(le) poisson rouge

"This project feels like a step forward for me," Cantrell notes. "But at the same time, I feel like I'm going back to my roots, making music purely for myself. Delving into these songs allowed me to feel my way through the music and rediscover my instincts."

Trains and Boats and Planes features Cantrell's first new recordings in three years, ending a temporary hiatus during which her attentions were focused on raising her new daughter. The new, all-covers collection – available exclusively as a digital release -- adds a vibrant new chapter to the artist's distinctive, deeply personal body of work, which has artfully merged her lifelong affinity for American country and folk traditions with an unmistakably contemporary sensibility. The result is timelessly resonant music that's both personal and thoroughly original.

The British daily The Independent called Cantrell "arguably the most vital new country voice in decades," while The New York Times praised "the kind of cosmic wistfulness that the best country and folk music can conjure when it dreams of the past." The Wall Street Journal described her as "sweet and steady, sneaking up on you with a light touch and a sustained passion." London's Sunday Times noted, "She picks great songs to sing, and her clear, understated voice proves the perfect vehicle to convey the emotion-drenched lyrics." Rolling Stone called Cantrell "a modern woman with an old-timey heart, with a voice pitched somewhere between the bluesy realism of Lucinda Williams and the vintage femininity of Kitty Wells."

Trains and Boats and Planes explores the time-honored theme of travel, meditating movingly on the heartache of separation and loss. Cantrell delivers deeply-felt interpretations of a diverse set of tunes, including her bittersweet reading of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David-penned title track, along with poignant interpretations of Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings" and Roger Miller's "Train of Life," a wry take on John Hartford's "Howard Hughes Blues," a mournful reworking of New Order's "Love Vigilantes" (also included on the soundtrack album of the documentary film Body of War, alongside the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Eddie Vedder), and an evocative arrangement of the Gordon Lightfoot epic "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."

Cantrell recorded Trains and Boats and Planes in a series of loose, informal sessions at guitarist Mark Spencer's Brooklyn studio Tape Kitchen. The tracks feature Cantrell's live combo, including Spencer on guitar and his former Blood Oranges bandmate Jimmy Ryan on mandolin, plus bassist Jeremy Chatzky (whose resume includes work with Bruce Springsteen and Ronnie Spector) and drummer Steve Goulding (of Mekons/Waco Brothers/Graham Parker and the Rumour fame). The new tracks also feature contributions from noted multi-instrumentalist Ted Reichman on accordion, and rising jazz-pop artist Jenny Scheinman on violin and harmony vocals.

"Recording this EP was very affirming, and it was a real pleasure making this music," Cantrell states. "I love these songs, and though some are a bit melancholy, that was part of the process. The songs allowed me to explore the emotional spaces created by some big changes in my life that had left me unsure of my bearings. And I'd always wanted an excuse to record a Bacharach tune."

The musical depth and emotional engagement of Trains and Boats and Planes will be familiar to anyone acquainted with Cantrell's prior work. The New York-based Nashville native's richly expressive musical vision draws upon a deep well of musical and personal experience. Growing up in the country music capitol, she was immersed in the music early in life, and furthered her musical education as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. After relocating to New York to attend Columbia University, she began singing in dorm rooms and coffeehouses, performing with groups like Bricks, led by future Superchunk/Merge Records kingpin Mac Macaughan.

After college, Cantrell moved to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, where she befriended John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants, who recruited her to sing on "The Guitar" on the band's Apollo 18 album, as well as appearing in the video for the song. In 1996, Flansburgh produced and released an EP of her original compositions through his "Hello CD of the Month Club" subscription service.

While she was developing her own musical vision, Cantrell was also gaining considerable notoriety playing other people's records as a radio DJ. After a stint on Columbia University's WKCR, she moved to the legendary New Jersey freeform station WFMU. During its 13-year run on WFMU, Cantrell's Saturday-afternoon country show The Radio Thrift Shop became an institution in the New York area—and won an international audience, thanks to online streaming.

