This year, the Pop Culture Hero Coalition, an anti-bullying non-profit founded by Chase Masterson (Leeta, DS9), has teamed up with Star Trek stars who ask that you start 2017 with a resolution to Be Kind to one another. You can join the fight and be a real life hero by pledging to be kind, and you can do it in style with a Be Kind tee shirt.
“Think before you type. Start 2017 with the resolution to #BeKind,” reads the description for one of the Pop Culture Hero Coalition’s holiday fundraiser tee shirts.
Star Trek, like other modern pop culture franchises, is at its core a message to understand one another, embrace diversity, and overall be excellent to each other. Chase Masterson, the coalition’s founder, saw this as an opportunity to create the first-ever organization that uses the universal appeal of comics, film & TV to create anti-bullying programs at pop culture events, and in schools and communities.
Their mission is simple:
To educate and support children, teens and adults to overcome bullying and social injustice, and to transform their struggles into strengths, using stories and characters from pop culture TV, film, and comics.
They do this by hosting events, organizing convention panels, and even developing lesson plans for schools. They’ve had huge successes helping kids affected by the San Bernardino mass shooting, those suffering from PTSD and bullying and inner city kids in places like Chicago. Currently, they are working to teach Trek’s ideal of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations (IDIC) in schools.
“We love our onscreen heroes. Why not be heroes, too? So many people have told us, ‘I wish you had this when I was in school.’” says Masterson. “Roddenberry created a powerful key to social justice, and we are continuing that work in real life. We have the opportunity to teach IDIC to kids, before it’s too late… before there are any more suicides, or broken hearts, or battered psyches due to bullying — and we truly appreciate your support in this crucial work”
You can help support the cause by purchasing a Be Kind tee, sweatshirt, or tank. Proceeds from sales will go directly to help the Coalition’s mission. Learn more about the Coalition’s work on their official website.
Geschrieben von Dirk Groll, (Translated from German: http://www.gitarrebass.de Gitarre & Bass Magazine)
LTD BB1005
Rapid fusion action on a stately Fivestring, with a further extended range: Bunny Brunel’s signature model from LTD brings some top performances together.
The Quilted Maple blanket with stylish transparent varnish ensures the appropriate eye-catching appearance. The BB1005 is available in Black Aqua, Burnt Orange and See Through Black Sunburst; Except for the bundled models, a Fretless is also available. According to its name, this instrument is equipped for all styles.
Big Player
First, the blue testbass presents itself as a powerful instrument with a large body and an elongated head plate, total length 119 cm. The Longscale neck is made of maple and straight, the side-glued corpus wings consist of alder, with the whole front of the bodysuit with a beautiful cloudy top.
On the wide ebony fingerboard is plenty of space for a clean finger, which at the same time means that the Brunel Fivestring is not necessarily the most comfortable player for short fingers. At the flat neck profile it should not lie, however, the string position can be set very low without frills.
The solid hipshot bridge is a solid, so that the strings can be inserted from the rear through the body or can be attached conventionally from the front. The semi-finished precision tuners also come from the same manufacturer, the tuner for the low-frequency H-string being equipped with an extender lever that lowers the thickest string to the A as required.
The electrical equipment, which comes completely from Aguilar, provides for a sound versatility. In the bridge position sits a 5M-humbucker with fat Alnico magnets, at the neck also an Alnico-equipped J-Pickup. This is, of course, not a simple single coil, but a two-coil hum-Canceling design, so that all the pickup mixes that can be recalled at the crossover are free of hum. For further sound variation is a three-band active EQ on board, the center band of which can be switched by pull switch between 400 and 800 Hz.
Much of everything
Due to the flat neck / body transition, the 24th position is also completely unobstructed, and the BB1005 is also perfectly balanced due to the long corpus spine and without any approach from the top of the belt. The weight of approx. 4.2 kg is not exaggerated for a grown five and ensures that the body is calm and stable to the body.
The Brunel-Fivestring with its continuous neck, the massive neck and the optional string guide from the front, is the result of a lush sustain development and swinging pleasure arke maple ensures that the sound does not get too soft and soothing, but precisely and directly starts, Which is also important for fast-paced fusion carnivals.
Even the extender for the H-string is really usable. Actually one would only have to see under the deep H undefined booby, but actually the Brunel Fivestring also a cleanly defined A is effected. A certain surprise is provided by the electric touch, where the fat Alnico humbucker produces a rather airy and bony sound.
