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  • Behind The Scenes with JFM Pre

    • From: LisaBautista
    • Description:

      Behind The Scenes with JFM Presents and Mitch Marcus…

      August 3, 2009

      Saxophonist Mitch Marcus has not missed a beat since he moved back to the East Coast in late June.  He just performed at Small's in New York City on July 24 and is winding up his newest project.  Countdown to Meltdown, scheduled for release on August 18 by Jazzcubed, an independent label founded by longtime Producer/Engineer Stephen Barncard (Tubes, Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, and Nash) is Marcus' third CD following Entropious (2002) and The Special (2007).  Marcus will be back on the West Coast August 17-24 for rehearsals and performances, including the official CD release party at Yoshi's San Francisco, August 24.

      Music Critic Jim Harrington says, "Mitch Marcus is a busy man.  The Berkeley-based jazz saxophonist, who is also handy on the keyboards, performs in more ensembles than there are nights of the week.  What's really amazing, however, is the wide range of styles represented in those bands." (Oakland Tribune, May 2008).

      While at Indiana University, Marcus met alto sax man Sylvain Carton, who is the founder/mastermind behind the Japonize Elephants (hard-core gypsy circus bluegrass klezmer pirate clown music), which was formed in 1996.  That was the first band where Marcus and Carton performed together.  In 1998, Marcus moved to The Bay Area, Carton soon thereafter, and the Mitch Marcus Quintet was formed in 1999.

      From 1999 to 2004, Marcus has performed and toured with Mood Food, featuring Vince Welnick of the Grateful Dead (groove/funky jazz).  The band has more recently morphed into a similar style group called Stanley.  In 2004, Marcus received a Subito Grant from The American Composers Forum and formed Mitch Marcus Quintet + 13 Big Band, which made its debut at Yoshi's Oakland (Sep 2005).  Most recently, de Young Museum of San Francisco commissioned Marcus to write a composition about a piece of art in their permanent collection for the MMQ+13.

      During 2005-2006, Marcus joined Donovan (60s icon touring band), the Matt Small Chamber Ensemble (avant-garde/classical/funk band, whose debut gig was at Carnegie Hall), the Nathan Clevenger Group (jazz/country band, who recently recorded a CD), Aphrodesia (Afro-beat, whose next performance is August 21) and straight-ahead jazz band Ben Adams Quintet (it was through Adams that Marcus came to record with legendary trombonist Grachan Moncur III).

      About two years ago, Marcus began playing with The Shotgun Wedding Hiphop Symphony, and other branches of Adam Theis, specifically the Shotgun Wedding Quintet and Realistic Orchestra.

      Since 2003, Marcus has performed the National Anthem for the Oakland Athletics and Golden State Warriors.  He has written music in a romantic/classical style for COUNTERPOINTe (his wife Sarah's dance company) and led a jam session every Wednesday at Amnesia in San Francisco for five and a half years.

      JFM Presents:  Circa 2006 was the first time I heard you perform with the Ben Adams Quintet @ the now defunct Jazz at Pearl’s.  You made quite an impression on me, and I remember asking Ben about you after the gig.  I booked a few more gigs for Ben thereafter, but had not met you until last spring at the SFJAZZ master series.  I booked a saxophone tribute series at the Jazzschool, and Cory Combs, SFJAZZ Director of Education, contacted me to book the same artists for his series.  To my surprise, you played piano and Sameer Gupta played drums!

      Name all the instruments you play, which one is your favorite, and why.

      Mitch Marcus:  Saxophones (primarily tenor and alto, though bari and soprano on occasion as well), clarinet, piano, keyboards (primarily fender Rhodes and Hammond b-3 organ), flute.  Hard to say the favorite because part of what keeps them all fresh for me is the variety.  When I’m playing a lot of saxophone I crave the piano and vice-versa.   I’ve been playing clarinet the longest and have recently dove back in head-first, revisiting the classical repertoire.  In some groups that I play in, including Donovan, Stanley, and Shotgun Wedding Quintet I regularly double with keys and sax which I particularly enjoy doing.

