 |
|
- [JPF Home] [Networking] [Mentors] [Member Pages] [Resources] [JPNotes] [Chapters] [RoadTrips] [Music Awards] [About Us]
|
|
The FarAway Ensemble CD "Hitotsu"
Email: hitotsu@hitotsu.ne.jp Location: Fukuoka, Japan Genre:
Celtic/Pop
The FarAway Ensemble is a collaborative project focusing on the efforts of
Andrew Meyerhoff (songwriter/producer), Rayburn Blake (songwriter/arranger),
and Frankie Hart (vocals/songwriting.) All three members are veterans. Rayburn
had his first brush with fame playing guitar with the 70s band Mashmakhan. They
had a million seller in Japan with "As The Years Go By" (Columbia).
After their break up, Rayburn put together Riverson with Frankie Hart, fellow
Mashmakhan member, Brian Edwards, and Graham Lear, who would go on to be
Santana's drummer for a ten year stint. They had a minor hit covering the Beatles
song "Eleanor Rigby." Meanwhile, Andrew, who began writing in 1969,
was paying his dues on the westcoast. In 1980, Andrew was put in touch with
Stonebolt keyboardist John Webster (later Tom Cochrane mainstay and producer)
who hooked Andrew up with Dave Filchak, Moses. Dave, eventually, hooked Andrew
up with his musical partner, Rayburn Blake. Andrew has had a song up for a Ben
E. King CD, and has earned praised from one other great soul/R'n'B singer. But
on this CD, all three members have found their niche in the celtic/folk/pop
vain. Stylistically: Enya, Julia Fordham, Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan,
yet different from all the above. Perhaps the 21st version of Riverson.
Anyways, Frankie's voice has been described as 'simply blissful' at times. So,
listen and judge for yourself.
Website: http://www.hitotsu.ne.jp
Jim Swan "(Great) Songs by the Performing-Challenged Jim Swan"
Email: swan@daibutsu.nara-u.ac.jp Location: Nara, Japan Genre: Folk-Pop
I am an early-fiftyish American ex-pat English teacher in Japan, no longer actively performing, but I do cling to the dream that my songs will be heard some day. These are old recordings and not even close to contemporary professional quality, but three of the songs were "Certificate of Achievement" winners in the Billboard Contest a couple a decade or so ago. Most are simply one guitar, one voice, but I did have some friends help on a few tracks, and I did play around with a multitrack tape deck on a few others. I have been incorporating several of these songs into a novel, which I dream can become multi-mediaized some day. Anybody want to read it?
Email: buzz@big.or.jp Location: Tokyo, Japan Genre: Pop, Dance, House, Techno
"Genius composer meets Angel" B-MASTER K and Jena started this unit in 1994. In 1996 their first album "A.T.D." was out from BMG Japan. They transferred to INFLUX RECORDS, then 2nd credit "CONTRAST" was released in Feb, 1999. Their unique sound is influenced with R&B, hip-hop, and acid jazz. Jena sings in English with cool tracks. Buzz Session forcuses upon on dance-floor and streets. -"INDIESMUSIC.COM"
The debut album, supported by glamourous musicians such as Joe Sample and
Abraham Laboriel, threw a stone in J-pop market. Good melody, programming and nice arrangement by B-Master K and soulful voice of JENA are deliberately integrated and crysterized in "high quality pop music album." Frankly, this is not a jazz album but classified as a highly integrated pop album.- "JAZZ LIFE"
BUZZ is BACK! It's been already three years since their debut album, backed up
by top-ranking LA musicians namely "Keyboard Legend" Mr. Joe Sample and
others. Recently they've been actively performing live "buzz" sessions at clubs and
gaining high respects from DJs and "clubbers." The new album, "CONTRAST" offers a variety of sounds ranging from 70's J-pop, AOR to jazz. You may describe it as "high-quality pop music." To all the readers "who are tired of recent J-pops," just check this out- "ADLIB"
What's missing in J-pops? That's BUZZ SESSION who creates and seeks for the same
integrated sounds as the global pop music. This Duo unit, in their debut from a major label, picked up top-ranking LA musicians as back-ups. This time, they fabricated and integrated their unique sounds by their own with support of their indie label, INFLUX RECORDS Beautifully, blended with HOUSE, HIP-POP, R&B and POP. "CONTRAST" is an absolute "global sound."- "WHAT'S IN?"
Website: http://www5.big.or.jp/~buzz/