Texas Music Journal » Pop

Hall and Oates Coming to North Texas Music Venue

Sam Moore — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:29:17 +0000

The number one selling duo in music history, Daryl Hall & John Oates return to North Texas for the first time since 2005 to play Allen Event Center, September 10.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, April 28, at 10 a.m. through ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or at Allen Event Center Box Office: 200 E. Stacy Road #1350 Allen, TX 75002.

Starting out as devoted disciples of earlier soul greats, Daryl Hall & John Oates are soul survivors in their own right. Undeniably influential in the realm of pop music for their unique fusion of Philly soul and rock ’n’ roll, Daryl Hall and John Oates are revered for their individual songwriting talents, but as a duo, their ageless chemistry, soulful melodies and infectious pop hooks are absolutely legendary.

They have become such musical influences on some of today’s popular artists that a Spin Magazine headline read: “Why Hall and Oates are the New Velvet Underground.” Much like Lou Reed and company, Daryl Hall and John Oates have inspired a wide range of artists including Rob Thomas, John Mayer, Brandon Flowers of the Killers, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and Cee Lo Green. One of the most sampled artists today, their impact can be heard everywhere from boy band harmonies to neo-soul to rap-rock fusion.

Signed to Atlantic by Ahmet Ertegan in the 1970’s, Daryl Hall & John Oates’ 1973 debut album, Abandoned Luncheonette, produced by Arif Mardin, yielded the Top 10 single, “She’s Gone,” which also went to #1 on the R&B charts when it was covered by Taveras. The duo recorded one more album with Atlantic, War Babies, (produced by Todd Rundgren) before they were dropped and promptly signed to RCA. Their tenure at RCA would catapult the duo to international superstardom.

From the mid-’70s to the mid-’80s, the duo would score six #1 singles, including “Rich Girl” (also #1 R&B), “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (also #1 R&B), “Maneater” and “Out of Touch” from their six consecutive multi-platinum albums—’76’s Bigger Than Both of Us, ’80’s Voices, ’81’s Private Eyes, ‘82’s H2O, ‘83’s Rock N Soul, Part I and ‘84’s Big Bam Boom. The era would also produce an additional 5 Top 10 singles, “Sara Smile,” “One on One,” “You Make My Dreams,” “Say It Isn’t So” and “Method of Modern Love.”

Daryl also wrote the H&O single “Everytime You Go Away,” which singer Paul Young scored a number-one hit with a cover of the song in 1985.That same year, Daryl and John, participated in the historic “We Are the World” session as well as closing the Live Aid show in Philadelphia.

By 1987, the R.I.A.A. recognized Daryl Hall and John Oates as the Number One Selling Duo in music history, a record they still hold today. More recent accolades include being honored with the Icon Award during BMI’s 56th annual Pop Awards in 2008. The award has previously gone to the Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Ray Davies, Carlos Santana and Dolly Parton.

Daryl Hall’s latest project is an award-winning monthly web series (and nationally syndicated TV show), Live from Daryl’s House, Live from Daryl’s House. Past episodes of Live From Daryl’s House have featured a mix of well-known performers like T and the MGs, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rob Thomas, Train, Cee Lo Green, Smokey Robinson, The Doors’ Robby Krieger, and Ray Manzarek, Toots Hibbert, Nick Lowe, K.T. Tunstall, Todd Rundgren, Keb Mo, Dave Stewart, Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzenik and Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump along with newcomers such as Nikki Jean, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Eric Hutchinson, Chromeo, Matt Nathanson, Parachute, Plain White T’s, Allen Stone, soul diva Sharon Jones, Diane Birch, Fitz & the Tantrums, Neon Trees and Guster.
In the fall of 2008, John Oates released his critically acclaimed solo album, 1000 Miles of Life. John dedicated the album to three inspired individuals who had recently passed away, but were major influences in his career—producer Arif Mardin (who produced Hall & Oates’ first two albums on Atlantic Records), Jerry Lynn Williams (a writer who contributed songs to Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and B.B. King, among others) and his original guitar mentor Jerry Ricks, who introduced him to the roots blues/folk scene in Philadelphia in the late ‘60s.

