Tammy Scheffer, WOW!

Tammy, photo by; Gangi

The Local 269, on Houston Street took a step into the Jazz
spotlight of New York last night when Tammy Scheffer and her quintet took the stage.


Amazing is the word for Tammy, perfect intonation a jazz spirit inside her, and the charts she writes are individually spectacular.

Absolutely clean and concise jazz of a kind that you don't hear now days. She had sent me her CD, "Wake Up Fall Asleep" weeks ago and I was blown away with it and could not wait to hear her live.
She did not disappoint!

I watched the musicians who had just performed before Tammy and her band as Tammy warmed up, they were frozen. They were wondering what that sound was they were hearing? Was it a synthesizer? Was in the key board? No men, it was just Tammy.
Her band members use her voice to tune up!

It was so cool to watch the young musicians hear her for the first time.

Watching her go through some really long riffs, I could not tell when she was breathing, her range and phrasing are phenomenal.This is a gifted lady.

Adding some outstanding riffs of their own, the quintet was awesome.
Ilia Skibinsky and Dan Pratt on alto and tenor sax respectively, blended with Tammy
and took off on some heavy solo's to the delight of the listeners.
Dan Foose, was great on bass, soloed out too, and held the bottom at all times.
Julian Shore, keys, acted as middle man, and took his private time between Tammy and the saxes.
Keita Ogawa, with his lightning fast hands and speed afoot, kept the group together on drums.

What a great show, loved it!!
To see my review of  Wake Up Fall Asleep, scroll to older posts.

Tammy will be at; Caffe Vivaldi on 4/26 in a duo with bassist Jeff Denson and
back at the Local 269 on May 17th.

                                                 http://www.tammyscheffer.com/

by Pete Cataldo,  Follow Pete:  www.twitter.com/petecarma

Nadia Ackerman, At Rockwood Music Hall

A very pleasant evening Monday at Rockwood Music Hall, thanks to
Nadia Ackerman and her talented band.

I started writing this blog in November 2010 and as I combed the WWW looking for talented Indie artists, in New York,  Chicago and Vegas, Nadia's face appeared on a friend's FB, so I clicked on her site.

The holidays were approaching and I noticed she had composed a tune called "What is Christmas" and it was available for 99 cents, so I took a shot. It was a great move, the song was a great work of how this very emotional time of year can be a bit of  a sad time for some, and as I listened I became a fan.

In her show last night she took her audience on a tour of all original tunes, with her poignant but simple lyrics placed on a variety of different melodies, from "Where Are You Headed Now"with a bright and breezy beat about day to day tribulations and being lonely...to"Live Again"a dreamy tune that had a 60's taste to it for me.
"Underground" was a syncopated melody which I also loved and she tossed out "Hulpit"one of her new tunes that had a haunting melody and was very well received by her fans at Rockwood.

The entire set was a delight and the band was as smooth as the wind in her home of Australia, they very subtlety added their craftsmanship to the set, perfectly balanced with the vocals by Nadia and the harmony of her and backup, Anthea White.
The perpetrators of the musical treats; Clifford Carter, piano, Harvey Jones, synthesizer, 
David Patterson, Guitar, and Noah Hoffeld, cello.

I have Nadia's new CD..."The Circus Is Back In Town"...so you will be hearing more about her great compositions here soon....you can get it here....http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-circus-is-back-in-town/id370799514
And get "What Is Christmas" too.
                                                     ******
Thanks Nadia for a beautiful set!    http://nadiaackerman.com/music

by Pete Cataldo, follow Pete at;     www.twitter.com/petecarma













 

Latin "World" Music, in a French Bistro.

Eleonora Bianchini

Latin "World" Music, in a French Bistro, on a side street in New York City...sung by a beautiful lady from Perugia, Italy...
Eleonora Bianchini!

Sunday night at Jules Bistro, I got to hear Eleonora live for the first time.
She was just superb, her smooth Latin jazz, Brazilian jazz, and Flamenco rhythms blended with her Angelic passages were a true delight for me.

