Neo Soul Music

Tonight from 7:30pm until 10:30 our very own new soul music songstress, Cynthia Layne will be interviewed on the show, 'Online With Andrea'.  'Online With Andrea' features a variety of guests and topics. It is a global online journey that will provide news, information and cover many issues from health, fitness, body, mind, heart, soul, spirit, the spoken word, the written word, art, music, dance, sports, theater, film, the environment, the planet earth, and beyond. This is a thoughtful uplifting program that focuses on opening hearts, lifting spirits, raising consciousness and creating a greater understanding of the whole universe.

So tune in to hear Owl Studios recording artist, Cynthia Layne from the comfort of your own home!

PHASING
-as a noun

1. Any of the major appearances or aspects in which a thing of varying modes or conditions manifests itself to the eye or mind.
2. a stage in a process of change or development
3. a side, aspect, or point of view
4. a state of synchronous operation

PHASING
-as a verb

1. to schedule or order so as to be available when or as needed
2. to put in phase; synchronize

PHASING
-as a musical term

1. See Steve Reich

PHASING
-as a jazz trombone playing blogger for an independent jazz record company (i.e. Owl Studios...)

1. FREAKIN' COOL!!!






Pretty cool huh? You know, we here at the label have some groovy material. Neo Soul singer Cynthia Layne comes to mind. We also have some Steve Reich inspired music too. The title track from Frank Glover's ABACUS has a minimalist aspect to it. I guess that is one fun part of being a small jazz label, we get to release all kinds of great and different music!

Well look at me, I am finally writing a new blog.  Yes it is mda and it has been quite a while since I have written anything for the blog of this great American label releasing jazz artists' albums.  Rich has done such a great job up-keeping the blog that I did not want to usurp his great writing.  However, it is time for me to get back in to the swing of things and so I bring another 'Spicy Meatball' recipe/music pairing for everyone's enjoyment. 

So this weekend is the Kentucky Derby!  We better do something related to the Derby, right?  This is one of those American traditions for many of us, much like baseball and jazz!  I am by no means a fan of horse racing and know next to nothing about the sport.  However, I always enjoy watching the Kentucky Derby.  Maybe it is the close proximity to Indiana's great jazz label Owl Studios that draws me to the derby.  I am not sure.  However, I do know that this year will be extra special for the Owl Studios family as Miss Cynthia Layne, one of the best R & B Artists around, is performing for one of the many Kentucky Derby parties.  Congrats Cynthia and we know you will blow them all away.  


In honor of this, we will be listening to Cynthia's great R & B - Neo Soul album Beautiful Soul.  This is such a great album with amazing original compositions by Cynthia, Rob Dixon and Reggie Bishop.  So the track I have chosen is "Be You."  I know you will enjoy it and certainly buy the album if you don't have it already!  Click on the artwork to be directed to the OWL store or click HERE to purchase from iTunes.  



And now the food...  To keep with the same Kentucky Derby celebrations, let's pick a great Derby sandwich that everyone will enjoy. From the great Epicurious.com:


KENTUCKY HOT BROWN

Ingredients:

1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
a pinch of cayenne
1 tablespoon dry Sherry
3/4 cup grated extra-sharp Cheddar
4 slices of homemade-type white bread, toasted lightly
1/2 pound cooked turkey breast, sliced thin
4 thin slices of tomato
8 slices of cooked bacon
1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan

Another Mix Tape for you! This time we are going to put together some music that can soothe your broken heart! How many times has it happened to you? Things are going great, you make a great dinner for that special person and then WHAM!! You get dumped. Out of the blue! Awful, awful feeling isn't it? Well, let all the great jazz artists on Independent Jazz Label Owl Studios take care of you with a Mix Tape for the Breakup...Breakee.

Mix Tape  #1: Road Trip
Mix Tape  #2: Workin' Out
Mix Tape #3: Hot Date Night
Mix Tape #4: Break-Up: Breaker
Mix Tape #5: Break-Up: Breakee
Mix Tape #6: Summer BBQ

Your heart is hurting with every beat. It hurts to breathe even. Don't worry, Owl Studios has your back. Neo Soul singer Cynthia Layne can sing to you and make you feel like she's right there with you. Jazz piano player and composer Steve Allee can gently week right by your side. Jazz clarinetist and jazz composer Frank Glover can find places in your dark sobbing soul, that even you didn't know were there. And how about the Rick Germanson piano trio, gently cleaning your wounds. Feel better? You're welcome...

