New Releases

Feast Vol II

• The new Holiday Feast Christmas CD Vol. 2 from Hungry For Music is out, featuring brand-new Christmas songs by the Kevin Johnson & the Linemen, Bill Kirchen, the Grandsons, Evan Johns, the Graverobbers, Jumpin' Jupiter, The Hula Monsters, Martini Red, Julie Sanderson, and, as they say, many more. It is a great stocking stuffer. Available from Midnight Music at 703-237-9500 or Toll-Free for those outside the Washington, DC metro area at 1-888-843-0933
• The Pat McGee Band is one of many bands on the new compilation disc, AWARE 5. For more information on AWARE 5, call 1-800-AWARE65 or visit their website.
• Andrew Jung released Tonal Visions: Piano Improvisations.
• Adelphi Records re-released the 1973 record by Patrick Sky, Songs That Made America Famous. Rumba Club released their new CD Mamacita! with a special concert at Blues Alley. The CD, on the Palmetto Jazz label, was produced by Latin music's premiere bassist Andy Gonzalez, who also guests on the release.
• Venus Rising has released their self-titled CD Venus Rising. Recorded at Blue House Productions in Silver Spring, MD, the CD was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Jeff Gruber. Supporting artists include Rick Schmidt, Jim Hannah on percussion, and Barry Warsaw on bass as well as others.
• Steven Gellman appeared at the Birchmere with Richie Havens in Alexandria, VA in October. Gellman's performance marked the debut of his new CD, Photobook. Supporting artists on the CD include Paul Slingerland, Norm Thorne, Al Pettaway, Amy White, Tamer Eid, James Gibson, Pete & Maura Kennedy, Doris Justis, and others.
• Robert Thompson released his debut album, Armed & Dangerous, on the Nashville-based Walton Record label. Produced by Ben Sturgis, the CD has attracted the attention of several major labels.
• Swing Speak's new CD, Well Spoken, was released with a Halloween release party at the One Step Down in Washington, DC. For more information, contact 301-292-2179.
• My Brilliant Masterpiece, Don Conoscenti's new CD, was released in August.
• Eric T. Johnson with Crosscurrent, By The Sea, and Eric T. Johnson's Boston Quartets were recently released on the Laugh & Jangle Records label.
• Eddie From Ohio strikes again with their new release, Big Noise. Produced by Billy Wolf, this release is the group's fourth CD since their 1992 debut.
• Mary Ann Redmond celebrated the release of her new CD with a performance at the Birchmere in October. The CD, Mary Ann Redmond - Live, was recorded at Blues Alley in Washington, DC.
• Brock Holmes held a CD release concert for his new album, Rhythm Warrior, at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church in Bethesda, MD.
• Billy B released his new album, SunUp, SunDown. For online information, visit billybproductions.com.
• Last Train Home's debut CD will be released at two events at the Iota in Arlington, VA December 26 and 27.
• Sean Michael Dargan has recently released his new self-titled CD. Produced by Sean and Jeff Covert, with additional production by John Alagia, the CD includes supporting musicians Bill Kirchen and Peter Bonta.
• Bill Mott has released his new CD, Dancing With Angels. Mott, after experiencing life-threatening heart problems, hopes the CD will increase awareness over the need for organ donations. Supporting musicians on the album include Deanna Bogart, Billy Kemp, Mookie Seigel, Greg Hardin, Jack O'Dell, Bill Kirchen, and Jeff Sarli.
• Clayton Englar has recently released his new CD, Last World, on the Global Village label.
• Bridges To Bliss has a new cassette of six original adult songs, called Introducing...Bridges To Bliss.
• All Juice, a new five-member DC funk group, has released a four song cassette sampler, Definitiion of Soul in advance promotion of their CD Motherlover.
• Halyard's Restaurant at The Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center has recently put together a unique compilation CD. The CD, Performers of Halyards: Volume 1, features local acoustic artists who perform at the hotel's restaurant. The artists on the CD include David A. Alberding, Terri Allard, Jerry Bresee, Christopher Russell, Randy Barrett, Barbara Martin, Doris Justis, Carolyn Jane, Bill Parsons, Steve Hudson, Billy Blair, Christina Muir, Mary Byrd Brown, Suzanne Michelle and Andrew McKnight. For more information, call 703-845-2640 or contact Stasi Brown, Public Relations Office, at 703-845-1010.
• Big Village recently released a three song dance mix CD, Big Village: The Dance Mixes. The CD was digitally remixed by Phil Van DeWerk and Craig Anderson of Paisley Park Studio in Minneapolis, MN. New Big Village members are Raj Banga and Amikaeyla Gaston.
• Voices of Washington, Join Hands Without Guns, a CD with over 80 Washington area artists, was recorded at NPR Studios on the 68th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. Under the direction of songwriter Charlie Wine, the recording features such artists as Freestyle Union, Choral Arts Society, Carey Colvin, Granger Helvey, Sanford Markley, the Union Temple Youth Choir, Ebony King, and Nancy Tarr.
• Jazz singer Sunny Sumter has released her CD, Getting To Know You, to international distribution. Supporting musicians include Steve Wilson, George Colligan, Richie Goods, Don Pullen and Ali Jackson.
• Saxman Al Williams and First Step Records released the CD, Never Too Late. This 12 song collection of contemporary jazz was recorded by Gantt Kushner at Gizmo Recording Company in Silver Spring, MD. It features Al on sax and flute accompanied by Jon Ozment, Andy Hamburger, Gary Grainger, Scott Ambush, Vinny Valentino, Pam Bricker, John Stoddart, Dawn Robinson, Dan Reynolds and Alejandro Lucini, among others.
• Randy Thompson released his second album, Wearin' Blue, recorded primarily in Nashville for his own Jackpot Records.
• Singer/songwriter Georgie Jessup has recently released her album, American Holocaust, through selected retail stores. Jessup has long been a student of Native American culture, personally mentored by the late Lakota holy man Fools Crow, and has recently gained attention from performing at powwows throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The album uses traditional Indian instruments as well as modern rock instrumentation. It provides insights into Indian culture and focuses on the mistreatment of Indians by the Federal Government. With the U.S. Senate preparing to hold hearings on tribal sovereign rights, the focus of the album could not be more timely. Profits from the sale of the album go to the Fools Crow Foundation. For more information, contact Georgie Jessup at (410) 799-3755.
• Lisa Moscatiello released her new EP recording Angry Town The EP consists of eight live solo performances of original and traditional songs, including Eileen Aroon and the title cut, Angry Town.

