This band sings and plays with ferocity and purpose. While only three members comprise this progressive rock unit, they sound like much more. A full sound comes at you constructed with guitars, drums, and bass as it swoops down and sucks you into every hair-raising storyline. The Tea Club is Patrick McGowan (vocals, bass, and guitar) with Brother Dan (vocals, guitar) and Kyle Minnick (drums).

As things kick off the album you are immediately brought into the macabre with “Werewolves.” This is a potent tool for mesmerizing you and creating interest and excitement about what you are hearing while intently listening to their own personal take on the legendary transformation from man to beast. Guitars, bass and drums thunder as Pat McGowan bellows “I just need a little time, this is my Mr. Hyde…well I am down and I am wearin’ thin, I can’t help but keep hurting you”, as the words roll off his tongue they cut like a knife right through you. As all of this unfolds, all I can think of is a Halloween night where The Beatles meet King Crimson and they start jamming. This vision kept coming to me throughout the run of this CD. Low and behold, their biggest influences happen to be two of the bands I just mentioned, so there is no shock here, just a bit of validation from the perspective of a listener and music fan. This was the best song on the album and marvelous way to introduce themselves to potential listeners while simultaneously creating some interest to hear more.

I bet some of you are wondering where they came up with the title for the album. I am always pondering what the title and artwork mean. If it is not obvious and in this case, that applies, you have to wonder what the significance is and just how it all ties in to the big picture of a project. The term General Winter, is a name used for the horrible weather the Germans experienced while trying to invade Russia in World War 2. Pat McGowan then added in the rest of the title and the band loved it.

The title track of all things gets the boot because the band thought it did not flow with the rest of the album. In this case, they should have put it at the close of the album and I do not think removing that track was the best decision.

At times, they do pull off some beautiful Beatles like harmonizing so the thought process may have been that this would easily cross over to pop-rock territory. Regardless of those elements, the fans that listen to this music expect bombastic opuses lasting 7-12 minutes, it is the norm, the music is far from being top forty or pop and it does not take long after hearing the way the tracks come at you that they are doing their best to make a progressive album. If you want to hear the title track then visit the band’s profile here http://mybandsmusic.com/members/680/ where you actually can listen to 15 tracks with the option to purchase and find out for yourself where they are coming from. If anything, it entices people to go check it out, so that is a positive gained from a somewhat odd decision to eliminate the title track.

Getting back to the rest of the album-it is solid, not a great piece of work but very good and this band has the potential to be great. What I heard was a steady blend of music that did tend to go back and forth in waves of varying sounds and emotions, which is the standard for the genre. The variations with rhythms, beats and guitars are interesting and definitely not something that you would hear on the radio…there are no 4/4 time syncopations or drum click tracks buzzing in the ear of their drummer, no way. Besides the lead off track, this album did tend to flow together too easily from track to track for this type of music.

What I think needs work here is to develop more complexity with the song structures they already have, which are excellent, by simply adding some layered keyboards or a driving Hammond B3 on a regular basis. With that, the entire picture could change and they may very well become the band they always dreamed of being. Again, this is just the beginning for them and it is a real good start. They wrote all the songs, which is impressive. For three people they make some noise and it will remind you fondly of some other great trios that have come and gone since the inception of progressive rock. They reached their goal to get a stripped down sound removing things like a flute and so forth. Perhaps on the next outing those things will remain with additional instruments to beef up their sound and then they will blossom, as I would expect.

Artist: The Tea Club
Title: General Winter’s Secret Museum
Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Independent
Myspace
MyBandsMusic Profile

Tracks:
01. Werewolves
02. Cool Smack
03. Big Al
04. Castle Builder
05. Purple Chukz
06. The Clincher
07. Will O The Wisp
08. The Moon
09. Ice Clock
© MuzikReviews.com

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

There’s Only One Woman To Watch Out For

This Summer

The New Album ‘One Man Woman’ - released 1^st September, 2008

After providing backing vocals for Mariah Carey, James Brown and Charlotte Church, Shena, one of the UK’s most versatile vocalists, is releasing her debut album of stunningly sumptuous soul tracks and now she is the star herself!

‘One Man Woman’ due out on the 1^st September is a beautiful collection of ‘stripped down soul’, showcasing Shena’s dazzling vocal style. Whitney Houston and Lauryn Hill have been key influences and Shena exudes their sexy self-confidence and shares their ability to captivate audiences, promising to appeal to an international audience.

Making her mark on the music scene, Shena sang on Michael Gray’s 2004 smash ‘The Weekend’, and performed the track live to the nation on Top Of The Pops.

