CD 'Elegante' From Susan Palma-Nidel W/ Guests Branford Marsalis, Leo Amuedo, Chico Pinheiro, Cyro Baptista And More

Elegante, New Flute Music from South America, is a pioneering recording conceived and performed by Susan Palma Nidel the renowned flutist of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Palma Nidel has appeared on more than 100 of recordings in her illustrious career, many as a soloist, mostly for Deutsche Grammophon (DGG) and her recording of the Mozart Flute Concertos has been listed by Gramaphon Magazine as the greatest rendering of the pieces of all time. Elegante is the debut solo recording for Ms. Palma Nidel as a leader, and is a foray into New World Music. Guest performers include Ivan Lins (vocals), Branford Marsalis (soprano and tenor Sax), Leo Amuedo, Chico Pinheiro, Quique Sinesi (guitar, violao), Edward Arron (cello), the Borromeo String Quartet, Nilson Matta (bass), Hector del Curto (bandoneon), and Cyro Baptista & Cafe (percussion). Elegante features compositions by Ivan Lins, Pablo Ziegler, Paquito d'Rivera, Heitor Villa Lobos, Agustin Barrios and Quique Sinesi. The recording is a cohesive, yet diverse journey through various musical genres from South America and the Caribbean including Brazilian MPB, Nuevo Tango and Cuban Son all performed expertly with a classical sensibility, a recording of rare beauty and virtuosity that will inspire listeners to cry, laugh and dance. Throughout her career Susan has enjoyed a variety of musical challenges and today is busier than ever taking on new projects. Her resume is one of a model citizen in the classical music world, too long to recite here, but some highlights are in order. Since 1980 Susan has been an esteemed flutist of the world renowned Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and is the principal flutist for the New York based American Composer's Orchestra and the Naumburg award-winning group Speculum Musicae. She has performed on the most prestigious stages all over the world both as a soloist and with Orpheus. She is a founding member of the North Country Chamber Players who perform in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where she resides every summer. Susan has premiere of works by Elliott Carter, Milton Babbitt, Steve Mackey and many other contemporary composers. She has always been infatuated by music from around the world, particularly the varied forms of Brazilian music and Tango. Since the late 1990s she has collaborated and performed with many renowned World Music and Jazz artists including Branford Marsalis, Pablo Ziegler, Hector del Curto, Cyro Baptista and Cafe who have inspired her to move in a new direction represented by Elegante. In addition to her musical prowess, Susan is an accomplished painter. The cover of Elegante is a photo of her miniature acrylic entitled Tango and other dance inspired works can be seen inside the CD booklet. A dedicated educator, Susan is on the faculty of Columbia and Montclair State Universities. She lives in New York City with her husband, the writer, wine aficionado, music producer and sometime lawyer Richard O. Nidel, and, as all her friends well know, she wears secrets in her hair. http://www.flutewineproductions.com/ http://frankmoten.com/SusanClip.mp3

Rick Starmer - Ave. C & 9th

Rick Starmer - Ave. C & 9th
http://fairtilizer.com/track/117738

The latest track from Rick Starmer sounds like a go-go band gone smooth jazz. Numerous percussion instruments - cowbells, bongos, whistles etc. - accompany a sultry saxophone and warm bass line. Skillful piano vamping ties the tune into a funky sort of dancehall-jazz fusion. This unique blend is jazzy but the simple groove an unpretentious melody make it all the more appealing.

Rick Starmer's new album, Because I Can't Paint, will be made available everywhere on June 1 on Sunset Classics & Jazz (SC&J).

Website: http://www.RickStarmer.Sunset-Classics.com

Classical Pianist Rick Starmer Mixes Up A Blend Of Music On His New CD, Because I Can’t Paint Which Is Due Out On Sunset Classics This June 1

Website: http://www.RickStarmer.Sunset-Classics.com/

Classical Pianist Rick Starmer mixes up a blend of music on his new CD, Because I Can't Paint which is due out on Sunset Classics this June 1.

Rick Starmer's classical gem hits stores on June 1 with his new record label, Sunset Classics at Sunset Classics & Jazz (SCJ).

