Texas Music Journal » Alternative

Spoonfed Tribe Delivers Public Service Announcement

Sam Moore — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:54:38 +0000

By Tamara Loggins

Spoonfed Tribe is one of those interesting bands that are hard to classify. With a mixture of blues oriented music, mingled with rock riffs, occasional flamenco and R&B undertones, this band is nothing short of eclectic.

You’d think that these styles are too varied to come together to create anything pleasant to listen to, but you can trust that this band knows how to use their array of styles to create music that you can definitely shake your bum to.

The band’s newest release, “Public Service Announcement,” did not disappoint. It’s full of great beats and intriguing vocals. I just can’t get enough. To make this CD even more likeable, the lead singer’s voice can be likened to Serj Tankian of System of a Down.

So if you’re interested in spanning your auditory horizons with some ear candy, pick this CD up and give it a listen. It won’t disappoint.

To get more information about the band and their CD, visit: http://www.spoonfedtribe.com/.

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Jesus Team A, Jesus te ama!

Rick Matos — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:34:48 +0000

One of several musical highlights of the recent University of Dallas Ministry Conference held October 23-24, 2009 was Jesus Team A (JTA), a band with soul and talent to spare.

The name “Jesus Team A” is a play on words: “Jesús te ama” means “Jesus loves you”. But to tell you the truth, I think the feeling is mutual. Just like its names, JTA’s music displays a kaleidoscope of influences ranging from Rock, Soul, R&B, Latino, Jazz, and more. I’d be pulling your chain if I told you that I could actually pick them all out, but I’d be downright lying if I told you I didn’t enjoy their show.

JTA’s music dares to be different while at the same time universal. Its rainbow of melodic variations, chord progressions and syncopation is complemented by relevant original lyrics that tell you something, something you’ve always known, something you’d long forgotten, something you’ve yet to learn.

JTA is headed up by Vince Lujan of the Vince Lujan Project (VLP), and various of the members of JTA are also members of the VLP. While both bands have a crossover of influences and musical styles, each retains its own identity. Vince’s songwriting and guitar playing skills match his vocal presentation and make for a memorable performance.

JTA has released a CD album entitled, “In the Hands of My Father”, and the VLP has released a CD album entitled, “Echo Lab Revisited”. Needless to say, I purchased both of them and will be reviewing them in the future.

To find out more about JTA, check out their websites at:
www.jesusteamaband.com
www.myspace.com/jesusteamaband
www.facebook.com/pages/Jesus-Team-A…/101011205129

To find out more about the VLP, check out their websites at:
www.thevincelujanproject.com
www.myspace.com/vincelujanproject
www.facebook.com/pages/Vince-Lujan-Project/20937800018
www.garageband.com/artist/vincelujanproject
www.winamp.com/artist/the-vince-lujan-project

Jhankaar to Appear at the Old Pecan Street Festival

John South — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:23:18 +0000

As we stated when we started the Texas Music Journal, Texas music is nexus of many cultures and their music forming a unique fabric of song and style. In fact, we are proud of the fact that Texas music displays the influence of all of the cultures that have been a part of our history.

Over the past few years, Texas has also been the the cultural melting pot of new cultures from Asia and the Indian sub-continent as we became the Silicon Valley of the Southwest. So it is not surprising that the Old Pecan Street Festival in Austin will be highlighting significant musical talent that derives from the cultures that are now part of the family of Texans. The Old Pecan Street Festival has featured local musicians and artists for 30 years. Sixth Street (the current name for what was once called Pecan Street) is undoubtedly the heart of a city renowned for its live music.

One of those groups performing at Noon, September 27th, 2009, on the Performing Arts stage will be Jhankaar. What is Jhankaar?

“This world is but a canvas to our imaginations.” And we paint our imagination on this canvas with colours of music. Music is our passion, our way of life…Jhankaar is the expression of this magic; it is for us – a splash of colour, a voyage into harmony and a time of inexplicable joy. The group is comprised of vocalists, tabla artists, keyboardists and guitarists. We bring together music rendered in traditional Indian ragas and beats peppered with instrumental and vocal ensembles influenced by world music.”

In talking with Rajarshi Raj, you can hear the passion that the group feels for their music. For for information about the group and for a sample of their music, go to their website at http://kheyali.com/jhankaar-austin.com.

Stop by at 6th and Red River and give the group some Texas-size support. For further information about Jhankaar or to book the group, you can contact Rajarshi Ray, their lead musician and public relations officer at ray.rajarshi@gmail.com.

For more information about the Old Pecan Street Festival, check out their website at oldpecanstreetfestival.com.

“Deep” in the Heart of Texas

Rick Matos — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:45:51 +0000

This past weekend, we returned to Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse (www.unclecalvins.org) in Dallas expecting to listen to some talented performers do their stuff. And with depth beyond his years, Chris Rosser, a singer-songwriter from North Carolina, took us on an international tour of musical splendor.

One could try to classify Chris’ repertoire to folk music, but that would be placing a jewelry store in a gift box. His music cuts across boundaries paving new roads across the musical landscape and creating cross-culture genres like “Indo-billy”, “Turko-billy” and “world music fusion” by blending jazz, swing, gospel, folk, Indonesian, coffeehouse acoustic, and Turkish styles.

A gifted lyricist, vocalist and instrumentalist, his vocals are reminiscent of James Taylor and his piano tends toward Keith Jarrett and George Winston. Songs carry us through the hills and valleys of life. Melodies caress us with the warmth of an early summer breeze and glide us gently down as leaves upon flower covered fields. Lyrics paint the view from the windows of the soul. His vocal range is a playing field for the arsenal of musical instruments he commands (dotar, guitar, Turkish “banjo”, piano, just to name a few).

Growing up in North Carolina and hearing all of the family tales, he felt as if he had actually lived in Atlanta, TX. In “Deeper Than My Name”, Chris recounts some of the stories about his grandmother while she was still with the family in Atlanta. In “Atlanta”, Chris shares with us his journey to her funeral and his return to the tap root of his family tree. Her interment unearthed family history recounted in the song.

In his concert and in the CD entitled “The Holy Fool”, Chris’ messages transcend religious barriers, helping us realize the unity and commonality we share. We laughed, got choked up and met a man who admits, “I don’t have all the answers”. Even so, he has a perspective that many need to hear.

Chris dedicates himself to family and music as owner and operator of Hollow Reed Arts (www.chrisrosser.com), a recording studio in Asheville, NC named after the “hollow reed” prayer of the Baha’i faith. He travels in the U.S. and abroad doing what he can to establish a spiritual connection with audiences through his music. He is a graduate of the University of Miami and has a double major- sound engineering and piano.

Best of luck, Chris!