Namba Gear is happy to congratulate Broadjam’s July 2008 Song of the Month winner, Troy Castellano of Harris, Minnesota. As a Broadjam Song of the Month sponsor, Namba Gear is proud to award Troy with a Kava Laptop Studio Bag as part of his Broadjam prize package for the song, “All Torn Up”.
Hear Troy Castellano’s music on Broadjam.
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Namba Gear is happy to congratulate Broadjam’s June 2008 Song of the Month winner, Darren Scott of Rochedale South, Australia. As a Broadjam Song of the Month sponsor, Namba Gear is proud to award Darren with a Kava Laptop Studio Bag as part of his Broadjam prize package for the song, “Here Again”.
Hear Daren Scott’s music on Broadjam.
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Namba Gear is happy to congratulate Broadjam’s May 2008 Song of the Month winner, Loren Francis of Georgetown, Maine. As a Broadjam Song of the Month sponsor, Namba Gear is proud to award Loren with a Kava Laptop Studio Bag as part of his Broadjam prize package for the song, “I’ve Been Down Before“.
Hear Loren Francis’ music on Broadjam
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Namba Gear is happy to congratulate Broadjam’s April 2008 Song of the Month winner, Keram of Los Angeles, CA. As a Broadjam Song of the Month sponsor, Namba Gear is proud to award Keram with a Kava Laptop Studio Bag as part of his Broadjam prize package for the song, “You Are Not Alone“.
You can hear Keram’s music at: http://www.broadjam.com/keram
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NAME: T Lavitz (Keyboard Magazine’s “Jazz Keyboardist of the Year” & six-time Grammy nominated recording artist)
LOCATION: Boston, Massachusetts
WEBSITE: http://www.tlavitz.net/ and www.myspace.com/tlavitz
FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Steinberg’s Cubase4 (with an M-Audio 1010LT)
BRIEF BIO: Studied at the University of Miami (Coral Gables, Fl) after graduation from the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Was “Plucked” from student body by the rapidly-gaining-deserved-attention band the “Dixie Dregs“ As keyboardist for the “Dixie Dregs”, this led to recognition as ”Best New Talent” and “Jazz Keyboardist of the Year” in Keyboard Magazine’s readers poll, 6 GRAMMY nominations and many other extraordinary experiences. To this day there are still occasional “Dregs” tours; although short in duration they still remind me of why we garnered so much acclaim pre internet!
I’m a founding member of Jazz is Dead which originally featured Billy Cobham on Drums. Fellow “Dregs” band mate Rod Morgenstein had taken over for Billy and joined our group around 1999-2000. Also, played/toured and/or performed in “Widespread Panic“, “Jefferson Starship“, Pat Benatar“, “Joe Pass” , “Mother’s Finest” and countless others.
Latest CD as a leader is called ‘School of the Arts” which features Dave Weckl, John Patitucci, Frank Gambale, Steve Morse and Jerry Goodman. It peaked at #2 on XM Radio’s Jazz Airplay chart around April 25th 2008.
Next up is the position of “Artistic Director” at the Berklee College of Music’s “Rock Workshop” 5 week summer program. I also have a brand new book/CD which has just been released by Hal Leonard.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT, RECORDING, OR PERFORMANCE: On September 22nd (not necessarily the latest, but it was cool!) a featured performer on “Moogfest” at B.B. King’s nightclub in Times Square, NYC. This is set up yearly by his foundation in commemoration of the late, great Robert (Bob) Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizers.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG? For one thing, although perhaps designed with a specific purpose of toting a laptop and external drives, etc. I have already used my Kava Laptop Studio Bag for something completely different; a hip carry on bag that not only looked stylish but allowed me to still bring important items on an international trip, that I didn’t want to check with the baggage service. I put in things like extra eyewear (can’t function too well without them), iPod, cell phone, compact camera, and the millions of cables and connectors I seem to also bring. Since I was leaving the country, I brought some of the new kind of cables that snap apart and perform multi purpose functions as well.
The important thing to note here (in my opinion) is that now it isn’t just straight 1/6th note straight ahead funk, dance or whatever, but JAZZ with TONS of IMPROVISATION can be made remotely, if you have the right guys. SO many times when I record(ed) in a typical studio setting, I would wear headphones and not see the other players anyway, so really…if you put your mind to it, it isn’t all that strange after all!
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Namba Gear is happy to congratulate Broadjam’s March 2008 Song of the Month winner, JAH Boogie’s NATTY NATION of Madison, Wisconsin. As a Broadjam Song of the Month sponsor, Namba Gear is proud to award Jah Boogie’s NATTY NATION with a Kava Laptop Studio Bag as part of their Broadjam prize package for the song, “Cool & Proper“.
You can hear Jah’s music at: http://www.broadjam.com/nattynation.
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NAME: Laura Escudé (performance artist & sound designer)
CITY:
WEBSITE: www.lauraescude.com
FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Ableton Live
GIVE US A BRIEF BIO: Los Angeles-based Laura Escudé is an accomplished and in-demand violinist, composer, sound designer, music technologist and educator. Since arriving in
She has worked extensively with both touring and studio musicians to become proficient in recording and performing, and her mastery of cutting-edge technology and experimental techniques is complimented by her classical training and experience playing in and composing for symphony orchestra. Her solo project encompasses a myriad of genres, utilizing live electronics, synthesis, found sounds, samples and violin affected by hardware and software. Escudé performs regularly around
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT, RECORDING, OR PERFORMANCE: I am currently working on mixing my first record, which will be a blend of cinematic electronica with violin and strings. It should be available in July!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG? I like the fact I can fit anything and everything into my Big Namba Studio Backpack, including my Axiom 25! Namba Gear is making great products, I’ve been looking for a bag like this for years! Big thanks to Namba Gear for supporting me and making such cool gear bags!