      JFM Presents:  You recently moved back home to the East Coast and just had your first gig at Smalls in NYC on Friday, July 24.  After having spent the past 11 years in the Bay Area, what was that experience like for you?  Specifically, how would you say the East Coast differs from the West Coast music scene?

      Mitch Marcus:  We actually have been playing on and off in NY for the last 4 years.  We’ve done a few gigs at the 55 bar and this was our 4th time playing at Smalls.  I’ve always loved playing in NY and am very excited about living here again.  As far as the differences between west coast and east coast music scene the one thing that hits me right off the bat is that the east coast fosters the scene a lot more.  Clubs have regular audiences and even when clubs close down, new ones pop up.  The city’s night-life actually revolves around the music scene in a way that I’ve not seen any where else. 

      JFM Presents:  You spearheaded and hosted jazz sessions at Amnesia for five and a half years.  What were the two most memorable experiences, one good, one bad?

      Mitch Marcus:  I never would have thought I’d have enjoyed running a session as much as I did.  It was Sol Crawford’s and Shawn McGee’s brainchild.  When they approached me about running it, my main thing  was to have it be different from a lot of sessions I’d known in the past.  I was never into the cutthroat, heavy vibing kind of thing.  This was gonna be a no sign up list, just “come talk to me and we’ll get you up on stage” thing.  I tried to avoid too many people onstage at the same time that way it’s not just a horn fest and everybody’s involved; the rhythm section can have more fun and be more than just a metronome or play-along cd! 
          I’ve met more people than I could’ve imagined through running The MM Session.  Every week there were new faces along with familiar ones and every week was musically stimulating in some fashion.  Mike Abraham and I really formed a bond through running it.  Since he started doing the session with me, we’ve collaborated on more projects than I could count.  I’m thrilled that he’s decided to take over leading it.   It’s all about the music.  Amnesia’s a great spot and has helped turned this into one of the best hangouts in the city.  
       
      JFM Presents:  Your discography includes:  <<Entropious>> (2002), <<The Special>> (2007) and your forthcoming release <<Countdown to Meltdown,>> which is due August 18.  While I have not heard your debut CD, I would classify <<The Special>> and <<Countdown to Meltdown>> as straight-ahead jazz.  Since your tracks are original compositions, what artists have influenced you the most?

      Mitch Marcus:  I’m always a bit hesitant to call our music straight ahead jazz only because it incorporates so much more and can actually be a little bit limiting for what we’re doing.  The MMQ style draws heavily upon some straight ahead influence but also has elements of Rock, Classical, mixed meter groove, collective improvisation, Country/Bluegrass, middle eastern, even Surf!     

      A lot of our music is through composed in the way you’d write for larger ensembles such as big-band or orchestra.  In that sense it’s no surprise that some of both mine and Sylvain’s heroes are Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Sergei Prokofiev, David Baker, Igor Stravinsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, Richard Wagner, Wayne Shorter, Ween, Zappa, Steely Dan, Grateful Dead, Nat Cole, Lester Young, Bill Monroe, Ravel, Rimsky-Korsakov, Giuseppe Verdi, Ornette Coleman, Dr. Ralph Stanley, Art Blakey, and so much more!

      JFM Presents:  Finally, most Bay Area jazz musicians, aficionados and the media are familiar with saxophonist Mitch Marcus.  What would make someone unfamiliar with you and your style of music come out to the CD Release of “Countdown to Meltdown>>? 

      Mitch Marcus:  To see that original music is alive and well in Jazz!  As much as we draw on our influences, we like to feel that we’re constantly pushing ahead.  The MMQ in the “Jazz” world in that we all write for the band and help shape it’s sound.  It is not an all-star collective; it is a “band.”  This distinction is considerably more common in the world of rock ‘n’ roll (which we all have roots in as well)(((possibly a superfluous sentence))) but has most definitely contributed to the overall vibe and sound of the group.  We have a lot of fun playing with each other and I think this comes out in the music.  While there’s a heavy intensity embedded in it there’s always some underlying humor as well.˚

      Countdown to Meltdown
      (Street Date: August 18, 2009)
      Available at CD Baby & Amazon

      Mitch Marcus (tenor saxophone)
      Sylvain Carton (alto-soprano saxophones)
      George Ban-Weiss (bass)
      Tomas Fujiwara (drums)
      Mike Abraham (guitar).

