R & B Artists

Todd Harrold is a new addition to the Owl Studios artist roster. He is a drummer/singer from the Fort Wayne region and plays with our own saxman, Rob Dixon. Check out Todd's updated schedule by clicking HERE.

Todd also has a weekly radio show titled, 'The Burnt Toast Show' which airs every Sunday from 8pm - midnight on wboi 89.1 or online HERE. He has been doing this show for 13 years!!! That's 2,704 hours of RADIO!!

Find the Burnt Toast Show on FACEBOOK.

Here's more information on the Burnt Toast Show:

No corporate programming here, folks...our show is broadcast on Public Radio by an all-volunteer crew. The Burnt Toast Show, established in 1978, is modeled after free-form radio shows of the '60s and '70s, and reaches people well beyond the range of our 34,000-watt HD Radio transmitter. Our ever-growing audience includes listeners throughout North America, as well as overseas, who listen online via streaming audio. The show is an eclectic mix of songwriters, acid jazz, fusion, funk, R&B, jam bands and creative rock...basically, talented musicians performing great music that you rarely hear on commercial radio stations. Wherever you may be, tune in each and every Sunday from 8pm to midnight (Eastern time) via live streaming audio at www.nipr.fm. Locally, tune to WBOI 89.1 FM. Sit back, relax and let your mind unwind.

It's hard to believe, but the school year is really over, all the grades are turned in and Bloomington is in summer mode.  Quincy Jones actually gave the commencement address for the class of 2010 since he received an honorary doctorate from the Jacobs School of Music.  He also did a Q&A session with Jazz Master David Baker and shared some of his stories and wisdom working with Ray Charles and Michael Jackson as well as some of the current Hip Hop Moguls and his endeavors in Music Education.  One of his main encouragements to students was to explore the roots and history in order to understand the current Hip Hop culture.  One of his slogans was " Dumb is no longer sexy" - well, I hope it never was. 

Anyway - I'm leaving on a jet plane on Thursday to Clarksville, VA for the Jazz by the Lake festival, May 15/16, hosted by the South Side Virginia Jazz Society.  Looks like Jazz Society president Ross LeCompte has a full schedule for me with several performances, clinics, and some backing of vocalists and more.  I got to go last year and it was a beautiful setting right on the lake in Okoneechee State Park.  Here is the link to the bios of the headliners for the Saturday/ Sunday performances www.vajazzsociety.org/headliners.html.  If you have any friends in the area send them over - loads of fun ahead.

Here is a picture from last year with fabulous Jazz Artist Michael Hawkins, regular bassist for Jazz greats such as Jimmy Heath, Eric Alexander, Bruce Barth, Vanessa Rubin, Leon Thomas, Isacc Hayes, Mulgrew Miller, Cyrus Chestnut, Gary Bartz, Donald Harrison, John Hicks, Stephon Harris, Mark Whitfeild, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Steve Turre and the legendary R&B group “The Main Ingredient”.
See you in Virginia
Monika

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

Owl Studios, everyone's jazz production company, is so lucky to have some of the best artists in the jazz, jam band, jazz fusion, R & B, new soul artists.  One of those artists is Frank Glover.  As you already know, Frank has an album coming out in May and we are all very excited about it.  So excited that we thought we would post his out-of-this-world solo from the tune Modern Times. 

Enjoy!

One of the most successful Owl Studios artists we have, in terms of award winning national attention, is the great jazz trumpet player, jazz educator, Derrick Gardner. Derrick has released two albums for Owl Studios. Both, A Ride To The Other Side, and Echoes of Ethnicity contains some of the best jazz playing you'll hear anywhere! You're have undoubtedly heard a lot about him on this blog due to his recent Winning of an Independent Music Award for his album Echoes of Ethnicity! Not to say that our other artists have not been successful, just check out their past questionnaires and you will see just how successful they have been over the past year:



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
Owl Artist Questionnaire #7: Cynthia Layne
Owl Artist Questionnaire #8: Frank Glover
Owl Artist Questionnaire #9: Mike Clark
Owl Artist Questionnaire #10: Steve Allee
Owl Artist Questioinnaire #11: Kai Eckhardt
Owl Artist Questionnaire #12: Eric Levy
Owl Artist Questionnaire #13: Fareed Haque

Clearly, the Independent Jazz Record Company, Owl Studios, have signed some serious jazz contracts to get this much deep talent. Like good baseball talent scouts, we are always looking for the best jazz players around that need to be recognized! From R & B Artists, to jazz piano trio groups, Owl Studios is YOUR source for MUSIC and FUN!!

