http://youtu.be/2Qb401qM2kk
www.vladimircetkar.com
With his passion, energy and diverse musical persona, Vladimir Cetkar's hallmark is his ability to seamlessly combine his many talents as a guitarist, vocalist, arranger, composer and producer of the highest order.
The evident musical influences of this New York City based artist may transport you back in time to the musical era when bands like Chic and Earth Wind and Fire ruled the musical cosmos. But Vladimir's new sound, original music expression, and contemporary production return you to the present, and portend a strong future for this genre of music.
Essentially, Vladimir Cetkar's latest release can be described as his original music cocktail, incorporating a pristine distillate of the Jazz, Pop, Soul and Disco sounds of the late 70's and early 80's, along with a hint of what's to come.
Critics recognize Cetkar's unique sound and passion, and have drawn many flattering comparisons: George Benson's guitar playing; Quincy Jones' and Mauro Malavasi's arrangement and production acumen; Earth Wind and Fire's vocals; and Jamiroquai's grooves.
SEVEN DAYS NEWSPAPER
'Mix George Benson’s guitar playing with Quincy Jones’ arrangements, add Jamiroquai’s grooves and Earth, Wind & Fire’s vocals and, you get Vladimir Četkar. Brimming with style, the multitalented Macedonian guitarist and vocalist also composes, arranges and produces his original music. Described by Time Out New York as “George Michael fronting Steely Dan in a cocktail bar,” Četkar channels the 1970s and ’80s, interweaving pop, soul and disco into jazz.'
PATCH MEDIA
'Macedonian guitarist Vladimir Četkar's mélange of jazz, funk, and soul is fleet, uninhibited, and original. If the occasional high strings and up-tempo funk evoke disco, then Četkar's emotive, earnest voice makes appeals intended for only the smoothest of jazz gods.'
TIME OUT NYC
'Vladimir Cetkar's shirtless beachside promo photos tell you all you need to know: This Macedonian soul man mashes disco and fusion into luxurious pop concoctions. Think George Michael fronting Steely Dan in a cocktail bar.'
BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
'Macedonian guitarist Vladimir Cetkar's rich mélange of jazz, funk, and soul purrs along effortlessly--a true compliment to his alluring marriage of dense style and impeccable technique. His playing is fleet, uninhibited, and original, and if the occasional high strings and up-tempo funk evoke disco, then etkar's emotive, earnest voice makes appeals intended for only the smoothest of jazz gods.'
PATRICK ADAMS (Salsoul Records and Prelude Records)
'In a world where everyone has the ability to make noise and call it music, it is so refreshing to know there are still a few people really making music. Vladimir, you always put a smile on my face. I can not wait to see what happens when the world discovers what I already know, that you were born to create great music and you strive to take us all to places we have never been... Some day history may note how an older dude was poked out of his tree and inspired by the amazing talents of a young man. Thank you for reminding me what passion is.'
Steve Smith and Vital Information NYC Edition
Steve Smith (Hiromi/Journey) - drums
Mark Soskin (Sonny Rollins/Herbie Mann) – keyboards
Andy Fusco (Buddy Rich/Mel Lewis) - alto sax
Vinny Valentino (Jimmy McGriff/Bill Evans) - guitar
Baron Browne (Jean-Luc Ponty/Billy Cobham) – bass
In a musical world where keeping a working band has proven difficult for many bandleaders, drummer-bandleader Steve Smith has managed to keep three bands working for the past three decades. His jazz-rock band, Steve Smith and Vital Information, has been touring and recording for more than 30 years, while his “straight-ahead” groups Steve Smith and Buddy’s Buddies, made up of Buddy Rich Alumni (with three album releases), and Steve Smith’s Jazz Legacy (a group dedicated to playing the music of some of great drumset masters such as Art Blakey, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams), have toured for five years and released two albums and a DVD.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense for this prolific recording artist and bandleader, who has made a career out of amalgamating the many twists and turns of his musical calling, to blend all three bands for a 2015 studio album release entitled The Skyline Sessions on the BFM Jazz label. The updated version of his recording and touring ensemble is called STEVE SMITH AND VITAL INFORMATION - NYC EDITION. Smith refers to this new line-up as, “The best of all worlds. With my band-members all living and working in NYC area, where I live, this group can be organized in a moment’s notice. VI NYC Edition is a lot of fun to play with and is a high-energy, creative, jazz unit!”
