Lloyd Gregory News and Reviews

From: G1rhythm [mailto:g1rhythm@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 4:04 PM
Subject: Janice Maxie Reed at Biscuits & Blues Dec 1

PRESS RELEASE: JANICE MAXIE REID PERFORMS HOLIDAY SHOW AT AMERICA'S # 1 BLUES NIGHTCLUB BISCUITS AND BLUES – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011 – TWO SHOWS 8PM & 10PM $15

Love At Christmas show features special guests Derick Hughes, vocalist from The Roberta Flack Tour and jazz guitarist Lloyd Gregory. Other band members: Richard Aguan, drums; James Henry, percussion; Dave Jones, bass and other guest performers.

Janice Maxie Reid is a world class vocalist and keyboardist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her musical delivery is a captivating fusion of jazz, blues, gospel and soul. Janice began playing at the piano at age four, singing at age nine and performing at the professional level with bands at the age of thirteen. Her distinctive four-octave voice range, fierce keyboard skills and engaging stage presence make her a unique "one woman band".

Having spent years as a busy educator and side woman while mentoring scores of artists including 4-time Grammy®nominated singer Ledisi and Stevie Wonder's keyboardist Victoria Theodore, Janice is steadily making waves as a solo performer and recording artist in her own right.

Janice has toured and performed with bands throughout the U.S. and internationally. In 2010, she performed solo piano at Clint Eastwood's Annual Golf Tournament and a two-week engagement at Bourbon Street Music Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2011, she mesmerized an audience of 25,000 with her stirring version of the U.S. National Anthem at the Oakland Coliseum for an Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball game. Janice has shared the stage with musical giants including, Sting, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Earl Klugh, Will Downing, Kenny G., George Duke and Narada Michael Walden.

Janice has performed on major concert stages including the Saratoga Spring Performing Arts Center, Davies Symphony Hall, Yoshi's, Concord Pavilion and the Berkeley and Russian River Jazz Festivals.
Known as the "Triple Threat" and "The Real Deal", Janice also leads her own band, Mystique. Her multi-faceted skills and vast musical knowledge make her the "first call" musician for leading Bay Area bands including Stanley Clarke's Roxboro Records smooth jazz guitarist Lloyd Gregory and Santana's 11-time Grammy® winner and lead vocalist Tony Lindsay. Janice's musical influences include Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Rodney Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack and Barbara Streisand

Janice's holiday CD Love At Christmas features Janice and special guest performers Jeanie Tracy, Tony Lindsay, Derick Hughes, Lloyd Gregory and others.

Biscuits and Blues
401 Mason Street (x Geary Street)
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-292-2583
www.biscuitsandblues.com
www.janicemaxiereid.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2011
STANLEY CLARKE'S ROXBORO ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES PLANS TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH FOUR NEW ALBUMS

Kennard Ramsey's Somos and Lloyd Gregory's Gentile Warrior Albums Will Be Followed by Ruslan Sirota's Ruslan and Sunnie Paxson's Bohemian Sun on October 25th

Los Angeles --- Bass legend Stanley Clarke, whose 40 albums and 60 film scores have made him one of the most recognized names in the annals of contemporary music has announced the fall, 2011 release schedule for his label Roxboro Entertainment Group. He shares, "When you are starting a record company, diversity plays a major role. All of Roxboro's artists come from different locations in the world offering remarkable cultural differences. I could not be more satisfied in introducing the label via the works of Kennard, Lloyd, Ruslan and Sunnie." Multiple releases for 2012 are in the works, with Clarke acting as executive producer on these forthcoming titles.

The first release from Roxboro is Kennard Ramsey's Somos. Ramsey, a Los Angeles based composer/musician, has worked with a diverse array of talent in the film and record industry. His compositions are distinguished by an innovative use of live orchestra, synthesizer and other digital audio media, integrating contemporary music genres with traditional. Somos is largely influenced by the arrangements and orchestrations that personified the innovation of Verve, CTI and Blue Note era recording artists, and is a musical and visual exploration of various music genres. The album distinctly offers an audible portrait of Ramsey's uniquely personal vision, sharing a glimpse in to what has made him a sought after composer for feature films, documentaries, television movies and episodic television. Ramsey has also arranged music and performed with stars like the inimitable King of Love Barry White, as well as jazz pioneer Ronnie Laws, and is a recipient of consecutive Aspen Music Fellowship Awards and was a finalist in the Frank Sinatra awards.

