Posts Tagged ‘Musician Friends’
Dana has a blog, too
Want to find out more the trip? Our singer, Dana, has a blog and has been leaving a word trail as well.
Send-off Show / Party!
Save the date!
June 18th, 9p – 1am, at Smoken Joe’s in Brighton Center, MA.
We’ll be having a big send-off party for the Soulcasters! The show will consist of performances by the Mike Null Blues Band, the Soulcasters, and Boston legnd, Toni Lynn Washington.. in addition to some special guests sitting in!
Hope to see you there!
Shanghai here we come!
Soulcasters Sneak Peek
Here’s a video of the band we made at a jam last week!
This is the lineup, minus our pianist, Gabriel, who was unable to come up from New York.
Dana Shellmire - vocals, Chris Sublette – bass, and Max Zemanovic – drums.
More to come, stay tuned!
Rock the Cantab
Holy smokes! I’m excited about this new band!
The official name of the new Shanghai lineup is “Mike Null and The Soulcasters”. Now that the lineup is solidified, I had to see what it would be like for everyone to play together. With the exception of our pianist, Gabriel Guerro, who couldn’t make it from New York, we were all there at the Cantab Jam last Sunday. We only had time to play one song because Max (drums) had to catch a late bus back to Brooklyn.. but that was all I need to see the vast potential of this group.
We decided to play “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, and let me tell you.. we blew the roof off the place! Chris (bass) and Max (drums) threw down a groove so solid I thought the stage was going to cave in! Dana (vocals) sang the song with conviction and power.. and every time I looked up to check out the crowd, I saw we had the entire room’s attention. The groove was so tight, it would have been more difficult to play with poor time than to lock in! Everyone agreed that it felt REALLY good on stage. Everyone’s excitement about the trip poured into the music. I can’t wait to hear what this group will sound like after four months of playing six nights a week!
Next step, meeting with Dana today to get our tune list sorted out, then the band starts rehearsing toward the end of the week.
Shanghai doesn’t know what’s about to hit ‘em!
Returning to Shanghai
As many of you know, I’ve been searching for a lineup for a return trip to the House of Blues and Jazz this summer. Without further delay, I present to you..
THE SOULCASTERS.
On vocals, Dana Shellmire
Dana Shellmire is an American Rhythm & Blues singer, composer, dancer, bassist, and visual artist from Los Angeles, California. Blessed with a remarkable talent and stage presence, she leads her own professional live band & creative lab in Boston (After School Kids) and has toured and recorded extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia with an array of International Blues, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, Rock & Roll and Acoustic acts. Dana was most recently featured in Boston as a vocalist in “The Rock & Roll Supergroup with Chuck Berry,” alongside world-famous band mates: Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones), Simon Kirke (Bad Company/Free), Marc Orrell (Dropkick Murphys), Barry Goudreau (Boston), James Montgomery, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan), Woody Giessman (The Del Fuegos), and Ricky Byrd (Joan Jett).
In addition to her vocal chops, she also happens to be one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Her radiant personality is contagious!
Check out the embedded player below to hear some samples of her singing.
On drums, Maxwell Zemanovic:
At twenty-four, G. Maxwell Zemanovic has established himself as a consummate touring/session percussionist and clinician. Having completed performance and clinic tours of the United States, Canada and Australia by age seventeen, the Massachusetts native was bound for a life of musical expedition. Music to which Maxwell has contributed has reached global audiences, appearing on records that have been heard on American television networks including MTV, E!, ESPN and FOX. As a clinician, Max has conducted private and group workshops throughout the country, most notably at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Max is also one of the nicest and most engaging people you will ever meet.
On bass, Christopher Sublette
Chris Sublette is a bassist who will be graduating Berklee College of Music this May. He has studied with teachers rooted in the traditions of jazz and R&B and is proficient on upright and electric bass. He grew up in Kansas City playing bluegrass and traditional country and upon moving to Boston in 2005 he started making a name for himself in Boston’s music scene. Now, Chris hones his craft at esteemed Blues and R&B clubs in the greater Boston area and is well known for his great attitude and dedication to his art.
Chris also happens to be one of the nicest, genuine and enthusiastic people you will ever meet.
On piano, Gabriel Guerrero
New York based Colombian pianist/composer Gabriel Guerrero is a classical trained pianist / composer who comes from a new generation of contemporary musicians emerging in the Jazz scene. Addressing music for its drive, direction and roots rather than styles, Gabriel has gone from South American rhythms, Contemporary Improvisation, Avant Garde to the traditions of Be-Bop and Jazz. Gabriel exalts his music with a high understanding of its roots bringing his experience and diversity to the table. Having started piano at age five, giving concerts and TV appearances at age nine, Gabriel has performed in Jazz Festivals in South America and USA and is a high demand musician in the scene today.
