First steps

Somehow the first steps from The Positive Ghetto are the last steps from euskir music.
Do you know euskir music? Do you remember that project?

euskir music was an idea to give a good hand to independent musicians, music and cultural management without any charge for the musician, and in some cases a service for some music festivals and venues too.
The money to support it? From my own pocket, some coming from free lance jobs related to communications services, and sometimes coming from non profit organizations, as euskir music itself.
It was fine for a couple of years, but at some point it was impossible to keep it alive, some problem with an international festival was the last drop of poison to kill my beloved project.

The Positive Ghetto is aiming to the same direction, independent art, not only music, of course music will be the main interest, because is the field I know much better, but I think to open as many doors as possible.

There’s a basic difference, the way to sustain the project alive and kicking, without any problem.
For specific works, a charge, an arrangement with the artist or the person interested in my help, this is a non profit organization, I’m not pretending to take 50% of nobody’s profit, just a little help to keep the wheels rolling.
And the other option is to use the PayPal button you can see at right, if you love independent art, and specially if you know me, and my honest work to help artists from any country, genre, or style, add a contribution, small, middle, big, just as much as you can, I know these hard times are not easy for our wallets, but one coin here, another there, that will be enough.

My friends, well, you know me, and if you don’t, just ask someone who knows me, “good art must survive” isn’t just a catchy slogan, is a goal, and alone, I just can’t do it.


Federico Antin
Founder & CEO
The Positive Ghetto
thepositiveghetto@gmail.com

Este artículo pertenece a The Positive Ghetto / This article belongs to The Positive Ghetto

Good art must survive

Ghettos are linked to many stories, of life and death, comedy and tragedy, and even in the worst times, the sense of community is very alive in the ghetto.

Is more than clear than the enemy is outside, so the ghetto, as a big family, try to solve all the problems, big and small, always as a whole entity.

The Positive Ghetto is a worldwide project, very ambitious, as most projects, but knowing well we're facing hard times, so patience must be a main tool here.

I'm not the usual "music business guy", not even for the independent scene, because thanks to my great working experience I can reach cultural management areas beyond the activity as creative consultant for artists and cultural spaces, like press, public relations, festival and music venues, and also a good hand at online presence (websites, blogs, social networks), and many other art related matters coming from the open interchange of ideas between you and me.

Art is the key, from my side essentially music, but The Positive Ghetto is open to any independent artistic activity, from movies to literature, paintings to graphic design and photography, to be clear, all art forms are welcome, because we're always looking for a way to get people together, to find the energy in common ground, and to share our knowledge, in every artistic field.

No limits, no horizon, no selfishness, just one direction, because everyone at The Positive Ghetto knows one thing, good art must survive.


Federico Antin
Founder & CEO
The Positive Ghetto
thepositiveghetto@gmail.com

Este artículo pertenece a The Positive Ghetto / This article belongs to The Positive Ghetto

Estoy escuchando / I'm listening: Søren Dahl Jeppesen - "Pipe Dreams" (Dog Day Music, 2013)

Søren Dahl Jeppesen - "Pipe Dreams" (Dog Day Music, 2013)

Si echo un vistazo a los artículos que he estado publicando este año dos palabras vienen a mi cabeza, "mujeres" y "Dinamarca", bueno, no es una mujer en esta ocasión, porque quiero compartir mis pensamientos sobre el nuevo disco de un guitarrista de jazz muy talentoso llamado Søren Dahl Jeppesen, y bueno, él es de Dinamarca.

No es gran secreto, la escena del jazz es muy poderosa en los países Nórdicos Europeos, y esto no es nuevo, pero en los últimos veinte años es sorprendente la gran cantidad de fresca y hermosa música creciendo y creciendo allí, y "Pipe Dreams / "Sueños imposibles" (Dog Day Music, 2013) de Søren Dahl Jeppesen es otro buen ejemplo de esa brillante tendencia artística.

¡Y que banda maravillosa! Algunos de los mejores músicos de Dinamarca están profundamente involucrados en el proyecto, y nunca, así como Søren Dahl Jeppesen hace, la banda olvida que son parte de un grupo musical con el objetivo de ofrecer la mejor música posible.

