Here it is, folks. Just in time for our CD release, the music video for Binghamton's first single is here. After a sweaty day running about from subway cars in Brooklyn to Rockaway dunes, we bring you this.
William Gruff - At The Bottom of the Ocean
William Gruff new single is a "gorgeously sweeping romantic anthem"
Feast your ears! William Gruff has just released the first single from our new album, Binghamton. People are already talking about it, as Popa's Tunes said it all in the above quote, and Good Music Inc. went so far as to offer an exclusive preview of our album on their site. They caught on to some of our influences whilst digging it:
“...focusing in on the juxtaposition of organic sounds, against heavy allusions to space, [they] create a feeling reminiscent of Ziggy Stardust or Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.”
What do you think? William Gruff's new album Binghamton featuring "At The Bottom of the Ocean" is available on iTunes, Amazon, and streaming free right here.
Red Bull Sound Select
Johnny Showcase, hopped up on Red Bull, leaps.
So, apparently there's this neat music-appreciation dealie that the hyperactivity beverage giant Red Bull put together. It only makes sense, as they sponser pretty much everything else that is cool and done by skilled professionals at their flavor of cool (lookin at you, Felix). Johnny Showcase was recently added to their list of supported artists, and to toast the occasion we performed at their September event at Sigma Sound (!) in Philladelphia.
Mister Nimbus: 100 Albums That Make Me Love Music →
Our good pal Saint Mort (also known as Matt Kelly) always had nice things to say about The March Hare, and this post is no different. In his list of "100 Albums That Make Me Love Music", he listed our debut Mister Nimbus at number 22. He avidly booked us back in the day, and had this to say:
"In all my years of my booking I never met a band with more talent and stage presence... Their one album is the one of the greatest albums I’ve ever heard."
As always, you can listen to the album in its entirety on this site.
Alan Ens - In $105,019.86 $tudent Debt
A new EP from Al. There's no shortage of great musicians on this offering, featuring the likes of Mike Cemprola and Ricardo Lagomasino, and Alan engineered it all in his living room. I recorded drums and percussion during one session for the album's lead off track, "Dark Clouds". We got some serious tones - dig those vintage '72 Slingerland toms!
Dark Clouds by Alan Ens
from the album In $105,019.86 $tudent Debt
Alan Ens - Instruments, Singing, Computers, Design
Charlie Heim - Drums, Percussion
Mike Cemprola - Flutes, Clarinets
Armed with New Video, Pterofractyl headed to the studio!
After two records of (impeccable!) programmed drum samples, it's time to get some live skins on some Pterofractyl tunes.
We'll be headed to the Empire state in June to lay down live instruments on two arrangements previously heard only in concert. Stay tuned for updates!
In the meantime, check out the new music video from Pterofractyl below!
Johnny Showcase on NPR! →
So we got featured by Newsworks.org the other day. Here's the video, and you can read the post here.
"With catchy lyrics spiced with sexual innuendo and familiar rhythm and blues, the cabaret does indeed make audiences laugh just as much as it inspires them to dance and hum along."
Keena - Keena
Self-titled release from country singer Keena Eicher, finalist in the Great American Song Contest.
This recording session was a fun experience for me, as I had never had the opportunity to try my hand at modern country music. Upon invitation from the great State College bassist Dave Skipper, I joined Keena, keyboardist Todd Litzinger, and guitarist/songwriter Larry Boggess at Marc Frigo's Studio in Boalsburg.
I've heard good country these days is basically "rock with a twang." While Boggess's Telecaster certainly isn't messing around, there is a particular energy to these jams that coasts a bit more than it thumps. In so many words.
Have a listen, and be sure to check out Keena and Larry when they perform in Central PA.
Bill Stewart's Drum Solo on "Wee"
Here's a transcription of drummer Bill Stewart trading 8s on the tune "Wee", as heard on John Scofield's record EnRoute. Listen to the track below (it'll start at 5:53) for the transcribed portion. This track is killer, so it's worth listening to the whole tune!
Recorded at The Blue Note, New York, New York in December 2003.
"Wee" written by Denzil Best. John Scofield, guitar; Steve Swallow, bass; Bill Stewart, drums.
Download a PDF
More transcriptions, lessons, and info at the Education page
Johnny Showcase "kicked out all the jams" says Philly.com →
In celebration of Beck's new sheet music-only Song Reader release, we participated in a very special concert event at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Some of Philly's best bands were handpicked for the show, and each was assigned one of the songs from the "album".
