Perpetual Change — TG Music!

 Spanish Traveler by Michelle Rocking Horse Garcia

Michelle Rocking Horse Garcia

Michelle Rocking Horse Garcia is an artist who has been featured in this column a lot over the years. She was first introduced to TGForum readers in August, 2006. An extensive interview with her was posted in two installments in September and October, 2012. Her newest released CD, Dead End Street, was reviewed in January, 2013, as was a previous album, Laughing In The Kitchen, in July 2013. Previous CDs such as the 2000 release of San Francisco Queers have also been referenced in past columns.

One project of hers that I ‘ve always enjoyed listening to is the instrumental Spanish Traveler. Long time readers of my columns will know that I’m a fan of instrumental music and because of this, I really wanted to review this particular project of Michelle’s.

However, when I approached her about it, she asked me to hold off for a while because she was in the process of recording a new version. I received my copy a few weeks back and was more than surprised at the overall quality compared to the original. Of the 12 tracks included only four are works from the original release.

It’s more than obvious that Michelle put a lot of time, thought, and effort into this updated version.

“As you know, I originally put this album out in 2000 just when I was crowned Miss TGSF 2000,” she said. “I threw it together quickly as the music flowed and the writing was easy and not too challenging. Some songs were great, the others I felt were only okay songs, weak, repetitive, and not up to the quality I had in mind. I really wanted to record a whole new album. Although there were several songs on this original album that were different, magical, and I really wanted to included in the updated release of new Spanish Traveler.

“Years went by and I had written more instrumentals. I had nowhere to place them on my vocal albums, all for the exception of Warming Up The Kitchen on Laughing In The Kitchen. It’s the only instrumental track on all of my vocal albums.”

The four cuts that from the original Spanish Traveler release that have been re-recorded are: Moonlight Bossanova, Innocence, Jazzed On Java, and Watercolor Sunset.

On Moonlight Bossanova, the title pretty much says it all. Michelle told me that she wrote this tune while living on Kauai. In spite of the title, though, the feel of the song is more jazz than anything, with some excellent guitar work. It’s also one of the project’s outstanding tracks.

Innocence, which Michelle likes to describe as “mystical” is actually a very firm nod toward New Age music. Great Latin percussion, and a definite better production than the original.

Jazzed On Java is another of the album’s better moments. The overall feel here will definitely appeal to fans of Santana since it’s very reminiscent of Santana’s very early work. Excellent guitar playing throughout.

The last tune also found on the original release is Watercolor Sunset. While it’s an excellent example of Michelle’s acoustic/classical guitar work, it’s almost New Age in it’s overall feel. Michelle says of the tune “…I wanted to leave listeners with a feeling of twilight, or perhaps the last thing they listen to before turning out the lights…a more personal way of saying goodnight.”  Believe me, the tune does just that. It’s another of the project’s outstanding tracks.

One thing I didn’t expect to hear is the tune Nash Jam. Michelle now calls Nashville home and this tune definitely shows a bit of country influence. However, it’s not a spoof. Michelle really can play in this style as well.

Michelle’s Spanish/Latin background carries several of the other tunes on Spanish Traveler. The best examples are El Gato Negro, Lilly, Wailua Samba, and Pop Tart. A tune called BBQ Daze is good classic rock, while another, Conga Bop, is the heaviest rock moment on the project, with excellent keyboards and guitar work, and is yet another tune bordering on New Age. My personal favorite on Spanish Traveler is Banana Boat Jam.  It’s actually the one tune that’s somewhat difficult to categorize. It’s avant garde jazz influenced with an underlying Latin percussion background and is perhaps the overall best production moment on the project.

Michelle played everything with the exception of Ward Law, harmonica on El Gato Negro; Richard Elliot, sax, on Banana Boat Jam; and drummer Chuck Nelson on Conga Bop.

“The implications of writing an instrumental album as opposed to all the vocal albums I’ve done has offered me a break in writing meaningful and time consuming lyrics,” Michelle said. “So in a way this latest release of the new Spanish Traveler has given me some time off from writing more complicated music. Now, it’s back to work. I’m planning new albums … one all country and something I’ve never done … a ‘love song’ album. Should be fun. Then I’ll write another LGBT album.”

Whatever Michelle Rocking Horse Garcia decides to record and release, rest assured that it will be well written, well played, incredibly produced, and well worth obtaining for your music collection.