In April of 2011, John Oates released his solo album, Mississippi Mile on Elektra Records. People Magazine gave the album 3 out of 4 stars. Five months later, Daryl released another solo album, Laughing Down Crying, on Verve Records. The albums have received critical acclaim from such outlets as the Huffington Post, Spinner and Pop Matters, who said of Laughing Down Crying: “With the songs that make up this fine collection of American soul and pop music, Hall proves that with the pen and at the mic, his voice is more than capable of reaching the depths and heights of emotional truth.”

Most recently, Daryl Hall & John Oates released their first box set, Do What You Want, Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates. The box set marks the first comprehensive multi-CD, multi-label deluxe box set compilation ever assembled from their entire career’s work, four CDs containing 74 tracks (16 of them previously unreleased).

For more information about Daryl Hall and John Oates’ upcoming performance at Allen Event Center on September 10, visit alleneventcenter.com. Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 28, at 10 a.m. through ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or at Allen Event Center Box Office: 200 E. Stacy Road #1350 Allen, TX 75002.

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Texas Minister Mourns Loss of Whitney Houston

Sam Moore — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:45:36 +0000

The death today of Whitney Houston in Beverly Hills is bringing reaction from around the world. Included is that from a well-known name in Texas.

The Rev. TD Jakes, of Dallas, is the producer of “Sparkle,” the unreleased film that critics believed might help relaunch Houston’s acting career. She had a leading part in the remake of the ‘70s classic, alongside Jordin Sparks.

Rev. Jakes released the following statement this evening:

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely passing of Whitney Houston, whom we were blessed to have just completed work with on the remake of the film “Sparkle.” We ask the world to join us in lifting up Whitney’s family in prayer and ask God for their strength and comfort during this devastatingly difficult time. At the apex of her career, Whitney had no peer, with a voice that shaped a generation. She has left behind a musical and film legacy that will endure…. she will be sorely missed by us all.”

“Sparkle” is set for an August release.

Threadgill Celebrates the British Invasion

Sam Moore — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:24:54 +0000

Relive the British Invasion as Dallas-based Hard Night’s Day comes to the Greenville Municipal Auditorium. This concert benefits United Way of Hunt County and the charities it supports.

Tickets are available in advance at the Auditorium, at the United Way office on Lee Street downtown, and online at ticketfly.com

Advance prices: $8 balcony, $12 general admission, and $20 reserve
Door prices: $10 balcony, $15 general admission, and $25 reserve

Hosted by Chuck Brinkman and Jaan McCoy of Big GVL 1400 AM Rock and Roll Oldies

Tribute songs for your girl or guy are available. The emcee will announce the tribute from the stage as the band plays these songs:

I want to hold your hand
Can’t buy me love
Please Me
My Song and I love you –SOLD
She Loves You
I saw her standing there
Daytripper
Michelle
Money
You have to hide your love away
Hard Days Night

Tribute songs are $50 and all proceeds go to the United Way and their charities. Call Bob Mason at the United Way to purchase a tribute song or tickets. 903-455-7414

Make it a date night: Enjoy specials at these two Lee Street establishments before or after the concert by presenting your concert ticket:

Blue Armadillo Winery: Complimentary glass of wine
City Bistro/Landon Winery: Complimentary parmesan chips appetizer

Austin Indie Artist Ready to Release New CD

Sam Moore — Wed, 04 May 2011 04:03:42 +0000

Suzanna Choffel, whose dusky vocals are as intriguing as her indie-soul-pop originals and sultry stage presence, releases on Tuesday, May 24, her latest album, STEADY EYE SHAKY BOW, a collection of upbeat melodies and ballads that Choffel describes as “blues-colored dark grit” drawing from musical influences that include Stax-style jazz and Motown R&B.

