“for the LOVE of Music” with Nathen Aswell and his guest Fanny Starchild & Vegari Cendar (The Mystiques) on air from February 7th.
Starchild & The Mystiques are an adaptable musical ensemble built around the original music of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Fanny Starchild and bassist/guitarist/vocalist Vegari Cendar, performed in a variety of styles including Reggae, Calypso, Latin, R’n’B, Rock and Afro-Pop. Starchild & The Mystiques were featured entertainers at the 2010 Winter Olympics, and they have performed at Festivals all across Canada.
FANNY STARCHILD – After running away from home in rural Quebec, Fanny lived as a gypsy around places like San Francisco, L.A., Tucson, and San Diego, teaching herself guitar, bass and flute, and developing her formidable vocal skills. Eventually settling in Vancouver, she played with the La-La’s, the Animal Band, and then her own group, the Earth Lovers.
VEGARI CENDAR – Originally from St. Lucia, Vegari came to Canada at age 18, finished high school in Toronto, then moved to Vancouver where he honed his skills on guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion, becoming a seasoned performer competent in many styles. A seasoned traveller, he has toured extensively throughout Canada and the U.S. as bassist for Juno award-winner Alpha Diallo.
“for the LOVE of Music” with Sara Troy and her guest James Kob, on air from January 31st
Documentaries come in all shapes and sizes. Some are pretty serious films. Others… not so much. But all documentaries explore conditions, events or people and present them in a “film short” that teaches us something useful or important.
Point in case related to the “people” subject matter: none of us suddenly “arrives” in our lives at a place or at a point in time to which we were magically transported. Instead, that “arrival” is an accumulation of much of everything we learned, experienced personally or vicariously, were given, created ourselves or were deprived of in some way. Somehow through Kismet, Divine Intervention, just plain sheer determination or a combination of all three… we all arrive “somewhere”.
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We are on 4 sites and 14 audio and 2 video platforms as seen here.
Film Director & Storyteller Mark Jacobs of ZZYZX Films has created a masterful documentary: “The Making Of …. The James K?b Experience” that explores James K?b’s musical journey in a way that may bring hope to all musical artists and those that appreciate the art of “making music”.
The full film was for released in (2016), but take a look below to see a brief preview of what’s in the full-length documentary.
Hopefully, this “trailer” will have you looking forward to the full release. Who knows… maybe it will even inspire you to follow your life’s passion.
James K?b has brought melody and beautiful arrangements back to the popular music genre….. while still keeping it “cool & hip”.
A veteran American composer, lyricist, arranger and producer… Mr. K?b has created music that spans across multi-national borders as well as focusing on the music scene here in America.
In developing “The James K?b Experience”, he has set a new benchmark in music entertainment…… a sort of ‘Broadway-ish, Pop, Jazz, Bossa Nova and a little cinematic music’ affair! In addition, quite a few pieces are performed in French and Portuguese for our European and South American music lovers.
It’s a good kind of different.
[To learn more, visit the DOCUMENTARY Page, read about what’s in store next and watch the documentary preview.]
“for the LOVE of Music” with Sara Troy and her guest Gerald Albright, on air from February 7th
Gerald Albright has a generous invitation for fans of his hit 2014 album: If you thought that mix of deep funk and simmering sensuality was a Slam Dunk, wait’ll you get a load of G. It’s that album’s high octane sequel, which draws even deeper connections to that in-your-face horn-section-magic, of classic bands like Earth, Wind & Fire and Tower of Power.
Early in his career, the versatile saxophonist was often told by his labels to “be funky, but not too funky” – but after 30 years at the top of his game as one of contemporary urban jazz’s core artists and sonic innovators, the eight-time Grammy nominee is letting loose like never before. What we get from G is nothing less than Genuine Gerald, with powerful support from his co-producer Chris “Big Dog” Davis and legendary special guests Michael McDonald and Doug E. Fresh.
When Albright titled his 2006 album New Beginnings, he was referring to the move he and his family made to Colorado after a lifetime in Southern California. Ten years later, he’s in a similar mode, blazing into the next phase of his storied career with the release of his first album ever as an indie artist, after decades on major and major affiliated labels. Like a lot of his peers in the genre, he realized that the business models of those big companies don’t fit into the current economic structures of urban jazz. Inspired by a loyal fan base of thousands throughout the world, he knew it was time to leverage his hard won success, step out in faith, and create a company that could not only release his music but also serve as a legacy for his family. Choosing the name Bright Music Records, just as in calling the album G, was not only a play on his name but also reflective of his great optimism in embarking on an endeavor that uniquely defines who he is.