The lineup of Vital Information NYC Edition brings together members of all of his bands: saxophonist Andy Fusco (from Jazz Legacy and Buddy’s Buddies) guitarist Vinny Valentino (from Vital Information), pianist Mark Soskin (from Jazz Legacy and Buddy’s Buddies), bassist Baron Browne (from Jazz Legacy, Buddy’s Buddies and Vital Information), and Steve Smith on drums.
Steve keeps his touring schedule quite busy and you may have seen him on tour with Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion, The Mike Stern Band or Hiromi – The Trio Project. Smith’s constantly evolving drumming career has earned him Modern Drummer Magazine's #1 All Around Drummer award five yeas in a row, which led him to being named by Modern Drummer Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Drummers of All Time!" in 2014. Smith’s 9-year stint as the drummer with the rock group Journey resulted in nine multi-platinum albums and eighteen Top 40 hits. His drumming can still be heard almost daily on the ubiquitous hit song by Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” www.vitalinformation.com
Mark your calendars! Motown Museum will host the second annual Motown Mic: The Spoken Word grand finale event at 7 p.m. on June 13 at The Music Hall in Detroit. The event, which is open to the public, will feature performances from ten local poets and artists selected as finalists from a series of spoken word events hosted by the Museum earlier this spring. Motown Mic: The Spoken Word will showcase the finalists performing an original, Motown-inspired poetry piece with the winner being selected from a panel of judges. The winning artist will receive $1,000, have their piece published on a commemorative literary broadside and will be featured on the Motown Museum website as the 2015 Motown Mic: The Spoken Word Artist of the Year.“This event is an incredible opportunity to witness some of Detroit's most talented artists, which is aligned with the Museum’s mission to preserve, protect and present the Motown story through authentic, inspirational and educational experiences,” said Terry. “At its heart, Motown Mic celebrates this story and its influential legacy.”Motown Mic: The Spoken Word was created to pay homage to the Black Forum Label—a Motown spoken word label created by Berry Gordy and the Motown Corporation in the ‘60s as a venue for Black expression and education. The label served to capture the voices of African American poets and orators such as Langston Hughes, Stokey Carmichael, Elaine Brown, Ossie Davis and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose moving and inspirational “I Have A Dream” speech was recorded by the label. As Motown revolutionized the music industry, its Black Forum Label documented the social consciousness of a generation—Motown Mic: The Spoken Word is a continuation of that rich legacy.
Ashton Moore
CD Release PartyFriday, June 19th 2015'Jazz Cafe' at Music Hallin downtown DetroitAshton is currently home for his annual trip from Japan. He humbly request your presence at the listen-ing party for his new album, "Downtown." He recorded this project last summer here in Detroit, and completed it earlier this year back in Tokyo.He is ready and excited to share it with you. On Friday June 19th 2015, We will hold this party at the 'Jazz Cafe' at Music Hall' in downtown Detroit.We will begin at 8pm and finish at 11pm so that you can relax, stay a while and enjoy one of my favorite live-music clubs here in Detroit. He even plans to entertain you while you're there so, you shouldn't miss it!"This album is a collection of original and cover "Acid-Jazz" recordsthat he recorded with all Detroit-born musiciansand close friends.
Artistic Expressions Gallery Presents:The 6th Annual Art & Charity Event
Benefiting the Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure
Sunday, June 28, 2015 4:00pm – 8:00pmJazz Cafe at Music Hall
$5 advance tickets. Purchase online at www.artisticexpressionsgallery.eventbrite.com
Featuring artwork by Siana Treece, SuVon Treece, Timothy Orikri & more of Detroit's own!
Cash bar, full food menu, live entertainment and amazing auction & raffle items.
For more info visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/712841945510977/ or email: info@artisticexpressionsgallery.com