I had told her it was very difficult for me to write about her because she was too good, she smiled and I told her I don't know how to express the diversity in her music, she said she likes to call it "Latin World" music.

This "Latin World" music was projected by her trio, Juancho Herrera, guitar and a one man rhythm section Marcelo Woloski. 
Both were very enjoyable and polished musicians.

While being elegant and warm, Eleonora has a full stage presence when she
sings, her range and feel for the Latin sound seem to come natural to her.

I have always had a special place for women who can give off the emotion that with Latin music must come through. Celia Cruz, Ivete Sangalo, La Lupe come to mind, but now I have a new member of the "Latin World" team...Eleonora.

As I listened, Eleonora seemed to take her audience on a tour of what the acoustic guitar and a formally trained set of pipes with some great arrangements can do, yet by the same token, it felt like we could all just be in her living room. That's what I mean by having trouble reviewing her, so much is good.

Treat yourself to her CD...http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/eleonorabianchini

 by Pete Cataldo, follow Pete;  www.twitter.com/petecarma

Kristin Hoffmann at Vivaldi

Saturday Kristin Hoffmann played two sets at Caffe Vivaldi in the West Village of New York.
It was a totally delightful warm way to end a cold rainy Spring day in  Da Apple.
Vivaldi was packed to see this singer, songwriter, producer, perform her great
repertoire, in the setting of a caffe featuring a Grand Recital piano that Kristin had
completely under her control.

Kristin is one of the most talented young ladies I have seen in recent memory, her lyrics and the melodies she puts them too just seem to flow so fluently, and always have a universal message attached.

Opening with "Higher Mind" she offered us a haunting melody on the keys, shows us how her Opera training has given her an amazing range and delivers the message of learning to live, let go and understand that we are all on the same planet, and to open up our minds and grasp that.

"Falling"...was a tune where Kristin took the bridge and whaled away, it took me
by way of some of the great jazz pianists, I did not want it to end, a great composition.

The entire set of over one hour was beautiful. She was loved by her audience throughout.
Song after song about everything from the environment to opening your mind to learning to give, but not feel guilty about receiving, because then you will have more to give, and the overall message of being true to yourself.
All this tied to beautiful melodies made for a special evening in NYC.

Kristin Hoffmann

This young lady is composing some fantastic music, she lives for her art, and her message, and I'm very happy to know her.

********      ************       **********

 Living in your truth is the most important thing you can do...everything else falls into place from there.
I'm an open person who loves to experience life and people. I learn so much about myself from all that I meet and am very into growing and facing my own "life blocks" and getting beyond. I express myself in many ways, but I especially let my voice out through music and creating sound. When I'm in nature, I feel happy, free, connected. In the city, I'm inspired, driven, and moved by the flow of life around me. Overall, I'm excited about the journey of life and all it's waves...light and darkness. Finding my path...Kristin Hoffmann.   
   
Kristin would love to have 1 million people sing her beautiful composition, "Song For The Ocean"as we approach Earth Day. She has emailed hundreds of Chorale groups across America to join in.
If you have not seen this memorable video, enjoy...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3qGEWezzl0&feature=related

Kristin will be at...Mocha Maya's  Shelburne Falls, Ma. On Friday 4/22
                           & Northport Tasting Room, Northport, NY on Saturday 4/30.

                                        http://www.kristinhoffmann.com/index.html

by Pete Cataldo...follow Pete at...www.twitter.com/petecarma

Wake Up, Fall Asleep...but don't miss Tammy Scheffer!

Tammy Scheffer's New CD

Listening to the new CD, Wake Up, Fall Asleep,
by Tammy Scheffer has only wet my appetite for seeing her live at The Local 269, on Houston Street, in NYC, Tuesday April 19th.
http://thelocal269.com/The_Local_269/Home.html

It is a work that says Jazz from start to finish.
Opening with "I Can't See You Now"a rhythmic
piece, when I first heard it, I was reminded of the
fabulous Yolande Bavan, by the way Tammy
uses her voice as another piece of the band.
What she does I can't call "scatting" it's much to
organized and eloquent, she blends her vocals as a flutist would, with passages of extraordinary musicianship, and perfect intonation.

