Bernie Worrell Orchestra Headlining Local & Legend Music Festival

Keyboard master and P-Funk alum Bernie Worrell and his orchestra will be headlining the 4th Annual Local & Legend Music Festival next Saturday on June 23. The concert will take place at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, New Jersey.

The annual festival is an affiliate of World Of Originality, Inc., which is a not-for-profit corporation. The festival is an event that the entire family can enjoy and will have wine tasting, local vendors and great food. And the festival will also feature a terrific lineup of musical talent.

In addition to the Bernie Worrell Orchestra, some of the others artists and bands scheduled to perform at the event include Larry Marshall, CC Coletti Band, Jessi Teich, Ten Foot Tall, The Almighty Terribles and Coral Maze.

Proceeds from the festival will go to providing scholarships for students in the Music and the Performing Arts as well as PALS, a Music Therapy Program

For more info about the festival, go to their website.

"The Boss" By James Brown

Years before Gangsta rap blew up in the early '90s, James Brown was releasing gangsta cuts like "The Boss," "Papa Don't Take No Mess" and "The Payback." I guess you could say that James was the ultimate OG. The smooth funk groove on "The Boss" has so much swagger that it can make even the most funkless and uncool among us feel like Miles Davis for a minute.

"The Boss" is from the Godfather of Soul's soundtrack for the 1973 blaxploitation film Black Caesar starring Fred Williamson. The film is about the rise and fall of a powerful Harlem crime boss. It's no Shaft or Super Fly, but it's a decent flick and better than many other similar films of the genre.

Some of the song's lyrics seem like they could be about James himself. He was always a boss. I like how he defiantly blurts out, "Told you so!" during the bridge. It's like he's taunting all those who said he'd never get over and doubted the power of his funk. The groove is just so chill, and the bass line is a killer. Also, the horn arrangement by Fred Wesley is stone-cold.

With its gangsta themes and swaggering funk, it's not surprising that hip-hop artists picked up on this track. Gangsta rap pioneer Ice-T famously sampled it for his 1990 single "You Played Yourself." "The Boss" has been sampled on 133 songs, per WhoSampled.com. It was written by James Brown, Fred Wesley and Charles Bobbit.



Download "The Boss" at Amazon

Related blog entry: "Stone To The Bone" by James Brown

Guitar Phenom Orianthi Covers Michael Jackson's "Give In To Me"

In this clip guitarist/singer/songwriter Orianthi Panagaris performs a moving acoustic cover of Michael Jackson's hard rock ballad "Give In To Me" before a group of students at the University of Southern California (USC). Her rendition has a quiet power and really does the original  justice. The young guitar slinger was slated to be MJ's lead guitarist for his ill-fated concert series This Is It, which was to be a 50-date residency at London's renowned O2 Arena starting on July 13, 2009.  The Australian-born guitarist also appeared in the documentary film This Is It, which chronicles the rehearsals and preparations for the upcoming concerts at O2 Arena.

Orianthi is an amazingly talented guitarist and also a pretty solid singer/songwriter. At only 27, she has already made quite a name for herself in the music industry. MJ was not the only music legend with whom she has shared the stage. She has jammed with prominent musicians such as Carlos Santana, Prince, Steve Vai and ZZ Top, and in February 2009, she played before millions of viewers as the lead guitarist for American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's band during a performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

Orianthi has released three albums and an EP so far. She scored a hit with the pop-rock song "According To You," a track from her second album Believe (2009). The song went to #8 on the Australian Singles Chart, # 3 on Japan Hot 100, #22 on Canada Hot 100 and #17 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In August of last year, Orianthi joined legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper's band as as his new lead guitarist.

"Give In To Me" is a track from Michael Jackson's Dangerous album (1991). It was co-written by MJ and record producer/songwriter/musician Bill Bottrell. The track features a blazing guitar solo by ex-Guns N' Roses member Slash, who was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the other original members of GNR. Although the track wasn't released as a single in the U.S., it charted quite well in other parts of the world, making the top 5 in several countries.

At the beginning of this clip, Orianthi shares a cool little anecdote about when she auditioned for MJ's band at Neverland Ranch.

The Blue Note Jazz Festival 2012 Brings The Jams In June

Cassandra Wilson

A top-notch roster of talent will be featured at the 2nd Annual Blue Note Jazz Festival this month. The festival began on June 10 and will run through June 30 with more than 50 scheduled performances at several venues throughout New York City. The event will offer a diverse selection of local and international talent. Some those artists scheduled to perform at the festival include Stephanie Mills, Bootsy Collins, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kathleen Battle, Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def), Cassandra Wilson, ?questlove, Groove Theory, Average White Band, and Stanley Clarke & George Duke, among many others. 

The festival is presented by Blue Note Entertainment Group, which operates the Blue Note Jazz Club, the Highline Ballroom and B.B. King Blues Club. And with a few exceptions, the festival performances will take place at one of those venues. The Blue Note Jazz Festival made its debut in June of last year and featured more than 80 performances in 15 venues throughout New York City.