1. Letting You Go - Beautiful Soul: Cynthia Layne (iTunes/Owl Store)
2. God's Gift - A Ride to the Other Side: Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets (iTunes/Owl Store)
3. Free Yourself - Beautiful Soul: Cynthia Layne (iTunes/Owl Store)
4. Rescue Me - What Things Could Be: Rob Dixon Triology (iTunes/Owl Store)
5. If You Never Come To Me - An Old Soul: Mark Buselli featuring the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra (iTunes/Owl Store)
6. L-O-V-E - Where or When: Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra (iTunes/Owl Store)
7. Somewhere - Dragonfly: Steve Allee (iTunes/Owl Store)
8. The Chant - Flat Planet: Fareed Haque + The Flat Earth Ensemble (iTunes/Owl Store)
9. The Last Blue Tang - Politico: Frank Glover (iTunes/Owl Store)
10. Way of Water - Off the Cuff: Rick Germanson (iTunes/Owl Store)

Well, well, well. We all know that music can make you feel good, and it can make you feel better when you're down. Music can help you feel good about tough decisions you had to make. What if you had to break up with that nice person you had over for dinner? Things just weren't working out, so you had to put your foot down and simply not see that person anymore. Well, if that happened we have a Mix Tape for YOU too!!



Mix Tape #1: Road Trip
Mix Tape #2: Workin' Out
Mix Tape #3: Hot Date Night
Mix Tape #4: Break-Up: Breaker
Mix Tape #5: Break-Up: Breakee
Mix Tape #6: Summer BBQ

This is a little tougher Mix Tape to put together. First, we wanted some tunes that were sensitive to the fact that you just had to break it off with somebody and maybe you hurt that person's feelings. It's a rough situation in which to be for sure. But, on the other hand, you can do better than that! You need to get out there and find a more suitable person to be with. So we have added some of the great sounds of the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra, co-lead by jazz trumpet playing professor Mark Buselli and jazz arranger/jazz trombone player Brent Wallarab. Some groovy tunes from the neo soul album from jazz saxophone player Rob Dixon, What Things Could Be. We also put some fun, world music from jazz guitar artist Fareed Haque. A funny tune from jam band Garaj Mahal's newest jazz record release, puts it all into perspective and an introspective, thought provoking beautiful arrangement of the jazz standard 'Wonderland' by the BWJO.

1. A Gentle Fall - Happenstance: Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra (iTunes)
2. Love Letter - What Things Could Be: Rob Dixon Triology (iTunes/Owl Store)
3. B minors - What Things Could Be: Rob Dixon Triology (iTunes/Owl Store)
4. Bengali Bud - Flat Planet: Fareed Haque + The Flat Earth Ensemble (iTunes/Owl Store)
5. Dax McCarty's Magic Elixir - Thick: The Twin Cats (iTunes/Owl Store)
6. Melting Pot - Echoes of Ethnicity: Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets (iTunes/Owl Store)
7. Repub Club - Reinvention: Dixon/Rhyne Project (iTunes/Owl Store)
8. The Truth Seeker - Transient Journey: Pharez Whitted (Coming Soon!!)
9. What My Friends Say - More Mr. Nice Guy: Garaj Mahal (iTunes/Owl Store)
10. Wonderland - Where or When: Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra (iTunes/Owl Store)

What is a Mix Tape collection worth if you don't have a 'romantic' mix tape? Nothing I say. Besides, why did the whole concept of a mix tape come into existence anyhow? For me...girls, then women!

I truly enjoy putting together a collection of favorite tunes for a special someone! Since music is so important to me, if I choose to share my love of music with a special lady, then I figure that is one lucky woman! (Several women have found themselves to be on the receiving end of this 'gift' and currently have nothing to do with me anymore!)

Mix Tape  #1: Road Trip
Mix Tape  #2: Workin' Out
Mix Tape #3: Hot Date Night
Mix Tape #4: Break-Up: Breaker
Mix Tape #5: Break-Up: Breakee
Mix Tape #6: Summer BBQ

What does one need to properly make a Mix Tape for a Hot Date Night? Well you need some sultry sounds...some acoustic jazz...some neo soul crooning and nice piano trio jazz to make the evening all the more special.

Let me walk you through a night:

You invite your girlfriend/squeeze/special someone over. Maybe send them a little invitation to add a little personality to your invite. Then you consult the Owl Studios Recipe blogs to find that perfect something to make. Get some fresh flowers and arrange them into a nice cernterpiece of the dining room table. Shower. Dress yourself in nice clothes, comfortable yet not everyday wear. You can bet that your woman friend is dressing nice. As soon as they arrive, start the Owl Studios 'Hot Date Night' Mix Tape.