A CD once a title with a little color never hurts, but (Rick) Starmer has put down a full length modern day classical set of music on one CD, Because U Can't Paint. And, the Sunset Classics & Jazz (SC&J) division will release the CD to stores around the world on June 1st. Don Lichterman, the head of SC&J says, "these recordings by Rick (Starmer), are some of the more important piano compositions we have released to date at Sunset Classics, and this CD has already proven to add to the incredible groundwork we have spent building the repertoire in the classical division at Sunset."

Aficionados of classical music can hear influences to Grieg, Saint-Saëns, Massenet, Debussy, Pugno and Diémer and Lichterman goes on to say, "my goal at Sunset Classics is to make every title we release an essential part of the collection for everyone that listens to classical music."

This modern day classical performance that ends up on the "Because I Can't Paint" CD, offers more than just a surfeit amount of accessibility, excitement, intrigue and absolute entertainment. Songs by (Rick) Starmer have been described on SKY.FM to be a "technical piece of the greatest clarity and brilliance," and you can hear Starmer on current rotation at top classical and new age radio stations in Syracuse (WAER - 88.3 FM), Binghamton (WSKG - 89.3 FM & 91.5 FM), Ithaca (90.9 FM), Oneonta/Cooperstown (91.7FM), Elmira (91.1 FM), Corning (90.7 FM), Clear Channel / I Heart Radio, Virgin Hit Lab Radio, Jango, Last FM, Pandora and many more stations around the world. The diverse pianist will also play live in June at the Community Restaurant Theatre in Cortland, New York.

The energy, vigor and enthusiasm of his (Rick Starmer) playing are mesmerizing and dazzling for a classical styled of music artist. Thus, songs like "Ave C. & 9th" and "Where Are You?" are the two songs that start off the long journey of music on the Because I Can't Paint CD, while "Kayla" and "Kayla Walk" are vivid recordings that help make up a coloristic palette of music on this CD. The polished end result on songs like his "Dad/Son" are a natural and accessible appealing story made up in a musical composition. And, the sense of obvious energies on songs like, "East River Sunrise" and "Winter Soul" make up the full length tangible CD for classical music fans. "He's an absolute brilliant pianist," says (Don) Lichterman, and that "every song on this CD is alluring to classical music fans." (Rick) Starmer plays with a certain emotional response and is essentially considered to be a pure modern day classical music performer.

(Rick) Starmer's 2010 recordings is an array of musical composition produced, written and performed by the classical and new age artist. His subtle and tactful clarity is how his playing can be strongly characterized and the Lichterman makes no bones about using Starmer's music from this new CD for film and commercial productions." The label has also begun to set the CD at all retail outlets around the world, and the CD will be set up digitally at the top outlets that sell downloads, streams and ringtones beginning June 1 this year. This well immaculate sounding works of music will be made available everywhere on June 1.

Track listing: RICK STARMER (Because I Can't Paint)
Where Are You?
Ave. C & 9th
Kayla Six
Kathi
Angel Whisperer
Kayla Walk
My Head
Dad/Son
Empty Auditorium
Winter Soul
Taste You, Paint This
East River Sunrise
Alone
She Doesn't Know I'm Watching

About Sunset Classics & Jazz (SC&J)
Sunset is a privately owned Don Lichterman Company. Sunset is one of the leading independent record labels and entertainment companies in the world. The Sunset Group of Entertainment Companies, and its global operation, acquire, develop, and distribute major music recording artists, home visual entertainment products, online-digital entertainment technologies and music and filmed entertainment worldwide. Sunset's four major divisions are the Sunset Distributed Label Group, the Sunset Strategic Marketing and Licensing Division, the Radio Sunset Network and the Sunset Filmed Entertainment Division.

