Wildcard - Eric Biondo
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I'm definitely attracted to bars that have tasty curated playlists. I mean would you want to go back to the same bar over and over again if the music was stale? Fortunately some of my local bar owners have great taste in music.
Recently Aguanilla came on and made my night. Hector Lavoe is one of my favorite voices. Overall I'm turned on by the way this song is moving the air in the room. The temperature is exactly where it should be. Your keys are right where you left them. You have that parking spot right in front of your house. Musically speaking this idea is happening with the flow of each measure of music. Hectors voice is frosted with opera. He is delivering realtime news with tone and phrasing. His voice is like the needle of a tattoo artist drawing a priest who's blessing your house with holy water. The band is the body. No money back guarantee here but a free trombone lesson with your tenth tattoo.
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Itsnotyouitsme - Long Tales Of Short Lived Victories
This music conjures up childhood memories of poking my head through the curtains at dusk or through racks of clothing at a department store or finding secret hiding spots in the house. The peacefulness you get from hearing the first wet finger swirling over the tuned wine glass. Luscious layers like passing paths of brightly colored tropical fish that hide in colorful coral.I have a few friends on this record Grey McMurray who is administering aural antioxidants with his kaleidoscoping guitar sound and Caleb Burhans shooting arrows at rainbows here with his violin. The cinematic quality of this core duo expands even further with legendary improvisers Theo Bleckmann (voice) & Skúli Sverrisson (bass).
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I always get uncomfortable when a friend compares my music to a popular singer. It was about a year after a James Blake comparison that I flipped the switch and took a listen. I still haven't seen what he looks like yet. I don't want to be shocked like the first time I saw Rick Astley. This music has a scent. You know when you walk into a thrift store, you could be blindfolded. You can spray all the Febreeze you want and there's no doubt you're in a big dirty closet. I mean this in the best way possible.I love it when someone with talent uses autotune as an expressive tool. It's a pitch deodorizer. If you sing in tune you can just have fun with it and turn people on with the glaze it creates. I like how it's used intermittently here. Blake has committed to his track sounds like a thrift store that specializes in vests, bow ties and spats. Interesting sounds you can have fun trying to identify. The clap arrangement on here is raw doggy.Also very appreciative of this modern day song not adhering the limited volume spectrum which seems so normal these days. Shifting dynamics keep you listening.
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I was introduced to this RJ Miller record late one night in my friend Grey McMurray's (Itsnotyouitsme) car. Grey's always got some interesting music to share! It's always a good sign to love music from the first note or sound. Immediately drawn into the meditative quality in the this composition. The first track Sunny Cove is so well titled. The music easily translates into visions. Maybe the stained glass windows in the church are coming to life or you're on a boat in Thailand and you see the sunny cove. I'm a sucker for minimalism and poetic interplay between instruments. The whole record is all colorful and focused. The recording by Pete Rende is complimentary to the music, lush and warm and full of depth.
Eric Biondo is a New York City based trumpet player, singer, songwriter and teacher. Eric grew in up in Buffalo New York and graduated from the Eastman School of Music. For the past several years Brooklyn bands Superhuman Happiness and Beyondo have been Eric's main focus. Eric also has toured/recorded with Antibalas, The Monkees, Charlie Hunter, TV on the Radio and many more.
For more information please visit www.beyondo.bandcamp.com
You can also catch Eric performing at these upcoming shows:
May 21st Employee of the Month Talk Show - Joe's Pub 9:30 May 29th/30th Arthur Russell Tribute - BAM 7pm