1. Be You - Beautiful Soul: Cynthia Layne (iTunes/Owl Store)
2. Love of My Life - What Things Could Be: Rob Dixon Triology (iTunes/Owl Store)
3. Alison's Pony - More Mr. Nice Guy: Garaj Mahal (iTunes/Owl Store)
4. Ballerina - ABACUS: Frank Glover (Available May, 2010)
5. Deep Blue - Spaces In Time: Bill Moring & Space In Time (iTunes/Owl Store)
6. Funk You - Thick: The Twin Cats (iTunes/Owl Store)
7. My Romance - Where or When: Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra (iTunes/Owl Store)
8. Natural Woman - Echoes of Ethnicity: Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets (iTunes/Owl Store)
9. Up Jumped Spring - Off the Cuff: Rick Germanson (iTunes/Owl Store)
10. X & Y - Dragonfly: Steve Allee Trio (iTunes/Owl Store)

So we are coming to the end of my self inflicted dialog of The State of Jazz. I've really tried to be positive and supportive, but sometimes it is quite easy to get dark or jaded or negative of the whole jazz situation these days. After all, this is a life I have chosen and it is sometimes frustrating that it is so difficult to make a living doing what I love. Then there are times when I finish a gig and I can't imagine anything else I would rather be doing!

As a jazz musician I play with jazz fusion artists, I play everything from neo soul music to acoustic jazz gigs. As a jazz trombone player, I do pretty well in my little corner of the world. But what about the rest of the world? What about the future? That is what I have been trying to answer in this series, The State of Jazz. Here are the questions I initially posed to begin the whole dialog:

Intro
1. Why is jazz on the fringe? (The State of Jazz: Part 2)
2. The world has changed but jazz hasn't. Is this true?
3. Or has jazz changed TOO much?
4. Is the listening audience 'not smart enough' to enjoy jazz? (The State of Jazz: Part 3)
5. Is there a way jazz CAN be presented to create a larger listening audience? (The State of Jazz: Part 1)
6. Is jazz elitist? (The State of Jazz: Part 4)
7. Are jazz musicians elitist? (The State of Jazz: Part 4)
8. What can jazz musicians (and jazz record labels for that matter) do to increase the exposure jazz has in society today?

On this post I will conquer these two questions:

#2: The world has changed but jazz hasn't. Is this true?
#3: Or has jazz changed TOO much?

Sometimes jazz can make rapid changes. With an art-form that is simply free of most if not all constraints, then the rate at which the art will adapt, transform, grow and change can be quick and incredibly fast. This, in my opinion is the curse and beauty of jazz. It is by nature an ever evolving art and an innovative art-form. At the same time, it is very introspective, representing the thoughts and whims of the people playing it at that moment in time.

Jazz is fleeting and yet eternal.
Jazz is personal yet universal.

Jazz encompasses all of these things at the same time. In my experience it seems that people generally find it very hard to define jazz, therefore jazz always seems like it's changing, in flux, evolving, but still reaching back through time to incorporate all of jazz history.

The world has indeed changed, but jazz is in it's natural habitat when changing. Jazz hasn't changed TOO much. Jazz changes fast, moves quickly. So if the audience looks away, then looks back to jazz, they might not recognize it anymore. If they looked long enough, they would recognize the essential elements of jazz: Personal expression, improvisation, story telling, musical, raw and honest.

To end this blog on a positive note, please enjoy this video that has been making the rounds on the jazz blogosphere!

This week we will put up two questionnaires from Owl Studios Artists that are musically diverse! This is one reason we know you love supporting this Independent Jazz Label because of the great diversity of artists we have! Today, we will get to know R & B Artist, Neo-Soul Singing vocalist Cynthia Layne. Later in the week, look for jazz saxophonist, jazz composer and jazz clarinetist extraordinaire Frank Glover.

To catch up on past OWL Artist Questionnaires, click the links below to learn more about our great jazz artists!!

OWL Artist Questionnaire #1: Mark Buselli
OWL Artist Questionnaire #2: Todd Harrold
OWL Artist Questionnaire #3: Bill Moring
OWL Artist Questionnaire #4: Brent Wallarab
OWL Artist Questionnaire #5: Monika Herzig
OWL Artist Questionnaire #6: Rick Germanson

Cynthia has released 2 albums through her career. The first one, is a funky joy ride through some amazing origanal tunes titled Reality. Her second (and her first for OWL) titled Beautiful Soul is an all around smooth album that seamlessly combines drum loops and live horns! It's a journey that has been felt all around the world! Cynthia's music has the ability to make the listener feel so good!! Listen to this slammin' track, Be You, it is a JAM!! For info about Cynthia's albums check out her artist page on the OWL website. Click the album artwork to go to the OWL Store to purchase these wonderfully groovy albums and start feeling GREAT today!!

Now, here is Cynthia's OWL Artist Questionnaire so you can get to know this great R & B Artist and Neo-Soul Music Making vocalist!

1. How was 2009 for you?

2009 was full of change and challenges, but continued to create great music!

1a. Would you consider it a successful year? 

Based on the fact that I was still performing and people still paid to see me perform and continue to purchase my music, yes it was a successful year.

