Combat FusionJazz Band
Feb 5, 2012 Bands, Beyond The Music, Home Page, Stars with a Pen
Combat FusionJazz Band is the brainchild of John Dubiel.
John Dubiel resides in Chicago and is the Producer of the Band. Not only is he the producer, but he is the song writer and arranger for the Band. The CD, Gotta Say GoodBye, has been a labor of Love. It is a compilation of seven beautiful smooth jazz with wonderful vocalists.
Throughout John’s life, he has been a producer, songwriter, and keyboardist with a passion for music. Being a Veteran who received the Purple Heart after being wounded during the Vietnam war, his other passion is the Veterans and with his new Band, he wants to help all our Vets suffering with PTSD. Part of the profits from this CD is going to help these brave men and women as they return home from combat.
John has come alive with the Combat Fusion Jazz Band’s first album “Gotta Say Goodbye” a smooth jazz, fusion, R&B arrangement. A soulful mix of musical genres.
John has been in the music industry for over thirty years, first producing for Mercury & Ovation records in the 70′s and in the 90′s opening a Jazz Club, The Jazz buffet of Chicago presenting top entertainment like Sheila E., Warren Hill , and Jimmy Smith just to name a few.
John also Wrote and Produced a musical Play titled, The Pack is Back, a fictional portrait of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin which ran successfully for two years at Piper’s Alley Theater in Chicago. However, when all is said and done, John returned to what he loves most, playing the keyboard and producing music.
John is dedicated to making great music with the Combat fusion Jazz Band and helping our brave men and women serving our Great Nation.
Take a Listen to the Interview, enjoy the music and then go buy the CD for your collection from Amazon.com or CDBaby.com
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Tags: arranger, Band, composer, giving back, independent, independent record label, Jazz, motivation, music, musician, Old School, producer, smooth, vintage, writer
African Jamaican Culture
Jan 22, 2012 Bands, Home Page, Spiritual Life
On Saturday January 21, we had the pleasure of speaking with Duruh-John, half of the founding team of African Jamaican Culture Band. John explained how the band started as a percussion band in 1998. The Band has since evolved into a full band. John admits that he never saw himself as a singer, but also admits that he loves it. He also shared that he writes all the songs for the Band. 
The band tours around Germany and has quite a following there. John says the Band would love to come and perform in the United States. We are very pleased that He chose Conversations and WDGP to make his first venture into United States territory. We wish African Jamaican Culture Band nothing but success in their all their endeavors You can purchase their music and follow African Jamaican Culture on their website and on Facebook.
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Tags: arranger, Band, independent, Jah, motivation, music, musician, percussion, performer, Reggae, roots, Soulful, writer
Do You Like What You See?
Nov 6, 2011 Beyond The Music, Home Page, Stars with a Pen, Worthy Charities
Glenn Gordon is a longtime friend to WDGP and when he approached us to inquire if we would help him spread the word out his recent campaign, we didn’t hesitate. Glenn, who has been among the homeless, not once but three times, had a dream that he must see to fruition.
He wants to pay it forward from all the help he received when he was on the street. He says he made attempts to pay folks back but they wouldn’t accept it, so instead he is developing items for sale revolving around the song and concept that came to him in a dream. Do You Like What You See is truly an inspiration. The track is available for download from his website GG’s Music and CDBaby in the near future. Glenn is also planing to sell T-Shirts and other items and will donate 20% of theses proceeds to organizations that aide the homeless.
We feel this is a very worthy cause and commend Glenn Gordon for his efforts. Take a listen to the song and pay particular attention to the lyrics, although simple there is a distinct message in them.
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Tags: arranger, Band, bassman, composer, encouragement, giving back, independent, independent record label, motivation, music, musician, Old School, performer, smooth, songwriter
Spoken Word
Aug 14, 2011 Beyond The Music, Home Page, Stars with a Pen, Worthy Charities
August 13, 2011
Our guest, Spoken Word returned to Conversations and talked about her craft, her passion for the REAL Hip – Hop and her Activism.
Spoken Word also talked about her next project saying “It will be more political than her previous offerings.” and that is “Coming Hard” Spoken Word is also developing new talent. Find out more, keep up with her appearances and make a contribution to her efforts by going to her website. You can purchase her work from any download site like CDBaby, Napster, iTunes and the like. You can also check out her organization Word Life Production where you can also make a donation. Listen to the interview via the link below.