Blue Note Entertainment Group was established in 1981 by Danny Bensusan with the opening of the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club in New York's Greenwich Village. The Blue Note soon became one of the first venues in the country to present jazz in an intimate, upscale setting, and Bensusan has been credited with revitalizing jazz in New York City. For more info about the Blue Note Jazz Festival, visit their website.

Chaka Khan and Reba McEntire To Share The Stage At The Hollywood Bowl

Music icons Chaka Khan and Reba McEntire will share the stage for the 2012 opening night gala at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, June 22 at 8:00 p.m. The legendary music powerhouses are this year's inductees into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. Both will join conductor Thomas Wilkins and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for performances. Screen legend Julie Andrews will host the event, with presenters and special quests to be announced. The gala is presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Both Khan and McEntire have had long, distinguished musical careers. Khan's celebrated career in music spans nearly 40 years. She shot to fame as the lead singer for funk/soul band Rufus in the 1970s and then went on to an extremely successful career as a solo artist. On May 19, 2011, the 10-time Grammy winner received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Khan is considered one of the most influential vocalists in R&B music.

Often referred to as "The Queen of Country Music," McEntire has been a huge star in country music for many years. She has sold 57 million records in the U.S. and more than 70 million worldwide and is the second best-selling female country artist of all time, behind Shania Twain. McEntire is also an actress and has appeared in several films. And she starred in the family sitcom Reba that ran on the WB (now CW) from 2001 to 2007.

The Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame was established in 2000 and honors artists “whose unique achievements embody the spirit of the Bowl." Other inductees have included Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Plácido Domingo, Donna Summer, George Harrison, Carlos Santana and B.B. King. 

For more info about the event or to purchase tickes, visit the Hollywood Bowl website.

Earth, Wind & Fire Performing "Magic Mind" Live In Japan

This clip of Earth, Wind & Fire's explosive performance of "Magic Mind" gives a sampling of what a badass live band they were back in the day. The performance is from a 1979 concert in Japan. The Phenix Horns really tear it up and show why they are considered one of the tightest horn sections on the planet. The rest of the EWF are also killing it. And Maurice White wins the audience over with tons of charisma and showmanship. He's just an incredible front man and all-around great musician.

Earth, Wind & Fire still tour, but without Maurice. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the late '80s, which eventually led to him retiring from touring in 1994.  For me, it just doesn't feel like an authentic Earth, Wind & Fire show without him. It's sort of the equivalent of not having Mick Jagger on stage at a Rolling Stones concert. However, I don't fault the other members for continuing to tour. It's something they love to do, and they get paid for it.

I had the good fortune of catching EWF live a few times in the late '70s and early '80s, and let me  tell you, their live shows were out of this world and would leave you with a natural buzz. They always gave 110 percent on stage, performing with impeccable musicianship while exuding infectious, positive energy. I don't think I've ever heard of an Earth, Wind & Fire show where any violence broke out or anyone was arrested. It was just the kind of vibe they gave off and the type of audience they attracted. Probably the worst thing you'd ever find at an EWF show is the occasional pungent smell of weed wafting through the air, and I don't really consider that a bad thing. Everyone was just really chill at EWF concerts, and you'd always head home feeling good, bobbin' your head with a big smile on your face.

"Magic Mind" is from Earth, Wind & Fire's amazing triple-platinum album All 'n All, which was released in November 1977. "Magic Mind" was the fourth and last single released from the collection. It's a kinetic funk workout that encourages listeners to make the best of their relatively short time on this planet by actively pursuing their goals and dreams, expanding their minds, and just living and loving to the fullest. The monster groove is enough to jump-start you in that direction.



Download Studio Version of Magic Mind at Amazon

Duwende Bring Their Sweet Harmonies To Stevie Wonder's Classic "As"

I've been checking out Duwende's incandescent cover of Stevie Wonder's classic track "As."  Their swirling, intricate harmonies are just amazing on this cover. The acclaimed a capella band's flow sounds so smooth and effortless here. I've been into Duwende for a little over a year now, and they continue to amaze me with their incredible talent. I think even Stevie himself would dig what they did with his song.

In May of last year, the sextet released a tribute album to Michael Jackson that was made up of a cappella covers of some of his biggest hits. The band showed great originality and versatility on the album, bringing their own unique style to MJ's tracks. Their cover of "As" makes wish me they'd do the same with Stevie. Well, if not a full tribute album, it would be cool if they'd at least cover a few more of his songs. "As" is from Stevie Wonder's landmark, Grammy-winning double LP Songs In the Key of Life (1976).

Duwende have been in the studio recently working on new music. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing their next studio effort. Additionally, the band is scheduled to perform at SteveStock: A Summer Music Celebration on June 13. The show will take place at Sullivan Hall in New York, NY. In another bit of Duwende news, tenor Neal Mortimer retired from the band back in April of this year. Noah Hercky recently joined Duwende to become their newest tenor. He's singing the lead part on their cover of "As."



Related Blog Entry: Duwende: A Capella Magic