The Mike Null Blues Band to play in Shanghai
The Mike Null Blues Band is going to China!! Yes, you read that right.. CHINA.
We’ll be playing 6 nights a week (Tuesday – Sunday) at The House of Blues and Jazz in Shanghai from September 1 through the end of November!
The repertoire will be primarily blues with the occasional jazz, soul and funk tangent.
Joining me on this spontaneous adventure will be Earl Phenix (Jamie Lynn Hart, Kingfish Jones) on keys, Steve Belleville (Chad Perrone, Kangaralien) on bass and Tony Hall (Greg Luttrell Band) on drums.
The preparation for this trip has been a bit overwhelming. From subbing out my current gigs and learning a boatload of new tunes, to renewing passports and applying for visas, I’m sure this experience will be well worth the trouble.
Special thanks to Greg Luttrell for getting me hooked up over there!
While I’m over there, I’ll try to document my experiences as much as possible. In addition to subscribing to my blog, you can follow my trip on Twitter or my facebook page. I’ll try to post photos and vids as much as I can.
Ever been to Shanghai? Anything I should check out while I’m there?
Jamie in the Studio
Good news, Jamie has decided to jump back into the studio and make a new EP!
We’ve solicited the talents of local pianist, engineer and producer Ben Zecker. Ben and I will be co-producing this project together.
Ben Zecker has gained a reputation as one of the more exciting and in demand young musicians in New England. He has been heard with funk masters such as John Blackwell and the Matrix, various side projects of the Soulive crew, The Boston Horns, or playing in one of his own straight-ahead jazz or funk projects featuring some of the finest musicians in the Boston scene. You may also have heard him freelancing with a neo-soul, pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, or an “all of the above” showcase band. No matter what the situation may be, one thing is for sure; Ben always brings serious musicianship, versatility, great technique, energy, taste, and creativity to the gig.
Yesterday, we went into the studio and tracked drums and bass with some of the best musicians I’ve ever had the honor of working with. Wally’s legend Charles Haynes (Kanye West, MIA, Meshell Ndegeocello) absolutely killed it on drums, perfectly complimented by local funk master Baron Browne (Steve Smith, Mike Stern). These guys really brought our compositions to life and laid down a great foundation.
Onward!!
PS – Pics to come! When I get them I’ll post ‘em.
Recording with Joya
I landed another recording session!
This time I’ll be going in to record with Joya Abbott-Graves. She’s a local singer/songwriter who has been penned “Boston’s Soulful Songbird.” I’ll be recording on 3 of her tunes.
Co-writing with Jamie Lynn Hart
Jamie Lynn Hart
So lately I’ve been diggin’ this whole co-writing thing..
I love it when Jamie comes over. Everything is always so relaxed. We usually make tea, chat for a while and kick back.
She is the yin to my songwriting yang! She’s a melody machine. She carries around a small notebook and captures the musical ideas that float around her head as she goes through the day. My inner ear’s play list, on the other hand, is usually built from the bottom up. I tend to hear grooves, changes and arrangements (that I have been known to play air guitar solos to). Put the two of us together for any length of time and the creative juices just start to flow.
We’ve been tossing around some musical ideas lately which have manifested themselves in the form of 3 tunes that we recently performed at the famous Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge hosted by Tom Bianchi and Danielle Miraglia (We made it to the finals!).
A friend of Jamie’s was able to get it on film! Check out the videos below!
For more about Jamie, you can check out her web page, her MySpace page, or her YouTube channel.
What do you think of the tunes?
Tracking with Jay Broyer
Jay Broyer
I recently went in to 6Media and laid down some electric guitar tracks for Jay Broyer‘s new album. Check out what he wrote on his MySpace blog:
Yesterday we had Mike Null in to do his “Mike Null” thing on a few tracks and he really tore it up! Mike played a few shows with me last year and also played lead guitar on a little tune called “So Cliché.” The early studio favorite “casual” is one of the songs he played on and the soulful bluesy lick s he laid down on that tune just hit you right in the gut! Or as Dennis would say and I quote “Dude your solo made me want to eat beef stew.” I have no idea what that means but it was probably one of the highlights of my day yesterday lol.
Beef stew? Hilarious.
Thanks, Jay.. can’t wait to hear the finished product!
In other news, the track on which I played from his EP (The Sound of U), “So Cliche” just got added to the regular rotation on Boston area radio station 92.5, The River!