(EXPLICIT CONTENT)
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Tags: arranger, encouragement, giving back, hip-hop, independent, independent record label, motivation, Old School, poet, preformer, writer
ChromaticS – “Crowned Prince of Hip-Hop”
Jun 5, 2010 Home Page, Today's Stars
Our Special Guest on June 5, 2010 was ChromaticS. An Attractive, Talented and Humble Young Man. When I told him I had read that he was the “Crowned Prince of Hip-Hop”, he responded, …”Well, maybe in Trinidad and Tobago”
Here is his interview:
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Then enjoy the videos:History:
Chromatics was born Richard Raj-Kumar on the 18th August, 1982 in the island of Trinidad. Trinidad is known as the land of Carnival and Soca Music, Chromatics however felt more at home with the Hip Hop element. Chromatics grew up with Heltah Skeltah, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls and Rakim and with his cousins’ encouragement he began to write hip hop songs when he was twelve years old. This led Chromatics down a long and arduous road that would mould his character and test his resolve.
Chromatics joined up with “Spotrushaz”, at the time a young and developing group of rappers, and began to really consider making music his career. “Spotrushaz” quickly transformed into the most recognizable Hip Hop act in the country and they were constantly working. The group released a flurry of singles (and videos) and radio stations took note. “Triniman”, “True Soldierz”, “Mary Warner”, “Put the Chips Up”, “Blow” and more recently “Iron” cemented the group’s name and allowed the group to perform alongside some of the world’s biggest hit makers. They opened for the likes of Ms. Jade, Sean Paul, Slick Rick, Dougie Fresh, Shannon, Lloyd E Stef, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man.
Chromatics eventually parted with the group in 2006 and formed Highway Records Ltd. with his manager and business partner Stuart Fortuné. He has since released his debut solo album “Against The Grain” which sold very well. The album included many hit singles such as “Start It”, “Put It Up”, “Basement Party” and “The Ballad”.
In 2008 Chromatics began to be recognized as the #1 Hip Hop act in the Caribbean. He performed dozens of times including the Virgin Atlantic Barbados Music Festival, the Heineken Green Synergy Trinidad DJ Finals and Southern Caribbean Finals and also hosted Jus Jase/ Highway Records “I Am Hip Hop 1 ,2 &3. Chromatics was also able to release two Hit singles in 2008, “Take Over” and “Money Back” which were both heavily rotated on various local radio stations.
Chromatics continued his reign in 2009 with the release of “The Beat (Keep It Moving)” (Single and Video) and “They Know”. With this hit single release he was featured on Source Magazine in April 2009. He was chosen to represent Hip Hop at the Hennessy Artistry Trinidad’s concert at Club Zen in April. In June Chromatics traveled to Toronto Canada to perform at the North by North East Music Festival where he was among the top five in Roger’s Fan Choice Awards. This was being done all while producing and hosting “The Grind” (the only weekly Hip Hop radio program in the Caribbean at the time). In November Chromatics became the first artist to be allotted a one hour Live special on Synergy TV’s Friday Night Live. This show, “A Rebel Without A Pause”, received very high ratings and showcased his versatility as a performer interacting with a live band.
Chromatics is currently working on the release of his sophomore solo album “The Glass Ceiling” which should be released in 2010. He has just completed shooting the video for the albums’ first single “Cold Blooded” and is expecting to release it worldwide as soon as January. A collaborative mixtape with Bang Em Smurf titled “Caribbean Heat Wave” should also be out soon. He’s also busy with Highway Records “On Top Fridays” where he showcases Trinidad’s new and upcoming Hip Hop artist. Chromatics has been grinding many years and now has the assistance of S-Con Promotions. S-Con Promotions is an international promotion company and this alliance has already paid dividends with the recent release of “The Science of Colors” CD recently released in France and countless on air interviews across Europe and North America.
Chromatics doesn’t plan to take a rest anytime soon and with all of his success he still remains humble. He is open to any idea and enjoys spreading his music to the four corners of the globe. He is a serious lyricist and his versatility is unbounded. He intertwines the local Trini jargon with an international flow that leaves listeners amazed. His Stage presence is that of a seasoned veteran and he always leaves the crowd wanting more.