Choffel and her band — Kyle Thompson on drums, Johnny Vogelsang on bass, Laura Scarborough on vibraphone and synthesizer, and Chris Gebhard on keys and guitar —will make numerous special appearances around the new release. The band recently performed at SXSW Music Festival, including a show at Auditorium Shores with Blue October.

Around the release of STEADY EYE SHAKY BOW Choffel will tour in Texas in May and June, including an Album Release Show in Austin. The album has already yielded “Raincloud,” with its smart, witty lyrics and soulful syncopated sound that is more than pop, the song infused with the flavor of New Orleans with the backing by Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and a video viewed on YouTube more than half a million times (see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRbzthI440Q).

Another song on the new album is “Archer,” from whence the album’s title comes, a song that exemplifies Choffel’s unique lyrical expression of the emotions inherent in relationships.

Multiple award-winner Choffel was named Indie Artist of the Year at the 2009 Austin Music Awards and won top honors in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Suzanna Choffel upcoming shows include:
May 13, Saxon Pub, Austin
May 19, The Shady Grove, Austin
May 20, Luna, San Antonio
May 24, Waterloo Records In-Store, Austin
May 28, One World Theatre, Austin (Album Release Show)
June 11, McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, Houston
June 16, Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock

Little Girl – Big Words

John South — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 02:37:41 +0000

Early Morning Hours

When I opened the package from Emmeline’s team containing her debut EP, “Early Morning Hours”, out popped a neat little piece of marketing swag proclaiming, “Emmeline – little girl – big words”. Not to criticize the marketing, but it missed the mark. It should actually have read, “Little Girl – Big Talent”! As I cranked up the first cut of Emmeline’s debut EP, “The Story”, I was certain that listening to this disc was going to be a pleasant experience. From the first cut to the last, Emmeline took me on a journey, offering me a peek into her love, her pain, and the musical soul that drives this level of music.

The opening piano riff of “The Story” (played by Emmeline) catches you right away. When the cymbal work of Guy Cramer and the vibes of Kevin Hood join in, you’re hooked. The soft jazz working with her powerful lyrics reminds me of some of my favorite Diana Krall tunes. Add in a strong dose of Tom Waits’ work on “Blue Valentine”, and you have a feel for the cut.

Emmeline’s voicing is superb. Her sultry singing draws you into Miranda’s story of love lost with her husband in the grave. We also meet Sebastian, who is fighting his own demons. They are two lost souls, each wondering if they’re “gonna get it back again”. Emmeline paints an exquisite musical picture of the pain and suffering of these two.

“Give a Damn” takes us in another direction, much lighter than the opening offering. However, the message is still strong and clear. The singer’s pain has come from the realization that the love of her life is not focused on her; in fact he “…doesn’t give a damn about [her].” Emmeline shows us the versatility of her singing and her lyrics. The rhythmic progression of the song emphasizes her awakening.

“Where the Light Is” is an awakening story, one where the singer realizes that she and her friend are no longer traveling on the same road. She sees “where the light is”, but her friend is unable to see it. Again, Emmeline provides us powerful lyrics. She changes pace through the song to emphasize the pain she is feeling. The outro brings the song to a sad, but inevitable conclusion.

“Not that Girl” opens with a piano and percussion riff that tells us that we’re going back to a Tom Waits- like-song. However, throw in a touch of Marilyn Monroe at the end of each refrain , and you have the mixture of power, syncopation, and desire that this song exudes. Nevertheless, there is conflict – the tug of lust from across the room versus the singer’s values that prevent her from doing anything, as she’s “…not that girl.” The track is supported by strong trumpet work from Brittany Hendricks.

“Exit” reflects a singer-songwriter offering that one could hear in many of the cafés around Texas. With Josh Cooley at the guitar, Emmeline keeps up a quick beat, but the story reflects another case of love that’s reached the end of the line. It’s like she has made up her mind to “Exit” the relationship and has to run before she changes her mind.

