Tower of Power is celebrating more than 40 years of success and original “Oakland style” soul music while maintaining a unique class of its own. Leader and founding member, Emilio Castillo, labeled the group’s sound as “Urban Soul Music.”  Hits for Tower of Power include “You’re Still A Young Man,” “So Very Hard To Go,” “Soul With a Capital S,” “Soul Vaccination,” “What Is Hip?” and “Don’t Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream).”  Over the years,Tower ofPower has teamed with some of music’s biggest names including Elton John, Sam Moore, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Dionne Warwick, Aerosmith, Michael Bolton, Rod Stewart and more.  The acclaimed group’s rhythm section lays down a groove like no other band, and the horn driven sound is unique from writing and arranging to mixing and performing.Tower ofPower has released over 20 albums and continues to generate packed concert crowds and rave reviews.

New Orleans’ newest super-group, New Orleans Suspects, formed in summer of 2011 in the wake of the breakup of The Radiators, a stalwart on the NO music scene.  The band comprises of some of the best, most highly respected players in New Orleans, including:  Reggie Scanlan on bass (Radiators, Professor Longhair Band); Mean Willie Green on drums (Neville Bros. current drummer since 1981); Jeff Watkins (James Brown Band, Joss Stone Band) on saxophone; Jake Eckert on guitar/vocals (current member of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band); and C. R. Gruver on keyboards and vocals (Outformation).  The band combines original songs in theNew Orleans style with hits and obscurities from the Allen Toussaint and Dr. John songbooks, as well as performing favorites from Radiators, Nevilles and Dirty Dozen repertoire.

Tickets for the show are $39.50 in advance and on sale now at [add link here].  Tickets will be $45.50 day of show.

More information:

www.lupus.org

http://www.variety-playhouse.com/

www.towerofpower.com

www.neworleanssuspects.com

The print edition of the book is available in 4 languages and is being used in curriculums in universities, high schools and learning institutions around the world.   In spring of 2011, the audio book version, available on CD and as a digital download, was a finalist for a prestigious Audie Award in the “Personal Development” category.

The primarily instrumental soundtrack features 31 original tracks of music as scored and performed by Wooten.   Additional musicians on the recording include Béla Fleck, Roy Wooten, Joseph Wooten, Howard Levy, Michael Kott and Federica Pena.  Once again, the recording is a showcase for Wooten’s writing and scoring capabilities.

While Wooten is most recognized for his contributions to Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, his solo efforts and his collaborations with folks such as Stanley Clarke, Bruce Hornsby, India Arie, and Dave Matthews have led him to be regarded as one of the greatest bass players of all times, revered by his fans and his peers alike for his uncanny skills on bass.  He has been featured on the cover of Bass Player Magazine four times!

Continuing in his unique fashion of delivering musical innovation and thought-provoking compositions, Wooten delivered two new CDs in September of 2012:  Words and Tones, a collection of 14 tracks featuring various female vocalists and the instrumental Sword and Stone.  The CDs represent the various sides of Wooten’s approach to music, performance and songwriting, highlighted, of course, by searing bass solos that will boggle the mind and definitely satisfy those that thrive on Wooten’s musical as well as technical skills.

Wooten continues to tour heavily with his band, which includes: Wooten on electric, tenor and upright basses, cello, guitar and vocals; Krystal Peterson on vocals, keyboards, flute and drums; J. D. Blair on vocals and drums; Derico Watson on vocals and drums; Anthony Wellington on bass, keyboards, guitar & vocals; Steve Bailey on bass, keyboards, trombone and vocals; and Dave Welsch on bass, trumpet, keyboards and vocals.  The ensemble has received rave reviews on their last 3 tours!

Itinerary:

Wed, Apr 17                           GermantownPAC                 Germantown,TN

Thu, Apr 18                             C2G Music Hall                     Fort Wayne,IN

Fri, Apr 19                              MadisonTheatre                    Covington,KY

Sat, Apr 20                              Reggie’s                                 Chicago,IL

Sun, Apr 21                             Redstone Room                     Davenport,IA

Tue, Apr 23                             Jazz Kitchen                          Indianapolis,IN

Wed, Apr 24                           NewportMusic Hall               Columbus,OH

Thu, Apr 25                             Busters                                   Lexington,KY

Fri, Apr 26                               Handlebar                              Greenville,SC

Sat, Apr 27                              Variety Playhouse                  Atlanta,GA

Sat, May 25                            Summer Camp                       Chilicothe, IL

Sun, May 26                           Summer Camp                       Chilicothe, IL

Fri, May 31                              Rio Dos Ostras Jazz & BluesRio de Janeiro, SA

Sat, June 1                              Rio Dos Ostras Jazz & BluesRio de Janeiro, SA

For more information go to:

www.vixrecords.com

www.victorwooten.com

The 10 new tracks for Lighthouse & The Impossible Love were recorded with longtime friend, multi-instrumentalist and engineer Eric Fritsch (Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Scott Miller) in his Nashville-based Eastwood Studios. Primarily tracked live in the studio, it has the vibe of an intimate show, tweaked with a plethora of vintage gear.  This is Gaines’ most fully realized effort to date; it is personal, honest and raw.

