Billy Newton Davis For X Mas!

The powerhouse that is Billy Newton-Davis!

 Here is a brief interview with everybody's favorite powerhouse performer and pioneering pop star Billy Newton-Davis! He will be joining us Dec 1st as our first special guest for our "Christmas in New York" Month Of Sundays at The Jazz Bistro! Now thats rockin' the Holidays!!

Micah: Your family had many famous musicians already so a career in this business

must have seemed likely for you. Was your family encouraging?

Billy My family has always been very supportive of my career.  My Dad and My Aunt
sang in churches around the Grenville, South Carolina area in the 40's.  My
cousin Billy Davis Jr. was a member of The Drifters.  When he was in town,
he always tried to put me on the stage... always!
My Dad played every genre of music.  Somehow inherently I could pick up the
rhythm, the style, the lyric from mimicking artist like Aretha, Dinah
Washington, and Sarah Vaughn...My most memorable style was that of Sam Cooke.  My Dad in his later years, Iwould have been five years old, sang in a quartet in Cleveland capturing the quartet, and a'capella style of his roots from the south.

Micah: Thats why The Nylons A Capella was such a good fit!  I believe before that you started out singing in The Church. How has that influenced the way you make music?
Billy: My voice is my gift. Having gospel roots shaped my career. 
 Micah:Your early years included a stint on Broadway with Sammy Davis Junior  How do you think working with "greats" helped you achieve your own career?

Billy: I was enamored with Sammy Davis every since I can remember.  He just tore
down the colour wall.  I have always loved cool, unique, and sassy. He was
just so Hollywood... ha ha ha ...Many times I saw what I did not want to
become ha ha ha ha .

Micah:Did you know you were born to make history as one of Canada's first Afro-Canadian pop stars?

Billy: No I did not... I am flattered, and much honored. 
I would like to think more like... I hope that I have contributed something
to make a change, and some things a bit easier for young artist in our
community, and across the country.

Micah: What advice to you have for up and coming artists who are considering a
career in this business?

Billy: Ha ha ha ha! Take a business course; take a promotion and marketing course.
Have great social media skills.  Of course study your craft of voice, music,
and dance. Acting courses don't hurt.  The big thing is connections
...putting yourself out there..one more thing.  Remember...
Song writing and touring is where you make your money!
And by all means never ever give up on your dream..ever...

Micah: Awesome words for all! Your recent collaborations with Electronic Dance Music's biggest star Deadmaus lead to yet another juno win. What was working with him like?

Billy: Deadmau5 is a force to always be reckoned with.  He is genius.  He has a
great ear.  He is totally savvy in the world of dance music.  He has a very
unique sound, and a wicked sense of time, and rhythm.  He is a business man
obviously.
He knew my voice, and just surrounded it with magnificent sound.  Winning
another Juno was just a blast! 

Micah: Singing with you in The Nylons was one of the highlights of those years for
me. Any special memories from those years?

Billy: We were all comrades'.  I thought in our years we brought another dynamic to
something that was already quite established, and we put a new twist on that
era of The Nylons.  I remember a lot how much we laughed.  I also remember
the loving arms around me when I joined....  Oh I learned a lot about my
voice and my talent. I met the fabulous Micah Barnes. a great friend for ever! 

The Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8
Cover $15; Reservations recommended at Tel: 416.363.5299 (JAZZ)
Doors open at 11:30 am, Music starts at 12.30 pm

A Musical Tour Of New York!

This Holiday season my Trio (Daniel Barnes drums, Russ Boswell bass) and I will be taking audiences on a musical tour through New York City in celebration of our upcoming disc "New York Stories".

We will be visiting legendary musical landmarks such as The Brill Building, The Savoy Ballroom, The Cotton Club, The Apollo Theatre, and Broadway's Time Square with songs taking the audience on a journey through the musical history of The Big Apple. New York has long been an inspiration to musicians in the Jazz world so it's no surprise that when I began writing the upcoming disc there  I found the energy and the musical history of the city deeply inspiring.