So without any further ado, nor pomp and circumstance, I give you Derrick Gardner!!


1. How was 2009 for you?

I would have to say that 2009 was a great musical year for me.

1a. Would you consider it a successful year?

Yes

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?

Musically, I don't believe that "the next wave of jazz" has presented itself yet but the jazz that is being presented is maintaining the creative aspect of jazz.

2. What do you have planned for 2010?



Practice, performance and composition



2a. Any tours set-up?

Yea, some tours still tba. Currently touring Japan w/the Count Basie Orchestra

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?

No, my approach for programming a CD is pretty much the same more so because it's a familiar approach. I believe the public perspective regarding recorded music is still callobrated to 9 or 10 tracks of music on a CD. It took the compact disk to re-callobrate the public perspective from the two-sided vinyl album and, although digital downloading is very popular, I don't believe the general public is "fully" re-callobrated to this yet.

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?

I believe that radio still plays a big role across the board because it's a medium that is familiar to the general public. It's role has been diminished some because it's not the "only game in town" anymore. If radio hadn't gone to internet streaming I think radio would have eventually become obsolete.

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

I'm assuming all of the broadcasting and promotional elements that are out there are reaching the public. I myself listen to internet radio, cable radio, surf iTunes and receive messages on MySpace, Facebook and email advertising new recordings. I do know that people are resilient and will find a way to get what they want musically.

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

2010 hasn't sunk in yet. I'm still writing '09 by mistake on my checks!!

Todd Harrold is one of the newer members of american label full of jazz artists, R & B artists, jam bands, New Soul artists, and jazz fusion artsits (just to name a few).  Todd brings the male vocals and a pretty slamming drum set to the label with his upcoming Owl Studios debut to be released August 2010.  Should be a great recording and we think everyone will find something they really enjoy on it.  

Here is a behind the scenes look on a couple of days during the recording/mixing/editing sessions.

As we have seen from the past 10 artist questionnaire blogs, OWL Studios has a diverse artist roster:


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
Owl Artist Questionnaire #7: Cynthia Layne
Owl Artist Questionnaire #8: Frank Glover
Owl Artist Questionnaire #9: Mike Clark
Owl Artist Questionnaire #10: Steve Allee

We have interviewed legendary jazz artists (jazz piano player Steve Allee and legendary funk/jazz drummer Mike Clark), big band leaders, composers and arrangers (trumpeter Mark Buselli and jazz trombone player Brent Wallarab), R & B Artists (Cynthia Layne, Todd Harrold), and some cutting edge composers (jazz clarinetist Frank Glover).

Now we are moving on to some jam band artists. We are very lucky to have the great touring band, Garaj Mahal on the label. Garaj Mahal has a new album coming out in March titled, More Mr. Nice Guy. This album is a lot of fun! Not only are their albums great, their live shows have to been seen to be believed!

Check out this live video of Garaj Mahal performing 'Pundit Ji' at The House Cafe Dekalb, IL December 2, 2007:





The band consists of Fareed Haque on guitars, Kai Eckhardt on bass, Eric Levy on keys and new addition Sean Rickman on drums. (the above clip has the original drummer Alan Hertz).

Now we get to hear how things are going with bassist Kai Eckhardt. But first a quick bio of Kai:
- born in Mainz Germany
- graduated from Berkley School of Music
- toured with: Steve Smith's Vital Information, Alphonse Mouzon, Randy Brecker and Stanley Clarke
- bassist for John McLaughlin Trio, Billy Cobham's International Quartet

For a full bio, click HERE!

1. How was 2009 for you?

We toured all across the United states and Canada coast to coast multiple times and ended up in Alaska in January 2010.  After that we had one more show at San Francisco's top jazz spot "Yoshi's" on 1/11, filled up the house on a Monday night and brought it down with a standing ovation.  We also recorded and mastered two new albums.  One is for the company Moog and the other for our record label OWL.  We also had a chance to introduce our new drummer Sean Rickman to the fans who is blending in nicely while adding a strong vocal presence to the band.

