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September-December 2018 – April 2019 News

 

 

Black Bamboo Recordings – 21 degrees north 159 degrees west – Island of Kauai – Hawaii – earth – third planet from the sun…

 

**Thank you Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts for naming my new album ‘Two Sides To Every Story’ a finalist in the 2019 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards in the best Jazz Album of the Year and Best Engineered Album of the Year categories. Looking forward to seeing all my Hawaii fellow nominees on Oahu in May. Big thanks to all the wonderful and amazing musicians on the recording and to my mixing partner Paul Northfield. https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/04/05/hawaii-news/finalists-named-for-2019-na-hoku-hanohano-awards/

 

*AT interview with French internet radio show and podcast Late Night Dream ~ by Thomas Splett:

 

*The Garden Island newspaper article: Talk Story With Allan Thomas:

Talk Story with Allan Thomas

 

*Aloha from Kauai. Some updates regarding AT’s 6th album release ‘Two Sides To Every Story‘.

*The BBR team spent August contacting and mailing CD’s to over 175 community and public radio stations across the US. While Peter Holmstedt of Hemifran in Sweden has started his ‘Two Sides…’ promotional campaign for Europe. http://www.hemifran.com

*Radio News in the U.S.

‘Two Sides To Every Story‘ has started to catch some overhead airwaves at the following locations: KKCR-FM Kauai Hawaii – KQNG-FM on Kauai Hawaii – KMNO on Maui Hawaii, KRCB-FM in Santa Rosa California, WXPR-FM in Rhinelander Wisconsin, KUOS-FM in Sedona Arizona – WQNR-FM in Auburn Alabama – **KAFM** Grand Junction Colorado – WEFT-FM Champaign Illinois – WXOJ Northampton Massachusetts – KMUD Humboltd California – WHFR-FM Dearborn Detroit – KAOS Olympia Washington – KZMU Moab, Utah – KBUT Crested Butte Colorado – WGDR Plainfield, Vermont – KOTO-FM Telluride Colorado Stay tuned for updates…

*Radio News Elsewhere:

*DJ Vasja Ivanovski of 94.1 FM Radio 2 in Skopje Macedonia is playing ‘15 Minutes’ and ‘Could’ve been Worse’ on her Mojo/Alt show.

*DJ Karen Miller of long-running Americana music podcast The Miller Tells Her Tale based in UK, adds ‘Is That Asking Too Much?!’ to her latest show #697                                       http://www.themillertellshertale.net/?fbclid=IwAR1-P9qmwLsMyjTFgeZEvzO8RIPz7LB2h0CQSQP_PskLrLzWcwQRdKXhWPA

*DJ Jean-Paul Ribbs is playing ‘Is That Asking Too Much’ ‘Could’ve Been Worse’ and ‘Dating Game’ on his West Coast Golden Radio show direct from France http://www.westcoastgoldenradio.com/powerplays.html

*Dj’s Malone Di Mano and David Lucarotti in Paris, France, added ‘Good To Go’ to The Border-West Coast Yacht Rock Best of Sessions 2018 part two internet radio show! https://hearthis.at/late-night-dream-ag/late-night-dream-presents-the-border-westcoast-yacht-rock-best-of-sessions-2018-part-two/?fbclid=IwAR2R6UluXk7HgNhZ2K-b1GJlEzMc_lKX43L_8GRu_uypKIpYuDUUkWAr8Zg

*DJ Thomas Splett added ‘15 Minutes’ to his Late Night Dream Flying To California show in France: https://hearthis.at/late-night-dream-ag/late-night-dream-presents-thomas-splett-flying-to-california-ep3s2/?fbclid=IwAR3GSWvCSaEmGwrriaqN_EHWQkl5QwGGGvAPEkV4IWOtGU_bQ2a5PCpRJ5w

*DJ Chris Morrisis playing ‘Could’ve Been Worse‘ and ‘Troubled Times’on his California Spirit Radioshow in Montpellier, France

*DJ Brian Mullen of the BBC Northern Ireland show Caschlár plays ‘El Sueno De Repitido’ ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/m0000m32   Caschlár

*DJ Massimo Ferro of the Italian  Radio Voce Spazio show Highway 61 plays ‘If Only’ ~ http://radiovocespazio.it/podcast/highway-61-puntate-settimanali/

