I was first introduced to Harry Connick Jr. when watching “When Harry Met Sally”, when the New Orleans crooner infused such standards as “It Had To Be You” with amazing style and pizzazz.

Since then I’ve been a fan, watching him in movies, on tv shows and in concert.

I was excited to get the opportunity to review his new cd, “Your Songs”, which I received from The One2One Network.

Produced by Clive Davis, with appearances by Branford and Wynton Marsalis, “Your Songs” contains 14 contemporary pop classics orchestrated and performed by Harry Connick Jr.

This CD leaps off with a big band version of “All The Way” and it’s one of my favorites. I’m a big fan of Ol’ Blue Eyes and Harry does this timeless piece justice.

Harry’s voice is smooth like a glass of Bailey’s Irish Cream or Fred Astaire’s dancing.

I also loved his version of “Who Can I Turn To” and “Smile”.

Some that I didn’t care for as much were more modern pieces like Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are” or Elton John’s “Your Song”. With those, I liked the originals better and missed Harry’s signature New Orleans flavor. The spice was lacking.

I did love “Besame Mucho”, which Harry said he sang for his Pops who spent a lot of time in Spain in the ’50’s.

I feel that this is a good mix of songs with a romantic feel. Harry’s voice smooths over a rough day and soothes and relaxes like a warm bubble bath.

While I do feel that this cd doesn’t have as much of Harry’s groove and spark as usual, I do feel that it is great for playing at a dinner party, having friends over, or when you just want to chill out and be mellow.

Lose yourself in the smoothness.

For a Behind the Scenes Look at ‘Making of’ the cd

To visit Harry’s website
And to check out his Facebook page

Look for “Your Songs” on Amazon and ITunes!

One of my favorites on AI this past year was Matt Giraud. Here he is goofing off with a friend. He asked people to send him twitter rhymes and made it into a rap. Good to see him having fun.

While twittering recently, I wondered if people are using technology more to communicate and losing the personal touch. I mean, we have Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and so many other networking sites. Now Yahoo and others have these applications right on their home pages. I love that.
People are always texting and phoning, but, how often do we get to see our friends?
I am happy to have a large network of friends online, but I am making it a point to have a huge bbq this weekend just so none of us forget one another’s faces :).

Speaking of faces, my new Dell has face recognition software. I think that’s pretty cool. I suppose it wouldn’t work so well if you had a twin though.

I listen to a lot of music, but, it is rare for me to find someone who is truly a rare bird.

Diane Birch is that fresh new voice whose debut album “Bible Belt” just came out this month.

Diane is in her mid-twenties, but she truly sounds like an old soul.

As I listened to her cd, so many of my favorite women singers came to mind: The Indigo Girls, The Dixie Chicks, Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall, Adele, Laura Nyro, Ricki Lee Jones, even Janis Joplin and Billie Holiday.

I truly questioned how someone could remind me of all these stellar women and yet be completely her own person, yet that is the paradox and the joy of Diane Birch.

Diane’s music has an eclectic feel and seems to encompass all sides of her personality and musical loves. Her life has covered a lot of ground thus far as well. She was born in Michigan, but spent her childhood traveling between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia before her family settled in Oregon.

Her father was a preacher, and, in some ways, Diane rebelled against the constraints that this placed on her. And, yet, what’s fascinating is that after all that rebellion, a lot of her early influences are part of her music now as she is inspired by church hymns and sings about angels, heaven and forgiveness.

Now, imagine taking blues, classic rock, du wop, and combining them with jazz and gospel and you’ll have a hint of what Diane’s music is about.

She’s also a brilliant piano player.

The cd opens with one of my favorites, “Fire Escape”. It’s a soulful sultry song about love and loss.

Diane’s music is the type that slowly saunters in wearing an unlikely hat. It beckons to you, seduces you, slowly charms you and soon you find yourself dancing in a familiar dream.

Her music speaks of heartbreak, of finding oneself, of life’s experiences – but even through the tears, it soars. Her music does not drag but instead finds wings, upbeat grooves to carry it. Another favorite, “Rise Up” is inspiring.

I have gotten so tired of people trying to be trendy, of musical fads that come and go, of formulaic overproduced pop. And, for me, Diane Birch is the antidote.

She writes all of her own songs and is a gifted musician in the true sense of the word. She is fresh and new, yet her music hearkens back to the 60’s and 70’s. In short, her music is timeless, which to me, is the very best thing to be.

I can’t really give it enough stars, but, I can say, give it a listen.
I really think you’ll love it.

Another favorite of mine is “Rewind”, about how you wish you could just
go back and press start again, but, you know you can’t.

“Valentino” has rhythms which, for me, are reminiscent of “Iko Iko”,
a popular New Orleans folk tune, covered by the Dixie Cups.
Honestly, there is not a song on this cd I don’t like.

“Bible Belt” was recorded in NYC and New Orleans with the same producers who collaborated on Joss Stone’s first albums. Diane is working with the best and it shows.

Diane Birch’s voice is heartfelt, full of soul, and completely fearless –
powerful, yet nuanced.

