttothebar.com

SPOTLIGHT ON MICHELE STEPHENS

Artist Information

Biography
I am a jazz pianist, vocalist, songwriter and indie recording artist from Cape Breton Island. I always loved the jazz, soul, R&B, broadway standards genres and cut my teeth playing piano bar style gigs, busking in Europe, weddings- you name it!  I am always working on my own sound vocally as well as improvising and accompanying on piano in a jazz style; adding my own inflections of Rickie Lee Jones meets Diana Krall and edgy, unique tone. I met and began playing music and touring with Swiss/Canadian bassist and recording artist Danick Clavel in 2007 which really allowed me to jam my tunes and establish a solid performance calendar. My debut solo album Bucket of Honey is a proud accomplishment for me and it drops on September 23,09!! It features original tracks as well as two remakes from Tom Waits and Dizzy Gillespie. As a duo we perform regular gigs such as : cocktail parties, corporate functions, Hotel lounges, some bars or pubs, special event appearances in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and want to play more and tour the album well into 2010.  Hope to play for you someday!! Michele

Instrumentation
Michele Stephens-piano & vocals
Danick Clavel- bass

Discography
Michele Stephens- Bucket of Honey- debut LP- Release date: September 23, 09
Michele Stephens- Red Letter Day- single- Release date: Feb.23, 09

Links
http://www.myspace.com/michelestephens

SPOTLIGHT(2) ON BONNIE LOWDERMILK

Artist Information

Biography
Bonnie Lowdermilk has been singing and playing for as long as she can remember.  She started piano lessons at age six.  She has a degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in piano performance and piano pedagogy, and studied voice as a second instrument there.  She developed a love of jazz at the University as well and began to perform professionally.  She started out as a singer in the '70s, working with the best sidemen the area had to offer.  Gradually, she started playing the piano more and more herself.  She studied jazz piano with Denver's Ted Alexander, who gave her a strong background in Bill Evans voicings.  Throughout the 1990's Bonnie lived and performed in Paris, France.  She studied jazz piano with former Berkeley School of Music teacher, Katie Roberts.  She played in the major clubs there and in 1998 played the renown festival, "Jazz in Marciac", where celebrities such as Wynton Marsalis and Shirley Horn have played.  She also gave a 5 day vocal clinic at the festival.  She recorded her first CD in NYC with the Fred Hersch Trio in 1996.  She currently has a new CD in the works.  (Click on listen.)

Bonnie works as a solo, duo, trio (piano, upright bass, drums) and in quartet, quintet and sextet formations (add sax, trumpet, trombone or guitar) for clubs, concerts, parties, and other events throughout the Denver area and beyond.  She sings in French and Portugese as well as her native English.  She also works as a piano and vocal instructor. Her choice of repertoire is distinctive and eclectic. While she knows how to sing and play most of the standards, she has a penchant for finding largely unknown treasures which have rarely been performed or recorded.  Bonnie's singing is charged with emotion and sensuality, her voice supple and clear, with a warm low register and a luminous treble.

Instrumentation
solo through sextet - Bonnie Lowdermilk - voice, piano, drawing on the finest area talent and adding bass, drums, sax, trumpet, trombone as desired.

Discography
"This Heart of Mine" 1997, Bonnie Lowdermilk -vocals (and piano on 2 cuts) with Fred Hersch - p., Drew Gress - b., Tom Rainey - d.
"Up To Now" 2009, Bonnie Lowdermilk - vocals, piano, Ken Walker or Mark Simon - bass, Colin Stranahan - drums, Greg Gisbert - trumpet, flugelhorn, Peter Sommer -t. s. saxes, Nelson Hinds - trombone.

