This just in…ObliqSound and our family of artists have been nominated for not one, but three spots for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards!
Among the potentially award-winning songs and albums:
- Guitarist Lionel Loueke’s debut solo album on ObliqSound, Virgin Forest (OS 104), was nominated as a Finalist for Best World Fusion Album;
- The song ‘Kponnon Kpete,’ a beautiful track from Loueke’s Virgin Forest album was also nominated as a Finalist for Best World Traditional Song;
- Drummer Ferenc Nemeth’s debut solo CD Night Songs, featuring Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Lionel Loueke, Aaron Parks and John Patitucci as a jazz sextet, is also a Finalist for Best Jazz Album!
Loueke’s Virgin Forest album features Nemeth’s exceptional drumming (along with bassist Massimo Biolcati, who makes up the rest of the Gilfema (Lionel Loueke Trio) group - plus appearances by the great Herbie Hancock, Cyro Baptista, Gregoire Maret, Gretchen Parlato and more. Loueke returns the favor by appearing in fantastic form on guitar on Night Songs, Nemeth’s first album as a band leader. (Night Songs was released on Dreamers Collective Records, but is distributed in partnership with ObliqSound in North America)
Clearly, we’re thrilled that our ObliqSound artists are doing something right - and we hope you’ll agree and tell the world. The official judges results and winners of the IMAs will be announced in December 2007, but the people can vote until 2008 for the “Vox Populi” popular vote online.
Show your support by clicking the links above on each finalist announcement and vote for our nominees. Log in and vote early and often for our IMA Finalists, since it’s although it’s “an honor just to be nominated,” it’s also not bad to win, too!
October 31st, 2007
Attention Grand Pianoramax fans! After rave reviews from the 2005 self-titled album Grand Pianoramax (OS 009) ran in Billboard, BPM, iTunes and more press outlets around the globe, the evolution continues with the group’s second album The Biggest Piano In Town (OS 018) and an advance three-country mini-tour in Portugal, Switzerland and Germany!
A blend of phuture funk, hip-hop, spoken word and the music of one of the most creative pianists on the scene today, this album will release October 22, 2007 exclusively in Switzerland, followed by worldwide release in winter 2008.
Guests on the album include drummers Deantoni Parks (Kudu, Me’shell Ndegéocello) and Adam Deitch (John Scofield), American MCs Mike Ladd, Celena Glenn (Coco Rosie), Invincible (Platinum Pied Pipers), and French folk/rap artist Spleen. For sound clips, more info and to pre-order the album, read our release page. (Or check out the Geneva Tribune’s Sonotone blog entry about the album, with a full stream of The Hook, featuring Celena Glenn.
The all-live keyboards/drums duo will take the show on the road from November 1 through November 11 on a special three-country tour, as Leo Tardin & Grand Pianoramax tour with MC Mike Ladd! Check our tour page for more info about the dates in Portugal, Germany and Switzerland (plus three special radio shows on Radio Suisse Romande).
Stay tuned for press reviews, news from the tour and more!
October 18th, 2007
Expounding on two recent jazz albums that take on classic pop tunes, including Cyrus Chestnut’s Elvis homage and our friendly quartet’s (made up of Pietro Tonolo, Gil Goldstein, Steve Swallow and Paul Motian take on Elton John, the feature places our album in a very good light.
QUOTE:
“I prefer the quartet’s versions in at least a few cases — the melody of “The One” sounds better without the cheesy ocean effects and the disco drum machinery on the 1992 original. The most memorable tune is no surprise: The ballad “Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word” is the rare Elton John song that was already performed by Jimmy Scott, Ray Charles, and even Sinatra, and is played here slightly faster and punchier than I expected. The Pietro Quartet confirms that it’s a song worthy of being in the jazz repertoire.
In an online promotional video for “Your Song,” Mr. Tonolo relates that when he informed Mr. Swallow of the idea behind this project, the bassist (whose fender playing in the higher register often sounds like a guitar) responded, “Oh, I actually like some of Elton John’s songs — but don’t tell anybody!” As “Cyrus Plays Elvis” and “Your Songs” prove, fans of this music don’t have to keep it a secret: The best tunes by rock-era songwriters are worthy of sitting at the big table with the grown-ups.”
Click here for the full jazzy article.
October 9th, 2007
