Monday, January 26, 2009

Check out Robert Soup Campbell, one of RadioIndy's favorite Jazz artists


Radioindy Artist Spotlight for Robert Soup Campbell

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Band Name: Robert Soup Campbell
Band Location: Kentucky
Sounds Like: Ray Charles,Michael Bolton,Johonnie Taylor
Visit Band's Website: click here

Check out andy Roberts, one of RadioIndy's favorite Jazz artists

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Band Name: Andy Roberts
Band Location: Pennsylvania Harrisburg
Sounds Like: Yes, Weather Report, Steely Dan
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Check out The Juggernauts, one of RadioIndy's favorite Jazz artists


Radioindy Artist Spotlight for The Juggernauts

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Band Name: The Juggernauts
Band Location: Kentucky
Sounds Like: Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks
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Check out Vali & Saxolution, one of RadioIndy's favorite Jazz artists

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Band Name: vali&saxolution
Band Location: Austria
Sounds Like: CHINBAA, RAY SANDOVAL
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Check out Tracey Whitney, one of RadioIndy's favorite Jazz artists

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Band Name: Tracey Whitney
Band Location: California Los Angeles
Sounds Like: A mix of Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin
Visit Band's Website: click here

Monday, January 19, 2009

RadioIndy is pleased to present William Edgar with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Heaven In A Nightclub"

RadioIndy is pleased to present William Edgar with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Heaven In A Nightclub"

"Heaven In A Nightclub" by William Edgar captures the sound and spirit of a live concert combining elements of jazz, spirituals, blues and gospel. This concert was obviously meant to be a spiritual experience as well as a musical one. These skillful musicians take you on a journey through history, from deep sorrow to indistinguishable joy. They begin the set with a spirited interpretation of the jazz standard "Autumn Leaves" and the fiery "Renewal," with the melodic sax of Joe Salvano and the soulful vocals of Ruth Naomi Floyd flowing on top of the rhythmic piano of William Edgar, all anchored by bass virtuoso John Patitucci. Edgar also offers commentary throughout, including his thoughts on the Underground Railroad and jazz composer Duke Ellington. "Motherless Child" begins with an emotional bass intro by Patitucci, continuing with Floyd's smooth, silky vocals while Edgar provides a subtle piano backdrop. "Jesus is on the Mainline" is an expressive and passionate solo piece from Patitucci, and his enormous talent is evident from the first note. "Train Underground" features sizzling vocals from Floyd, once again driven by the strong, unwavering bass of Patitucci. "Lay My Burden Down" is an energetic gospel tune, getting the crowd involved and showcasing the immense vocal abilities of Floyd. This release will be enjoyed by fans of jazz, blues, and gospel music in the vein of both Duke Ellington and Mahalia Jackson.

-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out William Edgar's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present Jean Laughlin with a GrIndie Award for the CD "No Easy Way"

RadioIndy is pleased to present Jean Laughlin with a GrIndie Award for the CD "No Easy Way"

"No Easy Way" is a noteworthy release by Chicago jazz singer/songwriter Jean Laughlin, who is known for her broad vocal abilities and incredibly personal style. The writing is skillful and intelligent with fresh, clever arrangements. She is backed by an incredible orchestra of talented musicians featuring brilliant soloists and swinging horn sections. The rhythm section is fabulous, setting up and emphasizing the ensemble figures with ease while also providing wonderful support throughout. "Open" is a sincere and genuine opener with honest lyrics and Laughlin singing straight from the heart. Another heartfelt track is "Moment to Moment," which not only touches on the struggles of everyday life, but also offers inspiration. Her personality and individuality shine through on each tune, from her fun sense of humor on "Party Down" and "Lookin' at the Downside" to her warm, smoky style on the ballads "Sad Eyes," "Cast Away," and "Home ( a lullaby)." One ballad that really stands out is the touching "Friendships Broken," featuring an illustrious string arrangement and passionate vocals. Another excellent track is the lively "Simplify," with her vocals dancing atop the rhythmic figures of the horn section and Laughlin again showcasing her humorous side. This album is highly recommended for any fan of adult contemporary vocalists and/or big band music.

