Archive for the ‘Music News’ Category

The Zone Music Reporter Music Award Winners for 2010 were announced on March 13, 2011. Many of the artists we write album reviews about or interview are category qualifiers, award nominees, or chosen award winners in specific ZMR sponsored music award categories in 2010.

In our role as review publicists and interview hosts we often get to know many of the ZMR award candidates personally, so it is always good news when we hear exceptional artists get the recognition they deserve.

In fact, many New Age music qualifiers, nominees, and award winning musicians were recognized in the NewAgeMusic.nu Best Album Awards in 2010. We take pride ourselves when writing about these commendable individuals, and look forward to writing about many more top New Age music artists by an album review or interview in the days ahead.

The ZMR Award Winning Musicians are shown in the cover art shown below. You can click on the cover arts to visit the page for each ZMR artist featured at this website.  The ZMR award winners we didn’t have a chance to write about this year are shown below. B.T. Fasmer and I congratulate everyone! Place cursor over album cover art for each artist’s album award status.

Best New Artist – Another Place and Time by Heidi Anne Breyer. 

Best Instrumental Album – Piano – Another Place and Time by Heidi Anne Breyer.

Best Vocal Album – The Grace of the Green Leaf by Lis Addison.

Best Neo – Classical Album – NightBook by Ludovico Einaudi

Best Electronic Album – The Crossing by David Helpling & Jon Jenkins.

Best Ambient Album – The Crossing by David Helpling & Jon Jenkins.

Best Cover Art – The Crossing by David Helpling & Jon Jenkins.

Visit zonemusicreporter.com to see the ZMR Music Award Winners for 2010. Read about many of the ZMR artists, and their newest albums on my pages for Best New Age Album Award. Big Stock Photo – Stuarthe.

Yanni-Wake Entertainment has a very special event just beginning, with a live video chat between Yanni and fans to climax this extraordinary event taking place in an aired-live forum on March 16th.  The folks at Yanni.com are currently collecting questions, and then posting them in new videos every day until the open forum on March 16th.

Wouldn’t you like to have the opportunity to ask your favorite music celebrity a personal question related to their music?  According to yanni.com, people from across the globe are turning in their questions for Yanni’s personal reply at this very minute.  In fact, there are still several days for you to send in your questions early before the main event is broadcast live!

This live video chat event from Yanni-Wake Entertainment will be hosted by the award-winning, American news anchor and media personality Lauren Sanchez.  In addition to answering many fan questions, Yanni also plans to share details on his upcoming concert tour and new album, “Truth of Touch.”  Here are the specific details;

Visit yanni.com or go directly to their news page for complete live chat details, and to see videos of questions in the days before March 16th.

On March 16 you can access the Live Video Chat webcast by clicking on this link; LiveStream.com/OfficialYanni or by clicking on our banner above.  You can submit your questions early to: Ask@Yanni.com.  The Live Video Chat forum will begin airing at 1:00pm (EDT) Eastern Daylight Time.

Banner courtesy yanni.com.

I am certain the recent article by B.T. Fasmer informing you about The original Truth Of Touch release from Yanni has created some excitement for our visitors.  It certainly has for us !   After going to the official Yanni truthoftouch.com website for pre – release samples, then reading the fan comments at his YouTube videos section and their excitement, I can say in all honesty the anticipation level is exceptionally high and this original composition from Yanni is creating quite a sensation.

It’s easy to see why people are excited since even the Truth Of Touch samples are magnificent !

You are invited to find out why this epic release from Yanni coming February 8, 2011 will be a must have release for a multitude of people worldwide.  Voyage from Truth Of Touch is featured in the video below, plus everything you need to know is available at yanni.com with info and song samples from the album for your listening pleasure at truthoftouch.com.

Yanni tells us his thoughts about Truth Of Touch, then sample the related videos after the song below.   

Many musicians are content to remain within a specific genre and are a complete success in their artistic focus. Then there are other notable musicians where a natural progression is realized, developing into a unique artisan style and by their inner convictions, become a virtuoso by what they offer the music world.

Gandalf is an internationally acclaimed composing music producer from Vienna Austria first identified as a New Age, Contemporary Instrumental and World artist. While transitioning over the past 30 years of his career, his progressive directive and persona has helped neutralize the customary social borders in multicultural music for years.

