Brooklyn Voices – January 2014

January 6, 2014 by David K. Moseder

garland jeffreys

Ditmas Park-based rockers The National are curating a Grateful Dead tribute album to support the non-profit Red Hot Organization, an international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture. Vampire Weekend and Bon Iver are among the groups who have signed on so far. The album is due out in 2014…

Guitarist Bryce Dessner of The National has teamed with The Kronos Quartet to release Aheym, a new, classically themed album that also features the Brooklyn Youth Chorus…

”Give it a listen!” is Bruce Springsteen’s endorsement of Truth Serum, the new album from veteran rocker and Sheepshead Bay native Garland Jeffreys…Brooklyn in the Rain, a love-and-loss song we can all relate to, leads off Steel and Salt, the fine new album from Flatbush’s Carolann Solebello, who we profiled in Brooklyn Roads, Vol. 3, Issue 2…

The Soundtrack of My Life, music executive Clive Davis’ account of his five decades in the recording industry, is now available in paperback. Davis, who grew up in Crown Heights and attended Erasmus Hall High School, has signed, produced, championed or collaborated with a Who’s Who of rock and pop megastars, including fellow Brooklynites Barry Manilow, Lou Reed and Notorious B.I.G., as well as the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Aerosmith, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and countless others…

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical opened at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway. It features classic songs by Carole King and Gerry Goffin as well as another legendary Brooklyn songwriting duo, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill…

Speaking of songwriting legends, the critically acclaimeddocumentary AKA Doc Pomus is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Pomus, born Jerome Felder in Williamsburg in 1925,wrote more than 1,000 rock andpop songs (many in collaboration with Brighton Beach native Mort Shuman) for Elvis Presley, Dion, Ray Charles, B.B. King, The Drifters and many more…

rubble bucket

Eben Pariser, one-fifth of local band Roosevelt Dime, has teamed up with Molly Venter of Brooklyn “expatriates” Red Molly, for a side project blending pop, country and Americana. Pariser and Venter’s collaborative name, and that of their CD’s title track, isGoodnight Moonshine…

Rubblebucket has released the EP Save Charlie, along with a video of the title song, as a prelude to a full-length released slated for early 2014. Trout Recording in Park Slope is handling the production chores. Notable Quotes: “This [the music industry] was work, but it was the awakening to what was to become a life’s passion.” –Clive Davis

Artists on our Radar

Janet LaBelle Takes the Spotlight: Blending Vintage Vibes with Modern Magic

Janet Labelle With Guitar In Hand / photo by John Nyboer

Dynamic Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Janet LaBelle continues to push her creative boundaries. Known for her unique ability to fuse analog warmth with modern production, LaBelle has been praised by Jersey Beat for her “sweet voice and sharp, thoughtful songwriting,” and her newest projects are no exception. Her music defies easy categorization, effortlessly blending elements of folk, classic rock, and pop into a sound that feels both fresh and timeless. LaBelle recently released her single “Day in the Sun” on September 13 via her own Wild Violet Records, and it has already been captivating audiences with its sunny melodies and deeply personal narrative. The song, inspired by a meaningful hike with a friend in 2023, showcases her talent for finding beauty in simplicity, a theme that resonates through much of her work. The inclusion of horns marks an exciting creative evolution, adding a new layer of depth to her already richly textured sound. Throughout her career, LaBelle has explored a wide range of musical styles. She first made waves as a teenager in the punk-pop band Avery, and since then, her solo work has spanned genres like classic rock, folk, pop, and even French chanson. Her previous EPs, including Moon Songs (2010) and Blossom & Blue (2011), demonstrate her eclectic tastes, with influences ranging from surf rock to vintage country. Working with respected producers such as Evan Taylor (Bernie Worrell) and Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants), LaBelle continues to expand her sound, evolving with each new release. Fans can catch her live at upcoming performances, including a show at Our Wicked Lady on September 24th and at Sleepwalk on December 3rd. These live shows will give listeners a chance to hear both her new and classic material in an up-close setting. Her combination of memorable songs, captivating performances and a unique voice sets her apart as an artist who continues to rise, drawing listeners in with every new creation.

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