-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Jean Laughlin's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present The Monty Casper Project with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Soundbox"

RadioIndy is pleased to present The Monty Casper Project with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Soundbox"

"Soundbox" is a great smooth jazz/instrumental pop album from The Monty Casper Project. British Columbia multi-instrumentalist Monty Casper plays all of the instruments on this album, showing his tremendous piano talent, as well as his crafty work on drums, guitar, and horns. The songs are all instrumental and inspired by classic pop instrumentals of the '60s, '70s, and '80s from the likes of Herb Alpert and George Benson. The songs themselves are all Monty Casper originals, though he draws from the aforementioned pop instrumentalists to give the songs a certain timelessness to them. "Soundbox" is well-produced, and the entire album sounds professional, the instrumentation clean and well-layered. "Marimba Coffee Break" has a solid arrangement with a rhythmic drum beat and acoustic guitar in the background and skillful marimba work at the forefront. "Random Thoughts" shows Casper's prowess as a pianist and has a great timeless sound to it. "Searchlight" features the unique sound of the harpsichord and nice drum work. Overall, "Soundbox" is a solid effort that any fan of smooth jazz or '60s to '80s instrumental pop will surely enjoy.

-Chris & the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out The Monty Casper Project's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Sunday, January 18, 2009

RadioIndy is pleased to present Roger Cairns with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Let's..."

RadioIndy is pleased to present Roger Cairns with a GrIndie Award for the CD "Let's…"

Roger Cairns' "Let's…" showcases the Scottish vocalist's ability to move seamlessly between many musical styles, settings and genres. His passion, versatility, and flexibility are on full display as he interprets jazz standards and more modern selections. The production is clean and straightforward, with the vocals upfront and Cairns being supported on most tracks by a jazz quartet consisting of piano, bass, drums, and sax, though the sax is replaced by a fitting jazzy guitar on the spirited "Gravy Waltz." From the New Orleans feel of "Moonlight Becomes You" to the Brazilian textures of "They Say It's Wonderful" and "How Am I To Know," Cairns' personality can't help but to shine through. His heartfelt rendition of the jazz standard "My One And Only Love" is a definite highlight, exhibiting his mastery of the jazz ballad. Additional notable tracks include the bouncy, lively "Stormy Monday" and the contemporary sound of "To The Ends Of The Earth." "Let's…" is recommended for fans of jazz vocals and, with the many different styles presented here including blues, jazz, ballads, and swing, music fans in general.

-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Roger Cairns's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

RadioIndy is pleased to present Joscelyn Drainville with a GrIndie Award for the CD "JossFunk"

RadioIndy is pleased to present Joscelyn Drainville with a GrIndie Award for the CD "JossFunk"

Fusing many musical elements and styles, Joscelyn Drainville's "JossFunk" is a melting pot of musical exploration, drawing from several different influences and sources. The tracks on this album cannot be easily pigeonholed into one style or musical genre. Numerous elements from many different styles are present as Drainville weaves his melodic sax and flute lines over intricate, funky drum beats that combine elements of funk, jazz, world, and urban/r&b. The production on "JossFunk" is crisp and clean, achieving a nice balance between the highly percussive drum beats and melodies provided by the sax, flute, keyboards and guitar. Drainville sets the tone right away with "How Did You Know?" which features an incredibly funky, syncopated drum groove and fiery sax solo. "Check It Out" is another grooving track, with Drainville's flute providing the melody over the drum-n-bass style accompaniment. Slower, tender moments are provided by the silky "Black Dress Red Lipsticks" and the gentle, passionate "Do U Think of Me?" which features a beautiful soprano sax solo and fitting, musical guitar work. "Greasy Barry" features baritone sax and trumpet, adding a big band flavor to this funky tune. "South Side" is a definite highlight, with luxurious sax, flute, and guitar lines layered over Brazilian and Afro-Cuban influenced percussion grooves. "JossFunk" is a very interesting and impressive album to be recommended to any fan of jazz-funk and/or urban/r&b music.