This is clearly due to the relatively high-pitched placement, where there are fewer bass components in the string amplitude. Convincingly, the 5M humbucker brings a clear, tidy sound with offensive growl. The narrow J-Pickup in the neck position is responsible for real bass depth and thickness, and the splitcoil fulfills this role with balanced broadband and a fine shot of offensive Alnico presence. The fact that its pole pieces protrude somewhat from the cap according to the handlebuck, could, in the case of a misdirected slap, lead to clattering noise when the strings hit the magnets.
The active OBP3 sound control is gaining power, resulting in different results in the different frequency bands. For the basses, for example, the excessively radical cuts are wasteful, because practically nobody really uses such dry settings. In the middle, the drastic effect is much more practical, especially since the switchable center frequency can still shift the striking nose, which makes the bundled testbass sound almost like a fretless.
On the other hand, extreme radical attenuations can be adjusted if an extratrocke radio sound or a soft, soft restraint is required. In the case of the height controller, the strong effect does not occur at all because it acts at quite high frequencies; This results in the detection of fine-metallic brilliance tips, but not hard and sharp presences.
Alternatives
Five-string electric basses with healthy equipment are already available in the most favorable price categories. But mostly these are vintage designs with screw neck, modern styled models with continuous neck construction are already scarce – and it goes directly into higher price categories. To this extent, the signature five-string strings, equipped with brand-name features, do not represent the mainstream. Ibanez, however, also builds similarly elaborate Neck-thru models, which are offered at attractive prices because of the more favorable production in Indonesia.
Summary
Bunny Brunel’s Signature model has a lot to offer: plenty of space for the fingers on the wide fretboard, a lot of bridge mass and a lot of sustain for lush swinging pleasure, a lot of tone with 24 freely accessible fret plus H string extender and many variations due to the rich Electric equipment – you get a lot of bass for the money, and the higher price class for a Korean LTD model should not be more astonishing.
Weihnachten mit Kaylene. Nette Jazz-Variante des allseits bekannten Klassikers. Inklusive eines ganz feinen Vortrags von Gitarrist Rich Mouser. So wird´s angenehm rund um den Baum…
Translated:
Christmas with Kaylene. Nice jazz variation of the well-known classic. Including a very fine performance by guitarist Rich Mouser. So it’s pleasant around the tree …
The New Boffomundo Show is honored to have as its first guest, Bunny Brunel, one of the greatest bass players in jazz. He tells some tales from his associations with the likes of Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Patrick Moraz, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke and more. Bunny’s wit and wisdom is also on display and it makes for a fine debut from the Boffomundo Boys. Enjoy! (Original Source: http://www.boffomundomusic.com/the-new-boffomundo-show)
(Article Translated from French) http://www.newsmada.com | Nov 10, 2016
Impressive and gracious at the same time, American Kaylene Peoples has seduced audiences with her talents as a singer and flautist. As part of the 27th International Madajazzcar Festival, she hosted a singing and flute workshop at the Ivan-toeran’ny kolontsaina malagasy (IKM) in Antsahavola yesterday.
Kaylene Peoples is a remarkable singer who interprets, with ease, songs composed of a range of five different octaves. The workshop was therefore rich in various tips and techniques for singing and playing the flute. Indeed, the American singer is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and conductor. She is one of the artists who arranged songs for the soundtracks of American films, such as “American Pie”, “Serendipity”, “Ruby” …
One of her most influential orinal songs is “Do you remember,” which was among the Top 100 chart, explained one of the festival’s organizers. Her other song “Giant Steps” was voted best jazz music at the Akademia Music Award December 2015. She will be back on the Malagasy stage this day at the Carlton and will be accompanied by Bunny Brunel, SAnda Ranaivosoa, Njaka Rakotonirainy and Bolo Rakoto David.
“…a veteran keyboardist who has always infused his funky rhythm and jazz with a touch of elegance and improvisational spirit.”– Jonathan Widran (All Music Guide)
Back by popular demand! Former resident of the Twin Cities, keyboard prodigy-turned music director and bandleader Bobby Lyle will again join old friend, bassist Billy Peterson, in an all acoustic evening in the Dunsmore Room at Crooners Lounge on October 24 with sets at 7 and 9 pm. The duo sold out two nights in the Dunsmore Room last May. Lyle will now make magic on the venue’s new Steinway D piano.
