Saturday, June 25, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Up and Coming New Nashville- Chic Gamine
Chic Gamine, the stylish and endearingly playful Winnipeg/Montreal-based vocal quintet, has been serenading its audiences since the summer of 2007. The group is composed of the 5 "A's": singers Ariane Jean, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks and Annick Bremault, and drummer and percussionist Alexandre Sacha Daoud. Over the years, its members have been integral parts of a multitude of projects. To this day, Alexa sings with the R'n'B/Soul sensation little boy boom; Sacha played with the Brazilian Funk/Pop-flavored Gaia; and Ariane, Andrina and Annick were founding members of the award-winning World Vocal ensemble Madrigaia.
With a solo percussionist as their main musical support, Chic Gamine use their voices as instruments, effortlessly launching into intricate string arrangements, bass-heavy rhythm sections and lush harmonies. These multifariously talented songwriters create a sound that resonates with soul, passion, and an unabashedly random and sometimes downright peculiar brand of humor that reels audiences in and leaves them begging for more. Gospel, Soul, R'n'B, '50's Doo-Wop, Brazilian forro and French chanson are infused into the voices and rhythms of these five effervescent songmakers, combining for a sound that is uniquely Chic Gamine.
For Ariane, Andrina, Alexa, Annick and Sacha, Chic Gamine is a chance to take their love of experimenting with vocal roots music and bring it to a whole new level. "We're really drawing inspiration from the music we love, as well as from the music we've performed before." After spending years traveling with their respected groups, Chic Gamine is ready to take on the world. "Now that we've got such a solid starting point, the sky's the limit."
With just two years under their fashionably coordinated belts, they have put together a dynamic stage show; won a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) for their debut CD, the self-titled Chic Gamine, and performed all over North America. Highlights include The Winnipeg Folk Festival, The Strawberry Festival, California World Fest, and opening for the legendary Smokey Robinson at the Festival at Sandpoint, Idaho. Check out "I Don't Lie" and then read some small bios on each of the talented singers below.
ANNICK BRÉMAULT
Annick is a singer-songwriter, an actress, and professionally-trained dancer who moves with effortless poise from performing to choreography and staging. Her voice pure and agile, Annick sings evocatively, drawn in by music's embrace. On stage, her direct gaze sparkles with aliveness and affectionate wit. She is often overcome by spontaneous bursts of delight and laughter. Prizing emotional honesty and compassion, she is committed to trusting her instincts, and she combines her need to express beauty and deep sensitivity with the need to be purposeful and true. Annick loves "getting there as much as being there".
ARIANE JEAN
A sweet and compelling soulfulness surrounds Ariane. With the voice of an angel, she effortlessly swings up to the highest notes, her whole body at all times an unrestricted conduit of sound. She dances and plays music with equally unrestrained agility. Ariane has a penchant for the intimate and evocative style of great soul artists. Her gentleness balanced by her individualistic nature, quiet resolve and bouts of astute humour, she now and then opens up her world to reveal its lush array of sounds, colors, and textures. Everything artistic is Ariane's destiny.
ALEXA DIRKS
For Alexa Dirks, music is not just a hobby, it's a lifestyle; a language in and of itself. A language she has been singing before she could even speak. Starting as a backup vocalist for other touring artists, Alexa now finds herself - at the tender age of 20 - working with some of the most respected musicians in the Winnipeg community. Her husky, powerful voice, instinctive sense of melody and harmony, crystallize with her love of different styles of music and infuses every one of her vocal performances with breathtaking abandon. She has experience well beyond her years, as evidenced by her creative and mature songwriting abilities. With a voice so soulful and true, it's no wonder she's fronting one of Winnipeg's top R&B/Soul bands – little boy boom- and is now also privileged to be singing alongside some of the city's most talented and versatile vocalists in Chic Gamine.
ANDRINA TURENNE
Big pictures, bold colors, powerful songs, and spontaneous joie de vivre! Andrina is sensitive and big-hearted, and finds her home standing in front of an audience. Audacious Andrina, a student of the lives of heroes of our times, speaks out--her concern to make the world a better place gets the better of her. Her bon vivant humour makes her friends laugh, and she loves to try her hand at many musical instruments and off the wall musical projects. Her soulful, dynamic voice, innovative vocal stylings, and the use of popular language in her writing are only a few of her artistic tools. Music and emotion will move mountains.