1b. Looking back on the decade, what is your perspective on the 2000s in terms of how jazz music developed, how the industry changed? Are things better now then they were a decade ago?  

No I think things are harder now than they were then...the industry has changed so much that
it is harder for a newer artist to break in.   And there is so much competition.

2. What do you have planned for 2010? 

Setting up plans for recording and writing tunes for my upcoming 2011 release. As always looking for more and more gigs/shows to do!

2a. Any tours set-up?

No, but always looking and sending out promo materials.

2b. Any traveling outside of the country for gigs? 

No...do you have friends in higher places that can hook a sista up?......My passport is collecting dust....:)

3. With the advent and growing popularity of digital downloads, are you thinking differently about how you record and put an album together? Knowing that people can download one track at a time, does your approach change?  

Yes, as a matter of fact we plan on releasing a couple tunes as singles, selling them as digital downloads to hype up the release in 2011.

4. Does anybody listen to the radio anymore? Is radio becoming obsolete? Or do you find radio to still be a good promotional tool for your music product?  

In my opinion, it all depends on genre.  College radio, satellite and on-line radio are great outlets for new music and up & coming artist.  They aren't limited to what they can or can't play and seem to really support anything new that's really good.  But as far as the traditional radio stations, no.  You hear the same 20 songs day in and day out---it's all about the $$ and not the music.

5. Where are people hearing and subsequently getting (hopefully buying) the music they like? 

A lot of my friends hear and get new music from DJ's and on Internet and satellite radio.  Also word of mouth.  As far as buying....its a mix of digital sales and the old stand by---physical cd's.

6. Now that the year is 2010, are you saying, "Twenty-Ten" or "Two Thousand and Ten" or "Aught-Ten"?

I'm an old fashioned girl, so it's Two Thousand and Ten coming from my lips!

                                                            The Mike Clark record date  


                         Rob Dixon here, and I just wanted to let everyone know about how excited I am that Mike Clark has signed with Owl Studios. I have worked with Mike on several occassions in past few years and I always thought that he would be a great addition to the Independent Jazz record company we know as Owl Studios. Mike's recording session happened just before christmas and I had the pleasure of going to New York, not only to witness the session but to participate as well. I had a chance to record about eight songs with Mike....some were Acoustic Jazz (or straight ahead jazz) and others had the flavor that comes from Jazz fusion bands. If you don't already know, Mike Clark is best known as the drummer with Herbie Hancock and the headhunters, but Mike has worked with just about every Jazz legend and Jazz fusion artist in the business and is a Jazz Legend in his own right.

The trip to NY:

The recording session was from december 21st thru the 24th so I arrived the morning of the 21st which was a monday btw....snow was everywhere! (that was the weekend most of the  east coast got slammed with blizzards). After I grabbed my bag from baggage claim I gave Mike a call on his cell. He was on the phone doing his morning phone call ruetine....so I told him to text me his address and so he did. I jumped in a cab and headed to Manhattan.  I met Mike at his place around 10:45 and then met the guitarist's on the session (Rez Abbassi) in the Lobby. Rez  is an awesome Jazz guitar artist who is enjoying a very successful career. We took a cab to the session and met the organist there (Jeff Pittson). Jeff wrote all of the tunes for the first day session, which were by the way great tunes. Jeff is also a killin' jazz organist.





Left to right (bottom left just his hair is Andy, right of him Mike Clark, right of him is Rez Abbassi and right of rez is Jeff Pittson)  


















The engineer on the session was a cat named Andy. Andy is from Italy and has a very thick accent....in addition to him been a outstanding recording engineer, he is also a world traveler....I think Andy got in to New York a day before I had....he had been to Cuba, and I think before that Madagascar. Between takes he would talk about his most recent trip with such enthusiasum that it made me want to go to Cuba..(and I have never thought about Cuba).




Andy (engineer) in his studio  not only works with Jazz and Jazz fusion Artists. Andy is very much involved with Neo Soul Music as well as some of the top R & B Artists in the New York Area.
                                                                                                                                                            
We recorded all day and most of the night and got done around 11pm....I was completely worn out! The studio was in Brooklyn so it took about 20 minutes to get to my hotel (which i was so anxious to get to,check in, and get sleep). I stayed about few blocks north of times square ( on 7th ave and 53rd at the Sheraton; ny towers). My room was comfortable...which is saying a lot when you talk about New York hotels...too tired to go out to eat I thought I would treat myself to the comforts of room service.  I ordered a cheeseburger, a bottle of water and a coke....the total came to 42.50!!! At first I thought they made a mistake but then  I remembered where i was and thought to myself the rest of this trip is on the cheap!
 From that night on I ate at the deli in brooklyn, bagels from the coffee shop by the studio and snacks from duane read drug store and I still felt like cash was just falling out my pocket....that is New York for you.


