Music Reviews: Artists - S

Artists: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Sakai: Dream Big -- On her second full-length solo release, Dream Big, Oakland based soul singer Sakai steps to the forefront revealing several sides of her personality: the lover, the independent working woman and the spiritual woman who has faith that she can control her own destiny. This time around she has teamed up with producer/songwriter Darkside, and together they have recorded some funk infused soul music that combines elements of the Detroit and Philly sound with the hip-hop beats of today’s neo soul.
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Donna Sammarco: On Eagles Wings --  Although On Eagles Wings was released in 2004 the music remains bright and relevant at any time, simply because what the intent and meaning was behind producing it the first place. This kind of Christian new age instrumental sound is for ears that want some relief of daily demands.
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Maggie Sayles: Trust -  Maggie Sayles has a beautiful voice. That was my first thought when I heard some samples of her new CD Trust. Initially I thought that she had the perfect voice for pop or jazz, and she does, however she manages to wrap that silky voice around rocking guitars and comes out sounding something similar to female fronted prog-rock bands like Mostly Autumn, which by no coincidence is one of my favorite bands.
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Elliot Scott: Danger Is Here -- Elliot Scott is a composer/singer/musician that creates soundscapes that get inside your head and never find their way out. There are several reasons why the music on Danger Is Here has that effect on you. Scott produces a catchy blend of electronica-pop that is reminiscent of a different time in music. Think Bowie during the Eno era (the tech albums-Low, Heroes, Lodger) and The Pet Shop Boys with colder thought provoking lyrics supported by a conceptual process that weaves intrinsically throughout the entire recording.
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Jan Seiden: Memory of Time -- Jan Seiden has her own niche in the world of music. She is a renowned Native America flute player that has performed at important powwows across the U.S. and shared stages with Grammy award winners Joanne Shenandoah, Mary Youngblood, Tito LaRosa, and NAMA-winner Jeff Ball.
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Tony Senatore: A 12-String Bass X-Ploration -- The name Tony Senatore is not a household name when it comes to bass players. Chris Squire, Tony Levin and Jack Bruce are not mentioned in the same breath but I must say after hearing Tony’s music and watching his new DVD A 12-String Bass X-Ploration, that I am convinced; he could play right alongside those legends.
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Seventhings: Unraveled -- Seventhings is the pop-rock product of the Californian singer/songwriter/producer power-duo Margaret McClure and Andy Machin. McClure started out in the music industry with a successful solo career, first as a violinist in the Orange County District Orchestra and then as a solo performer in the California rock scene. Machin spent most of his youth touring with various bands before opening up Bigrock Studios in Escondido, California. After playing together in the bands Seventhings and The Rockinvaders, McClure and Machin decided to collaborate on Unraveled, a pop-rock album recorded at Machin’s Bigrock Studios.
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Laurel Zucker & Mark Shapiro: Master Music for Flute & Piano --  The long time team of Laurel Zucker & Mark Shapiro unite once again on a selection of compositions from influential composers Cesar Franck, Gabriel Faure, Claude Debussy, Franz Schubert, and Maurice Ravel on Master Music for Flute & Piano.
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Shasta: No More Smoking! --  Shasta is poet, guitar player, songwriter, and comedian all wrapped into one remarkable package. No More Smoking! Consist of 14 tracks chock full of poetic justice, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, rollicking acoustic guitar parts, and at times some biting electric riffs provided by select guests, that make your ears perk up and take notice.
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(The) Slack: Wishful Sinking -- Dallas, Texas band The Slack makes music that has a dynamic pop/new-rock sound. The melodies change up dramatically during phases of a number of songs, and the band incorporates a wide range of instrumentation into many of the tracks on Wishful Sinking. There is a variety of styles on this release, and some of the songs have that quality where they almost sound familiar.
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Steelspring: Better Living -- William Nash is Steelspring and Better Living is an eight-track album spilling over with emotion and character that comes from the tip of his toes. Nash offers those that enjoy bands like REM, Chris Issak,, and Jeff Buckley, a joyous musical ride on the backcountry road of life.
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JoJo Styles: Bossa Nuevo -- JoJo Styles had the benefit of developing his music while watching some of the legendary figures perform in San Francisco. He saw Hendrix and Santana and was all over the Bay Area attending the free concerts of the day. Those days are history but for the people that lived and soaked up the vibes of those times the memories are forever imprinted on their souls. He took bits and pieces of those influences and created his own magic on the acoustic six-string called Bossa Nuevo.
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James Sudakow: Green --  Electric violin player James Sudakow credits rock guitarists with giving him the inspiration to create his musical progressive rock expedition.  The list is impressive, Jimi Hendrix, Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction), and Vernon Reid (Living Colour) are the top three six-string innovators that Sudakow points to as his mentors in sound.
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Swampdawamp --  With a tongue twister of a name like Swampdawamp you may not know what to expect for music. I figured it had to be at least southern flavored, and I was partially right. This band plays rock and blues and their sound is something like the Allman Brothers meets Lynyrd Skynyrd or some facsimile thereof. Ok enough with the comparisons and trying to figure who and what they sound like, when the day is done they create a sound that is all their own.
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Kelly Sweet: We Are One --  Kelly Sweet is going to be the next big star, the diva we all have been waiting to come onto the scene that is not a manufactured American Idol. Kelly met with producer, arranger, and songwriter Mark Portmann (Celine Dion) in the summer of 2004. Soon the two began writing songs together, resulting in the turning point of a career that blossoms on We Are One on Razor & Tie Entertainment.
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Sheila Swift: The Shape of Things --  She is young, beautiful, and an animated singer/songwriter/artist with the ultimate purpose of getting to the heart of the matter. Sheila Swift paints (by no coincidence she does paint) pictures in your mind’s eye on an upbeat rockin’ album titled The Shape of Things.
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