Her music is that of a true artist who needs to create to fulfill their
vision and their passion.

Sometimes you have to “sing the blues” – and sometimes the blues just have to sing, dance, and soar beyond the sky.

This is the magic of Diane Birch.

Check her out at Amazon, iTunes, and on her myspace page where she calls herself: ‘That Piano Girl’.

Diane Birch

Beauty Before Death just printed today at Threadless and much celebrating occurred!

Cameesa is a crowd-funded t-shirt site which means that all of us get together to support a shirt we love and want to see printed.

The beauty of it is that you don’t have to wait to see if a shirt gets enough votes or pleases The Powers That Be. If enough of us love it, we support it and get a shirt.

And, how cool is it to be supporters of wearable art? For me, as an artist and a
consumer of art, it’s where it’s at.

It used to be $20 to support, but, they have lowered the cost to $10 plus your shipping fee and you will get a shirt when it is fully supported. Now, you can take your $10 and support as many designs as you like and when one gets fully supported, your $10 goes there. Or, you may support designs separately. And, you can always get your support money back if you get cold feet or simply get tired of waiting.

So, there is really nothing to lose and lots to gain. A lot of great shirts are there just waiting for you, yes you, to lend some support. I’ve received two so far and am waiting on my third. Both are incredible.

Cameesa also sells the shirts once they are printed but it will cost you more, so get in early and be a part of bringing these designs to life.

— Illustrator’s Block by Drakxxx

I hate the AI machine with a passion, but I really love Matt Giraud’s personality, piano skillz, and his soothing soulful vocals. If you can spare a vote this week, please do. This week I believe the theme is Rat Pack vocals. I’m hoping for something in the vein of his “Georgia” performance from Hollywood week. Go Matt! If you don’t make it on this cheesy show, I wish you the best afterward.

Yanni has had an amazing career so far and now he teams up with Grammy-winning producer, Ric Wake, to showcase four new vocalists who contributed to writing the songs on this cd. They were encouraged to write for the songs that moved them most. And, for me, that would be all of them as I enjoyed this cd from start to finish.

The four talented vocalists are Nathan Pacheco, Ender Thomas, Leslie Mills and Chloe and they blend seamlessly with Yanni’s compositions.
I especially love “Omaggio”, “Amare di Nuovo”, “Orchid” and the Indian accented “Our Days”. I love the mix of Spanish, Italian and English.

This cd with its bonus dvd is calm and peaceful yet alive with feeling. It is reflective and meditative. It connects me to a deeper place within.

There is enough variation to enjoy here but overall there is a mood created.
It is reminiscent of Andrea Bocelli with hints of Enya.

When I listen, I feel I am on the back porch gazing out at a limitless blue sky. There is a Japanese garden where koi are swimming and the I’m sipping some Earl Grey tea. The moment is now and everything feels right with the world. Bravo artists!

The Yanni voices world tour began April 10, so if you like this music, head out and experience it live!

Anyone who is a fan of “Dancing with the Stars” knows Mark Ballas and Derek Hough, but, they may not know exactly how multi-talented these guys are.
Not only are they champion dancers, but, they also have loved music since they were small. This love led to playing music as well as writing.

I admire their commitment both to their music as well as to their friendship. Somehow, doing what you love with someone you are best friends with really adds to the chemistry and enhances the experience. That exuberance is pleasantly infectious.

I was given the opportunity by One2One Network to review Ballas Hough Band’s debut cd, BHB. The band features Mark and Derek on guitar and vocals, Emily Grace on keyboards/vocals, as well as Sam Marder on bass and Harry Sullivan on drums. They are a tight-knit group who have been friends and talented music mates for some time now.

What’s great is that Mark and Derek have written and collaborated on most of the songs which adds authenticity.
As Derek says, “it’s not like we looked through a catalog”.

This is the type of cd that grows on you. I am not a huge pop music fan, but the more I listen to the songs, the more I enjoy them.
The mood is very uptempo and is great for dancing. I also found it’s excellent for working out or for cleaning house. It really is high-energy and upbeat.

Their sound, for me, is like a combination of George Michael and Wham, Michael Jackson, and Prince – with a hint of Marc Anthony thrown in. It is the type of cd that I feel would definitely appeal to a young crowd, but, that doesn’t mean all ages can’t enjoy it.

It’s feel-good music.

Matt Collar from All Music Guide, in his review, says the cd “should draw favorable comparisons to such similarly inclined outfits as Maroon 5 and The Jonas Brothers”.

The cd begins with “Do You Love Me” which is very current, head bopping music.
“Devastated” is catchy, about the ups and downs of love. I really like
the harmonies in this.
I am also a fan of “Closer” and its rhythms.

There are a lot of good songs to enjoy here.
The first single, “Do It For You”, was co-written by Kara DioGuardi.

My favorite of the cd is definitely “Underwater. For me, it’s the most moving and has a slow sensual feel, almost dreamlike.

Overall, BHB is the type of cd you want to crank up and play anytime you want to jam.

BHB is like cotton candy – light, tasty, fun and leaves you smiling.

Check them out at Amazon
and at their website