NEW MUSIC FEATURE
June 07, 2010
April 19, 2010
March 25, 2010
IN A VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER...
Last night, I did one of the coolest/weirdest things in my musical career: I had a rehearsal in the back of a van, parked on the street in Jamaica Plain. I was there with Brad Smith on piano, and Anna Fan on drums. And we had a pretty kick-ass time making music.
This all came to be because of Brad. This dude is one of the most creative and craftiest people I know. He's built an all-inclusive carrying case for his keyboards that packs up and travels, but also doubles as a keyboard and music stand. The thing just rolls in and out of gigs - it's pretty amazing.
Brad is also a piano technician and tuner, so he needs a van to get around to all his different sites of business, and he needs to be able to move pianos. He also realized that he had downtime in between gigs, and that he could use that time to practice and play. So he hooked up his van with some serious electrical power, speakers, the whole kit and caboodle. This allows him to play pretty much anywhere he goes. Uh, AWESOME.
So we had the rehearsal - complete with Anna's drum kit - in the back of the van. My passenger seat swiveled around, I sat next to Anna, and Brad has his whole keyboard setup in there. We parked on the street, kept the doors closed, and made music. It was a really fun time, and just made me realize how freakin' happy I am to be making music - ANYWHERE. (BTW - the three of us will be performing at The Stork Club in Boston this Saturday, March 27th from 9:30pm-1:00am. Stop by and see us if you're in the area!)
From this rehearsal was born an idea that I'm hoping will turn into something really great: "The Diva Taunia Traveling Show." We're going to play lunchtime concerts at local businesses during the spring and summer months, and also play evening and weekend gigs in town - ON THE STREET AND IN PARKING LOTS. I mean, how fun is that gonna be?!? We're still looking into permits/restrictions/etc, but we're really excited to be setting up a summer tour of van concerts. Man, I just love life with music, I really do.
So hey, if you're in the New England area and want to book us for a lunchtime concert, drop me a line at booking@divataunia.com. If this van's a rockin', you should DEFINITELY come 'a knockin!
March 15, 2010
NEW MUSIC REVIEW: JEN KEARNEY
Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion – What
Music Should Sound Like by Guest Writer, Melinda
Let me preface this review by telling
you that I am not normally one who goes for the whole artsy, rocker
grrrl genre. Spin some Biggie or Jay-Z and I am ready to jam. I
have always felt pretty comfortable with my limited musical tastes –
that is ….until I opened Jen Kearney's website
(www.jenkearney.com). W-T-F
…. why didn't I know about this chick? She is absolutely amazing!
I feel as though a whole new world of musical options has been opened
to me care of Jen Kearney and her band, The Lost Onion. 
Now, let's see if I can put this into terms that one with as little musical culture as I, can understand. I think of Kearney's sound as something like a cross between the vocal stylings of Fiona Apple and the musical talents of a more mature Tori Amos. (I hope I haven't offended anyone ...ya still with me, ok, perfect...) Some critics have even compared Jen's voice to Stevie Wonder, which I absolutely agree with (not to say that Fiona sounds like Stevie....hmm). Her biting lyrics such as “. . . Trudge as you may, Try as you might, Through the mud and the water, You claw and you bite, But you won’t let go of your greed...” coupled with smooth, funky, jazzy, instrumentation threw me into a musical trance that was only broken by a screaming child outside (I like kids ...really, I do...).
Now, let's see if I can put this into terms that one with as little musical culture as I, can understand. I think of Kearney's sound as something like a cross between the vocal stylings of Fiona Apple and the musical talents of a more mature Tori Amos. (I hope I haven't offended anyone ...ya still with me, ok, perfect...) Some critics have even compared Jen's voice to Stevie Wonder, which I absolutely agree with (not to say that Fiona sounds like Stevie....hmm). Her biting lyrics such as “. . . Trudge as you may, Try as you might, Through the mud and the water, You claw and you bite, But you won’t let go of your greed...” coupled with smooth, funky, jazzy, instrumentation threw me into a musical trance that was only broken by a screaming child outside (I like kids ...really, I do...).
Putting all of my dated 90's references
aside. You have got to check out Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion.
Even if you think you don't normally dig this type of music …
Kearney will change your mind. The group has put out three albums:
Bravery (2002), Eat (206), and The Year of the Ox
(2009). You can listen to many songs from these albums on the
website, www.jenkearney.com.
You can also purchase the albums at this site ...do it – buy them
all. If you are lucky enough to live in the Cambridge, Massachusetts
area, you can check out Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion every Monday
night at Toad. If you live nearby and you don't attend – shame on
you!
Now, crank up Kearney's “Warm Bath
Eyes,” rock the stunna shades, and put a frosty Hurricane in your
left hand (you will need your right hand free to snap along). Close
your eyes and let the big jazz sound transport you to a street party
in New Orleans. Can you hear it? Can you feel it? This is what
jazzy, edgy, and soulful are supposed to sound like. Go on,
get up...dance and be groovy!
I give this one 3 sips!
We've all heard it ..sip, sip, sip –
Now I'll use the phrase in a way that doesn't annoy me:
Sip: Boooo
Sip, Sip: check it out, you might like
it
Sip, Sip, Sip: WOOT!! You have got to
try this!!