“I Could Be Good” reminds me a lot of the work of another fantastic Texas singer-songwriter, Terri Hendrix, another great storyteller. The song epitomizes the singer’s being “a little left of center”, but “living out loud”. It’s a fun song where the pacing and verse constructs add to the overall interest of the piece.

The last track, “A Hundred Years”, opens with a great line that seems to me to reflect directly on Emmeline: “I like to think that I walk with purpose”. Nicely, the song ends the EP with hope for the future, rather than the love lost and desperation of the earlier tracks.

Emmeline’s debut work points to a promising future. She is able to take us down into the depths of despair with people whose futures are uncertain, their present unbearable. Through musical portraits of love lost, love that’s reached its end, and love about to blossom, we see the breadth of emotion that Emmeline has brought into her songs. She has a great voice, strong lyrics and talented delivery that provide a wonderful experience for her audience.

Emmeline’s tour schedule can be found at www.emmelinemusic.com. In addition, you can hear her music in a number of sites on line:

www.myspace.com/emmelinemilesmusic
www.facebook.com/emmelinemusic
www.reverbnation.com/emmeline
www.youtube.com/emmeline
www.twitter.com/emmemusic

Thanks to Johnny Preston

Sam Moore — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:47:36 +0000

Johnny Preston

By Sam Moore

It’s funny how music can touch a person. A song you hear early in your life can disappear. But when you hear it again as adult, you seem to be magically taken back to your childhood. It’s a different time, a different world.

The year after I was born (and I know this dates me dramatically), a song was produced, telling the story of the ill-fated love of an Indian brave and his Indian maid. From some of my earliest memories, I can still hear how Running Bear loved Little White Dove.

Friday’s announcement that Johnny Preston had died in a Beaumont Hospital at age 71 brought those memories back. Preston – early in his career – took “Running Bear” all the way to number one in both the United States and England. It would be an understatement to say that the song – written by the Big Bopper – was a monster hit.

Preston had other hits, but this was his defining song. He was honored to perform at the 50th anniversary of “The Day the Music Died,” when the Big Bopper died in a plane crash, along with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.

Last year, Preston underwent heart bypass surgery. His son, Scott, said his father suffered lingering health problems this year.

Johnny Preston’s funeral was this morning. He joins others from his generation of Texas music legends. If there are others like me out there, Running Bear will still love Little White Dove for years and years.

BJ Thomas Has a Newsflash

Sam Moore — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:51:04 +0000

By Sam Moore
Pop superstar B.J. Thomas has long been known for breaking barriers in the music industry. Now he is making it easier for fans to find out about his latest breaking news.

The Arlington TX native now has a “Breaking News” site. Visitors can check out http://bjthomas.net/Newsflash.html.

Currently, the site offers a free download of his song “I Will” by signing up for his newsletter. It also contains an interview about his work on an upcoming CD project. And it also has information on a DVD of a tribute to Bill Anderson, that he participated in last year.

If you want to see a clip of Thomas performing in a tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, you can see the link on this site. You can also catch his November performance on the David Letterman Show. Other clips and stories are also available.

What has B.J. named this special site? Newsflash, of course!

New IM Live Video Technology Changes Concert Experience

smssteely — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:13:19 +0000

Immersive Media is first to release IM Live, a new interactive live video technology which allows the viewer to completely control their concert viewing experience by manipulating angles and perspectives over the computer. Content comes alive giving a sensation of actually being on stage. The viewer can click on the live streaming concert and with the use of a mouse, see 360 degrees around the stage as if turning your head. Viewer can zoom in or out to receive the broadest or most intimate possible perspective while traveling around the stage.

