Lizzie West

Lizzie West (born in Brooklyn, NY on July 21, 1973) is a singer/songwriter.
Her music can be described as a blend of many genres including country, folk, blues, pop, and rock.
Her current band is "Lizzie & Baba".
Her debut album, Holy Road: Freedom Songs, was released in 2003 on Warner Bros. Records.
It had to have been the album of 2003.
I know I'm still playing it.
This album earned her the title of Breaker Artist of the Year by both AOL and Entertainment Weekly.
It was recorded with her former band, the Gangs of Kosmos.
I know there was an EP last year Thank You for Giving Us... released under Lizzie & Baba.

But Lizzie we really need a new album, pretty please.

Meantime here's some of the previous magic to keep us going.


Sometime

19 miles to BagdadLive performance at Kulaks Woodshed with Baba Buffalo.

Some pure jazz vamping with a western twang.
Rope Me In and Smoke Me

Chariots RiseChariots Rise, written by Lizzie West from the movie Secretary.
The acoustic version performed by Lizzie & Baba.

Any person who has shared space with the amazing Leonard Cohen has to be eternally thankful.
Pure bliss.

                                                         5 Bears                        

Sílvia Pérez Cruz

Sílvia Pérez Cruz (b. Palafrugell - Girona , 15 February, 1983) is a an amazing singer who is fluent in various genres of popular music.
As a child she studied music theory, classical piano, saxophone, classical-jazz and achieved singing degree in the ESMUC at age 18. She then lived in Barcelona where she continued to study music.
As a professional she has worked with the Joan Díaz Trio on the Jazz album We Sing Bill Evans (best album award JAC 2009) also with Joan Monné , Perico Sambeat , Javier Colina , Jerry Gonzalez , Jeannette , among many others.
She has sung for dancers Damian Muñoz (contemporary dance) and Israel Galván and company Sol Pico (Flemish contemporary, MAX Awards 2007). She has served on 'Call' (hang duo and vocals), 'Coetus' (Iberian percussion orchestra), 'Xalupa' (traditional Catalan music) and a duet with Raul Fernandez ( Refree ) with various projects and codes and also recorded the album 'Immigrasons'.

But for me the bottom line is the beauty of the voice, although my Spanish is limited to ordering drinks or food, and saying thank you, I really enjoy the sound of the Spanish tongue in music.
There is something about the Mediteranean languages and music, maybe it just brings back memories of sun, beaches, booze and food.
So kick back and enjoy the sultry sounds of Sílvia Pérez Cruz.
And along the way keep an ear open for her most recent album 11 De Noviembre which includes some of these songs.


Alla en la Habana

Beautiful sounds from a bistro.
Veinte añosSílvia Pérez Cruz i Cástor Pérez (pare i filla) interpreten 'Veinte años', un bolero d'autoria incerta: Maria Teresa Vera, Guillermina Aramburu, N. Núñez.

Here is the same beautiful song, but in a concert performance.
Veinte años

Vestida de nitSílvia Pérez Cruz a la cantada d'havaneres de Calella de Palafrugell 2011

And finally today a beautiful song about fathers.
Canta "Para Meu"Emotiva interpretació del poema musicat Pare Meu, a l'últim programa de la temporada 2010-11 del Via Lliure de RAC 1.
The title means "Father of mine", and is a poem by Maria Cabrera, which Silvia Perez Cruz put the music to.

                                                        5 Bears                

Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston

I recently discovered a delightful album, it is the self titled debut album of Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston. Miranda of the beautiful voice and the nimble fingers, Rex more than holds his own.

Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston have a unique connection - which is a pleasure to listen to and plain to see when they share a stage together.

Miranda Sykes is well known as the third member of Show of Hands. She is one of the few female double bassists in England & is an accomplished singer in her own right. Miranda holds her audience spellbound: it is the emotional quality of her voice that makes her musical partnership with Rex so engaging, rather than the novelty of such an unusual musical pairing as the double bass & mandolin.

Rex Preston has a reputation as a fine & imaginative mandolin player and is a leading light in a new wave of British Bluegrass musicians. He is a rising star in mandolin-playing circles and with 20 years of playing behind him, he possesses a wonderfully sensitive musicality and a dexterous, flamboyant playing style.

Check out some of their amazing music, just gotta love it.

BarbaraMiranda Sykes and Rex Preston performing Roger Wilson's 'Barbara' at the Bath Folk Festival 2011.

Here's a beautiful cover of the Madeleine Peyroux classic.
Don't Wait Too Long

It's back to the Bath Folk Festival for this next one.
Only one way

One of my personal favorites from their vast repertoire.
Old Man TimeMiranda Sykes & Rex Preston at Acoustic Routes, 22 Oct 2011.

You can check out the new album right here.


The eponymous debut album of double bassist and vocalist Miranda Sykes and mandolin virtuoso Rex Preston credits
 released 19 February 2012
 Recorded at Pure Studios by Joe Rusby
 Produced by Rex Preston
 Mastered by Josh Clark
 Double bass, ukulele, guitar and vocals by Miranda Sykes
 Mandolin, bouzouki, guitar and vocals by Rex Preston

                                                         5 Bears