2013 Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival Announced

The 2013 Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival details were announced this week. The festival takes place May 6 – 11, 2013 at venues throughout Harlem. For a listing of shows, see below.

Renewing their partnership for the third year, the Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile, Inc., in collaboration with Columbia University, will join forces to present the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival from May 6 – 11, 2013.  The three cultural organizations will present a series of concerts and events to celebrate the rich legacy of jazz in the uptown community while bringing both established and emerging artists to famed Harlem venues. This year, the festival will pay tribute to The Alhambra Ballroom, the Apollo Theater, The Baby Grand, Minton’s Playhouse, Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, Showman’s Jazz Club, the Sugar Cane Club and the Cotton Club. In addition to concerts at jazz shrines throughout Harlem, festival events will take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Cowin Auditorium at Teacher’s College and Ginny’s Supper Club.

Neal Preston To Release Digital Led Zeppelin Book

 

Legendary photographer Neal Preston will release Led Zeppelin: Sound And Fury on April 15. The digital book showcases hundreds of photos, over a hundred never before seen, and contact sheets.  In addition there will be commentary from Preston as well as video and text interview with people who worked for Zeppelin along with other goodies.  The book is available for pre-order exclusively on the iBookstore.  Check out the trailer below.

There are a handful of photographers who photograph music that captured the attention of little me.  Preston is one of those photographers.  I'm sure every Zep photo I ever loved and had on my wall at some point was taken by Preston.

Created with Apple's digital book creation app, iBooks Author, this Multi-Touch experience on iPad is unprecedented in its visual style and layout, letting the reader explore never-before-seen shots of Led Zeppelin and join them not only on stage, but also backstage. Led Zeppelin: Sound And Fury contains an intro by Stevie Nicks and has contributions from bands like My Chemical Romance, Heart, Mastodon and many more.

No photographer was granted the access to Led Zeppelin that Neal Preston had. Any photo of the band from the post-1973 era familiar to fans is probably one of Preston's images. Led Zeppelin: Sound And Fury immerses you in the band's inner circle with brilliant on-stage performance photos, backstage candid shots, intimate images from onboard the band's two private planes, as well as snapshots from press conferences, movie premieres, private band parties and more.

Whitesnake Release Video From Upcoming CD/DVD Package

We mentioned a while back that Whitesnake will be releasing Made In Japan, their live CD/DVD package, on April 23 here in North America. The performance is from their co-headlining set at the Loud Park festival during their 2011 Forevermore World Tour.  A clip of "Fool For Your Loving" from the package was released about a week ago.  You can check it out below.

It's well documented that I'm a David Coverdale fan.  I've been hearing some folks discussing that his voice isn't what it was...he doesn't hit the high notes like he used to.  No, he doesn't. He smartly brings the key down like any singer with common sense would out of necessity and desire.  Yes, The Coverdale's voice is more gritty but that's not necessarily a 'flaw' unless all you want to hear is the classic, upper realms, howl. The moments where he does reach for the higher notes is when the roughness shows the most.  He's earned the roughness, thirty-five years of Whitesnake plus the years before that...yeah, earned.

This is what thirty-five years looks like...

 

Burning Rain To Release New Album

Guitarist Doug Aldrich has a new record coming out with his original band, Burning Rain.  The band will release Epic Obsession, their third studio album, on May 21 in North America via Frontiers Records.

Aldrich, who currently plays with Whitesnake, founded the band with ex-Montrose singer Keith St. John.  They are joined on this effort by Sean McNabb (bass) and Matt Starr (drums). Frontiers Records is also giving attention to the band's previous albums Burning Rain and Pleasure To Burn.  Both will be repackaged, remastered with bonus tracks and reissued.

Of EPIC OBSESSION, Aldrich commented, "I think we have a good batch of songs that will stand up. It's a melodic blues rock approach to the sound.  It's really the only thing I have done outside of Whitenake in the last ten years." 

Track List

• Sweet Little Baby Thing
• The Cure
• Till You Die
• Heaven Gets Me By
• Pray Out Loud
• Our Time Is Gonna Come
• Too Hard To Break
• My Lust Your Fate
• Made For Your Heart
• Ride The Monkey
• Out In The Cold Again
• When Can I Believe In Love
• Kashmir*
• Heaven Gets Me By (acoustic version)*

*bonus tracks

The Fixx To Play The Bell House On 4/7

The Fixx
Sunday, April 7
The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn NY
Doors 7PM / Show 8PM
Tickets: $25
21+  

Q & A With Joe Fletcher

Last summer, I was hanging out at the Newport Folk Festival.  It was there that I was introduced to the stylings of Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons.  And, I've gotta tell you, it was one heck of a set.

I’ve gotten to know Fletcher’s music and I’ve become a fan of his photography; his last road-trip made me feel like I was in the passenger seat.  I was curious about the artist and curiosity leads to questions.  So recently, I ‘e-questioned’ Fletcher and this is the result of that curiosity.  Check out our Q & A below.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): What non-musical person, place or thing has been the greatest influence on your music?

Joe Fletcher (JF): I would have to choose either Vladimir Nabokov or F. Scott Fitzgerald. Their subtle use of wit in their writing is something I've always strived for in my songs and, for that matter, my everyday life. 

The Devil Makes Three To Play Music Hall of Williamsburg on 4/18

The Devil Makes Three
Jonny Fritz
Thursday, April 18
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 North 6th St
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm
Tickets: $17.50 advance / $20 day of show
18+

Alice Smith To Play The Bowery Ballroom on 4/10

Alice Smith
Wednesday, April 10
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St
New York, NY
Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm
Tickets: $25
18+

Alice Smith released her new album, She, earlier this month.  Hm, we haven't had a new record from her in what, seven years?  Wow...well, welcome back.

Charles Bradley Releases New Video + New Album

Charles Bradley released the video for his track "Strictly Reserved For You" on Friday.  The track is from his upcoming album Victim Of Love which will be released this Tuesday, April 2 via Daptone Records.

New Single From Junip

Junip are sharing their new single, “Your Life, Your Call”, from their upcoming self-titled album.  Junip is scheduled for release on April 23 via Mute Records.  Check out the track below.

Also, they will be making a stop in NYC at Highline Ballroom on Thursday, June 13.  Doors are at 8PM.  Tickets are $20.