"Music
is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t
live it, it won’t come out of your horn. They teach you there’s
a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary line to
art."
– Charlie Parker
“Live Your Love”
This album is an inspiring fusion of heart-opening, pop-friendly and cross generational kirtan. Melding Sanskrit texts with hip-hop, gospel, folk and more, Sruti Ram and Ishwari put their own unique stamp on these call and response devotional chants. Legendary Bansuri flute virtuoso Steve Gorn and percussionist Visvambhar Sheth (from The Mayapuris) add color to the music, and underground rapper Srikala Roach lends freestyle lyrics and urban energy to several songs. It’s a wild, kinetic ride that will connect you to the power of chant and lead you into bliss! The album rose to the top 10 on Billboard’s World Music chart.
www.mantralogy.com/music/artists/sri-kirtan/
http://ishwarimusic.com/blog2/
“Paper Kisses”
Tom Mank plays sinuous guitar and has a mature, 'dark' voice that has been compared to Dave Van Ronk and Mose Allison. Sera Smolen gets beautiful and unexpected sounds out of her cello and is a passionate player who enjoys taking musical risks. This CD (the second we’ve done together) is a unique and heartfelt combination of jazzy rhythms and acoustic textures with Sera's cello constantly weaving her sound through Tom’s warm voice and exquisite guitar. The songs can take the listener to unusual musical places, while never losing touch with an emotional core. One review said that the songs are “soft kisses on the cheek and quiet conversations in the night. They are late evenings and early mornings in subdued light or in the dark. They are Tom Mank & Sera Smolen’s gift to the discerning ears of people who treasure music beyond its use as filler or background music.” Moors Music Magazine (the Netherlands) called it “an intimate masterpiece”.
www.tommank.net
“Thief of Time”
I am honored to have worked with Artie on this, his last album. He was a treasure and an irreplaceable part of the fabric of Woodstock’s musical community and he is truly missed. This CD includes all the things we loved about him – stellar musicianship with heartfelt storytelling and the added bonus of some very special guest artists. The album was produced by Wendy Waldman, whose own records thrilled me many years ago. Hearing Artie play I always had the feeling that there was no place else I would rather be.
www.artietraum.com
Robbie
Dupree
"Time and Tide"
Robbie
Dupree has given us a record filled with soulful grooves, stunning vocals
and stellar musicianship. Robbie’s
chart topping hits from the 1980’s became part of the cultural
landscape and since then he has continued to make excellent records.
I think Time and Tide is his deepest, richest album in decades. Every
song is a feast of musical delights featuring a dream band of world-class
players – David
Sancious, Rick Chudacoff, Peter Bunetta, Larry Hoppen and Leslie Smith.
Here at Coldbrook, we recorded vocals and harmonica, percussion and
guitar parts – and with every new element the record positively
shimmered. I just didn’t want it to end.
www.robbiedupree.com
"Outside Looking In"
Charles Lyonhart’s music is unflinchingly honest and heartfelt. From down home rockers to songs of tenderness and longing, Charles’ voice draws us in while The Junkyard Angels (Chris Zaloom, George Quinn, Dennis Cotton and Larry Packer as well as Woodstock luminaries Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan) and Amy Helm) take their turns stepping into the spotlight to make the music shine. Several years ago, while in the midst of life threatening illness, Charles held on to the hope that he would be able make one more record. Well, Charles has “come back” to share his journey through a troubled landscape of love and loss, survival and death. It was an honor to bring his powerful dream to life.
www.charleslyonhart.com
Tom
Mank and Sera Smolen
“Where the Sun Meets the Blue”
Tom’s unique guitar playing and vocals interweave with Sera’s
cello in an album of beautiful and surprising music. The lyrics are distilled
down to a minimalist essence while the songs stretch and breathe to allow
space for Sera’s lyrical and dynamic playing, The combination is
fresh and magical. Guest artists added more colors to the palate –
lapsteel, accordian, viola, backing vocals. I got to sing harmonies
and play percussion while Tom manned the controls. Recording and producing
this project was pure joy.
www.tommank.net
“Water”
Trevor is an artist who astonishes. His voice is agile – smooth one moment, powerful the next. He plays the cello with such confident strength that he takes our expectation of what a cello is "supposed" to do, and blows it right out of the water. It is never just a cello, it's a bass, a guitar, a voice, a rhythmic partner. This album is Trevor doing what he does so incredibly well, playing solo. All the performances are live in the studio.He has created a style that is completely his own, exquisitely soulful and utterly engaging.
www.trevorexter.com
"Painted Heart"
Michael is one of those singer/songwriters who can just knock it out of the park. He has this high, powerful voice and first rate songwriting ability that lets you know you are in the presence of real talent.
For this record, we went for the sound of a full band using some of Woodstock’s finest musicians. We also got to try all the ideas that the songs handed to us. Along the way, there were many discoveries and no compromises. This record is layered and complex and full of heart and heartbreak.
www. michaelveitch.com
