Tag: jazz

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it indie music Reviews Thursday Treats

Get it or forget it – Thursday treats vol. 1

Thanks for checking us out this week.  Since so many of the reviews we do are of artists we’ve previously featured, we are proud to debut the other half of our Treats reviews.  That’s right, you get two Treats every week – Tuesday and Thursday.  Here are today’s delightful quintet.

Artist Name:  Diana Rein

Album Name:  Queen of my Castle

Label:  Gulf Coast Records

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  Yes, I Sing the Blues; 2.  Worth; 3.  Walking Away; 4.  The Midnight Line; 5.  Time’s Ticking Away; 6.  Queen of my Castle; 7.  Pure Soul; 8.  One Foot In; 9.  My Love; 10.  It’s You; 11.  In the Chill of the Night; 12.  I Can’t Quit You; 13.  Get Down; 14.  Heat; 15.  Zoe

Publicist:  Doug Deutsch Publicity Services

Review:  Diana Rein has become the quintessential blues musician, combining incredible guitar riffs with well-crafted songs sung with just the right amount of sass.  She starts the album off with an affirmation of her intent (“Yes, I Sing the Blues”) and then blows us away with her limitless talent and street cred.  Throughout this amazing release she shows the world why she received three LA Music Critic Awards and was recently nominated for three more in the current cycle.  There is no doubt in our minds that she is the female equivalent of BB King, and we are proud to champion this blistering blues guitarist.

Recommendation:  What are you waiting for?  Run out and grab this one today.

Artist Name:  Marty Brown

Album Name:  American Way

Label:  Plowboy Records

Genre:  Country

Track Listing:  1.  American Highway; 2.  I’m on a Roll (Better Than it’s Ever Been); 3.  Umbrella Lovers; 4.  Shaking all Over the World; 5.  When the Blues Come Around; 6.  Right out of Left Field; 7.  Kentucky Blues; 8.  Casino Winnebago; 9.  Velvet Chains; 10.  Mona Lisa Smiles

Publicist:  So Much Moore Media

Review:  Marty Brown is a true country troubadour, and his music bridges the gap between classic greatness and modern day country.  He is obviously influenced by such country greats as Vince Gill (“Right out of Left Field”), Alabama (“Umbrella Lovers” and “Shaking all Over the World”) and Sawyer Brown (“I’m on a Roll (Better Than It’s Ever Been)), and provides a modern take on their sound.  This is music that belongs on country radio, and is the perfect soundtrack for your two-stepping honky-tonking evenings.

Recommendation:  If you love great country, then this is the perfect one for you – go get it!

Artist Name:  Kelly’s Lot

Album Name:  Can’t Take my Soul

Label:  Self-released

Genre:  Blues/Americana/Roots

Track Listing:  1.  All I Ever Want is the Blues; 2.  All Hope Ain’t Lost 3.  Alyssa; 4.  Woe is Me; 5.  Safe and Warm; 6.  Rise Up (Léve-Toi); 7.  Broke Myself; 8.  Let it Breathe; 9.  Dirt; 10.  Little Bit of This; 11.  Can’t Take my Soul; 12.  Mon Ami

Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  Kelly Zirbes and her band have been a Southern California staple for the past 25 years, and their 14th album is the true cream of the crop.  Her voice is tailor-made for the blues, and she passionately shares from her heart these blues-infused songs about the state of the world today.  She is truly a modern-day Janis Joplin.  These songs need to be listened to multiple times so you can catch all the nuances of the lyrics and the subtle greatness of the instrumentation.  We promise you that it will be well worth your time.  Even though “All I Want is the Blues,” “All Hope Ain’t Lost,” so “Rise Up”, be “Safe and Warm” and “Let it Breathe” because they “Can’t Take My Soul.”  For an added treat, check out the zydeco sound of “Woe is Me.”

Recommendation:  Run out and get this one.