1a. Would you consider it a successful year?

Given the overall economic predicament we have been extremely successful.
We are currently self-managed and kept afloat in the 09.   Musically and artistically we went through the ceiling.

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?

Depends on what things we're talking about. In the environment things have been getting  worse.  Communities are hurting everywhere without exception.   Musically speaking and artistically the conditions have become better.  A decade ago Garaj Mahal started touring and we have been at it averaging 100 dates on the road per year every year until today.

At home we are raising children, teaching and paying dues.  During those 10 years, we saw jazz hanging tight, struggling with the decline of smooth jazz loosing  royalties and record sales, closing institutions and cutting funding.  The jam-band emerged around the hippies and acid jazz cooled off.

To our credit we have been riding this decade out with perfect consistency.  Garaj Mahal dropped into the Jam Band scene like a cuckoo's  egg in 2000. It stood  out in every way.  The music was furious but the Hippies danced to it anyway :) We love them for that.

2. What do you have planned for 2010?

We will continue to rise to our challenges and weather the storm, composing and playing free  music like Weather Report, Mahavishnu Orchestra or Jimi Hendrix or Keith Jarrett.   New is our  fusion with  Indian, Afro-Cuban, Turkish,  trance, pop rock, funk, latin, country, heavy-metal, bluegrass with a touch of German  Um Pah :)

a. Any tours set-up?

Yes. We are going out for 2 weeks second week of February.  Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Denver are on the list. Festival offers have been coming in too.  Always go to our website for details.

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

We as individuals all do, but Garaj Mahal has only been to Canada and Bulgaria outside extensive US touring.

Things are changing though.  People in Japan, Germany, Turkey and the Netherlands are spinning Garaj Mahal CDs and ask about the band.  It is only a matter of time.


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?

No, not really.  We just make records like in the good old days.  The Moog record is an exception.  It is a fine work of live improvisation mixed with modern electronica and break beats.

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?

I don't know the statistic on that.  Radio has diminished in popularity but it is still around. Thus it is a good viable tool.  Where will radio be tomorrow?  It depends on how relevant radio will be in the coming society.  Having a mix of radio, press and Internet as well as TV is OK to ride out what's coming. Any kind of mono-culture is undesirable.

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

Wherever they can  through whatever channels are available to them.  One avenue is superior: The live show.  The live show is where we sell the most merchandise.  If we come out to autograph and meet the fans, we double our sales.  In Japan on a tour with Alex Machacek last year, the entire venue lined up and everybody bought a CD.
 
6. Now that the year is 2010, are you saying, "Twenty-Ten" or "Two Thousand and Ten" or "Aught-Ten"? 

All of those work for Garaj Mahal as we stay healthy, creative and relevant.

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!

By the way, I love when our crowd yells, HEY! in unison, in between melodies . It was never anything we planed on. It just sort of caught on. Music man, wow.

I just want to say I've been all over the country and I really feel like Indianapolis (Naptown) people in general, really know how to party, get down and have a good time. I think it's the music. It doesn't matter if it's jazz, Rock, R&B or Face Funk Fusion. When people in Naptown go out we go out to party and we're professionals about it.






If your bored go to the gas station buy a 40 of King Cobra and watch this video.



 






Check out owl studios killin the Jazz chart's with some of there hottest new jazz record realeases.
Go see live jam bands, piano trio's, R&B artists, your local country star.

Got a Cat in the wall huh, need to get out of the appartment?                   
THE TWIN CATS this Saturday Jan. 16th 2010.

                                                            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!!

Still looking for something to do this New Year's Eve in the great city of Indianapolis?  Why don't you let the amazing Owl Studios vocalist Cynthia Layne (hands down one of the best R & B Artists in the world) be of assistance with a great package from ZEST! Exciting Food Creations in Broad Ripple.  Want all the information for this special offering?  Check out THIS FILE RIGHT HERE










--- Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from your favorite independent jazz label ---

-OWL 

Through my jazz blog reading today, I came across this interesting blog giving an interesting discussion on what needs to change in the worldwide community for jazz to become a viable, self sustaining art form once again.  The five points (originally posted by one Gerard Cox) seems to hit the nail on the head.  The 5th point, however, struck me as quite interesting.  Here is the Gerard's 5th point with a response in italics by Brilliant Corners (language sensitive).

