Jazz Hot Kristin Korb: "What's Your Story"?

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

What's Your Story?, the new album from internationally recognized jazz artist Kristin Korb answers that very question with 12 timeless tunes that celebrate her story as a jazz vocalist and bassist. 

The multifaceted Ms. Korb - also writes and has taught music as well...she now calls Denmark her primary residence and has a great sense of style and humor.

Time to let your inner Sherlock out and unravel the mystery of who is Kristin Korb and What's Her Story...???

MS: Your CD tells your story as a jazz vocalist and bassist with eleven classic tracks and one original. Give us the inside scoop on the original track.

KK: It's called "Always Searching For My Baby". It's about a friend of mine I met when I was teaching at USC, Amber Navran, she took in all the jazz stuff and does her own thing, she has a band now call Moon Child.

MS: Oh cool. I thought that it was great that you were inspired to put "Don't Fence Me In" on your album by your parents.

KK: My Dad was always making up songs when we were kids and he would quote things that we thought he made up, and then we would hear it on the radio. I grew up on Country music and within the jazz repertoire "Don't Fence Me In" is about as close as you are going to get to Country. (laughs) There's a little bit of humor and tongue in cheek to it, so for me it was a fun song to do.

MS: Your parents also pushed you to be independent and follow your own path as well.

KK: Yes, definitely whether they enjoyed that later in life or not. (laughs)

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

MS: How was your teaching stint at USC by the way?

KK: It was great! The level of musicianship in that school is so high. It was so inspiring for me to walk into the building and hear the music. To be a part of that was really amazing.

MS: You also taught in my home state at Central Washington University, cold enough for you?

KK: It was cold, and there's a lot of cows there. (laughs)

MS: So what influenced you to record an album that told your story?

KK: A lot of it was inspired by my move to Denmark. Whenever you move to a new place everything is different, the language, the culture, the weather...I found myself going back to things that reminded of why I fell in love with jazz in the first place and people and things that I love. It's all about the stories and the memories, like how a certain song can remind you of something you ate in a restaurant, that was the time you  heard it and it extends to a particular emotion.

MS: You were drawn to jazz in Middle School, why?

KK: Here's what happened, I was in sixth grade getting ready to go to Middle School and the music groups from the school came to visit us. They performed for us, I heard the band and I was like, uh yeah, OK. I heard the orchestra and thought, not so much. Then the vocal jazz ensemble performed, they had cool out fits, they moved to the music, smiling and having a blast! I knew that's what I wanted in music, at the time I did not know what this is, all I know is I wanted it. To me it was empowering that I could be a part of something that would make other people have a good time.

MS: One of my favorite tracks on your CD is "I Wanna Be Loved" which you equate with turning forty.

KK: Yes!

MS: I actually liked turning forty I want to hear your take on it.

Photo: Ulrik Jantzen

KK: It was great! I was kind of worried about it going towards it, thirty-eight to forty I was a little like, I'm going to be forty, what does this mean? How do I feel about it? Then when I turned forty, I was having so much fun, I have great friends, fulfilling work, I'm not for want of anything. I have the best life ever! Everything is out there and exposed and "I Wanna Be Loved" and this is how I want it.

MS: Since living in Denmark how much have you grown to like curry red herring?

KK: If I call it herring, then I am like ewwwwwwwwwwww, herring! But if I call it sild, I can stomach that! (laughs)

Get more of Kristin's story at: http://www.kristinkorb.com/

That Rogue Romeo: "Wonderland"

That Rogue Romeo

"So, I thought, "what is that one thing that really made me so happy and joyful"? That was writing my music. I knew I needed to pursue it and follow through with it the way I wanted to twelve years ago, or I would regret it for the rest of my life. I'm going to give it my all for as long as I can" 

- That Rogue Romeo "Chorus and Verse" to yours truly Michael Shinafelt


Romeo, Romeo, That Rogue Romeo, his real name is Kevin Stea he has had quite the ubiquitous career. From being a dance captain/dancer/choreographer on Madonna's "Blonde Ambition" tour - to appearing in one of my favorite movies of all time, "Showgirls".

Kevin wanted to break on through to the other side. and indeed he did. His latest single is "Wonderland" and like Alice it looks like Kevin has fell down a hole of some sort.

Check out my full length interview with Kevin at the jump:

http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20120913A

And treat yourself to a "Wonderland" That Rogue Romeo style....Hit It!

                                           That Rogue Romeo "Wonderland"

Go Rogue: http://www.thatrogueromeo.com/
                                    

Scandal: Whack - A - Mole

President Grant & Olivia Pope

For you lovers of the hit TV show "Scandal" on ABC, of which I am one, the identity of the mole is the big topic amongst us fans...and will be revealed on this Thursdays pre-finale episode.

I have spoke to my friends on their theories as to who the mystery mole might be, we already know that Cyrus has been checked off the list of possible suspects. But who?