The second title from Roxboro is Lloyd Gregory's Gentile Warrior. A master of both acoustic and electric guitar, San Francisco-based Lloyd Gregory's smooth, soulful, melodic, and flowing sound evokes unique hints of his extensive R&B roots. The title marks the fifth in a serious of acclaimed albums, and includes standouts "Brazilian Sea"; and "Moment in Time". Gregory shares, "As we grow in time, age, experience, knowledge and wisdom, there comes a time when it's time to put it all to music and share it with the world. For this album, it was time to make music for my friends." Clarke continues, "He is just a sweet warm guy, and his presence comes out in his performances. His music reminds me of a modern-day Wes Montgomery." Gregory has a storied career as a sought after musical director, who has played and recorded with artists as diverse as Martha Reeves and Gerald Albright.

Coming on October 25th are two new titles via Roxboro. First, a future smash from innovative songwriter, producer, arranger and performer Sunnie Paxson titled Bohemian Sun. Paxson's debut Groove Suite made her an instant star via the smash hit "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)," featuring longtime friend Clarke on bass. This album marks a return to her solid jazz roots, and inevitably will place her back on the airwaves in the near future. Paxson has toured Clarke, and has recorded and/or shared the stage with many including Justo Almario, Larry Carlton, Danny Gotlieb and Michael Paulo. Her compositions and performances can be heard in feature films (Book of Love, Love Kills and Eddie), and on television programming across the networks. A native of Philadelphia, she was a child piano prodigy. Her skills were honed by studies with world-renowned French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer, the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts and Berklee College of Music. She was voted one of "Los Angeles' Best Jazz Performers" in Los Angeles Magazine.

Last, but certainly not least is the young gun for the Roxboro Entertainment Group. Ruslan Sirota's debut simply titled Ruslan displays the arrival of a talented sideman about to take the spotlight. Sirota's story is one of amazement as be rose from a humble upbringing in the Ukraine, to travelling the world playing with some of the biggest names in jazz and pop music. Born in Uman, which is now within the Ukraine, Ruslan's musical heritage comes from a family rich with generations of musicians. He was exposed early in his youth to American Jazz and improvisation, and began to see music as a mission in itself, and a source of passion. At the age of ten, his family moved to Israel, where he continued his music studies. At 17, he crossed the globe via a prized scholarship to the Berklee School of Music, with personal assistance from legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton. After graduating in 2003, Sirota jumped right in, and started playing with the most prolific and legendary names in Jazz. He played on and wrote material for Stanley Clarke's The Toys of Men on the track "Jerusalem." and toured the world with Dennis Chambers, Marcus Miller, Seal and Brian McKnight. Ruslan is the first chapter in his rise as an artist defined but his own compositions and performances that he personally views as "quasi- spiritual experiences."

Stanley Clarke has meticulously selected the four artists who begin the story of the Roxboro Entertainment Group. Each is intrinsically unique and has delivered an album where Clarke himself served as Executive Producer. In closing Clarke offers, "Roxboro Entertainment Group is about getting back to the core of music. Discovering, creating, and sharing the notation that connects and unites us as humans. Music goes just as deep as the emotions we feel. The link that connects music and emotion is the way we express ourselves and Roxboro Entertainment Group is our collective expression."

Reviews for Free Fallin'

“Lloyd expertly fuses soul, pop, and jazz, forging a hybrid that is both enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Gregory’s elastic guitar glides with relative ease......there’s a new breed of guitar-based fusion in the making”- Minor 7th: Acoustic Music Reviews
July 2003

Euro Club de Jazz - Featured Artist “With a wide range of experience and influence to draw upon... A rich listening experience... with that something extra and something special that you don’t always come across.” – Midwest Record Recap /
The voice of the entertainment retailer and broadcaster -April 21, 2003

“The guy can play guitar” - ContemporayJazz.com Review

“San Francisco native Lloyd Gregory is the very essence of smooth jazz. Gregory’s guitar sounds sumptuous and sensual, communicating richness and warmth”
– All About Jazz - May 2003

“So while his current jazzy instrumental sound is the epitomy of smooth , it also contains the deep-rooted passions, melodic sensibilities and silky stylings of classic soul music. Something special happens when smooth jazz meets classic soul.” - CD Universe 5/12/03

“Lloyd Gregory a popular guitarist on the Bay Area / Central Coast scene demonstrates his knowledge of several different styles of music using excellent technique, compositional skills and his mastery of guitar dynamics”
Sounds of Timeless Jazz /Jazz Beyond Category, from Straight to Smooth May 2003