Artist Name:  Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers

Album Name:  Heart of Memphis

Label:  Blueskitty Records

Genre:  1.  Another Sleepless Night; 2.  Dirty Pool; 3.  Come on Over; 4.  Cradle to the Hearse; 5.  No Time; 6.  Heart of Memphis; 7.  Memphis Soul Stew; 8.  Strange Angels

 Publicist:  Blind Raccoon

Review:  This is the third straight year we have had the privilege of reviewing material from Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers, and this is our favorite so far.  This lady and her band know how to make great music, and to share their passion with their listeners.  This is music that is truly enjoyable, and would make great placements for both film and television, as well as be the life of your weekend parties.  Grab a cold one and put this one on repeat.  The pure sound will keep you enthralled, especially on the title track.

Recommendation:  This one is a definite must-have for your collection.

Artist Name:  Casey Abrams

Album Name:  Jazz

Label:  Chesky Records

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Autumn Leaves; 2.  I’ve got the World on a String; 3.  Need Your Love so Bad; 4.  You are so Beautiful; 5.  Why Don’t you do Right?; 6.  Hound Dog; 7.  One Note Samba; 8. L-O-V-E; 9.  The Girl from Ipanema; 10.  Fly me to the Moon; 11.  Round Midnight; 12.  Blackbird

Publicist:  Chesky Records

Review:  We had the distinct pleasure of being at the CD release show for this album back in May, and we previously reviewed the live versions of these songs.  As many of you know, Abrams has become a staple in Postmodern Jukebox, and this album demonstrates that Abrams also knows how to reinterpret classic songs, but with a jazzier sound.  His music is not just loved by fans but is also receiving critical acclaim.  The album versions feature Anne Drummond on flute, Jimmy Greene on saxophone, Mark Whitfield on guitar and Giveton Gelin on trumpet, joining Abrams on bass and vocals, and they quickly show why they are the dream band.  We are sure these versions will quickly join your growing list of favorite tunes, especially “You are so Beautiful,” “L-O-V-E,” “The Girl From Ipanema” and “Fly me to the Moon.”  We are proud to welcome this former American Idol contestant to the industry’s elite.

Recommendation:  Go grab this one – it’s all you’ll need on your desert island getaway.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out indie music Live Concerts Reviews

Former American Idol Casey Abrams takes us on a jazzy journey

If you aren’t familiar with Casey Abrams, then you must have been living  under a rock for the past eight years.  Abrams is  a long-time member of the Post Modern Jukebox Collective (“PMJ”) and a former American Idol finalist.  Since finishing in sixth place on Season 10, Abrams has been busy writing and recording music with Concord Music (along with PMJ and fellow American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart) and Chesky Records, the label that just released his new album, Jazz, as well as his previous one, Put a Spell on You.  Abrams had previously recorded the full-length Casey Abrams and the EP Casey Abrams and The Gingerbread Band for Concord.

The CD release show for Jazz was held at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s, one of the hip and growing music venues in the Valley.   Not only did the label treat us to a wonderful dinner, but they also gave us VIP status, which included the show plus a Q&A and meet and greet with Abrams afterwards.  Needless to say, it was one of the best show experiences we have ever had.

Abrams is one of the best and most gifted musicians we have ever had the opportunity to review.  He is also probably the best pure whistler we know of.  His face is so expressive and he has a truly natural chemistry that instantly connects him with his audience.  He was joined at various times during the evening by Tony Pulizzi, a gifted guitarist that Abrams “stole” from the Idol house band, trumpeter extraordinaire Ilya Serov, tenor and alto saxophonist and high-school friend Jacob Scesney, vocalist and amazing trombonist Aubrey Logan, PMJ founder and pianist Scott Bradlee and the ever-lovely and talented Reinhart.

There was never a dull moment throughout the 90-minute set, which flew by all too quickly.  Among the incredible songs included in the set were “I’ve got the World on a String,” “Need Your Love so Bad,” “One Note Samba,” “Hound Dog,” “You are so Beautiful,” “The Girl From Ipanema,” “Don’t you Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” “Why Don’t you do Right,” “Fly me to the Moon” (featuring vocals from Serov), and “Cry me a River” (featuring vocals from Reinhart).  They wrapped up the set with a stunning rendition of “L-O-V-E,” which involved everyone who had previously shared the stage during the night.  Every single musician turned in a Grammy winning performance, and it was a pure joy to have experienced the show.

