HOLLY ARBALLO I never tire of hearing new voices (and I mean that in the larger sense--"voice" as in someone who has something to say, musically, someone with their own unique perspective) and here's one who is very promising. Holly Arballo (pronounced, if I've got this right, arr-bī-yo) is originally from Vermont but currently based in Utah.
Holly's a singer/songwriter whose sound is a mix of Indie, Alt Folk and Jazz. Honestly, she seems to me to have Jazz in her heart, which she's just starting to let free...but I could just be projecting. At the moment, there's not much of her music on the digital platforms (just one song that I could find--"October" on a 2015 CrowdCare compilation, raising money and awareness in the battle against cancer), but she does have a number of videos on YouTube. And there are some song samples on her web site.
Holly is currently working on a Christmas album, which will feature a full band. It's mostly songs you know, with her own arrangements and her Indie/Folk/Jazz "voice". And there will be one original (at least) in the mix. The one song she mentioned by name is Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here" from the Charlie Brown special. The record is expected to be completed for a release at the beginning of November this year.
Keep tabs on Holly via Facebook, if you like good music.
An aside to Holly and other artists who have written me recently. I do/did reply, but my webmail is broken (I can receive, but can't send). So I use my personal email to reply (which I'm not about to post here for every spam mailer and SEO company on the web, but it does have "stubby" in the address if you want to look for that. Or not.). Just sayin'.
Holly's a singer/songwriter whose sound is a mix of Indie, Alt Folk and Jazz. Honestly, she seems to me to have Jazz in her heart, which she's just starting to let free...but I could just be projecting. At the moment, there's not much of her music on the digital platforms (just one song that I could find--"October" on a 2015 CrowdCare compilation, raising money and awareness in the battle against cancer), but she does have a number of videos on YouTube. And there are some song samples on her web site.
Holly is currently working on a Christmas album, which will feature a full band. It's mostly songs you know, with her own arrangements and her Indie/Folk/Jazz "voice". And there will be one original (at least) in the mix. The one song she mentioned by name is Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here" from the Charlie Brown special. The record is expected to be completed for a release at the beginning of November this year.
Keep tabs on Holly via Facebook, if you like good music.
An aside to Holly and other artists who have written me recently. I do/did reply, but my webmail is broken (I can receive, but can't send). So I use my personal email to reply (which I'm not about to post here for every spam mailer and SEO company on the web, but it does have "stubby" in the address if you want to look for that. Or not.). Just sayin'.
This one was released last week and immediately struck a chord with me. I think you have to hear it to get it, so....
Here, try another...
THE REX BELL TRIO I don't know a thing about Rex Bell (or his trio mates, Joe Vick and Dave Rogers), but he's got something going on here. From "Sleep, Baby, Sleep", you can tell it's very much a Jazz record. But, with a track like "Bells Across The Snow", you can easily imagine this record striking just the right note with folks more interested in traditional "Lite" or "EZ" Christmas music from the 50s and 60s. And it's all infused with Gospel and dripping in modern Christian spirituality. Really a very winning sound, I think, and something that is at once completely new and original, yet completely familiar and comfortable. Clearly, Rex's piano work is front and center, but the record would not be what it is without the vocals (thank you Mary Anne Robinson and Eric Chesher). Although there are different "textures" to those vocals, track to track, I tend to refer to that overall style or sound as "jingle singing". That's probably taken as an insult by professional vocalists, but it isn't intended as such. Its just that I first became acquainted with lush "close harmony" singing via the jingle packages heard on AM radio in the 60s. Anyway, "Hommage To Christmas" might not ring your Christmas bell as it does mine, but its definitely worth checking out. And, if you dig the Jazz but aren't down with the vocals, Rex and his Trio recorded an album for you back in 2013. "The Christmas Scene" is straight up Jazz featuring the more familiar songs of the season. Digital downloads of music from the Rex Bell Trio are at all the usual outlets, with hard copy CDs available from CD Baby.