-Rodney and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Joscelyn Drainville's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Saturday, January 17, 2009

"Things Change" by Rick Valiant (Jazz Artist from Canada)

"Things Change," a recently released album by solo artist Rick Valiant, is a wonderful collection of big-band standard favorites of yesteryear. Valliant's vocals gracefully float through the words of each melody as he adds his own personal style to these great tunes. Listeners will enjoy the sound of the grand orchestra as it complements the vocals in swing style. "New York New York" has powerful horns that never overpower the vocals, but make the catchy riff stand out. There is a nice vocal range, seen through how the melody takes a high leap up the register on "Fly Me to the Moon." Delicate and soft, the vocals bring out the sensuous lyrics on "The Way You Looked Tonight." Frank Sinatra or Michael Bublé fans will want to listen to Rick Valiant's "Things Change," as it is an excellent assortment of big band favorites.

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Rick Valiant's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Saturday, January 10, 2009

"When Lights Are Low" by The Phoenix Jazz Project (Jazz Artist from Baltimore, Maryland (MD))

"When Lights Are Low," the latest album by The Phoenix Jazz Project, reaches well beyond its roots of jazz/big band styles. One may consider jazz to be one of the most technically challenging styles of music, but this group has cohesively crafted the art. The chemistry between the musicians is unbelievably tight and consistent. One such example of this bond is the sax quartet interpreting the harmonies through a series of voicings on "I Mean You." Listeners will hear outstanding vocals, as they are polished and demonstrate maturity while never faltering on these complex melodies. The piano gracefully glides across the ivories with a true jazz feel on "Oncallogy," while a smooth swing tempo is performed with soft brushes on the drums and a silky walking bass line. Fans of Count Basie, Cannonball Adderley, or modern big band sounds will really enjoy The Phoenix Jazz Project's refreshing jazz album "When Lights Are Low."

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out The Phoenix Jazz Project's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Larger Prey" by Gene Hilbert (Jazz/Blues Artist from Atlanta, Georgia (GA))

Seasoned performer Gene Hilbert's latest release, "Larger Prey," is a collection of original music fused with classic rock, jazz, and blues. A one-man show, Hilbert not only is the vocalist and guitarist but also has creatively performed every other instrument. The album's high-quality production is heard in each track, and each track is arranged with excellent distinction between instruments and vocals. Subtle bell sounds and horns complement the razor sharp guitar on "Morning 20." Harmonic guitars highlight the moving piece "March to Baghdad" as it takes on a sound of its own. Vocals are low and clean while the harmonies are perfectly layered on "Talk To Me." Hilbert has taken different musical styles and has compiled a wonderful selection of songs with powerful guitar melodies. "Larger Prey" is a guitar driven album that is well worth hearing, especially for listeners who enjoy Joe Satriani or Santana.

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Gene Hilbert's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

"Falling Up" by Allen Hinds Group (Blues/Jazz Artist from California (CA))

Guitarist/composer Allen Hinds performs an anthology of blues/jazz mixed with world fusion on his latest album, titled "Falling Up." With guitar being the main focal point, Hinds executes stinging rhythmic complexities. Creative melodies and the colorful chord structure bring this album to life. "Come Together" is a tried and true standard that Hinds injects his own bluesy spin into. His vocals have strong tonality and spill out with soulful emotions. Brilliance and speed highlight "Rat Scat" as guitar and organ run with a musical pattern that is sizzling hot. Relax and enjoy Allen Hinds' work of art entitled "Falling Up" that is sure to please fans of blues, jazz, and the style of Chris Whitley.

-Diane and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
Check out Allen Hinds Group 's music on RadioIndy.com with link to purchase and links to popular sites

Friday, January 9, 2009

"Bugleblack 1" by Billie G. Evans Jr. (Hip Hop/Jazz Artist from California (CA))

Billie G. Evans Jr. serves up an outstanding collection of Hip-Hop/Jazz singles on his recent release "Bugleblack 1." Evans has found an interesting concept in mixing two genres while producing them onto one album. Electric piano and trumpet intermingle in the melodic jazz passages on "Goin' Home," while drums keep the solid beat grooving. Rap vocals are smooth and deliver clean articulation. "Lookin' Out" is a great example of fresh rhyming rap and the piano has colorful chord hits with a bouncy beat. Listeners will enjoy the flow of each song as the trumpet plays subtle riffs or harmonious melodies that enhance the energy of the music. Fans of musical groups Miles Davis or Bill Withers should listen to "Bugleblack 1," as it is well worth hearing.