PMT Seasonal Showcase Company Presents Walk With Me: A Journey Into The Light, The First Evening-Length Performance By J. Chen Project

Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108508469182818

On Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5 at 8 PM, PMT Seasonal Showcase Company presents J. Chen Project in its first evening-length performance, Walk with Me: a journey into the light, at the PMT Dance Studio at 69 West 14th Street in Manhattan. Walk with Me, commissioned by PMT Seasonal Showcase Company and choreographed by Jessica Chen, comprises seven individual pieces that tell one story. Dedicated to bringing other art forms into her repertory, Ms. Chen has collaborated with a community of artists, including a novelist, a video artist, a composer, and several photographers to create an athletic and emotionally evocative performance. Chen's choreography blends a wide range of genres including classical, modern, street, and cultural dances, set on dancers with training from the Ailey School, Purchase College, Montclair State University, and other renowned programs.

"This story is a journey from darkness into light," comments Chen. "The world is going through a difficult time right now—financial crises, natural disasters, the list goes on. I am hopeful that it will all turn out to be good in the end." Inspired by an incident in which she and her father miraculously avoided a catastrophic collision on the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles after their tire blew out, Chen envisioned a dance work that was "a metaphor for dying—but also a metaphor for living. When you survive death, you decide to live. You are essentially reborn." She translated her near-death experience to the stage by creating the seven individual dances, each of which represents "a different moment, a different experience that changes you. We will use choreography and video and audio material to take the audience on a journey."

Chen is "truly honored and grateful" to PMT Seasonal Showcase Company and founder Pavan Thimmaiah for this commission. "PMT gave me my first opportunity to showcase work in New York City in 2008, which was a springboard for my career. They provided me with a professional production crew, a warm audience, and three sold-out performances." Chen, who has been teaching contemporary dance at PMT since late 2009, describes the studio as "a safe home for me to experiment and develop my voice as a choreographer. It makes perfect sense to premiere my first evening show there, and these performances will help me take J. Chen Project to the next level."

The mission of J. Chen Project is to unveil extraordinary, authentic artistry through the empowerment of movement and the expression of choreography. Its goal is to foster dialogue among dancers, choreographers, and audiences on ways the dance community contributes to creating solutions to issues facing humanity today. This season includes performances at festivals that include DUMBO Dance Festival, the HATCH, Solar Powered Dance Series, Amnesty International's Human Rights Arts Festival, Choreographer's Canvas, Green Space Blooms, and Hawaii's National Dance Week.

Jessica Chen is a New York-based choreographer. She holds a bachelor of arts in global studies with emphases in socioeconomics and politics from the University of California at Santa Barbara. A California native, she moved to NYC to study at The Ailey School and has worked with choreographers who include Earl Mosley, Julian Barnett, Camille A. Brown, and Juan-Antonio Rodriguez of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and members of Naganuma Dance. As a commercial dancer, she has toured internationally with hip-hop artist and America's Best Dance Crew judge Lil Mama and appeared in a Marc Ecko commercial with Vanessa Hudgens.

Founded by dancer and choreographer Pavan Thimmaiah, PMT Seasonal Showcase Company is a nonprofit organization that stages professional productions featuring some of today's best choreographers, dance companies, and artists from TV, video, stage, and film. The company provides its performers with opportunities for exposure, with many acts using the PMT stage to achieve greater success, performing in prestigious venues and attracting media attention. It also offers its participants rehearsal space, professional photography services, and program advertising at no cost, and selected acts receive individual, full-length showcases. Additionally, the company prides itself on its ability to offer heavily discounted tickets to underprivileged young people who would not be able to afford to see performances of this caliber. Its primary goal is to provide the best possible experience for both its performers and its audience members.

MusicDish presents: Stephen Michael Apatow - Nessun Dorma

Not only is Stephen Michael Apatow the President, Founder, and Director of Research and Development of the Humanitarian Resource Institute, he is now able to credit himself as an accomplished recording artist. He is promoting his most recent track, "Nessun Dorma (None Shall Sleep)" - an aria from the Puccini opera, Turnadot. Apatow does a splendid job of conveying the emotions of Puccini's original composition and considering this piece is not an easy one to sing, his version is something to be heard. Apatow has certainly been blessed with a powerful tenor voice and "Nessun Dorma" is surely the beginning of an outlet through which this humanitarian will inspire his listeners.

Listen to the track on Fairtilizer!