Gates To Secret Realities on the Prudence label is an open manifest of his ambitious return to classic world music. This 1996 album is one of fascination and perhaps a secret gaze into what Gandalf is planning for a future orchestration slated to celebrate his 30 year Anniversary in 2011. This future CD currently being composed is the centerpiece for the occasion, plus a live performance in Vienna will accent his milestone achievement.

It was during continental travels to Europe, North & South America and Asia where Gandalf began to realize the prevailing attitudes and many similarities of every continent greatly unites each of us, verses creates a divisional line between countries. This open border view is much a part of his global World Music ambitions, and perhaps why his style encompasses a unique image while making a valid statement in relation to his cultivated talents and international status.

Gates To Secret Realities featuring 11 songs with over an hour of world class music is an earlier expedition not to be missed. Gandalf is a multi-instrumentalist performing acoustic and electric guitar, charango, piano, keyboards, mellotron, balaphon and many indigenous percussion. Enlisting Emily Burridge from England and Peter Aschenbrenner from Vienna, Emily performs vocals & cello and composed 3 songs while Peter is another fine talent on flutes, soprano saxophone and some backing vocals.

Gandalf’s ensemble makes this album a unique listening experience beginning with 3 songs Dreamcatcher ( Part 1 ) vocals and flute instill a celestial atmosphere before Gandalf steps up to give an astounding rock styled electric guitar anthem. This is in relation to The Power Of Nature & Man’s Promise To Mother Earth performed by the united trio where vocals, flute, keyboard and electric guitar proclaim a powerful majestic atmosphere.

Many songs journey along more moderate terrains regarding style and tempo yet the fascination remains deep and on a grandiose scale. Footprints In Red Sand is relaxing by the flute and keyboard interludes before building momentum with electric guitar that greatly increases depth of the impression.

Majestic Mountain View is an apt title shown by cello, keyboard and flute setting their sights on a light background depth and then again in following windswept song Voice In The Wind, then bells signal the tonal imagery in piano and guitar melody on Along The Milky Way.  Some songs like Ascending On The Eagle’s wings, Dreamcatcher ( Part 2 ) & Floating Down The Silent Stream are ballads elevated by cello flute, keyboards and saxophone that give a cinematic feel by lighter orchestrations portrayed in a lavish way.

The Wheel Of Life is a moving concerto lightly revolving in time, thought and deliberation, swaying in a gentle way by an enchanting flute melody backed by wondrous piano rhythms. Cello is fluently engaged to intensify the atmospheric warmth and progressive movement this song and the album in entirety envisions, perhaps giving us secret insight into the celebratory atmosphere Gandalf has in mind for us in the year 2011.

Visit Gandalf.at to sample his music and read his biography page. Visit the Munsing Germany based bscmusic.com homepage and BSA’s Gandalf music profile to sample / purchase. Picture copyright Big Stock Photo – EcoShot.

The ZMR Music Award Winners were announced on March 14 2010.  Many of the artists we write about were category qualifiers, nominees, or chosen award winners in specific categories. It is always good news to us when these outstanding artists get recognition they deserve.

Every musician in our genre has produced some outstanding music this year,and we have enjoyed writing reviews about many of these musicians at NewAgeMusicWorld.Com & NewAgeMusic.nu this past year.

There is no denying that every musician has made a significant contribution to our beloved genre and in our minds, has already become a winner.  We enjoy writing about these deserving individuals and look forward to writing even more  about our featured musicians in the days ahead.

B.T. Fasmer and I would like to congratulate everyone !

The qualifying artists we feature, along with their websites can be found by clicking on the ZMR news links provided in each review or interview.

Visit zonemusicreporter.com a complete  Category Awards List  and the artists who won a best album award for 2009.

Expect New Age Music World to bring you even more about the musicians we feature here.  Below are the individuals we have been writing about who received top honors at ZMR for 2009.

                                                                          Fiona Joy Hawkins 

                                                                          Blue Dream Album

                *Album of the Year *Best Contemporary Instrumental *Best Contemporary Instrumental / Piano

David Wahler                                 Michael Brant DeMaria                        Michael Brant Demaria

Antiquus Album                            Ocean Album                                         Siyotanka Album

*Best New Artist                           *Best Ambient  & *Best Relaxation     *Best Native American

Michael Stribling                                Bruce Michell                                     9  Muses

The Promise Album                           New Earth Goddess Album               Feel to Heal Album

*Best Electronic                                  *Best Neo Classical                          *Best Chill / Groove

Again we invite our readers to visit each individual artist website by our links provided within every review.  You can find their individual reviews by scrolling down our main pages or by clicking on their names in the right hand module to visit their dedicated page here at New Age Music World.

