Mike Shabb

Sparks & Shadows, a multifaceted entertainment company founded by preeminent film and TV composer Bear McCreary, is set to release Brendan McCreary Sings the Love Songs of Mike Stoller a new collection of fresh interpretations of rare gems as well as never-before-recorded songs by Stoller, most of them cowritten with his late writing partner, Jerry Leiber.

"Contemplating the Engine Room" is a punk rock opera by Minutemen veteran Mike Watt. Released in 1997, the album is a punk rock song cycle that uses navy life as an extended metaphor for both Watt's family history and his first band, the Minutemen. The album was critically well-received, though not universally. The cover art features a picture of Watt's father in his Navy uniform.

"It gets confusing with his name but this is Michael (Peter) Smith from Chicago. Folk singer, married to another folk singer, Barbara Barrow. Michael wrote the classic The Dutchman which became a folk "hit" for Steve Goodman back in 1972. This 1974 album on the Bell label is the debut for Michael and Barbara with the interesting title, "Mickey And Babs Get Hot." It does have a version of The Dutchman on it, as well as Steal Away and The Ballad Of Dan Moody among others (but sadly not Spoon River, also done by Goodman). My all time favorite song here however is Osceola's Last Words, originally a poem by Florida poet laureate Will McLean. It is a strange but powerful ballad in the hands of these two and easily my very favorite version. Bill Staines also did a fine version. This rarity is not a GREAT album but a worthy pickup for those songs mentioned."

A meditation on the beauty of nature and the fate of the planet, “This Rock We’re On: Imaginary Letters” is a multi-movement work by the acclaimed composer Mike Holober. Written for jazz orchestra, voice, cello, and percussion, it features art songs set for chamber ensemble that take the form of imaginary letters to or from selected “protagonists” – naturalist authors, artists, and activists who dedicated their lives to appreciating and protecting the earth we inhabit. Each of the vocal works is followed by an instrumental jazz orchestra piece that reflects upon the text of the letter. Recorded and premiered by the GRAMMY® nominated Gotham Jazz Orchestra in June 2023, a double album is scheduled for release on 14th of June 2024.

In 2022, Legendary Saxman Frank Catalano will be touring the USA, Europe and Asia extensively as well as releasing a collection of recordings from his many performances at New York’s legendary Birdland Jazz Club. These recordings feature Herbie Hancock Headhunters alum Mike Clark and will be Frank’s 5th album on the Ropeadope label.

In this modern age of music, genres blend together as naturally as the river flows into the sea. With the expansive library of all the music of the world from every time period at our fingertips, creative artists seem to be more and more liberated from the archaic mentality of being pigeonholed into one genre or demographic. Mike Love is at the forefront of this movement. With a foundation rooted in the spirituality and message-based music of Reggae and Rastafari, he blends the sounds of progressive and classic rock, pop, R & B, soul, blues, flamenco, jazz and so much more. Healing is at the core of his music.

In this modern age of music, genres blend together as naturally as the river flows into the sea. With the expansive library of all the music of the world from every time period at our fingertips, creative artists seem to be more and more liberated from the archaic mentality of being pigeonholed into one genre or demographic. Mike Love is at the forefront of this movement. With a foundation rooted in the spirituality and message-based music of Reggae and Rastafari, he blends the sounds of progressive and classic rock, pop, R & B, soul, blues, flamenco, jazz and so much more. Healing is at the core of his music.

Singer/songwriter and co-founder of Royal Southern Brotherhood, Mike Zito, formed the Wheel in 2012. The Band is comprised of Jimmy Carpenter on guitars and saxophone, Rob Lee on drums, and Scot Sutherland on bass. The result effectively announces one of the most exciting and highly-anticipated new releases of the year.

In this modern age of music, genres blend together as naturally as the river flows into the sea. With the expansive library of all the music of the world from every time period at our fingertips, creative artists seem to be more and more liberated from the archaic mentality of being pigeonholed into one genre or demographic. Mike Love is at the forefront of this movement. With a foundation rooted in the spirituality and message-based music of Reggae and Rastafari, he blends the sounds of progressive and classic rock, pop, R & B, soul, blues, flamenco, jazz and so much more. Healing is at the core of his music.

Deluxe three disc (two CDs + NTSC/Region 0 DVD)edition which includes a newly-compiled work by Mike Oldfield himself - The 1984 Suite, which gathers together tracks from Discovery and The Killing Fields together with rarities and a newly-voiced version of 'Poison Arrows', called 'Zombies (Halloween Special).' This 38-minute suite takes up the second CD of this deluxe edition and is presented in stereo and 5.1 on the DVD, alongside three in-era promos. Discovery was Mike Oldfield's ninth studio album. Originally released in June 1984, the UK Top 20 album contains two songs which Oldfield would later include on Two Sides his career best of - 'The Lake', an expansive instrumental reflection on Lake Geneva and 'To France', a classic folk-pop ballad featuring Maggie Reilly. As with all of Oldfield's critically acclaimed re-release program, the notes include a new interview with Mike.