by Jane Lambert

Musique Noire Connects with The Younger Musical Generation in their Album ‘intergenerational’

Musique Noire is the Detroit based all female jazz fusion group. Members Michelle May (violinist and flutist), Leslie Deshazor (violist), JoVia Armstrong (percussionist), and Leah Lucas (violist and violinist), are all accomplished musicians who have performed with high-profile artists such as Stevie Wonder, KEM, and Aretha Franklin. The group’s name reflects their interest in jazz and world music, and their music is informed by the culture of Black people.

Musique Noire’s latest album, intergenerational, showcases the band’s signature jazz and world music fusion sound with a unique twist. The album is a collaboration with three talented up-and-coming musicians, who were asked to write based on their experiences as women or from a woman they admired. The result is an eclectic mix of tracks, each with its own story to tell.

Intergenerational opens with Leslie’s arrangement of the traditional spiritual “Motherless Child,” which incorporates African-style rhythms. Leah’s original composition, “Kaleidoscope,” is a beautifully crafted jazz tune, written by her husband John, who is a pianist, drummer, and composer. JoVia’s contribution, “Nirvana – Feast or Famine,” features lyricist Mahogany Jones and explores themes of Afro-futurism. Michelle’s “Cuban Sunset (Arterdercer Cubano)” is an entirely improvised tune that showcases her violin and flute playing skills.

The impressive collection of tracks reveals the unique talents of Musique Noire and their collaborators. The band believes in leaving a legacy and wanted to have a unique way to reach out to a younger generation.

The album’s sophisticated sound and unique arrangements of world, jazz, soul, and R&B traditions make it a must-listen. With a nomination for a 2023 Detroit Music Award for Outstanding World Recording, Musique Noire continues to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Connect with Musique Noire via:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Spotify / Soundcloud

04.10.23

by Jane Lambert

Peter Calandra’s “The Gambit” is Dedicated to the Artists That Inspired Him

Peter Calandra is a prolific composer and keyboard player whose solo albums are wonderfully diverse, spanning world music, jazz, contemporary jazz, new age, pop, and neo-classical. The thread throughout his music is the lyrical expressiveness of the compositions and purity and purposefulness of the musicianship. Three of his recent albums of original music — First Light (2015), The Road Home (2017) and Carpe Noctem (2018) were nominated for ZMR Awards.

His newest single, “The Gambit” is is a beautiful tribute to the late Keith Jarrett and his influential solo piano albums Lausanne-Bremen and the Koln Concerts. As we get older musicians we admire leave us. When Peter was a developing musician, there were a handful of pianists who came to prominence in the late 1950’s-1960’s that were inspirational, influential, and whose music has been a constant companion throughout his life.

Calandra’s emotional connection to the music of Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett is apparent in the lyrical expressiveness of his compositions and the purposeful musicianship.

“The music these people created not only taught me but the stories and feelings that their music evoked were there to help me through turbulent times. Almost as a salve to the uncertainty of being a lost teenager and being a companion as I grew into an accomplished musician,” shares Peter.

Connect with Peter Calandra via:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Spotify / Soundcloud

04.10.23

by Jane Lambert

Acapella Group, The RockNRoll Chorus, Share Their Original Work “Heaven in My Soul”

New Jersey’s own RockNRoll Chorus is an acapella group run by singer/songwriter and composer Joe Cantaffa. The RockNRoll Chorus launched its first tour and full length album, What They Didn’t Teach Us In School, in 2007 and since then have been blessed with amazingly talented singers and performers over more than 15 casts.

RNRC has performed with, and opened for, Bruce Springsteen, Darlene Love, Jacquie Lee, Judy Collins, Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles, Jefferson Airplane, Foreigner, Kenny Loggins, The Chieftains, Classic Albums Live: Pink Floyd, The Wall, Willie Nile, Max Weinberg, Jay Leno, Danu, Jill Tirrell, The Chicago Children’s Choir, and many studio recordings as a guest choir.

The RockNRoll Chorus’ newest acapella song, “Heaven In My Soul,” is a moving and uplifting tribute to the power of love and the human spirit in the face of loss. The song, which speaks to the pain of losing a loved one and finding solace in memories and the support of others, is a testament to the power of music to heal and inspire.

The song’s opening notes immediately set the tone, with a haunting and soulful melody that sets the stage for the group’s signature harmonies to take center stage. As the song progresses, the lyrics evoke a sense of hope and optimism, celebrating the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

What is particularly striking about “Heaven In My Soul” is the sheer power and emotion that the RockNRoll Chorus is able to convey through their voices alone. The lack of instrumentation only serves to highlight the strength and beauty of the group’s vocal arrangements, which are nothing short of breathtaking.