For more information, please check out Michelle’s website. Her music is available through  iTunes, ReverbNation, and indiemusicchannel.com. She’s also on Facebook and YouTube. And, Michelle is planning a concert featuring a lot of her newer material sometime in the coming months in the Nashville area. TGForum will definitely keep you updated on concert dates when they become available.

ALSO THIS MONTH

Lauper

Cyndi Lauper

It’s been announced that Cyndi Lauper will be releasing She’s So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration on April 1st. Released through Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, pre-orders are available through Amazon.com and iTunes. Lauper will also be joining Cher as a special guest on 36 dates for the upcoming Dressed To Kill tour. For more information and tour dates, please check out Lauper’s website and her Facebook page.

Boy George

Boy George

Boy George will be releasing his first studio album in 18 years on March 1st. Entitled This Is What I Do, a deluxe edition is scheduled for release on March 25th. In a press release, George said of the project: “I wanted to make a baggy album, not overproduced and I think I have achieved it. I was listening to things like Beast Of Burden by The Stones and I had my head most definitely in the ‘70s. I was also writing from a happy place. This time, no ex-lovers to get revenge on.” (

For more information, please check out Boy George’s website.  He’s also on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and YouTube.

David de Alba

David de Alba

It’s always good to plan ahead. David de Alba has done just that, and is already promoting his next new show at The Onyx Theatre in Las Vegas on June 22nd. His last engagement there was so well received, they immediately asked him back, but apparently this is the earliest date available. We’ll definitely post updates as the date draws closer. For more information, please check out David’s extensive website.

NEW MUSIC

Animal by Berlin

This is Berlin’s seventh studio album, along with an impressive array of compilation albums, EP’s and live recordings. The band consists of Terri Nunn, lead and background vocals; Carlton Bost, guitar and programming; Dave Schulz, keyboards, vocals; Derek Cannavo, guitar, bass and programming; and Windy Wagner, vocals. (For live performances, the band is Nunn, Bost, Schulz, and drummer Chris Olivas.)

The bulk of Animal (which is the name of the title track) is electronic dance music and includes tunes such as Nice To Meet You, With The Lights On, Secrets, Break the Chains, Stand Up, and a remix of Animal. What caught me by surprise was the laid back material. It’s The Way, with vocals by Windy Wagner, is an excellent change from the ubiquitous 4/4 beat. So is Blame It On The World and Mom, which is by far Nunn’s best overall vocal on the project.

Don’t Make Me Regret It starts out as a laid back tune, but quickly hits a dance groove. The real surprise was the cover of the old Jefferson Airplane song Somebody To Love. What’s unique about the inclusion of this tune is that while the backing music is definitely current EDM, Nunn’s vocal stays very true to what Grace Slick did. Nunn’s voice is also very complimentary to the overall feel of the song.

For production credits, please check out the CD liner notes. For more information check out their website.

Love, Marriage & Divorce by Toni Braxton and Babyface

This is the single most laid back project I’ve ever heard in my entire life. With the exception of one uptempo, almost old school disco type tune, and a semi-laid back ending, Love, Marriage & Divorce only needs candle light and a good bottle of wine to accomplish what most of us spend a lot of money on to make happen. If this project doesn’t help put you and yours in that special mood for an evening of something other than watching the tube — see a doctor.

Okay, I know that sounds like a criticism. It’s not. Braxton and Babyface have managed to put together a project that musically takes you through the gamut of relationship, from beginning to, sadly, an unforseen ending. Nonetheless, and in spite of the mellow groove throughout, it’s not a one trick pony of a project. Both Braxton and Babyface have solo moments.  Braxton on I Wish and I’d Rather Be Broke, and Babyface on I Hope That You’re Okay.  They duet and interchange their vocals throughout the rest of the material.

The aforementioned quasi-disco moment is Heart Attack. The last track, The D Word, is the other not-totally-slow groove.  It’s also lyrically the most poignant, ending the album with a dose of reality many of us have faced. Even the first few lines of the song really hit home:

I put the papers on your doorstep
The keys under the mat
Although the lawyer said to mail you
I’m still not over it

Love, Marriage & Divorce is thought provoking stuff. Hopefully, it’ll make some people think about what that certain somebody is actually supposed to mean to them. Produced by Kenny Babyface Edmonds. Check out the CD insert for song writer and musician credits. Also, www.Babyfacemusic.com; Facebook and Twitter, and www.tonibraxton.com, Facebook and Twitter.

Tags: featured, music, Musician

Category: Music