The ZMR award winning musicians I have written about this year at NewAgeMusicWorld.Com & NewAgeMusic.nu are shown above.  Every artist has a home here so we will be posting more about them in the future.

Valentines Day is a super time to make one’s heart beat a little faster, and since February 14, 2010 was also the first phase in the annual Zone Music Reporter ( ZMR ) Award Category Nominees announcement, I can almost hear the rhythmic pace increase for the candidates we have been writing about at NewAgeMusicWorld.Com & NewAgeMusic.nu.

Click here to see our NewAgeMusic.nu Best of the Best Album Awards for 2009.

ZMR has decisively placed many of the artists we write about as Category Nominees, so naturally we are happy to see many of the artists we have met and consider friends being placed on the ballot.

The next date to watch for is March 14, 2010, when ZMR makes their final decision.

My previous article about just some of the candidates can be seen by scrolling down our pages below or by clicking here.  Complete details and the entire list of candidates can be found at zonemusicreporter.com.

Picture copyright Bigstockphoto.com – yoga heart.

New Age Music is already an exciting genre to be involved with for many reasons and now the excitement is going to the next level since Zone Music Reporter (ZMR) recently took the first step in announcing their Annual Music Award Qualifiers.

Every musician in our genre has produced some outstanding music this year, and we have enjoyed writing reviews for some of the current award qualifiers, award nominees, and artists who received a best album award this past year.

We share in the excitement of hearing the final outcome of this years ZMR best album awards decision too.

B.T. Fasmer and I know making a final determination is a challenge, and there is never an easy way to go about the task of deciding who will receive the highest recognition for a Top New Age Album Award in 2009.

Here is the list of 20 ZMR Qualifiers we have been writing about this past year by our reviews or interviews, and is a nice sample of the many outstanding musicians now under consideration.  On a personal note, I deeply respect everyone I have met and have enjoyed getting to know some artists even more by our recent interview together, and only wish I had time to request an interview with everyone.  With that said, you may click on the links to visit the artist’s official website, and then our dedicated pages to 20 of the qualifying artists and my review of their current album or interview.

There is no denying that every musician has made a significant contribution to our beloved genre and in our minds, has already become a winner simply by qualifying.  We wish everyone the very best in ZMR’s annual awards, and again thank every artist for producing music everyone can be proud to call new age.

ZMR announced the Category Nominees on February 14, 2010 & the Award Winners on March 14, 2010.  See a complete list of the Best Album Awards at Zone Music Reporter for 2009. Picture Copyright BigStockPhoto – pkruger.

    NewAgeMusicWorld.Com  &  NewAgeMusic.nu  ZMR Qualifying artists.  Albums shown in alphabetical order.

                               The click on Word Links are [ Website ]  & [ Review ] for each artist listed below.

                David Mauk / davidmauk.com [ website ]  12 Months Album [ review ]

                David Wahler / davidwahler.com [ website ]  Antiquus Album [ review ]

      Fiona Joy Hawkins / fionajoyhawkins.com [ website ]  Blue Dream Album [ review ]

           Arturo Mayorga / arturomayorga.com [ website ]  Cascades Album [ review ]

           9  Muses /  Sample at cdbaby.com [ here ]  Feel to Heal Album [ review ]

             Ciro Hurtado / cirohurtado.com [ website ]  Guitarrista Album [ review ]

             Paul Avgerinos / roundskymusic.com [ website ]  Love Album [ review ]

         Bruce Mitchell & Ron Korb. newearthgoddess.net [ website ] Album [ review ]

 Christopher Boscole / christopherboscole.com [ website ]  Presents of Angels [ review ]

       Christopher Boscole / christopherboscole.com [ website ]  O Christmas Tree.

