ACMJ International Blog

David Garfield LaVeLee Gig Friday! : SPECIAL NAMM GIG IN L.A.

January 20 • Friday night
David Garfield & The "Cats"
Shows at 8:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Featuring Alex Ligertwood (Voc), James Harrah (Guitar), Michito Sanchez (Percussion), John Peña (Bass), David Garfield (keys), and Ricky Lawson (Drums) plus special guest Soren Reiff Jr.(Guitar)

La Ve Lee - Studio City Studio City, CA
12514 Ventura Blvd (At Whittset)
Call 818-980-8158 for reservations & information

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David Garfield says:-

We had a great time in Las Vegas January 6 for the CES show which featured some of Stevie Wonder's group and percussionist Daniel de los Reyes with a special guest appearance by Al Jarreau. Stay tuned for more upcoming show dates. In the meantime, check out our new video clips online at the following link:-
Creatchy Live Video Clips

You can see Karizma latest live (April 9, 2005 at Blue Motion Yokohama, JAPAN) and Carlos Vega Memorial Concerts since 2000 there. Check those out!

Marco Taggiasco feat Andrea Sanchini / Live at Circeo DVD

Marco Taggiasco, Italian music producer / keyboard player will release DVD capturing the live performance with Andrea Snchini shot on July 17, 2005 in San Felice Circeo, Italy. The live was done for the promotion of his latest release "Thousand Things". The DVD also includes 4 new songs and a bonus track. The DVD will be available soon through Marco Taggiasco's official website. Please be advised that you should inform whether you would like to have PAL format DVD or NTSC format DVD, so that your DVD player can play properly.

The Band:
Andrea Sanchini: Vocals
Marco Taggiasco: Keyboards, All Arrangements
Riziero RB Bixio: Drums
Fabio Penna: Bass
Daniele Loreti: Acoustic Guitar
Gabriele Pistilli: Sax

Tracks:
1. If I Could Teach My Heart 2. Never Too Late (For Love)
3. Burning For You 4. Fool For Love 5. Night Breeze
7. Ain't That Enough 8. Thousand Things 9. Hangin' On Tomorrow
10. What A Heart Can Hold 11. Healing Rain

Bruce Gaitsch / Sincerely

Bruce Gaitsch, one of the best Westcoast/AOR guitarists will soon release his new new solo CD featuring his new McPherson guitars on Autumn Records USA, which is home to Nashville musicians whose CD's feature music played on a McPherson Guitar, a revolutionary acoustic guitar designed by Matt McPherson. The album is called "Sincerely".

I will let you know more details also due information when and how you can get Bruce's forthcoming CD, upon hearing from Bruce. Stay tuned!

8th Annual Carlos Vega Memorial Concert Saturday, December 3 - 8:00 p.m.

Please support this special event!

Seating is limited! VIP seating is still available online at the following link to pre-purchase the best seats which are being held on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets will be available at the door the night of the show subject to availability. All VIP (prepaid) ticketholders can attend the drum clinic and competition as well for free.

TICKETWEB: http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?region=socal&query=detail&event=637083

Musicians Institute
1665 McCadden Place, Hollywood

Schedule of Events
3:00 p.m. - Drum Clinic (sponsored
by DW Drums with Chad Wackerman)

4:30 p.m. - Final Competition
Carlos Vega Memorial Drum Scholarship

8:00 p.m. - Concert - One show only!

Artist Line-up: Gregg Bissonette, Chad Wackerman, Russ Miller & Chase Porcaro Duddy (drums); Lenny Castro, Ritchie “Gajate” Garcia, & Luis Conte (percussion); John Peña & Mike Porcaro (bass), David Garfield (keys); Brandon Fields (sax); Michael Tompson & Kurt Dohy (guitar); Walt Fowler (trumpet); Rosemary Butler, Moon Calhoun, Terry Wood, & Laura Creamer (vocals).

Auction items include drums, cymbals & a DW drumset. Plus don’t miss out on free equipment giveaways! Proceeds to Carlos Vega Memorial Drum Scholarship. For more informaton, visit Creatchy Records: www.creatchy.com

Michael Ruff Scandinavian Tour 2005

Michael Ruff will start his Scandinavian tour very soon with 2 brand new albums which seems to be almost ready. Due to strong public demand, Michael Ruff will this time bring his playmates from "the tightest rhythm section ever" - Straitjacket.
With a line up featuring Michael Ruff (keys/vocal, Marco Mendoza (bass/vocal), Joey Heredia (drums) and Renato Neto (keys) there is absolutely something to look forward to. It is going to be more than funky, many will remember this line up from the most selling Ruff album "Feels Good".

The band will be in Europe from November 25 to December 10 2005.