*DJ Anita Luchies of the Dutch radio show Undercurrents playing ‘If Only” and ‘Could’ve Been Worse’ ~ http://www.rootsparadise.com/undercover/index.php

*DJ Roberto Rossi of the Italian radio show Mystery Train on Ascolta PNR FM radio plays ‘El Sueno De Repitido’ ~ http://www.radiopnr.it/programmi.html

*DJ Bertwin Bijleveld Dutch radio show Blues & Friends on RTV Baarn FM, Netherlands playing ‘Could’ve Been Worse’ https://www.facebook.com/bertwin.bijleveld/posts/1126821744139851

*DJ Jean Philippe Réjou of radio/podcast West Coast Rendezvous sur WKFM Paris, France has been playing ‘Could’ve Been Worse’ ~ https://www.facebook.com/westcoastrendezvous/?__xts__[0]=31.[644824087%2C%22intro_card%22%2C%7B%7D]

*DJ Kamasami Kong of FM Cocolo in Osaka Japan playing ‘If Only’.

*Planete Indie Belgium Radio playing ‘Dating Game’ http://www.pierregerard.be/planete/playlists/playlists/octo18.html

*Eine Kleine Weltmusik, Radio ZuSa, in Northern Germany playing ‘Dating Game’ and ‘In Search Of…’ www.zusa.de

 

*Quotes:

Keith Carlock Steely Dan drummer: “Man, this stuff sounds so great! YOU are a bad mo fo! Love it. Thanks for having me be a part of it! Great songs, lyrics and production, love it man… Thank you Keith”

Jack Tempchin songwriter for the Eagles hits ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ and ‘Already Gone’: “Fantastic songs amigo. ‘Geezer Talk’ killed me!!! Super great album. You have a sound and as far as I know no one else sounds like your records… I love them. thanks, Jack”

Jim Wilson noted piano master: “Steely Dan meets Joni Mitchell meets folk meets pop meets jazz… Just really good, authentic music. Really well written songs, GREAT production. Will definitely get more milage out of this record. congrats man. … you weren’t on my radar before, but you are now.”

Wouter Kellerman renown South African Flautist: “Stunning album, you had me from the first track ’15 Minutes”, beautiful composition and love your vocals Allan. Thanks for sharing ‘Two Sides To Every Story” with me. Cheers Wouter”.

Brian Elie DJ @ KRCB Northern California Public Radio: “We have been playing this cd over and over at our house. Rarely do you get a cd of music with this much variety and depth, with this kind of superior song writing and superb musicianship all in one package. Then there are the instrumentals that you the listener get to interpret yourself, they take you wherever you want to go. ‘In Search Of…’ totally knocks me out, feels the the heart is speaking. Well done Allan and friends! I will feature this cd next Monday night on KRCB 91.1 FM KRCB.org”

*Thank you David Lucarotti for including my song ‘Good To Go’ on your amazing playlist/podcast LATE NIGHT DREAM Presents The Border from Paris, France https://hearthis.at/late-night-dream-ag/late-night-dream-presents-the-border-by-david-lucarotti-ep2s2/

*Big thanks to Kenneth Bremer & Henrik Bohm at Blue Desert – The World of West Coast Music – in Denmark, for spotlighting ‘Two Sides…’ CD release along side such greats as Michael McDonald and Steve Lukather! https://www.westcoast.dk/allan-thomas-two-sides-to-every-story/  

 

*’Two Sides…’ can be heard and purchased here:

Bandcamp: https://allanthomas.bandcamp.com/album/two-sides-to-every-story

CD Baby website: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/allanthomas5

Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/allan-thomas/7399212

Spotify: Two Sides To Every Story

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/station/2757586686123840010

 

*’Two Sides…’ insights:

Blending elements of rock, blues, jazz and soulful vocals the album contains 15 songs comprised of eight vocal tracks and seven instrumentals. Ranging from a solo acoustic slack-key guitar instrumental to full-blown ensemble settings with some of the world’s tastiest musicians including players from Steely Dan, the Steve Gadd/James Taylor bands, the Yellowjackets and Crosby Stills and Nash. Plus many other studio luminaries from Kauai, Nashville and Los Angeles. ‘Two Sides To Every Story’ was mixed in Montreal by multi-platinum engineer Paul Northfield (Rush, Dream Theater).