After the show, we got the chance up with old friend Lisa Goe, who was in attendance with her friend, Katie Welch (part of the cast of I Know What You Did Last Summer:  the Unauthorized Musical, playing in June at Three of Clubs), as well as have time to chat with all of the musicians, including Abrams.  This was a night we will not soon forget and we can’t wait to have the chance to review the actual CD after Fringe is through.

Thanks to Abrams’ mom, Pam for being a great host, and to Lora from Chesky who set the whole night up.

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews Women in Entertainment

Get it or forget it – Shari Puorto Band, Fir Cone Children, MillaMusic, Christine Hitt, Bugge Wesseltoft and Prins Thomas

Well, Thursday has arrived and we’re almost to the weekend.  Should be a great one, and we will be covering the Shakey Graves concert on Saturday.  In the meantime, here are five more indie artists to check out.

Artist Name:  Shari Puorto Band

Album Name:  Live at Bogie’s

Label:  Little Lightning Production

Genre:  Blues

Track Listing:  1.  It’s a Damn Shame; 2.  Home of the Blues; 3.  Outta my Mind; 4.  Guilty; 5.  Six Months Sober; 6.  Sugar Daddy; 7.  Evidence; 8.  All I Want is You; 9.  My Obsession; 10.  All About You; 11.  Tired; 12.  Can’t Find my way Home

Publicist:  ABIK Radio Promotions

Review:  Shari Puorto and her band have been tearing up the Southern California blues scene for years, and this live recording from Westlake Village’s Bogie’s demonstrates just why she is so popular.  Her songwriting is excellent, and has won her an award in the Song of the Year competition while that sexy voice has won the award for Best Female Vocalist in the Southbay Music Awards.  Truthfully, it’s a “Damn Shame” that she is not more widely known, as she is one of the best blues singers in the genre today.  If you live anywhere in Southern California, we strongly encourage you to go catch her show live!

Recommendation:  Don’t even think about it – just Get it!

Artist Name:  Fir Cone Children

Album Name:  The Straight and the Curly

Label:  Blackjack Illuminist Records

Genre:  Punk/Shoegaze

Track Listing:  1.  3D (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 2.  On my Plate (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 3.  Top of the Shelf; 4.  Down Below; 5.  Beastie Girls; 6.  Chasing Shadows; 7.  The Straight & the Curly (Part 1:  The World at Stake) (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 8.  The Straight & the Curly (Part 2:  To the Rescue); 9.  Festival (ft Krissy Vanderwoude); 10.  Blend In; 11.  Awesomenitis!; 12.  We’re Going Out (ft Krissy Vanderwoude)

Publicist:  Blackjack Illuminist Records & Promotion

Review:  Shoegaze is our favorite kind of punk because it retains all the energy and drive of traditional punk without all the angst.  Germany’s Fir Cone Children is one of the best we have heard this year, and we love their latest album, especially the guest vocals of Krissy Vanderwoude.  If their live show has even half of the energy on this album then they must be amazing to watch.  Like traditional punk, these songs are limited to about two minutes each, and that’s the perfect amount of time to grasp the meaning of song, work up a sweat and move on to the next song.  We think this band has a legitimate chance of making it on the American music scene.

Recommendation:  If upbeat punk is your thing, or you just like high energy music, then give this one a spin.

Artist Name: MillaMusic

Album Name:  Vol 1

Label:  MillaSound

Genre:  Pop/Soul/R&B

Track Listing:  1.  On the Line; 2.  Wrong or Right; 3.  Hey Now; 4.  Gotta Know Your Name; 5.  Why Won’t You; 6.  Surrender

Publicist:  Self-promoted

Review:  We last heard from Stephen Miller in 2016 when we reviewed his last album, MillaMix.  Now he’s back with MillaMusic Vol 1, featuring Mike Robledo.  The first track, “On the Line,” was a Top Finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition back in 2015, and we simply love this song, which has “hit” written all over it.  In fact, all six of these songs are simply amazing, and demonstrate the incredible talents of Mike Robledo.  We are most appreciative to Stephen Miller for bringing this project to fruition, and we love his collaboration on “Hey Now.”