New album on its way
These four musicians with endless credits, are these days recording in LA, and hopefully we will see a brand new studio album presented on this tour.

Tour
Fri 25. nov. - TV4 - Sweden
Sat 26. nov. - Fascing - Stockholm
Sun 27. nov. - Fascing - Stockholm
Mon 28. nov. - Göteborg
Thu 1. dec. - Corp. party - Copenhagen
Fri 2. dec. - Krudttønden - Copenhagen
Sat 3. dec. - Fatter Eskil - Århus
Mon 5. dec. - Ricks Café - Randers
Tue 6. dec. - TBC
Wed 7. dec. - TBC
Thu 8. dec. - Village - Västerås
Fri 9. dec. - Katalin - Uppsala

URS / SOMEBODY NEW

Urs Wiesendanger, a Swiss-born talented music producer / songwriter, would now bring his 2nd solo CD "Somebody New" to your rich ears. Let me explain his short bio. Urs admits he has been mainly influenced by Quincy Jones, David Foster, Robbie Buchanan and Jeff Lorber. His passion and strength lies in writing / producing "West Coast Main Stream Pop-Music" influenced by R&B and Jazz. Besides that Urs has been working with a lot of the best known Swiss artists at his own Fast Peak Studio located in his hometown Zurich, he keeps on traveling in Europe and to California. He has been working and producing with several artists and musicians like Jeff Lorber, Warren Hill, Robbie Buchanan, Warren Wiebe, and many more. In October 1998, he finished his first solo effort "The Real Me" including the tune "Another Chance For Love" featuring Warren Wiebe. I should add that it was January 2002 when I could get this album due to mainly distribution matters.

This 2nd solo effort "Somebody New" includes versatile 11 sophisticated tunes.
The album is opended by the title track, a gorgeous ballad song featuring the late Warren Wiebe and Jay Graydon adds a spectacular guitar solo. Then, "Your Love Was Special" follows, which is beautifully sung by Michael Sembello. Bill Cantos also dedicates his remarkable voice to this album, singing the love song "The Final Reason Why" which also features Michael Landau on guitar and Robbie Buchanan on Fender Rhodes and piano. Urs himself shows his vocal talent on the track "Morning Light" in addition to his superior keyboard playing all through the album. Jeff Pescetto emotionally sings the magical ballad "I Remember". Last but not least, Warren Wiebe appears again on another excellent love song "Hold Me" backed up by Robbie Buchanan on keyboards and James Harrah playing all the guitars.

Label: Contante & Sonante, Spain (CSCD-0105)
Release Date: October 2005 (available soon)
Producer: Urs Wiesendager
Tracks:
1. Somebody New
2. Your Love Was Special
3. Tell Me Where The Days Have Gone
4. The Final Reason Why
5. If Only For A Day
6. After We Make Love
7. Morning Light
8. I Remember
9. If You Still Care For Me
10. Hold Me
11. Somebody New Jazzy Version

Marco Taggiasco / Thousand Things

Early January of 2005, I have received an e-mail from an arranger and producer from Italy. He wrote that he worked as arranger in the pre-production field for many years during the 80s and 90s and gigged with his bands or as a musical director for others in the same period. And he added that he used to arrange in a style that mostly recalls David Foster, especially on ballads, but my new record is more in a west-coast mood. Songs owe something to Michael McDonald and Bobby Caldwell. So as he guess, It did not take a long time to visit his website to check how his music would be like. It is Marco Taggiasco's first contact to me with his new promotional release "Thousand Things" recorded in February 2004.

According to the official biography, Marco Taggiasco works as arranger, producer and songwriter. During the late 70s and the 80s he gigged with his own bands, which included horns and percussion and featured some of the best session players from the italian scene. The sound was an orchestral kind of fusion recalling Crusaders and Bob James stuff in a way, with an original songs based repertoire. In the 90s he concentrated his activity in the studio, working as arranger and producer for singers and eventually as bandleader for their live acts. His works also include arranging for big bands and writing music for theatre and short movies.
At the end of the 90s he released the promo EP “Three Love Ballads”, containing 3 songs written and produced in a classical adult contemporary style. The purpose of the record was to let publishers know about the songs. In the 2000s he met Andrea Sanchini, a young male vocalist and they decided to collaborate and eventually to make a record. So they started working on “Thousand Things”, a project born to see if there’s still an interest in adult contemporary music, beyond the big names and the historical records they have left along their careers.

The CD features 7 songs written by Taggiasco and Sanchini, with Marco Taggiasco as arranger and producer. The first track "Never Too Late (For Love)" reminds me of Eric Tagg's melodies. The voice of Andrea Sanchini is very similar to that of Bill Cantos. I am sure that he has huge potential vocal talent. As regards his high tone voice area, sometimes unstable and I cannot deny he should have much more experience and vocal lessons from now on. And Marco might consider how to end his materials instead of fading out. In spite of such kind of small things, this CD is the first recommendable material in 2005.