Several compositions aim to lighten things up a bit entering the smirk-inducing territory of ‘The Dating Game’ – a dude’s-eye look into some of the head-scratching aspects of on-line dating, and ‘Geezer Talk’ – a lighthearted laundry list of the daily ailments thrust upon unsuspecting baby boomers. A few tunes present the wistful and wishful thinking of one who dreams big as in ‘Is That Asking Too Much?!’ and ‘If Only’. While ‘Troubled Times’ takes an unflinching look at a few of the darkly disturbing aspects of the present world we find ourselves in. Many of the tunes have been written recently, but the instrumental ‘In Search Of…’ goes all the way back to Malibu California, 1973. Some things take a while…

Instrumentals and vocals. Humor and deadly serious. Two sides…

Produced and recorded by Allan Thomas

Mixed by Paul Northfield and Allan Thomas

Associate producer Bryan Kessler

Mastering Paul Northfield

Featuring:

Allan Thomas – vocals, acoustic, nylon string, electric guitar and percussion.

Bryan Kessler (Hawaiian Style Band) acoustic and electric guitar.

Kirk Smart (Donald Fagen, Donavon Frankenreiter) bottleneck slide and electric guitar.

Jim Kimo West (Weird Al Yankovik) acoustic guitar.

Jimmy Johnson (James Taylor, Steve Gadd) bass.

Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, Sting) drums.

William Kennedy (Yellowjackets, Herbie Hancock) drums.

Joel Taylor (Joe Sample, Allan Holdsworth, Rock Band video game) drums.

Michael Ruff (Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, David Sanborn) keyboards.

Russell Ferrante (Yellowjackets, Joni Mitchell) acoustic piano.

James Raymond (Crosby Stills and Nash, Jackson Browne) keyboards.

Charles Judge (David Bowie, Miley Cyrus) keyboards.

Michael Whittaker (the Bottom 40 Band, Keith Carlock) acoustic piano.

Judd Miller (Michael Brecker, Danny Elfman) EVI muted trumpet, pads, chromatic harmonica, flute.

Sylvain Carton (Mitch Marcus Quintet) tenor sax.

Kate Markowitz (James Taylor, Don Henley, Shawn Colvin) backing vocals.

Karen Blake (Randy Newman, Michael McDonald) backing vocals.

Amanda Frazier (The Keepers) backing vocals.

With deep gratitude to Paul Nortfield, Bryan Kessler, Stephen Barncard, Bill Gillette, Jeff Richman, Eric Bronstein, Graham Nash, Ed Haaker and Charleen Dyer and Margaret Gill

CD front cover artwork Bret Linford

Photography Aaron Feinberg

Inner CD sleeve Jordan Thomas

In memory of Michael Shipley.

 

More News and Reviews: *The cool and diverse web-based radio show/podcast Late Night Dream based in Paris, France named ‘Two Sides To Every Story’ album of the week: https://www.latenightdream.com

*Thanks Calle Magnusson of Ervik Surfshop in the Stadlandet Peninsula, Norway for using the track ‘If Only’ on your new music video: https://youtu.be/hAY03nyHML0www.erviksurfshop.com

*Bruno Fabrigues in Paris, France, adds ‘Two Sides…’ to his Top-Ten Cool Night – Winners 2018 Westcoast – AOR collection of wonderful artists! 🎸

 

*‘Two Sides…’ review in Belgium magazine/website Rootsville: http://www.rootsville.eu/2018%20album%20reports/reports/allan%20thomas.html