G gets right down to business, celebrating his fresh start by titling the thick and feisty, brass fired and groove intensive opening jam “Taking Control.” He creates all the horn sections himself, texturing alto, tenor and baritone around the lead melody, while handling the thick bottom via bass guitar. With Davis (one of urban jazz’s top hit makers, who has worked with everyone from Najee to Maysa, Phil Perry, and Kim Waters) creating an array of keyboard sounds, Albright infuses many of the other tracks with a mix of horns and other instruments. His passionate, high flying soul-jazz fusion spin through Bill Withers’ classic “Lovely Day” features McDonald on lead vocals and G himself mixing alto, C flutes and bass flutes while holding down the spirited rhythms on bass. Likewise, the exotic, briskly paced old school horn-fired jam “We Came To Play (La Calle)” features G on alto, tenor, bass, a bass solo and C flutes. On the tight, edgy “G and Doug E.,” a whimsical self-portrait with Fresh fashioning a tribute to Albright in rhyme, G also plays the organ. The soaring, emotional power ballad “I Miss You” features the saxophonist on alto, tenor and bari, in addition to C flutes, alto flutes and bass flute and bass guitar. It also features his daughter Selina – a solo artist in her own right – on background vocals.
Other highlights on G include “Frankie B,” a simmering, horn-drenched light funk ode to his dear friend Frankie Beverly and one of Albright’s favorite bands, Maze; the mystical soul ballad “Boom Boom” and buoyant, free-wheeling horn explosion “Funkism,” both of which showcase G’s every deepening skills as a jazz improviser; a sly, seductive cover of Avant’s 2003 R&B vocal hit “Read Your Mind”; and the sensual, ambient “Closure”, a simply arranged ballad that wraps the set in a romantic mood.
Albright says that the big, multi-faceted sound of the album, particularly his use of multiple flutes, is a throwback to the way he came up in music. “I’ve been implementing them over the past few projects, using flute seasonings strategically with certain songs, and it was exciting to take those sounds to the next level,” he adds. “I come from that orchestral big band sound that defined my high school years playing in the 70s, and had great teachers who believed that musicians should never take shortcuts. In those jazz band days, I doubled on other instruments besides sax, and coming from that world, it’s always been hard to neglect those instincts. I like having a lot of sonic options. I use everything as a facility to bring my music to another level. When I think of those EWF and TOP horns, they were so ‘in your face, present and clear’. That’s what I was striving for on G.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Albright was already an accomplished saxophonist by the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands, but he switched to bass after he saw Louis Johnson in concert. A few months after graduating from college, he joined jazz pianist/R&B singer Patrice Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own band. Later, when the bass player left in the middle of a tour, Albright replaced him and finished the tour on bass guitar. Playing both sax and bass, he became the consummate session and touring musician in the 80s, working with everyone from Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Jr., Atlantic Starr, The Temptations and Maurice White to Les McCann, Teena Marie, the Winans and Whitney Houston.
He launched his solo career in the infancy of what became the smooth jazz format, with Just Between Us in 1987 and has been a core part of the genre with chart-topping albums, countless radio hits and as a member of many all star tours, including Guitars & Saxes and Groovin’ For Grover. In the late 90s, he fronted a big band for and toured with pop star Phil Collins and did a dual recording with vocal great Will Downing called Pleasures of the Night. Between his last two Grammy-nominated solo albums Pushing The Envelope (2010) and Slam Dunk (2014), he enjoyed hit collaborations with two huge hits – 24/7 with guitarist Norman Brown and Summer Horns by Dave Koz and Friends (including Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot), which were also Grammy-nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Albums. He toured with Brown and Summer Horns, and most recently has been on the road with South Africa gospel/jazz singer and guitarist Jonathan Butler. Albright’s other albums whose titles perfectly reflect their flow include Smooth (1994), Groovology (2002), Kickin’ It Up (2004) and Sax for Stax (2008).
Because Albright’s musical muse has taken him to so many fascinating locales along the contemporary R&B/urban jazz spectrum, he’s joyfully defied easy categorizations. Roland S. Martin, Host/Managing Editor, NewsOneNow, TV One, at last has found a way to explain all the things that make G who he is. “For two decades,” he says, “jazz artists like Gerald have been placed in the suffocating box known as ‘smooth jazz.’ But in my years as an Albright fan, I much prefer to call him a funky, ice cold jazz impresario who can make your head bob while cruising down the freeway with the sunroof open or make you do the scrunchy stank face of a George Clinton/Parliament Funkadelic.”