And as long as we're in this neck of the woods, let me call your attention to Kasie Lunsford, an Arkansas vocalist who has been backed by the Rex Bell Trio from time to time. Nice range--Jazz, Blues, standards--and she has a number of Christmas tunes for sale via Facebook and/or ReverbNation (not sure of the year recorded, but good stuff). Just tossin' it out there.
And as long as we're in this neck of the woods, let me call your attention to Kasie Lunsford, an Arkansas vocalist who has been backed by the Rex Bell Trio from time to time. Nice range--Jazz, Blues, standards--and she has a number of Christmas tunes for sale via Facebook and/or ReverbNation (not sure of the year recorded, but good stuff). Just tossin' it out there.
 | 1. Beautiful Mother 2. Have You Seen His Face? 3. Sleep, Baby, Sleep 4. Cradle Song 5. The Peaceful Night 6. So Long Ago 7. Mystery Divine 8. Seven Angels 9. Bells Across the Snow 10. The Light We See PURCHASE FROM CD BABY PURCHASE FROM AMAZON MP3 |
I prefer doing my Coming Attraction posts with 7 or 8 or 9 items, reason being I like to try to have something for everyone. But my current schedule has kind of forced me into these one or two item posts. It ain't a bad thing. It gives you and I a reason to visit more frequently. I say this to tell you that I've got a whole crapload of stuff I need to lay on you soon. Likely some time this weekend. I'm mostly talking about albums coming to vinyl this year and vinyl classics coming to CD (some for the first time). I suspect it'll be more a list that a write up (there's just such a crapload--or it seems like a crapload--and, for the most part, no release dates or purchase links as yet). So be sure to check back soon so you can identify the ones you're going to want.
That said, I gotta close with this one today, 'cuz it's a hoot and a half--nay, a literal Hoot N. Annie.
Jean Luc Picard has gone Country! Well, actually, Sir Patrick Stewart (a brilliant actor). I can't even say he's gone where no Starship Captain has gone before, given Shatner's forays into music. Now the teaser video below makes out like Stewart has recorded several albums. He hasn't (that's part of what makes it a hoot). On the other hand, first time I saw the video, I thought the whole thing was deliberate farce. It isn't. There actually IS a five song EP--"Patrick Stewart's Cowboy Classic Sampler". And one of those songs is "Here Comes Santa Claus". And you know you're going to need that in your arsenal (although, personally, I'd buy it for "Ringo" and "Buttons & Bows" and I wish they'd included "Rawhide"). No digital on this one--just a CD--but proceeds go to the International Rescue Committee which is a great cause. CD Baby has a slightly lower price than Amazon, right now.....although sometimes differences in shipping costs can even things out a bit. In this case, I'd probably go with CD Baby. Just sayin'. Now let's everybody have a good time and a good laugh watching Cowboy Pat's teaser video (btw, there's a false ending in the video; it ain't over 'til the Christmas song).
That said, I gotta close with this one today, 'cuz it's a hoot and a half--nay, a literal Hoot N. Annie.
Jean Luc Picard has gone Country! Well, actually, Sir Patrick Stewart (a brilliant actor). I can't even say he's gone where no Starship Captain has gone before, given Shatner's forays into music. Now the teaser video below makes out like Stewart has recorded several albums. He hasn't (that's part of what makes it a hoot). On the other hand, first time I saw the video, I thought the whole thing was deliberate farce. It isn't. There actually IS a five song EP--"Patrick Stewart's Cowboy Classic Sampler". And one of those songs is "Here Comes Santa Claus". And you know you're going to need that in your arsenal (although, personally, I'd buy it for "Ringo" and "Buttons & Bows" and I wish they'd included "Rawhide"). No digital on this one--just a CD--but proceeds go to the International Rescue Committee which is a great cause. CD Baby has a slightly lower price than Amazon, right now.....although sometimes differences in shipping costs can even things out a bit. In this case, I'd probably go with CD Baby. Just sayin'. Now let's everybody have a good time and a good laugh watching Cowboy Pat's teaser video (btw, there's a false ending in the video; it ain't over 'til the Christmas song).
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