Showing posts with label John Stowell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Stowell. Show all posts

Monday, April 19, 2010

A Special Musical Tribute For Mother’s Day: From A Mother’s Heart CD






www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIT19xTNrY


From A Mother’s Heart compilation CD has been called “a unique tribute to mothers” and “a thoughtful gift that offers more love and sentiment in eleven tracks than any greeting card.”


From A Mother’s Heart CD is rich with stories and musical imagery honoring each artist’s mother or their appreciation for mother earth through mostly original compositions. The CD includes a respected roster of musical artists like jazz icon Sheila Jordan, whose musical relationship with Charlie Parker inspired her to innovate jazz vocals and saxophonist Don Braden, who worked with jazz legendary greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard and Roy Haynes. Other artists that contributed to the project are guitarist John Stowell, vocalists Judi Silvano, Barbara Sfraga, Ellen Johnson, Ann Belmont. pianist/vocalist Mala Waldron (daughter of the late great Mal Waldron) and Peggy Duquesnel along with world music group Brasil Brazil, featuring Ana Gazzola and Sonia Santos.


The songs on this compilation are from the genres of jazz, world music, singer/songwriter, pop and there is even a guitar soundscape with poetry. From the joyous composition, "Ellie." to the intimate poem of ancient ancestors in dedication to the earth in "For My Chacoan Ancestors" the CD begins and ends with a deep understanding of the spirit of each mother's heart. Intimate ballads with tender lyrics as in "Song For My Mother", "With Every Kiss", and "You Know Me By Heart" intertwined with the humor of a mother's little girl in "Dat Dere" amidst the orchestrated and full arrangements of haunting messages in "Children's Playgrounds", Bougainvillea", “I Do Remember You” and the wordless "Song For Mother (She Is Made Of Love).” Each one has an individual message; some using lyrics while others capture the essence of their mothers through pure instrumental tones.


From A Mother’s Heart project encourages purchases through digital downloads to help promote a green environment and is available through iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon. There is a pdf download about the project that gives each artist's dedication to their mother and a printable CD cover to make a gift of the CD for your mother at: www.FromAMothersHeart.com. This is truly a one of a kind, special project to honor motherhood, women, family and mother earth,” spoke recording artist and producer Ellen Johnson, “we hope these songs will be joyfully shared with your mother or help heal the loss of your mother.”


For more information visit www.FromAMothersHeart.com or see the video on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIT19xTNrY.



Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Master Guitarist, John Stowell Brings His Unique Sound to Ojai with Concert & Workshop








featuring special guest vocalist,
Ellen Johnson

Friday, August 14 (8 PM - 11 PM)
at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

Saturday, August 15 (Noon - 2 PM)
at Vocal Visions Studio
info@vocalvisions.net



A world class guitarist, John Stowell is known internationally as a musician with a unique sound supported by a sophisticated harmonic concept. As a result John has shared the stage with some of the most respected musicians and singers in the world including Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Paul Horn, David Friesen, and many others. John will be performing in concert with guest vocalist, Ellen Johnson, on Friday August 14 at the Ojai Valley Inn located in Ojai at 905 Country Club Road. There will be two shows, one at 8 PM and one at 9:30 PM. On Saturday, August 15th from noon to 2 PM, John will present a guitar workshop. The workshop will not only cover guitar techniques but will be open to singers who are interested in observing his accompaniment style (assisted by vocalist Ellen Johnson). For more information on how to register please contact info@vocalvisions.net or 805-272-8125.

John Stowell began his successful career in the early 1970's with private study with guitarist Linc Chamberland and pianist John Mehegan. Both men were valuable mentors to John, allowing him to play with them as he progressed in his development. Several years later he met bassist David Friesen in New York City, and they formed a duo that recorded and toured prolifically for seven years, with performances in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. In 1983, John and David joined flutist Paul Horn and Paul's son Robin Horn (on drums) for a historic tour of the Soviet Union. This was the first time in forty years that an American jazz group had been invited to play public performances in Russia. In 1993, 1995, and 1998 John returned to Russia, playing in numerous cities. His two sold-out performances in Kursk may have been the first appearances there by an American jazz musician.

