NASHVILLE |DT: MARCH 6, 2006
AMOEBA RECORDS
TO SHOWCASE ITS NEW ARTISTS AT
SXSW SHOWCASE AND PARTY;
‘GRAM-JAM: A TRIBUTE TO GRAM PARSONS’ TO INCLUDE SPECIAL GUESTS
AMOEBA RECORDS—the new label from California’s independent record stores, Amoeba Music—will make its presence felt at the South By Southwest (SXSW) music conference with a showcase of artists whose music they’ll be releasing in 2006. On Friday, March 17 at the Elephant Room in Austin, AMOEBA will present live performances from BRANDI SHEARER & JIM CAMPILONGO, JIM CAMPILONGO ELECTRIC TRIO, STEPHANE WREMBEL TRIO with DAVID GRISMAN and BRANDI SHEARER & THE ROBIN NOLAN TRIO. These artists mix an array of eclectic styles, including Django Reinhardt-inspired gypsy jazz (Wrembel/Grisman), torch songs (Shearer) and country/jazz (Campilongo, who’s a member of Norah Jones’ project “The Little Willies”).
In keeping with its reputation as a place to discover new music, Amoeba Music’s new label, Amoeba Records, has chosen to debut with two Gypsy Jazz albums–a genre that defies traditional description and may otherwise be overlooked by big business record labels–plus a never-before-released live Gram Parsons album. The label is an organic evolution of the Amoeba Music record stores (in San Francisco, Berkeley and Los Angeles) where music fans can resurrect lost recordings, find undiscovered masterpieces of timeless music and explore every genre of music. Amoeba Music was described by Rolling Stone as “perhaps the country’s best–not to mention biggest–independent record store (2/19/98).” “We feel we’re really on the brink of something totally new and extraordinary,” says co-owner Dave Prinz. “This music is what Amoeba Records is all about.”
At SXSW, Amoeba Music will also host a pre-show party Thursday, March 16, from noon to 6:00 PM at Opal Divine’s Freehouse in Austin. This event will feature a musical tribute to the late GRAM PARSONS, whom Amoeba Records is honoring with the June 20 release of LIVE AT THE AVALON, a live recording by the Flying Burrito Brothers from 1969 in San Francisco. Amoeba’s “Gram Jam” will showcase the diverse range of both established and up-and-coming talent who have been influenced by the music of Gram Parsons, gathering together for an all-star musical celebration. Confirmed artists include Tim Easton, Jay Nash, Soda and His Million Piece Band, Tres Chicas, The Minus 5, Goldrush, Mike Stinson, Tony Gilkyson, Randy Weeks, Scott Kempner, Krister Axel, Eleni Mandell, Susan Marshall and more.
In a review of a recent Los Angeles showcase, Phil Gallo of Daily Variety described Robin Nolan’s performance with Brandi Shearer by noting that “[Nolan]…lies back and makes for an exquisite accompanist behind Brandi Shearer. She is a splendid singer—their act will certainly delight Madeleine Peyroux fans—and the gentleness of their show certainly plays up the romance inherent in this music. (1/25/06).” Of Stephane Wrembel’s set that evening, Gallo hailed the “dazzling chording, the romanticism, the swing and the eye-popping virtuosity,” adding, “…Wrembel’s compositions stretch out like a long conversation, with dips in tempos and textures ranging from the furious to lone elongated notes.”
Brandi Shearer & the Robin Nolan Trio: Rendezvous at the Nightery
Stephane Wrembel Trio w/Special Guest David Grisman: Gypsy Rumble
Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers: Live At The Avalon 1969
The full Amoeba SXSW schedule is as follows:
Thursday, March 16
Opal Divine’s Freehouse
700 West 6th Street
3:30-3:50 The Jim Campilongo Trio
3:50-4:05 Brandi Shearer & The Jim Campilongo Trio
4:15-4:50 The Stephane Wrembel Trio
5:00-5:20 The Robin Nolan Trio
5:20-5:45 Brandi Shearer & The Robin Nolan Trio
Friday, March 17
Elephant Room
315 Congress Ave
8:00-8:30PM The Robin Nolan Trio
8:45-9:30 Brandi Shearer and The Robin Nolan Trio
9:45-10:45 Stephane Wrembel Trio with David Grisman
11:00-11:45 Jim Campilongo Electric Trio
11:45PM-12:30am Brandi Shearer and Jim Campilongo
Saturday, March 18th
600-A Lamar Blvd.
5:00 PM Brandi Shearer and The Robin Nolan Trio
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