Living in an apartment right on the site of the legendary Savoy Ballroom and writing in a piano studio near Time Square, I found a deep connection to the Jazz and Blues standards written in the 30's and 40's, by folks such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Howard Arlen, many of which debuted at The Cotton Club or in Broadway shows. The creative explosion of Doo Wop and early R & B written and produced at The Brill Building and heard at The Apollo Theatrewas also a huge influence on me as he composed the romantic songs that make up our upcoming release "New York Stories". (Release date March 2014).

The Jazz Bistro is the world class venue for Jazz that Toronto deserves  and I am proud to be returning to their stage for another month of Sunday brunch shows.  Our show "Christmas in New York"  surprise special guests throughout the month! Please join us Dec 1st to kick off the month when 3 time Juno Award winner Billy Newton Davis  will be dropping by to sing a few songs! Check https://www.facebook.com/micahbarnesmusic for news and special guest updates!

The Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8
Cover $15; Reservations recommended at Tel: 416.363.5299 (JAZZ)
Doors open at 11:30 am, Music starts at 12.30 pm

New York Stories: The Music Of The Brill Building.. featuring Gavin Hope!

Gavin has one of the most beautiful voices in the country and is celebrating his critically acclaimed new disc "For All We Know". I am so excited to finally be sharing the stage with him again after many many years! Here is our short interview in support of the concert New York Stories: The Music Of The Brill Building Oct 24th at Hugh's Room in Toronto reservations at info@hughsroom.com!

                                                           

Micah: When we first met you were still a teenager singing with The Earthtones and opening the show for The Nylons! So you started singing A Capella young! How did all that come about?

Gavin: I've always loved choral and a cappella ensembles since I was in high school, and in 1991, I won a talent competition singing at the Calgary Stampede called the Youth Talent Showdown, and that's where I met the Earthtones. As a part of that group,  we toured around a lot in western Canada performing doo-wop and pop tunes, and were stoked when we were asked to join the bill and open for the Nylons!! A highlight of that experience was you bringing us back on stage to sing with you in the encore "Kiss Him Goodbye", and you passing me your microphone.. I nearly shat.   ( on a side note, the year before I became an EarthTone, I saw the Nylons perform at Jack Singer Concert Hall  and absolutely loved the show - Little did I know that the next year I'd be in a group that opened for the Nylons, and the following year - I'd be IN the Nylons! What a trip ). So yes Micah, I was a wee lad of 17 or 18 when we met I think..lol. 

Micah: How do you compare your musical theatre experience (starring in the original Canadian production of both RENT and The Lion King) influence your stage performance work as a singer?

Gavin: As a singer, to be in shows like The Lion King and RENT were quite demanding. We had 6-8 weeks of rehearsal leading up to performing 8 times a week, 6 days a week. So I learned how to sing in a much more controlled way, for survival! I couldn't be reckless with my voice and just belt anything out.. I started learning where my limits were and how to overcome them. It was a challenge, but definitely a growing experience. I also learned how to take care of my instrument more, and getting more sleep to make sure I was rested for the performances. Matinees and double show days were pretty demanding for sure - especially by the end of the week! In Lion King especially - it wasn't just singing, but it's one of the most physically demanding shows you can do as a singer.. running around, dancing AND singing..all in cumbersome and delicate costumes. When I was playing Simba, I had a tight head mask on, a corset, and in one scene I even had to battle the villain while being strung up 14 feet in the air. It was all quite the wild experience.

Micah:The Nylons is a musical institution in Canada, what were the challenges in joining an already existing group for you?

I think the biggest challenge for me was fitting in as the youngest member. I was barely 20 years old when I joined the group initially, and the guys not only were quite older than myself, they were an established icon in Canadian music that had been around for about 14 years before I joined. They had many fans, and I was one of two 'new guys' in the band. But because I was young, I had fresh wide eyes and was pretty much ready and willing to do just about anything - it was such a thrill!! WIthin a month or two of joining the band I was already in studio recording my first album with them ( Because ) and the follow up Christmas album Harmony. As far as the challenges though - primarily the age gap, trying to fit in, and wooing the old fans.. But it all seemed to fall into place relatively quickly, which I was thankful for.There was also learning the dynamic of the individual guys in the group as well.

Micah Can you tell us a bit about the making of your beautiful new disc and how that all came about?