Balancing her budding performing career with her radio pursuits and her day job at a Wall Street investment firm, Cantrell released her debut album Not the Tremblin' Kind in 2000 on husband Jeremy Tepper's tiny Diesel Only label. The album showcased her original songwriting, as well as her uncanny knack for unearthing obscure vintage country gems and material by contemporary writers. Despite its low-key release, Not the Tremblin' Kind won an unexpected level of national attention, earning countless press raves including a four-star review in Rolling Stone.

One of Cantrell's early admirers was Teenage Fanclub/BMX Bandits member Francis Macdonald, who released Not the Tremblin' Kind in Britain on his Glasgow-based indie Shoeshine label. Cantrell soon became a sensation in the U.K., where she received considerable press and airplay and toured extensively. Her British fans included legendary BBC DJ John Peel, who described Not the Tremblin' Kind as "my favorite record of the last ten years and possibly my life," and who would have Cantrell record no less than five prestigious "Peel Sessions."

Cantrell's 2002 sophomore release When the Roses Bloom Again earned even more attention, with the artist making high-profile appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and the Grand Ole Opry, as well as being featured on NPR's All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, World Café and Mountain Stage, and profiled in The New York Times' Arts and Leisure section and Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine. She won another high-profile fan in Elvis Costello, who stated, "If Kitty Wells made Rubber Soul, it would sound like Laura Cantrell," and who brought Cantrell along as his opening act on 17 dates of his 2002 U.S. tour.

Cantrell moved to the Matador label for 2005's Humming by the Flowered Vine, which featured contributions from producer J.D. Foster and members of Calexico and Ollabelle as well as her regular band. The album was greeted by fans and critics as her most mature and accomplished musical statement yet, and its release was accompanied by her most extensive roadwork to date, including appearances on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion and KCRW's Morning Becomes Electric.

Having added parenthood to her extensive resume, Laura Cantrell has her sights set on her musical future, with Trains and Boats and Planes pointing the way. "I look at this project as a bridge from the familiarity of my past to what lies ahead," she states. "I'm still working on crossing that span, but with renewed enthusiasm for what's on the other side."

http://www.lauracantrell.com

Stuedabakerbrown is one of New York’s most up and coming and exciting independent rock bands. Since 2001 the band has grown from a hometown favorite in Monroe, NY to selling out New York City’s famous Bitter End rock club and performing as an opening act for many national touring artists such as Say Anything (at SUNY Potsdam), Matt and Kim (at Duke University), Safetysuit, Locksley, Hanson, The Spill Canvas (at Michigan State University), 10 Years, and many more.

The band draws influences from legends such as U2 and Tom Petty, contemporaries like Coldplay and Jimmy Eat World, and the essence of mid-90’s alternative rock from their youth is evident in their songwriting.

The band has a growing list of professional accolades: they have secured licensing deals with major networks such as ESPN, MTV, and E!; their live performances have been repeatedly featured on Fearless Music TV, a nationally syndicated live music program based in New York; they have received regular airplay and artist spotlights on several regional radio stations including Q104.3 in New York City; they have also been selected to perform at the 2010 Red Gorilla Festival in Austin, TX.

Stuedabakerbrown released a full-length LP, Strangers We'll Become, on May 18, 2010. Together with their newest release, a two-song “single” entitled Heartbeat, the 2008 EP Closer, and a 2007 compilation of earlier material, all of the band’s music has been self-released and is currently available at all major online retailers.

http://stuedabakerbrown.com/

Caleb Hawley is a NYC and automobile-based singer-songwriter who is creating quite a buzz across pop, jazz and folk circles with his latest CD, Steps. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Jazz Composition, Hawley has turned some heads with his choice to write and produce decidedly pop-influenced singer-songwriter music. But his success is undeniable with top awards like the John Lennon Songwriting Contest ('09) and the New York Songwriter’s Circle contest ('08, '09). Hawley is often compared to Stevie Wonder , James Taylor, and Raul Midon. He’s a charming, soft-spoken guitar virtuoso with a great big voice that can sing just about anything.

http://calebhawley.com/

Jennings is the one-name moniker of NYC based siren Mary Jennings. Standing five feet, one inch tall Jennings is small in stature, her music however, is anything but. Drawing influences from artists like Imogen Heap, Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan and Moby, Jennings’ music reflects an enormous strength and drive that is uniquely hers. “I believe that the difference between an artist and the average person is a fearless and relentless willingness to expose their quarks, oddities, secrets, and passions for all of the world to see and hear.” said Mary.