Links
http://www.bonnielowdermilk.com

SPOTLIGHT ON ROSE-MARIE CAMERON

 

Artist Information
Biography
Selected for Uptown Jazz Online Radio in Aug. 2009, and Kanaljazz online radio in Oct. 2009, Rose-Marie Cameron has been involved in songwriting and performance for a number of years and wrote her first song at 12 years old. She has performed as a folk singer, country artist and classical performer. She has sung in small venues, during special occasions and in concert. She sings  as a solo artist and has sung in a large performance choir. Rose-Marie has continued to write original material for radio airplay and concert venues, and her work has evolved greatly. She is now writing and recording light jazz songs with her co-writer, Carey Parder.  Their music is catchy and well developed and is being promoted to Jazz and Adult Contemporary Radio stations as of January 5th, 2009. Their new song, entitled "High On A Hill" has great potential and they are very excited for its release. Rose-Marie has had "High On A Hill" translated into French and is considering having it recorded this summer.Between the two of them, Carey and Rose-Marie have four albums as well as this new single, which are available to the public through Hummingbird Studios in Calgary. Friends for a number of years, Rose-Marie and Carey continue to make magic with their musical inspirations and artistic connection.

Instrumentation
Rose-Marie Cameron: lead and harmony vocals
Mathilda Morrison-Furger: harmony vocals
Carey Parder: all guitars, bass, midi instrumentation
Orrie Harris: fretless bass, keyboards
Aaron McEathron: drums and percussion
Thomas Sherbut: Keyboards
Jonathan Lewis: fiddle

Discography
"Moonlight in A Winter Sky" 2005 LP
"Blue Horizon" 2007 LP
"High On A Hill" 2009 single
"Passages" William Carey 2001
"Mirage" William Carey 2006
High On A Hill and Carry Me Out To You selected for the Uptown Jazz Network Internet Radio Airplay, Aug. 17, 2009

Links
http://www.hummingbirdstudios.com

SPOTLIGHT ON Frank Hailey-Eric Zukoski Trio

Artist Information

Biography
Though the Frank-Hailey Eric Zukoski Trio’s last album, "Passing It Around", can still heard on rotation on radio, TV, and multiple compilations, after seven years, this Texas trio was itching to record another.  The result, "An Old Sweet Song", named by Jazzlines (NPR) as one of the 10 best jazz records of 2008, is a concept album that features soulful, groove-heavy jazz interpretations of popular compositions not normally associated with the jazz genre, ranging from the likes of Strauss’ Blue Danube Waltz to Maria Muldauer’s Midnight At The Oasis. 

All About Jazz noted that “Hailey is a cousin of seminal jazz pianist and composer Cedar Walton.  But as this CD amply illustrates, Hailey need not invoke the reputation of his well-known relative to gain recognition, revealing he is a fine piano performer in his own right. . .  Hopefully this initial outing is the forerunner of more albums in the future." 

This wish for the future has now arrived, and the result is an album with broad appeal to not just jazz fans, but fans of popular music of all styles.  This broad appeal is boosted by performance and production work from Eric Zukoski, who has backed artists ranging from The Drifters to 1970's soul artist Al Wilson (“Show & Tell”), and whose work as a record producer includes accomplishments in several genres outside of jazz, including having produced what is now the best-selling compilation of Texas music in history ("Don't Mess With Texas Music"). 

Recent airplay reports show that the Frank Hailey-Eric Zukoski Trio's latest album,"An Old Sweet Song", is currently receiving airplay in all radio markets, including Public Radio International, and great jazz and college radio stations WUCX, WGLT, KSDS, WUCF, KVLU, KJAZZ, WICN, WUNC, KJHK, KIPO, KCUR, WRUW, KXCV, KRNW, KFAM WEFT and others.

"An Old Sweet Song" is available from iTunes and other internet retailers.

Contact: ezukoski@gmail.com
Third-party licensing of recording catalogue available from audiosparx.com and pumpaudio.com.
Mechanical and digital licensing of original compositions and copyrighted arrangements available from the Harry Fox Agency.

