Lila Downs renews publishing with A Train, releases new album with Sony

Available now, her newest CD and first with Sony Music Mexico, Pecados y Milagros (Sins and Miracles), the current number 1 record on iTunes Mexico, is an exploration of faith in light of modern events, both tragic and inspirational. The title gives away some of the topics which she covers on this latest disc: the miracle – who is her young son – and the sin which is the corruption and violence of modern Mexican society. The title and concept are also inspired by the traditional “Ex-voto” paintings of Mexico which, as a concept, was incorporated into the project. Fifteen renowned Mexican contemporary visual artists have joined Lila in this project and each has created a work of art to accompany each song on the CD and are included in the booklet. The original paintings are currently being exhibited at the MUNAL, the fine arts museum of México City, where viewers will experience the paintings and music as an integrated experience. These images have also been integrated as video projections which will be part of her concert performances.

 

“We have all sinned and also have an idea of what that means. It always gets a laugh when I say it, because the first thing that comes to mind are sins of the flesh, but there’s also the other side, which is all about power, about being a leader and having responsibilities, which is what I focused on.” ~ Lila Downs


www.liladowns.com

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Celebrate the 70th Birthday of Airto Moriera

One of the most famous and high-profile musicians in his field, Brazilian percussionist/drummer Airto Moreira helped make percussion an essential part of modern Jazz. Airto was born in 1941 in the small village of Itaiopolis – south Brasil, and was raised in Curitiba. Even before he could walk he would start shaking and banging on the floor every time the radio played a hot song.

Now seventy, Airto is celebrating by assembling a one of a kind show with long time collaborator group Eyedentity. This band is a very exciting mix of cultures, sounds, colors and rhythms which generates a powerful and enlightening energy. Go see them live:

July 7 SOHO, Santa Barbara CA

July 8 27th Annual Central Coast Wine Classic, Avila, CA

July 9 Big Sur Spirit Garden

July 11 Kuumbwa Santa Cruz, CA

July 14-27 Blue Note, New York City

via Celebrate the 70th Birthday of Airto Moriera.

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A Train Entertainment announce an alliance with Brit eclectic rights management company Total Creative Freedom Ltd

Well this may sound like some wacky wish fulfillment but the A Train juggernaut has hitched itself up to cherry pick and develop various artists who currently work with Total Creative Freedom Ltd in North and South America. The idea behind TCF really is that the lunatics have taken over the asylum and guess what, they are doing a great job. Musicians and labels within the TCF structure are empowered to make their own choices as they negotiate their way through the digital age and all the many possibilities it presents.

Currently TCF license and manage releases for Knumskull HQ, Sup Peeps Records, The Big Chill Label, Bob Hillary and The Massive Mellow, Mezzowave, Mano De Dios, Paul Diello, Holotronica and Patrick Bergin. Major label refugee and recording artist Eugenie Arrowsmith and producer, re-mixer and artist Lee Pepper founded TCF. Eugenie had been signed to Virgin 10 Records as a teenager in the late 80s (and yes there are YouTube videos out there to prove this). She made a half a million pound album with the likes of Steve Hillage, members of Shriek Back and Mercury nominated trumpeter Guy Barker. Similarly Pepper (as he is commonly known) had been signed to EMI and spent 3 years working in Paris and New York.

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A Train is pleased to announce Downton Abbey with music composed by Raspe Music’s John Lunn won four Emmy Awards

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie: “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

Outstanding Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Brian Percival, “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

John Lunn is a prolific and respected UK composer whose work has been heard previously in “Little Dorrit”, “Bleak House”, “The Little House” and will be featured in the upcoming “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”

– Outstanding Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Julian Fellowes, “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

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A Train Mourns the Passing of Tom Borton, Friend and Client and Some Extra Text

Tom’s first television scoring experience, a documentary on the Smithsonian, nominated for an Emmy, opened doors for composing for television and commercials. This soon lead to his establishing Los Angeles Post Music, which provides music for visual media including commercials, television and film.

Tom has produced multiple CD’s for Steve Allee and performed with him twice at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He has composed, arranged and produced over 150 CD’s while continuing to perform with LA’s finest musicians. His forthcoming solo jazz project “Simply One” was slated for a fall 2011 release with Steve Allee on piano, James Genus on acoustic bass and Will Kennedy on drums.

Tom began playing saxophone in his native Indiana at age 7 and never looked back. While studying classical saxophone in his school years, he also launched several successful bands in high school and college. His high school R&B/ Funk band consisted of Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Daryl Simmons and drummer Rayford Griffin. At that time he also performed at Indianapolis Clowes Hall with the Indiana Symphony Orchestra and was featured on a live radio broadcast on the soprano sax. His next youthful adventure was a fusion band with guitarist David Grissom and Kenny Aronoff, who went on to become Rolling Stone Magazine’s drummer of the year multiple times. All the while Tom studied extensively with some of the leading teachers of the day including David Baker, Phil Sobel and Bob Sheppard.

Moving to LA in 1981, Tom became part of the session player scene and found his talent as a composer. Soon after, Tom landed his first recording deal as a solo artist and his debut album shot to number one on radio airplay all across the nation. Extensive performances at national jazz festivals and clubs soon followed.

http://tomborton.com/

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