“Top to bottom,” Albright says, “I wanted my new album Gto take the listener on a musical journey with different textures, rhythms, chord progressions and moods. I want people to know where I’ve been and where I’m going, and to let them hear that I’m in a really good place in my life.”
“for the LOVE of Music”with Nathen Aswell and his guests Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh, on air from January 24th.
Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh are one of those dynamic songwriting duos whose creativity only gets stronger the more music they write. With over 100 songs written together, and many industry awards and nominations to their credit, this prolific songwriting team has had songs placed in many film & television shows, including “Canadian Idol” and “Queer as Folk”.
The musical works in “The Velvet Devil” were recorded on an award-winning album, and then became the main feature in a made-for-television movie, (CBC), which has been screened at film festivals nationally and internationally; the songs of “Sparkle” were featured in a holiday TV special (APTN) that continues to be broadcast annually; and “Simple Steps,” an album inspired by Andrea’s Métis roots, has won the most awards of any of their collaborations. Menard and Walsh received an honourable mention in the 2007 Unisong Competition (AAA category), and are published by Christmas and Holiday Music (BMI). They have also been commissioned to write songs for the Inspire Awards (National Aboriginal Achievement Awards), and for special events, and past gigs include the Bluebird North Cafe (Vancouver), The Regina Symphony Orchestra, and regular appearances on Saskatchewan’s Telemiracle.
From jazz to folk to musical theatre to native traditional to pop, this prolific songwriting duo are as versatile as they come.
Andrea Menard & Robert Walsh are long-time collaborators and have written and recorded four of Andrea’s albums together.
They released Andrea’s new album, LIFT, in May 2014 and toured across Canada.
“Let’s Sing a New Song” from Lift was given an Honorable Mention at the 2014 Empower Positive Music Awards (Posi Awards) in Tampa, Florida
Robert has released 4 solo albums and Andrea sung on two of them.
Andrea has been spearheading a positive music initiative, called The Music Messengers, to help encourage musicians to be the messengers of positive music for the world.
To showcase his work as a Music Messenger, Robert will be releasing his 5th solo album this year.
Andrea created a 70-minute format of “TedTalks meets FolkFest” called “The Music Messengers Keynote Trio”. It showcases 3 keynote speakers who use Positive Music as their platform. Andrea & Robert (with Nathen Aswell) each share their 20-minute keynote speech in this music trio.
Robert has written his first book, Bob’s Book of Theory, & has been trying to teach Andrea theory ever since.
Andrea wrote and starred in a 70-minute holiday special called, Sparkle: An Evening with Andrea Menard, which plays with the idea that every human being is a Spark of the Creator. Robert and his entire family were featured on the show.
Robert & Andrea are both successful keynote speakers and workshop presenters.
Andrea debuted her jazz symphony show, I Am Andrea Menard with the Regina Symphony Orchestra in May 2014. Robert played with the symphony and orchestrated 3 of their songs.
Robert teaches songwriting at MacEwan University and will be releasing his second book in the coming year.
As part of her Native spiritual practice, Andrea leads a sacred ceremony called a ReUnion Circle, which honours the Emotional Body and the Sacred Mother. She also leads a ReUnion Workshop, designed to honour the Four Sacred Bodies.
Andrea is the author of a Message Card deck called, “The Messages from the Patchwork Grandmothers” and has another book in the works.
Andrea Menard is an acclaimed Métis singer-songwriter and actress who has created life-long fans with her powerful voice, her songs, and her message of hope. The Vancouver-based Menard has performed for royalty, prime ministers, and even sang her song “Peace” to the world’s NATO generals. This author and cultural leader also stars in several hit Canadian tv series, including Blackstone, The Switch, and Hard Rock Medical.
Originally from Montreal, Robert Walsh is one of Canada’s top guitarists and is an accomplished producer, teacher and author who has been described as a “true musician’s musician”. His talents are widely recognized by greats like Petula Clark, the Pointer Sisters, and Rickie Byars Beckwith, who hand-picked Robert out of the crowd to improvise a musical duet with her onstage. He has released 4 solo albums, one book of theory and will be releasing his 5th album and a songwriting book this year.