----------
5) CELEBRATE INTELLIGENCE AND INSIGHT. Our culture right now is a complete circus that revels in being juvenile, shallow, and dumb. We need to stop worrying about jazz being ELITIST and take more of the attitude like "yeah, so what? At least it isn't some dumb-ass bullshit."

People have got to stand their ground that this is a music of substance, and there's nothing to apologize for in that, not even the fact that it's mostly all educated white people who listen to it.

This is the best part. Once upon a time in America it wasn't hip to be stupid and narcissistic.This shit runs in cycles. The last time it was hip to be shallow and stupid may have been the roaring 20's but their shallow and stupid still amounts to towering genius alongside boomer era mastery of shallow and stupid with heaping narcissism helpin's on the side. But the kids are sick of it. They will have to clean the boomer bed pans as the waddlers totter toward boomer Valhalla and this economic collapse thing has them worried, wary and avid to learn on many levels.
-------------

If this is true, what can we as an independent jazz label do to promote to the 'kids' discussed in the excerpt.  I believe it goes back to what we seem to always discuss in the Owl Studios offices.  "How can we get our artists in the non-traditional venues that will open up the ears of the younger generation to Indy jazz, soul, R & B, jam band, and jazz fusion played by many of our artists.  In fact, this was touched upon in the 4th point of the blog (viable and visible venues).

It is an interesting read.  We would love to hear your thoughts as a musician/fan/newbie to the scene on the 5 points.  Are they good or bad?  Is there something missing?  Leave a comment and let us know.

-OWL

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'!!!

So have you noticed we haven't posted much lately?  That is because there are so many great things happening at Owl Studios that we have not had the chance to post much.  Why are we so busy?  Well, it has to do with the independent jazz record company having some great albums being sold everywhere, being played on radio stations everywhere, and even some albums being released very soon. 

While you eagerly await more wonderful content from Owl Studios, how about you enjoy a video from last night.  We had the first performance of the Eagle Creek Jazz On The Point summer concert series presented by Indy Jazz Fest.  It was a great night with two hours of the Rob Dixon Quartet performing some great groove jazz, R & B, and funk.  Maybe it would be better if you listened to some of the concert instead of us trying to describe the awesome live jazz.

If you enjoy what you hear on the video, make sure you pick up Rob's latest album The Dixon-Rhyne Project, featuring Rob on saxophone, the legendary Melvin Rhyne on B3 organ, great jazz guitar artist Fareed Haque, and top-call Indy jazz drummer Kenny Phelps.  You can purchase it HERE.

Enjoy. 

-OWL

Well, Rich seems to be slacking on his recipes, so you will have to enjoy another Owl Studios recipe from me.  I know you are all excited about this.  I bet you are also excited to find out which enticing album from your favorite independent jazz record label will be matched with the upcoming recipe.  Patience.  They are both coming, but first a little history. 

As many of you know, Owl Studios is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.  And what a great city it is!  We have already discussed a little of the history of Indy jazz; the great jazz artists who have come from Indianapolis and how they shaped the future of jazz; and the great jazz artists who currently live in this city and how they themselves have created a very strong and unique jazz that we at Owl Studios are now introducing to the rest of the world. 

Well Indianapolis, actually Indiana as a whole, is also known quite well for a dietitian's worst nightmare...The Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich.  Don't believe us?  Documentarian and musician Jensen Rufe created a 16 minute documentary entitled "In Search of the Famous Hoosier Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich." (click on links for more information on Jensen Rufe and a short excerpt from his documentary).  This favorite of Hoosiers is quite impressive: pork tenderloin pounded thin, dipped in a tasty batter, deep-fried to a golden hue, placed on a bun and served with mayo and pickle (maybe lettuce and tomato).  The thing is, the breaded pork tenderloin is always larger than the bun.  That is what makes the sandwich such an interesting icon in Indiana. 

However, you will not be receiving a recipe for this sandwich monstrosity.  Owl Studios prefers to keep our recipe offerings a little more healthier than the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich.  So instead of the sandwich offering, why not try the 5-spice Pork Tenderloin with pumpkin and grapes.  Oh so delicious.  But first, let's put on a little music while you are bustling about the kitchen.  How about some Rob Dixon.



