Articles by Paul Naser
#Bloomerangs: Moments and Fragments
by Paul Naser
When life gets tough, sometimes the only thing you can do is take a moment to step back and reconnect with feelings of positivity. Maybe this comes from a fond memory, a glimpse out the window or perhaps, for readers and writers of this website, time spent listening to good music. Fortunately, #Bloomerangs has some of the latter to add the 2020's offerings. The core collective of musicians that is spread across the United States (and who often feature international ...
read moreJoan Torres's All Is Fused: Revolution
by Paul Naser
Amidst the chaos that is the year 2020, Joan Torres's All Is Fused has found the time to release an alt take of the closer from their 2019 album, Revolution (Self Produced). The new version of “Finale" is a collaboration with bass virtuoso Bubby Lewis. Of the collaboration, Torres says: “I wanted someone who was a bit of a kindred spirit in this musical journey but with a considerably different style. The stars then lined up somehow because Bubby Lewis....was ...
read moreMarlon Martinez: Yours Truly
by Paul Naser
"Lock up your drummers, this bass monster will inflame them all!" This high praise for Los Angeles-based bassist-composer Marlon Martinez comes care of none other than legendary drummer Stewart Copeland who is featured on the young virtuoso's debut album, Yours Truly (Self Produced, 2019). A graduate of the prestigious Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, Martinez is well-versed in both classical and jazz repertoires and has performed with and for luminaries from both worlds including Gustavo Dudamel and Ellis ...
read moreJamey Arent: The Back Burner
by Paul Naser
The name of Los Angeles based guitarist/singer/songwriter Jamey Arent's debut EP may be inspired by his years a sideman supporting the likes of Frankie Valli and Matthew Morrison and contributing to network television and Netflix soundtracks -or maybe it's in reference to burning playing atop laid back grooves. In any case, don't put The Back Burner (Self Released, 2019) on the back burner; it belongs at the top of your listening pile, whether you're into jazz, rock, blues, soul, funk ...
read moreEva Schubert: Hot Damn Romance
by Paul Naser
Those looking for a chanteuse in the jazz tradition often have limited options outside of legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan or more contemporary stars like Diana Krall or Jazzmeia Horn; if they are looking for original music, more often than not they're out of luck. So, fans of the style may be interested to learn about Eva Schubert. The Vancouver-based singer-songwriter leans heavily on jazz influences while also embracing funk and soul. She also writes ...
read more/fyo͞oɡ/: Temp'rall Sho’gazing
by Paul Naser
As far as band names go, /Fyo͞oɡ/ lands firmly on the side of the eccentric. As far as roots go, it hails from one of the world's most storied music cities. The New Orleans-based duo looks to both the city's past and present for its debut record, Temp'rall Sho'gazing. As abstract and modern as /Fyo͞oɡ/'s naming practices and album artwork are, its repertoire is quite conventional. Pulling from funk, jazz, gospel, folk and blues traditions, covers on ...
read moreLucinda Belle: Think Big: Like Me
by Paul Naser
Oscar nominated singer-songwriter Lucinda Belle isn't the first to do what she does, but she may be among the most eclectic; the vocalist/harpist keeps tradition alive by feeding it with myriad influences. Though her vocal style and choice of instrumentation often suggest jazz, she reaches well beyond the idiom while staying true to its roots. Her most recent offering, Think Big: Like Me pulls from jazz, pop, reggae, doo-wop, R&B and hip-hop, among other styles, to create an engaging pastiche ...
read moreVersal: Versal
by Paul Naser
Houston-based composer, computer graphics (CG) artist and programmer Versal, whose given name is Javier Velez, has a unique backstory in addition to his unique set of creative skills. These blend together to create a one-of-a-kind, very specific, style which he showcases in his eponymous EP, Versal (Self Produced, 2019). As one might expect from a CG artist and computer programmer, Versal's music has a definite cinematic element to it. Having showed an unusual amount of musical talent from ...
read moreMichael Ragonese: Day to Day
by Paul Naser
If you haven't heard Michael Ragonese's name before, you're sure to hear it a lot more. The award winning pianist is a constant fixture in Los Angeles; if he's not a sideman at one club, he's leading a band at another. Among the many luminaries he has performed or recorded with are: Bennie Maupin, David Binney, Engelbert Humperdinck, Alphonso Johnson and Dave Koz, whose newest album will feature Ragonese. His busy performance schedule hasn't kept him from writing and perfecting ...
read morePatrick Ames: All I Do Is Bleed
by Paul Naser
Lyric writing is an oft under-appreciated element in contemporary music. Guitarist/songwriter Patrick Ames puts lyrics front and center in his rootsy tunes. Somewhere between Tom Waits, The Velvet Underground and Robert Johnson (without the slide), Ames' stripped down recordings are direct a transmission of his feelings, aided by gritty, loose arrangements that give the feel of a living room jam session; safe to say there were few overdub sessions involved. With his latest EP, Ames conjures feelings of ...
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