My new solo Jazz album is called "For All We Know", and it came about randomly literally a year ago, by meeting my producer and accompanist Bill King at the SING! Vocal Arts Festival fundraiser last October. SING! Is a great new local music festival that focusses on vocal talent, groups, and just anything to do with singing in and around Toronto. I was singing at the annual fundraiser as I had performed with the Nylons as a featured group the inaugural year, and was asked to help out. I met Bill at the fundraiser and he played as I sang a tune. He liked my voice and wanted to do some recording together, so over the next few months we laid down a couple of tracks, got some funding from great people at Slaight Music, and lo and behold, we just released a full album of Jazz standards as well as one original by Bill. I'm really excited about it as it's the first time I've recorded this type of album ( my first album was much more pop oriented ) with such lush, simple, and intimate songs. So far we've had a lot of buzz about it, fantastic reviews, some radio play, and some really positive feedback! Looking forward to seeing where this goes. 

                                                                           

New York Stories: The Music of the Brill Building
Micah Barnes & Friends in Concert
$28.50 advance $30 at door
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 – 8:30 p.m.
Hugh’s Room
2261 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON
For dinner reservations or concert tickets, please call the club at 416-531-6604 or email info@hughroom.com.

The Music Of The Brill Building..Billy Newton-Davis!

New York Stories: The Music Of The Brill Building is an Oct 24th concert at Hugh's Room celebrating the classic age of 60's Pop  featuring former and current members of The Nylons, Gavin Hope, Tyrone Gabriel and 3 time Juno award winner Billy Newton Davis. 
Here is a brief interview with everybody's favorite powerhouse performer and pioneering pop star Billy Newton-Davis!

Micah: Your family had many famous musicians already so a career in this business
must have seemed likely for you. Was your family encouraging?

Billy My family has always been very supportive of my career.  My Dad and My Aunt
sang in churches around the Grenville, South Carolina area in the 40's.  My
cousin Billy Davis Jr. was a member of The Drifters.  When he was in town,
he always tried to put me on the stage... always!
My Dad played every genre of music.  Somehow inherently I could pick up the
rhythm, the style, the lyric from mimicking artist like Aretha, Dinah
Washington, and Sarah Vaughn...My most memorable style was that of Sam Cooke.  My Dad in his later years, Iwould have been five years old, sang in a quartet in Cleveland capturing the quartet, and a'capella style of his roots from the south.

Micah: Thats why The Nylons A Capella was such a good fit!  I believe before that you started out singing in The Church. How has that influenced the way you make music?


Billy: My voice is my gift. Having gospel roots shaped my career. 
 Micah:Your early years included a stint on Broadway with Sammy Davis Junior  How do you think working with "greats" helped you achieve your own career?

Billy: I was enamored with Sammy Davis every since I can remember.  He just tore
down the colour wall.  I have always loved cool, unique, and sassy. He was
just so Hollywood... ha ha ha ...Many times I saw what I did not want to
become ha ha ha ha .

Micah:Did you know you were born to make history as one of Canada's first black
pop stars?


Billy: No I did not... I am flattered, and much honored. 
I would like to think more like... I hope that I have contributed something
to make a change, and some things a bit easier for young artist in our
community, and across the country.

Micah: What advice to you have for up and coming artists who are considering a
career in this business?

Billy: Ha ha ha ha! Take a business course; take a promotion and marketing course.
Have great social media skills.  Of course study your craft of voice, music,
and dance. Acting courses don't hurt.  The big thing is connections
...putting yourself out there..one more thing.  Remember...
Song writing and touring is where you make your money!
And by all means never ever give up on your dream..ever...

Micah: Awesome words for all! Your recent collaborations with Electronic Dance Music's biggest star Deadmaus lead to yet another juno win. What was working with him like?

Billy: Deadmau5 is a force to always be reckoned with.  He is genius.  He has a
great ear.  He is totally savvy in the world of dance music.  He has a very
unique sound, and a wicked sense of time, and rhythm.  He is a business man
obviously.
He knew my voice, and just surrounded it with magnificent sound.  Winning
another Juno was just a blast! 

Micah: Singing with you in The Nylons was one of the highlights of those years for
me. Any special memories from those years?