Mi primera impresión escuchando el álbum es un sentimiento profundo y melancólico a través de todas las composiciones, una fantástica calidad en cada composición, abriendo un mundo de tranquilos y pacíficos espacios, atmósferas a veces muy conmovedoras, y pequeñas sonrisas aquí y allí.

En un mundo donde los medios de comunicación masivos dedicados al entretenimiento están el día entero bombardeandonos con falsa felicidad, es una verdadera maravilla encontrar un momento para detenerse, y descubrir una clase de jazz tan tierno e interesante, para mantenernos humanos, por lo menos tanto como esta música toque nuestras almas, corazones, y oídos.

.

If I take a look to the articles I'd been publishing this year two words come to my mind, "women" and "Denmark", well, not a woman this time, because I want to share my thoughts about the new album from a very talented jazz guitar player called Søren Dahl Jeppesen, and well, he's from Denmark.

No big secret, the jazz scene is very powerful in the European Nordic countries, and this is not new, but in the last twenty years is amazing the great amount of fresh and beautiful music growing and growing there, and Søren Dahl Jeppesen's "Pipe Dreams" (Dog Day Music, 2013) is another good example from that bright artistic trend.

And what a wonderful band! Some of the best musicians from Denmark are deeply involved in the project, and never, as Søren Dahl Jeppesen do, the band forgets they're part of a musical team with the goal to deliver the best possible music.

My first impression listening the album is a deep and melancholic feeling throughout all the compositions, a fantastic quality in each composition, opening a world of quiet and peaceful spaces, sometimes very poignant atmospheres, and little smiles here and there.

In a world where the mass media dedicated to entertainment are the whole day bombing us with fake happiness, is a real wonder to find a moment to stop, and to discover a kind of jazz so tender and interesting, to keep us humans, at least for as long this music touches our souls, hearts, and ears.

Søren Dahl Jeppesen's "Pipe Dreams" (Dog Day Music, 2013)

1. Insomnia / Insomnio 4:50
 2. Fallback / Repliegue 4:07
 3. Rain (Part I) / Lluvia (Parte I) 3:08
 4. Pipe Dreams / Sueños imposibles 4:54
 5. Tinkerbell / Campanita 2:32
 6. Blinded / Enceguecido 4:22
 7. Broken / Quebrado 3:54
 8. Drifting / A la deriva 3:04
 9. Anytime / En cualquier momento 3:04
10. Doom & Gloom / Perdición y penumbra 5:02
 11. Rain (Part II) / Lluvia (Parte II) 2:59

Søren Dahl Jeppesen: guitarra, composiciones / guitar, compositions.
Óskar Gudjónsson: saxo / saxophone.
Klaus Nørgaard: bajo / bass.
Jakob Høyer: batería / drums.

Músico invitado / Guest musician: Simon Toldam: piano.
Cuerdas por / Strings by Bjarke Falgren.

Grabado Enero 3-5, 2013 en Copenhagen por Aske Bode. / Recorded January 3-5, 2013 in Copenhagen by Aske Bode.
Mezclado por August Wanngren y Søren Dahl Jeppesen, Febrero 2013. / Mixed by August Wanngren and Søren Dahl Jeppesen, February 2013.
Masterizado por Thomas Eberger, Febrero 2013. / Mastered by Thomas Eberger, February 2013.
Producido por / Produced by Søren Dahl Jeppesen.

Fotos por Lasse Martinussen / Photos by Lasse Martinussen.
Diseño por Iben West / Layout by Iben West.

Editado Abril 20, 2013 / Released April 20, 2013.

Sello discográfico / Label: Dog Day Music.
Distribución / Distribution: Gateway Music

Amy Duncan: las creativas cantautaoras folk están vivitas y coleando / creative folk songwriters are alive and kicking

Amy Duncan

Si echan una mirada a la biografía de Amy Duncan encontrarán las palabras folk y Escocesa, y aún cuando algún aire Celta esta presente en todos sus álbumes , la música que ella crea es mucho más rica, desde su primera grabación a su nuevo material, incluído en "Cycles of Life" / Ciclos de Vida" (Linn Records, 2013), editado en estos días de Abril, encontrarán grandes descubrimientos musicales en todo el camino.

