|
Jersey Shore Jazz
/ Blues Foundation lauds 'Swingbilly' |
|
|
|
"Swingbilly
Blues" has just won over its latest fan - the Jersey
ShoreJazz & Blues Foundation. In the non-profit
organization's largest-ever newsletter, published in June,
reviewer Coleen Burnett raves about the CD's "wry sense of
humor" and "great musical chops." "You'll be
tapping your fingers and toes," Burnett writes. |
|
Stick
this in the CD player and check out some of the finest swing
blues/roots music in New Jersey. And made by a guy who was born
and bred in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. "Lucky for us, he now
calls the Jersey Shore his home. |
|
This
writer's personal favorite is 'Talking Turnpike Blues,'"
Burnett says, "where (Mike) describes one of the great
embarrassments of life - not having enough money to pay the
toll." ("...I signed a pledge to pay a dollar eighty
five ...I didn't want to lose the right to drive!") |
|
Burnett
takes an ingenious angle in her review, noting that Mike writes
for the newsletter. "So does he play as well as he
writes?" she asks. "The answer," she says, "is
yes." |
|
While
Burnett's review was a triumph, it represented just one part of
what was essentially a triple publicity coup for Mike in the
JSJBF's newsletter. In the same issue, which was distributed free
to thousands of people who attended the first annual Red Bank
(N.J.) Jazz & Blues Festival on the Navesink, May 31-June 2,
Mike also had an "Open Mike" column on finding a
teacher. |
|
He
also had a quarter-page display ad touting his services and the
CD. The "Open Mike" column, which Mike writes
regularly for the JSJBF Newsletter, ran nearly 800 words on page
4. It outlined the steps in selecting a good instrumental teacher.
The display ad, which ran on page 14 of the ad-heavy, 24-page
monster issue, trumpeted Mike as a player of "vintage swing
jazz & blues." |
|
It listed
his credentials as follows: |
|
-"Performer at festivals, clubs, events |
|
-"Guitar teacher, workshop leader |
|
-"Writer/contributor to Down Beat, Acoustic Guitar |
|
It closed with the quote: "A unique and compelling
artist," from the Golden Link Folk Festival. The bottom half
of the ad promoted the "Swingbilly Blues" CD. It
contained the quote, "Makes you want to dance," from
Matt Moore of The Associated Press. |
