When We Speak TV guest, Rhonda Ross, is currently on tour with her mom, Diana Ross. She recently sent out an update to all her followers and I think you should check it out....and definitely join her mailing list.
A certain new and exciting credibility is lended to bands when they transition from playing locally to performing at venues around the country. If you’re new to playing music, you might think that touring is an experience filled with non-stop fun, venues filled to the brim with adoring fans, and luxurious accommodations, but the dramatized version of tour portrayed in movies and TV rarely reflects the massive challenges that come along with heading out on a national tour as a small band. If you want a more realistic picture of what it’s like to head out on tour with an unknown band, think sparsely attended shows, strained finances, and sleeping on floors.
But even with the general stress and discomfort that touring usually brings for smaller acts, it’s an absolute necessity if you want to be taken seriously by fans, press, and labels. There’s no better manifestation of an artist’s hopes and aspirations than seeing them set out for a long national first tour for the first time.
If you’re interested in booking your first national tour, this article was written specially for you. Making the transition from playing locally to regionally and eventually nationally can often be overwhelming, so we’ve assembled ten helpful tips to help you get started.
If you have been a follower of When We Speak TV for a some time, then you know exactly who Julie Dexter is. Julie Dexter is not only a wonderful person and vocalist, she was also the first concert I went to when I moved to Atlanta. Since the first moment I watched her performance, I knew I really enjoyed this lady. Then, a few years back, I got the opportunity to have Julie on When We Speak (my talk show) which was supa dupa nice because Julie was so warm and full of knowledge that I didn't want to stop speaking with her. Since then, I've followed Julie along her career and whenever I can, I try to attend her shows as often as possible.
However, the reason for this post is to inform you of her show coming up in Norcross, Georgia, at Jazz In The Alley. I can't wait!!!! Not only is When We Speak TV an official partner of Jazz In The Alley but how cool is it that June 24th is my birthday and Julie Dexter, a When We Speak guest will be performing on that day!!! So YOU definitely have to come out to downtown Norcross, Georgia on June 24th and celebrate with me!!! I'll be working, getting footage and stuff but that doesn't mean you can still come and enjoy the FREE concert!!! And I will always find time to take pics on my birthday with everyone!!!!!
So make plans to meet us in downtown Norcross, Georgia, on June 24,2017!!!!!!
Don't Forget....IT'S FREE!!!! So come enjoy!!!
And the fun doesn't have to stop there! There are more great concerts coming to downtown Norcross! Check it out!
I was born and raised in the rural West Tennessee town of Whiteville. I spent many of my younger years dreaming about the day that I would leave that little town, move to Atlanta, and have a "great life". And when the song Tennessee from Arrested Developmentcame out, it became my them song....."Take me to another place, take me to another land...." . When that song came on, it would give me inspiration to just keep holding on because one day, I would leave that town.....Little did I know that the song wasn't really about what I thought.
Well, it took me many years before I actually moved to Atlanta....I went into the military for 5 years and lived in Texas, for about 5 years thereafter. Finally in 2008. I moved to Atlanta. After being in the metro Atlanta area for 8 years, surprisingly, I often miss the memories that I had in my little town of Whiteville. Today, I realize that I spent most of my years dreaming of getting away, that I didn't take time to appreciate the moment. I SAID THAT.....TO LEAD YOU TO THIS After years of jamming to Tennessee and desiring to leave Tennessee, I got a chance to sit down with the writer of the song, Todd "Speech" Thomas, on When We Speak. We got a chance to talk about so much stuff like old music, new music, politics, and even his music school (The Victory Spot).
Be sure to check out the interview, I believe that it will definitely be a blessing and encouragement to your life. AND GUESS WHAT? WE JUST MADE WHEN WE SPEAK HISTORY! THIS IS THE FIRST GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ARTIST TO JOIN ME ON THE SHOW!!! WE'VE HAD NOMINATED ARTISTS BUT NEVER AN ARTIST THAT HOLDS THE AWARD.....PRAY WITH ME THAT THERE ARE EVEN MORE TO COME!
MORE ABOUT JERMAINE SAIN
Jermaine Sain is the host/ creator of a talk show called When We Speak. After exiting the U.S. Army in 2003, as a Medical Sergeant, Jermaine began pursuing a career in music after he auditioned for American Idol in 2005, in Austin, Texas.
In 2008, Jermaine moved to Atlanta where he has had the opportunity to provide backing vocals for Kem (Grammy nominated R&B Singer) Heart (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and Barry Manilow, as well as for companies such as Pink Ribbon Story Foundation and Verizon Wireless. He made his first music video appearance in Kem's Glorify The King.
Jermaine's talk show, When We Speak, caters to entertainment with a close focus on indiemusic professionals.
The HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE is a family band consisting of
seven blood brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of
four and five by their father, jazz trumpeter/band leader Kelan Phil Cohran
(EARTH, WIND, & FIRE, CHAKA KHAN, SUN RA). The boys went on to form the
PHIL COHRAN YOUTH ENSEMBLE in 1990. The family toured the United States
performing the complex original written jazz compositions of Cohran and other
greats such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and even the music of classical
greats Bach & Beethoven. Although the group’s early musical training
encompassed primarily elements of instrumental performance, the brothers were
personally being exposed to the music of their own generation (hip-‐hop, rock,
reggae to name a few) and absorbed these components into the cosmic jazz style
of their father.
By 1999, the band of brothers discontinued playing with dad
in order to find their own sound, growing into the band now known as HYPNOTICBRASS ENSEMBLE or HBE.
In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin (for which they received an
American Author’s Award). Using street performance as way to broaden their audience
and hone their now distinctive sound, they found success at the grass roots
level, garnering over 50,000 in sales nationwide. It was around this time that
Island DEF JAM offered Hypnotic Brass a feature collaboration with renowned
producer NO ID (mentor to KANYE WEST & GHOSTFACE KILLAH) as well as an
accompanying artist /in‐house band recording contract. The band decided to stay
indie and moved to New York City and followed up their debut album with the
release of their second LP Jupiter.
The album caught the ear of BLUR lead DAMON ALBARN and led to distribution in
the UK by Albarn’s imprint Honest Jons. By now the musical style of HYPNOTICBRASS ENSEMBLE“had blossomed and come
into its own.” (Lily Koppel/New York Times)
The group’s sound was best put by Fader Magazine’s Edwin
Stats who called the band’s music: “a
huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Ra’s
Arkestra with the urgency of hip-‐hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a
Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opus.” News of the ensemble’s sound spread
throughout the industry, and after Emcee/actor Mos Def caught a live HBE show,
the brothers were asked to join him onstage as part of the MOS DEF BIG BAND
(including Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Casey Benjamin). The group graced many
stages around the globe including JAZZSTAGE at LINCOLN CENTER and SHEAPHERDSBUSH in London.
At the same time HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE inked an outfitting
deal with Dutch denim giant GSTAR RAW, and began their foray into international
touring with a European tour that featured headlining performances at NORTH SEAJAZZ fest, BREAD & BUTTER BARCELONA, and the GOOD THE BAD THE QUEEN
Victoria Park.
By 2008 HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE had performed their original
tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110,000 (GLASTONBURY.
ROSKILDE) and premiered music at venues around the world including London’s
RONNIE SCOTTS, Australia’s SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE and New York City’s CARNEGIE
HALL. In 2009; following a tour in Lagos, Africa with Damon Albarn & Africa
Express; HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE recorded a full LP in London and released it
under UK Honest Jon’s label. One of the songs on the album, “War,” became a
featured song in the international blockbuster movie HUNGER GAMES. HBE signed
on with The Agency Group for international touring and set out to blow away
audiences at WOMAD AU: BIG CHILL: NOVARRA JAZZ: BERMUDA JAZZ FEST: PERCPAN in
Brazil: POHODA in Czech Republic: COACHELLA: & many others.
The brothers were living in London when they recorded the
Gorillaz record with Damon Albarn Welcome
to Plastic Beach and joined the “Plastic Beach 2010 World Tour” upon its
release performing alongside BOBBY WOMACK: MICK JONES from the CLASH: DE LA
SOUL: & SNOOP DOGG. HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE gave their signature dose of
hard brass to every audience on the four-month international tour and earned a
spot backing up PRINCE at the NEW POWER GENERATION FEST in Denmark the next
year, coming personally requested by THE ARTIST himself. Since then HYPNOTIC
BRASS ENSEMBLE has grown into an even newer sound with their latest efforts BulletProof Brass and Fly released by their very own imprint
PHEELCO ENTERTAINMENT.
In 2015 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble signed with KOSSON TALENT to
expand their US Touring. They are now gearing up to release a new installment
entitled Bad Boys Of Jazz.
The New York Times has described her as
"A bright young singer and guitarist with an ear for music of both
folkloric and pop intention, Camila Meza has connected with a strong peer
group since moving to New York from her native Santiago, Chile, in
2009".
During her five years in the United States, Camila Meza has created a big
impact in the New York jazz scene. She possesses an innate and rare
combination of qualities as a singer and guitar player, who also writes her own
songs and arrangements. She has a highly expressive voice with a unique
timber and way of phrasing, while her improvisations and accompaniment on the
guitar are equally touching and soulful. Camila's music takes us on a joyfully
energetic and deep journey full of beauty and adventure. Her Latin American
roots and profound connection to jazz combined with the fusions of contemporary
and popular music give the music she creates a very special and appealing
sound.
Camila Meza belongs to a new generation
of jazz musicians that are interested in creating new sounds and allowing
diverse influences into their music. With love for this exploration, Camila
felt right at home in the diverse and creative jazz scene of New York City.
She graduated from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in 2012
where she had the chance to study with masters such as Peter Bernstein, Vic
Juris, Sam Yahel, Steve Cardenas and Gil Goldstein amongst others. But even
before working with these masters, she began playing with her peers and other musicians
of New York, quickly becoming part of the New York community.