On September 19, 2009 at 4:00PM, MediaTech Digital Film Studios of Dallas will host popular singer/songwriter Hannah Madison Taylor for a live interactive concert experience through the use of the new IM Live technology. During Hannah’s concert, every website viewer can independently choose their viewpoint, and with a simple ‘click and drag’ of the computer mouse explore every possible angle – up, down, sideways or all around. The technology empowers the viewer with the most realistic online visual experience available, bringing you up close and personal with each band member. To see how the technology works before the concert go to www.immersivemedia.com.

Hannah’s original compositions are heavily influenced by a range of pop icons as Sheryl Crow, Whitney Houston, Bonnie Raitt and Sam Cooke. You can experience the concert like never before by watching the live Immersive broadcast at: http://www.mediatech.edu/dallascampus_studioa.html

During this live event Hannah will be performing these songs:

Lying and Cheating
Not Your Fool
Love Or Something Like It
So Killer Sexy

About MediaTech Institute:

MediaTech Institute offers a one year recording arts programs to establish careers as a music producer, recording engineer, sound engineer for television or film, or in music business management. It also offers a Digital Film and Video Arts program that is a comprehensive study designed to teach advanced aspects of producing commercials, music videos, documentaries, television shows and feature films. Hands on instruction is provided in every aspect of the production process including developing, writing, producing, directing and editing for single and multimedia camera productions. For more information go to www.mediatech.edu or call 866.498.1122.

J. D. Souther (with Kristy Kruger) at Threadgill’s in Austin

baspinwall — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:05:27 +0000

By Bill Aspinwall, Austin, Texas, June 7, 2009

Threadgill’s, once known as World Armadillo Headquarters, is a storied palace of Austin’s musical heritage. It features a small outdoor venue that’s like a large side yard with a shed for a stage – from which you can read the Hooters billboard across the street. Scores of musical legends have performed here and scores continue to come.

There’s home-style cooking at the restaurant (assuming home for you is somewhere south of I-20), poorboys, sweet potato fries and fajitas. The Mexican martinis are stellar.

On this Sunday night, in this tiny venue, the crowd built up to maybe 150 or so, every row tinged with gray hair and time-creased faces. Survivors from the sixties and seventies had come to pay tribute to a songwriter with a career that reaches back for forty years.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome John David Souther”.

That introduction was met with a standing ovation. Not just the elders, but also the younger people in the crowd, even one table of graduates from East Austin’s Kealing Middle School.

J. D. Souther, though born in Detroit, was raised in Amarillo. Maybe there’s something in the water on the high plains of Lubbock and Amarillo: Buddy Holly, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Eddie Reeves, Mac Davis, Susan Gibson, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, Waylon Jennings and Lloyd Maines – all were born or raised on those high plains in west Texas.

Very early in his career, Souther moved to Los Angeles and became part of a musical community of friends that included Jackson Browne as well as Glenn Frey and Linda Ronstadt, hugely successful country-flavored rockers who followed in the footsteps of Clarence White, Gram Parsons and various configurations of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Souther wrote, or co-wrote hits, big hits, for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. Later, after relocating to Nashville, his songs got picked up and by the likes of George Strait, the Dixie Chicks, Jimmy Buffett, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood and Warren Zevon, among others. There’s an excellent interview of Souther, originally published in 1998 in Goldmine, posted by the author, freelance writer Debbie Kruger at www.debbiekruger.com/writer/freelance/jdsouther.html. That site also includes the full transcript of the interview; great stuff.

Souther has been on tour since late 2008 to support his first release in 25 years, “IF THE WORLD WAS YOU”, released both as a CD and on vinyl in October 2008. More details about the project are available on his website.

He now cuts a gaunt figure, lean as rain in Reno, wearing a plain suit in preacher black, no tie. Three acoustic guitars, a baby grand and no back-up band. He opened the show on guitar with “Your Turn Now”, from his 1976 album, Black Rose. His whole set mixed songs from various times in his career, switching between guitar and piano.

