Been a long time . . .

Wow. So much had changed in my life since I last wrote in this blog.
I won't recant any tales of dramatic intrigue for you, but I will say that I am glad to be back, with some exciting news . . . We're moving!!
Due to the fact that I've stopped using this account, but have continued my adventures in the music world, I am moving to another site, and moving a lot of the content from this site over.
It's still Blogspot, of course. I'm still broke. ;-) But I do still have an appreciation for quality music that I know will lead to ultimate success for its makers.
I have moved to http://justplainmusic.blogspot.com
I feel that I gave this current site a misnomer, and that is half the inspiration behind moving. Although I have a deep love for all things jazzy, I've not included some elements of the music world that have just as significant an impact as jazz. I felt like I was isolating myself to a corner far too small in a room far too big, and this is my chance to explore a broader spectrum of the music rainbow, and show my appreciation for the music I write about (all the while trying to get famous).
I would like to thank everyone who reads along, and hope you will come along with me to my new site to read some more on my thoughts in the music world, as well as what the artists themselves have to say. I promise a very interesting content, and those of you who have read along won't be disappointed in the writing. Thanks again, and visit http://justplainmusic.blogspot.com

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Montreal, Expanding Horizons, and a new location

Hey folks. Long time, no write. Unfortunately, some details got washed in a sea of confusion a while back, and my site-launching plans have been postponed until I can get some more resources lined up. Til then, it's all about the blog.
So to get everyone up to date on things, I recently returned from a trip to Montreal, where I checked out the music scene without even trying. It was so wonderful there, and I had the chance to experience so many new venues you can't see in Nova Scotia. That's for another story, however. My eyes have been opened to an entirely different section of entertainment services since returning, and I've decided to not only write about music, but also work in the broader booking & publicity field, where I may have the chance to represent some pretty fantastic people.
In any case, I'll be keeping everyone posted on what's new in the world, and I look forward to getting some new artists onboard for some chit-chat. Til next time . . .

Piano Girl - An interview with Alexa Ray Joel

So it turns out that there are people in this world that value nothing more than hard work and true love, and I’ve found one such person living in New York, New York.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Alexa Ray Joel over the phone about life, love, and her struggle to make it on her own terms. I really wasn’t sure what to expect from her personality, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a very sweet, modest, and frighteningly determined girl behind a voice that still makes me dream of love and music.
Not surprisingly, her dedication to the music itself is as powerful as her vocals, and it shows in her spoken word, as well as her lyrics.
I asked her about her deeply personal song, “Now It’s Gone”, and what her ultimate goal from it was.
“It was an easy song to write. Actually, it only took me two days to finish it,” says she who formed such an angry thought into a work of playful art for all to hear. She went to say, “I really hope people listen to that song. . .it’s a song that could really help to let all that anger out.”
I went on in my questions, changing the topic to her creative side in general. Where an artist’s creation comes from is just as important as the creation itself, and Lex has a lot to say about this. I asked if she ever felt blocked in her creativity, or if she ever ran out of ideas.
“I don’t really allow myself to (get blocked) . . .I’m very grateful for it . . .When I get an idea, it’s there. If it doesn’t come, it doesn’t come. I don’t push it . . .I like just feeling it, and being in the moment of it.”
She did mention, however, that she can go for some time without writing anything at all. Just getting back into the groove of things again after a brief break, she said she hasn’t written anything in some time, and that tends to happen from time to time. However, she says, when she gets a thought in her head about something that she wants to create, it’s very easy for her to make it tangible.