New York Sheraton  Towers


left to right-Jeff Pittson (organ) Rob Dixon (sax), Mike Clark (drums), Rez Abbassi (guitar)

The next morning (tuesday)  I got up took a quick shower, grab some coffee and then took a taxi to meet up with Mike. We headed to the studio around noon, and on this session it was just me Jerry Z and Mike. This is the group that I had worked with in the past so there was a certain comfort level already in place before we started to track. Jerry and I did a little catching up before the session and then we went to work. On this session we not only recorded new material but
Mike went through songs that were recorded on earlier sessions that had a number of great musicians on them(Fred Wesley, Donald Harrison, lenny White, Ron Carter, Mark Shim, etc.) to see if we could add or improve upon what was already laid down. This was for me personally my most productive day  and most humbling. To even consider me playing on great tracks (as they were) with a long list of great musicians on the tracks to help "add to the track" was crazy in my mind, but no one acted like it was a big deal so I went along with the vibe and kept my mouth shut.  We ordered carry out at the studio and worked until about 11:30 pm that night! I got be to my room around midnight and went straight to sleep. Looking back on the whole time, this was for me one of the most normal sleep schedules I have been on in the last few years.



Jerry Z (organ)

The next morning (Wednesday), we headed to the studio around 10 am. Mike was very cool about letting me go over fixes (playing melodies and such) that I thought I could tighten up. We worked until about 8 pm (by far the easiest day). I got back to hotel for an early dinner and hit the sack around 11 pm......I loved it!! On thursday (Christmas Eve), I did not go to the studio......I headed to the airport early concerned about the crowd at the Airport. Well, I got to Lagaurdia and the terminal was practically empty....I felt relieved cause I knew I'd be home for Christmas. :-)


left to right- Mike Clark, Rob Dixon, Jerry Z

Mike Clark's last CD got a 4 and 1/2 stars out of 5 in downbeat....I think this CD is just as strong if not stronger.  Congrats Mike on a killin' CD!!

The State of Jazz: Intro
The State of Jazz: Part 1

This is a continuing conversation about the state of jazz today. As an employee of an Independent Jazz Record Label and as a working jazz musician (and may I add an aging jazz musician...I'm 35 now) the future of jazz is very much on my radar screen. There have been articles about the death of not just jazz, but music as a whole. A classical composer Glen Braca wrote an Op-Ed in the NYTimes titled: The End of Music. Terry Teachout, the drama critic for the Wall Street Journal, wrote an article titled: Can Jazz Be Saved? These articles say there is no more innovation, the music is no longer moving forward and hence the audience is dwindling.

In the beginning of this whole conversation I asked these questions:

1. Why is jazz on the fringe?
2. The world has changed but jazz hasn't. Is this true?
3. Or has jazz changed TOO much?
4. Is the listening audience 'not smart enough' to enjoy jazz?
5. Is there a way jazz CAN be presented to create a larger listening audience?
6. Is jazz elitist?
7. Are jazz musicians elitist?
8. What can jazz musicians (and jazz record labels for that matter) do to increase the exposure jazz has in society today?

Today, I will address question #1: Why is Jazz on the fringe?

It has been a long time since jazz enjoyed a large audience! During Jazz's most popular era (the Big Band Era: 1935-45), Jazz was the end all and be all of America's popular music. But, by the mid-40's things had changed. Jazz record sales dropped from a majority to a mere 11%. Today, jazz record sales are roughly 4% of total sales in the music industry. Here is a very good article by Marc Myers about the decline of jazz (in popularity not artistic value). Marc states that when jazz developed artistically (a slow process through the years) and moved from the ballroom to the concert hall, the popularity vanished. Basically, jazz turned from a music for dancing to a listening art-form. So I guess the question is: Did jazz leave the audience? or Did the audience leave jazz? Or more to the point, does jazz continue to develop as the audience is stagnant and not developing? Is the fact that jazz is not popular the fault of the musician or the audience? Maybe we can even break it down to a more simple question/statement: Do people love 'extroverted' jazz and not the brooding artistic 'introverted' jazz? Is that the distinction people make? I don't know, but I do know that today, people go out to be entertained. If they want to see/hear a concert they go to a concert hall, if they want to go out and have 'fun', dance and be entertained, they go to a club...and most jazz is heard in clubs.

So, jazz isn't as popular today as it was back in the 30's and 40's. In fact it's not even as popular today as it was back in the 50's and 60's, but the music is still progressing. Jazz is definitely on the fringe of American pop culture, but that doesn't mean we should simply abandon the art-form (and I don't think anybody is suggesting that either). It's going to take a large effort from a lot of different sources to get jazz back to a good standing in American culture. It's going to take record labels like Owl Studios promoting some wonderful new talent (like neo-soul vocalist Cynthia Layne or jazz pianist Rick Germanson) to jazz artists themselves getting closer to the audience without compromising their art. Jazz will never be as popular as it once was, but it can be self sustaining. Should the government step in and subsidize the African-American Art-Form known as Jazz? YES! European countries do...why can't we?