His voice has a warm, breezy quality, sweet enough in the higher registers to have opened opportunities for Souther to sing duets, backing vocals and harmonies with many notable recording artists. His unique timbre could be heard particularly in two songs near the end of his set, “Maybe It’ll Rain” and “Faithless Love”.

Performed solo, his songs rise above any genre classifications, while incorporating elements of country, western, swing, rock and Latin styles. His influence on other songwriters like Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey and Don Henley is evident.

It was comfort of a kind to hear his performance of “New Kid in Town”, stripped of all the Eagles’ gloss – though he unfailing gave due respect to his friends in that band, saying, “The boys always made great records of my songs.” Comforting, too, was his rendition of “Simple Man, Simple Dream” also from Black Rose. Both songs reveal his extraordinary writing capabilities.

His piano playing is particularly fine; spare, gospel flavored and understated. And while his guitar playing might not merit an endorsement deal, it’s made from a sturdy cloth that suits his songs. In one song during the evening, (“Baby Come Home”), Souther tuned a string a half-step down in mid song, shifting an open major tuning to a minor for the song’s bridge, then tuned it back up for the rest of the song. Nice touch for a songwriter.

He was occasionally pestered by the traffic sounds, motorcycles roaring past on Barton Springs Road, but Souther held the audience tight throughout his set. In an age where every other youtube guitarist offers hopped up but hackneyed versions of all the modern guitar classics, its quite beside the point to bust Jake Souther’s guitar chops. No one else on the planet can captivate a crowd with a timeless song like “Faithless Love”, with that celestial tenor and a full moon rising in the east on an early June evening in Austin – that’s some kind of magic.

The show was opened by Kristy Kruger (www.kristykruger.com). She’s ostensibly from Dallas, although she’s recently spent so much time on the road that, quoting her own lyrics, “My Home is Everywhere”. She played a short set of seven songs, mining an area along the swing blues and country swing divide, maybe somewhere between Billie Holliday and Leon Redbone. She writes tight, bittersweet songs on guitar, banjo and piano and delivers them with the heavy-lidded, sly smile of an inside joke. She’s a fine performer, a good musician and a pleasant surprise – she also opened the recent show in Dallas for J. D. Souther.

The Heart of Melody – An Interview with Lena Shammas

baspinwall — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:45:14 +0000

This is the first of what we hope will be many articles written by Bill Aspinwall whose album, Free Range Trout, was reviewed by the Texas Music Journal (http://texasmusicjournal.com/texas-music-business/album-reviews/album-review-bill-aspinwall-range-trout).

This article originally appeared in “Liner Notes”, the official webzine of the Houston Songwriter’s Association and is re-published with their permission.

_________________________________________________________________________________

“The wealth of sense-knowledge belongs to perception, not to immediate certainty, where all that wealth was merely something alongside and by the way; for it is only perception that has negation, distinction, multiplicity in its very nature.” - The Phenomenology of Mind, G.W.F. Hegel

Photo by Bill Aspinwall

One of the most elusive elements that songwriters deal with is melody, the element in a song that at its best, resonates in our hearts, immediately captures our attention and lasts in our memory. The best melodies make us want to sing along with the radio or in the shower. The philosopher Hegel’s concept that perception is everything seems to be particularly true when it comes to melody.

There is a large amount of literature aimed at defining melody; explaining the basics: construction of note sequences and rhythm, intervals and patterns, chord structures and scales. Unfortunately, purely intellectual efforts to construct compelling melodies fall short of reaching that goal.

Yet the concept of what makes a particular piece of music more pleasing to the ear than others is intriguing. Talking to a person who consistently produces engaging melodies might be a useful approach. One person who writes ear-pleasing melodies is Lena Shammas.

Some writers (Annie Proulx, for instance) believe that the best way to learn how to write is to read. By extension, it may be that the best way to learn to write better melodies is to listen. You should listen to Lena Shammas and do your own research – with the melodies that she writes, the journey unfolds like the best of melodies, effortlessly, organically and with pleasure. You can check out her music on her first CD, “Open Your Eyes”, released in 2004 and available on Outbound Music.com. It’s a unique gem.