What Things Could Be was Rob's first album for Owl Studios.  Rob states that the album "started out conceptually as a record that blended Jazz with Funk, Hip Hop, Rock, R & B and Gospel.  However somewhere in the course of the project, the music seemed to take on a life of its own..."  This is a great album and will certainly make anyone's epicurean ways a little more enjoyable.  There really is a little bit of everything on the album.  Here is the track The Earth, The Sky from Rob Dixon & Triology + 1 What Things Could Be.  Want to hear the rest of the album?  Click the album artwork to be directed to the purchase page.  

And now that the music has been chosen, let's get the recipe. 

5-Spice Pork Tenderloin with Pumpkin and Grapes

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1/4 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 pounds sugar pumpkin or winter squash (such as butternut, kabocha, buttercup, or Hubbard) peeled, seeded, and cut into half-moons about 3/4 inch thick
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups (10 ounces) red seedless grapes
1/4 cup dry sherry

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sesame oil

1.  To make the marinade, in a small bowl combine the soy sauce, sherry, five-spice powder, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil.

2. Place the pork tenderloin in a baking dish or lock-top plastic bag. Pour the marinade over the tenderloin. Cover or seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight, turning several times.

3. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Position one rack in the middle of the oven and a second rack in the lower third of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

4.  In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil and vinegar. Add the pumpkin and toss to coat. Place-on the prepared baking sheet and place on the lower rack of the oven. Bake for 30 minutes.

5.  Place the meat on a rack in a roasting pan (reserve the marinade). Place in the oven on the middle rack and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 145°F (15 to 20 minutes) basting occasionally with the remaining marinade.

6.  Continue roasting the pumpkin until tender when pierced with a knife, 40 to 45 minutes total.

7.  Transfer the meat to a carving board, tent with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes.

8.  Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the grapes and heat for about 1 minute. Pour in the sherry and cook until the liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons.

9.  Carve the pork and transfer to a platter. Surround with the pumpkin and grapes, and serve.

Wow, that is a tasty meal right there.  And the music of Rob Dixon, one of the best jazz saxophone players around, certainly complements the meal. 

Enjoy!

-mda

So we all know who Rob Dixon is, correct?  Well let's see what is happening in the world of Rob Dixon, saxophone player, jazz composer, music producer, record label A&R man, musical mayor of Indianapolis jazz, R & B artist, and all round good guy to know.  Enjoy...






-OWL

Here at Owl Studios, your favorite Independent Jazz Label, we insist on high standards from their Jazz artists, R & B artists, and Jam Bands.  We have many musicians knocking down our door looking for a label to produce jazz music.  We are picky, however.  If Owl Studios were approached by something like this, we would have to turn them down.




Now we must admit that this dog certainly has some musical ability.  Come on, the dog is playing the piano with its nose and singing...ok, howling and barking.  But still, fairly impressive.

Yes dogs are great, but would anyone actually purchase an album of a dog singing?  I have a wonderful dog myself.  Her name is Jasmine. She is a retriever/greyhound mix pictured on the right.  She is a great dog, but she has no musical ability like the dog in the video above.  In fact, she runs away when I am practicing my saxophone, especially altissimo scales.  Oh well, her loss.   


Ok, back to the purpose of this entry.  We at Owl Studios, your favorite American label releasing jazz and other jazz related genres, insist on finding and signing the best talent to a jazz record contract.  It is important to us and we think you would agree that it is important to you too.   So when we are able to sign two great musicians like jazz saxophone player Rob Dixon and the best jazz trumpet around, Derrick Gardner, we bring out the pen and paper immediately.  Luckily, we signed them up right at the founding of Owl Studios so we have had the extreme pleasure of watching them grow as musicians.  Check this out, from Rob Dixon's first album Rob Dixon & Triology + 1 What Things Could Be, featuring Derrick Gardner.  




Two jazz artists at their finest right there.  Rob Dixon has a few things in mind for 2010 and Derrick's new album Echoes of Ethnicity just debuted on the JazzWeek radio charts at number 13!

Like what you heard in the previous video (Rob's video, not the singing dog) or would you like to check out Derrick's new album Echoes of Ethnicity?  Click on the album artwork below to be directed to their OWL store purchase pages.
 













Who are your favorite Owl Studios artists and why?  Let us know and we will do an artist interview right here on the Owl Studios blog...just for you.


- mda