Singing has always been a passion for Shena. When she was a young girl she was greatly influenced by the baritone voice of her Grenadian father, describing him as a “Calypso Nat King Cole!” Her talent was spotted at an early age and Shena’s school teachers paid with their own funds for professional singing lessons after school to better her chances of having a career in music.

However, life at school was not always so rosy.As she began studying for her A-Levels, she received a less motivating welcome from the new teacher of her music class. She was exposed to her first major dose of cynicism and was forced to deal with prejudice. Although branded as someone that “would only ever become a secretary”, Shena turned the negative into positive motivation, and set out to prove him wrong.

A rendition of an aria from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess won her an unconditional place at the Royal Academy of Music which certainly began to prove the tutor wrong and reinforced her faith in herself. At the Royal Academy she studied classically, but loved commercial music too.

From graduating she got her first big break working with Michael Ball and since then has worked with Luther Vandross, Girl’s Aloud, Sugababes, Angie Stone, Chaka Khan, Lesley Garrett, Belinda Carlisle and Kelly La Roc to name but a few!

Performing on BBC’s ‘Songs Of Praise’ at the tender age of 21, Shena sang “Don’t Cry For Me” in a tribute to the tragic loss of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence. The BBC was inundated with messages from the British public demanding to know who this amazing young performer was, and requesting her to release the track!

Now with six top twenty dance hits under her belt it has been a natural progression for Shena to release her own material. She feels that she has paid her dues as a backing vocalist.
Shena is also a talented writer and has written tracks for Javine and Lemar (Eternal wanted one of her tracks but she kept it for herself!)

Shena is finally taking the next step and releasing her own material. She can currently can also be heard taking the lead vocal on the hit “Watch Out” by Alex Gaudino, which is currently a favourite on Radio 1, Kiss FM and London’s Capital Radio.

www.shena.co.uk
www.myspace.com/shenawinchester

For more information please contact Ian Roberts or Sara Boughton
Zest PR
Tel.0044 (0)20 7734 0206
ian@zestpr.com / sara@zestpr.com

Shena is performing around the UK on the following dates:
26^th Jul 2008 – Liquid, Sunderland
15^th Aug 2008 – Liquid, Windsor
22^nd Aug 2008 – Café de Paris, London
26^th Sep 2008 – Liquid, Basildon

“It’s been a few years since I’ve focused on being a “player” but my involvement with www.totonetwork.com has made me realize how much fun this kind of music can be. In the meantime I’ve been busy making movies like “Local Color”, “Senior Skip Day“, “Payback”, “Spykids” etc. I’m looking forward to doing more of this and I thank you for your support.”

Recorded just prior to 9-11 this collection of songs features some the most famous and talented musicians of this generation:

Greg Bissonette - Drums (currently performing with Ringo Starr)
Luis Conti - percussion (from Dancing with the Stars and James Taylor)
Paul Jackson Jr. - Guitars (from American Idol)
Jimmy Johnson - bass (from James Taylor)
Abraham Laboriel - (the list is too long)
Eric Marienthal - sax (Chick Corea, David Benoit)

Recorded and mixed by Tom Vicari

All songs composed and produced by Chris Boardman

Chris Boardman on myspace

Chris Boardman’s blog

Hit Me Music proudly presents DJ Reset’s first ever studio album, “Speaker Bunny” available now digitally worldwide. The highly anticipated set includes original music written, produced, and performed by DJ Reset, the critically acclaimed recording artist and producer who made history with the first commercial mash-up released on a major record label.

http://www.hitmemusic.com/Crush.mp3

“Speaker Bunny” is out now on Hit Me Music and available at iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, GroupieTunes, mTraks, Last.FM, Audio Lunchbox, Ruckus, Mbop, Lala, and Track It Down

For more information and licensing inquiries, please email marat@hitmemusic.com

About Hit Me Music
Hit Me Music, LLC is a music-based content and talent management company with the mission statement to establish and build a global entertainment brand. For new media and latest news on Hit Me Music, visit the label online at http://www.hitmemusic.com

Contact:

Cheryl Hughey Promotions

cherylhughey@charter.net/314-660-1755

G John Martin “Black Ice” Releases Debut CD

Tokyo, Japan
After touring the world and opening a record label in Japan, G John Martin “Black Ice” releases his debut CD, Black Ice.

R&B/contemporary jazz vocalist G John Martin, born in Detroit, Michigan, USA, is an artist who personifies art with unified melodies manifested with balance, life and wisdom. Martin’s musical journey began with the discovery of the bass guitar at the age of seven. By age twelve, he was writing and producing his own and formed a local band. Additionally, he taught himself drums and guitar before developing a unique vocal style that would mark the beginning of his musical career.

