Thursday, March 26, 2015

Sights and Sounds: Annie Lennox, Tommy Bolin, Do LaB Coachella Stage

Here is a nice roundup focusing on a number of upcoming high-profile releases...

Nostalgia: An Evening With Annie Lennox set for release on Monday, May 4 via Blue Note Records; 'PBS Live' concert set to air on April 3

Nostalgia: An Evening With Annie Lennox, a deluxe package featuring Annie Lennox’s GRAMMY-nominated Nostalgia album and a brand new concert film, is scheduled for release on Blue Note Records on May 4. Shot on January 28, 2015 by director Natalie Johns (Morrissey) at Los Angeles’ art deco Orpheum Theatre, the film captures one of music’s most popular and acclaimed artists in her only full concert performance of the songs from Nostalgia. Fronting a 19-piece band – including string and horn sections – and unveiling striking lighting and production elements created especially for this special evening, Lennox demonstrates her distinctive vocal and performance talents on an array of American standards, ranging from “Summertime,” “Georgia On My Mind,” “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless The Child” to one of rock’n’roll’s most enduring classics, “I Put A Spell On You.” In addition to its inclusion in the deluxe package, the film can also be purchased on its own in DVD, Blu-ray and digital long form formats at all music retailers and streaming partners. The pre-order is underway now on Amazon. It can also be pre-ordered at http://smarturl.it/NostalgiaPremium, where fans will find several exclusive bundles, including the Premium Nostalgia Experience, which will contain the concert DVD (or Blu-ray), CD and vinyl editions of the Nostalgia album and a silk lithograph that Annie will personally inscribe for each recipient. (This edition is limited to 100.)
 
“Every singer loves the challenge of interpreting truly inspirational songs. Each one of these masterpieces stands as a lasting testimony to the brilliance of their creators – their individual beauty, power and poetry continues to stand the test of time,” saidAnnie Lennox. “The song selection for Nostalgia was very personal and intuitive – there was no agenda or stratagem other than becoming intrigued and fascinated through the process of listening, transcribing and recording. Now they live in my blood stream.”
 
Fans can get a first look at Lennox’s concert film when it premieres on THIRTEEN’SGreat Performances, airing on PBS on Friday, April 3, at 10 p.m. Check local listings or visit Great Performances Online at www.pbs.org/gperf. Click HERE for a preview of the episode, which features Lennox performing “Georgia On My Mind.”For an encore, Lennox sat down at the piano and delivered striking solo renditions of two of her own hits, Here Comes the Rain Again” and “Why.” Fans who purchase Nostalgia: An Evening With Annie Lennox will enjoy the entire 60-minute concert plus exclusive footage of Annie performing two additional songs –“Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" and “No More I Love You’s.”
 
Nostalgia hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums chart in October of 2014 and subsequently received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. After her performance with Hozier on the awards show telecast, Nostalgia shot up to No. 1 on the Amazon and iTunes Jazz albums charts and “I Put A Spell On You”topped the two retailers’ Jazz Songs charts. “Annie Lennox was the surprise hit of the GRAMMY’s,” marveled Vogue.
 
“I Put A Spell On You,” which was heard in the opening four minutes of the filmFifty Shades of Grey, breaks the Top 20 at Adult Mainstream radio this week, jumping to 18*, and Lennox’s performance video of the song has more than six million views.

Nostalgia: An Evening With Annie Lennox - Track Listing
1. Intro
2. Memphis In June
3. Georgia On My Mind
4. I Put A Spell On You
5. Summertime
6. I Cover The Waterfront
7. Strange Fruit
8. God Bless The Child
9. You Belong To Me
10. September In The Rain
11. I Can Dream, Can’t I?
12. The Nearness Of You
13. Mood Indigo
14. Here Comes The Rain Again
15. No More I Love You’s
16. Why
17. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
 
Nostalgia – CD & Vinyl Track Listing
1. Memphis In June
2. Georgia On My Mind
3. I Put A Spell On You
4. Summertime
5. I Cover The Waterfront
6. Strange Fruit
7. God Bless The Child
8. You Belong To Me
9. September In The Rain
10. I Can Dream, Can’t I?
11. The Nearness Of You
12. Mood Indigo
 


UDR Music Announces TOMMY BOLIN “TEASER” 40th Anniversary Vinyl Edition Box Set – Out May 19, 2015 in North America


Tommy Bolin – recognized for his work with groups such as ZephyrThe James Gang, and Deep Purple – was a bright, young American guitar god who created a whirlwind with his loud, stylish, free-form fusion performances before his untimely death at the age of 25 in 1976. Released in 1975 during his time with Deep PurpleTeaser was the solo masterpiece and eventual cult-classic that Bolin never got the chance to properly promote.

Now, 40 years after the album was originally released and unfortunately buried with time, Teaser is finally getting its time to shine.

On May 19, 2015, UDR Music will release the official TEASER 40th Anniversary Vinyl Edition Box Set, a three-album deluxe vinyl box-set supplemented with two live CDs, celebrating the 40th anniversary of this legendary release. Featuring long-lost outtakes and alternative mixes from the original Teaser studio sessions, plus two live CDs comprising performances from Ebbets Field, The Northern Lights, My Father’s Place and Albany, the TEASER 40th Anniversary Vinyl Edition Box Set is set to satiate the appetites of Bolin fans worldwide.