Recommendation:  If you need a lift, this is the perfect album for you.  Get it and enjoy.

Artist Name:  Christine Hitt

Album Name:  Magical Kite

Label:  MAXJAZZ

Genre:  Jazz/Standards

Track Listing:  1.  Wade in the Water; 2.  Magical Kite; 3.  Don’t you Worry ‘Bout a Thing; 4.  Shower the People; 5.  Yardbird Suite; 6.  Believe in Me; 7.  Shine on Harvest Moon; 8.  Smile; 9.  Around the World

Publicist:  Mouthpiece Music

Review:  Christine Hitt is a jazz lover’s dream vocalist.  She effortlessly transforms standards and pop hits into modern-day jazz classics which should appease just about every music lover.  She is also a multi-instrumentalist with both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music.  Besides singing, she is currently a coach for jazz pianists and vocalists at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.  This amazing album was recorded at Capitol Records and features John Beasley, Jeff Hamilton, Gene Coye, Leo Amuedo and Bob Sheppard, and was produced by Geoffrey Keezer.  Our favorite track is her cover of James Taylor’s “Shower the People.”

Recommendation:  Check this one out.

Artist Name:  Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas

Album Name:  Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas

Label:  Smalltown Supersound

Genre:  Instrumental Jazz/EDM

Track Listing:  1.  Furugerget; 2.  Norte do Brasil; 3.  Sin Tempo; 4.  Bar Asfelt; 5.  Epilog

Publicist:  Worldwide Friendly Society

Review:  What do you get when you blend one of the world’s premier ECM jazz musicians with a modern day electronic dance artist?  You get an interesting mix of music that is not only fun to listen to, but will get you in the mood for dancing as well.  NPR debuted this album, and their review is very technical, but a good read.  On our end, these five tracks offer jazz and EDM lovers intriguing melodies performed by a myriad of instruments, including drums, synthesizer and keys.  They even added one of Norway’s greatest jazz drummers, Jon Christensen, the the mix, and his touch is very evident on these tunes, especially “Sin Tempo.”  This is definitely one of the most unique collaborations we have ever reviewed, and we like it, a lot.  Thank you Norway for sharing two of your greatest treasures.

Recommendation:  We guarantee you don’t have anything like this in your music library, so definitely go out and Get it.

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Get it or Forget it Reviews

Get it or forget it – The Paranoid Style, Ben Lorentzen, Hang Tight, ClueBagger, John McLaughlin

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas.  We relaxed all day and watched the snow fall.  Now it’s time to get back into the review process.  Here are another five reviews for your perusal.

Artist Name:   The Paranoid Style

Album Name:   Underworld U.S.A.

Label:   Bar/None

Genre:   Garage Punk/Indie Rock

Track Listing:   1.  Underworld USA; 2.  Dominoes in Drag; 3.  Hawk Vs. Prez; 4.  I Believe you Believe you can Fly; 5.  Dedicated Glare; 6.  Revision of Love

Publicist:   The Syndicate

Review:  This is not your typical punk, more like indie rock with a rockabilly edge.  We love the lead vocals, and the rocking accompaniment fits the lyrical content and the vibe of the music.  The songs are short and sweet and lots of fun.  This is definitely a band we can get behind and fully support – we can only imagine how much fun they must be in concert.  The punk edge does come out on “I Believe You Believe You Can Fly” and “Revision of Love,” but the former still has that rockabilly vibe.  We love every song.  We just wish there were more songs on this amazing EP.  Hopefully they will grace us with a longer album next time.

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one.