This is a song that speaks to the heart, and one that is sure to resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced loss and the pain of grief. The RockNRoll Chorus has once again proven themselves to be among the most talented and innovative acapella groups working today, and “Heaven In My Soul” is a true masterpiece.

Connect with RockNRoll Chorus via:
Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Spotify / Soundcloud

04.07.23

by Jane Lambert

Star Goes Nova and Sonic Butterfly Collaborate with “Eye” Ahead of Spring Celebrations

Just in time for the Easter and Solstice holidays, Sonic Butterfly features Star Goes Nova in this moving spiritual piece.

An unusual giant instrument, Sonic Butterfly is an acoustic harp with strings, at minimum 60ft long, that span out over the audience, transforming buildings and natural environments into a stunning, immersive musical instrument. Listeners describe it “like being inside YoYo Ma’s cello.”

Star Goes Nova, an electronica composer known for blending genres, in a feat of recording engineering, captures the giant harp and adds piano against a cathedral ambiance, creating images of a medieval Spring dance amongst the strings.

Hear the newly awakened butterfly alight amongst the starburst of Easter, Solstice, May Day and all of the Spring celebrations.

“Eye” has a simple and hypnotic melody that builds up slowly with the addition of various layers of electronic beats and sounds, leading to a climactic and satisfying drop. The vocals are delicate and ethereal, adding a spiritual quality to the track. The lyrics are abstract and poetic, creating a sense of mystery and introspection.

The production of the song is impressive, with a great attention to detail and a careful balance between different elements. The electronic beats are crisp and dynamic, while the atmospheric sounds are immersive and transportive. The mix is clean and spacious, allowing each element to shine without overwhelming the others.

“I’ve always thought of myself as an intrinsic soul, finding meaning in space and time and thought,” says Star Goes Nova. “I create epic stories that combine real instruments with electronica, transcending past and future, told through my 115 year old piano, power drums and deep bass music. These sonic manifestations are empathic spaces to stargaze, gather personal power or share thoughts from other worlds.”

Connect with Star Goes Nova via:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Spotify / Soundcloud

04.01.23

by Jane Lambert

Josiah Mann Releases Debut Album ‘Grace’

Josiah Mann’s debut album, Grace, is an indie pop and adult contemporary concept album that tells a love story from beginning to end. The album has been in the making for 15 years, and it shows in the carefully crafted songs and emotional journey portrayed through the music.

From the upbeat and passionate “Angel” to the heartbreaking “Rainy Day,” Josiah Mann’s vocals and piano work capture the emotional depth of the protagonist’s journey. The sound is reminiscent of Snow Patrol and John Mayer, blending electric guitar and piano riffs with driving percussion and soulful lyrics.

What sets Grace apart is the accompanying mini-film consisting of 10 music videos that bring the album’s narrative to life. Each video corresponds to a track on the album, showcasing the highs and lows of the relationship as well as the protagonist’s emotional journey.

The album’s story has a happy ending, with Josiah Mann himself having found love and support for his artistic goals. “This has never been about getting famous, it’s been about translating and expressing what is in my heart in the sincerest way I can,” he says.

Grace is a well-crafted album that takes the listener on a journey of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. It’s a promising debut for Josiah Mann, and one that is sure to resonate with fans of indie pop and adult contemporary music.

Connect with Josiah Mann

Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / TikTok / Spotify / Soundcloud

03.14.23

by Jane Lambert

Moses Mikheyev Reveals the Cinematic Ballad “Fernanda, It’s All Right”

Singer/songwriter, author, and poet Moses Mikheyev, released his new alternative folk pop ballad “Fernanda, It’s All Right.”

Moses wrote the song after a particularly tough breakup, using writing songs, poems, and a novel titled “This Time Next Summer,” to help him get through it.

“I process emotional trauma by writing about it,” he reveals. “I tend to turn everything into a poem, a novel, or a song. Music is therapy. It saved my life, and I hope it can save yours, too.”

The song itself is similar to Lighthouse, Coldplay, or The Fray in its cinematic essence and poetic lyricism. The song is sung from the male character’s perspective, longing for the Fernanda. He imagines that a breakup never happened. In his mind, they are still happy.

The opening refrain goes “In her room she’s busy putting on her dress/ But in my mind she’s naked and she’s on my bed/ Somewhere in Seattle she is getting loved/ But in my mind I still think it’s the both of us.”

“Soren Kierkegaard once said, ‘What is a poet? An unhappy man who hides deep anguish in his heart, but whose lips are so formed that when the sigh and cry pass through them, it sounds like lovely music…’ I think that’s very true in the case of ‘Fernanda, It’s All Right,'” explains Moses. “The music was made possible through pain.”

Connect with Moses Mikheyev via:

Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Spotify