Martin’s professional journey began at age eleven during a visit to Hollywood. He quickly caught the ear of performer James Mitchell of the “Detroit Emeralds,” who offered him a role in the development of musical pieces for several projects including his first tour. With Mitchell’s encouragement, Martin quickly moved to study music and began what would become a long history of music production with groups like 7 Mile under the Sony label. World tours would also include the likes of Earl Klugh/George Benson, After 7, Clark Sisters, Universal Nubian Voices (UNV) opening the “The Madonna Girlie Tour” and Japan’s Speed, Anri, Yuki Kokanagi and Ken Hirai, just to name a few.

Within the next ten years, G John Martin felt the pressures and practices of the music business overshadowed his passion of music. Deciding he would no longer work under the influences of corporate ideals and demands, he chose to quiet himself, find spiritual solace and honor his soul. This led him to Japan, a culture based on divination and order. Martin transformed his career into a company venture - JP Entertainment & Nitram Records.

“My life is music. I was a singer when I was born and remain a singer today,” said Martin.

The self-titled CD, Black Ice, marks the solo debut for this R&B singer. The CD is available for sale in Japan and world-wide via CDBaby.com.

www.myspace.com/glynismartin

www.cdbaby.com/cd/gjohnmartin

Contact:

Cheryl Hughey Promotions

314-660-1755

cherylhughey@charter.net

Vibes Alive Releases After Hours

Los Angeles, CA

Vibist Dirk Richter’s story is about discovery and passion. Before Dirk was even old enough to go to school, he was hanging out at the local music store. At the tender age of four, Dirk was intensely studying music on a daily basis. By the time he was five, Dirk was gigging as a sideman with other youngsters in a band called the Tax Exemptions.

Influenced by Jean Luc Ponty, Jeff Lorber, George Duke and Lionel Hampton (because of swing music), Dirk became a serious mallet player by the age of eight. After high school, he studied at Pasadena City College w/Gary Foster (who had a Monday night big band), thoroughly immersing himself in the local Pasadena jazz scene.

It was in Pasadena that Dirk would meet his future partner in songwriting crime, Randall Crissman, a guitar playing television and movie composer with a string of credits that includes the likes of MTV, CBS, FOX and Nickelodeon for shows like Oprah, Dancing with the Stars, Joe Millionaire, Access Hollywood and The View.

Together, they would pen their first album, Vibes Alive (1997-Syndrome Records), which featured the stellar cast of Jeff Lorber, Luis Conte, Jimmy Johnson, Jimmy Haslip and Carlos Vega. Jonathan Widran of All Music Guide would declare, “…Richter takes charge, carrying cool melodies atop those trademark Lorber rhythms and harmonies on 70’s throwbacks like the Hammond B-3 and the Wurlitzer Electric piano.”

Following the release of the Vibes Alive album Dirk Richter and Randall Crissman would form a band named after the album and would head to the studio to record a second album. Scheduled to be released in 2008 via Swingding Records, After Hours combines the stellar cast of the 1997 release with a few new all stars for a hot sound that will sizzle the airwaves.

More on After Hours by Vibes Alive:

The collection of tunes in After Hours is a tapestry of kinetic exchanges between an incredible cast of musicians. These sessions capture the essence and spirit of the music in its most uninhibited form. A master conductor, Richter uses the vibes as a paintbrush that accentuates the communication between each gifted artist. According to Richter, the music is about “going back to the basics of creating music.” It’s about making music without boundaries.

With all the format changes in the industry, the time is ripe for musical change and that fans are eager to have music that is fresh and alive. The team of Dirk Richter and Randall Crissman offer up a sound that is unique, spirited and passionate. Add in solid songwriting and a stellar cast and you have a winner.

After HoursMusician List:

Dirk Richter: vibes, keyboards

Randall Crissman: guitar, synth bass

Jeff Lorber: synthesizer,Wurlitzer electric piano

Gary Meek: sax & flute

Luis Conte: percussion

Vinnie Colaiuta: drums

Jimmy Johnson: bass

Putter Smith: acoustic bass

Bob Summers: trumpet

Written and arranged by Dirk Richter and Randall Crissman

Produced by Randall Crissman

Harris grew up in Detroit, Michigan. It was there his musical aspirations started at the early age of 12 when he played trumpet through junior high and high school. At 16, he began playing guitar, and within a year was playing throughout the Detroit area.