      Mitch Marcus Quintet
      Monday, Aug 24th at 8 and 10 P.M.
      $10 / $12 (day of show)
      Yoshi's San Francisco
      1330 Fillmore Street
      San Francisco, CA 94115
      Box Office:  415.655.5600
      http://yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artistpopup?showid=798

      Photo credit:  Stephen Barncard

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  • Behind The Scenes with JFM Pre

    • From: LisaBautista
    • Description:

      08.01.09

      Singer/songwriter Will Hammond Jr.'s musical career began in elementary school at Cathedral School for Boys and Grace Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys.  After Hammond Jr. graduated from Urban High School in 1987, he performed with up-and-coming black alternative /hip-hop bands Bass House Funk and Midnight Voices.  In 1990, Hammond Jr.’s major accomplishment occurred while he was a student at San Francisco State University.  He is credited as the writer of Tara Kemp's international hit, "Hold You Tight," (Warner Bros.), which went to #3 on the Billboard Pop and R&B charts and became a certified gold record with 800,000 units sold.  Hammond Jr. has produced tracks with other Bay Area talents like:  The Coup, Midnight Voices and performed with:  Ledisi, Martin Luther and B’Nai Rebelfront.

      Will Hammond Jr. makes his debut at Yoshi’s San Francisco on Wednesday, August 12 @ 8PM.  JFM Presents takes you Behind The Scenes with Will Hammond Jr….

      JFM Presents:  Let’s set the record straight.  In 2003, you released a debut project «brothafromanuthaplanet» under your pseudonym, "Soul Folk featuring Will Hammond Jr."  In 2008, your follow-up project «To Be Continued...» was released under Dreamtree Entertainment.  Both CDs were released under “Soul Folk featuring Will Hammond.”  Is Dreamtree Entertainment your label, and if so, is that the differentiation you are trying to make?

      Hammond Jr.: Yes, the label was created back in early 2000 and the band name has developed over that period. The initial name was "Colorfolks," but the industry felt that was not "politically correct"...lol...so I changed the name to Soul Folk which most people know me as. Now I am trying to brand the sound under my birth name. 

      JFM Presents:  Tell me about the concept for «To Be Continued…»

      Hammond Jr:  The cd is a culmination of different images from my life....translated into a musical mix of soul grooves and progressive/electronica layers. I wanted this album to be a representation of me; a variety of feelings and perspectives and musically diverse but still staying true to my soul background. From the groovy funk of "When It Rains" to the drum & bass layered "Beautiful" this cd will give you an emotional tapestry of life itself.

      JFM: How did the Will Hammond Jr. project get started?

      Hammond Jr.:  My professional music career started out as a songwriter and I made beats at my home studio in San Francisco while I was in college but commuted to Los Angeles to work with some producers down there. I started to reflect on my experiences of love and relationships--the ups and downs of the industry. After I finished some songs, I found some amazing musicians like Uriah Duffy, B’Nai Rebelfront and Mike Blankenship to tell the story live, so we started playing around town and I started writing more and expanding the concepts. The first cd was full of live music with hip-hop/jazz beats and helped me understand the direction of the next project «To Be Continued…»

      JFM Presents:  Who are your influences and why?

      Hammond Jr.:  I grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson. Big time Prince fan and of course his disciples which include D'Angelo, Bilal and Cody Chesnutt. I would love to work with those producers and writers who made that magic happen. My old drummer used to play me tapes of The Young Disciples with Carleen Anderson, Omar and Mica Paris. I loved the energy they gave to the music and it was free of the boy band sound we get now. It gave me hope to keep writing the songs I want to write and maybe someone would understand my story too.