The two answers that came up from those I engaged in the topic were A) James, Cyrus's Partner or B) First Lady Mellie.

First Lady Mellie

Both are good hunches - if I was a betting man though I think I would have to go with Mellie. Why? Because she had no real fear of the repercussions of the threats Cyrus threw at her if she went public about President Grant's affair. That to me indicates there are people out there in high places that have her back, and there really is only one way she could form an alliance with people like that in my opinion.

Watch I will probably be totally off base on this one, or perhaps not, right or wrong this is my theory and I'm sticking to it.

All this being said, I must admit the recent episode contained the most shocking moment of the show for me thus far...President Grant earning Olivia Pope's love. I figured it would never happen, and if the circumstances actually did present themselves for it to happen, the interest would be gone as the love was no longer forbidden. Thanks to the clever team behind the show, they chose the unexpected and made it work!

James & Cyrus

Hard to believe this amazing show that continually surprises was the brain child of the woman behind that piece of dreck known as "Grey's Anatomy" Shonda Rhimes, kudos to her giving us a show to talk about around the water cooler each week that is actually exciting and scandalous.

Got "Scandal"? http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/scandal

What Do May Flowers Bring? Pentatonix

PENTATONIX GOES VIRAL…AGAIN

“EVOLUTION OF MUSIC” REACHES 7 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS

IN ITS FIRST WEEK

COVER OF IMAGINE DRAGONS’ “RADIOACTIVE”

(WITH LINDSEY STIRLING) SOARS TO 12 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS & DEBUTS IN ITUNES’ TOP 100

YOUTUBE CHANNEL SURPASSES 70 MILLION VIEWS WITH OVER 800 THOUSAND SUBSCRIBERS

2013 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR CONTINUES THROUGH MAY

Vocal sensations and winners of season 3 of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” Pentatonix have had a whirlwind week with their latest YouTube video – “Evolution Of Music” – garnering nearly 7 million in the 6 days since its debut.  The video spans 1000 years of music in just 4 minutes, featuring some of the most popular songs from the last dozen centuries, and has been featured by The Huffington Post, Ryan Seacrest, Mashable and even got some radio love from New York City’s Z100. 

Additionally, “Oh Holy Night,” the Christmas classic and standout track from PTX’s 2012 Christmas EP, was featured on last week’s episode of NBC’s Community. 

Pentatonix also recently teamed up with dubstep violinist Lindsey Stirling on a cover of Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive.”  The video has a combined 12 million cumulative YouTube views and the single, now available via iTunes, debuted in its top 100.  

PTX & Lindsey Stirling

This follows the success of the group’s previous offerings, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” which surpassed the six million-view mark, an *NSYNC medley and a Swedish House Mafia mash-up.  All of the arrangements are performed on the group’s current tour, which continues through May.   

On top of their live performance  and YouTube release schedules, Pentatonix are also arranging and recording PTX Vol 2,  planned for an early Summer release.

           

After winning the most recent season of NBC’s “The Sing Off,” Pentatonix enjoyed a whirlwind of success in 2012.  

They released 2 EP’s – PTX Vol 1 & PTXmas – twice debuting on Billboard’s Top 200 and selling a combined 100,000 albums and counting.  Their television appearances included The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, The Katie Couric Show, The Talk, The American Music Awards Red Carpet Show and VH1’s Big Morning Buzz Live!  They have been regularly featured by RyanSeacrest.com and Perez Hilton.  The Philadelphia Inquirer reviewed their fall tour and said:

No strictly vocal act sounds more ecstatic in triumph than Pentatonix… Euphoric best describes the joyful, self-described “futuristic a cappella” quintet who played before a wildly enthusiastic Philly audience.

Pentatonix are taking instrument-free music far beyond anyone’s wildest expectations.  Named after the world’s most widely recognized five-note musical scale, this vocal quintet has transformed one of pop music’s purest and most soulful expressions into an exciting future, filled with limitless sonic possibility.  Pairing their intricate arrangements with cleverly re-imagined pop songs, Pentatonix have quickly cultivated a sound and style that is entirely unique and undeniably infectious. 

Just a year old, the Pentatonix YouTube channel boasts over 70 million views, buoyed by more than 800,000 subscribers.  The group also has more than 290,000 Facebook fans and nearly 85,000 twitter followers.

It's a PTX World At:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PTXofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pentatonix

PTX Official: http://www.ptx-official.com/



Remaining 2013 TOUR DATES

May 2013

2                      Wilma                                            Missoula, MT

4                      Knitting Factory Concert House Boise, ID

5                      Crystal Ballroom                        Portland, OR

7                      Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, WA

9                      Vogue Theatre                             Vancouver, BC

11                    Showbox SODO                           Seattle, WA

What?! LeAnn Rimes Still Sings?!