SACHA DAOUD
Sacha Daoud is an explosively dynamic and intensely creative drummer, whose work stands out for its back-to-basics employment of pure sounds and organic rhythms. Sacha has been a student at two prestigious music schools, McGill University and the University of Montreal, and is a versatile musician whose playing is notable for its remarkable technical precision. Inspired by his Syrian/Brazilian heritage, he has undertaken intensive research and study of Brazilian percussion and Asian rhythms. Sacha frequently plays with a wide range of artists and groups, including Montreal’s Brazilian staple, the Paulo Ramos Group, Haitian-Canadian vocalist Luck Mervil and singer-songwriter Ariane Moffatt.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
That Nashville SoundBites- David Adam Byrnes- Premium Country
That Nashville Sound receives many different CD releases throughout the year from indie, small majors, bluegrass and artists just off the country mainstream radar- or smaller projects like EPs- that we’re doing short mini CD reviews on. We call them That Nashville SoundBites- it’s a feature that will allow us to give some props to some albums and artists that deserve a spotlight on their work.
The Review:
With a neo-traditional sound that leans more honkytonk than modern country, the 23-year-old Byrnes has created a strong independent freshman record that leaves a pretty good personal stamp on mostly universal country themes of heartbreak and loss. The album hosts a couple of Josh Thompson (“Way Out Here” and “Beer on the Table”) co-writes. Byrnes is best when he sticks to the emotional heartache songs or on strong autobiographical songs such as “When I Get There”- a song written about his own Nashville experience. The weak spots are the “I’m country loud and proud” moments that feel like echos of artists too-many-to-count like Thompson. Byrnes has a pleasant steady delivery, if not overly distinctive. Fans of artists like Tracy Lawrence and Tracy Byrd will find this album a welcome addition to their collection. This is an artist worth watching.
Sounds Like:
A cross between Clay Walker and Mark Chesnutt
Stand Out Tracks
When I Get There
When I’m Done Missing You
The Verdict:
Three & A Half Stars Out Of Five
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Country Music News Round-Up- New Tunes from Sherrie Austin, Craig Morgan, Jack Ingram & More
* Earlier this week, Sherrie Austin performed a live internet concert from her couch on StageIt.com that acted both as a fundraiser and a formal announcement that she'll be releasing a independent album called Circus Girl this fall. The new album will be her first new album since 2003's Streets of Heaven on the Broken Bow music label.You can listen to an acoustic performance of one of her new songs at her website HERE.* My buddy CM over at CountryCalifornia.com has the best fake country news on the web, but in THIS case, real news is funnier/scarier/ickier than the fake stuff.
* Cracker Barrel Old Country Store continues to be one of the busier music labels in the business with the release of a three-CD series Grand Ole Opry- The Classic Collection plus a contemporary Our Kind of Country CD. Grand Ole Opry- The Classic Collection includes live performances recorded on the celebrated stage of the Grand Ole Opry spanning six decades from the mid 1950s to the 2000s.
“The classic collection is truly ‘classic’ in every sense of the word,” said Julie Craig, marketing manager for Cracker Barrel. “It’s as close to an Opry experience as you can get without actually being in the Opry House. Listeners will enjoy high quality sound on every track, songs by historically renowned artists and enduring examples of some truly great performances. And Our Kind Of Country is an incredible showcase of the Opry’s current superstars and more recent additions—a dozen of the Opry’s best available on one CD for the first time.”* Amazon.com has unveiled an upcoming 8/2 release from former Lyric Street Records and "Pound Sign" singer Kevin Fowler called Chippin' Away. It will be released on the Average Joe's music label.
Artists on the Our Kind of Country CD are Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Diamond Rio, Terri Clark, Montgomery Gentry, and Dierks Bentley. The 12 tracks are studio recordings. Every artist is a Grand Ole Opry member, from McEntire (member since 1985) to Shelton (member since 2010). The artists included have collectively won every major award presented by the Country Music Association, including Entertainer of the Year (Jackson, McEntire and Paisley).
* CMT and American Songwriter Magazine have teamed up to give away some free music. No complaints there. Click HERE to download Hayes Carll‘s “Stomp And Holler,” off his current album KMAG YOYO. It includes a number of other tunes up for grabs, click here to check out the rest of them. There are 31 in total, including The Civil Wars, Steve Earle, Miss Willie Brown, Josh Kelley and more.