Amy Duncan fue lo suficientemente amable en enviarme "Cycles of Life" / Ciclos de Vida" (Linn Records, 2013), y el último viernes estuve toda la noche escuchando las preciosas canciones, composiciones con coloridos matices, folk electroacústico, si, pero también algún aire de jazz, e inclusive hasta interesantes toques de música clásica aquí y allí.
Amy Duncan es una muy talentosa multi instrumentista (inclusive una dotada intérprete de contrabajo), y ese talento es esencial en la alta calidad musical de todo su trabajo.

En días previos, antes de tener la oportunidad de escuchar su último álbum, estuve escuchando desde el comienzo cada paso de su breve pero fructífera carrera, y este "experimento", siempre algo interesante de hacer con cualquier artista, me demostró una gran mejoría desde un ya gran despegue.

Su voz, casi perfecta en el pasado, es mucho más sabia, ella canta ahora con un sentimiento más profundo, más cálido, y sus composiciones, como ella las llama, "emotivas canciones sobre la vida", son refrescantes, y suficientemente bellas para mantenerlos conectados de la primera a la última nota.

Amy Duncan es la clase de artista independiente a la que realmente le deseas que encuentre una ruta directa al éxito, porque es honesta, y talentosa, y nosotros necesitamos, más que nunca, sin importar el género o estilo, tener estos fantásticos artistas a nuestro alrededor.

Amy Duncan - "Cycles of Life" / Ciclos de Vida" (Linn Records, 2013)

1. Cycles of Life / Ciclos de Vida 03:32 

 2. Song to Myself / Canción para Mi Misma 02:50 

 3. When the Dead are Watching / Cuando los Muertos Están Mirando 04:00 

 4. Your Very Soul / Tu Alma 03:43 

 5. Ivory Tower / Torre de Marfil 02:58 

 6 . Crack in the World / Grieta en el Mundo 03:46 

 7. Wild Animals / Animales Salvajes 03:14 

 8. Navigating / Navegando 03:18 

 9. Running Boy / El muchacho que corre 03:06 

 10. This Fleeting Moment / Este Momento Fugaz 03:36 

 11. Everything is Going to Be Alright / Todo Va a Estar Bien 03:41

Todas las composiciones por Amy Duncan / All compositions by Amy Duncan.

If you take a look at Amy Duncan's biography you’ll find the words folk and Scottish, and even when some Celtic air is present in all her albums, the music she creates is much more richer, from her first recording to her new material, included in "Cycles of Life" (Linn Records, 2013)”, to be released on these April's days, you'll find great musical discoveries all the way.

Amy Duncan was kind enough to send me "Cycles of Life" (Linn Records, 2013)”, and last friday I spent the whole night listening the precious songs, compositions with colorful nuances, electroacoustic folk, yes, but also some jazz air, and even interesting touches from classical music here and there.
Amy Duncan is a very talented multi instrumentist (even a gifted double bass player), and that talent is also essential in the high musical quality from all her work.

In previous days, before the chance to listen her last album, I was listening from the beginning each step from her brief but fruitful career, and this “experiment”, always something interesting to do with any artist, show me a great improvement from an already great take off.

Her voice, almost perfect in the past, is much wiser, she sings now with a deeper feeling, warmer, and her compositions, as she call them, “emotional songs about life”, are refreshing, and beautiful enough to keep you connected from the first to the last note.

Amy Duncan is the kind of independent artist you really wish her to find a straight road to success, because she’s honest, and talented, and we need, more than ever, no matter the genre or style, to have these fantastic artists around us.

Disfruten de Amy Duncan también en estos espacios / Enjoy Amy Duncan also in these spaces:

Facebook Page

Twitter

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

Emilie Weibel: refrescando bellamente el jazz cantado / beautifully refreshing vocal jazz

Me gusta la palabra "refrescante", si son seguidores de mi blog deben saber eso muy bien, pero la utilización de semejante palabra siempre está justificada, en el caso de Emilie Weibel , más que nunca.

Conocí el trabajo de Emilie Weibel hace algún tiempo, entonces ella estaba compartiendo varias colaboraciones con músicos de vanguardia y free-jazz, pero la barrera no estaba allí, pop, y música electrónica también eran parte del equipaje.