Bobby Lyle was born in Memphis, moving north to Minneapolis with his family. He started piano lessons under his mother’s tutelage at age six, noting that “growing up in a climate where you had six months of winter every year provided lots of practice time.” Influenced primarily by Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, Erroll Garner, and Art Tatum, Bobby was burning up pianos and Hammond B3s as early as age 13, soon gigging in Twin Cities clubs that couldn’t yet serve him. Enrolled at Macalester College for two years where he studied piano, Bobby eventually quit college and went on the road with Red Holt and Eldee Young. Bobby soon coming to the attention of Jimi Hendrix, with whom he worked a short time before Hendrix’ death. His family moved to LA and Lyle toured for a while with Sly and the Family Stone, then Ronnie Laws. After making a few recordings for Capitol, Lyle joined forces with George Benson, later touring with and serving as Music Director for Al Jarreau, Bette Midler, and Anita Baker. From the late 80s to mid 90s, Lyle made six recordings for Atlantic, still touring with his own bands and with Bette Midler.
Three decades into a prolific career as composer, arranger, bandleader, and recording artist of fusion as well as straight-ahead, Lyle released Straight and Smooth (Three Keys) in 2004 as an overt declaration of his dual keyboard personality. And with this release, Bobby became the first artist to ever chart on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart and the Straight Ahead Jazz Chart. Staying on the smooth side for his next recording, Bobby’s Hands On (2006) was described by All About Jazz as “a mix of charming, laid-back, romantic and danceable grooves.”
Relocating to Houston, in 2013 Bobby released his first Hammond B-3 organ CD, The Way I Feel—a tribute to the late, great Jimmy Smith and guitarist Wes Montgomery on his own label (New Warrior Music). In 2014 Lyle, in association with smooth jazz radio personality Guy Michaels, launched Houston’s first ever TV Jazz Show called The J-Spot. These days Bobby continues touring, arranging and composing, as well as teaching at the Houston Summer Jazz Workshop and as a touring clinician and private instructor.
From Minnesota’s “First Family of Music,” bassist Billy Peterson sang in commercials with sister Linda at age 9 and played bass and drums in his father’s ensembles while in junior high. He played in a variety of combos and big bands throughout his high school years, including a summer tour with the Righteous Brothers and a stint with the Lawrence Welk All-Stars. After graduation, Billy played three years with Billy Wallace (Clifford Brown’s pianist) and co-founded the band Natural Life with saxman Bob Rockwell. He has recorded with Leo Kottke and performed or recorded with BB King, Johnny Smith, Lenny Breau, and the late Les Paul. Due to tour commitments, he passed on an invitation to join the Bill Evans Trio (Marc Johnson’s good fortune!). In 1975, he appeared on Bob Dylan’s acclaimed Blood on the Tracks, and a few years later began a long-standing collaboration with Ben Sidran, which led to his 20+ year association with the Steve Miller Band. Billy continues to tour with Bob Rockwell in Europe and nationally with the Dave King Trio, and appears in the Twin Cities with The Peterson Family, How Birds Work, and other ensembles.
The Dunsmore Room is located in Crooners Lounge at 6161 Highway 65 NE, just north of I-694 and about 20 minutes northeast of downtown Minneapolis. Reservations highly recommended atwww.croonersloungemn.com.
An ode to the roots of jazz in all its splendor. The public and the music-loving festival-goers of the capital have been entitled to it during the last two days.
From the Carlton Anosy to the University of Antananarivo, the banner of American jazz proudly floated in the framework of the international festival Madajazzcar. From a musical evening on the Anosy side Tuesday to the friendly and warm stage of Ankatso University campus yesterday, sweet jazzy melodies in Uncle Sam’s country, intoxicated the public.
With a 27th edition that continues on the track of its previous ones, Madajazzcar keeps accumulating eminent guests on its stage. After the famous Frenchmen Francis Lockwood and Guillaume Peret who enchanted the ears of the public through their performances and their collaboration with the Malagasy artists during the first half of the festival, it is the turn of the American musicians to display their know-how , To the delight of the ears of good jazz lovers who joined Madajazzcar.