                Michael Brant DeMaria / ontos.org [ website ]  Ocean Album [ review ]

            Michael Brant DeMaria / ontos.org [ website ]  Siyotanka Album [ pages ]

         Matthew Labarge / matthewlabarge.com [ website ]  October Album [ review ]

         Terri Liles Mason / omgaiamusic.com [ website ]  Om Gaia Album [ review ]

  Cadence Spalding / cadencespalding.com [ website ]  Save The World Album [ review ]

            Anewday / anewday.ca [ website ]  Summer Reflections Album [ review ]

   Lawrence Blatt / lawrenceblatt.com [ website ]  The Color of Sunshine Album [ review ]

          Nick Farr / nickfarr.com [ website ]  The Ever Present Now Album [ review ]

          John Adorney / johnadorney.com [ website ]  The Fountain Album [ review ]

   Paul Jensen / juancarlosproductions.com [ website ]  The Other Side Album [ review ]

        Michael Stribling / leela-music.com [ website ]  The Promise Album [ review ]

           Kori Linae Carothers / koritunes.com [ website ]  Trillium Album [ review ]

The 2010 New Years celebrations are just a recent memory for many of us now, but the year 2010 also marks a new time for celebration with many of our friends at Medwyn Goodall’s MG Music label based in the United Kingdom.

Legendary musician Medwyn Goodall himself has achieved a milestone by his 25th year anniversary as an artist, and we will be telling you more about the events MG Music has in store for us later this year in 2010. Right now, there are two great artists I have been in contact with recently, who are considered family members at the MG label and are playing a major role in the 2010 celebrations by their latest release, and wanted to tell you more about them today.

Clifford White is considered an early pioneer in New Age Music beginning with the Ascension album, which became a remarkable hit and rightfully became the strong foundation to Clifford’s music career.  He has produced some great albums since then, and it is wonderful news that Clifford has now created a sequel to be released in late February crafted from this original project, with the albums description looking very promising indeed.

Ascension ll  The Healing Touch is his latest creation that is being described in the context of divine, graceful, and gentle, giving an great indication of what everyone can expect in the weeks ahead. I do enjoy listening to his first Ascension album, and can only anticipate what will follow in this revitalized profile of Ascension ll.

You can read my pages dedicated to Clifford White.

Paul Sills is another MG Music label member I have written about recently and enjoy listening to his deeply spiritual brand of music that in no shape or fashion could ever be called ordinary.  His music style finds a wonderful resting place where deep orchestration resides beside lighter melodies that soon transform into a dramatic conclusion you will have to hear for yourself.

Devas  is Paul’s latest to be issued later in the year, holding the promise of an energetic and new approach to nature that Paul has written from a new angle in his already well crafted brand of celestial music, taken to a whole new level.  For me, Devas is another highly anticipated release, and I really did like the sample track Paul sent recently.

Paul Sills and I had an insightful discussion about his music career and life at MG Music during our recent interview together also, and I have reviewed both of his prior albums, so I invite you to read my pages dedicated to Paul Sills.

The 25 year Anniversary at MG Music has more in store for us. B.T. Fasmer has also posted an article about this talented circle of friends at the MG label.  Songs from both artists are featured on Stars Radio, so you may listen to both artists on a regular basis at Stars. Photos are courtesy MedwynGoodall.net & CliffordWhite.co.uk.

We will present an Interview with Michael Brant DeMaria PH.D. in the near future. John P. Olsen is preparing the in-depth questions to examine his expansive career as clinical psychologist, musician, public speaker, poet, and author.

In the Grammy Nomination Awards ceremony held on Thursday, December 2, 2009, Michael was among those honored by his nomination to the list of candidates for a prestigious Grammy Award, being the top award in the music industry.

Siyotanka is the release that placed his name in contention for the Best Native American Music Album. Upon hearing this outstanding news about Michael just hours ago, B T Fasmer and I wish him the very best, when the final winner is decided and the award is presented to one of the five equally deserving nominees.

Prior to this news release about Michael’s Grammy Nomination, his Siyotanka album, which tells a story in song, decisively won a coveted Native American Music Award, ( NAMA ) in the Native Heart category, winning a prestigious ( NAMMY ) of the many well respected contenders.

In his psychotherapy practice, Michael created ONTOS to help people live more meaningful and effective lives. His music therapy expertise was acquired by personal and professional research in the fundamental principals of ambient sound techniques, acquired throughout his 25 year professional career.

His Healing Sound Series began with The River, and second in series Ocean, are prescribed with a relaxing ambient concept to assist with life issues, or as stress relief to hurricane survivors, for which the Ocean album is dedicated.

Learn more about Dr. Michael Brant DeMaria before the Interview is posted, by visiting ontos.org here and his music store ontosmusic.com here. The current review of his Ocean album titled Oceanic living can be found on our pages dedicated to Michael Brant DeMaria. Congratulations on your Grammy Nomination Michael!