Robert made his way to the Seattle area where he began touring. He spent several years touring the West Coast before heading south to Los Angeles. Within a year of being in L.A., Robert was signed with West Management/Record Company. Richard West, founder of the company, became his manager. West Production produced Harris’ first CD project. Robert spent the next 10 years in L.A. working as a studio musician, as well as arranging and producing projects. A natural talent for the engineering side of the recording business, Robert graduated to head engineer at the control panels. However, he missed performing and moved to Central Florida, where his band, the Robert Harris group, is now one performing.

Featured in the December 21, 2007 issue of the Orlando Sentinel, The Robert Harris Group is one of the premier Jazz / R&B groups in central Florida. In addition to their regular club dates, they have performed at the New Smryna Jazz Festival, the Winter Park Art Festival, The Seminole Jazz Series, and the Kissimmee Jazz Festivals, and recently The Daytona Jazz Festival where they opened for Walter Beasley, Spyro Gyra, and Jean-Luc Ponty. This year Robert opened for Mindi Abair at the Art and Music Festival at Lake Eola in Orlando, and Richard Elliot at the Winter Park Art Festival.

The group is currently scheduled for several national festivals next year. ie: Seabreeze Jazz Festival, Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, Berks Jazz Fest, Atlanta Jazz Festival, and more. The Robert Harris group has been asked back to perform at several concert events hosted by Orlando’s premiere smooth jazz station WLOQ 103.1, and Tampa Bays WSJT, and WGRV the Groove Florida’s east coast station.

A few years ago Robert had the privilege of playing with Kirk Whalum and Warren Hill’s band on Warren Hills smooth jazz cruise. You can also see Robert playing an acoustic duet with Peter White on the roberharrismusic.com photo page. His first CD, Cool Breeze. was featured on several radio stations around the world.

www.robertharrismusic.com

A Review by Mark Kirby

Over a decade ago, rappers Chuck D and Public Enemy asked, “Who Stole the Soul?” Today, after Christina Aguilera’s R&B-infused Back To Basics double CD and the Amy Winehouse soul explosion, the real question is, “Who stole it back?” Part of the answer can be found in Lorraine Reid’s single “How Can I Keep Him Lovin’ Me?“

It always comes as a surprise when I hear a modern R&B singer who has both the pipes to belt out with intensity and the good taste to let the song tell the story, choosing to not over-saturate a classic melody with vocal gymnastics. Reid dazzles her listeners with the perfect balance of vocals, just like the classic soul, rock and pop singers did back in the day. This timeless track by the Canadian, 7-time Juno nominee would fit right in with the best of soul and funk in any age.

“How Can I Keep Him Lovin’ Me?” begins to amaze listeners with its instrumentals — the keyboard starts with mellow soul chords and is followed by gently plucked guitar and sparse bass that flows with restrained energy even while in ballad mode. The drums play a beat that has previously anchored old pop and soul songs as well as bawdy stripper show tunes; it’s a beat that is part-waltz, part-easy-going phat back groove. While this stew is bubbling, Ms. Reid tells the story: “No more than 15 but grown before her time / This young girl was seekin’ love from men who would dim the lights / How can I keep him lovin’ me? / Here she was still seeking love / it was no where to be found.” Aside from the modern beat of the drums and the contemporary soul sound, the track is undeniably old school because it deals with real people and real-life issues, concepts that are often lost in mainstream music today.

The sales of R&B records — as with those of hip-hop and most other genres — continue to slump. Illegal downloads aside, the vast majority of these records deal with unattainable fantasies of sex, glamour, white linen suits and matching Bentleys. People who have just been laid off, had their benefits run out, or their home foreclosed don’t want to hear about such lavish topics. And they can’t even afford to buy overpriced CDs, anyway. That’s why real people, especially women, like Mary J. Blige’s tales of being a survivor. Like Blige, Reid tells a tale of survival and, like the best soul and gospel singers, past and present, she goes beyond this simple tale: “At 22, a mom of two, but she was still a child / Her mama’s advice to her was a message meek and mild / what this baby boy sees in you I tried my whole life to find / so dry your tears, my baby girl, you’re lookin’ at piece of mind.” Throughout the song, Reid’s vocals follow the lyrics and melody on a rollercoaster of emotion, saving the soaring peaks of her sweet yet powerful voice for the pinnacles of the song, especially the last lines. By the end of “How Can I Keep Him Lovin’ Me?”, the sadness becomes both redemption and a spiritual epiphany — all because of the power of love. Now ain’t that what soul music is all about?

www.myspace.com/lorrainereid

Contact:

Cheryl Hughey Promotions

cherylhughey@charter.net/314-660-1755

Donn Bynum - Former Commodores, Bootsy’s Rubber Band and Brothers Johnson Saxophonist Releases Debut CD

“Fun and relaxing debut!” - Keys and Chords

Long Beach, CA

Saxophonist Donn Bynum has made his living playing with legends like the Commodores, Bootsy Collins, Brothers Johnson and more. The summer of 2008 marks his debut solo release with Do You Feel Me. Available now at CDBaby.com, Do You Feel Me is dynamic testament to this master tradesman’s many years of sharing his music around the world.