Check out "Nessun Dorma" and soundtracks from the Country Goes Global album compilation through AirPlay Direct:

www.airplaydirect.com/music/stephenmichaelapatow

Country Goes Global: "Nessun Dorma"

Url: http://www.unarts.org
Sound: http://www.airplaydirect.com/music/stephenmichaelapatow

Classical music is considered the root of all music genres. Our contemplation and respect helps us appreciate music's ability to touch and carry our soul. Every artist, has a direct connection with the grassroots level and the capacity to inspire hope, healing and progress.

Medical, Veterinary, Legal and Performing Arts encompass the true meaning of "ARTS INTEGRATION INTO EDUCATION" and mission of promoting the arts as a vehicle for solution oriented strategic planning and development, on the community level, in every United Nations member country.

In the spirit of collaboration, Humanitarian Resource Institute (humanitarian.net) developed the "Global Arts Integration Into Education Initiative," url:

www.unarts.org

Radio and television networks can access the Stephen Michael Apatow cover song "Nessun dorma" and soundtracks from the "Country Goes Global" album compilation through AirPlay Direct:

www.airplaydirect.com/music/stephenmichaelapatow

MusicDishTV: Fiona Joy Hawkins - "From The Outside"

"From The Outside" by Fiona Joy Hawkins, album Blue Dream (2008).

Fiona Joy Hawkins (born 1964) is an Australian composer. She was born in Cessnock, New South Wales, to a creative family, and trained as a classical pianist. Her first album, Portrait of a Waterfall charted at #1 on the New Age Reporter (NAR) World Charts in 2005. Her classical release, Angel Above My Piano, earned the NAR Lifestyle Music Award for Best Piano Album of the Year for 2006. She has been a finalist multiple times in both the Musicoz Awards in the jazz and classical categories, and the Los Angeles Music Awards in the New Age/Ambient Instrumental category.
http://www.fionajoyhawkins.com/

MusicDishTV: Giovanni Allevi - Joy Tour

Allevi's performance in NY came after the big success he obtained in Arena in Verona, Italy (more than 10.000 people) with the Orchestra project "Evolution." The concert at the Carnegie Hall is part of another tour: Allevilive 09 in piano solo. The "AlleviLive" international tour, started in London on March 27th at Islingtons Union Chapel, reveals his intimate and personal relationship he has with the piano presenting his virtuous and melodical original compositions. The tour have touched down the most important cities in Italy, as well as Vienna, Salzburg, Oslo, Athens, Madrid, Seoul, Tokyo. After this concert in New York at Carnegie Hall he will go to San Francisco and Moscow.

http://www.giovanniallevi.com

Giovanni Allevi Will Perform At Carnegie Hall - Zankell Hall On October 9th

The Allevi's performance in NY come after the big success he obtained in Arena in Verona - Italy (more than 10.000 people) with the Orchestra project "Evolution". The concert at the Carnegie Hall is part of another tour: “Allevilive 09” in piano solo. The "AlleviLive" international tour, started in London on March 27th at Islington’s Union Chapel, reveals his intimate and personal relationship he has with the piano presenting his virtuous and melodical original compositions. The tour have touched down the most important cities in Italy, as well as Vienna, Salzburg, Oslo, Athens, Madrid, Seoul, Tokyo. After this concert in New York at Carnegie Hall he will go to San Francisco and Moscow.

http://www.giovanniallevi.com

Video: Joy Tour World Première
Joy Tour World Première

"Consolation" Has Been Released, And Receives Unanimous Praise

After the release of his first album in 2008, Marc Béziat completed in mid 2009 his second work : "Consolation".

The album, ranging from instrumental compositions to full choral and orchestral pieces, has begun to win remarkable critical acclaim.

Some excerpts from the independent press reviews :

"Consolation is an uplifting experience for the ears. This is the sound of hope"
Kenn Deaton

"it is very easy to get lost in the overwhelming neo-baroque beauty"
Julian Gorman

"Consolation is a coherent works that flows from one movement to the next like a river of sound that was born of the earth rather than created at the hand of man"
Wildy Haskell

"It is precisely this yin/yang counterpoint that creates the magic of the music [...] the album overall evokes a wide range of feelings from serene and comforting to dramatic and powerful"
Michael Diamond

Album page :
http://marcbeziat.net/consolation_en.htm

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Award

Recently, "the Free Movement", one of the album tracks, has won the Song of the Year July 2009 contest in the Instrumental / World category.