Mary’s surge in musical expression started after the sudden death of her mother.“This tragedy rocked me to the core, but there is so much beauty in what it allowed me to do,” she says. “All of my emotions came pouring out in the form of melody.” At the time, her father, a former musician, gave her the option to go through therapy or record an album. He knew both would be equally helpful to her, but by recording her music, she would be able to have something to hold on to and share with others for a lifetime.

It is this honesty in Jennings' music that has attracted praise from fans and press nationwide. "Jennings' music is sweet, lush, powerful, full of great hooks, intelligent and meaningful to boot! I love it!" said Heather Miller-Rodriguez of 100.1FM KRUU. Platinum award winning producer John Rowe agrees Jennings’ music is “creative and original... A breath of fresh air!"

2009 was a banner year for Mary professionally. Jennings has worked with Billboard charting songwriters, toured with national artists and has had music placed in a number of popular television shows. While that small taste of success has been nice, Jennings values a connection with the audience most. “Live performances give me such a rush. It is one of the best parts about being a musician. To me, it was what truly brings the music to life. To know that you only have a few moments to capture and audience and keep them engaged long enough to fall in love with you and your music is a difficult task, but one that I wouldn't trade for any other profession.”

By any measure, Mary can look forward to good days ahead. Nightwaves said it best, "I sense big things in Jennings' future."

http://www.jennings-music.com/

Milton, the modern-day troubadour with the distinctive voice and one-name moniker, is the leader of a lively, rootsy collective known for their soul-stirring live shows. Meet Milton and you will meet a tall, bookish optimist who will tell you about the “heavy” new group that he heard in a club last night and the old folk recording he listened to this morning with equal enthusiasm. The folksinger has developed a grassroots following for the warmth and spontaneity of his live shows, with a playlist that includes traditional folk, blues and country songs with old time harmonies. Earning comparisons to many of his heroes—Van Morrison, Nick Lowe, The Band—singer-songwriter Milton has distinguished himself with his unique voice and lyrics, a compelling mix of grit and grammar.

Described as a writer’s writer, capable of elegantly simple narratives about the complex wonders of life, Milton says, “I never make any rules when I write, I just follow whatever I’m writing to its end. If I write another country song or another blues song, so be it. All of my favorite American songs drew from all of the different root forms we have in this country.”

Milton’s latest CD Grand Hotel, recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Bo Ramsey (Lucinda Williams) and engineer Tom Tucker (Prince, Mavis Staples), and released in fall of 2008, establishes Milton’s reputation as a singer and songwriter to be reckoned with. A narrative of a dozen stories, songs painting vivid moving pictures of American life, the album has received critical raves. NPR featured Milton’s song “Booker” about legendary New Orleans piano great James Booker as Song of the Day, hailing “the one-named folksinger knows what he’s doing.” Blurt magazine called Grand Hotel “a soulful blend of literate, street-smart NYC folk and free-wheelin’ Texas troubadour-styled alt-country.”

Milton’s distinctive voice has been the subject of much praise—from “sweetly gruff” to “like a big rig downshifting when the highway curves into a small town.” Hailed by the NY Daily News for its “gnarled charm” that “will take a tug on your heart,” SonicBoomers.com raves, “his voice has a timeless magic the greats are born with,” “with a soulful catch in it that cannot be forgotten.”

