British-born guitarist, Billy Morrison recently decamped and made his way to Billy Idol’s band for an extensive globetrotting gig that’s carried him to Russia, Greece, Switzerland, England and Eastern Europe. That’s not to say that’s he’s not continuing his work with Camp Freddy and Circus Diablo, two groups that he’s worked with for several years.
Power pop balladeer, actor and rock chronicler Marshall Crenshaw creates and electrifies contemporary songs from the heartbeat of vintage vinyl. He’s firmly and comfortably grounded in the roots of rock ‘n’ roll and has gathered up a strong coterie of fans with his catchy hooks and timing. Crenshaw is a craftsman who merges classic taste with new style in a manner to produce his unique and captivating sound, always reminding us of the days when rock was young and magical.
When one thinks of Brazilian music, the soft sounds of Tom Jobim or Stan Getz usually spring to mind. Music that conjures up images of white-sand beaches, palm trees swaying in the breeze and long summer nights spent relaxing with friends. But, there are many sides to Brazilian music that don’t often receive the same level of attention outside of the musically bountiful country as Bossa Nova does.
Rock has a legacy of communicating rebellion, with street smarts and an eye towards defining distinctions between generations, the rich and poor, the isolation of youth and the anger when dreams are shattered by realities. And it may not always be the lyrics that reflect the plight of the underdog, as much as the grit and primal nature of the sound of rock. Few places have risen to the occasion to offer up rock like Detroit and its surrounding working class suburbs.
After finding international success in the 1970s, Progressive-Psychedelic rock band Nektar found themselves going their separate ways, and not releasing an album after 1980s Man in the Moon. The next two decades found Nektar’s band members doing solo project and pursuing other endeavors as the band moved further away from their heydays of the ‘70s. While many other bands would have simply moved on and called it quits after such a long time apart, in 2002 Nektar reunited and have been recording and touring together ever since.
Steve Stevens is most notably recognized as the guitarist for Billy Idol, a partnership of 30 years that has produced countless Top 10 singles and platinum LPs. He is by far one of the most gifted guitarists to emerge from the ’80s music scene with his background being forged with the greats of the early ‘70’s like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. Unknown to most, Steve also became an avid prog-rock fan, especially the likes of King Crimson and Yes.
When one hears the words “one-man band,” they often get a comical picture of a cartoon like character dancing around with a bunch of instruments strapped to his back. While this may work for the movies or in TV shows, it is musicians like Claude Hay that take this term and turn it into an art form. Utilizing modern technology such as loop pedals and effects, Hay is able to bring together multiple layers of instruments and sounds into his songs, both in the studio and live, all without hiring a band. He is a DIY musician in the purest sense.
Forty-plus years after the Summer of Love and the release of The Doors’ self-titled debut album, 61-year-old Doors guitarist Robby Krieger is a busy man. Recently, Krieger appeared at the Berklee College of Music’s Berklee Performance Center in Boston where he performed a set with Doors tribute band Morrison Crossing comprised of ex-Berklee students, and spoke to the audience and reporters on a variety of topics, past and present.
Lemmy Kilmister may be the driving force of Motörhead, but Phil Campbell is the vehicle that they travel their music journey in. Phil has been Lemmy’s right hand man and lead guitarist for 27 years, performing 14 Motörhead LPs including such classics as Bastards, Inferno, and Hammered.
There is something about Latin Jazz that just feels good, when it’s played well that is. A lot of modern jazz has moved beyond its roots as dance music, pushing the boundaries of harmony and melody in new and exciting directions, but nobody’s going to dance to it. This is why Latin, and Brazilian Jazz for that matter are so much fun to listen to. The top players in these genres know how to keep that deep groove, all while bringing advanced harmonic concepts to the mix. By doing so they not only appeal to folks who like to get up and cut the rug, but also to those who like to be intellectually stimulated when they listen to a jazz record or concert.