Song of the Year results page :
http://www.songoftheyear.com/winners/2009/072009.htm

---------------------------------------

Biographical elements

Marc Béziat's musical biography is quite unordinary, and steps out of the typical music career path.

Marc was born at Aix en Provence, in southern France, and worked for the IT field in a former part of his course.

He began his musical journey at the age of 28.

Concurrently to his professional activity, he started learning as a self-taught during one year. After that, he joined a music composition school for more than two years.

Towards the latter part of 2007, he undertook a sabbatical, and could finally dedicate his full time to music. He then began the writing of his first album, that he carried since the beginning of his musical path, and that he could, at last, express in a fair way.

This first album, "Victory of the Spirit", was released in 2008.

In 2009, he releases his second album : "Consolation".

More information can be found at : http://marcbeziat.net

MusicDishTV: Classical Vocal Performance by Wilhelm Pfeiffer of 'Lob der Faulheit'

Classical vocalist Wilhelm Pfeiffer showcases his stunning talents with "Lob der Faulheit" (composed by Joseph Haydn, libretto by Gotthold E. Lessing), accompanied by Larissa Swarovsky on the piano. Pfeiffer's vocal range is quite extensive, allowing him to project a playful tenor, powerful bass, and everything in between. Pfeiffer's colorful voice is complimented by Swarovsky's light, yet passionate rendition of Haydn's composition. This performance was recorded on March 13th, 2009 at Musikschule St. Pφlten, A-3100 St. Pφlten, Austria.

'Lob der Faulheit' ('In praise of laziness') - Hob XXVIa:22
Composed by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Libretto by Gotthold E. Lessing (1729-1781)
Phonogram producer: the noeck records, Vienna/Austria
Video produced by Weissfeder Studios,

Currently signed with the Noeck Records, Wilhelm Pfeiffer has more songs at http://www.myspace.com/wilhelmpfeiffer
http://www.sonicbids.com/wilhelmpfeiffer

September 26, 2009 will see 2 Internet radio stations on 2 continents team up for a syndicated broadcast of Classical artists Wilhelm Pfeiffer & Larissa Swarovsky's live performance recording of rare Haydn and Mozart arias and art songs.
Studio 4D - New York City, NY, USA
Radio AustroWelle - Vienna, Austria

Intercontinental Syndicated Radio Broadcast To Feature Classical Artist Wilhelm Pfeiffer

26 September 2009 will see 2 Internet radio stations on 2 continents team up for a syndicated broadcast of Classical artists Wilhelm Pfeiffer & Larissa Swarovsky's live performance recording of rare Haydn and Mozart arias and art songs.

Though technology for simultaneous syndicated broadcasting across a number of Internet radio stations worldwide is not an issue these days, so far stations have not been seizing the opportunity of launching intercontinental syndicated programming.

The broadcast will air on Radio AustroWelle from Vienna, Austria on http://www.austrowelle.at/stream.m3u 26 September 2009, 8pm CET (20:00 Uhr),

and on Studio 4D from New York, USA on http://www.live365.com/stations/galoppe?play&site=live365 26 September 2009, 2pm EST.

For more information:

Studio 4D - New York City, NY, USA Email: studio4d@galoppe.com URL: http://www.live365.com/stations/galoppe/?site Studio 4D offers an interesting combination of both music and talk shows reflecting life and culture in the big city and the world. Our music libraries hold eclectic catalogues that expand from jazz and American standards to international pop and world music. We currently air four signature programs: Best of Broadway / Soundtrack: Selections from stage and film musicals Bridges and Tunnels: A forum on gender and urban studies with Raul Galoppe and Eduardo Baumann (In Spanish) Classical Itinerary: Timeless masterpieces from our catalogs Voices in Literature and Song: An encounter with Spanish, Latin American, and World authors and their most prominent works as well as with old-time favorites from the golden age of radio (In English and Spanish) Shows update daily.

