Rants, Raves & Rock ’n Roll

T Bear - The Way of the World Album

This episode of Big Blend Radio features T Bear, a distinctive singer, talented keyboard player, and songwriter, who discusses his music, touring, and latest solo album "The Way of the World" that's out now through Quarto Valley Records.
T Bear has made his mark as a solo performer and collaborator with many iconic artists — Crosby Stills and Nash, The Blues Brothers, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Edgar Winter, Billy Squier, Cher, as well as Gene Simmons and Peter Criss of Kiss, to name just a few, while also releasing several noteworthy solo albums over the years. Most recently he has been touring the world with acclaimed blues guitarist Walter Trout as a member of Walter’s band.
T Bear's album "The Way of The World," was written and recorded as the world emerged from the pandemic. Produced by long-time Grammy®-winning collaborators drummer Tony Braunagel (who has performed, toured, and recorded with a host of big names over the years including Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, BB King and many many others) and former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber, the horn-driven excursions of his previous album, "Fresh Bear Tracks," were stripped-down to a small group sound, recorded mostly in home studio environments. Augmenting this core trio was a selection of bass players, including the legendary Reggie McBride, Hutch Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt) and John Mayall-alumnus Ricky Cortez.
The Way of The World boasts a stunning set of twelve original songs, written and/or co-written by T Bear. Musically, the album is a stirring and infectious melodic mix of blues, rock n roll, Americana, and roots music accented by some occasional touches of tasty soul, jazz, Latin, and funk textures. More at: https://www.tbear.rocks/ 

Singer-Songwriter Ted Brown - Solstice Canyon Loop Album

Best known as longtime guitarist, vocalist and collaborator in the Greg Johnson Band, Ted Brown has released his third studio album "Solstice Canyon Loop." Hear all about it on this episode of Big Blend Radio, along with some banter about his move from New Zealand to the US, his music career and songwriting, and some conversation on music history.
The album “Solstice Canyon Loop” is a reminiscence of a journey. From Ted’s crazy, dangerous troubled twenties in his hometown of AK New Zealand, to his restoration to sanity in Los Angeles CA. He was able to start again in the U.S. and had time to really pause and reflect on this during the lockdown months of the pandemic. Plus, Ted really got in touch with the memory of some of those who never made it.
Calling on members of his 70’s Country cover band, The Electric Fields, Ted assembled some of his favorite L.A. guys to play on the record. Notably, Dusty Wakeman on Bass (Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Buck Owens), Mark Hart on Keys (Crowded House, Supertramp), Joel Martin on Guitar (Grateful to the Core, Pearl), Tim Walker on Pedal Steel (Glen Campbell, Jimmy Webb, The White Buffalo) and CalArts Alum and musician extraordinaire Rob Anderson on Drums. Ben King, Ted’s Greg Johnson bandmate, added sweet harmonies from his studio in NZ. 
More at http://www.tedbrownsongs.net/

Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki - Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, this episode of Big Blend Radio features filmmaker Jennifer Takaki who discusses the making of the documentary, "Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story," and how photographer Corky Lee influenced her work. 
For 50 years, Chinese American photographer Corky Lee documented the celebrations, struggles, and daily lives of Asian American Pacific Islanders with epic focus. Determined to push mainstream media to include AAPI culture in the visual record of American history, Lee produced an astonishing archive of nearly a million compelling photographs. His work takes on new urgency with the alarming rise in anti-Asian attacks during the Covid pandemic. Jennifer Takaki’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens. Learn more at: https://photographicjustice.com/ 
The film will have a nationwide US television release, premiering Monday, May 13 at 10/9C on PBS (check local listings) and on PBS apps to follow. More at: https://www.pbs.org/show/photographic-justice-the-corky-lee-story/  
Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki  is a fourth generation Japanese American from Colorado. She began her career in journalism at a Denver TV station and later moved to Hong Kong to work with Encore International. In Hong Kong she produced English-based news programming broadcast in China, India, and the Middle East via Rupert Murdoch’s STAR-TV.  In New York, she produced and directed “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” which premiered at DOC NYC and was supported by the Ford Foundation and The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). She was awarded the prestigious Better Angels Lavine Fellowship in 2023. 