Who knew Ms. Rimes was still a singer? All most of us have known her for the past few years was the Bitch who took Eddie Cibrian from Brandi Glanville...not my words, Brandi's, paraphrasing and artistic license apply.

And boy did Brandi never let us forget it, it was her claim to fame and made her one of the "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills".

Rimes other claim to fame of late has been about her weight. "Is She or Isn't She Anorectic" - when she is seen out in her bikini.

OK, well LeAnn it's time you reminded peeps why you are famous in the first place, you are a gifted singer and songwriter, looking forward to "Spitfire" putting you in the press for something other than malicious gossip!

LeAnn Rimes announces release of new album SPITFIRE

Physical CD Available Only at Walmart

14 song collection available June 4th, 2013 featuring Special Appearances
by Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Rob Thomas and Jeff Beck

Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter LeAnn Rimes is releasing her new album, SPITFIRE, on June 4, 2013. Rimes, who co-wrote nine of the songs on her newest offering, says “This album is a peek into my world; who I am, what I’ve gone through, what my emotions are.  It’s an intimate conversation between me and whoever’s listening.  I hope I’m saying things that are hard for others to express.  It certainly took me a lot of work to get to this point. And it’s still easier to sing these thoughts than it is to say them out loud.  The intimacy in my music is just beginning.” “Curb Records is receiving global reviews for LeAnn’s brilliant album, Spitfire.  Her performances with Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Jeff Beck, Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminski are amazing and a great representation of LeAnn’s ability as an artist and songwriter, says Curb Records Chairman, Mike Curb.  “LeAnn and producer Darrell Brown have created a very special musical adventure that is delivered straight from LeAnn’s heart.  We’ve always known she is a great singer.  This album simply proves outright that LeAnn is a great, multi-faceted artist.” SPITFIRE is co-produced by Darrell Brown, LeAnn’s longtime friend, whom she calls her “writing soul mate”. Rimes speaks of this album as a “journey” and says there were several memorable moments along the way from having multi-Grammy award-winning engineer, Al Schmitt (Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Norah Jones) mix several songs to having Alison Krauss and Dan Tyminsky sing background vocals on “What Have I Done?”.  After ten years of trying to write or record with Rob Thomas, the planets aligned as Rob added an undeniable groove to “Gasoline and Matches”, which also features the legendary signature guitar styling's of Jeff Beck, whom LeAnn previously worked with on a Barbra Streisand tribute at the Grammys to benefit MusiCares. “SPITFIRE covers a range of emotions that I’ve experienced in my lifetime, from anger to love, from frustrations to letting go”, says Rimes.  “Darrell and I talked about telling that story in chronological order, but that didn’t work sonically, so he said, ‘It’s the truth…in no particular order.’ And isn’t that what life is about?” The physical CD will launch exclusively at Walmart and is currently available for pre-order at:  http://bit.ly/Spitfire1 For more information on LeAnn Rimes, visit www.leannrimesworld.com

Emii - "Freakier Freak"

Emii: "To Freak Or Not to Freak"?

"I have a sense of humor about a lot of things. It might be terribly inappropriate, but I have no qualms about joking around. It's all good" - Emii "Chorus & Verse" to Yours Truly, Michael Shinafelt.

This is an excerpt from my interview with the one and only Emii when I chatted her up about her then latest single "Mr. Romeo" featuring Snoop Dogg.

Since then she has got her Fuck Me Pumps on in the song "Stilettos" and now she is getting down with her inner  freak, and freaking hard in "Freakier Freak"- she is double dipping in the freak pond and letting that flag fly loud & proud!

The title says it all, Emii is a Sex Fiend and she wants it anyway she can get it, oh my!

With her tongue placed firmly in cheek (and other orifices) Emii hits deep space and comes up with a nine (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Our intergalactic guide, Emii, will navigate us on how to find a Black Hole, Uranus and the Milky Way....cosmic travel never was so enticing. 

So let's hop aboard with Emii and take a ride, shall we... Yahooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Space Invaders!

                                                           Emii "Freakier Freak" 

"Freak" out with Emii at: http://emii.net/

T.G.I.F. - Naama Kates Plays Room 5, Los Angeles CA

If you live in the Los Angeles, CA area and are planning on hanging out this evening, why not do it with indie darling Naama Kates at Room 5.

This critically acclaimed chanteuse will be hitting the Room 5 stage at 10 pm sharp...!

She is currently promoting her sophomore CD "King For The Day" the follow-up to her hit freshman debut "The Unexamined Life".

So, if your Friday Calendar is free, and you have no plans get your ass to Room 5 at 10 pm and check out Naama.

Oh, I will be there too, so if you come to the show, say "Hello".

                                            Naama Kates "King For The Day"
Get your "King" on at: http://www.naamakates.com/

Room 5 info: http://www.room5lounge.com/