Billy: We were all comrades'.  I thought in our years we brought another dynamic to
something that was already quite established, and we put a new twist on that
era of The Nylons.  I remember a lot how much we laughed.  I also remember
the loving arms around me when I joined....  Oh I learned a lot about my
voice and my talent. I met the fabulous Micah Barnes. a great friend for ever! 

Micah: I have much gratitude for that indeed. So pleased to have you on board this Oct 24th Brill Building show.  Have you sung this material before? What attracts you to this music?

Billy: I am thrilled to be on board.  Yes I have performed this material over the
years.    This is the music I know from growing up in Cleveland, Ohio.  My
parents had a record store... these were the hits, I heard, and played in
the store...This was Dick Clark...radio..And what about The  Ed Sullivan
Show.....  This music is simple and great poetry.  It talks about love,
heartache, tears, joy...people loved this music because it was life.. They
saw it  and felt everyday..  There was always love..Under the moonlight...
I  know... I am such a romantic!

                         

New York Stories: The Music Of The Brill Building
Hugh's Room Oct 24th

8.30 pm show Tickets $28.50 in advance $30 at the door
RESERVATIONS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!
http://hughsroom.com/2013/07/micah-barnes-friends-in-concert-an-evening-celebrating-the-music-of-new-york/

Pictures, Music, Bio's and more info at https://www.facebook.com/events/449744058473750

THE RESIDENCY: A TIME TO FIND OUT

Unanswered questions are what the road to a recording is made of. What songs belong here, what is the narrative spine of this music, how can the arrangements support the musical story etc. I'm not sure any artist is ever "sure" of where they are going when they start the journey. It's the unanswered questions that we are willing to ask that set our course and start to define the parameters of the communication.

 In my case I have found that the eventual collection of songs is always like a recording of a specific place and time in my life. When I listen to my last few solo discs (available on itunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/micah-barnes/id211531143) they sound like pages torn from a personal journal. The songs map the emotional landscapes I was inhabiting at the time and draw a map of how I got to where I am now.

The new collection I am making is no different. Sure it's a collection of romantic songs about the complications of love..hence the working title "Rules Of Romance" ..But I don't know where this story starts and ends yet..
Taking the songs to the public is the best way to find out. It's in that interaction between singer and audience that the songs start to breathe and come to life. Then they clarify what they are meant to do in the world and create a space for themselves…begin to dictate where they belong and how they can best be presented.

I look forward to being on this journey with lots of you folks who have been there with me along the way. Lets find out together!

http://www.pubaret.com
https://www.facebook.com/micahbarnesmusic
https://twitter.com/micahbarnes

The Romantic Jazz Standard: A Personal History

                                                                      
I had no idea what romantic love was about when I first stumbled on the jazz standards in the songbooks my parents had on the piano. Sure I had heard beloved artists like Streisand and Louis Armstrong sing them on TV and on albums as a kid, but at age 12 I jammed through the "Harms Songbook of Standards"with my father Milton Barnes accompanying me on keyboard and the whole world seemed to expand.I found my heart alive with the joy of expression. And my love of the American Jazz Standard was born…..Thank you Daddio!
Although Billie Holiday was my secret guide through the classics I also listened carefully to Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole during my teenage years. Afternoons and evenings were spent hours clunking away at the piano learning the songs I would begin to perform in public, starting at the very tender inexperienced age of 14.

                                                                    What was it in these romantic words by Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter that attracted my young heart? What was I hearing in those melodies by Gershwin and Irving Berlin? After all love was something I could still only imagine at that point? I can't honestly say except that my head and my heart were a swirl with the beauty and the magic of these songs that seemed like sacred texts handed down to me personally from the universe as a way to make sense of the world and understand life.

Feb 9th I am honored to be sharing the stage with Jackie Richardson and top notch musicians again this year at Hugh's Room for our annual JAZZ VALENTINE concert in Toronto. An opportunity to explore the material that so inspired me in my youth..and led to so much in my life and my career..

Details and Reservation info here:http://hughsroom.com/2012/10/micah-barnes-and-jackie-richardson-a-jazz-valentine

Hope to See you at The Show!