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NAME: J. Chris Griffin (mixing & mastering engineer)
LOCATION: New York City
WEBSITE: http://www.syntheticmess.com/
FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Propellerheads Reason, Toontrack, Native Instruments Komplete, Pro Tools
BRIEF BIO: My first big mix was for Madonna. That opened up doors for a minute. Recent projects include jazz guitarist John McLaughlin (see my picture inside the Industrial Zen album), John Legend, Janet Jackson, and others. Last summer I co-produced the new theme for MTV’s “MADE” with Jay Lyons and have composed spots for television with NBC’s “Dateline” and CBS’s “NCIS” being two recent credits. My sound-design work is all over Propellerheads products, McDSP products, M-Audio keyboards and sample discs, and I also do clinics for churches teaching them how to improve worship through proper sound, singing and playing. That’s where it all comes together for me. Oh - I almost forgot, I play saxophone…
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT, RECORDING, OR PERFORMANCE: This morning I was on a session with Jim Keller, the guitarist for Tommy Tutone in the 1980’s. He sang and wrote the song “Jenny, Jenny 867-5309.” One hit wonder, but he’s gone on to become the personal manager for composer Phillip Glass, Ravi Shankar, Tom Waits and others. He and I have become friends over the last few years and we were recording horns and BGV’s (background vocals) for one of his projects today. I roll in with my nifty horn arrangement and expensive NYC horn section to begin. We barely get through the first take when the producer decides to gut the arrangement and use about 4 notes (unison) in each turnaround. It turned out great, but my cool arrangement ended up being whittled down to one lick played over and over. That’s how it goes…
Last month as Sony/ATV finished their merger with Famous Music Publishing, they realized the new roster of writers and producers were not fully acquainted with one another. The Sony people didn’t know the former Famous Music people and visa-versa. To remedy this, they booked out The Cutting Room Studios where I have my private production suite. For three days they wrote, produced and mixed new tracks for Beyonce’, Anastasia, Tomi, and other newer artists. I had known some of these guys before, but to meet and interact with the entire roster of the new Sony/ATV division on my home turf was very cool. I have definitely changed my business model after seeing and meeting these great people. The after-hours lobby parties were insane!!! What made it cool was everyone had their laptop going - making beats and singing ideas into the computer through Garage Band throughout the party. Wonderful stuff.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG? Two reasons: I like it because it’s not made out of black material. Every dumb computer bag in the world is black and I am happy to be wearing something brown and blue (interior) for a change.
Secondly, it has enough pockets for everything - two hard drives, my USB Transit interface, the laptop, power supplies, my notebooks and calendars, pens, USB hubs, wireless mouse, phone, earbuds, iPod, iLok, firewire PCMCIA card and notes for my next meeting. This is New York City people; we don’t have cars. We have to carry it.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE REMOTE RECORDING LOCATION: I have two assistants that really enjoy working at the studio - as long as I stay out of their hair. To keep them happy and keep myself from micromanaging their excellent work, I have to leave my own room several times a day. I like my Namba Gear bag because it helps me get out of the studio easily. I have everything close by no matter where I decide to work.
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Namba Gear is happy to congratulate Broadjam’s February 2008 Song of the Month winner, Simo Naapuri (aka: Simon Neighbour) of Hämeenlinna, Finland. As a Broadjam Song of the Month sponsor, Namba Gear is proud to award Simo with a Kava Laptop Studio Bag as part of his Broadjam prize package.
You can hear Simo’s music at: http://www.broadjam.com/simon.
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NAME: Jason Miles (Grammy Award winning producer and recording artist)
LOCATION: New York
WEBSITE: www.jasonmilesmusic.com
FAVORITE MUSIC SOFTWARE: Ableton Live
GIVE US A BRIEF BIO: I am a producer, arranger, Composer, keyboardist and conceptualist.
I have been in the music business for many years and have seen many generations of the business-It is always changing-I have had the good fortune to work with some of the best artists of the last 30 years: Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Sting, Marcus Miller, Michael Brecker, Chaka Kahn, Suzy Bogguss, and many others.
I am now looking at the next generation of great artists as they will be the ones to lead the music and the business through the next 25 years
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST PROJECT, RECORDING, OR PERFORMANCE: I have a few new projects:
Soul Summit Live at The Berks Jazz Fest was just released on Shanachie.
Global Noize with myself and Dj Logic and a cast of incredible artists like Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Karl Denson, John Popper, Vernon Reid - It will be released on April 29th and we are going to play live-check www.myspace.com/globalnoizejazz.
I recently produced-Suzy Bogguss-Sweet Danger.
Travis Sullivans Bjorkestra-Koch records-Jan 22 release.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NAMBA GEAR BAG? Very ergonomic-it is comfortable to wear and you can carry so many essentilal items that are important to the everyday life of the musician/artist/whatever!!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE REMOTE RECORDING LOCATION: On the top of a mountain recording natural sounds of the earth.
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