Tags: arranger, art, collaborator, composer, director, hip-hop, hot, independent record label, lyicist, motivation, music, performer, poet, prince, rapper, singer, smooth, storyteller, Vocalist, wrier
Jo Tongo
Feb 28, 2010 Home Page
JO TONGO was born and raised in DOUALA (CAMEROON), West Africa. His mother has a lot of sons and daughters but Jo is the elder brother. The father is a notary and also a good violin and up straight bass player. JO was surrounded with music since his mother belly cause his grand grandfather, the Reverend Alfred TONGO DIBOUNDOU use to play organ in the church he was preaching. At the age of 13, JO TONGO was granted with an acoustic guitar by one of his uncles and started studying how to play by himself. He found his way by using a guitar book since he was able to read and write music. Matter of fact, JO learned elementary music theory at the high school, and was always the best on this matter. At the age of 15, he joined the high school band as guitarist and two years after became the band leader. That happened in YAOUNDE, the capital. At the same time, JO set up his first band in DOUALA with his young friends, the ROCK’N CHACH, mixing up African, Caribbean and American soul music and started writing his own compositions, sounding different from the other bands. JO recorded this music at the Cameroonian radios both in DOUALA and YAOUNDE. There was no recording studio in CAMEROON those days. JO gained his elder musicians consideration and started playing with them. Since he became without doubt the best guitar player of his country. To prevent him from winning the bands competition organized by the head of state of the moment, JO TONGO was sent to Paris by his father. The latter did not want his son to become a professional musician. In Paris, JO studied pharmacy for two years, but was obliged to stop cause of his father’s problems with the Cameroonian government. At the same time, Jo was learning classic piano. He obtained the first degree of piano of Paris national superior academy of music. Then he changed for accountancy for two years. Jo worked three years as an accountant, and then he decided to become a professional musician. JO TONGO started playing with the best musicians in Paris, like Manu DIBANGO, Françis BEBEY, Joseph KABASSELE, and Franklyn BOKAKA. He was involved in the main recording sessions in studio with African and European artists. In 1966, Gerard AKUESON gave JO opportunity to make his first record. JO played what we could call world-music today. From his second record, JO turned to a kind of Afro funk music, very original and exciting, mixing up African sound and American Rhythm and blues. Jo was given the battle name of JOJO L’EXPLOSIF (JOJO THE EXPLOSIVE). In 1968, after he recorded his second record (GET IT THE WAY I LIKE & NON NON NON); the young artist was invited to a concert in the “SALONS DES AMBASSADEURS” in the “CHAMPS ELYSEES” in Paris. The main African and Caribbean artists had to perform in front of all the ambassadors of Paris. Manu DIBANGO’s band had to back all of them. But for some unknown reason, DIBANGO refused to back JOJO. After a lot of arguments, he accepted. But instead of singing two songs like everyone, Jo was allowed to sing only one song. After performing GET IT THE WAY I LIKE, the public made a standing ovation to JOJO and asked him to sing another song. The artist turned to the musicians and said: I’VE BEEN LOVING YOU. JO performance was simply wonderful. Gisèle BAKA, a Caribbean singer and manager came to congratulate the young man. Then she invited JOJO to another concert she organized in “OLYMPIA” in Paris, two months later, in commemoration of Doctor Martin Luther KING Jar death. DIBANGO started the same problems again, saying that if JOJO is there, he would not come. A lot of artists decided not to be there if JOJO is absent. This time JO sang a single song. The public delighted and excited was waiting for another one. The young man just came back on stage for a reverence. A star was born. As a music director and conductor, JOJO made beautiful arrangements for other artists as UTA BELLA and Manu DIBANGO. Jo took lessons of classic orchestration and arrangements with VLADIMIR KODJOUKAROV, the conductor of the French National Classic Orchestra. (Orchestra National de Paris). JO TONGO became the most popular African artist. He played for African heads of states like NYASSIBWE EYADEMA of TOGO, YAKUBU GOWON of NIGERIA, MOBUTU SESE SEKO of ZAIRE (Democratic Republic of CONGO), AHMADOU AHIDJO of United Republic of CAMEROON, Prince ALBERT II of MONACO. The artists that brought JO to higher audience are the American pianist and singer MEMPHIS SLIM, the King of BOOGIE WOOGIE and MIKE BRANT, a singer from ISRAEL who became a legend in France.
In 1976, after performing in MIDEM (Cannes) JO TONGO created a new band he called TUMBALO. Patrick, Alex and Chris FRANCFORT (now called THE GIBSON BROTHERS) asked JO to become members of his new band. Vicky EDIMO who heard about this asked JO to join the group, what was done.
TUMBALO recorded 10 songs for DECCA, but for some unknown reasons, this record never came out in time so that the FRANCFORT brothers decide to follow their own way. They were right.
JO TONGO has one of his music used in a French movie called “FEMME DE SA VIE” with the famous French actress Emmanuelle BEART. Later on, he was asked for music for an American movie: NEVER EVER with a well-known French actress SANDRINE BONNAIRE.
Nowadays JO TONGO added REGGAE MUSIC to his influences. He backed KY-MANI MARLEY (one of the BOB MARLEY’s sons) who came to Cannes Festival (of Cinema) for the movie he produced, ONE LOVE, in 2004. With a help of Claudine DE JESUS COSTA, JO TONGO who also made cinema studies in Cannes created RISIN’SUN to promote afro music and movies.
His last CD, JO TONGO ( JOJO L’EXPLOSIF) GREAT HITS and the video clips for this album are RISIN’ SUN productions with a help of AURORE PRODUCTION.
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Check out Jo Tongo’s MySpace page
Tags: composer, funk, happy, Jazz, music, Old School, Reggae, RnB, Uplifting, vintage, World, writer