Andrea and Robert have performed in Centres for Spiritual Living and Unity churches all over North America, including the 2015 Canadian New Thought Conference in Toronto. This dynamic duo received an Honorable Mention at the 2014 Positive Music Awards for their anthem “Let’s Sing a New Song” from Andrea’s new album, Lift. Co-written and produced by Walsh, Lift is a collection of songs meant to bring people together. With love and purpose infused in their music, Menard and Walsh are true Music Messengers.
Funny or quirky tidbits:
Andrea and Robert have both performed for Royalty three times but never at the same time.
Robert met Queen Noor of Saudi Arabia.
Andrea is a proud Métis woman and is a hell of a jigger. Robert is not!
Robert has worked in three different cultural communities because of his music skills: Métis, French, & Chinese
Andrea sang a Joni Mitchell song… in front of Joni Mitchell!
Robert was the featured guitar player in the Edmonton Symphony’s music of Frank Zappa. Tough gig!
Andrea & Robert call themselves “soul siblings”.
Andrea’s Cree name is Notigwew Yutin, which means “Grandmother Wind”.
Robert Walsh is an award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist, musical director, composer/arranger, speaker and educator.
Robert grew up in Québec where he obtained his music degree from McGill and was part of seminal Montréal bands Johnny Jetblack and the Xmen. He then spent 10 years in Toronto, where he met his wife Rhonda Trodd, and together they signed a recording deal with Renaissance Records of Nashville. The Fates then drew them to Edmonton, where Robert has become entrenched in the music scene. He is the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s regular guitarist, and has been a featured soloist on many occasions, most notably when the ESO played the music of Frank Zappa, Queen and with the Pointer Sisters. He has worked with a wide variety of artists – many famous, and many others who should be.
Robert has released four albums as an artist, co-written three musicals (The Forbidden Phoenix” is published by Playwrights Press and was nominated for Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition in Vancouver) and co-written and produced a large catalogue of music for other artists, including Métis singer/actor Andrea Menard. Their work together includes several television shows, a CBC Movie of the Week and 4 award-winning albums. Robert also formed the duo Two Blue in 2014 with singer Karimah, and together they won the Edmonton Blues Society’s “Memphis Blues Challenge”, and represented Northern Alberta in Memphis in 2015.
Robert recently received an Edmonton Music Award for co-writing the song Dear Marie, by Post Script. He has also been commissioned to write songs for the National Arts Centre, the YMCA, and events such as the return of the Bell of Batoche.
On the French scene, Robert is a member of celebrated Franco-Albertan roots group “Allez Ouest”, who have represented Alberta in Ottawa, Washington and at the Vancouver Oympics and received the City of Edmonton’s Arts and Culture Performance Award. He has also produced many albums for francophone artists, and musical directed large events such as the Gala de la chanson, Chant’Ouest and Les Rencontres Qui Chantent across Western Canada.
Robert is an educator, and has taught Songwriting and other courses at MacEwan University since 2008. He recently published his first book – “Bob’s Book of Music Theory” and has given workshops all over Canada in English and French. He is currently writing a book on Songwriting for MacEwan University.
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“for the LOVE of Music” with Nathen Aswell and his guest Paul Bissonnette, on air from January 31st
Paul’s Gong journey began in 2004 when he experienced a Gong Bath from Grand Gong Master Don Conreaux who became his mentor.
During his first experience, the Gongs quickly transported Paul into the spirit realm and had profound physical benefits. With each gong experience, Paul felt his connections and benefits expand.
These experiences inspired Paul to share the benefits of the Gongs with others. He began offering Gong Meditations (gong baths) to groups in May 2005, and in 2009, he became a full-time Shamanic Gong Master. The gongs are now an integral part of his life’s work.
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Paul’s Shamanic teachings, intuitive knowledge and deep trust in the spirit world guide his life, including how he uses vibrational energy to rebalance and enhance people’s lives.
A veteran American composer, lyricist, arranger and producer… Mr. K?b has created music that spans across multi-national borders as well as focusing on the music scene here in America.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Albright was already an accomplished saxophonist by the time he enrolled at the University of Redlands, but he switched to bass after he saw Louis Johnson in concert. A few months after graduating from college, he joined jazz pianist/R&B singer Patrice Rushen, who was in the process of forming her own band. Later, when the bass player left in the middle of a tour, Albright replaced him and finished the tour on bass guitar. Playing both sax and bass, he became the consummate session and touring musician in the 80s, working with everyone from Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Jr., Atlantic Starr, The Temptations and Maurice White to Les McCann, Teena Marie, the Winans and Whitney Houston.
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