Gaines emerged in 1992 when she became the first Women’s Extreme Snowboarding Champion.  In 1997, she co-hosted the Big Air Snowboard Competition on the first MTV Sports and Music Festival.  From 2000 to 2002, she hosted “FREERIDE with Greta Gaines,” a half-hour show on the Oxygen Network.  In 1999, she released her self-titled debut, followed by the 2003 release of It Was Hot and Can’t Kill The Flavor in 2006.  Greta has played Lilith Fair and toured as the opening act for Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, The Mavericks, Tori Amos and DJ Phillipe Solal inEurope.  She also performed at the 2003 Farm Aid.  She was a correspondent on ESPN2′s “BassCenter” and “The New American Sportsman” and is still a competitive, professional fly fisherman.  Her music has been licensed by ESPN, MTV, Oxygen Network and more as well in the soundtracks for “The Hottest State” and “Virgil Bliss.”  Greta is a board member of NORML founding member of the newly established Norml Women’s Alliance Foundation; she has become a featured speaker on Industrial Hemp and medical marijuana law reform.

Gaines has been featured in countless newspapers and magazines including Relix, Performing Songwriter, Harper’s Bazaar, NY Times, USA Today, Women’s Sports and Fitness, Sports Illustrated For Women, High Times and US Weekly.  She appeared on “Good Morning America” in 2008 behind Whiskey Thoughts.

In addition to the new CD, Gaines recently contributed vocals on a duet with the legendary Donovan.  His new single, “Harmonica Girl,” will be released via KCRW on April 20, 2013.

In other news, Gaines will perform and speak at the High Times Cannabis Cup which will be held April 20-21 in Denver, CO. She will open for The Mavericks at The Cannery in Nashville on Tuesday, April 23^rd.

For more information, go to www.gretagaines.com

Charlotte, NC—November 13, 2012—OVERMOUNTAIN MEN will release their sophomore effort The Next Best Thing on Ramseur Records on January 22, 2013. This is the follow-up to their highly-acclaimed 2010 debut, Glorious Day.

The core of Overmountain Men is Bob Crawford, bass player for The Avett Brothers on bass and vocals; the Charlotte-based singer/songwriter, David Childers on guitar and vocals; guitarist Randy Saxon, who also contributes banjo and mandolin; and drummer/percussionist Robert Childers.  The players include a plethora of great players from theCarolinas, including Scott Daley on piano; Geoffrey White on fiddle; Joe Kwon on cello; Charlie Lowry on vocals; Wiley Buck on vocals and banjo; and Andy The Doorbum on vocals.

The new CD features twelve original songs.  Most of the songs were written by the core group.  Additional songwriters include Curtis Collins, Eric Anderson, and Bill Noonan. Once again, listeners will find great eclectic songwriting with tunes rooted in American history (“Alexander Hamilton”), exploring relationships (“All Out Of Diamonds”) or just having fun (“Death Is So Romantic”), all driven by David Childers soothing baritone over a rootsy back-drop of instrumentation.

The songs were recorded by Douglas Williams at Electromagnetic Radiation Recorders inWinston-Salem,NC.  It was produced by David Childers and Bob Crawford and mixed by Douglas Williams and Robert Childers.

Crawford, a long-time fan of Childers, comments:  “David is the most prolificNorth Carolinasongwriter alive. Everywhere I go people ask about him. It is great to see people constantly discovering this man and his massive body of work.”

For more information:

www.overmountainmen.com

http://ramseurrecords.net/

May 14, 2013–Lighthouse & The Impossible Love by Greta Gaines (Big Air Records)

TBA-Slow Burn from KEN WILL MORTON

Both recordings were produced, engineered and mixed by Wooten primarily at Vix Mix Studios inNashville.  On both CDs, Wooten contributes a variety of fretless and acoustic bass guitars, cello, keyboards, percussion, string arrangements, and vocals, highlighted by searing bass solos that will boggle the mind and definitely satisfy those that thrive on Wooten’s musical as well as technical skills. 

Vocalists on Words & Tones include Saundra Williams (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings), Divinty Roxx (Beyoncé), New York vocalist Claudette Sierra, and Krystal Peterson, the newest member of Wooten’s touring band. New collaborations include a smooth vocal and bass performance from Me’shell Ndegeocello, and a beautiful duet featuring Joey Kibble (Take 6) and Cheryl Morse.  Guest performers include Wooten’s brothers and kids, with several vocal tracks from Kaila Wooten, Wooten’s 14-year-old daughter.  Other contributors include The Wooten Brothers; J. D. Blair (Shania Twain) and Derico Watson on drums; Pedro “Pedrito” Martinez on percussionist; and many more.

Sword & Stone is an equally impressive instrumental rendition of the recordings from Words and Tones where Wooten has added new arrangements, solos, instruments, and musicians. Each CD features a few songs not found on the other.

Wooten comments, “There’s something for everyone – music and messages for every age. I wrote about what was on my mind and in my heart. If the listener wants to learn, be entertained, or just casually listen, it’s all available on these two CDs. Just figuring out the significance behind the two titles may be enough to make one smile.” 

Wooten will continue to tour heavily in the fall, including a string of dates co-headlining with The Jimmy Herring Band in November.  The touring ensemble includes Wooten on electric, tenor and upright basses, cello, guitar and vocals; Krystal Peterson on vocals, keyboards and drums; J. D. Blair on vocals and drums; Derico Watson on vocals and drums; Anthony Wellington on bass, keyboards & vocals; Steve Bailey on bass, keyboards, trombone and vocals; and Dave Welsch on bass, trumpet, keyboards and vocals.  Each musician will multitask (actually switching instruments mid-song) resulting in a part choreographed and part improvised display of musicianship and showmanship at its best.  The ensemble received rave reviews on their summer 2012 tour.

More info:  www.victorwooten.com