The American evening at the Carlton Anosy was just as friendly as it was unheard of through the performers who excelled on stage. With “American Jazz Night”, Madajazzcar wanted to make a strong impression, in particular, with the trainings to the poster. If he marked the audience of Antsahamanitra on October 8, the duo Bunny Brunel on bass and Kaylene Peoples on vocals, accompanied by Malagasy musicians, again delighted the audience.Similarly, The Jazz Diplomats was discovered with grace and vivacity.
Couples
“Year after year it is consistently a pleasure for us to promote jazz and its history to a wider audience. What these Western artists propose, enriches the festival as much as our understanding of this musical genre, “says Désiré Razafindrazaka, chairman of the organizing committee of the Madajazzcar festival. Interpreting mainly the great standards of jazz, but also their own compositions, Bunny Brunel and Kaylene Peoples charm the public.
As with their brothers-in-arms of the US Navy Band of last year, The Jazz Diplomats which also consist of US Marines, remains the big attraction this week. It is a formation in quartet issue itself of the US Navy Band which in its totality, consists of nearly five hundred, marines musicians. The Jazz Diplomats amazed the Jazz scene at the University which was at its 24th edition yesterday afternoon. The group consists of Everett Cencich on tenor saxophone, Colin Greggs on guitar, John Parris on bass and Dave Ward on drums, all in second class rank. The university campus was the theater of a unique musical discovery yesterday, and the student audience did not ask for more.
“This is our first visit to this country and we are delighted to be here, to interact and to share with all these resplendent artists of youth. It feels a great passion for jazz, “says Colin Greggs.Yesterday, The Jazz Diplomats shared the stage with Band’n Tanana and Deba ft Jazz Quart.Today these jazzmen of the American Navy will hold a jazz workshop in the American Cultural Center Tanjombato. Andry Patrick Rakotondrazaka
In October 1988, three young Malagasy doctors passionate about jazz decided to create a platform dedicated to this musical genre. They are Allain Razakatiana, Bruno Razafindrakoto and Henri Rakotondrabe. They first set up a jazz club at the French Alliance of Antananarivo (AFT) and then decided to multiply their activities by organizing shows. Thus was born the festival in 1989, referred to debut ” Jazz in Tana ” and ” Jazz in Mada “. In 1991, the event observed a stand-by but returned in force in 1992, inviting a pleiade of musicians of international renown. Quickly, the festival has gained momentum under its new name ” International Festival Madajazzcar ” selected under the inspiration of the composition of the pianist and clarinetist Rajaobelina Arly Arnaud Razafy. Desired Razafindrazaka took the helm in 2001. In 2010, Madajazzcar received the label called ” DjangodOr- international jazz trophies ” that allowed him to be part of the jazz festivals recognized in Africa. In 2014, it was voted Cultural Event by the Minister of Crafts, Culture and Heritage. And this year, it is at its 27th edition which will see the participation of many musicians from all over the world.
Invited foreign artists
The French saxophonist Guillaume Perret
Currently on tour internationally, Guillaume Perret specializes in the electric saxophone. It distills an original style mixing funk, rock and classical as well as various African rhythms that deliver a new vision of jazz. Armed with his saxophone, he succeeded in producing various sounds ranging from percussion to bass guitar.
The Norwegian guitarist Hakon Storm-Mathisen
This musician is not only a teacher at the Norwegian Music Academy, but also a conductor and soloist in several bands.Hakon Storm-Mathisen oscillates between the electric, acoustic and even classical styles. Winther founder of Storm Group, he won the Independent Music Award award in the category jazz albums in 2013 with the album ” Spinnaker “.
The French pianist Jean-Pierre Como
Passionate about jazz since his childhood, Jean-Pierre Como decided to deepen his passion by studying in a conservatory.He then accompanied several jazz musicians such as Bernard Maury, François Couturier …
The Swiss pianist Christoph Hegi
Self-taught, the musician created a group called Tschapsmusik in 1977, now Tin Roof Jazz Orchestra. More committed than the others, he decided to put his talent at the service of education, sharing his experiences with the students of Dattwi. In 2003, he met the singer Kristina Tajsic and formed the duo called Voice meets piano inspired by the American jazz of the years 20, 40 and 50.
The American bassist Bunny Brunel
Composer, arranger, producer and designer, Bunny Brunnel participated in one of the biggest concerts of Michel Polnareff “Ze tour”, officiating at the same time as bassist and musical director. This tour received a Victory of Music for the best live performance. The artist has also created a line of electric bass guitars and double basses, and is also the author of bass guitar learning books.