Radio AustroWelle - Vienna, Austria Email: radio@austrowelle.at URL: http://www.austrowelle.at Radio AustroWelle was established in January 2009 and puts the focus on the broad (but often lesser known) range of Austrian music across all genres, from popular music sung in local Austrian dialects (in German called "Austropop") to alternative pop/rock, blues to jazz, and also classical music. The next step to be taken in programme development will be regular on-stage sessions with direct broadcasts open to the public starting mid-September 2009 live from a Club Café located in Vienna's 12th district (near world-famous "Schönbrunn Palace" and well-known club "U4"). Programmes: Radio AustroWelle currently hosts three regular radio shows. "15 Minutes": Austrian newcomers and fresh Austrian music presented in an ultra-compressed and (from the listener's point of view) time-inexpensive way. "Keepin' Da Funk Alive": Austrian funky tunes presented and commented monthly by Walter Wagenleithner from Austrian band "Loop Doctors". "In Österreich" ("In Austria"): AustroWelle's head of music programming Manfred Kornherr talks to both newcomers and well-known musicians, Austrian music biz people (eg, lyricists, managers...) about their careers and plans, their latest releases and their personal points of view (talk program in German, partly Austrian dialect language).

Press contact for artist Wilhelm Pfeiffer: Anthony Kammerhofer Phone +43-(0)664-5215172 Email: anthony.kammerhofer@gmail.com URL: http://www.sonicbids.com/wilhelmpfeiffer

Ludovico Einaudi, Robert Lippok, Ronald Lippok Release Cloudland CD

Opening Your Imagination to the Cloudland of Whitetree

Pianist Extraordinaire Ludovico Einaudi joins the Lippoks on a futuristic journey

@ LE POISSON ROUGE, NEW YORK - JUNE 2
@ HOTEL CAFΙ, LOS ANGELES - JUNE 6

Against all odds, pianist Ludovico Einaudi has emerged as one of the world's most exciting and beloved voices in contemporary classical/ ambient/electronic music. Living during a time where modern sensibilities are marketed as easily manufactured (and easily forgettable) pop hits, Einaudi stands tall as a passionate purveyor of his lifelong muse. None of this implies that the Milan resident is without knowledge of the present: his latest collaboration -- Whitetree, with brothers Ronald and Robert Lippok -- is an important contribution to the century-old search for the merging of classical and electronic music. Considering Einaudi's recent accolades, such as being the only classical artist invited to perform at the European iTunes Festival, Whitetree's success is guaranteed.

The trio's debut, Cloudland (Ponderosa Music & Arts/Harmonia Mundi) is an exciting blend of Einaudi's gorgeously refined aesthetics on piano set against Ronald Lippok's sympathetic and knowledgeable rhythms on drums (not to mention the magic he creates on marimba and keyboards), as well as brother Robert's wizardry with electronics -- the brothers are two-thirds of the Berlin and Dusseldorf-based palindromic post-rock group To Rococo Rot. Meeting in 2006 when Einuadi invited the Lippoks on an Italian tour, collaboration seemed necessary and, as one can hear on every one of Cloudland's ten tracks, effortless.

Whitetree has been born into an important musical heritage, one professed by musical experimenters such as Erik Satie's minimalist efforts and "bare bones" sounds, Luigi Russolo's search for the "art of noise" (in which music is differentiated from noise by its purposive arrangement), Jorg Mager's love of microtones and the invention of his "voice of the spheres," and later Edgard Varθse, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Indeed, that last contemporary's film work recalls Einaudi's own cinematic efforts, such as his soundtrack work for Fuori Dal Mondo and This is England. Perhaps these three men, upon entering the Berlin studio in 2007-08, set out to champion the message of conductor Leopold Stowkowski: "Soon we shall have entirely new methods of tone production by electrical means. Thus will begin a new era of music."

One certainly feels that listening to Cloudland in the comfort of their headphones, or snuggled into a warm space encompassed by crisp speakers from which these artists speak. The surround-sense experience is gripping: the opening "Slow Ocean," a reverberating, lo-fi echo creeps into a synthesized dreamscape before Einaudi's first notes take hold; instantly one is hypnotized. It is the type of song -- indeed, this is the type of album -- that holds the listener in its spell. When the drums finally emerge on "Kyril," the release is rapturous; this is the ecstatic union of classical temperament with technology, an audio textbook of generations bonding. When one is aware of history, one can write it into the future -- this is Whitetree's great gift.

