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Voxtrot: "Firecracker" Video

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Voxtrot:
Created: 10/23/2007
Video description: With one foot in the library and the other on the dancefloor, Voxtrot combine classic 60s pop (think Love and Left Banke) with the heady, subversive sounds of 80s Britain and still come out ahead of their time. Originally conceived as am outlet for vocalist Ramesh Srivastava to record a handful of songs he had written, it soon became apparent that Voxtrot was meant to be more than a home recording project. The band has toured the US throughout most of 2005 in support of their Raised By Wolves EP, turning heads at SXSW, CMJ and SF Popfest. Originally conceived as am outlet for vocalist Ramesh Srivastava to record a handful of songs he had written, it soon became apparent that Voxtrot was meant to be more than a home recording project.

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Toots and the Maytals (featuring Shaggy): "Bam Bam"

Toots is one of the true architects of reggae - so much so that "Do the Reggay," a 1968 single by Toots and his group, the Maytals, is credited with giving the genre its name. Classic songs written and recorded by Toots and the Maytals have been covered by the likes of the Clash and the Specials, and the group was featured in reggae's greatest breakthrough event - "The Harder They Come," the 1972 film that became an international sensation. The all-star guests on TRUE LOVE range from legends like Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, and Bonnie Raitt to younger stars including No Doubt, the Roots, and Phish's Trey Anastasio. The caliber of these collaborators reveals the impact that Toots has had on several generations of rockers and rappers, while appearances from reggae icons Bunny Wailer and Marcia Griffiths show the respect granted to the man who might be the music's greatest living vocalist. At the heart of it all is that voice - drenched in soul, rooted in gospel, and still breathtakingly powerful after almost four decades in the spotlight.

Natalie Walker: "Quicksand"

Natalie Walker. Urban Angel. Biography. Born and raised in Indiana, vocalist Natalie Walker is an artist whose lilting, melodic voice and lyrical reveries reflect a life journey of determination and self-discovery. With musical influences ranging from Alison Krauss to Portishead, Jewel to Lauryn Hill, Beth Orton to Bjork, the former lead singer of downtempo electronic group Daughter Darling now delivers her own unique, haunting sonic landscape that is at once organic, ethereal, elegant and entrancing. ?Creating music is my outlet,? says Natalie. ?I was born to sing. When I don?t, I feel empty. When I do, I feel fulfilled. It?s that simple.? Urban Angel, her solo album debut, was co-written by Natalie and two-man production team Stuhr. ?I worked with two really great producers out of Brooklyn, Dan Chen and Nate Greenberg. They?d send me the rough copy of a song and the music would just evoke emotion,? she explains. ?Its like fitting pieces of a puzzle together. When you?re in the studio recording its all very raw and real. I try to make a song new each time I sing it. I want it to be unforgettable. My producers are amazing. They forced me to develop my real voice. I?ve improved my vibrato and my tone. Stuhr delivered exactly what I asked of them. It couldn?t have happened more perfectly.?

Jack DeJohnette: "Ocean Wave"

The longer versions of these tracks, featuring Jack DeJohnette and Foday Musa Suso will be available on the album by "The Ripple Effect" :"Hybrids" released October 4th 2005 on Jack's label "Golden Beams Productions".

The Project: The Ripple Effect was conceived of as a project to blend some of the elements of modern electronica/dance music with previously recorded music by Jack DeJohnette and some of his collaborators. All of the music on this album was taken from multitrack recordings. Some elements were added, sometimes overdubbed and edited, while other parts were omitted. The structure and composition were altered, but the musicality was retained. While staying true to the original?s feel, a new piece of music was created.

We believe this hybridization of styles is a part of the natural developmental flow of music. Enjoy.

The Artists: As a leader, composer and drummer, Jack DeJohnette has supported some of the most important and innovative musicians of our time, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Carlos Santana, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny. Widely regarded as one of jazz music?s greatest drummers, DeJohnette?s playing has long drawn on sources beyond "jazz." Never willing to sit still long enough to be categorized, he was already describing his work as "multi-directional music" thirty years ago. See http://www.jackdejohnette.com for more information.

Foday Musa Suso is an internationally recognized kora (West African 21-stringed harp lute) virtuoso and a Mandingo griot.Born in The Gambia, Suso grew up in a society where griots function as walking libraries, singing their stories for the community while providing history, wisdom and entertainment. Suso has performed and recorded worldwide with many prominent musicians including Herbie Hancock, Philip Glass, Pharoah Sanders, Ginger Baker and Bill Laswell. See http://www.fmsuso.com for more information

Composer/multi-instrumentalist John Surman is one of the key figures in a generation of European musicians who have crucially expanded the international horizons of jazz. He is acknowledged as an improvisor of world class, and composer of a body of work which extends far beyond the normal range of the jazz repertoire. He has performed and recorded with musicians including Elvin Jones, Gil Evans, Karin Krog, John Taylor and Dave Holland. See http://www.johnsurman.com for more information.

Remixer/Musician Ben Surman is involved with electronica projects including Third Zomby and Mind over Rhythm. He is also currently working on remixes for Karin Krog, Colin Walcott and various other artists. As an engineer he has worked with many artists including Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Holland, Hermeto Pascoal and Jim Hall.

Marlui Miranda is the most acclaimed and recognized performer and researcher on music from the Brazilian Indians. She has interpreted and adapted traditional chants and songs from many Brazilian Indian nations. Miranda worked with Hector Babenco in the film At Play in the Fields of the Lord. She is a recipient of several grants including a Guggenheim and the Cultural Merit Medal and has recorded and performed with leading Brazilian musicians including Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Egberto Gismonti and Nana Vasconcelos.

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For more information please visit http://www.jackdejohnette.com

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Dave Stewart and Sinead O' Conner:

Check out this behind-the-scenes footage. The song was originally co-written by Dave Stewart and Sinead O'Connor. Dave talks about how the song was created, as well as other endeavors with Sinead.

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