“ “Free Fallin” by Lloyd Gregory offers music on the classic and jazz guitar featuring a blend of smooth jazz with a soulfulness that comes from within as well as being melodic..a good collection of songs from a talented musician”
- Leader Times / music reviews May 8, 2003

“He manages to evoke a lite jazz that is very hard to replicate these days. How he does it, who knows. Now he’s sliding to us with a cool night sound that does justice to the entire genre that is lite jazz.” –   The Muse’s Muse 04/17/03

This is a pleasant collection of smooth jazz that demonstrates the guitarist’s facility in engaging settings   –   All Music Guide May 2003

“ It’s the kind of music you chill out to when it’s hot and sunny, everybody’s got their windows open and you just want to let the smooth, soulful, melodic tones flow over you.”   –   New Hope International Review On-Line June 2003

“Immediately likable. Gregory has an instrumental sound that may be the epitome of smooth jazz. The sound is quite refined and accessible to all lovers of high quality smooth jazz , so much so that smooth jazz audiences should be hearing much of it quite soon. Because taking risks, showing versatility as an artist, constantly honing the natural gift while refining it’s individual expression are some obvious elements that are consistently found in the rise to fame of the greatest artists and, for the most part, also in Lloyd’s music.”    –   Omega Directory   Musical Soundscapes May 2003

There are various styles of jazz, some more accessible than others. On Free Fallin', Lloyd Gregory performs what I've heard called new-age jazz, easy-listening jazz or, more often than not, smooth jazz. I would easily put the style of music on this CD in the same category as the Rippingtons. In fact, while it is not the case, I would not have been surprised to find out some of the selections on this CD were penned by Russ Freeman himself. Since I used to listen to the Rippingtons enough to go see them in concert, I mean this comparison to be taken as a compliment to Lloyd (who has enough material on Free Fallin' to distinguish himself in his own right).

Free Fallin' is Lloyd's fourth CD. Of the 12 selections, 10 are originals and two are covers ("I Loves You Porgy" by George Gershwin and "Round Midnight" by Thelonious Monk). The best track on the CD is the faster-paced "Kermudgen." The guitar work is top-notch, the percussion in the background is up-tempo and the flute solo, masterful. Click here for more



