Blues Legend Earl Thomas in Blues Foundation Benefit Concert Appearing at Club Fox, Redwood City Sunday, March 24, 2013

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Redwood City, CA…….Blues legend Earl Thomas and his Blues friends will play at Club Fox in Redwood City on Sunday, March 24, 2013 with a special live performance webcast pay per view show at 1pm PST. This once in a lifetime event, which will not be replicated anywhere, will be streamed live by VenMundi, making it possible for Blues aficionados all over the world to enjoy these extraordinary artists who are coming together in support of the Blues Foundation. 

Earl Thomas started out wanting to support the Blues Foundation by giving back his time and talents as a Blues artist.  As his fellow Blues musicians heard about what Thomas was doing, they wanted to join him.  As a result, the show will feature Sista Monica, Syreeta Neal, Lady Bianca, Kenny Neal, Tia Carroll, King Tuffnstuff, Shane Dwight, Daniel Castro, John Nemeth, Kyle Rowland, Greg Nagy, Aki Kumar, the Blues Ambassadors and the list is growing.

Thomas explains, “I’m excited to be part of this event, and even more excited to have my friends join me in supporting the Blues Foundation.  I think it is important for all of us to give back to the music that we love and to ensure that the history of Blues is preserved.  I’m also grateful to VenMundi for helping us contribute 50 percent of the proceeds in support of the Blues Hall of Fame Museum.”

KRISTY LOVE BROOKS NEW ALBUM “SONGS OF LOVE AND PEACE” TO BE RELEASED MARCH 26TH

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SHARE AND EMBED “ALL OVER THE WORLD” HERE

February 27, 2013 (Los Angeles, CA): Kristy Love Brooks, singer/songwriter, is no stranger to the limelight as the seasoned performer and all-around entertainer has been a solo RCA recording artist, actress, and dancer singing along with one of the most successful R&B groups, The Platters with an established fan base in the United Kingdom. She is in the eyes of many, a true diva with her reputation in the music industry.

With the release of “Songs of Love and Peace”, Kristy aims to create a new excitement and establish a “peace” movement in the mainstream dance music industry with single “All Over The World”. Her passionate, unique sound creates a variety of moods and tempos from mainstream dance and jazz to contemporary R&B and music with smooth tones that remind you of Roberta Flack and Sade.

Kristy Love Brooks links: Website - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube

WORLD-RENOWNED VOCAL ENSEMBLE SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK ADDS SOMETHING DIFFERENT – A JAZZ TRIO! – ON NEW 2-CD LIVE SET AND UPCOMING SPECIAL SHOWS CELEBRATING MUSICAL INFLUENCES

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For Immediate Release                                                                          February 26, 2013

February 26^th Release on Appleseed Recordings, “A Tribute – Live! Jazz at Lincoln Center,” and Tour Dates Spotlight Quintet’s Inspirations and Versatility

Nearing its fourth decade, the internationally acclaimed, award-winning female African-American a cappella group Sweet Honey In The Rock was ready to follow its adventurous spirit and undertake a new challenge – to honor some of the seminal songs that first inspired its unique blend of folk, blues, jazz, gospel and ethnic music in a concert presentation utilizing an instrumental backing trio for the first time. Upping the ante, the singers decided to perform this special program at New York’s prestigious Jazz at Lincoln Center venue and to record their two-night appearance there in front of surprised and delighted audiences. Talk about working without a net!

In the opening moments of Sweet Honey In The Rock’s new 2-CD set, “A Tribute – Live! Jazz at Lincoln Center,” well-timed for February 26^th release – concluding Black History Month and preceding Women’s History Month in March – group member Ysaye Barnwell recites a roll-call of some of the great female African-American vocalists whose songs helped shape the group and comprise much of “Tribute’s” repertoire, including Abbey Lincoln, Odetta, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba, Carmen McRae, Bessie Smith, and Sarah Vaughan.

