Music

JoyTunes Brings Real Music Learning With Piano Dust Buster and Piano Mania Apps

For most people ‘playing the piano’ is one of their bucket list items. For many kids – and parents – it means expensive lessons and disruptive trips to teachers, and often a non-stop battle to practice! JoyTunes seeks to make piano learning more fun with their Piano Dust Buster and Piano Mania apps for iPhone and iPad! According to JoyTunes: JoyTune’s Piano Mania and Piano Dust Buster 2.0 mobile apps teach users to play the piano through exciting game-like lessons that only take a few minutes each day. The unique program is so effective that kids can transition their skills…

Events, Music Diary

Why You Should Have Been at #DellWorld 2013

I’ve recently attended Dell World, the newly private company‘s expo where attendees “gain insights into key industry trends, engage with industry visionaries, exchange ideas and learn how Dell is evolving to deliver the solutions of tomorrow.” Key words used during the conference were “Transform, Connect, Inform, & Protect”; amazingly enough, Dell managed to make the event interesting and fun.

Music Diary, News

Spotify Adds New Free Capabilities, 20 Markets, Led Zepplin Catalog!

While some folks express concerns about royalty payouts and business models, the reality is that people love Spotify because it allows them to listen to the music they want to when, where and how they want. And today they are announcing ways that even more people can enjoy the service, and an expansion of the free service for tablet users.

Music Diary, News

RIP Jazz Guitar Legend Jim Hall

My favorite Sonny Rollins album is ‘The Quartets Featuring Jim Hall’, bought on LP in the early 1980s without hearing it – based on recommendations of friends and reputation of guitarist Jim Hall. It remains one of my favorite albums and is one I am listening to today as we mourn the loss of the jazz guitarist at age 83.

Music Diary, News

‘Jam With Steely Dan’ Instructional DVD Set From LickLibrary

While Steely Dan is called rock or classic rock, their music is heavily layered with jazz and fusion elements and played largely by studio jazz players so it is often classified as fusion. As a result there is something for everyone – great pop hooks, rock groove, jazz harmonies, etc. Perfect fodder for an intense Lick Library instructional DVD! Here is the description: Tom Quayle is a leading force in the new breed of fusion guitarists and a respected educator. He goes through each track, in bite-sized pieces, breaking them down to show both the rhythm and solo parts. Tracks…

Music Diary, Reviews

The Who ‘Tommy Super Deluxe Edition’ 3-CD Review

When I looked at the catalog of recordings from The Who, I mentioned that they were about to launch a ‘super deluxe’ version of their classic rock opera Tommy. Now that it has arrived, and I’ve had a few weeks to listen to it thoroughly, I wanted to check back. My thoughts? It is at once essential, solid, and throw-away.

Gear Bits

IK Multimedia Launches iRig Keys Pro with Full Sized Keys!

Just over a year ago I reviewed iRig Keys, the 37-note multiplatform mini-key controller. It remains in constant use by either myself or my son! Now IK Multimedia is introducing iRig Keys Pro, featuring 37 full-size velocity sensitive keys, Lightning, 30-pin and USB cables, for universal compatibility with all models of iPhone, iPad, and Mac/PC. iRig KEYS PRO is a true “plug and play” professional-quality programmable MIDI controller designed specifically for making music on the go with an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or PC. It features 37 velocity-sensitive full-size keys for 3 full octaves plus one note — allowing…

Gear Bits

Roadie Tuner, The Ultimate Guitarist Tool Kickstarter Project

One of the only annoying things about playing the guitar is tuning. I already use my iPhone as my primary tuning device since it is always with me. The Roadie Tuner on Kickstarter utilizes an iPhone app and pairs with a device via Bluetooth to automatically tune each string for you. The device will be $99 and releases soon.

Gear Bits

Check Out the 14-Year Old Guitarist Who Reminds Us Why Skill and Practice Matter

Sometimes it is easy to be cynical and assume that young people are only seeking the quick and easy path to pop stardom – many are working hard to become the next generation of truly great musicians. Combining passion for the music with hard work and research, here are a few videos by one young guitarist you will definitely remember!

Gear Bits, News

The End Arrives for WinAmp, Shutting Down December 20th

Ironically for someone who is a bit of an audiophile jazz purist, I hopped on the MP3 train way back in the late 90s and have been all-digital ever since. In the early days I used WinAmp … just like everyone else. Now we get word that WinAmp is shutting down before the end of the year.