Instrumentation
Frank Hailey--Piano
Eric Zukoski--Upright Bass and Percussion
Michael Hailey--Drums

Discography
An Old Sweet Song (2009, Seabreeze Jazz/Allegro Distribution)
The Jazz Scene (compilation CD, UK) (2002, Music Masters, Ltd.)
The Golden Age of The Movies (compilation CD, Australia) (MRA Entertainment, 2002)
Passing It Around (2001, Seabreeze Jazz/Allegro Distribution)

Links
http://www.audiosparx.com/frankhailey

SPOTLIGHT ON DIVA TAUNIA

 

Artist Information

Biography
Diva Taunia is an award-winning (see award list below) jazz and cabaret vocalist that the Boston Globe has called a "powerful vocalist with a warm, rich sound."  Like torch singers from the past, her style and image recall the smokey, sexy nightclubs of a different era while her music showcases modern-day topics, humor, and sensibility.
Diva Taunia has been a performing professionally since 1990, but recently relaunched her solo career after losing over 168+ lbs, and gaining a large following of fans watching her progress throughout the country (www.youtube.com/divataunia).
She hosts a weekly radio show every Monday night (6-7pm EST) called "The Backstage Pass Radio Program," and it features new original music and topics about her life post-WLS (with other related topics).

In addition to her performance schedule, she is also an active private vocal coach and clinician, and ASCAP songwriter, and can frequently be found in the studio doing session work.

AWARD LIST:
*2007 CARA AWARDS : Best Humor Song - Tall, Dark, and Handsome
*2007 WERS GRAMMY : Best Vocalist
*2006 BOSTON HARMONY SWEEPS : Audience Favorite
*2006 BOSTON HARMONY SWEEPS : Runner-Up Winner (w/VFP)
*2006 GARAGEBAND.COM : Track of the day winner for Tall, Dark, & Handsome
*2005 BOSTON'S BEST VARIETY SHOWDOWN :Finals Runner Up Winners- VFP
*2004 NATIONAL A CAPPELLA E AWARDS : Best Female Lead Vocalist
 
GARAGEBAND ORIGINAL ARTIST AWARDS:

Track of the Day on 25May2008 in Comedy
Track of the Day on 16Aug2008 in Jazz
Track Of The Week on 4Aug2008 in Comedy
Track Of The Week on 25Aug2008 in Jazz
#1 Best Female Vocals  in Comedy, all-time
#15 Best Production in Comedy, all-time
#4 Best Melody in Comedy, all-time
#4 Potential Soundtrack in Comedy, all-time
Best Male Vocals in Comedy, week of 18Aug2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 26May2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 2Jun2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 16Jun2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 30Jun2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 7Jul2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 14Jul2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 28Jul2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 18Aug2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 15Sep2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 22Sep2008
Best Female Vocals in Comedy, week of 24Nov2008
Best Production in Comedy, week of 2Jun2008
Best Production in Comedy, week of 16Jun2008
Best Production in Comedy, week of 18Aug2008
Best Lyrics in Comedy, week of 2Jun2008
Best Lyrics in Comedy, week of 16Jun2008
Best Lyrics in Comedy, week of 28Jul2008
Best Lyrics in Comedy, week of 18Aug2008
Best Lyrics in Comedy, week of 17Nov2008
Best Melody in Comedy, week of 2Jun2008
Best Melody in Comedy, week of 16Jun2008
Best Melody in Comedy, week of 18Aug2008
Best Beat in Comedy, week of 16Jun2008
Best Mood in Comedy, week of 2Jun2008
Best Mood in Comedy, week of 16Jun2008
Most Original in Comedy, week of 2Jun2008
Most Original in Comedy, week of 16Jun2008
Most Original in Comedy, week of 18Aug2008
Most Original in Comedy, week of 24Nov2008

Discography
NEW SOLO CD:  Being released in 2010.  Tour dates to follow.

Links

http://www.divataunia.com

Diva Taunia's Backstage Pass Radio Program

Diva Taunia on Facebook

Diva Taunia on Twitter

Diva Taunia's Backstage Pass Blog

Official Diva Taunia Website