The American singer Kaylene Peoples
This artist is not only a singer, she is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and conductor. Kaylene Peoples adopts neo-classical symphonic styles. Note that she was the coach of David Raksin and Henry Mancini who were the winners of one of the editions of the Academy award. Working with several large production boxes such as Warner Bros., EMI, Universal … she has composed several soundtracks for films such as American Pie 2, Serendipity …
French pianist Francis Lockwood
Overwhelmingly talented since his early childhood, Francis Lockwood received the Alto Violin Prize at the Conservatory of Calais at the age of 17. But interested in the piano, he has integrated a number of rock and jazz bands. In 1987 he was named one of the top five pianists in Europe by Jazz Hot. He is influenced by artists like Bob Dylan, Cream and sometimes even Johann Sebastian Bach.
The German Quartet Jin Jim
The band evolves into a more modern genre mixing jazz and rock. In 2014, he won the jazz competition of the 35th edition of the Leverkusener Jazztage. The quartet especially highlights the sound of the Peruvian flute which allows in some pieces to make a musical journey between the Balkan folklore and hip hop.
The French saxophonist Baptiste Herbin
Baptiste Herbin started playing the saxophone at the age of 4. At 15, the artist decided to take an interest in jazz by studying at the Conservatory of Paris. Great artists like Charlie Parker or Cannonball Adderley influenced him a lot.Currently, he plays with the star Charles Aznavour.
The American group The jazz diplomats
Belonging to the US Navy, the four musicians share the same passion, jazz. Members of the US Navy Band that was already in Madagascar last year, they decided to form another band called The Jazz Diplomats.
The 27 th edition of Madajazzcar festival will take place from 1st to October 14, in any city Tana. Some 60 groups will move the city to the rhythm of the jazz endiablé.
Madajazzcar, an annual and inevitable rendez-vous for jazz lovers, takes ages but does not age. 27 years of history now, passion and a lot of motivation for each year to organize a festival of international scope, the committee does everything to make this event indelible in the annual cultural calendar Malagasy. Every month in October, and for many jazz fans both in Madagascar and abroad, like the jacarandas that bloom, the Madajazzcar offers its musical bouquet.The story then begins when three jazz-loving doctors, Dr. Allain Razakatiana, Dr. Bruno Razafindrakoto and Dr. Henri Rakotondrabe, decided in 1988 to create a jazz club at the Alliance Française de Andavamamba. Other illustrious musicians and aficionados will join them, such as Dr Hervé Razakaboana, Arnaud Razafy, Serge Rahoerson, the brothers Raymond, Dédé and Jeannot Rabeson, the brothers Gilles de Commarmand and later Désiré Razafindrazaka, who chairs the committee Organization to date.
Carrefour . Jazz is increasingly vulgarized and no longer remains within the walls of “music lovers” who have to be jazz fans to be part of a certain social class. Today, jazz goes down the street, and thanks largely to this festival which organizes free concerts practically throughout the city, the general public can appreciate this music at its true value. A true crossroads of international jazz, the Madajazzcar is, like all the other festivals of this world, a great international scene to be included in its artistic journey. This year again, several international artists will be invited to participate. 11 in total, including Bunny Brunel, Kaylene Peoples, and The Jazz Diplomates of the United States, Baptiste Herbin, Francis Lockwood, Guillaume Perret and Jean Pierre Como. Jah Pinpin from France, Hakon Storm-Mathisen from Norway, Jin Jim from Germany, and Christoph Hegi from Switzerland. And a multitude of national groups and artists, 43 in total. They will play in 17 sites, which leaves the choice to all jazz lovers to appreciate without moderation this music.
She is founder of the organization Pop Culture Hero Coalition which uses stories and celebrities from television, film and comics to speak out against bullying and other forms of hate and prejudice.
Masterson says she was picked on herself in school.
She says bullying is a universal problem.
“Whether it’s in kindergarten, first grade, or high school or the work place or relationships, or economic bullying or terrorism or war, it’s oppression. It’s the same issue. So, if we can teach kids how to overcome that, how to be heroes and how to find the joy of being heroes at an early age, we really can change the world,” she said.
Middle schoolers from other local districts also attended.