		From: G1rhythm [mailto:g1rhythm@aol.com] Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 4:04 PM Subject: Janice Maxie Reed at Biscuits & Blues Dec 1 PRESS RELEASE: JANICE MAXIE REID PERFORMS HOLIDAY SHOW AT AMERICA'S # 1 BLUES NIGHTCLUB BISCUITS AND BLUES – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011 – TWO SHOWS 8PM & 10PM $15 Love At Christmas show features special guests Derick Hughes, vocalist from The Roberta Flack Tour and jazz guitarist Lloyd Gregory. Other band members: Richard Aguan, drums; James Henry, percussion; Dave Jones, bass and other guest performers. Janice Maxie Reid is a world class vocalist and keyboardist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Her musical delivery is a captivating fusion of jazz, blues, gospel and soul. Janice began playing at the piano at age four, singing at age nine and performing at the professional level with bands at the age of thirteen. Her distinctive four-octave voice range, fierce keyboard skills and engaging stage presence make her a unique "one woman band". Having spent years as a busy educator and side woman while mentoring scores of artists including 4-time Grammy®nominated singer Ledisi and Stevie Wonder's keyboardist Victoria Theodore, Janice is steadily making waves as a solo performer and recording artist in her own right. Janice has toured and performed with bands throughout the U.S. and internationally. In 2010, she performed solo piano at Clint Eastwood's Annual Golf Tournament and a two-week engagement at Bourbon Street Music Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2011, she mesmerized an audience of 25,000 with her stirring version of the U.S. National Anthem at the Oakland Coliseum for an Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball game. Janice has shared the stage with musical giants including, Sting, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Earl Klugh, Will Downing, Kenny G., George Duke and Narada Michael Walden. Janice has performed on major concert stages including the Saratoga Spring Performing Arts Center, Davies Symphony Hall, Yoshi's, Concord Pavilion and the Berkeley and Russian River Jazz Festivals. Known as the "Triple Threat" and "The Real Deal", Janice also leads her own band, Mystique. Her multi-faceted skills and vast musical knowledge make her the "first call" musician for leading Bay Area bands including Stanley Clarke's Roxboro Records smooth jazz guitarist Lloyd Gregory and Santana's 11-time Grammy® winner and lead vocalist Tony Lindsay. Janice's musical influences include Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Rodney Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack and Barbara Streisand Janice's holiday CD Love At Christmas features Janice and special guest performers Jeanie Tracy, Tony Lindsay, Derick Hughes, Lloyd Gregory and others. Biscuits and Blues 401 Mason Street (x Geary Street) San Francisco, CA 94102 415-292-2583 www.biscuitsandblues.com www.janicemaxiereid.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2011 STANLEY CLARKE'S ROXBORO ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES PLANS TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH FOUR NEW ALBUMS Kennard Ramsey's Somos and Lloyd Gregory's Gentile Warrior Albums Will Be Followed by Ruslan Sirota's Ruslan and Sunnie Paxson's Bohemian Sun on October 25th Los Angeles --- Bass legend Stanley Clarke, whose 40 albums and 60 film scores have made him one of the most recognized names in the annals of contemporary music has announced the fall, 2011 release schedule for his label Roxboro Entertainment Group. He shares, "When you are starting a record company, diversity plays a major role. All of Roxboro's artists come from different locations in the world offering remarkable cultural differences. I could not be more satisfied in introducing the label via the works of Kennard, Lloyd, Ruslan and Sunnie." Multiple releases for 2012 are in the works, with Clarke acting as executive producer on these forthcoming titles. The first release from Roxboro is Kennard Ramsey's Somos. Ramsey, a Los Angeles based composer/musician, has worked with a diverse array of talent in the film and record industry. His compositions are distinguished by an innovative use of live orchestra, synthesizer and other digital audio media, integrating contemporary music genres with traditional. Somos is largely influenced by the arrangements and orchestrations that personified the innovation of Verve, CTI and Blue Note era recording artists, and is a musical and visual exploration of various music genres. The album distinctly offers an audible portrait of Ramsey's uniquely personal vision, sharing a glimpse in to what has made him a sought after composer for feature films, documentaries, television movies and episodic television. Ramsey has also arranged music and performed with stars like the inimitable King of Love Barry White, as well as jazz pioneer Ronnie Laws, and is a recipient of consecutive Aspen Music Fellowship Awards and was a finalist in the Frank Sinatra awards. The second title from Roxboro is Lloyd Gregory's Gentile Warrior. A master of both acoustic and electric guitar, San Francisco-based Lloyd Gregory's smooth, soulful, melodic, and flowing sound evokes unique hints of his extensive R&B roots. The title marks the fifth in a serious of acclaimed albums, and includes standouts "Brazilian Sea"; and "Moment in Time". Gregory shares, "As we grow in time, age, experience, knowledge and wisdom, there comes a time when it's time to put it all to music and share it with the world. For this album, it was time to make music for my friends." Clarke continues, "He is just a sweet warm guy, and his presence comes out in his performances. His music reminds me of a modern-day Wes Montgomery." Gregory has a storied career as a sought after musical director, who has played and recorded with artists as diverse as Martha Reeves and Gerald Albright. Coming on October 25th are two new titles via Roxboro. First, a future smash from innovative songwriter, producer, arranger and performer Sunnie Paxson titled Bohemian Sun. Paxson's debut Groove Suite made her an instant star via the smash hit "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)," featuring longtime friend Clarke on bass. This album marks a return to her solid jazz roots, and inevitably will place her back on the airwaves in the near future. Paxson has toured Clarke, and has recorded and/or shared the stage