"When You Wish Upon A Star" is a cut I was really impressed with. When you as a group can take a Disney Classic and run with it like they present it here
was amazing, what a chart!
Brad Barrett, bass, Andrew Urbina, alto sax, Chris Ziemba, piano,
Ronen Itzik, drums and Steve Prado, tenor sax, all take off and make this a very enjoyable work.
They sound way beyond their young years to me, to lay down such a perfect arrangement like this.

On every cut there are amazing riffs by Tammy and all the musicians, you'll hear a few bars where you won't be able to distinguish Tammy's great pipes from one of the sax's as they run together for a piece.

 It's been a long time since I have heard a voice like Tammy's teamed with such
a talented quintet, they are tight, have wonderful charts and this CD is "top notch" JAZZ!
Thank you guys for "keeping the music alive".

                                                                        *****
 Tammy was born in Belgium, raised in Israel, won a scholarship to the
New England Conservatory.
In 2008 was part of the exclusive Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Workshop,
in Washington D.C. She also has performed at the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival in Israel.
Tammy also participated in Michael Feinberg's latest album "Evil Genius" 2009!

                                                                        ***** 

Listen & get a copy;  http://www.innercirclemusic.net/store/product_info.php?cPath=21_49&products_id=63

By Pete Carma,  follow Pete  www.twitter.com/petecarma

                                                 

"The Rebirth Of Soul" New CD By Lou White

A year ago, I started working with a french singer who moved to Las Vegas. Her manager and producer were still in Paris, but while in Vegas she planned to work on her voice to re-do her album she had recorded in France the year before. When I started listening to the lyrics, I had no idea how a young woman could feel these dark emotions. Where did it come from? She was so creative, a lot of people will relate to these songs.

Her name at the time was Marine Thuet, but they decided that Lou White would be her new stage name. Marine is young, 23, 22 when she came to me. She had a soulful wonderful voice. The only thing we really worked hard on was her strength, emotion, breathe, and power. When she returned to Paris to record, her manager was thrilled with her voice.

She wrote all her songs, and they were given a funkier, soulful new edge. I loved the new version of these songs I had loved in the original form. She is still going back in May to put some finishing touches on the CD so I can't let you hear it yet.

We are still working on the songs now, but I can let you peek at her beauty, and tell you that when she comes back with the finished product, we are going to have a new queen of soul in America. So, I will be proud to have been a part of her growth, and proud to present to you, Lou White, "The Rebirth Of Soul".

by, Jessica Marciel, Las Vegas, Nevada...http://jessicamarciel.com/

Birch and the Tiger...Coming to the National Underground!

Lead singer, Zenobia Ortis

Birch and the Tiger, a band that takes me back to my roots and then some.

"Folkloric tales of modern madness soulfully sang to funky afrobeat inspired rhythms with some very scary instrumentalists casting sonic spells." Got that!


That's how they describe themselves. I think I see more, I see versatility too.
Lead singer Zenobia Ortis, displays an ability to splendidly move from Afro/jazz to pop to Angelic passages with a natural ability and a great set of pipes.

They will be performing at one of New York's most popular spots for new artists, The National Underground, on Houston Street on Friday, April 22d...Venue and tickets...
.http://turnstylemusicgroup.ticketleap.com/birchandthetiger/

It will be the first time I have seen them live. Listening to them brings me back to a day when the Village was 
a hot bed of Latin jazz. The likes of Johnny Pacheco, and Willie Bobo, but Birch and the Tiger adds in some Funk/pop and a collage of other riffs. They are exciting and innovative.


