Berklee today is the official alumni publication of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a forum for contemporary music and musicians.
Issue link: http://berkleetoday.epubxp.com/i/67927
Nashville Notes From the left: Matt Mangano '00, Ted Pennington '06, J.C. Monterrosa '97, and Alan Powell '89 at the spring break student and alumni reception at the Bound'ry restaurant. Eric Maltz '01 Marianne Solivan '02 Digital to create three new com- mercials for Japanese cell provider Docomo USA. He has done music and sound design for other produc- tions and is recording with his band Peculiar Gentlemen and with Maya Solovey. Visit www.notasound.tv. Singer/songwriter Amanda Marie of Seal Beach, CA, released the album Amancipation, which was mastered by Gavin Lurssen '91. Her latest sin- gle is titled "Unfairytale." Visit www. amandamariemusic.com. Bassist Soshi Uchida of Astoria, NY, and the progressive enka band Neo Blues Naki play in the New York area. Uchida has toured with Les Nubians, Brian Slade, Sandra Bernhard, and the Delfonics. 2002 Luca Maurizi of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, released the album Shallow He also cocomposed, arranged, played gui- tar and bass, and comixed Laura Aschieri's recording Get in Lane. Visit www.lucamaurizi.com. Mark Petrie and his wife, Gina Brigida, of Laguna Niguel, CA, launched a music licensing website Royalty Free Kings, a boutique music licensing website for independent producers. Visit www. royaltyfreekings.com . Pianist and songwriter Oli Rockberger of Brooklyn, NY, released his second album with the group Mister Barrington, II. Rockberger performed during Al Kooper's 68th birthday celebration concert and at the Syracuse Jazz Fest with Randy Brecker. Visit www.misterbarrington. com. In March, vocalist Marianne Solivan of Brooklyn, NY, released her debut album Prisoner of Love on March 20 on Hipnotic Records. A series of duos, trios, and quartet pieces produced by Jeremy Pelt, the album features Peter Bernstein, Michael Kanan, Xavier Davis, Ben Wolfe, Jonathan Blake, and Christian McBride. For more informa- tion, visit www. mariannesolivanjazz.com. Guitarist and composer Stephane Wrembel of Maplewood, NJ, released his fifth album, Origins, on May 15. He also performed his song "Bistro Fada," the theme from the Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris, live dur- ing the 2012 Academy Awards. For more information, visit www. stephanewrembel.com. 2003 Yaron Engler of London, United Kingdom, led a group of 150 drum- mers on the stage of the Barbican at the premiere of the show Survivo. Visit www.yaronengler.com. Drummer Warren Grant of Houston, TX, has been playing with vocalist Sweet Georgia Brown. Like much of the country, Nashville's winter months were milder than nor- mal—an ominous sign for the already humid and buggy summer months to come. Still, despite Mother Nature making us doubt what month it is, we always know it's springtime in Nashville when a busload of eager young Berklee students arrive for their annual spring break trip to Music City. Students enjoyed tours, pan- els, and interviews with some of the biggest names in the music indus- try. As always, local alumni played a huge role in the week, imparting their knowledge and experience, including Luke Gilfeather '93, Laura Matula '03, Charlie Worsham '06, Annie Clements '03, Justin Nault '08, Kevin Rapillo '90, and Caitlin Nicol-Thomas '07, among others. Thanks to all for your input. Nicol-Thomas, who was part of the popular alumni panel held at Warner Music Nashville, also announced that she had just been cast in the upcoming network prime- time drama Nashville. Look for her on ABC in the months ahead. And while you look for Nicol-Thomas, listen for the song "Love Like Mine," written by Emily Shackelton '07, which will be in all commercials and promos for the show and featured through- out the first season. In other good news, Wynonna Judd just recorded Shackelton's song "Anywhere but Here." Shackelton will also be fea- tured alongside a group of indus- try professionals in an article about Nashville songwriters in Southern Living magazine's June issue. Beyond the spring break festivi- ties, the local alumni community con- tinues to gather regularly. A number of alumni got together to celebrate the second anniversary of "Strength in (Musical) Numbers," a monthly meeting led by alum Sarah Tollerson '08, which provides local alumni with an informal chance to get together, hang out, and network on a regu- lar basis. Meanwhile, Eric Normand '89 continues to host "The Nashville Berklee Jam," another monthly opportunity to come together to hear from a music industry veteran and then hold an open jam. In awards news, Natalie Stovall '04 was recently named entertainer of the year and female performer of the Year by Campus Activities magazine. Stovall is the first female musician to win entertainer of the year in more than 20 years. Jenn Bostic '08 has been nomi- nated for four Independent Country Music Association Awards including best Female Artist, Best Songwriter, Best Musician and Best Indie Country song for "Jealous of the Angels." Kira Small '93 wrote the tune "I Will Raise My Voice" that is nominated for an Independent Music Award in the Gospel Song category. Rachel Solomon '05 and Kyle James Hauser '07 cowrote "Peter and Gladys," which appeared on MTV's season premiere of 16 and Pregnant in April. Matt Mangano '00 just wrapped up production on Blackberry Smoke's album The Whippoorwill. The Atlanta- based southern rock band is signed to Zac Brown's Southern Ground label and the CD was coproduced by Brown, Mangano, and fellow alumnus Clay Cook '98. Shantell Ogden '05 organized a successful family-friendly music and arts festival called Liahonaroo. As part of the festival, alumnus and Berkleemusic.com songwriting instructor Shane Adams '95 hosted a series of artist development work- shops. That's the news from Music City. —David Petrelli '05 Winter 2012 Spring 2012 39 Emily Dufrresne