Artist Name:  Ben Lorentzen

Album Name:  Pains & Pleasures of Intimacy

Label:  Nordic Records

Genre:  Alternative Rock

Track Listing:  1.  Crows on the Wire; 2.  I Miss You; 3.  I Know how to Protest War (but now to Make Peace); 4.  Victor Hugo Daza; 5.  Tie This Alone Away; 6.  Dead man in the Closet; 7.  Alabaster Jar; 8.  Lay Down in the Dark

Publicist:  Nordic Records/Painted Black

Review:  Wow – Ben Lorentzen knows how to ROCK.  With vocals akin to Bob Dylan, and a musical style that screams PROG ROCK, his well crafted lyrics and melody rise and swell like a rock opera.  His words are timely, like they were snatched from the headlines.  This is the kind of rock music you turn up loud in your headphones and just escape into the pictures and sound that Lorentzen creates.  This is what you want to hear on album rock stations.  We love this one from start to finish, and can’t wait for more.  Really love the strings on the final two tracks – so classy!

Recommendation:  Definitely Get this one – it truly rocks!

Artist Name:  Hang Tight

Album Name:  Grind

Label:  Standby Records

Genre:  Punk/Indie Rock

Track Listing:  1.  The Rents; 2.  Forget About It; 3.  Pretty in True Blue; 4.  Digital Age; 5.  Be Mine

Publicist:  Earshot Media

Review:  Wow – two awesome punk bands today.  Hang Tight has a harder edge than The Paranoid Style, but they are both amazing.  This is just plain fun, but with only five songs, it’s much too short for our taste!  Seriously, we can’t wait to hear more, as this EP was a nice appetizer of the great things we are sure are to come.  We love every song, especially “Digital Age.”

Recommendation:  You can’t go wrong with this one – Get it now.

Artist Name:    ClueBagger

Album Name:  RetroMod

Label:  GuardBird Records

Genre:  AAA/Singer-songwriter

Track Listing:  1.  The Power of a Dream; 2.  Always; 3.  No Hoper; 4.  Key West (The Last Resort); 5.  Say Goodbye to London; 6.  Temptation of Eve; 7.  Longing; 8.  Head Over Heels; 9.  Love not War; 10.  Prisoner of the American Dream; 11.  Too Hot to Handle; 12.  Girl in Trouble

Publicist:  Powderfinger Promotions

Review:  Scott Key aka ClueBagger has a very unique sound, reminiscent of a nasally Jimmy Buffett, with an island vibe.  It is a soundtrack for a good time, and would make a good background for a summer outdoor party, or to take your mind off the cold winter months.  He incorporates some interesting musical sounds into songs that just plain make you smile.  It is the kind of sound that is perfect for college radio more than AAA, but stranger things have happened on AAA.  “No Hoper” does have a 60’s kind of groove, which might be perfect if you’re in an Austin Powers mood.  Our favorite tracks are “Key West (The Last Resort),” “Say Goodbye to London,” “Temptation of Eve,” “Head Over Heels,” Too Hot to Handle” and “Girl in Trouble.”

Recommendation:  This one is worth a chance.

Artist Name:  John McLaughlin

Album Name:  Live @ Ronnie Scott’s

Label:  Abstract Logix/Mediastarz

Genre:  Jazz

Track Listing:  1.  Meeting of the Spirits; 2.  Miles Beyond; 3.  Gaza City; 4.  Here Comes the Jiis; 5.  New Blues Old Bruise; 6.  El Hombre que Sabia; 7.  Sanctuary; 8.  Vital Transformation; 9.  Echoes of Then

Publicist:  MAD Ink PR

Review:  This amazing live set combines the wizardry of John McLaughlin with his band, the 4th Dimension, and totally reminds us of why we love live music.  CDs are great, but nothing beats those same songs in a concert atmosphere.  Back in the day when we were active in the San Diego jazz scene, this is the type of music we loved.  It is the perfect opportunity for audiophiles to discover the joy of live music, and to see why jazz continues to be one of the most popular genres of music.  This album also shows off the growth and longevity of McLaughlin and his music.  We would seriously have loved to be a part of the audience at the taping.  This album is the gold standard for live albums.  This one truly is a “Meeting of the Spirits.”

Recommendation:  This one is a must-have.  Get it today!

 

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Women in Entertainment

Women in Entertainment: Boca Gambale, jazzy perfection

Our second women in entertainment feature of 2016 focuses on Boca Gambale, Canadian born singer and songwriter, wife of jazz legend Frank Gambale and lead vocalist of the smooth jazz fusion band Soulmine.