January 19, 2010
1/18/10 MUSIC FEATURE: JONATHA BROOKE
One of my all-time
favorite singer-songwriters is Jonatha
Brooke. She blends folk, pop, and
rock in a way that’s accessible for everyone to listen to. I
first heard her a few years ago when a friend of mine let me borrow her “Steady
Pull” album, and I was completely hooked.
After listening to her song for the fifth time in a row, I sang along
with her and was completely entranced in the song. She’s right up there with Paula Cole for me
in the “musicians I wish I could be” category – with some of the strongest
songwriting skills that a girl could envy.
Her voice is meticulous – she has
an instantly recognizeable sound, very
different and unique, and I want to be
her.
Jonatha’s music has
been featured in movie soundtracks like Disney’s” Return to Neverland “and TV
shows like “The Hills,” and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” The first song I played on the radio program was the very first song I ever heard from her, “Linger,” and you can hear it on
her website at www.jonathabrooke.com.
In 2006, after being completely obsessed with her music, I saw Jonatha live for the
first time with my brother at Tupelo Music
Hall in Londonderry, NH. My brother Derek has always been a huge music fan, and very open-minded about music. Still, he’s also always been more partial to a
heavier rock sound, so I wasn’t quite sure how he would react to Jonatha’s
music. His reaction? He LOVED her, and to this day is a big
fan. In fact, at his wedding this past
fall, he played one of Jonatha’s songs “Everything
I Wanted” (from “Back
in the Circus”)as part of his wedding music.
And now Jonatha has
that shared connection with us: I’m
also going to request permission to use one of her songs at my wedding next
year. I fell in love with her latest
album, “The Works,”
and in particular, “King of My Love.” It’s a lovely piano-focused song that prompts
Alice-in-Wonderland-visions of characters dancing. My fiancée Rob and I are huge poker players,
and the card metaphors in this song couldn’t be more perfect for us as a couple
starting a new life together.
I could go on and
on about my love of “The
Works.” I think it’s a masterpiece
for Jonatha. The lyrics of Woodie
Guthrie set to Jonatha’s music with an impressive list of music’s finest
musicians (Keb Mo, Joe Sample, Steve Gadd, and Christian McBride). Every song has magic in it, and it touched
me in a way that not many other pieces of music have. There’s
one lyric penned by Woodie Guthrie and delivered musically by Jonatha that
particularly comforts me:
“I’ll will never fear the day I will die, because my sunset is somebody’s
morning sky.”Those lyrics are from the song “My Battle.”
In that moment –
when she sings this – if it doesn’t prove that there’s magic, peace, comfort
and beauty from music, then I don’t know what ever will. Jonatha is a musical treasure, so I encourage
you to stop by her website and purchase
many of her CDs. Buy the works, the
whole works.
December 17, 2009
December 16, 2009
November 30, 2009
November 18, 2009
11/16/09 WHITE OWL: PASSPORT TO RUSSIA
I admit it: I tend to want to feature jazz and pop music on the 11/16/09 Backstage Pass Radio Program, and so I work pretty diligently to make sure I’m open-minded about other genres. I’m glad that I am, because that’s how I came to showcase this week’s “New Music Feature,” White Owl from Russia.
I had a little fun at their expense with their English version of the band bio. The translation didn’t read well in English (“On the one hand, a bird of about 2.5 kg weight, on the other hand, a result of brutal musical experiences directed on creating a monster which will destroy the world.) The bio was good for a laugh, but the music spoke for itself.
“Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest,” plays on the old folk tale, but has some seriously edgy instrumentation. A mix of both folk/celtic feel and hard rock, the focus is clearly on the violin. In fact, most of their songs blend genres and do it quite well, which makes for really interesting listening.
These are clearly some very strong musicians, and they are really tight. Strong and dynamic, their music started some interesting conversations in the radio show chat room. I think that’s when music really IS strong: when it sparks interest and discussion. White Owl’s music may not appeal to everyone, but I think most people will appreciate the change in sound and find themselves drawn in.
White Owl is
fronted by face-painted leader Hagnir, and also
includes Artem Ryabov on bass,
Vova Korzhev on guitar and backing vocals, Natasha Scherbakova on drums (chick
drummers ROCK!), and Anatoly Velichkin on violin. Velichkin deserves much praise for the sound
White Owl has created with soaring violin string lines throughout.
White Owl offers free downloads of their album “Pepper” on the following website:
http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/4329
Go check out this band from Russia. No passport required!
November 16, 2009
Diva Taunia
WLS & Music Diva! Professional Vocalist and Burlesque Performer, VP of PR for the WLSFA, Radio Host
Search
Become a Fan
My Other Accounts
-
AIM | divataunia
-
Bebo | divataunia
-
Blogger | divatauniabackstagepass.blogspot.com
-
Delicious | divataunia
-
Digg | divataunia
-
Facebook | divataunia
-
Flickr | divatauniawls
-
FriendFeed | divataunia
-
Google Hangouts | divataunia
-
Google Hangouts | divatauniamusic
-
LinkedIn | divataunia
-
MySpace | divatauniamusic
-
Ning | divataunia
-
Other... | http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/?act=16004535#!/pages/Diva-Taunia/27789464849
-
Pandora | divataunia
-
Skype | divataunia
-
StumbleUpon | divataunia
-
Technorati | divataunia
-
TwitPic | divataunia
-
Twitter | divataunia
-
Twitter | divatauniadolls
-
Vox | divataunia
-
Yahoo! | bostonjazzdiva
-
YouTube | divataunia
Recent Comments