Streetwise Radio: December 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Committed

“Committed” an all-male gospel group from Huntsville, Alabama wins the second season of NBC’s The Sing-Off. They sing acapella with such range and depth it’s hard to believe that there are no instruments in the background. If you missed the second season of The Sing Off you can still see full episodes on-line at NBC’s website.

All of the groups in the show were exceptional this season but “Committed” was outstanding and deserved to win the grand prize: a recording contract and $100,000.

According to the brief history of the group given on the show, “Committed” was founded in 2003 by four high school students at Forest Lake Academy. The group stayed together as they progressed to Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama where they continued to perform together. The members of the group include Geston Pierre, Robbie Pressley, Tommy Gervais, Dennis Baptiste, Maurice Staple and Therry Thomas. Although they sing mainly inspirational gospel music they have such range to do a wide variety music which they demonstrated so well on the show.

From the beginning “Committed” was very consistent in their performances with various members of the group taking the lead vocals; the harmonies and booming bass lines were amazing to hear. You can listen to each night’s performance at the NBC website below. My favorite was their rendition of One Republic’s “Apologize”: http://www.nbc.com/sing-off/contestants/season-2/committed.shtml

So, this is a group to look out for and remember you heard it here first on Streetwise Radio - “Committed” – an outstanding vocal group – the next “Boyz II Men!

Cealey, CFO.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

JENNIFER MEADE

Now Playing on Streetwise Radio Ultra Mix

Jennifer Meade is all about the positive. This woman’s got a
major league voice, the kind A&R guys from Stax, Motown,
and Atlantic used to go crazy for: silky smooth but with a lot
of muscle behind it. “I.T.N.O.L” is all about love. Lyrics are Hits, vocal performances are epics, romanticals, sounding like coming out of the soul of the listener. Jennifer Meade will expand one way or another, she has great natural depth, and makes you feel the emotion in each and every word. Stronger, her first single, is a commercially viable musical score, filled with oodes of emotions. Jennifer Meade first encounter with music was through her father’s passion and love of it. At the age of 15 her work as young choir director caught the interest of Second Regard - She started singing in a group called The Harmonettes, then later on became part of another group, Touch of Heaven. "Working with those group opened me up to other branches of international music," says Jennifer. "I met musicians and vocalists from all over the world." Of those musicians, there was Quincy Jones, Freddy James, Michael Bolton, Paul Anka, Celine Dion, Kirk Franklin, Oliver Jones, and Oscar peterson. She shared the stage with renowned artist such as James Hall, Hezekiah Walker, Craig Hayes, Marvin Sapp, Daniel Lavoie, Joane Blouin and Aretha Franklin. She was featured as the music director on CBC Canada evening special with international opera singer Wilaminia Ferdenez. Meade, whose influences include Kirk Franklin and CeCe Winans, recently released Divine Conversations Vol. I and Vol. II, a collection of more than two dozen new original songs that blend R&B, soul, hip hop, funk, gospel, and pop. She’s described them as a series of conversations within. Some might find her music a little preachy, but preachy or not, it’s heartfelt and it’s hard to ignore what she can do to a piece of music. Source: canadianmusician.com

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

QUINCY JONES DOES IT AGAIN

Grammy Award-winning producer Quincy Jones pre...

Image via WikipediaQuincy Delight Jones Jr. is the number one trumpeter in the music industry. Quincy Jones has been around for five decades as a record producer, conductor, musical arranger, film composer and television producer. Q called by his friends, fell in love with music in elementary school. Being the typical kid he tried just about all the instruments and fell in love with to trumpet. Quincy befriended Ray Charles when he was in his early teens and they formed a combo playing small clubs and weddings.
When Quincy was 18 he won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. Quincy got a offer to go on the road with bandleader Lionel Hampton, so he dropped out of school.

This experience led him too becoming a free lance arranger in the 50's.
He wrote music for some of the greats like Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Cannonball Adderley and Ray Charles. Quincy arranged for Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Dinah Washington these were some of the most important artist in the 60's. Quincy Jones, 1962 song Soul Bossa Nova came from the Big Band Bossa Nova album. Soul Bossa Nova song were in motion picture The Pink Panther and Austin Powers. Quincy Jones wanted to re-record with Miles Davis some of his classics albums, but Miles refused him he didn't want to revisit the past. Suffering from pneumonia in 1991 Miles Davis agreed to perform some of his music from the past at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Quincy Jones. This duo resulted in the recording, Miles & Davis Live at Montreux. This was Davis last recording, he died several months after. Quincy Jones and David Salzman got to together and produced An American Reunion concert extravaganza for President Bill Clinton's inauguration. From this collaboration they formed the company Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment. Quincy Jones produced Michael Jackson Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad albums. This made Quincy the most powerful record producer in the music industry.

Now Quincy Jones has done it again he has a new album out called Soul Bossa Nostra. Quincy has a collaboration of artist from different genres of music. This album has Snoop Dog singing and rapping "Get the Funk Out of My Face" in his laid back style. "It's My Party" song by Amy Winehouse you might want to turn the volume down. Talib Kweli is featured on the "Ironside" song and I must say I like it a lot. "Give Me the Night" Jamie Foxx is blowing like always. Akon in featured on Strawberry Letter 23 a Brothers Johnson song one of my old time favorites. Bebe Winans is singing "Everything Must Change" a beautiful song. John Legend sings "Tomorrow".

Jennifer Hudson putting her heart in "You Put A Move on My Heart". These are some of the artist and songs on Soul Bossa Nostra. This album has a little something for everyone. Quincy is headed in my opinion for a Grammy nomination or possibly a Grammy for this album. Go out and get it you won't be disappointed.

Lm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Jones