While we can't pander to the audience, we can build lasting and loyal audiences by simply reaching out, smiling and attempting to break down that barrier!!

The Owl Studios Thanksgiving Menu, Part 2: The Sides

You can't have a Thanksgiving dinner without plenty of side dishes. In this blog, I'm going to mix it up a little bit. I prefer the side dishes I make to be good enough to be considered a main course. Since Thanksgiving dinners are not really an ideal meal for vegetarians, the side dishes sometimes become a main course for some (and for me while I was a vegetarian for about 12 years). None of the music on the Owl Studios label can be considered a 'side-dish' as they are all featured main-course albums! As an Independent Jazz Label, we are proud of all of our jazz record releases. Here are a couple of great albums to accompany these hearty side-dishes! First, put in this great album of acoustic jazz by our great friend from New York, pianist Rick Germanson:

This is a power piano trio album featuring Louis Hayes on drums and Gerald Cannon on bass. This album, Off the Cuff, has been getting rave reviews. Click HERE to check out these reviews. To get a little sample of what this album has to offer, listen to one of my favorite tracks: This Time The Dreams on Me. (Click on the album art to purchase Off the Cuff. Can't wait? Download it from iTunes NOW!!) OK, we are now ready for side dish #1:


Roasted Vegetable Stew
3    tablespoons olive oil
4    cloves garlic, minced
1    teaspoon minced fresh oregano
1    teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1    teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
8    ounces asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths (about 2 cups)
1    cup baby carrots, halved horizontally
1    red bell pepper, seeded, deribbed, and cut into 1.5 by .5 inch strips
1    small zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch strips
1/2 red onion, cut into 1/2inch wedges
1 1/4 cups vegetable stock
2    tablespoons tomato paste
2    tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges
~    mashed potatoes (see below)
~    crumbled feta cheese for garnish

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir together the oil, garlic, oregano, rosemary, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the vegetables and toss until coated. Transfer the vegetables to a roasting pan. Bake, uncovered, turning the vegetables occasionally, for about 30 minutes, or until tender.
When the vegetables are done, transfer the roasting pan to the stove top. Stir in the vegetable stock, tomato paste, and tomatoes. Cover and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Season to taste.
Spread Stew over Mashed Potatoes.

For the recipe below, I'm recommending an album with some serious energy and beats! (Hey, I'm a jazz trombone player, trust me!!) You're gonna need the rhythm of Cynthia Layne's 'Beautiful Soul' to get those Potatoes Mashed!! Cynthia is a great neo soul artist who is still getting some great air time around the WORLD! (Click the album to the right to go to the Owl Studios store to get the album, or go to iTunes and download this gem NOW!!) To get your groove on and in order to get pumped up for Mashing of Potatoes, listen to Will U Be There right now!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
2 garlic bulbs, separated into cloves, unpeeled
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
3 pounds baking potatoes
1/2 - 3/4 cup milk
salt and white pepper

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add the garlic cloves and boil for 2 minutes, then drain and peel.
In a heavy frying pan, melt half of the butter over low heat. Add the blanched garlic cloves, then cover and cook gently for 20-25 minutes, until very tender and just golden, shaking the pan and stirring occasionally. Do not allow the garlic to scorch or brown.
Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly. Spoon the garlic and any butter from the pan into a blender or food processor fitted with a metal blade and process until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, press plastic wrap onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming and set aside.
Peel and quarter the potatoes, place in a large saucepan and add enough cold water to just cover them. Salt the water generously and bring to a boil over high heat.
Cook the potatoes until tender, then drain and work through a food mill or press through a sieve back into the saucepan. Return the pan to medium heat and, using a wooden spoon, stir the potatoes for 1-2 minutes to dry them out completely. Remove from the heat.
Warm the milk over medium-high heat until bubbles form around the edge. Gradually beat the milk, remaining butter and reserved garlic puree into the potatoes, then season with salt, if needed, and white pepper.

Enjoy and have a safe and happy Holiday!!

~Rich

Just received this from Amy Peddycord of Invoke Studio in Indianapolis.  This is a great charity event and we are very happy that Cynthia Layne is offering her Neo Soul music to the event.  If you have this date available, please try to make this event and support a great cause.  Contact Amy at the studio or mention this post at the event to receive discount tickets!  Support live music and support great causes...