To pigeonhole Einaudi would be fruitless. While classical music is his foundation, he is no less educated in that fine line where popular music meets film meets radio play. His contribution to "Kyril" hints at this, as does the simple and direct melody of "Mercury Sands." His sense of timing is superb, as when he hangs a half-beat behind his piano with the guitar on "Koepenik" every step of the way. The naturalness in their music was the result of time well spent on the road and a natural camaraderie formed between the three, as Robert says:

"We played as a band. Always live, always in one room. With just a few overdubs. We wanted it to be as natural as possible. This is what made mixing the record so adventurous. We had so many takes of our songs to go through! Going into the studio together was very special. Our tour had been quite ‘loud,' full-on. Recording the material, we had the chance to add some quiet ideas as well."

These quieter moments are of equal merit. "Derek's Garden," with its haunting effects reminiscent of one trudging along the interior of a dark castle that he or she was not invited to, calmed by the sensuous strains of Einaudi's ivory. The playfully titled "Ulysses and the Cats" also exhibits those reflective, internal qualities, reminding one of the mythological inspiration for Einuadi's last solo recording, Divenire: the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, with the famous maxim attributed to him: everything is in a state of flux. One can claim this to be a headline for all of Einaudi's projects, Whitetree contributing the most recent and possibly most versatile to his vast catalog. Given the fluidity by which the album was recorded, Einaudi seems to agree:

"It all came out very naturally, from the first sessions in the rehearsal room. Listening and concentrating to sounds and loops made by Robert and Ronald, sometimes I didn't even know who was making it. I sat at the piano and closed my eyes, entered that space of sounds, and I opened my imagination. It was like searching figures and forms in an abstract painting or pulling out emotions from the clouds. Then we were playing for long, losing ourselves into the music, responding to each other inputs, it was like building castles with the sand, no rules, everything was possible."

This then is the role of the artist: to make real the images and sounds one hears in their imagination. Borrowing its name from the Amos Tutuola novel, The Palm-Wine Drunkard, Whitetree is forging a modern mythology, both very old and rooted in the Western classical tradition as well as up-to-date with the everyday life of our technologically-inclined world. Interestingly, another of Tutuola's novels, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, was the title of the seminal album recorded by Brian Eno and David Byrne in 1981; today it is heralded as the first "world music electronic" album. Perhaps in three decades Whitetree will be seen to have made a similar mark for their important blend of classical and electronic music. With one listen to this album, you will agree.
For further information: Doreen D'Agostino 646.829.0652 /917.916.2626 doreendagostino@earthlink.net http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whitetree/133868080226
http://www.myspace.com/whitetreespace

"Victory Of The Spirit" Gets The Music Press Attention And Praise

Marc Beziat is a composer. His music is inspirational, and based on a free classical form, ranging from uncluttered sonatas to full choral and orchestral pieces.

His first album, "Victory of the Spirit" has been released in 2008.

Some press reviews' excerpts :

"The release of this CD is indeed a victory of the creative spirit"
John Brodeur

"While there are no words in these "sung" parts, they are among the most beautiful and enriching songs on Victory Of The Spirit"
Wildy Haskell

"His work is never unpleasant, usually captivating and always a complete joy to listen to"
Brennig Jones

More information is available on http://marcbeziat.net
http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/artist/Marc+B%C3%A9ziat

Michael Perlowin Presents Unique-Sounding Classical Music Inspired By Spain

Michael Perlowin breaks new ground with innovative and enjoyable music performed primarily and surprisingly on the pedal steel guitar.

As with his forays into the world of Debussy, Stravinsky and Broadway with his Firebird Suite and West Side Story albums, Michael Perlowin is again shattering the stereotype of the pedal steel guitar as a country-and-western-only instrument. In his new album, Spanish Steel, he presents 20 tracks from or about Spain, featuring works by Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albéniz, Joaquín Rodrigo, Julio Martinez Oyanguren, and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

This new album sees Perlowin continuing to alternate between the use of the pedal steel as both a featured and ensemble instrument. However, this CD features Perlowin’s guitar work more than his previous outings, as the guitar is such an integral part of Spanish music. It is fair to say that this is not so much a "pedal steel guitar album" as it is an album of music in which the steel is predominantly featured for its unique expressive sound.