"Living in New York has shaped the
way I approach my music, and has nurtured me as a person. I've discovered
things I would never have if I hadn't been here. It has been a journey both outwards
and inwards."
With an already flourishing career in
Chile from the age of 19, by the time she moved to New York at 23, she had
already recorded two albums under her name, which received great accolade from
jazz media in Chile. Camila quickly started gaining attention in the Jazz scene
and started performing on a regular basis at the best jazz clubs and venues in
New York such as Jazz Standard, Village Vanguard, Blue Note, Smalls Jazz Club,
The Jazz Gallery and Rockwood Music Hall.
An artist with an international
reputation, she has already played in festivals and venues all over Europe
including Swidnica Jazz Festival in Poland, Hildener Jazz Festival in Germany,
Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland and recently had her debut at the reknown
jazz club in France, Duc de Lombards. She has toured as part of singer Sachal
Vasandani's Quartet and pianist Fabian Almazan’s project with Strings with whom
she recorded a Blue Note/Artist Share album in 2013. Camila appeared as a guest
in Paquito D'Rivera's band at the Patagonia Jazz Festival in Chile and also as
a special guest of Aaron Goldberg Trio at The Jazz Standard in New York. Her
collaboration with Aaron Goldberg led to her first recording in New York, a six
track (EP) of her arrangements of standards, Latin American and Brazilian
songs.
Her breakthrough album "Traces" has her showcasing her talents as a
composer and excelled singer and guitar player on her debut album for the New
York based label Sunnyside Records.
Although none of her parents are professional musicians, her father, an
accomplished journalist, studied music as a teenager but stopped playing half
way through his career. In spite of this, Camila and most of her siblings
followed the path of the musician. Camila recalls listening to mostly classicalmusic and The Beatles at home. Her brother, a drummer and painter, used to
listen to jazz fusion artists, who became very popular in the 90's in Chile
such as Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, John Scofield and John McLaughlin. Although
Camila didn’t know who these musicians were at the time, she kept hearing her
siblings talk about them and became curious. Saying that, Camila’s initial
influences were based in 70’s Rock, including Jimi Hendrix and Led Zepellin.
Always "the musician" of the class in high school, she started
playing her own compositions with a rock band. As she grew as a musician, she
soon started experimenting with more complex harmonies. Her first Jazz icon
became Pat Metheny, who’s sound inspired her to buy a hollow body guitar.
Later, George Benson’s singing solos solidified her intention to learn and playjazz.
All this passion for learning and
discovering music in depth, brought her to attend one of the few popular and
jazz music schools in Santiago, Projazz Institute. It was during her first year
at the music school in Santiago, that her ear-training teacher, pianist MonchoRomero, who also mentored chilean jazz singer Claudia Acuña, noticed Camila's
natural talent to hear a melody and improvise from it. He invited her to
perform at a weekly gig where she developed her skills as a jazz singer playing
with a jazz trio. In a matter of a year she had already assimilated the
essential elements of jazz singing, by listening to singers such as EllaFitzgerald, Carmen McRae and Chet Baker. A friend in school gave her "The
incredible jazz guitar of Wes Montgomery" as a gift and it was at that
moment when she realized that contemporary artists she loved like Pat Metheny
and George Benson had been influenced by him.
Soon she started dreaming of accompanying
herself on the guitar while singing so she formed her own band where she could
develop her skills. It became a pivotal moment in her career. At the age of 22,
Camila recorded a set of her favorite standards on "Skylark" (2007),
with great critic's acclaim.
She appeared on TV and toured Chile. After this
success she formed a Quintet to perform her own versions of songs and
experiment on reshaping, rebuilding and re-interpreting songs into her own
voice. With this band, she released "Retrato" (2009) where she
covered some of her earlier influences: Bjork, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin and
also some Latin American influential composers such as Chilean
singer-songwriter Victor Jara and Brazilian musician Ivan Lins. In 2013 she
released a 6-track album called "Prisma" which, like
"Retrato", also features her very unique vision as an arranger. She
had the chance to record with a stellar band featuring pianist and co-producer
Aaron Goldberg, chilean bass player Pablo Menares, drummer Clarence Penn and
saxophonistJohn Ellis.
With
a wide palette of influences Camila keeps discovering new sounds and
inspirations. The last two years have been creatively very important for
Camila, in which she has begun writing her own songs, where she is able to
portray her experiences and unique voice. She has also recently started a new
collaborative project with Israeli bass player and arranger Noam Wiesenberg;
" The Nectar Orchestra". It features Camila's compositions with a
string quartet and an earthy acoustic sound.
Music for Camila is essential. She says "I hope to be able to connect on a
deep level with the people that listen to me - outside of preconceptions of
genre, style and language. I see music as one of the most universal expressions
of human beings, that when is present, we're all equal and it can free us,
that's why I think is so important to the world."
Jermaine Sainis the host/ creator of a talk show called When We Speak. After exiting the U.S. Army in 2003, as a Medical Sergeant, Jermaine began pursuing a career in music after he auditioned for American Idol in 2005, in Austin, Texas.