Friday November 6, 2009
Invoke Studio www.invokestudio.com
970 Fort Wayne Avenue 6pm-10pm

Self-portraits of local artists
Music of vocalist Cynthia Layne
Food and Drinks

$40 per person $75 per couple. Mention this blog and receive $20 per person tickets as a fan of Cynthia Layne and Owl Studios, courtesy of Invoke Studio.
Prices include valet parking and two complimentary drinks.
Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.blindchildrensfoundation.org/note2self.html
 
50% of all art sales go to the Blind Children's Foundation.
The mission of the Blind Children’s Foundation (BCF) is to invest in the futures of Indiana’s children who are blind and visually impaired in ways that meaningfully enhance their education and their lives. BCF is a philanthropic foundation that financially supports the unique work of the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
 
Artists include:
Trinity Jackson Photo
Kenneth Rehm Photo
Suzanna Hoone Ceramics or Painting
Stan Blevins Painting
Paula Brown Photography
Alex Gray Painting
Jay Parnell Painting
Brian Myers Painting
Darlene Delbreq Photo
Artur Silva Painting
Alyssa Oakley Painting
MaryAnne Nguyen Painting
John Grooms Drawing
Joe Crone Drawing
Martin Kuntz Painting
Robert Evans, III Photo
Greg Andrews
 
amy peddycord
owner
invoke studio
317.631.9642 (studio)
www.invokestudio.com
 
invoke studio
970 fort wayne avenue, suite c
indianapolis, in 46202


- mda

Neo-Soul Singer and Owl Studio Artist Cynthia Layne will be performing on Thursday, November 5th on WGN's Mid-Day News!

Cynthia will be traveling up with long-time collaborator and saxophonist Rob Dixon, drummer Kenny Phelps and keyboardist Reggie Bishop to perform.

The band will be performing tunes off of her wonderful Owl Studios release, 'Beautiful Soul'.

Check back here in the near future as we will be posting the video recording on her performance!

For a small Independent Jazz Record Label like Owl Studios, having one of our artists (especially a great neo-soul music vocalist like Cynthia) perform a major gig like this is just another feather in our caps that we made the right decision signing her to the label!

Click HERE to check out WGN's Mid-Day News website!

Good Luck Cynthia!

Tuesday, July 14th, Cynthia Layne and her band (consisting of Kenny Phelps on drums, Rob Dixon on saxophone and Reggie Bishop on keys/keyboard bass) rocked, grooved, swung and made the nearly 800 people out there very, very happy!! This Jazz Independent Record Label is so happy to have neo soul singer Cynthia Layne on the label! The people love her! She puts on a great show and really connects with the audience! Check out the video below:


CHECK OUT THAT BAND!!!! Cynthia is a wonderful singer and R & B artist, Rob Dixon is one of the best jazz saxophone players and jazz composers out there! Kenny Phelps...is there a better drummer around than Kenny? And Reggie Bishop, playing slammin' keys and a groovy jazz bass, this audience got a great show of modern jazz music and this jazz record label was happy to be out there enjoying the show and getting to know our fans!!

Come out next week, July 21st to check out Frank Glover and come to our table to say 'HI'!!!

This is the official "first-hello" from Garrett, your friendly Owl Studios System Administrator, or SysAdmin for short.

To start, I'll cover last night, when I went to see one of my favorite Owl Studios Artists, Cynthia Layne.

Cynthia is quite possibly my favorite singer to hear live. She always engages the crowd, not mattering the venue or size of the audience, making everyone feel right at home...and that's before even hearing her voice!

As for her, she would definitely classify her music as neo-soul music, but with a whole lot more! And, I have to agree. She can sing any style, at least from what I've experienced, ask her.

You can even try from 9pm to midnight tonight, when she plays at the Vitesse in the Conrad Hotel, with Reggie Bishop (whom some might use the title of "Best Jazz Pianist" for) and Kenny Phelps on drums. Owl Studios' own Rob Dixon, Indianapolis' Mayor of Music, may also join in on tenor, in between his rather hectic schedule of gigs with his own jazz band(s).

Anytime you want to know where Cynthia's playing, check out her schedule here.

Another thing I can't wait for is Tuesday to come around for the second installment of Jazz on the Point...which will feature Cynthia. Talk about a treat!...6-8pm in a city park with some of the best live jazz music in the midwest!

I, for one, have to consider it a rare privilege to work with these artists and such a great jazz record label.

More to come soon from your Friendly Neigboordhood SysAdmin!

                                                               Garaj Mahal 09   

                                                      


Dear reader,

My name is Kai Eckhardt who happens to play bass in this fine combo.  I am saying this with all sincerity as Garaj Mahal is a unique mix of multi - ethnic individuals who do on occasion manage to speak though music as one collective voice.  Those evenings are magical, healing, energized, passionate and hilarious as well.

