New Neo-Prog from Germany’s Shamall – Turn Off Parts 1 and 2

So last night as I was checking the New Prog Rock releases for November one of the band names that caught my attention was Shamall (Shamal, which loosely translates as “hot desert wind”) and their new album Turn Off  Parts One and Two. Along with the name the two things that made the band more interesting is that they are from Germany and their sub-genre is listed as Neo-Prog. Based on past listens I usually like bands that fit into this sub-genre!! Tonight when I visited the band Facebook page I read that they classify their music as “Rock with psychedelic…

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Today in Music – Nov 26, 1983 – Happy Birthday, Guy Buttery!!

I love checking list of people who have birthday on that day’s date, especially the list at All About Jazz. The list has led to my discovery of many artist that were previously unknown to me!! Yesterday such as I was introduced to the music of Daseul Kim and now today I have discovered a really great acoustic guitar player Guy Buttery. A quick listen to his most recent release told me that this musician from South Africa will soon have a spot in my music library. I will try to write more later, but for now here’s what some…

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Today in Music – November 25, 1986 – Bassist Daseul Kim is Born! Happy Birthday Dasuel!

At the top of the list of todays’ birthdays at All About Jazz was bassist Daseul Kim who was born on this date in 1986 in South Korea. Kim’s musical journey has taken him from that homeland of South Korea to a new home in New Jersey. After landing in the New York Metropolitan Area, Dasheul is quickly building his reputation as one of the most promising young bassists on the New York jazz scene. From his website: Exposed early on to traditional Korean music, Daseul quickly gained attention when he was awarded the grand prize in Korea’s National Students…

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Lunchtime Music from R Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman!

So yesterday I was all excited because I saw a R Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman album that I had neve seen before Awakening the Fire. I downloaded it and gave it a listen last night and like of all of the work of these two masters – I love it! Nakai is a master of the Native American flute and Clipman is an extraordinary percussionist! What I learned this afternoon is that the album is from 1995!! Hell, its still great! Some information from Carlos’ website. Grammy-nominees R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman delve into a primal sonic odyssey,…

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2013 Blues from Oakland’s – No – Austin’s Birdlegg

A review of the Roots Music Blues Chart this morning led me to the blues of , Eugene “Birdlegg” Pittman and his 2013 Dialtone release Birdlegg.(#38) Since 1980 Birdlegg has been playing the blues in and around Oakland, California with his band the Tight Fit Blues Band. The band’s lineup would change from time to time but regularly included Texas-born bass player and singer Country Pete McGill and even once featured legendary Chess session guitarist Luther Tucker. Through the years he often told folks:, “I don’t do floors, windows or shoes—I play the Oakland blues!”Birdlegg was named Blues Harmonica Player of the Year by the…

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Morning Music from Trumpeter – Avishai Cohen!

  So yesterday I wrote that as I was listening to Omer Avital’s Suite of the East, I was impressed y the trumpet playing of Avishai Cohen. Evidently I am not the only one impressed by his talent, as he was voted the rising star trumpeter in the 2012 Downbeat Jazz Critics Poll. Here’s some background on Avishai from Wikipedia: Avishai Cohen Is a New York City-based jazz musician originally from Tel Aviv, Israel. Cohen is an internationally recognized jazz trumpet player, composer, and bandleader. His playing style reflects a heavy influence from the bebop and post-bop traditions. However elements of avant-garde jazz, and jazz fusion, as well as other contemporary…

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Life’s Soundtrack – Omer Avital – Suite of the East

So some times it takes me a couple of listens and also thinking about the music and what the musician is trying to accomplish to truly understanding and like an album. I believe that is the case with the latest release from bassist/composer Omer Avital Suite of the East I had never heard of this Israeli jazz bassist, composer and bandleader before the other day when his album showed up on my “Just for You” list on MOG. Here’s some background on Avital: Avital was born in the small town of Giv’atayim to Moroccan and Yemeni parents.[2] At age 11, he began his formal training, studying Classical Guitar at the…

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Omer Avital – Suite of the East

So some times it takes me a couple of listens and also thinking about the music and what the musician is trying to accomplish to truly understanding and like an album. I believe that is the case with the latest release from bassist/composer Omer Avital Suite of the East I had never heard of this Israeli jazz bassist, composer and bandleader before the other day when his album showed up on my “Just for You” list on MOG. Here’s some background on Avital: Avital was born in the small town of Giv’atayim to Moroccan and Yemeni parents.[2] At age 11, he began his formal training, studying Classical Guitar at the…

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Life’s Soundtrack – Prog from Paris – The Black Noodle Project – Ready to Go!

  The Black Noodle Project -Psychedelic/Space Rock – France So one way a band catches my attention is by their name. One band that caught my attention today through their name was the Black Noodle Project. I stumbled across the name at New Prog Rock Releases when I was searching for new music and once I saw the name I knew I had to check them out. The band released a new album Ghosts & Memories (you can watch a preview of the album here) on November 15th but I have yet to see that album at any music site like…

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The Music Safari discovers great Symphonic Prog from Armenia’s Oaksenham!

Yesterday among my “Just for You” recommendations at MOG was  the album Conquest of  the Pacific from the band Oaksenham. The album was released in 2006 and was recommended because I had listened to Kerrs Pink and Dead Heroes Club.Since I had enjoyed both of those bands,  I read the info  about the band. When I read that they were Armenian the hunt became more interesting!  So  I downloaded  the album to the iPhone and what I found was some great symphonic prog-rock!  The highlight for me was the flute! Some background from their website: OAKSENHAM was founded in 2001…

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