After you’ve had the chance to listen to Shammas, you’ll understand. I had the opportunity to hear and see Shammas at Anderson Fair, in Houston. The legendary Anderson Fair, still lighting prayer candles for live music.

It was a songwriter night, hosted by Ken Gaines, consummate performer and songwriter, joined by the bourbon-smooth guitar of Wayne Wilkerson. Clay Farmer was also along for the ride, in full acoustic songwriter mode, East Texas fundamentalist gospel honky tonk, country rock and more. Just another magical night at Anderson Fair.

The following week, Shammas was kind enough to spend a lunch hour with me, talking about songwriting and how it’s been a part of her life.

Global Perspectives

She was born in Kuwait into a Christian family. Her family left Kuwait while she was very young, and she then spent quite a bit of her childhood all over the globe – London, New York, Moscow, Poland, Hungary, Paris, Nairobi, and California.

As a result of her travels, she has been fluent in 4 languages. At the moment “three and one-tenth – I’ve started studying Spanish”. She has written songs with lyrics in Arabic, English and French.

When she was with her family in Moscow, she helped her father, a Kuwaiti diplomat, by translating Russian.

“I was about 9 or 10 in Moscow. I used to be fluent in Russian. My dad always needed me – he’d say ‘Call Lena – we need to talk to so-and-so’. You know, when you’re a child, you just pick up a language much, much easier.”

Because her father was an ambassador, family travel included a trip to New York City, to put up the Kuwaiti flag at the United Nations. She went to the local international schools where her father was posted and for awhile, a boarding school in Switzerland. She finished her high school years in Kenya, graduating from Nairobi International School and then went to Pepperdine University in California.

A global perspective at an early age. She also started music at an early age.

“I started playing piano when I was six. Just learning scales, do-re-mi, from a Russian lady. And then when I was 12, in boarding school in Switzerland, my roommate had a guitar. She never wanted me to use her guitar, but when she was out of the room, I used to borrow the guitar. And then I asked my parents for a guitar and it started from there.”

Shammas’ guitar playing is deceptively simple and elegantly placed behind her songs. The training in classic music shows, for example, in the song “Don’t Try to Stop Her” on her first CD. The song has a short bridge where the guitar work sounds almost like the beginning of a fugue with counterpoint – very Bach-like.

Another interesting facet is her ability to write gorgeous melodies. Her use of intervals and unexpected notes is beautiful and inventive. Without being derivative, her melodies are reminiscent of some of the best work of the Seals and Croft, Karla Bonoff or Joni Mitchell; for a more recent comparison, perhaps Sarah McLachlan or Sheryl Crow.

Working with a Multi-Platinum Producer

Her first CD is a wonderful and fascinating project, produced by André Cymone. Cymone is a supremely talented musician and producer who played bass in high school bands with Prince (long before Prince became the “Artist formerly known as Prince”) and also played bass on one of Prince’s early albums, “Dirty Mind”.

Then, in best Pete Best fashion, Cymone left just before Prince became a mega-super star. Cymone, however, went on to produce a number of high profile pop/R&B/dance acts in the 80’s, including the multi-platinum Jody Wately and Adam Ant. To have such an experienced and talented producer for a first CD project is a good thing.

“When I first came to Texas, I was getting into music…trying to see where I belonged. A friend of mine from Los Angeles came to town and he heard me singing. He said, ‘Let’s go to LA and see this producer friend of mine.’ We ended up meeting a record producer who apparently had been trying to get in to see André Cymone.”

As luck would have, a meeting was arranged.

“So we go and meet André and right away, André and I just clicked. I just really liked him and he liked my music and through kind of visiting, we found out who he was and right away he said, ‘I’ll do your CD’. His fee is ordinarily humungous, but without a fee, he did my CD.”