With a busy live performance schedule, Milton’s warm and welcoming live show is what separates him from the pack. As an opener, Milton has shared bills with artists including James Hunter, Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum, Ron Sexsmith, Shelby Lynne and Pete Seeger. As headliners, Milton and the band have played multiple sold-out shows at New York’s Joe’s Pub, including kicking off the release of Grand Hotel with two sold-out nights at the prestigious venue. Playing out every week, Milton can often be seen at NY’s Living Room, where he crams in loyal Milton fans on a regular basis, including an annual monthlong winter residency.

Soon after he released his 2003 debut CD Scenes From the Interior, Milton first came to the attention of a wide audience when the exuberant track “In The City” from the record, which a critic described as “one of the happiest, saddest, most vivid, most visceral rock songs,” became a college radio hit, receiving substantial airplay on influential stations including New York’s WFUV as well as handpicked by tastemaker Nic Harcourt for LA’s KCRW “Morning Becomes Eclectic.” Legendary concert promoter Ron Delsener became an instant fan when he heard “In The City” playing on the radio in a limo he was riding in and tracked down Milton. Delsener took Milton under his wing, arranging opening spots at NY venues including Irving Plaza. Milton’s grassroots following continued to grow steadily after the release of Milton’s self-titled second album in 2006 delivered the popular track “Her Place Uptown” which received regular radio airplay. Along the way, Milton has garnered many loyal fans including celebrity chef and restauranteur Tom Collichio, of television’s Top Chef. Milton and Collichio have even performed live shows to benefit the Food Bank for New York City, as well as appearing together on television’s CBS Sunday Morning.

Milton’s musical journey began in the suburbs of New York City, where he was the youngest of many music-playing brothers in a musical family. As a boy, Milton realized his music tastes leaned in a different direction than his peers, preferring to watch MTV for “Closet Classics” to get a glimpse of artists like Richie Havens more than anything else on the channel. As a teenager, Milton fled to the city whenever possible to meet as many strange characters and hear as many kinds of music as he could. Way gone on Bob Dylan, old R&B and the classics of Western Literature, Milton began in earnest his own quest to compose the well-made song. And so is the story of Milton, like one of his worn copies of a Western Lit classic in the bottom of his messenger bag, you’ll have to wait until he writes the next chapter.

http://www.miltonmusic.com/

Michael Cerveris is a singer, songwriter, actor and native son of West Virginia who divides his time these days between New Orleans and New York. As an actor he is a Tony Award winner and 4 time Tony nominee for his starring roles on Broadway in Sweeney Todd, Tommy, Assassins, and LoveMusik as well as playing Hedwig in New York, LA and London’s West End. On film he costarred with John C Reilly in last year’s Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant and John Krasinski’s Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, while on television he was a regular on the original Fame series and, more recently, the mysterious Observer on the JJ Abrams latest tv series FRINGE. As a musician, Cerveris toured with Bob Mould and Pete Townshend and performed with Frank Black of the Pixies, The Breeders, and Teenage Fanclub. His debut album, Dog Eared, features contributions from Anders Parker, Laura Cantrell, and members of Sonic Youth, The Posies, and Sleater/Kinney. And one of the highlights of his life was seeing Merle Haggard and Justin Townes Earle at Ryman Auditorium a few years back.

Nicolette Hart is proud and honored to join the effort in aiding the people of Nashville so devastated by the flood. Having lived and worked there for almost 5 years, some of her best friends and collaborators help to preserve "The Guitar" as her 2nd home. While there, she had the privilege of working with some of the best producers, writers and musicians. She played the historic Ryman Auditorium as Tammy Wynette in a bio-musical called "Stand By Your Man", and had the honor of singing on The Grand Ole Opry stage with one her favorites- Jim Lauderdale. After touring the country and the world with Bette Midler as one of her Harlettes, Nicolette settled down in NYC to focus on her 1st love- Musical Theatre. She was seen on Broadway in The Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde and RENT, and was last seen playing Maureen all over the world in The Broadway Tour of RENT with Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. Other favorite roles include Patsy Cline, Z's Fave, Audrey, and Val. Nicolette continues to do as much TV/film work as she can and is working on her current album "Nobody's ChoirGirl".