The songs on this recording are drawn from those two shows at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall in April 2011. They were subsequently performed on several additional dates, and will be featured in at least five upcoming “Tribute” shows in February and March 2013. Adorned with new arrangements by Sweet Honey’s members, there are jazz standards such as “Love Me or Leave Me,” “Wild is the Wind,” and “Tell Me More and More and Then Some,” gospel/civil rights anthems melded into a “Freedom Suite,” Afro-centric songs (the Sixties hit song “Pata Pata,” “Sabumoya,” “Shuku Shuku,” and the closing “N'diarabi/Africa is Where My Heart Lies”), show tunes, blues, and a salsa-flavored original, “Let There Be Peace.”  

Sweet Honey In The Rock’s distinctive swirl of a cappella vocals, encompassing waves of imaginative ensemble harmonies and occasional solo showcases, is heard unaccompanied, aside from the quintet’s hand percussion, on about half of the songs. Interwoven throughout the presentation are the understated instrumental contributions of the trio nicknamed “the Honey Men” – Stacey Wade (musical director/piano/keyboards), Parker McAllister (bass), Jovol Bell (drums, percussion) – who augment Sweet Honey’s exhilarating, soulful voices and confident, genre-crossing dexterity.

Founded in 1973 by Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon at the (Washington) D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company, Sweet Honey In The Rock’s line-up currently includes returning original members Carol Maillard and Louise Robinson (Dr. Reagon retired from the group in 2004) and “long-timers” Ysaye Barnwell, Nitanju Bolade Casel, and Aisha Kahlil, as well as on-stage sign language interpreter Shirley Childress. The group has toured from Australia to Zimbabwe, performed in the White House at the request of President and First Lady Obama, accrued numerous honors (including a Grammy  and several Grammy nominations , most recently for its first CD on Appleseed, 2007’s “Experience…101”), and established itself as an inspiring, empowering musical force worldwide.

Sweet Honey’s involvement in various social justice projects makes the group an ideal member of the independent Appleseed Recordings roster, which includes significant artist/activists Pete Seeger, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and South Africa’s Johnny Clegg, among others.

Upcoming “Tribute” tour dates:

3/5/13 B.B. King’s, New York City

3/7/13 Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C.

Upcoming Non-“Tribute” tour dates:

3/8/13 Murphy Fine Arts Center, Baltimore, MD

3/9/13 Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, VA

3/21/13 Kraakhuis, Gent, BE

3/23/13 Barbican Centre, London, UK

3/26/13 Royal Opera House Muscat, Muscat, OM

3/30/13 Bluesfest, Bryon Bay, AU

3/31/13 Bluesfest Bryon Bay, AU

4/1/13   Enmore Theatre, Newtown, AU

4/3/13   Hamer Hall, Melbourne, AU

5/11/13 Smothers Theatre, Malibu, CA

5/19/13 Brooklyn Academy of Music Opera House, Brooklyn, NY

7/17/13 Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL

8/3/13   Berkshire Choral Festival, Sheffield, MA

ALISA BONIELLO RELEASES WORLD PREMIERE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “CAN’T LOVE ME”

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February 26, 2013, New York, NY…Fledging indie songwriter/singer Alisa Boniello, who burst on the music scene last year with her infectious debut single and video for “Lovestruck”, will bow a brand new video of her rock/pop tinged saga, CAN’T LOVE ME, with a world premiere on video channels online March 5, 2013.

Boniello co-wrote “Can’t Love Me,” with noted songwriter/producer/arranger/musician Ron Haney (Alicia Keys, Drake) who also produced the track. The song chronicles a relationship that goes south after a woman discovers her man  has cheated on her and can’t offer unrequited love.

“Can’t Love Me,” was directed by film/video Joel Fendelman for Fendelman Films and was executive produced by Ramon Hervey II.  Jimmy Ferguson served as Director of photography while Rae Dawn Johnson handled make-up with Julius Michael and Johnson served as hair stylists.  Costume set design was created by up and coming fashion designer Antonio Estrada from Marteal & Estrada Fashions.

