SMITHBITS RADIO MAGAZINE

Monday, October 28, 2013

Jay Brown - Soul to Soul

Band Name: Jay Brown
Album Name: Soul to Soul
Email Address: jaybrownmusic@yahoo.com
Website Address: http://www.jaybrownmusic.com

Music Style: Folk Rock Original
Influences: Bob Dylan

Geographic City: Asheville
State: NC
Country:USA
Zip Code: 28778

Band Description

American Roots musician and One-Man-Band from Asheville, NC, Jay Brown creates original music with poetic lyrics, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica, piano, and percussion.

When not performing with Lazybirds, Shantavaani, or Swing Guitars, Jay Brown still finds some time to play with his other band, The Jay Brown One-Man-Band. Formed in 2007, The Jay Brown One-Man-Band includes Jay Brown on vocals, guitar, harmonica, and percussion. In 2010 the band added a new member, Jay Brown, on piano.

An American roots musician, Jay has hundreds of classic songs in his repertoire, as well as another hundred or so originals. Jay can often be found playing in pubs around Asheville, but he has also studied and performed music across the far reaches of the world, including New Orleans, California, India, Ghana, Peru, and Swannanoa.

Jay Brown is a roots-orientated, one-man band from Boone, North Carolina, who has been playing guitar since the age of 7 and writing songs since high school. A prolific songwriter, Jay's performance repertoire contains more than 50 original songs, as well as various covers from a wide spectrum of genres.

His eclectic musical tastes found expression when he became a founding member of the old time, swing band Lazybirds, a band that blends a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz and blues, to create a fresh and soul stirring sound.

Jay has spent years traveling and playing around the U.S.,absorbing our rich musical heritage and performing with artists such as Doc Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Etta Baker. In addition to these experiences, Jay has also taken multiple trips to Ghana, West Africa, where he studied, taught and performed traditional African music with the native Ghanaians. A versatile musician, Jay is as much at home playing the blues in New Orleans as he is playing jazz or classical in New York City.





The level of improvement that singer/songwriter Jay Brown reveals with each new release hints at a talent that just might bust the walls open of the mainstream soon. Soul to Soul is among the year’s best, easily. http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/album-review-jay-brown-soul-to-soul

On “Soul to Soul,” Brown proves why other musicians look to him for inspiration

http://mountaintimes.com/columns-album-reviews/articles/Soul-to-Soul-id-024157

At a point in time when so many folks rely more on technology than talent, we have to admire the people out there in the world who are making real music the good old fashioned way.Jay Brown's music is instantly appealing...and we can tell that this talented fellow writes and records for all the right reasons. Brown's soul and spirit may remind many listeners ofJames Taylor way back when he was just getting started. Recorded in both Birmingham, Alabama and Asheville, North Carolina, this album has nice warm vibes...and is virtually impossible to dislike. Brown's honest friendly voice is welcoming and real...and his music is bound to please those who yearn for something personal. With the right timing and a bit of luck...this guy could become hugely popular. http://www.babysue.com/2013-June-LMNOP-Reviews.html

“Singer/songwriter Jay Brown is not only a one-man band he is one man who is also in several bands. In addition to the Americana focus of his solo act, Brown plays ragtime and blues with the Lazybirds; world music with Shantavaani; and early jazz with Swing Guitars. Such wild versatility is indeed impressive; however, on a single album you’d expect an artist to retain focus. Thankfully, Brown reels in his eclectic tastes on his newest album, The Jester. “ (No Depression)

http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/singer-songwriter-jay-brown-from-folk-to-jazz-from-north-carolina



“The music is appropriately raw and rootsy but not unrefined. There is some striking musicianship here… Brown has a smooth, handsome voice that is equally at home dropping funny lines and poetic observations a la Paul Simon.” (Whisperin and Hollerin, UK)

http://whisperinandhollerin.com/reviews/review.asp?id=8771



”the leader of the renowned jazz act the Lazybirds reestablishes his folk roots without limiting himself to it. In other words, the intellectual curiosity that fueled his trips to Africa and India continues to percolate. Instead of producing a straightforward roots record Brown delves into psychedelia, country, and even political satire.” (Jazz Corner)

http://www.jazzcorner.com/news/display.php?news=2833



“Just because Jay Brown is in the Lazybirds doesn't mean he is one. On the contrary, Brown is probably one of the busiest young musicians in the scene” (All about jazz)

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=89937



“And if there is a more inventive country blues harpist currently recording than Jay Brown, I need and Introduction.” (Rock n Reel Magazine, UK) http://lazybirds.net/media



Listening to Jay Brown's debut disc might possibly make you a believer in time travel. The first listen could have you thinking you're somewhere in the Appalachian Mountains right around the turn of the century. (Performing Songwriter, 1996) http://www.jaybrownmusic.com/jaybrownreview.html



Protest Songs, Folk Songs & Spirituals, is a revelation. It shows the many-faceted abilities of a serious musician who doesn’t particularly pay much attention to the current trends in the music industry. As such, it is a breath of musical fresh air. (The Mtn Times)

http://archives.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2004/0916/jbrown.php3





No Depression Magazine

The level of improvement that singer/songwriter Jay Brown reveals with each new release hints at a talent that just might bust the walls open of the mainstream soon. On his latest effort, Soul to Soul, Brown has written his best songs yet; the lyrics are more focused and accessible, delivered with newly found swagger and knife-sharp musicianship. Brown doesn’t sound like he is aiming for a small audience anymore; while the words are still personal and injected with quirks – “Fire in the Sky” is about the famous UFO crash at Roswell – the music and production breathe commercial sensibilities that could not be found with his previous work.

