HiPNOTIC RECORDS

June 13, 2005

Dear Friends, Supporters and Lovers of The Music,

It’s been a while since the last HiPNOTIC Happenings Newsletter, so in this edition we'll try to bring you fully up to date on all things HiPNOTIC, with 6 items that look forward and back . . . (Bookmark this page to review the newsletter at your convenience.)

Jeff Ray Band @ King Kong Room, NYC, Saturday, June 18

2 New CDs by The Onus

Matthew Parrish Update

HiPNOTIC Makes “Hyper-History”

Introducing Todd Marcus

Remembering Winston Kevin Howell

I. Jeff Ray Band @ King Kong Room, NYC, Saturday, June 18:

L-R Aaron Swinn (keyboards), Victor Wise (drums), Takahiro Sokusai (electric bass), Jeff Ray

Led by Jeff Ray on electric guitar, the Jeff Ray Band will celebrate the release of Jeff’s debut CD, The Walkup, at The Supper Club’s King Kong Room on Saturday, June 18, from 10-midnight ($15 cover; doors open at 9:30). Originally scheduled to take place at the KKR last Spring, the event will feature live performances of music from the CD about which jazzreview.com had the following to say in March ’04:

"Brilliantly conceived and produced, this album incorporates equal amounts of r&b, funk, rock and jazz to create a hypnotic blend of ultra tight grooves and delicious melodies . . . a great debut from an outstanding new artist. Highly recommended."

With assistance from special guest vocalist Peter Wayne (who appears weekly with Jeff on “Music Wednesdays” at Harlem’s The Den), the JRB will also perform new original music and a slew of familiar funk, R&B and soul classics. CDs will be on sale and Jeff will sign copies before and after the show. For more information about Jeff and The Walkup (including reviews, performance dates, audio samples, and a video clip of Jeff performing at Coda in March ’04), visit jeffray.net!

Supper Club/King Kong Room: 240 W. 47th Street (between 7th and 8th), NYC / (212) 921-1904 / RSVP (optional) to mail@jeffray.net.

II. 2 New Releases by The Onus:

In January 2005, The Onus, founded and led by Philly-born, Boston-based clarinetist Darryl Harper, doubled its discography with the release of 2 new and very different CDs.

Y'All Got It features the entire quintet (clarinet, guitar, piano/organ, bass, drums) paying tribute to composer Charlie Smalls with improvisations on 8 classic tunes from the 1975 Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz. Triphony features the trio of Harper, bassist Matthew Parrish and drummer Butch Reed performing collective improvisations that draw on influences including Bach, Brazil, bebop, and the blues. For CD info. and to hear sample tracks, click on the above links. For more info. about The Onus, including bios, video and upcoming gigs, please visit theonus.com.

III. Matthew Parrish Update:

Matthew Parrish in the studio

Bassist and composer Matthew Parrish’s debut CD Circles earned him exceedingly high praise from jazz critics in 2002. All Music Guide called Matthew "an exceptionally gifted bassist composer" while All About Jazz dubbed him "a young double-bassist who displays formidable chops in performance, arrangement, and composition." The Philadelphia Inquirer cited Circles as proof "that the most often overlooked members of a jazz group (the drummer and bassist) can be among the strongest leaders and composers in the idiom," and online retailer CDBaby.com's reviewer called Circles "without a doubt, one of the most inviting, open-armed jazz albums to dance into our warehouse. Brilliant."

Since the albums's release, Matthew has been criss-crossing the country and trotting the globe with jazz luminaries like violinist Regina Carter, vibraphonist Stefon Harris and saxophonist Greg Osby. Matthew has also added to his recording credits, appearing as a sideman on several recent and forthcoming CDs -- notably, Triphony, mentioned above, pianist Orrin Evans’s De Ja Vu on Imani Records, violinist Miri Ben Ari's Song of the Promised Land and three CDs by pianist David Leonhart. In addition to his instrumental work, Matt wrote the musical arrangements for new releases by vocalists Denise Montana (In My Life) and Frank Bray (So Far). Matt also is laying the groundwork for a long-anticipated sophomore release. For more info. on Matt and Circles, please visit matthewparrish.com.

IV. HiPNOTIC Makes "Hyper-History":

The history of HiPNOTIC RECORDS (as of July 2003) is told by writer-critic-guitarist David R. Adler in a segment of his heavily-researched article Declaration of Independents: A Hyper-History of Independent Jazz Labels, published in the American Music Center’s web magazine, New Music Box. The section entitled "Of Records and Reform: Tony Haywood’s HiPNOTIC" begins with a colorful description of post-production work on The Walkup in Harlem’s The Brownstone boutique and proceeds to document the label's origins and early development (of course, it's still early!). Click here to read Mr. Adler's piece. Previously, HiPNOTIC was profiled in the July-August 2002 issue of All About Jazz -- Philadelphia (see p. 9 for "HIPNOTIC Records -- This Beltway boutique showcases Philly talent") and in the Washington City Paper ("Congressional Hearing: Tony Haywood divides his time between the Man and the music").

V. Introducing Todd Marcus:

Looking forward, the newest artist on HiPNOTIC will be bass clarinetist and composer Todd Marcus. Based in Baltimore, Todd leads, and writes music and arrangements for, the Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, a nine-piece group (or "nonet") that performs regularly throughout and beyond the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area. After a series of upcoming performances in Washington, DC, and Baltimore, the TMJO will record its debut CD this June, for release by HiPNOTIC in 2006. For more info. on Todd and the TMJO, visit toddmarcusjazz.com.

VI. Remembering Winston Kevin Howell:

Kevin Howell and Tony Haywood in August 2002 Photo courtesy of Lisa Brown

The newsletter closes on the most somber of notes. A beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend, honorary HiPNOTIC RECORDS co-founder Kevin Howell left us tragically last August. His contributions to the label's development were numerous, varied, substantial and indelible. His genuine love of people and music informed HiPNOTIC's birth in January 2000 and continues to energize the label's efforts to expand public awareness and appreciation of jazz in general and to promote the careers of a few particularly promising young practitioners of the craft. Kevin had a special passion and talent for building human networks, identifying and celebrating the best qualities in widely dispersed individuals and bringing them together to build critical (and joyful) social mass. Apart from his contributions to HiPNOTIC, Kevin's legacy -- reflected in his personal mantra, "Get Involved!" -- survives in a much broader and more impactful way in the continuing interaction of the many hundreds of people he brought together both through the "Skindive" events for which he became widely known in New York City and in so many other informal contexts. Kevin will continue to be dearly missed, fondly remembered, and deeply felt in our hearts.

Thank you for your interest in and support of HiPNOTIC RECORDS, its mission, and its artists!

Sincerely,

Julian A. (Tony) Haywood
President
HiPNOTIC RECORDS
http://www.hipnotic.com

HiPNOTIC CDs are available nationwide from various brick & mortar and online retail stores via Synergy Distribution and are also available online at independent seller CDBaby.com: http://www.cdbaby.com/all/hipnotic

HiPNOTIC Artist Web Sites:

The Onus: http://www.theonus.com
Matthew Parrish: http://www.matthewparrish.com
Jeff Ray: http://www.jeffray.net
Seed/Orrin Evans: http://www.imanirecords.com
Todd Marcus: http://www.toddmarcusjazz.com