I have spend the last 30 years of my life travelling the world and playing on countless  stages.  A true privilege and honor indeed. The last 8 years I have been in and  about "Garaj",  the band that travels the continental US, presenting their audiences with an upredictable, exciting mix of jazz,  rock, neo soul, funk and world music.  Undefined? No!  Vague? Not at all! It is very well defined.  It is an  "Afrotasktic übermitzvah".  The music of the present. 

You think I am trying to be funny, but I am very serious.  Serious about believing in a way of life that is not meant to be categorized where all elements get their full value and recognition, without a need for a central scruitinizer.   We have a definate goal in sight.  It is called the home of the paradox.  It is the place to be!   We are four yet sound as one.  We reach freedom though temporary adoptation of self imposed restrictions.

And then there is reality.   The Indianapolis school system is about to cut music programs, the arts are being slashed from most school budgets accross the nation.   The economy is sinking all over the world.    Last week in Japan with Alex Machacek and Marco Minneman I saw the Japanese perspective.    Still going strong but "less people" at shows.   A famous rockstar was supposed to sell 10 000 seats and he only sold 3000. 

Without getting into the bigger picture of modern angst, let it just be said that slashing arts from the school budget is the equivalent of choosing the dark ages over the period of "enlightenment".  
Being originally from Germany and Liberia/ West Africa, their is enough of a connection to history on both sides for a valuable lesson and a fair warning about what happens when the music is allowed to die.

While being on tour with John Mclaughlin and Trilok Gurtu I often lamented about the evils of the world and John would always say the same thing: "What are YOU going to do about it?"
Today I know more answers than I have questions.   (A blessing of getting older :)
The answer to this one is:  We must provide it!  Garaj Mahal is going not only to the stage but also into schools.   The flame may shrink to a flicker, but it always recovers fully after the storm is gone.  


                                                   

Hello! This is jazz pianist Rick Germanson and this is my maiden voyage into the blog world.  Just want to let everybody know about a relatively new American label releasing jazz artists as well as neo-soul music and jam bands; Owl Studios. 

I am proud to be making my recording debut as an Owl Studios artist.  Although I have been based in NYC for about a decade now, I have a history in Indianapolis, where this independent jazz record label is based.  In 1996 I won the Best Jazz Pianist at the American Piano Association Jazz Piano Competition held bi-annually in Indianpolis.

Anyways, my new CD "off the cuff" will feature one of the best bassists in the business Gerald Cannon as well as a true living legend of the drums, Louis Hayes. The CD will be released this summer so please look out for it and other releases on this exciting Jazz Production Company, Owl Studios.  

On the CD we feature some brand new compositions of mine as well as a homage, if you will, to the late, great trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.  Unfortunately, "Hubs" left us one week before the recording took place.  Louis was really close to him so I felt compelled to do something.  Mr. Hubbard is such an influence on myself and entire generations of jazz musicians.  He could very well have been one of the best true improvisers of this music.  Freddie, incidentally (or not), was originally from Indianapolis.

Another interesting fact is that this CD (my third outing as a leader) was recorded at Systems Two in Brooklyn, NY (where my second was done) and mixed/mastered by Gary Mielke at the old TRC Studios (where my first was done) in Indianapolis!  

"off the cuff" will be released this summer so please look out for it and other releases on this exciting Jazz Production Company, Owl Studios.  

Thank you for reading!

Keep Swingin'

Rick Germanson
NYC
3/24/09

Rob Dixon here, and I just wanted to let everyone to know that Owl Studios has a featured article in the december issue of Down Beat magazine. And yours truly has a picture in the article. ;-)  But this is one of the many things that is going on with Owl Studios in the coming months ahead. For those of you who do not know there are going to be some CD releases in 2009 that are in a word 'Brilliant'. Jazz fusion artist Fareed Haque and the flat earth ensemble have a release in the spring, that really reflects the scope of Fareed's musical genius. Derrick Gardner and the Jazz Prophets+2  have a release in the spring as well, and as one of the members of this ensemble that has insight to  the construction of this CD, the music is some of the best jazz conceptually that I have heard in a great while.  There is also a surprise band  for 2009 that will  be unveiled soon to the general public that people are going to love......but that is all I will say for now as not to let the cat out of the bag. Shout out's to the artists that have recent releases on the label.  The BWJO with "Where of When" which features awesome vocals by Everett Greene and Cynthia Layne with highly sophisticated and emotionally intense arranging by Brent Wallarab, and the most recent Owl Studios release, "Peace on  Earth", a holiday album by the newly signed Monika Herzig......."Congrats Monika on a great CD". Btw, if you want to do something truly meaningful this season, buy a Dixon-Rhyne project reinvention CD, It is a combination of jazz fusion, neo soul and jam band music with a little bit of proggressive rock and world music thrown in for good measure. Trust me if you do this,  you will be glad that you did. :-)