      JFM Presents:  How would you describe your sound?

      Hammond Jr.:  I would always tell people I have love for all music. The CD is a mix of hip-hop, soul, jazz-funk and some Latin beats. When I'm in the studio I start to build ideas from an inner-rhythm I feel in the hook. From there I start to write down a story or freestyle my idea until I know what type of feel I want for that specific song. Right now, I'm working on a song called "Sunday in the Park" which has a very bossanova feel to it but with a soul groove.

      JFM Presents:  There is a track on «To Be Continued...» called “Jaded.”  Does that song in particular have anything to do with the current state of affairs with regard to the music industry, specifically, soul music in the US in juxtaposition to the UK soul movement?

      Hammond Jr:  The first album did well and I'm very excited about the feedback we've gotten out there and I have much love for the UK soul movement. It is more organic, more real than most American music that is being written right now.

      The music industry needs to do their homework and look at us as the next soul movement. The cookie cutter artists will always be there, the money will always be there. They need to expand the musical box and create a soul renaissance so folks will start picking up instruments again and singing about real, day to day things again.

      JFM Presents:  Finally, what can people unfamiliar with Will Hammond Jr. expect to see at Yoshi’s San Francisco?

      Hammond Jr.: They should expect a funky, soulful set with a blend of jazz, hip-hop and progressive beats. My sound is eclectic but contemporary, groove-orientated but not static..it's the soundtrack to the "beat of the city..."
       
      Will Hammond Jr.: Singer/Songwriter
      Mike Blankenship: Keys
      B'Nai Rebelfront: Guitar
      Philip Galante: Drums
      Karyn Paige: Background Vocals
      Angeline Saris: Bass
       
      Will Hammond Jr.
      Wednesday, August 12, 2009
      8 PM
      $12
      Yoshi’s San Francisco
      1300 Fillmore Street
      San Francisco, CA 94115
      Box Office:  415.655.5600
      http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artistpopup?showid=840

      Photo credit: Dreamtree Entertainment

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  • Music = Love = Life (07.30.09)

  • Connecting music & spiritualit

    • From: LisaBautista
    • Description:
      PRESS RELEASE
      June 9, 2009
      For Immediate Release
      Contact: Lisa Bautista
      510.967.1109
      jfmpresents@gmail.com
      www.jfmpresents.com
      Connecting  music & spirituality:
      Leah Tysse makes her debut @ Yoshi's SF & donates a portion of the proceeds to Glide Memorial Church
      San Francisco, CA (June 9, 2009) - Leah Tysse makes her debut at Yoshi's San Francisco on Tuesday, July 21 for two not-to-be-missed performances at 8:00 and 10:00 PM.  Joining Tysse is her world-class band comprised of musicians who have played with everyone from Lauryn Hill to Rihanna.  When you see her perform, listen to the songs and hear that voice, you will be convinced that Leah Tysse's arrival brings something fresh and unexpected to music today. Tysse, an awarding winning songwriter and performer, features a rich, sultry voice with emotion that transcends her years. Leah Tysse is an original American voice.

      Tysse writes impressively and produces original, soulful music that continually takes her audiences on emotional journeys to the heart of rhythm-and-blues.  Audiences and peers have compared Tysse's voice and stage presence to such artists as Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone and Susan Tedeschi, yet she maintains a fresh originality that sets her apart from virtually anyone currently performing.

      "Boy, that Leah has got a beautiful voice!"  ~Frank Somerville, KTVU Channel 2

      Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, Tysse (pronounced TY-See) was firmly rooted in American Roots music by her father, who taught her the cannon of folk songs while strumming his guitar.  Tysse's first regular job was singing classic American songs every night in a Paris nightclub for six months.  She missed the 24/7 culture of The States and moved back to the U.S. in 1998, landing in The Bay Area.