with many including Justo Almario, Larry Carlton, Danny Gotlieb and Michael Paulo. Her compositions and performances can be heard in feature films (Book of Love, Love Kills and Eddie), and on television programming across the networks. A native of Philadelphia, she was a child piano prodigy. Her skills were honed by studies with world-renowned French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer, the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts and Berklee College of Music. She was voted one of "Los Angeles' Best Jazz Performers" in Los Angeles Magazine. Last, but certainly not least is the young gun for the Roxboro Entertainment Group. Ruslan Sirota's debut simply titled Ruslan displays the arrival of a talented sideman about to take the spotlight. Sirota's story is one of amazement as be rose from a humble upbringing in the Ukraine, to travelling the world playing with some of the biggest names in jazz and pop music. Born in Uman, which is now within the Ukraine, Ruslan's musical heritage comes from a family rich with generations of musicians. He was exposed early in his youth to American Jazz and improvisation, and began to see music as a mission in itself, and a source of passion. At the age of ten, his family moved to Israel, where he continued his music studies. At 17, he crossed the globe via a prized scholarship to the Berklee School of Music, with personal assistance from legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton. After graduating in 2003, Sirota jumped right in, and started playing with the most prolific and legendary names in Jazz. He played on and wrote material for Stanley Clarke's The Toys of Men on the track "Jerusalem." and toured the world with Dennis Chambers, Marcus Miller, Seal and Brian McKnight. Ruslan is the first chapter in his rise as an artist defined but his own compositions and performances that he personally views as "quasi- spiritual experiences." Stanley Clarke has meticulously selected the four artists who begin the story of the Roxboro Entertainment Group. Each is intrinsically unique and has delivered an album where Clarke himself served as Executive Producer. In closing Clarke offers, "Roxboro Entertainment Group is about getting back to the core of music. Discovering, creating, and sharing the notation that connects and unites us as humans. Music goes just as deep as the emotions we feel. The link that connects music and emotion is the way we express ourselves and Roxboro Entertainment Group is our collective expression." Reviews for Free Fallin' “Lloyd expertly fuses soul, pop, and jazz, forging a hybrid that is both enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. Gregory’s elastic guitar glides with relative ease......there’s a new breed of guitar-based fusion in the making”- Minor 7th: Acoustic Music Reviews July 2003 Euro Club de Jazz - Featured Artist “With a wide range of experience and influence to draw upon... A rich listening experience... with that something extra and something special that you don’t always come across.” – Midwest Record Recap / The voice of the entertainment retailer and broadcaster -April 21, 2003 “The guy can play guitar” - ContemporayJazz.com Review “San Francisco native Lloyd Gregory is the very essence of smooth jazz. Gregory’s guitar sounds sumptuous and sensual, communicating richness and warmth” – All About Jazz - May 2003 “So while his current jazzy instrumental sound is the epitomy of smooth , it also contains the deep-rooted passions, melodic sensibilities and silky stylings of classic soul music. Something special happens when smooth jazz meets classic soul.” - CD Universe 5/12/03 “Lloyd Gregory a popular guitarist on the Bay Area / Central Coast scene demonstrates his knowledge of several different styles of music using excellent technique, compositional skills and his mastery of guitar dynamics” Sounds of Timeless Jazz /Jazz Beyond Category, from Straight to Smooth May 2003 “ “Free Fallin” by Lloyd Gregory offers music on the classic and jazz guitar featuring a blend of smooth jazz with a soulfulness that comes from within as well as being melodic..a good collection of songs from a talented musician” - Leader Times / music reviews May 8, 2003 “He manages to evoke a lite jazz that is very hard to replicate these days. How he does it, who knows. Now he’s sliding to us with a cool night sound that does justice to the entire genre that is lite jazz.” – The Muse’s Muse 04/17/03 This is a pleasant collection of smooth jazz that demonstrates the guitarist’s facility in engaging settings – All Music Guide May 2003 “ It’s the kind of music you chill out to when it’s hot and sunny, everybody’s got their windows open and you just want to let the smooth, soulful, melodic tones flow over you.” – New Hope International Review On-Line June 2003 “Immediately likable. Gregory has an instrumental sound that may be the epitome of smooth jazz. The sound is quite refined and accessible to all lovers of high quality smooth jazz , so much so that smooth jazz audiences should be hearing much of it quite soon. Because taking risks, showing versatility as an artist, constantly honing the natural gift while refining it’s individual expression are some obvious elements that are consistently found in the rise to fame of the greatest artists and, for the most part, also in Lloyd’s music.” – Omega Directory Musical Soundscapes May 2003 There are various styles of jazz, some more accessible than others. On Free Fallin', Lloyd Gregory performs what I've heard called new-age jazz, easy-listening jazz or, more often than not, smooth jazz. I would easily put the style of music on this CD in the same category as the Rippingtons. In fact, while it is not the case, I would not have been surprised to find out some of the selections on this CD were penned by Russ Freeman himself. Since I used to listen to the Rippingtons enough to go see them in concert, I mean this comparison to be taken as a compliment to Lloyd (who has enough material on Free Fallin' to distinguish himself in his own right). Free Fallin' is Lloyd's fourth CD. Of the 12 selections, 10 are originals and two are covers ("I Loves You Porgy" by George Gershwin and "Round Midnight" by Thelonious Monk). The best track on the CD is the faster-paced "Kermudgen." The guitar work is top-notch, the percussion in the background is up-tempo and the flute solo, masterful. Click here for more



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