John continues to tour, record and teach internationally spending half of his time in the New York scene and the other in scenic Portland, Oregon. He has been Artist-In-Residence at schools in Germany, Indonesia, Argentina, and in the United States and Canada. He served as assistant director and performer in Oregon Public Broadcasting's PDX Jazz Summit in 1991, and since 1995 has been a contributing columnist for a number of magazines, including "Downbeat", "Guitar Player", Canadian Musician", "Soundcheck" (Germany), and "Guitar Club" (Italy). John is featured along with bassist David Friesen on the soundtracks of two Academy Award Nominated short films (Will Vinton Studios, Portland, OR, and Bosustow Studios, Los Angeles, CA). The album "Through the Listening Glass" with David Friesen was chosen one of the Ten Best Jazz Albums of the Decade by the Los Angeles Examiner and John was chosen Talent Deserving Wider Recognition by Downbeat's International Critic's Poll in 1978 and 1979. He has also been featured in Japan's "Swing Journal”, "The Jazz Guitar" (Ashely Mark Publishing, England), and the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler) along with appearances on BET Jazz Discovery and Guitar Series television shows.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

REVIEW: FROM A MOTHER'S HEART




IMPROVIJAZZATION Nation
REVIEW by Dick Metcalf
http://zzaj.freehostia.com/Z91Reviews.htm

Sound Visions Media
http://www.soundvisionsmedia.com
Available at iTunes, CD Baby and Sound Visions Media

Sound Visions Media
- FROM A MOTHER'S HEART: There are some very familiar jazz players/singers (for me) here, like Judi Silvano, & John Stowell, paying tribute to moms everywhere... especially poignant for me on a personal level since my mother passed only a couple years back. Even though my mom was more "church-oriented" in her musical tastes, I've no doubt that she would smile down on these tunes as she listened to them, as they are full of life and the gentle caring attitudes that most of us associate with our mothers. The most impressive thing about this collection is that it's got real energy - there's not a dull or "sappy" cut in all 11 tunes; that can't be said for many of these assemblages, but spirit fills each of the pieces. I glommed right on to Judi Silvanos' "Bougainvillea", probably because I've listened to (& reviewed) her music so many times. Strangely enough, though, it was a composition from Mala Waldron called "Ellie" that captured the "favorite" spot for me... it will just bounce you along through the magical scats & supremely spirited piano playing. This CD isn't just for "mom's day", by any stretch of the imagination... you can play it anywhere, anytime, & I imagine those of you who wander about with IPODS attached to your ears will play my favorite track & all of the other cuts over & over & over again. I give this a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (which is kind of a "first" for a tribute album). Get more information at http://errandgirlforjazz.blogspot.com/ Rotcod Zzaj

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Featured on RadioOjai.com


Guitarist John Stowell

Featured on RadioOjai.com
http://radioojai.com/2009/02/25/john-stowell-the-river-is-near.aspx

From his CD "Swan Tones, Volume 1," John Stowell's "The River Is Near" is one of 13 songs John plays on the album on a custom made Soloway Swan LN6 No-Hole Bolivian Rosewood top Guitar. The CD is available for download at Sound Visions Media.

SPECIAL CONCERT AND WORKSHOP with John Stowell
Guitar Mastery and Improvisation Techniques
featuring vocalist, Ellen Johnson

Sunday, March 1, 2009
Concert: 4 PM - 5:30 PM, Workshop: 2 PM - 3:30 PM
Ojai Location, LIMITED SEATING SO RESERVE NOW!
$50 for workshop and concert, $10 for concert only
info@SoundVisionsMedia.com
www.soundvisionsmedia.com
www.johnstowell.com
www.ellenjohnson.net