Ahora Emilie Weibel está abriendo un espacio para desarrollar su carrera solista, y un nombre maravilloso, "Omoo", ligado al gran Herman Melville, es la llave a ese mágico universo.

Suiza es el país en donde Emilie Weibel nació, los Estados Unidos el sitio en donde ella vive, una poderosa combinación, donde pueden agregar las influencias del scat de jazz, aún cuando ella está haciendo algo realmente nuevo en ese campo, y colores de Brasil y Africa también están en su sendero creativo.

Mis buenos amigos, ustedes lo saben, músicos como Emilie Weibel, manteniendo la música viva gracias a un constante esfuerzo y amor a su trabajo, merecen todo nuestro apoyo, el buen arte debe sobrevivir, pero es imposible si no mantenemos nuestras almas, corazones, y oídos, bien abiertos, por favor no lo olviden.


Disfruten la música de Emilie Weibel / Enjoy Emilie Weibel's music.

Footprints (I can Understand)
Música original por el único e incomparable Wayne Shorter / Original music by the one and only Wayne Shorter.

Omoo

Hello Léa


I like the world "refreshing", if you're a follower from my blog you must know that pretty well, but the use of such word is always justified, in Emilie Weibel case, more than ever.

I knew Emilie Weibel work some time ago, then she was sharing several collaborations with free jazz and avant-garde musicians, but the barrier wasn't there, pop, and electronic music were part of the baggage too.

Now Emilie Weibel is opening a space to develop a solo career, and a wonderful name, "Omoo", linked to the great Herman Melville, is the key to that magical universe.

Switzerland is the place where Emilie Weibel was born, the United States the place where she lives, a powerful combination, where you can add the influences from jazz scat, even when she's really doing something new in that field, and colors from Brazil and Africa are also in her creative path.

My good friends, you know, musicians like Emilie Weibel, keeping music alive thanks to a constant effort and love to their work, deserve all our support, good art must survive, but is impossible if we can't keep our souls, hearts, and ears, wide open, please don't you forget it.

Norris Trío: maravilloso jazz en gogoyoko / wonderful jazz at gogoyoko

“300” (enonane records, 2012)

Fair play in music / Juego limpio en la música

Si existe una tienda de música online allí fuera con un gran respeto por los artistas es gogoyoko, desde su humilde comienzo a su brillante presente, y esperamos un aún mejor futuro.
El Norris Trío está feliz de contarles que ahora pueden encontrar su álbum “300” (enonane records, 2012) en gogoyoko.

El cuartel central de gogoyoko está ubicado en la bella Islandia, y el principal mercado para la compañía son los países Nórdicos Europeos: Islandia por supuesto, Suecia, Dinamarca, Finlandia, Noruega, Islas Faroes, pero su horizonte está más allá de esas fronteras.

Entonces, todos están invitados a visitar al Norris Trío en gogoyoko, y también a descubrir mucha más estupenda música en la fantástica tienda online gogoyoko.





If there’s an online music store out there with a great respect for the artists is gogoyoko, from its humble beginning to a bright present, and we hope an even better future.
The Norris Trío is happy to tell you that now you can find the album “300” (enonane records, 2012) at gogoyoko.

gogoyoko headquarter is located in the beautiful Iceland, and the main market for the company are the European Nordic Countries: Iceland of course, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Faroe Islands, but its horizon is beyond those frontiers.

Then, everyone is invited to visit the Norris Trío at gogoyoko, and also to discover much more marvellous music at the fantastic gogoyoko online store.



Este artículo pertenece al blog del Norris Trío.

This article belongs to the Norris Trío's blog.

Estoy escuchando / I'm listening: Søren Bebe Trio - "A Song For You" (Spice of Life, 2012)

Hace muchos años, a finales de los años cuarenta, Europa se convirtió en un sitio especial para los músicos Norteamericanos de jazz, y los países Nórdicos estaban entre sus favoritos, sólo recuerden la demostración de cientos de jóvenes cuando el gobierno Danés se negó a dar al gran saxofonista Dexter Gordon un permiso para permanecer en el país, gritando con fuerza: "¡Queremos a Dexter!".
Bueno mis amigos. estamos nuevamente en Dinamarca, donde las viejas semillas del jazz son ahora coloridas flores y fuertes árboles en la escena Europea de jazz, y el joven pianista Danés Søren Bebe un estupendo ejemplo para ver como la magia musical aún sigue floreciendo.