I’ve got to say, this is a difficult article to write. Starting out, I knew what I wanted to find out, but I wasn’t sure what angle I wanted to take with writing it out. Even when we wrapped up our wonderful conversation, I couldn’t find the words for what I wanted to get across to you readers.
Then it came to me last night while I was thinking about something I thought was completely unrelated to the interview. It brought a smile to my face, and I suddenly remembered something that was brought up in the dialogue . . .
“For All My Days” is a new song that Lex and Jimmy played unplugged together and posted to Lex's MySpace page. I, personally, have been very inspired and touched by this song’s lyrics, so naturally, I had to ask about it.
“It came from being deeply in love. Feeling it in the moment,” she said, bringing up her relationship with Bassist and musical director, Jimmy Riot. “And I’m so grateful to have that.”
“I was really inspired by Norah Jones, and Ray Charles . . .I had the initial idea for the melody, and it just came together.”
Now, I’m usually not one to gush, but regarding Lex’s music, I just couldn’t help myself. Throwing compliments around like a schoolboy with a crush, I think I managed to make her blush, as well as open up a new topic of discussion : Her fans.
Although she’s not signed yet, nor has she been around for any long period of time, anyone who’s heard her music understands right away that she’s already a star.
“I keep great contact with my fans, and they seem to be very loyal to me,” she mentioned.
She was also caught off guard by the gender-base of her fans. “I just assumed I would just have girl fans, but the guys like it too . . .I think I might have more male fans than female.”
She doesn’t just have small-time fans either. In the year-end issue of Rolling Stone magazine, she was featured in an article, deeming her song “Song of Yesterday” number three on the editor’s picks. As Lex mentioned jokingly, “It’s quite a magazine”, understating the obvious accomplishment she attained in that. “It was very flattering to me.”
So, to wrap up this fun interview, I’ve got to say Alexa Ray Joel is not only a fantastic musician that deserves all the recognition she gets, but she’s also a wonderful person to know. Very down to earth, and knowledgeable, she portrays all the qualities of someone who knows exactly what she wants, and won’t take no for an answer . . . All us “little promoters” (her affectionate fan-definition) are behind you 110%, Lex. I for one can’t wait to see you on the cover of Rolling Stone next time we talk. Good luck kid!

Alexa Ray Joel Interview Later Today!!!

So, I've been working on this for some time now. It's been hard, since I've had to go through two different publicists in my adventure (and 'adventure' isn't a term I use lightly . . .). Finally, last week, her new publicist Eric got back to me about it, and this is it folks . . .today I get to speak with Alexa Ray Joel and get straight to the heart of her music, her career, and anything else I can find time to ask her!!
Just to do a brief overview, Alexa is 21 years old and is indeed the daughter of the great Billy Joel. Naturally, she's been involved in music for her entire life, and on August 26, 2006, she released (on her own) her first EP, Sketches, which I had the pleasure of reviewing back in December.
Having credited her father first and foremost in her musical influences, it is obvious listening to her that she shares his passion for the art, and enjoys very much the simple, fun melodies that make his own music so successful.
But all of this can be read on her MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/alexarayjoel) . . .I'm interested in what hasn't been typed yet. So, at 2pm, EST, I get a phone call from Lex, and we're going to discuss all I can think of introspectively . . .stay tuned to the site for the interview, which I'm posting later tonight, once it's written and edited.

Norah Jones Discography

Okay . . .I just got a bunch of live shows done by Norah Jones on CDs. I have Chicago House of Blues in '02, Live in New Orleans, the Kennedy Millenium Stage, Live at Bonnaroo, and an NPR bit that she did. I'm just into the Kennedy cd, and this is great music, folks!





I've been anticipating her new album for months now, and it's still due out January 30, but I wanted to get into the groove of her sound again when it comes out, so I started listening to these live shows to hear different variations of her tracks. The playfulness she radiates in her live music is so much fun to hear, and it puts you in just the right mood to hear more.



I've been a big fan of Norah's since the beginning (My ex and I were going to dance to "Come Away With Me" at our wedding when it was new), and I can't get enough of her sweet, charming voice. Not even 30 yet and holding eight grammies to brag about, Miss Jones has all the prestige that should come with the success of her art.



But we're on a review . . .of her live album collection. I digress. I'm into her Live At Bonnaroo cd now. "One Flight Down" is hitting the spot. The drum beat is keeping the tempo from lulling me into a trance, but the rest of the song is leaving me swaying.



There's also a very early version of "What am I to you?" in here, and it's very raw, but it's a song you can tell she's having a ball singing, and the finished product is actually my personal favourite song of all time anyhow, so I'm glad she likes it this much too. The lyrics are foremost in her songwriting, which is apparent, since she hasn't changed a single lyric in the song through it's development. With so much depth to the song, and a really hard to define mood behind it, it works for a lot of moods. I personally enjoy it for it's happily-resentful tones . . .it seems like an argument with no response from your ignorant significant other. I have fun with that thought when I listen to the song.



"Comes Love" is a song I haven't heard her cover yet . . . she's got it's number for sure here. The passion behind her voice in this very sexy song is breathtaking, and she makes your heart melt with every stanza. All I have to say to this single song is WOW . . .