As a consummate fan of sheet music, this was a particularly cool endeavor. Our swanky New Orleans funk rendition of "Now That Your Dollar Bills Have Sprouted Wings" brought the house down, and Philly.com was there to tell the tale. Click the title above to read all about it, and scope out the charts for yourself!
UPDATE: Additional coverage on the show from The Examiner and The Swollen Fox
WXPN's 12 Days of Local Christmas →
UPDATE: This article was cited by WXPN as one of the top 10 most popular posts of all time. How 'bout that!
The new single release from Alex Radus, "Hustle and Bustle" , was aired today on WXPN - one of Philadelphia's top radio stations for local and international music of import. It was featured on the program The Key , during which his Helen Leicht added the song to her "My Morning Download" playlist.
Check the tune out below, or read Bruce Warren's article from December 2012 over at XPN's The Key.
Chords for Cures Vol. 1 (2004 to 2009 years)
Chords for Cures is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that books concerts, with all proceeds benefiting children's charities in and around the Philadelphia area.
Charles Ramsey - Love Don't Have To Feel So Foreign
I recently teamed up with fellow State College/Penn State transplant Charles Ramsey for his latest album, Love Don't Have To Feel So Foreign. Charles is a talented singer/songwriter currently living in New York City, where he's been sharing the stage with the likes of William Gruff. The record caught the attention of The Big Takeover's Mark Suppanz, who put it at #7 in his top ten during the summer of 2012:
It’s a follow-up to his mellifluous 2009 debut LP Good Morning & Good Night, and it again shows off his keen melodic sense and lovingly-crafted pop. Each full-bodied composition evokes a different feel; see the country-flecked “Architects in Love,” the Beatles-esque “Carmen,” or the melancholy “On Your Own Time,” to name the first three. It’s very nice!
I contributed drums to two of his tunes, the aforementioned "On Your Own Time" as well as "My Guardian Angel".
Listen | Buy on iTunes
Brittany Opperman - Brittany Opperman
I recorded drums for Brittany's debut release back in 2012.
Debut recording from the talented Country singer/songwriter. In early 2012, a producer from Philly's Studio A asked me to track drums to some acoustic guitar demos from Harrisburg. Some time later, Brittany's record was released - and it sounds great!
Mia Johnson and the Jawnsons [COMING SOON]
In this video I tell you about the recording set-up for the first session to record four of my new original songs (more about the songs in the next Vlog) at Buckeye Studios with my band, The Jawnsons on 10-28-12!
Johnny Showcase wins Philly's Featured Artist Poll →
Voted the best of the best. Click the title to read more!
Johnny Showcase - Sensual, Parts 1&2
Dig the new video from Johnny Showcase! Directed by Rachel Gordon, and filmed in Philadelphia. It's already been enjoyed by some of Philly's top reviewers:
“Sensual, Parts 1 & 2″ is tacky and more than a little ridiculous…but one also gets the sense that these folks in the technicolor suit jackets and swarthy shades are 100% serious. I mean, the song is a stone groove with a catchy refrain... to play the funk this believably, you’ve got to mean it...
-WXPN's The Key
"Bravo to all who were involved! You just made the world a little more enjoyable."
-The Deli Philadelphia
"I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that this group is using their talents to make things as ridiculous as this."
-What's Protocol?
Check out the articles from The Key, The Deli, and What's Protocol?, and enjoy the video. Stay smarmy!
Visit www.johnnyshowcase.com for more info
![Help fund the new Johnny Showcase record! [Updated]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5159a2fde4b01288f25138bb/1444672505770-E3YWBTV7PCKV9B1Y4I25/image-asset.jpeg)
Just off Second Ave
In 2012, I arranged music for an original musical theater piece written by Henry Holtzman.
14 traditional songs and 1 original composition make up the material, which was scored for piano, drums, bass and clarinet.
UArts Big Band record is "delightful" →
All About Jazz recently reviewed a pair of releases from The University of the Arts, including records from both the Transfusion ensemble and the "Z" Big Band. I was a member of the latter, and was honored to be a part of this recording session. Our set featured a solid set of tunes from Count Basie, Quincy Jones, and many others.
"This truly large group (five trumpets and five trombones!) maintains the characteristic excitement of Basie's music but also brings to it a modern, Gerald Wilson-like sensibility..."
Read on for more, or take a listen to the record here!
Kickstarter success for William Gruff!
We've set up a Kickstarter campaign to get our debut record in your hands, and on the road! Check out the video, and consider helping us make more great music.
UPDATE: We've done it! Thanks to your generous donations, we've exceeded our goal of raising $5,000. You people are beautiful!