More About the Artist:

While other kids were making college plans, saxophonist Donn Bynum was creating a future with his horn. At the tender age of 18, Bynum joined legendary Bootsy Collins for several shows before attending Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. After graduating, Bynum joined the world famous Commodores and ventured on several world tours of Europe, Asia, Africa, as well as the USA. Playing sax, flute, keyboards and drums, Bynum would also join the Commodores for concerts in Bermuda, Nassau Bahamas, and the Virgin Islands with an appearance on the “Motown 25th Anniversary“ television show.

Bynum performed for several years with international recording artists The Brothers Johnson, and appeared on the TV show Motown Live. Later, Bootsy’s Rubber Band called him back for more international touring and recording. During this time, he played on Bootsy’s CD entitled Bootsy’s New Rubber Band Live in Japan.

As a studio musician, Bynum was featured on the song “Make My Funk The P-Funk,” along with funk master keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Bynum has also recorded and performed with stellar award-winning gospel artist Kenny Smith and many others.

Do You Feel Me is his solo debut.

http://www.myspace.com/donnbynum

http://cdbaby.com/cd/donnbynum

Deep Within the Skin single digital release date: 14^th July 2008

Pop / RnB sensation KJ is set to release his first single ‘Deep Within the Skin’ this July, on the fledgling Savage Trax label, almost against the odds.

The immensely-talented singer and producer long-harboured a dream of turning professional from an early age, self-producing over 250 tracks, writing thousands of lyrics, and playing his songs to close family and friends, but all the time agonising over playing in public. The fear became so great that KJ began getting panic attacks and even finding it difficult to leave the house. Kevin himself admits:

“At the time I didn’t realise and I didn’t get any help, so it developed. The panic attacks turned into depression and sometimes just going to the supermarket was difficult.”

Searching for ways to combat his fears, KJ began to write about how he felt and was finally persuaded to upload his tracks to MySpace where they caught the eyes and ears of SavageTrax boss Kevin Savage, who immediately signed him up for a £1m, 4-album deal. The deal changed everything overnight, giving KJ a new-found boost of confidence, enough to get up on stage and perform in front of 25,000 people at 2007’s Cardiff Mardi Gras.

Realising how empowering overcoming such an adversity can be, KJ and the mental health charity ‘No Panic’ have joined forces in an effort to reach sufferers who still shy away from seeking help. As a Patron of ‘No Panic’, KJ hopes to inspire sufferers to come forward as he did, proving that it is possible to beat a panic disorder.

‘Deep Within the Skin’ showcases KJ’s love of 80’s pop, hip hop and R & B, indeed it’s no surprise that KJ has been compared to a British Justin Timberlake, and with a reverential nod to studio maestro Timberland very apparent within the production. Due to be released on all major download sites, the single is backed up by 4 killer club remixes by a crop of producers renowned for their dancefloor-destroying productions.

First up is GRN, aka DJ and Producer Glen Nicholls, who has just topped the Buzz Chart with a remix of the Champion Classic ‘Show Me Love’ by Robin S and has been busy remixing the Yazoo comeback project after numerous chart-topping remixes for Depeche Mode, The Prodigy, Sander Kleinberg and Bomb the Bass. 7^th Heaven have produced a breezy club version that compliments their remix roster for the likes of Booty Luv, The Ting Tings, The Freemasons and Eric Prydz. The House Junkies add a touch of their floor-filling electro house style that’s been consistently wowing crowds at the Heaven nightclub in London. Finally John-e Jay, a talented Club DJ/Producer from Worcester, puts in a seriously wonky bass rework very much in the Sinden vein.

It just goes to show, fear need never get in the way of dreams.

For further information please contact:
Danny Payne or Rob Hyde
Zest PR
Tel. 0044 (0)207 734 0206
danny@zestpr.com / rob@zestpr.com
Notes to Editors:
KJ
Deep Within the Skin
Released: 14^th July, 2008 (digital release)
Savage Trax Records
www.kevinjon.co.uk
www.savagetrax.com
www.myspace.com/kevinjonslade
KJ is a patron of the mental health charity ‘No Panic’
www.nopanic.org.uk