…In 1966 Allan signed his first contract with the famous and eccentric South Texas producer Huey P. Meaux (The Crazy Cajun). Huey was known for the magical touch with hit sensitive records and was also known as a quick talker. In his time he produced a series of great artists and hit records from the south, including Lightenin ‘Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, BJ Thomas, Freddy Fender, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sir Douglas Quintet, Johnny and Edgar Winter and many more. Allan Thomas has been singing professionally since his twelfth, released his first single at the age of 17 and became a songwriter at 19. All his life was filled with music which also led to this new ‘Two Sides To Every Story’. An album with 8 sung and 7 instrumental songs that contain a mix of soul, blues, jazz and rock. Ranging from a solo acoustic guitar to complete ensembles with a selection of the world’s best musicians. 15 originals that came to this album under the mixing ear of Paul Northfield and himself. Opening with the soul injected ’15 Minutes’ you come from ‘note one’ to establish that these ‘Two Sides To Every Story’ will give you 15 songs long fun and enjoyment. The instrumental delights on this album such as ‘Aquadesiac’ and ‘El Sueno de Repitido’ can be categorized under the heading of cool jazz. Great to listen to. The more than pleasant timbre made me think of another great songwriter in the beginning and this thought was perfectly captured at ‘Could’ve Been Worse’. With somewhat of the ‘Tulsa Sound’ of JJ Cale in mind, however, this song could have been from him, which can and should be regarded as a compliment. The fact that the album is divided equally into vocal and instrumental songs is also a more than positive fact. One of Allan Thomas’s musical accompanists comes from Steely Dan and ‘If Only’ can also be attributed to the sound of this American jazz-oriented pop group. Songs like this and ‘Is That Asking Too Much?!’ emphasize the thoughts of someone with big dreams. Most of the songs have been written recently, but the instrumental ‘In Search Of…’ goes all the way back to Malibu, California, in 1973. They finish with the talkin ‘bluesish’ ‘Geezer Talk’ and that is the way it is done. Beauty record without further comment!

Allan Thomas has now released his sixth studio album Two Sides To Every Story. Allan says in an interview that he has sung professionally since he was 12 years old and has been a songwriter since the age of 19. His whole life has been about the music. The latest album has a long maturation process and is a result of songwriting and recording over the last six years. There are no less than 17 musicians on the record.The sounds are not that far from STEELY DAN, but maybe a bit more laidback. It feels a little PAUL SIMON sometimes too. It sounds really good. Songs to start with: ’15 Minutes’, ‘Could’Been Worse’ and ‘Dating Game’.

 

*Swedish Magazine/Website Thirsty Boots review of “Two Sides…” 12/6/18 – https://thirsty-boots.blogspot.com/2018/12/dag-6-allan-thomas.html Allan Thomas’s last album “Deep Water” came in 2012 and his new album follows the same pattern. A little laid-back attitude, a lot of jazz feeling and a great musical knowledge. Allan Thomas delivers delicate to his guitar and competency is 100 percent. The music takes you straight and takes you on a pleasurable trip, time after time. The harmonies are perfect and Allan Thomas sings nicely without focusing on the musical. The instrumental songs are, however, more this time and they are the ones I will return to and it may be right often. “Aquadesiac”, “El Sueno de Repitido”, “On Another Note”, “Still Life” and a song with the appropriate title “There Are No Words” are all so cozy that they spread a harmonious feeling and peaceful peace. The acoustic “In Search of …” is so intense and maybe my favorite right now …

 

*Dutch Magazine/Website Strutterzine 1/16/19 – http://strutter.mysite.com/site_header.html – Allan Thomas ‘Two Sides To Every Story’ (Black Bamboo Recordings/Hemifran)

While listening to the new album of American singer/songwriter Allan Thomas, I was totally surprised by the instrumentals ‘El Sueno de Repitido’ and ‘Aquadesiac’, which happen to be both beautiful relaxing westcoast-jazz pieces, complete with tenor sax and piano, basically offering a pure smooth classic approach like in the old days, which is in slight contrast to the rest of the album. Although there are definitely more jazzy fusion/westcoast touches here and there (‘If Only’ and ‘Is That Asking Too Much?!’ for example that both have Steely Dan similarities and instrumentals like ‘Still Life’ and ‘There Are No Words’), Allan’s music is also offering singer/songwriter calmer pop/rock like Paul Simon. Not bad either, but he now seems to balance between these 2 genres and basically I would prefer him to go in a full jazzy fusion/westcoast direction like shown during the mentioned tracks. Interesting for sure and upon checking his bio, he is already 70 years old (!), starting his career way back in the 1960s, so he has seen the whole music world changing I guess. Allan is definitely a gifted singer/songwriter and let’s hope he can deliver more great records like this. Jazzy westcoast or singer/songwriter pop/rock, Allan can do both and we’ll wait and see if the future brings more new music of this talented musician, with a fingers crossing for mo re jazzy westcoast fusion! More at: http://www.allanthomas.com/wordpress/ (Points: 8.1 out of 10)