Seminars, Workshops, Conferences, Showcases, Grants, Awards & Contests

Canadian Music Week

CMW (Canadian Music Week) '98 will be held in Toronto, Canada, March 5-8, 1998. For information and registration, call 416-695-9236 or fax at 416-695-9239. On the internet, go to www.cmw.net or e-mail cmw@ican.net.

MIDEM 1998

MIDEM 1998 will be held January 18-22, 1998 in Cannes, France. For more information, call 606-633-0946.

Indie Awards

The 1998 Indie Awards has opened to the independent industry at large. The Awards will be open to all independent recordings (based on certain established eligibility requirements). The Indies will be announced on May 16, 1998.

Ringo Awards

The Washington Hispanic Newspaper will hand out the 2nd annual"Ringo Awards" on December 17, 1997 at the International Trattoria Club in Wheaton, MD. The awards recognize achievement in the latin community for music, radio, television and arts. Among the nominees this year is tony gil who last year received an award as "Latin Revelation". For info (202) 667-8881

Folk Alliance

The Folk Alliance 10th Anniversary Conference, Rich at the Roots, takes place in Memphis February 12-15, 1998. Washington area showcase artists or workshop panelists include Bruce Molsky, Pete & Maura Kennedy, John McCutcheon, Jeri Goldstein, and Sue Trainor. For registration information, call 202-835-FOLK.

Root/Landymore Open Mike

Melinda Root and Sara Landymore will host a monthly open mike at Luna Park Grille beginning Thursday, Jan. 8. Melinda will handle hosting duties and Sara will run sound. Show up to sign up at 8:30 p.m., No amps or drum kits, please. Open mike will happen the second Thursday each month thereafter. Call 703-237-LUNA for directions.

Orchestra Clinic

The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic will be held in Chicago, December 16-19. The USAF Band and The Washington Winds are will be representing D.C. at the conference.

Recording Arts

Airshow

Omega Studios

Maple Ridge

Pyramid Digital Productions, Inc.

In The Studio

• Victor Johnson and Free spent Halloween recording a live album at the National Church of God in Fort Washington, MD.
• Gengis Angus is back in the studio with producer Mike Wanchic at Wanchic's Echo Park Studios in Bloomington, Indiana. Wanchic is John Mellencamp's guitar player and producer, and has produced such artists as Bob Dylan, James McMurtry and Cowboy Mouth. The band expects to release their new CD in early 1998.
• 3% Fat is working on a new EP at Noon Tonight Studios in Sterling, VA. The EP will feature 5 or 6 new songs as well as remixes of the songs on their July release, Tangy.
• Bill Parsons is finishing up songs for his next CD, tentatively entitled The Legend of the Pants for release in '98.

Dotted Line.........

• Kismet recently signed with Milboy Records in Philadelphia, PA.

Beyond The Region

• Austin Lounge Lizards, creators of Gingrich the Newt and Teenage Welfare Mothers on Drugs have signed with Sugar Hill. These witty bluegrass favorites of public radio will release their Sugar Hill debut Employee of the Month February, 1998.
• WAMA Member Judd Grossman of Jackson Hole, Wyoming released his self-titled alternative folk release on Charlie Records. The CD features guest appearances by Sugar Hill artists Tim and Mollie O'Brien and Sallie Van Meter and many others. For more info, call (307) 739-1644 or (800) 375-4108 ext.1234
• Brownie Mary of Pittsburg, PA completed their release for Blackbird/Sire, entitled Naked. The album will be in stores February 10th.
• Former DC resident Nancy Moran came back to town in October for some shows celebrating the release of her new CD, My Gallery. For more information, call 800-488-MUSIC.

Classified Advertising

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