The group consist of...
Zenobia Ortis, vocals, Erin Pellnat, back vocals, percussion,
Joshua Gruft, drums, Alex Delo, conga, Mike Leuis, guitar, Raymond Mack Jr. bass,
Noah Dreiblatt, baritone sax, and Sam Hoyland, trumpet.


You can listen here...http://www.facebook.com/#!/birchandthetiger


Come down and enjoy this great new group with me Friday 4/22...
follow me at  .. www.twitter.com/petecarma

Happy Birthday and Hall of Fame Induction, Jessica Marciel!

Free Circus; Jessica Marciel

On May 1st, the City of Las Vegas will hold the
2011 Las Vegas Rock Reunion and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, to honor the pioneers who brought Rock to a city that was driven by adult entertainers, and to also honor some of the giants of it's musical past.

My friend Jessica Marciel who you know from her posts here at Streetcred, and who has entertained me and thousands of others in so many different venues in Vegas and LA they would be too many to enumerate. Well she is being inducted for her work very early in her career, and her dad ...Irv Kluger, will also be inducted posthumously.
You see Jess was a Jazz Brat, and I'm sure this will be a very emotional day for her. So....I thought I would post this now and give you all a heads up on her birthday, April 7th...she's on FB!


This event will be an all day affair at the Henderson Pavillion, a beautiful open air venue (there is a canopy top to keep the desert Sun away) that will start at 11 AM and run thought the evening. Free Circus will be performing between 11:30 and 1pm.

The idea came from Mike Selinski and was to honor groups from the 60's but was now expanded to the 70's and also includes other ground breaking bands.

Hosting the event will be 60's DJ, Dennis Hunt and Lanny Irwin,
Lanny is the son of Stan Irwin who brought the Beatles to Vegas in 1964.
Stan Irwin is well and living in Northridge Calif.He will be honored.

Jessica started playing the "TeenBeat Club" in Vegas with
Little People and London Fog, she tells me the band that was
most responsible for bringing rock to the desert was Scatterblues in the 60's.

Jess also did some great work with the band called "Free Circus"pictured above.
She fronted the guys who opened for the likes of...Santana, Three Dog Night,
Cream, Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Blue Cheer, Electric Prunes, Sweetwater,
Pablo Cruise, Santana, It's A Beautiful Day, and last but not least "The Grateful Dead".
Free Circus; Jess, vocals, Roby Bennet, guitar, Dan Barnett, Keys, Bob Borynsen, drums, (deceased) and Larry Gann, bass, were the original group.

*****

Jessica will also be sitting in with John Sterling's band, all the originals are back...
Terry Ryan, keys, Kim Kesterson, bass and Adam Shendal, drums,
and of course John Sterling, guitar.


Jess was signed by Capitol Records at 12 and is still going strong in Vegas... http://www.jessicamarciel.com/las-vegas-band.html

Jessica's dad Irv Kluger was a drummer with many of the creators of "The American Song Book".
He worked with, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Fields, Tex Beneke, Artie Shaw,
Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman...throw in some work on Broadway,
and that's history! http://www.jessicamarciel.com/irv/

Irv Kluger

Inductees; 1960 Bands...The Flashbacks, The Crossfires, Fluid, Free Circus, Who's the faher, Santa Fe, Sidro Armada, ScatterBlues, Teenbeats,
Hot Ice and Dennis Hunt and the Hunters, John Sterling, of Loadstone, and Eric Burdin and the Animals.
Mentors...Irv Kluger, Buddy Rich, Joe Guercio. Promoters, Mike Tell, Keith Austin, and more.

This will be a great event, I urge you to go. How do I know...
Because it will be away from the corporate clutches of the strip mega resorts. It will be run by the people who made the history, the originals musicians, and producers will conduct the event and perform the music.
...and there will not be any noise from slots in the background! Jessica has worked the venue and said the sound man Tim Sage is the best! http;//www.hendersonlive for tickets benefiting Safe Nest, charity for children.

For a complete list of Inductees and ALL the info, and tickets, check out the great web site of the event; http://www.lasvegasrockreunion.com/

Congratulations Jessica!