      Since her arrival to The Bay, Tysse has formed different bands and worked with a wide array of musicians and artists from Taj Mahal to Michael Franti. For the past ten years, Leah has also been a featured soloist in the Glide Memorial Church Choir.  Tysse was "moved to join Glide Memorial Church and its choir by the amazingly inclusive message of The Reverend Cecil Williams, the lively community of faith, and the incredible/unparalleled service that Glide provides to the homeless/marginalized community of San Francisco."  Tysse truly understands the importance of giving back to the community and is donating a portion of the proceeds from her Yoshi's SF performances to Glide Memorial Church.

      "When I can, I do these kind of donations. I really want what I do to benefit others somehow." ~Leah Tysse

      Tysse quickly earned the reputation of being an undeniably powerful presence on stage and a respected bandleader, taking her band to venues across the country. The high level of musicianship in the Bay Area has allowed her to easily make her musical vision a reality.  Her first album "Real Good Fire" released in 2007 was a big success receiving song-writing awards from Billboard Magazine and airplay across the country and in Europe. 

      "R&B/Blues winner Leah Tysse and her smoking hot band charged through her original 'You Don't Scare Me' with impressive authority.  It was a lesson in the Blues, as they say; and a fine one at that.  Her voice, her songs, and her band are making huge strides in their state of California and beyond.  DO NOT miss this girl when their bus rolls into your town." 
      ~Official Billboard Press Release-Post Billboard World Song Awards Show

      Leah Tysse's sophomore album, due to be released later this year, features an accomplished line-up of players and a new soulful collection of 14 tracks, 11 of which are original compositions written by Leah Tysse in collaboration with Lynette Williams, Sundra Manning, Mike Blankenship and Jim Moore.  According to Tysse, the impetus for the sophomore CD began in the early stages of working with Mike Blankenship and Lynette Williams, a collaboration she says was "made in heaven." 

      "The songs came together so magically.  This album represents the sounds that are totally authentic to who I am musically, and although I am very proud of my first album, these new songs are me to the core.  They have been brewing for several years and have come together more perfectly than I ever could have dreamed of.  They are soulful, emotional, spirited and lyrical." ~Leah Tysse

      When asked to describe Leah Tysse and her band, Leah's response: 
      "Think Brand New Heavies meets Nikka Costa with a heavy dose of The JBs." 

      Leah Tysse, vocals (Taj Mahal, Michael Franti)
      Mike Blankenship, keys (Lauryn Hill, Lyrics Born)
      Cedricke Dennis, guitar (Ledisi, Narada Michael Walden, Braxton Brothers)
      Eric Smith, bass (Lalah Hathaway, Legally Blynd, Rhianna, Fantasia)
      Ronnie Smith, drums (Tommy Castro, Ledisi, Goapele, Gospel Hummingbirds)
      Lynette Williams, Hammond B3/keys (Will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Ashlee Simpson)
      Sarah Williams, background vocals (Ledisi)

      Leah Tysse
      Tuesday, July 21, 2009
      8 & 10 PM
      $10 / $14 (day of show)
      Yoshi's San Francisco
      1300 Fillmore Street
      San Francisco, CA 94115
      Box Office:  415.655.5600
      www.yoshis.com
      www.LeahTysse.com

      Leah Tysse

      Photo credit: James Garahan
      JFM (Just for Musicians) Presents is a music public relations firm specializing in artist management, booking, and publicity.  Whether you are a talent buyer, artistic director, event planner or music aficionado, JFM strives to present the best in live entertainment.  With JFM Presents, you can expect what you deserve: world-class entertainment by some of the best artists in the San Francisco Bay Area.

      Mission Statement:  To use music as a conduit for understanding not only the journey, but also the path.  To educate and empower people through music, especially live performances.  To break through the musical color lines of genre-specific categories, discover the connection between music/spirituality, and manifest the "oceanic feeling."

      Media Contact:
      Lisa Bautista dba JFM Presents, LLC
      510.967.1109
      jfmpresents@gmail.com
      www.jfmpresents.com
      # # #
       
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  • 49ers Coach of the Week: Rich

    • From: annakags
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    • 2 years ago
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