Chris P. James - The Burrito Brothers

Ever since two Byrds left the “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” mothership over 50 years ago, The Burrito Brothers have been evolving and putting out wonderful albums. This episode of Big Blend Radio features Chris P. James, lead vocalist and keyboardist, who talks about the legendary history of The Burrito Brothers (aka The Flying Burrito Brothers), and their latest album, "Together." The musicians in today’s Burrito Brothers group, who have been together since 2009, include Chris P. James (keys/lead vocals), Tony Paoletta (pedal steel), Peter Young (drums) and Steve Allen (guitar). They have performed and recorded numerous notable previous works of their own and with countless other artists. More at https://www.theburritobrothers.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill

This episode of Big Blend Radio features filmmakers Brian Lindstrom and Andy Brown who discuss their new documentary "Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill." The film provides an intimate look at one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter from 1970s Los Angeles, Judee Sill. It charts her life from a troubled adolescence of addiction, armed robbery and prison through her meteoric rise in the music world and early tragic death. Featuring Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Fleet Foxes, David Geffen, JD Souther, Big Thief, Weyes Blood, Tim Page and more. Executive Producers include Maya Hawke and Cheryl Strayed. "Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill" will be released theatrically in New York (IFC Center), Los Angeles (Laemmle Noho), Portland (Cinema 21) and key cities on April 12, 2024 with a VOD release on all major platforms in the US and Canada. Images and trailer featured on the podcast are courtesy of Greenwich Entertainment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Tarquin - Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes Album

Featuring Emmy and multiple award-winning guitarist Brian Tarquin, this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Podcast celebrates National Guitar Day (Feb. 11) and the release of his latest "Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends" collaborative album "Beyond the Warrior's Eyes." The follow up to "Brothers in Arms," this album also features legendary jazz violinist Jean Luc Ponty, and guitar legends Eric Johnson, Robben Ford (Miles Davis), Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Dean Brown (David Sanborn), Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), Chris Poland (Megadeth), John Tropea (Billy Cobham), Steve Kindler (Jeff Beck), Carl Verheyen (Supertramp) & Larry McCray (John Mayall) and the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, and, studio drummer Reggie Pryor.“Beyond The Warrior’s Eyes” mission is to support and raise awareness for the charity, Hope For The Warriors, who provide medical care, mental health counseling, professional training and education, physical conditioning and transition services for wounded, ill, and injured Marines and Navy members. More: https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/. If you'd like to support the effort, visit the Special Donation Page: http://tinyurl.com/4p6psem6 MORE ABOUT BRIAN TARQUIN: * Visit his site: https://www.briantarquin.com/ * Check out his Guitarist Success Insider Q&A and "Brothers in Arms" interview in our Big Weekly Blend Magazine: http://tinyurl.com/mry9af7d SPECIAL THANKS to Steve & Karen Wilson, innkeepers and owners of The Lion & The Rose Bed & Breakfast in Asheville. Visit: https://www.lion-rose.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Daily Blend - The Day the Music Died

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast remembers popular rock 'n roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson, along with pilot Roger Peterson, who were all killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959. We revisit an interview with Lindsay James, Executive Director of Visit Mason City in Iowa, a destination near the memorial at the crash site, and Surf Ballroom where the musicians played their last concert. More: https://visitmasoncityiowa.com/ Mason City is also a destination on the historic Jefferson Highway that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more: https://jeffersonhighway.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guy Wall - Aarythmers New Album ”Cardiac”

This episode of Big Blend Radio features Guy Wall, a New Orleans-based musician, singer, songwriter and founder of the Arrythmers. WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/DFhvGKxrlx4 Hear about their second album "Cardiac" that evolves from the rhythm and blues feel of their first album, “Below Sea Level” (released in June 2021), to a modern rock sound with new songs and new members on bass, drums and keyboards.The song instrumentation and most backing vocals were recorded in the living room of the late Vince Marini, lead guitar player. The rhythm section consisted of Moses Eder on drums and David Gilman and Dave Pomerlou on bass. Emma Moates sang lead vocals on WTF and "Lover Forever" and backing vocals on most of the songs. Rick Nelson added keyboards on some of the tracks. More: https://aarythmers.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.