"Portland-based Câlisse's debut album Farewell Black Sheep is weird, absorbing, spellbinding, and beautiful."

https://calisse.bandcamp.com

“Scott Albert Johnson manhandles his harmonica with a master’s flair. He is a triple-threat artist who can sing, write and blow his emotions clear on out of his harmonica like nobody’s business.”
Goldmine [USA]
 
“Scott Albert Johnson is a great songwriter. He writes about man's journey: who we are, where we stand and where our lives take us. His musings about life are cast in clever melodies, sung by a voice that seemingly knows no limitations. He is extremely versatile on the harmonica… sometimes you hear the influence of Toots Thielemans, then Howard Levy, and then Stevie Wonder. Johnson has made another excellent record.”
Rootstime [Belgium]
 
"Scott Albert Johnson’s new record Going Somewhere knocks me out. The songs are memorable, the singing intense, and the harmonica new and powerful... It’s the most daring rock harmonica record since Blues Traveler came along to shake everybody up with a completely different take on the instrument."
 Richard Hunter, author of Jazz Harp (the original instructional book on jazz harmonica), hunterharp.com

"Scott Albert Johnson is a virtuoso harmonica player and an excellent singer and songwriter as well. After a few spins, the lyrics remain all around in your head. Johnson has made an equally beautiful and special album. ”
Rudolf’s Music [Netherlands]
  
“Scott Albert Johnson is fiercely original. This isn't just an album to listen to. It's an album to explore. Great songs, vocals and harp and instrumentation.”
Jon Gindick, author of Rock N’ Blues Harmonica and one of the preeminent harmonica teachers in the world, gindick.com

 “There are harmonica players and then there is Scott Albert Johnson… One of the best harp players in the world.”
Cashbox Music Reviews

Born in St. Louis and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Scott Albert Johnson was bathed in the wide range of the American songbook, as well as the sounds of his 1970’s and 80’s childhood.  The soul and spirit of that diversity is at the core of his new album, Going Somewhere. Johnson incorporates elements of rock, jazz, blues, funk, country, and world music, mixed with thoughtful lyrics, strong vocals, and virtuosic harmonica playing, to create a unique, modern concoction of sound.

“I’m influenced by almost every kind of music that I’ve ever heard,” says Johnson.  “Growing up in the heart of the South, obviously blues has had a big impact on me.  It’s also the heart and soul of virtually every type of modern music.  But I also grew up a big fan of artists like Peter Gabriel, the Police, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bruce Hornsby, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Daniel Lanois, John Scofield, and Rush, just to name a few.  So I draw on all of that, and I try to write lyrics and music that have an emotional as well as intellectual impact.  Then I throw in some harmonica for good measure.”

Johnson has become a true harmonica master, utilizing a unique and difficult technique known as “overblow,” which allows the diatonic harmonica to be played as a fully chromatic instrument.  He is one of a small group of players who can do this.  He also utilizes digital effects to expand the sonic palette of the instrument, and he counts such harmonica masters as Toots Thielemans, John Popper, Howard Levy, Stevie Wonder, and the late Chris Michalek as major influences.  Yet Johnson sees the harmonica as just one piece of what he does musically.

“I've always felt most influenced by artists who are kind of what I would call triple-threats,” says Johnson. “They sing well, they play at least one instrument very well, and they write great songs. I take each of these three parts of the equation as seriously as any other part. I also feel most in-tune with artists who kind of are ‘their own genre,’ borrowing from many different kinds of music. I hope my music reflects that.”

The Beautiful After is a music collaboration and creative outlet for four Southern gents. We make the music that we like and hope that you like it too.

Straight from the shanty seaside towns of East Coast USA right into your stereo speakers burst THE CONNECTION – New England’s Newest Hit Makers. It’s quite a statement, but these fab skinny tie sportin’ boys can prove them selves, and the proof is in the music… all hits! Three minute modern beat anthems presented to you on a platter of pop perfection. Just listen to THE CONNECTION and try not to dance, smile and have an absolutely far out time. You see the magic is in the grooves. In no time at all, you will be getting hip to what these boys deliver – straight up hits, baby. I should know, having seen the group arise from its inception out of drunken smoke filled nights, listening to HARD DAYS NIGHT and Rockpile’s SECONDS OF PLEASURE. THE CONNECTION wear their influences on their sleeves – and those sleeves have been pleated and dry cleaned for optimum pop potential.


So we keep hearing that they are all the rage, but who are these chaps? And furthermore do they really have what it takes to call themselves HITMAKERS? Well, of course they do and I’ll tell you why! Take singer BRAD MARINO, his calm and cool vocal delivery has a way of swooning all the hip girls into a frenzy of Beatle Mania hysterics, and GEOFF PALMER with his twangin’ 6 string cuts through like a knife into the delicious rock n’ roll pie. Rounding out this chic squad is ANDY CASEY laying down the rhythm with his groovin’ bass, keeping tight order with every foot stomp of his Cuban Heels and CHRIS FAULKNER hittin’ the skins with precision. There is no doubt when these four get into a room, the music that they make can be considered nothing more than the best. Live and in person – the hits become even more apparent. Don’t miss these boys when they come rollin’ through town… I’m talking about an instant shindig… a real mixer!

And now that you know about THE CONNECTION let’s bring it back to where it really counts. I’m talking about you, the listener. As you hold this record in your hands, think about quality, think about fun… think about pop HITS. And luckily for you, it’s all here in one place, eagerly awaiting a special home on your turntable. Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you THE CONNECTION – “NEW ENGLANDS NEWEST HITMAKERS”. Dig it, you won’t be sorry. -- ( Kurt Baker Feb. 2012 Nashville, TN )


Descendant of Dilla, RZA and a thousand others

Justin D (formerly Agape Rose) is based in Nashville, TN. Debut album "Ghost States" recorded in Copenhagen, DK and Nashville, TN will be released in Feb 2015.

Josh Hailey is following