Perlowin, a veteran guitarist of the folk and rock music scene around L.A., became enamored of the pedal steel guitar after unexpectedly finding himself working on a country and western band during the mid-70s. His infatuation blossomed into an all-consuming love affair, an intensely passionate obsession that continues to this day. Perlowin jokingly calls himself a "steel-aholic," and adds that the intricacies and mysteries of the instrument cause most other players to feel the same way.

As a working guitarist, Perlowin had played just about every type of popular music, from standards, to folk, rock, country, blues, reggae and even disco. Playing pedal steel guitar, however, Perlowin found he was unhappy when confined to country and western music. He began playing the steel with musicians from various genres, including an all instrumental experimental music band, and a blues rock band ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkSnoeTWR4I ).

Eventually, it was the world of classical music that attracted Perlowin’s interest. A recording of Debussy’s "The Maid With the Flaxen Hair" by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith introduced him to the world of literate music. Perlowin explains, "As soon as I heard this piece, I realized that this was what I wanted to play." Perlowin’s own recording of the piece, which clearly shows Smith’s influence, can be heard on his first classical pedal steel album Firebird Suite.

"Everyone who plays classical music should be required to listen to this recording," said Mark Laycock, Music Director, Orchestra London, The Princeton Chamber Symphony and Guest Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony. "Mike Perlowin is a musical genius who I am proud to know and learn from, and honored to have for a friend. I love this instrument, and this music and the beauty of these sounds delights my soul."

Perlowin had been marginally exposed to classical music when he was young, and has no formal musical or production training. Perlowin’s second album, West Side Story, shows his growth not as a player, since he had already mastered the instrument, but as a producer, arranger, and recording engineer.

However, it is with this third album that his mastery of the recording studio blossomed to match his talents as a virtuoso musician. On Spanish Steel, Dave Beyer played drums and percussion, while Bill Watkins contributed timpani samples to complement Perlowin on pedal and lap steel guitars, electric and acoustic guitars, fretted and fretless basses, sitar, mandolin, mandocello, 5-string banjo, autoharp and additional percussion.

Spanish Steel is a totally unique and original album fulfilling Perlowin’s goal of showing the beauty and expressiveness of the pedal steel guitar. Replete with fascinating liner notes, it is the best example to date of the depths of Perlowin’s enormous talent. Find it along with his other albums at CDBaby.com, SteelGuitarMusic.com, Amazon.com; for reviews and images visit his artist website at http://www.mikeperlowin.com

TRACK LIST:

Michael Perlowin, SPANISH STEEL: Music from Spain by Manuel de Falla, Joaquín Rodrigo, Isaac Albéniz and others.

El Amour Brujo (Manuel de Falla)
1. Introduccion Y Escena (0:30)
2. En La Cueva (1:46)
3. Cancion Del Amor Dolido (1:25)
4. Danze Del Terror (2:03)
5. El Circulo Magico (2:45)
6. Danza Ritual Del Fuego (3:52)
7. Escena (1:00)
8. Cancion Del Fuego Fatuo (1:21)
9. Pantmima (4:14)
10. Danza Del Juego De Amor (2:23)
11. Las Campanas Del Amanecer (1:18)

Asturias (Isaak Albéniz)
12. Asturias (Leyenda) (5:43)

Conceirto Andeluz for 4 guitars (Joaquín Rodrigo).
13. Conceirto Andeluz for 4 guitars- Third Movement ( 7:05)

Fantasia Inca (Julio Martinez Oyanguren)
14. Fantasia Inca (3:12)

Capriccio Espagnol (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov)
15. Alborada (1:15)
16. Variazioni (4:20)
17. Alborada (1:17)
18. Scena (2:16)
19. Canto Gatano (2:22)
20. Fandango Asturiano (3:38)