I first met this amazing artist almost 20 years ago when I was writing for my first major publication, Music Connection Magazine.  I received an assignment to review a show at The Temple Bar, a legendary LA music venue in Santa Monica.  At the time she was performing with a trio called Boca.  I immediately fell in love with her music and had this to say about the performance:  “Boca has the whole package that includes solid songwriting, looks, voice and killer arrangements. This rising artist has a promising future.”

Boca is the youngest of four children and had a deep desire to play the piano at an early age.  Her father recognized his daughter’s innate talent and found her a private teacher, setting her career path into motion.  From the time she was 10, Boca composed songs that gave voice to her inner-most thoughts and allowed her to explore her innate sense of rhythm.

Life’s negative circumstances fueled Boca’s artistry and her need to escape into the world of music and expression, and she began to sing.   Her strong, confident voice suggested a singer who was much older than 13 and she began to perform professionally at both corporate and public functions like the Young Teens Woman’s Awareness Conference and the CHIN Radio Benefit for the Homeless.  She continued to perform and write with original groups in the Toronto are all through her high school years.  “It gave me the opportunity for self expression and helped me determine my own sound,” explained Boca.

She attended the highly acclaimed Jazz Program at Humber College School of Creative and Performing Arts in Toronto, graduating with high honors.  Although she was initially accepted to study voice and classical theory background, she thrived on studying composition and arrangement and spent her free time performing and recording with the school’s premier 13-piece R&B funk ensemble.   She also began to sing and dance with various authentic Latin jazz groups, performing in many summer festivals, including the Harbourfront Latin Jazz Series in Toronto, the Concert of Colors in Detroit and the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, where she displayed her chops comfortably in three to four languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, and African dialects.

Boca feels that songwriting is a direct channel to the heart, that to enter the realm of musical creation is to tap an endless flow of inspiration.   Boca’s songs provide her with an intense experience of catharsis and release.  “It’s a process of osmosis” she explains, “I deal with raw emotion. That’s where the strength and power is.”  Her creative strength lies in her intuitive approach.  When she writes, she allows an emotional propulsion to lead her to the final result.  Each song is imbued with her fiery, yet subtle energy.  “The best compliment someone can give me about my music, is that they feel it,” she says.   Boca blends elements of blues and jazz into an organic , soulful mix.  The sound is accessible and passionate, what she likes to call “a little bit a this, a little bit a that, mixed with a lotta somethin’ somethin’, and then you get me!”

She released her first CD, Edge of the Night in 2005, joining forces with long time friend and Juno Award winning producer Marco Luciani, who co-wrote the song “Overdrive” on the multi-platinum Dirty Dancing.  The CD received rave reviews from both the press and fans, and  her single “Morning, Noon and Night” received steady airplay on smooth jazz stations.  The title track was also chosen as the featured theme song for the documentary Unsung Heroes, and was produced by Antonio Soave (Capistrano Films) and Doug Deluca ( Producer- Jimmy Kimmel Live), with instrumental score by Bruce Miller (composer of the theme song from TV’s Frasier.  She also performed on Canada AM, the Canadian version of Good Morning America.

It was shortly after this that Boca first met Gambale at the renowned Baked Potato jazz venue in Los Angeles.  She began touring with his band in the summer of 2010 throughout Europe, performing to large audiences and delivering memorable shows.   Their first CD together, Frank Gambale Soulmine feat. Boca was released in 2012.

When asked about her work on Soulmine, Boca replied,” Soulmine is a reflection of all the best parts of me.  It is always an enormous pleasure for me to record an album.  To write and record an album with such a phenomenal talent as Frank, and write about life, love and hope . . . is exceeding my expectations of ‘love in action.’   My present life is nothing short of being ‘in dreams awake’”

Boca is currently working on her sophomore solo release, as well as the next Soulmine album with Frank Gambale, set to be released in the summer of 2016.  Upcoming shows include appearances at The Baked Potato and Catalina Bar and Grill in Los Angeles, as well as concerts in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and China.

For more info about this amazing artist, check her out on Facebook and her soon to be updated website.