Thursday, July 28, 2011

Indie Review welcomes Abby Dobson

Set your reminders and tune in!  See ya Saturday :)

Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123

ABBY DOBSON

Abby's sound is the alchemy of soul, folk, jazz, gospel, R&B, country, rock and pop, forging a gem that erases musical boundaries. Abby has performed throughout New York City to rave reviews at S.O.B’s, Joe's Pub, Bitter End, Village Underground and Blue Note. Abby and her Band have opened for Kindred, Leela James, Ledisi, Dwele, Rahsaan Patterson, Chrisette Michele and Robin Thicke. Recently, Abby won BlackPlanet's Soul Beach Music Festival's First Annual Competition in 2009 and was featured in GIANT Magazine's September 2009 issue as an artist to watch. Abby Dobson has also sung backgrounds for several recording artists, including Talib Kweli and John Legend. Abby was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to Brooklyn, NY at 7 yrs old. Her early recollections of music are of country and reggae songs she sang from the radio as a child, and her aunt shushing the family at the dinner table to listen. Though no one in her family was a professional musician, she learned later that her father courted her mother crooning Nat “King” Cole tunes. She sang leads in church choir with her cousins by her side as young as 9, studied classical voice and (briefly) piano in junior high, found herself giving recitals of arias and Great American Songbook Standards as the only child among adults at her high school music teacher’s private gatherings, and continued her singing studies through college and beyond. Abby was drawn like a magnet to the powerful vocal persuasions of Sarah Vaughan, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Donny Hathaway while inspired by the introspective acoustic leaning writings of Tracy Chapman, Dolly Parton, and Bob Marley. Abby attended Williams College in Massachusetts majoring in History/Political Science. Abby dipped hit he underground circuit singing cover songs at open mic nights. She began writing her own songs as a better way to get a record deal. 


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Indie Review welcomes Paola Jean !

Set your reminders and tune in!  See ya Saturday :)

Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123

PAOLA JEAN
 

It was at the tender age of 11 that In Bern, Switzerland Paola sings in her school choir and discovers her desire for the stage. Choir practice led to competitions and winning led to the conviction that music is her message. Vocally trained at the Swiss Jazz School, her singing/songwriting career was kicked off by recording her first demo with producer Ben Thaler. The two became known as pioneers of soul music in Switzerland, Paola's song "You gotta know what you want" was aired in Montreal, Canada. Using this momentum her singing ability was noticed by national and international artist's R&B singer Emel, and rapper Kamel of the famous French group Alliance Ethnic with whom she co-wrote several songs. She recorded her first single "Strong" with Session All-stars Compilation released on Universal Records as well as re-writing and performing the anthem of her hometown in Switzerland.
While working as a registered nurse Paola won a spot on Pop Stars (Switzerland's equivalent to American Idol) which was key exposure and a catalyst for a number of performances; attracting audiences with a 10-piece band in Russia, Germany and the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, where she performed alongside The Roots' Rahzel. In December 2006 she recorded a song with Black Thought. Paola resides in Los Angeles mostly and speaks many different languages (German, French, English, Spanish, Haitian Creole). Paola first lived in Brooklyn when she arrived in the states
working with well versed producer Selan Lerner (Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Masters At Work, DJ Spinna). Being of a Swiss father, and a Haitian mother, growing up in Switzerland and having international friends gave her a diversity of sound.
Paola inspires her audience with songs about life, society, nature and everything that surrounds people. On stage she is a breath of fresh air, touching the audience with her positive energy taking them on a journey of funky soul music, arriving to captivating ballads. 



Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Indie Review welcomes Darralynn Hutson

Set your reminders and tune in!  See ya Saturday :)

Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123

DARRALYNN HUTSON

Darralynn is a veteran journalist/TV producer who founded the new network Chapter 3 TV. It boasts both original and branded programs, specifically produced for mobile device viewing. The first 3 shows to launch are TAWTK-The Audience Wants to Know, a Live movie Q&A show, WTF?  A lunch time wrap up of videos on the world web and The Girl’s Bathroom, a show that eavesdrops on four black teenagers preparing for 1st period. Chapter 3 TV plans to secure 24/7 mobile programming. Some of the shows, will be created from acquired footage while others will be conceptualized with client brands in mind. The Branded Entertainment concept sprung out of an immediate need to engage their corporate relationships with their wealth of experiences developing audiences for film, TV, events and publishing. The first set of brand partners to be integrated in the first 3 programs include Bronner Brothers, Upscale Magazine, Heys Luggage, Radio One, and Faygo soda. Darralynn has written on the African American experience for more than 20 years for publications that include but are not limited to The Source, Upscale, Vibe, Hip Hop Weekly, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, People Magazine, The New York Times, The Detroit News and Free Press. In 2001, Darralynn embarked on her first independently produced documentary on Poet Laureate Langston Hughes entitled Hughes’ Dream Harlem. The documentary went on to tour film festivals in four continents including Africa, Europe and Asia. It premiered on Starz and was later sold to HBO and PBS. She worked as a production coordinator, manager and writer for networks in the Viacom family that include MTV, VH1 and BET. She also held the title of Production Manager and Producer on three TV One shows including “25 years: The Color of Success on the Color Purple’s 25th Anniversary”, and “Get the Hook Up” and “Renovate My Home”. Darralynn’s most proud of her TV production credits that include her independently produced BET’s “The Musicmakes”, “BET News”, and her work as a Red Carpet producer for the “BET Awards” and “BET Hip Hop Awards”. The digital content company which is her own, Dhutson, LLC, since 2005 has produced short-form programs for clients that include Lions Gate, Paramount, Warner Brothers and Fox Searchlight. She’s especially proud of the added value digital campaigns for such films as Stomp the Yard, Hustle and Flow, Madea’s Family Reunion, Fame, Notorious, Black Dynamite and most recently Lottery Ticket. Darralynn currently runs the Brand Integration and Product placement team with Maxsar Digital Studios. Last month, Darralynn was asked to head a Film Advisory Board at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American history for the purpose of creating a film evolution exhibit.






Saturday, July 9, 2011

Salvation Road short trailer

An amazing short starring Russell Hornsby (Lincoln Heights, Law & Order) screened recently at ABFF in Miami. Plot: Business becomes unusual for an unsuspecting hitman who senses that he's been witnessed murdering his traitorous mentor by a 9 year old boy.

Black Gold movie trailer

From award winning director, Jeta Amata, comes Black Gold, a powerful story of greed, murder and corruption in the murky waters of the volatile oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Black Gold is an epic film about environmental justice and the fight over the control of the scarce oil resources that the world runs on. The line between good and evil is blurred as corrupt government officials, greedy oil companies and violent rebels go on a war path over oil spills and degradation of the land caused by oil exploration. Starring Billy Zane, Mbong Amata, Hakeem Kae Kazim and Sarah Wayne Callies. Produced by Jeta Amata, Wilson Ebiye, Dede Mabiaku and Hakeem Kae Kazim. Original score and trailer by Joel Goffin.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Indie Review welcomes Rhonda Thomas

Set your reminders and tune in!  See ya Saturday :)

Indie Review Radio – Hosted by Raychelle & C.Truth
12 pm to 1:30 pm
Call-in Number: (646) 478-5123

RHONDA THOMAS


Rhonda Thomas was a featured soloist and background vocalist for Isaac Hayes for 11 years before his untimely passing. Rhonda served in that capacity while remaining extremely focused on elevating her solo musical career. Issac Hayes wholeheartedly supported Rhonda’s desire to spread her wings musically. A resident of Atlanta, GA who performs nationally and internationally, Rhonda’s natural talent, professional drive, and amazing charisma have landed her in the presence of greatness many times and has opened numerous doors for her. She has performed or shared the stage with Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Roy Ayers, and Sam Moore (of the legendary duo Sam and Dave) just to name a few. With her enchanting voice, Rhonda has stamped her name on the hearts of all that have witnessed her singing live. From bringing the roof down in Atlanta’s Tabernacle when she sang with Incognito’s powerhouse lead-singer Maysa Leak, to winning multiple awards in Harlem’s Apollo Theater, to the 1996 Olympic Games crowds have fallen under the powerful spell of Rhonda’s bold vocal styling. Rhonda’s talents were also experienced by listeners on the other side of the globe. Her 2007 UK “Breathe New Life” Tour was met with glowing reviews. Rhonda was also asked to compose a song for Antigua-Barbuda’s Travel and Tourism “365 Beaches”. Her boundless energy on stage enchants crowds as her voice exudes power and passion executed with precision. She hails from the Atlanta underground soul scene having performed with renowned artist India.Arie, Donnie (Motown), and is a member of the soul bossa group, Jiva. She wears her influences like an elegant gown draped with the improvisational skill and vocal acrobatics of Sarah Vaughn and Al Jarreau, and the depth and emotional effectiveness of Phyllis Hyman and Chaka Khan.