Bolin was a shooting star, a fiercely bright, ferociously driven and a guitarist whose soul spoke through his fingers and fretboard. Bolin was an American axeman of the caliber rarely seen or heard before (or since) his untimely death at the age of 25 on December 4th 1976. Bolin allowed the power of funk and the fury of rock to find such finite expression through his inspiration. His expression never sounded more fluent than on his 1975 solo album debut Teaser. The album embraced a tour de force of styles from jazz to hard rock to Latin music, all of which were expressed in a glorious musical stew.

At the age of 17, Bolin formed Zephyr, whose blues rock was coated in psychedelic tendencies. Despite opening for the likes of Led Zeppelin and growing a strong fan-base, Bolin left the group in 1971 to form Energy (a jazz-rock project) before Joe Walsh recommended him to The James Gang, where he recorded the Bang! and Miami albums in 1973 and ’74 respectively. Bolin also appeared on legendary drummer Billy Cobham’s Spectrum solo album, and his ability to enjoy (and make the grade with!) such improvisational jamming style sounds left Bolin as that rare bird. A man who could be a rock star or a man who could be a musician’s musician at cafes across America.

Bolin moved to LA seeking confirmation of the stardom his enormous talents promised, and the foundations for the legendary Teaser album were laid. Featuring session musicians such as Glenn Hughes, David Sanborn, Jan Hammer, Stanley Sheldon and Phil Collins, Teaser represents the fulcrum point of Tommy’s solo-artist work. As he completed work on it, Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore quit the band, and Bolin was invited to join Purple by singer David CoverdaleCome Taste The Band came out towards the end of 1975, before Purple disbanded and left Bolin free to do his second album Private Eyes. Opening for Peter Frampton and Jeff Beck, Bolin was just starting to enjoy the sort of attention and recognition that would surly have seen him rise to the next level of revered guitar God. Sadly, Bolin’s addiction issues would not allow it, and in 1976, he died at the young age of 25.

Bolin’s legacy is superbly reflected in TEASER 40th Anniversary Vinyl Edition Box Set – get your copy while they last!


Learn more about TOMMY BOLIN via http://www.tbolin.com.


Do LaB Coachella Stage Announces Lineup and Exciting Changes in 2015!


Since 2004, Los Angeles-based music and event production house, Do LaB,have been constructing an interactive stage inside the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival being held April 10-12 and April 17-19, 2015 in the Southern California desert. The Do LaB stage and its surrounding area - complete with creative lighting structures, shade and misters - has become known and loved by festivalgoers as the oasis of Coachella. This year, the Do LaB stage has been reimagined with an all-new design in a new location, plus a unique, previously unannounced lineup curated by the folks at Do LaB.

The Do LaB stage, unlike the festival’s other five stages, will change its lineup each weekend. Musicians will come from afar - Berlin, France, Australia, England, and Spain - to play this memorable stage. The first weekend lineup includes trap stars Loudpvck, techno-funk maestro Sebastien Leger, LA DJ collective Droog, The Glitch Mob’s Ooah, Washington D.C. reggae-funk act Fort Knox Five, underground house producer Edu Imbernon, Australian up-and-comer Cassian and Berlin-based house duo M.A.N.D.Y.  Additionally, Russ Liquid, Mihkal, Coyote Kisses, Lane 8, Joe Kay x Jay Prince, Justin Jay, Jackal, Jai Wolf, Jesse Wright, Hayden James, Falcons, Clozee, Dirtwire, Till Von Sein, Bit Funk, B.R.E.E.D., Addatap, An-ten-nae round out the first weekend’s bill. Lucent Dossier Experience returns with a new performance showcased both weekends.

Artists performing the second weekend on the Do LaB stage include A Tribe Called Red, Adam Freeland, Andrew Luce, Atish, CRNKN, Dance Spirit, Dr. Fresh, GoldRush, Hoodboi, Hunter Leggitt, J. Philip, Lisbona, Kraddy, Louis Futon, Mija, Morillo, My Favorite Robot, Patricio, Pomo, Redux, Robot Koch, Sabo, TasyTreat, Tropicool, Whitehorse and Worthy.

As with all Do LaB music curation, this year is a mix of artists you may know and those you need to know. Jesse Flemming explains, “I’m on an endless hunt for new and amazing music, and I’m excited that I get to share it--and even more so that people dig the music we share. If you don’t know any of the artists on the lineup--you will soon.”

In 2015, the Do LaB stage moves to a new location within the Terrace next to a new entrance, directly across from the Sahara tent, providing direct access from the Saharaa major win for electronic music fans.

Previously, Do LaB has been inspired by nature and exotic plants when building their immersive environment for the festival. This year, the inspiration comes from endangered whales. The stage and its encompassing area serves as a mini-oasis with much-needed shade and misters to cool off the Coachella crowds during the hottest parts of the weekend.

After Coachella, make sure to hit Do LaB’s tenth anniversary of the world-renowned Lightning in a Bottle festival featuring over 300 musicians, artists, workshops, and speakers including Flume, Odesza, SBTRKT, RL Grime, Panda Bear, Tycho and many more. The 5-day camping festival will take place 25 minutes north of Paso Robles on California’s central coast at San Antonio Recreation Area in Bradley, CA over Memorial Day Weekend (May 21 - 25, 2015). Purchase tickets here!


ABOUT DO LAB
Based in Los Angeles, Do LaB’s mission is to craft experience as art and bring communities together. Aside from showcasing musicians throughout Southern California, Do LaB is well known for creating unique art installations/stages and curating cutting-edge acts at Coachella in addition to producing Southern California’s Lightning in a Bottle, and the 2012 Winter Solstice event The Great Convergence, which took place at the pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Do LaB’s work has also been showcased at Virgin Music Festival, Global Gathering, Portugal’s Boom Festival and many more.

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