* Jack Ingram unveiled a brand new song on his Acoustic Motel series yesterday on his website called "Livin' the Dream." You can listen to the new track here:
* Also releasing brand new music is Craig Morgan. He's just recently signed to the Black River Entertainment label. "This Ole Boy," will head to radio on June 21, 2011. The song is the title track of Craig's sixth studio album, which will hit stores in early 2012. Listen to first new release below:
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hear It Here- Norah Jones Covers Johnny Cash's "Ain't No Grave."
From this past weekend's Webby Awards in New York City, Norah Jones plays a beautiful version of Johnny Cash's "Ain't No Grave."
Country Music News Round-Up- New Albums Galore & Jack Ingram Covers Patty Griffin
* Mercury Records Nashville will release singer/songwriter Randy Montana’s self-titled debut album on July 26. Montana’s album is produced by Jay Joyce (Patty Griffin, Faith Hill) and includes the charted hits "Ain't Much Left Of Lovin' You," and his current single "1,000 Faces.” Also on the album is the loved track “Last Horse,” which features Emmylou Harris on harmonies.
* Jake Owen has announced that his third album Barefoot Blue Jean Night will land on August 30. Produced by Joey Moi, Rodney Clawson and Tony Brown, the album will house 11 new tracks including the lead single, “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” which has reached the top twenty on the Billboard charts.
“It is kind of ironic that my new album is being released on August 30, two days after I turn 30 and this is my third record,” Jake said. “This album is a big step for me and my career and I can’t wait for people to hear it.”* Nashville country/inspirational trio Point of Grace is releasing a greatest hits package on July 12th entitled Turn Up The Music: The Hits Of Point Of Grace. Bandmembers Shelley Breen, Leigh Cappillino and Denise Jones are kicking it off with a new track, “Hole In The World,” which will be hitting the CCM and country radio airwaves this summer. The track was previously written and recorded by The Eagles. For those unfamiliar with the band, here's a little teaser from their press release:
Since forming at Ouachita Baptist University, the two-time GRAMMY nominees have sold more than 6.5 million albums and earned 24 consecutive No. 1 singles (27 total including radio staples “Steady On”, “The Great Divide” and “Circle of Friends”), a feat unmatched by any artist in any genre. They’ve won 13 prestigious Dove Awards, including 2011’s “Country Album of the Year” for No Changin’ Us as well as “Christmas Album of the Year” for Home For The Holidays and are the reigning Inspirational Country Music Awards “Entertainer of the Year.”* Mark Wills releases a suprisingly serious album this month with the unveiling of Looking For America- released on the independent Gracie Productions. The album includes a very strong song about a soldier's difficulty in recallibrating to home life after serving in the desert called "Crazy Being Home" that's one of the stronger unheard cuts of the year. In an initiative with USA Cares, Mark Wills is using the single to introduce the Warrior Treatment Today “Crazy Being Home” national awareness campaign surrounding the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The album's release date is tomorrow, June 21, 2011.
“This is definitely a personal album for me and although some folks might see it as a bit of a departure from the music I’ve recorded in the past, this project is really ‘all-encompassing,’” Wills reveals. “It’s got gun and grit, pain and romance, heart-heavy emotions and is chock-full of life situations; there is a strong dose of reality in this record. All of the songs really spoke to me and I felt the ‘tug’ to record each and every one for very different reasons.”* Dave Stewart- best known for his work with The Eurythmics- is releasing a Nashville-born Americana-themed album called The Blackbird Diaries on August 23rd. It features a co-write with Bob Dylan as well as duets with Stevie Nicks, Martina McBride, Colbie Caillat, and the Secret Sisters. From his press release:
The Blackbird Diaries is indeed a novel approach for Stewart: tenacious rock steeped in Americana and blues riffs with his most personal, story-driven lyrics to date.* 30 Texas music legends including Willie Nelson, Rhett Miller, Shawn Colvin, Robert Earl Keen and dozens more have come together to both pay tribute and add to her philanthropic endeavors with fellow Texan Sara Hickman's The Best of Times. Sales of this compilation CD, available nationwide August 23, 2011, will benefit Theatre Action Project (TAP), a non-profit that brings art, music and theatre to Central Texas schools. The 38-track double disc project was inspired by a recent slash in arts funding by Texas State Legislature.
“I wanted to utilize my position as the Official State Musician of Texas to promote families being creative together,” says Hickman. “Many times this starts with children bringing home ideas they learn at school.”* Jack Ingram has been travelling with Patty Griffin on tour the last couple of weeks and covers her song in his Acoustic Motel series about a soldier coming home after serving his duty overseas called "I Am Not A Bad Man." Check out the acoustic performance HERE.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
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