*German music magazine/website Folk World Short & Sweet review of ‘Two Sides To Every Story’: Easy listening with part dark, part humorous overtones! Allan Thomas sends his 6th recording of original material from Kauai, Hawaii, taking inspiration from pop, rock, blues, jazz and soul music. Watch “On Another Note” @ YouTube! – http://www.folkworld.eu/68/e/cds9.html#thom

http://www.folkworld.eu/68/e/cds.html

 

*No budget YouTube music video of ‘On Another Note’ directed by Stephen Quinn Barncard – Kauai videography by Michael Rain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uwC8cFLMUk&feature=youtu.be

 

*Spotify Playlists featuring AT Tracks – Allan Thomas music is now on over 175 musician curated Spotify playlists:

*Major thanks to Pekka Martikainen of Finland for adding ‘El Suenode Repitido‘ and ‘Aquadesiac’ to his wildly successful Smooth Jazz – Instrumental Spotify playlist.

*Vic Cracknell adds ‘Halfway Round The World’ to his ‘Around The World’ Spotify playlist.

*Susan Moss adds ‘The Navigator’ to her new ‘Paradise Coffeehouse’ Spotify playlist.

*Denis Turbide adds ‘Makani ‘Olu ‘Olu’ to his ‘Relaxing Instrumental Music’ Spotify playlist.

*Thanks Tracy Colletto for adding ‘In My Automobile‘ to your ‘Acoustic Road Trip‘ Spotify playlist.

*Thank you Vic Cracknell for adding ‘Fall In Love To Easy’ to your ‘Lazy Acoustic Vibe’ Spotify playlist.

*Thanks Tracy Colletto for adding ‘The Navigator’ to your new thought provoking ‘Acoustic Journeys’ Spotify playlist.

*Mahalo Susan Moss for adding ‘Way Of The Heart’ to your moody and heart felt ‘Sing Me To Sleep/Into Sweet Dreams’ Spotify playlist.

*Mahalo Susan Moss for adding ‘Coconut Culture’ and ‘The Island’ to your sizzling ‘In A Tropical Fantasy’ Spotify playlist:

*Thanks Susan Moss for adding ‘If Only’ to your sizzling ‘Cool For The Summer/ Hot For The Winter’ Spotify playlist:

*Thanks Barry McLaughlin for adding ‘Makani ‘Olu ‘Olu” to your ‘Acoustic Autumn’ Spotify playlist:

*Thanks Barry McLaughlin for adding ‘In Search Of…’ to your ‘Acoustic Winter’ Spotify playlist:

*Thanks to Burro Borracho Records for adding ‘Makani ‘Olu ‘Olu’ to their Instrumental Folk playlist on Spotify:

*Mahalo Matt C White for adding ‘Makani ‘Olu ‘Olu’ to his Relaxing Acoustic Folk playlist onSpotify:

*Mahalo two-times to Matt Carl White for adding ‘In Search Of…’ to his sweet Rainy Day Acoustic Guitar Spotify playlist.

*Mahalo Spotify for creating a new Hawaiianish Spotify playlist featuring ‘In Search Of…‘ for its title and including 5 AT tracks from two albums.

*Another new cool Hawaiian playlist on Spotify featuring ‘15 Minutes’.

*Thanks Theo Tol for adding ‘In Search Of…’ to your chillaxing Instrumental Ambient Spotify playlist.

*Thanks Steve@talkaboutpopmusic for adding ‘Fall In Love Too Easy’ to your Sunday: Sombre, Sad but Satisfied Spotify playlist.

*Emilio Bonito adds ‘In Search Of…’ to his deep and beautiful Instrumental Delight Spotify playlist.

*Great to have my song ‘Island Girl’ included on the the eclectic Hawaiian compilation I’ll Weave A Lei Of Stars For You Spotify playlist:

*Mahalo Magnus Murel for adding ‘Makani ‘Olu ‘Olu’ to your Beautiful – Solo Instruments Spotify playlist:

*Thanks to Serissa Records for adding ‘In Search Of…’ to your moody and thoughtful Spotify playlist Acoustic Instrumentals:

*Vic Cracknell adds ‘It All Comes Down To Love’ and ‘Is That Asking Too Much’ to his Change The World Spotify playlist.