Music Diary, Reviews

Robert Wyatt’s ’68’ – This Lost Treasure Is a Must Have for Rock Fans

There’s a saying that impact and influence are not measured by sales. While true for jazz, it also holds in the rock music world. Soft Machine was a creative psychedelic rock group founded by Robert Wyatt and toured with Jimi Hendrix. Wyatt went on to record some tracks while staying with The Experience that document his creative and influential style.

Music Diary, Reviews

Take an Amazing Journey Through the Music of The Who

Back in 2010, as The Beatles catalog was about to land on iTunes, I looked through all of their major releases and some solo works. This week we celebrate the release of ‘Tommy: Deluxe Edition’ from The Who, so I thought it would be fun to step through their catalog and look at all of the major releases.

Music Diary, Reviews

My Five Favorite Things About IK Multimedia iLoud!

I have already posted the launch announcement and my first impressions, so it is time to close things out. And I really thought that the best way to do it was to highlight the five things I like best, that have kept iLoud at my side since it arrived. I have included a new hands-on video as well.

Gear Bits

IK Multimedia iLoud – Hands-On First Impressions

Earlier today I posted about IK Multimedia’s new iLoud Bluetooth speaker system. This is their entry into the portable speaker market, but with a twist – rather than just releasing yet-another Bluetooth speaker, they designed an audio system with musicians in mind. I have had a chance for a first look, and it is awesome. Check out my first-impressions video!

Music Diary, News

IK Multimedia Launches iLoud Speaker – the Ideal Portable Speaker for Musicians and Audiophiles

Over the last few years the Bluetooth speaker market has gone from non-existent to absolutely amazing. At GearFest we listened to a number of speakers that were loud, paired easily, and sounded great. Today IK Multimedia released iLoud, another of the cool products revealed at CES. iLoud brings the musician’s sensibilities and needs to the world of Bluetooth speakers. Here are some of the features: Loud and Clear The iLoud speaker is indeed very loud. In fact, it’s 2 to 3 times louder than comparable size speakers — a blasting 40W RMS of power. But iLoud is extremely clear at…

Music Diary, Reviews

Unreleased Classic ‘Looking For The Next One’ from S.O.S. Was Worth the Wait!

Every year we get newly discovered classics or hidden gems from artists, and while very often these are out-takes, cutting room floor scraps, and other ‘cash grab’ items … every now and then there is a real gem. ‘Looking For The Next One’ from the saxophone trio of John Surman, Mike Osborne, Alan Skidmore is one such gem.

Music Diary, News

R.I.P. Ronald Shannon Jackson and Lou Reed

Over the last week we’ve lost two visionary artists in very different musical genres; two men whose names might not have been household names and who might never have burned up the pop charts, but their impact was broad and far-reaching, and who will be sorely missed. Those men were jazz drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson and rock musician Lou Reed.

Gear Bits

What’s Small but Ready to Rock Your House? SONOS Introduces the PLAY:1

A quick search of past posts will reveal how much I love my SONOS system; I use it constantly. Now SONOS has announced the SONOS PLAY:1. The most affordable way to jump into SONOS yet, the PLAY:1 has two custom-designed drivers with dedicated amplifiers. Small but powerful, the $199 PLAY:1 is ready to rock your world. Get it.

Reviews

SpeeCup Review – Bluetooth Speaker Takes the Shape of a Travel Mug

Have you ever said to yourself, “You know what I need? A portable Bluetooth speaker in the shape of a travel mug that fits right in my cup holder in my car.”? If so, you’re in luck! iCreation’s speeCup is a very convenient, nicely powered speaker that fits your criteria. The speeCup retails for $129.95.

Music Diary, Reviews

Levin Minnemann Rudess – Blisteringly Fun Album from Prog & Metal Legends

When you bring together masters like King Crimson bassist/stick-master Tony Levin, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess and maniac drummer Marco Minneman, you know the results will be a shred-fest. But will it be any good? Rest assured, not only is this CD a humbling listen for musicians, it is a high-quality and rewarding journey through modern-day instrumental rock.

Gear Bits

The Rebirth of Vinyl Continues with an Estimated 30% Growth for 2013

While I have always been an advocate of ‘owning’ music (as opposed to stealing or streaming), I have stuck with the latest tech trends: through the years I have had 45’s, 8-tracks, LPs, cassettes, CDs and MP3s. Each has strengths and weaknesses, but I am still bemused about the recent vinyl resurgence – which continues with estimates of 30% 2013 increase! Of course it is important to remember that the top-selling vinyl album of 2012 was Blunderbuss by Jack White – and that sold 34,000 copies (yes, 34 THOUSAND) … and the second top-selling album was Abbey Road by…

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