Boniello has been busy writing and recording several songs with Ron Haney for a potential EP release later in 2013.

For more information about Alisa Boniello please visit Alisa Boniello’s official website:  http://www.alisaboniello.com.

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK WILL BID FAREWELL TO LONG TIME BAND MEMBER DR. YSAYE M. BARNWELL IN 2013

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February 4, 2013  ( New York, NY)   SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, the venerable and Grammy Award-nominated a cappella ensemble that is currently celebrating its’ 39^th performance season will bid farewell to one of its’ most tenured and revered member’s Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell, when she officially exits the group the at end of May this year to pursue several of her own career endeavors.

Barnwell’s inimitable and distinctive bass tones were added to the DC based a cappella quartet in 1979 after being scouted and invited by the ensemble’s founder/ creator Dr. Bernice Reagon.  Reagon (who retired in 2004) formed the group in 1973 along with Louise Robinson, Carol Maillard and Mie, while teaching a vocal workshop at the legendary D.C. Black Repertory Theatre Company.  Both Maillard and Robinson took a sabbatical from the group in 1976, returning in1992 and 2004, respectively. The current line-up comprises Maillard, Barnwell, Robinson, Aisha Kahlil (who joined in 1981), Nitanju Bolade Casel (who joined in 1985) and Shirley Childress Saxton, an American Sign Language interpreter who has been performing ASL with the group since 1981.

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’S sterling legacy as songwriters, activists, inspirational performers, and musical innovators has endured and weathered  twenty-three personnel changes since its’ inception.  In the light of the various configurations,  their patented and unique five-part harmonized fusion of African chants, blues, jazz, soul, gospel, and rhythm & blues has built a worldwide following and generated 23 original and revered recordings.

"We are very sad to see Ysaye go," says Carol Maillard, "but we know she's embarking on a wonderful world of projects and accomplishments that she'll undoubtedly achieve. She will always be a part of us and who knows when we might see her on the Sweet Honey stage again!"

 “I have loved and deeply appreciated being a part of and contributing to the ensemble and legacy of Sweet Honey over the past 34 years,” stated Barnwell.

“The women of Sweet Honey will be my sisters forever, but I’ve felt a sense of calling to devote more of my personal and professional time to other projects that I’m very passionate about and have been nurturing for some time.”

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK has revealed plans to eventually add a new member, and will be holding auditions over the next several months in preparation for their,

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK 40^th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: FORTY AND FIERCE, which will be launched and presented from late October 2013 – October 2014.  The group is currently developing an entirely new theatrical production and show to commemorate their four decades of history- making music.

Barnwell will continue to be an integral part of all the ensemble’s live performances thru mid-May, 2013, including a series of international performances in Gent, Belgium, London, England, Muscat, Oman, and several cities in Australia in late March and early April.

Barnwell’s last recording with SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK will be released by Appleseed Recordings on February 26, 2012. The album entitled, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK: A TRIBUTE, LIVE! JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER pays homage to the songs of several legendary jazz icons including Abbey Lincoln, Miriam Makeba, Odetta and Nina Simone. The double-CD is a live recording of their sold out performances at JALC’s Rose Theatre in April 2011 which also featured a contemporary jazz trio. They will perform several of songs from their new CD in all their forthcoming dates, and will reprise the full live Tribute show at the Kimmel Theater  in Philadelphia, February 28; the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, March 1; NJPAC in Newark, March 2; BB Kings in New  York. March 5; and the Howard Theater in Washington, DC, March 7.

Upon her departure from Sweet Honey, Dr. Barnwell plans to devote more of her time to her other career interests which include presenting vocal community workshops, conducting, composing, and further developing several major projects. Among them, THE FORTUNE’S BONES project that was commissioned and presented by the University of Maryland at the Clarice Smith Center in February 2012.

Artist Official Website:   www.sweethoneyintherock.org