Tracks
1. Never Too Late (For Love)
2. Thousand Things
3. Fool For Love
4. Ain't That Enough
5. Angel Of August
6. Burning For You
7. Hangin' On Tomorrow

It will locally be promoted with concerts and radio interviews. On the internet it will be presented to the AOR/Fusion sites to check for feedback and possible distibution deals.

For contacts and more information, please visit the artist's official website (http://www.marcotaggiasco.com).

John Robinson / "Funkshui"

Link: John JR Robinson - drummer.

Who is your favorite AOR/Westcoast related session drummer? Late Jeff Porcaro, or late Carlos Vega? Whoelse? It must be John JR Robinson for me! As you find John JR Robinson on many albums you have, he is one of the first call drummer in Los Angeles since late 70's. John JR Robinson started his studio session works career in 1978 when he joined the band Rufus. It is widely known that Quicy Jones asked John to play the drum for Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" album.

As regards John's own project, you might have the project CD with Mark Williamson: Bridge 2 Far" (1989) for CBS Records USA. Although it was not successful in terms of commercial sales, it is one of my favourite CD in late 80's.
And now, John JR Robinson compelted his first solo CD "Funkshui" with help of the world's finest musicians (Neil Stubenhaus, Gary Grant, Mark Williamson, Jeff Lorber, Ross Bolton, Leland Sklar, Brandon Fields, Paul Jackson Jr., Michael Thompson and Dan Higgins). John JR Robinson has assembled a collection of original songs sure to please his countless fans. The album includes has his love of Jazz, Funk and Rock and his solid "groove". 

Label: Homecourt Records
Release: October, 2004
Producer: JR Productions

John Robinson: Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Prgramming, Vocals

Guest Musicians:
Guitars: Paul Jackson Jr., Ross Bolton, Dustin Higgins
Keyboards: Ross Bolton, Dave "Hawk" Wolinski, Dan Higgins, Jeff Lorber, Dan Higgins
Piano: John Beasley
Bass: Neil Stubenhaus, Hussain Jiffry
Sax: Dave Boruff, Dan Higgins, Brandon Fields
Trumpet: Gary Grant
Percussion: Danny Reyes
Lead Vocal: Mark Williamson
Vocals: Diane Lotny, Dustin Higgins, Robbie Wyckoff
Rap Vocals: John T. Robinson aka Dr.Wicked

Tracks:
1. Flight 81
2. Reshuffle
3. Tellin Lies (Cold As Ice)
4. Good Old Times
5. Sister Sadie
6. Cool TV
7. Hair Of The Dog
8. Sierra
9. Skunkin
10. Lullaby For Jack
11. Montebelluna Drum Solo  

David Garfield at Cafe Cordiale (Live info.)

A great night of contemporary music...
FUNK / JAZZ / LATIN
Live @ Cafe Cordiale - Thursday, November 4th
9:30 p.m. til 12:00 a.m. - 2 sets!

FEATURING:† David Garfield (Keys), Alphonso Johnson (Bass), Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Drums) .. . plus special suprise guest(s)!

CAFE CORDIALE
14015 Ventura Blvd (east of Hazeltine)
Sherman Oaks, CA
818-789-1985 for more information
http://www.cafecordiale.com

** COMING DECEMBER 11! **
7th Annual Carlos Vega Memorial Birthday Concert
One show only at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood!
For ticket reservations and more information, please visit:
http://www.creatchy.com

Thank you for your continued support of David Garfield.

Warmest regards,
Kathy DeArmond
Creatchy Records
www.creatchy.com

Marc Jordan "Make Believe Ballroom"

Marc Jordan has just released his brand-new studio recording album " Make Believe Ballroom" for Blue Note/EMI Canada, which is the follow-up to his Blue Note/EMI debut, "This Is How Men Cry" (1999)

In 2002, Marc released his first-ever greatest hits compilation, "Living In Marina Del Rey", which I believe you already have.

This new album Includes newly penned originals and cool jazz interpretations of pop classics, offering blends the perfect mix of jazz, easy listening, pop with even a dash of Country by Marc.

Tracklisting is as below:-

1. Lulu The Acrobat
2. Let's Waste Some Time
3. When Rita Takes The "A" Train
4. Lonesome Town
5. Tears Of Hercules
6. Shot Down My Heart
7. Everytime We Say Goodbye
8. Timbutktu
9. The Best Part Of My Life
10. I Must Have Said Your Name Out Loud
11. From A Late Night Train