There is also a very young performance of "Toes" following that, probably her first on record. I was a little doubtful that this song would contain much, being a very quiet song as a finished product, but done live, this song is fantastic, and full of love.



And the last song in this lineup is "Tennessee Waltz". In another show I heard (Chicago House Of Blues), she belted out the notes in an amazing way. In this version (Bonnaroo), she's got chorus backup from Alex I think, and she's taken to a more mellow drive in the song. She's still putting out the notes, but it's got a silkier feel to it. It moves slower and makes you sway to the amazing guitar solo in the end. Reminiscent of BB King's playing. Lucille would be proud.



Next up is the Live in New Orleans cd . . .lots of good songs on here, starting with "Seven Years", which is really cute to hear, as usual, but really mellowed for live playing.



"What Am I To You" seems to have a completely different sound to it with every play. I love this!!! In New Orleans, she turned it into a twangy country feel, with excellent pickup and an awesome synth organ to accompany it. This song alone is proof of Norah's ability to create wonderful music . . .more than once!! With so many musical variations of the same song, it's no wonder the audiences go crazy for her!



And now for the most playful song I've ever heard, "The Painter Song". She obviously has so much fun doing this, and she should! Full of happy lyrics and obviously heart-felt, "Painter Song" sounds like it was being imagined by a little girl. I can't get enough of it.



Finally, my review on her NPR appearance with Marian McPartland on piano. After a quick chat, they get right to "September in the Rain", which I've never heard until today . . .nostalgia and love through the whole, smooth song. Doing only the vocals for it, she's immersed in the mood of the song as she gets great accompaniment from the host. If you enjoy soft cabaret, this is where it's at, and it definately makes it's point.



Back to another cover of "Comes Love", and I'm in love again! Only on piano this time, this song makes you crave a cigarette after it's over. So much passion behind her soulfully slow voice, she makes this song your's to keep like a dream.




All in all, these live recordings have won my heart all over again, and have definately gotten me in the mood to hear her new album in three weeks . . .I can't wait! So, once again, Norah's new album, "Not Too Late" comes out January 30, and if you haven't heard much of her previous albums, check out the unreleased tracks . . .they're a lot of fun, and they definately don't downplay her released tracks. Enjoy!

~Mac

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Redesigning my site, and having it hosted soon . . .get ready!!

Okay . . .the time has come for me to turn this site into something fantastic! I'm currently in the process of designing a new, better site to be hosted elsewhere professionally. I'm still looking for two writers, if anyone's interested. I'm going to try making some of the new features available to this blog as well, but once I complete the design and have it up and running, everything's moving there, so I'll keep you all posted on that end of it . . .also, I'm posting a John Mayer article later today . . .I've been digging his sound a lot lately . . .and Joel Plaskett. That guy's just a ball of energy! Til next time . . .

~Mac

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Looking For Two More Writers

Well folks, the holidays are over, the New Year has begun, and with it comes a lot of new challenges. One challenge that has presented itself to me is writing for this site all by my lonesome.

I've got to say, juggling school, a job, and doing this without pay . . .it's not exactly time-efficient. On the other hand, I wouldn't give this up for a date with Alexa Joel. . .okay, so maybe I would, but that's not the point. The point is that I get immense joy out of running this site, and out of writing for it. My passion is in the music, as well as in the writing. Unfortunately, I've only been gifted with one of the above.

So, with that being said, I would like to announce that I am looking for two writers who, like me, are devoted to the love of music, and to allowing everyone a chance to know what's happening in the industry. I myself do not get paid for writing in this site as of yet, so please, don't expect anything more than my deepest appreciation if you do get the job. However, I do have big plans for this site, and once it takes off, who knows? Maybe we'll get sponsored, maybe we'll get hosted by a paying site . . .the point is that this site has potential to be something wonderful, and I can't do it by myself anymore. My success is my demise, or so it would seem.

I am looking for someone who can not only appreciate the music, but also describe it with the proper due.

Credentials in the field of journalism would be an asset, as would a stand alone education in English as an art.

I am currently accepting applications through my profile contacts, and I require two articles of musical orientation to review for acceptance. Any format of writing is acceptable, so long as it is tasteful and stays true to the medium.

As I said before, I cannot pay my writers as of yet, but with even a little bit of success, that could all change. Think big. I am.

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