Echoes of vintage Neil Young and Crosby, Stills and Nash can be heard throughout the record. In fact, the whole album has an early ‘70s vibe. Brown captures the wind-swept melancholy of Young’s balladry on the title track, and his lyrics sting like Jackson Browne in his prime: “It’s just the ones I love who ever hurt me.”

Brown’s affection for American roots music is no secret; experimenting with folk, country, and jazz has been part of his menu since the beginning. Nevertheless, on Soul to Soul those influences blend more smoothly than they ever had before. “Down Spiral Blues” is just as bluesy as its title suggests, with sweltering, jamming guitar. “Carmella” is folk filtered through the Fab Four. “Moonflower” reflects the lush beauty of CSN’s finest harmony-drenched classics. Then there’s the aforementioned oddity “Fire in the Sky,” which rocks raggedly like the Velvet Underground, proving that Brown is capable of anything. Soul to Soul is among the year’s best, easily.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Chris Brown Not in Serious Trouble, Again?

By Connor Simpson
12:03 PM ET




Staying out of trouble isn't in Chris Brown's playbook. The R&B singer was arrested, along with one other person, Sunday morning for felony assault after an altercation outside a D.C. hotel.

TMZ, of course, first reported the 24-year-old Brown was arrested after getting into an argument and punching another man around 4:30 a.m. outside the W Hotel on Washington's K Street. The victim is being treated for injuries at a local hospital. The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Brown's arrest with Buzzfeed and other Washington reporters. TMZ reports the fight started after Brown allegedly hurled a gay slur at two men:

Two woman approached Brown in front of the W Hotel and asked to take a picture with him. As the pic was about to be taken, 2 men rushed over to get in the photo. We're told Chris then said, "I'm not into this gay s**t, I'm into boxing," and threw a punch at the alleged victim. The fight was then taken to the ground.

This isn't the first time Brown's been accused of hurling homophobic comments during a fight. Fellow R&B singer Frank Ocean accused Brown, or someone in his crew, of using homophobic slurs when Brown jumped Ocean in a parking lot earlier this year.

MPD also told Buzzfeed that 35-year-old Christopher Hollosy, who TMZ believes is Brown's bodyguard, was also arrested Sunday morning in connection with the same incident. Brown was in town for a Howard University homecoming after party, where he was spotted earlier that evening on Instagram. Many will be pleased to know he's not receiving special celebrity treatment behind bars, according MPD spokesperson Anthony Clay:

Brown will likely be in jail all day, Clay said, because courts do not generally operate on Sundays. The singer will also be in a cell with another detainee, as the jail has no separate accommodation for celebrities.

“We don’t have VIP cells or anything, any special treatment, unless they’re a hazard,” Clay said. “We would only segregate if we believe something could be wrong.”

Brown could face up to four years in prison if convicted. The singer is still on probation for his 2009 assault against then-girlfriend Rihanna. After a messy alleged hit and run in Los Angeles earlier this year, Brown bargained an extended probation period instead of doing jail time for those charges. Brown plans to release a new album, X, on November 19, after which he once mentioned retiring. He might have an extended absence on the pop charts, though it may not be voluntary.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at connorbsimpson@gmail.com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

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SDCOG RADIO ONE


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Dolly Parton tired, sore and resting after traffic crash


By Alan Duke
updated 5:51 PM EDT, Mon October 21, 2013



(CNN) -- Dolly Parton suffered minor injuries in a traffic crash at a Nashville intersection on Monday, according to the singer and police.

"I was in a fender bender this morning, here in Nashville," Parton, 67, said in a Twitter posting. "But I am all good. Just a little tired and sore, resting at home."

A Nashville police statement blamed the driver of another vehicle with failing to yield to the SUV in which Parton was riding as a front-seat passenger.

Parton and the driver of her Nissan Xterra, 68-year-old Judy Ogle, were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, the police report said.

Parton and Ogle have been close friends since elementary school, according to previous interviews.

Diane Lish, 64, of Old Hickory, Tennessee, was taken to another hospital for treatment. Lish was behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Diamante that crashed into Parton's vehicle, police said.

None of the injuries appeared serious, police said.

CNN's Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Theodore Alexander Smith's new grand son Elijemi

Erika Whatley
Sherry Smith3:59pm Oct 15
Hi Family, Meet Elijemi (Eli - jemi) our new baby boy. He was born Sep 17th at 9:11am, 5lbs and 3ozs, and 17 1/2 inches. This is Eli today in the green and gray.
Erika Whatley
Sandra L Williams4:07pm Oct 15
What a beautiful boy! Congrats to you and Jimmy and the fam/bam 
Erika Whatley
Keith Williams4:15pm Oct 15
Congrads
Erika Whatley
Erika Whatley7:04pm Oct 15
Wow!! How cute is he?!? Congrats cousin