El último álbum de Søren Bebe, con su trío, es "A Song For You" (Spice of Life, 2012), mayormente baladas, pero no la típica grabación de baladas, porque encontrarán espacio para la tristeza, la alegría, tensión, y la habilidad al piano de Søren Bebe siempre alerta para entregar momentos asombrosos, con la brillante colaboración de Niels Ryde en bajo eléctrico y Anders Mogensen en batería.

Como es habitual, tengo algunas impresiones muy personales sobre la bella música incluída en el álbum:

"Maria", dulce como una tierna canción de cuna.
"A Song For You", escapando de la melancolía.
"Oh Shenandoah", una soberbia interpretación de una pieza única de música.
"Hope", si hay esperanza, hay felicidad.
"Nocturne", caminando suavemente hacia los sueños nocturnos.
"Country Road", los caminos musicales son siempre elecciones saludables.
"Remembering B", blues, pero no blue (triste).
"Again and Again", para abrir esos cerrados círculos internos.
"A Song For You, Too", en el camino indicado hacia un día soleado..
"Free, Free, Set Them Free", bella libertad, finalmente.

Mis buenos amigos, el jazz está aquí para quedarse, y debemos pensar gracias a gente como Søren Bebe y sus socios musicales.
Como me gusta decir, "el buen arte debe sobrevivir", y nosotros, al otro lado del escenario, somos una fuerza esencial para mantener a estos fantásticos músicos vivitos y coleando.


Many years ago, by the end of the forties, Europe became a very special place for North American jazz musicians, and the Nordic countries were between their favorites, just remember the demonstration from hundreds of young people when the Danish government refused to give the great sax player Dexter Gordon a permit to stay in the country, crying out loud: "We want Dexter!"
Well my friends, we're again in Denmark, where the old seeds from jazz are now colorful flowers and strong trees in the jazz European scene, and the young Danish pianist Søren Bebe a marvellous example to see how the musical magic is still blossoming.

The last album from Søren Bebe, with his trio, is "A Song For You" (Spice of Life, 2012), mostly ballads, but not the kind of typical ballads recording, because you'll find space for sadness, joy, tension, and Søren Bebe's piano skills are always alert to deliver amazing moments, with the brilliant collaboration from Niels Ryde on electric bass and Anders Mogensen on drums.

As usual, I've got some very personal impressions from the beautiful music included in the album:

"Maria", sweet as a tender lullaby.
"A Song For You", running away from melancholy.
"Oh Shenandoah", a superb interpretation of a unique piece of music.
"Hope", if there's hope, there's happiness.
"Nocturne", walking gently into the night dreams.
"Country Road", musical roads are always healthy choices.
"Remembering B", blues, but not blue.
"Again and Again", to open those closed inner circles.
"A Song For You, Too", on the right way to a sunny day.
"Free, Free, Set Them Free", beautiful freedom, at last.

My good friends, jazz is here to stay, and we must think thanks to people as Søren Bebe and his musical partners.
As I like to say, "good art must survive", and we, at the other side of the stage, are an essential force to keep these fantastic new musicians alive and kicking.

Søren Bebe Trio - "A Song For You" (Spice of Life, 2012)
1. "Maria" 02:51
2. "A Song For You" 03:48
3. "Oh Shenandoah" 03:41
4. "Hope" 03:42
5. "Nocturne" 03:32
6. "Country Road" 04:40
7. "Remembering B" 05:38
8. "Again and Again" 04:23
9. "A Song For You, Too" 04:55
10. "Free, Free, Set Them Free" 03:59

Søren Bebe: piano.
Niels Ryde: electric bass.
Anders Mogensen: drums.

Todas las canciones escritas por Søren Bebe excepto “Oh Shenandoah”, canción tradicional folk Norteamericana. All songs written by Søren Bebe except “Oh Shenandoah”, a traditional North American folk song.

Producido por / Produced by Søren Bebe Editado el / Released 4 Julio / July, 2012.

Søren Bebe en / at Bandcamp