Shammas is very modest about her guitar technique and while it’s not laden with fret-blazing gymnastics, it is a unique and subtle fingerstyle, using notes to imply chords and counterpoint.

“While we were doing the CD with André, he said, ‘Instead of flying out, I’ll get a guy to come in and play exactly the notes’. And he brought in four really good guitarists. Then he called me back. ‘You know what, Lena? You need to come out here, I don’t know what you do, maybe it’s too simple, maybe it’s somehow awkward, but you need to come and do it yourself.’ So, I played my own guitar parts for the CD.”

Blending tradition into the future

While the production on her first CD encompasses primarily soft rock and pop, her lyric approach remains true to her Arabic roots.

“I kind of identify my songwriting with Arabic songwriting. Arabic songs are only about love. We don’t write about losing a house or tragedy. It’s only about love. I feel like my songwriting is only about emotions. So it’s part of a tradition.”

Shammas has respect for tradition, and like many successful musicians, hears her music in her head. And perhaps this is why some melodies can be so magic and so elusive – they come from within, from our hearts, our minds, our souls.

“I’ve tried to co-write with a couple of other people, and while we were writing, someone might say, ‘No, but you can’t do that note after that chord.’ And my way is, yes I can, because I hear it.”

Shammas is always working on new tunes. With global perspective, multiple languages, and melodies coming from her heart, head and soul, we can all be looking forward to her next release. It’s a good time to be alive.

Anna Thomas – Matt Gaskins at Cafe Bohemia

John South — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Anna Thomas dazzled the audience at Café Bohemia in Plano, Texas on Saturday, May 23rd, with a selection of sultry jazz and lively pop standards and originals. Her originals highlighted songwriting capabilities that have come a long way in a short time. Thomas is only 13-years old.

Of her originals, Thomas performed three notable songs, “Little Red” (a very sophisticated take-off on Little Red Riding Hood), “My Circle” (about comfort zones) and “Break Apart” (about confidence even one fails). In addition to having a grasp of the technical aspects of songwriting, Thomas demonstrated that she is starting to master her singing. She sang the jazz material with silky tones; the pop and rock standards with light and lively vocals.

Thomas performed alongside Matt Gaskins whose acoustic guitar work was exceptional. Gaskins’ fingers flew across the strings providing an entertaining counterpoint to Thomas’ vocals.

Gaskins is more than an exceptional guitarist. In addition to being a multiple instrumentalist, he is the co-owner (with Kelly Thomas) of the Neighborhood Arts and Music School (NAMS) in Frisco, Texas. The school has an exceptional staff of instructors as well as a state of the art recording studio. At a recent event at the school, it was noted that Gaskins has an wonderful way with the students that allows them to develop as musicians and allows them to have fun at the same time.

The patrons of Café Bohemia had a fun time. Thomas and Gaskins put on a great show. With Thomas demonstrating the level of songwriting and singing that she has at this point in her musical development, we can be sure that there will be much more to come from this talented artist. Photos of the event can be found in the Photo area of the Texas Music Journal, http://texasmusicjournal.com/photos/?shashin_album_key=10.

The Café Bohemia provided an excellent backdrop for Thomas and Gaskins. In fact, Café Bohemia plays an active part in the development of young musicians. Each Friday and Saturday evening, talented musicians take the stage at the Café and entertain the patrons. On the last Saturday of each month, Café Bohemia hosts an open acoustic jam. Many of the artists come together to share musical ideas and to learn from each other. Check out the Café Bohemia at www.cafebohemia.net.

More information about Anna Thomas can be found on her website, www.annathomasmusic.com

More information about Matt Gaskins can be found at: http://ccsongwriters.ning.com/profile/MattGaskins

Information about the Neighborhood Arts and Music School (NAMS) can be found at their website: www.namsfrisco.com

A more detailed analysis of Anna Thomas’ EP Splash of Red will appear shortly in the Texas Music Journal.