Masterworks Broadway to record Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Encores! cast)

Masterworks Broadway will release the Encores! cast recording of the classic musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Starring Megan Hilty – Sony recording artist and star of NBC’s Smash

Masterworks Broadway will release the Encores! cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The album will be recorded in New York City this week, and will feature  “A Little Girl From Little Rock,” “Bye Bye Baby,” and of course, the classic made famous by Marilyn Monroe, “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.”

Starring as Lorelei Lee is Sony recording artist and star of NBC’s hit series Smash – Megan Hilty. The cast also includes Rachel York as Dorothy, Clarke Thorell as Gus, Aaron Lazar as Henry plus Simon Jones, Stephen R. Buntrock, Phillip Attmore and Jared Grimes. Hilty is in the process of recording her first solo album for Sony Masterworks/Columbia Records which will come out in early 2013.
The first stage version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes debuted on Broadway in 1926 adapted from the novel by Anita Loos. The musical version, featuring music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Leo Robin and book by Loos and Joseph Fields, debuted at the Ziegfeld Theatre on December 8, 1949, making a star of Carol Channing and eventually ran for 740 performances.  It was made into a hit 1953 film by director Howard Hawks and starred Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. The recent critically acclaimed Encores! production ran May 9 to May 13, 2012 at New York’s City Center.

THE ALCHEMIST TO RELEASE “RUSSIAN ROULETTE” ON DECON JULY 17TH

30-TRACK, NON-STOP BEAT/RAP COLLAGE TO FEATURE SCHOOLBOY Q, ACTION BRONSON, MR. MUTHAFUCKIN’ EXQUIRE, DANNY BROWN, ROC MARCIANO, AND MANY MORE

Heavy lidded, conceptual ambition personified, Los Angeles producer The Alchemist has announced his next project, Russian Roulette, dropping on record label/production house/idea shop Decon on July 17th. A collection of 30 tracks woven into a tapestry of insanely obscure samples and jaw-dropping verses from the top names of indie-rap’s recent resurgence (Danny Brown, Schoolboy Q, Action Bronson, Evidence, Roc Marciano, Mr. Motherfuckin’ eXquire,  Boldy James, and more) The Alchemist creates a cinematic musical experience interwoven through a continuous soundscape demonstrating the vast array of his musical palette.

The latest notch in the belt of one of rap music’s most prolific enablers, Russian Roulette is the third official release this year from the producer responsible for hits from Rick Ross, Eminem, Mobb Deep, and myriad others. Gangrene, his collaborative project with Oh No, generated critical praise in January for Vodka & Ayahuaska, their grimy, prismatic shroom-bap opus, and his ongoing Rapper’s Best Friend series continues to serve instrumentals to aspiring spitters regularly. Not content with merely placing beats on records by rap’s elite and remaining in the shadows, 2012 is proving to be the year that The Alchemist is separating himself from the crowded pack of beat smiths.

RUSSIAN ROULETTE TRACK LISTING:

1. Soundcheck
2. Apollo’s Last Stand feat. Ag Da Coroner
3. Crushed Kremlin feat. Mayhem Lauren
4. Decisions Over Veal Orloff feat. Action Bronson
5. Learned by Listening
6. Training Montage – Getting Stronger
7. Ivan’s Workout Plan
8. Never Grow Up feat. Evidence
9. The Turning Point feat. Roc Marciano
10. Live From Dynamo Stadium 2
11. Don Seymour’s Theme feat. Midaz
12. Before The Fight Prelude
13. Adrian’s Words – Champion Song
14. Flight Of The Bumblebee
15. Kalashnekov Guns feat. Guilty Simpson
16. Fight Confirmation feat. Danny Brown and Schoolboy Q
17. Press Conference Prelude
18. Freakish Strength
19. Junkyard Fight Scene feat. DRDC
20. Oleg’s Flight feat. Fashawn
21. Moscow Mornings – Sunrise
22. Moscow Evenings – Sunset
23. The Kosmos Pt 1 – Liftoff feat. Chuuwee
24. The Kosmos Pt 2 – Power Glove feat. Boldy James
25. The Kosmos Pt 3 – In Orbit
26. The Kosmos Pt 4 – Moon Probe feat. Big Twinz
27. The Kosmos Pt 5 – 1st Contact – The Chase
28. The Kosmos Pt 6 – Life On Another Planet feat. Willie The Kid
29. The Kosmos Pt 7 – The Explanation feat. Mr. Motherfucking Exquire
30. The Kosmos Pt 8 – Return To Earth Outro Master

THE ALCHEMIST ON TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/#!/Alchemist

DECON ON TWITTER:

http://www.twitter.com/#!/decon

DECON OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

http://www.deconrecords.com/

Ben Folds Five Invites Fans to Participate in the Promotion & Release of Their New Album While Raising Awareness For Music Education & Therapy

New York City, New York – May 11, 2012 – Alt-rock trio Ben Folds Five have launched an interactive pre-sale campaign on PledgeMusic to enable fans to participate in the release of their forthcoming album. Fans will receive exclusive videos, tracks, photos and blogs and will be the first to receive the new album. Throughout the campaign, Ben Folds Five will be raising awareness and funding for Music Education and Music Therapy through PledgeMusic’s unique system which offers a percentage of funds collected by an artist to a charity of their choosing.

PledgeMusic is a full-service company offering a direct-to-fan system that maximizes an artist’s exposure, getting their music out to the world while engaging fans through exclusives and a level of backstage access they wouldn’t otherwise receive. Launched in 2009 by independent artist and social media guru Benji Rogers, PledgeMusic works with a wide range of artists from acts just starting out to more well-known bands on labels. Successful campaigns include Rachael Yamagata, Rhett Miller, The Libertines, Juliana Hatfield, Luscious Jackson, David Lynch Foundation Music, The Damnwells, Funeral For A Friend, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s, Madi Diaz, The Lumineers, Kopecky Family Band and more, with over 600 successful campaigns launched since its inception. The platform has generated five Top 40 albums, and is currently launching and releasing 2 albums per day.

Ben Folds Five has an important relationship with their fans and PledgeMusic is dedicated to helping to maximize this connection through their campaigns. Says Ben Folds himself from the band’s project updates, “Most exciting to me is the potential to utilize the talent of our fan base. My audience has always been a talented buncha mothers. The “Ahs” in our song “Not The Same’ originally came spontaneously from our audience. “Rock This Bitch” was hollered by some dude in Chicago as was “Do It Anyway”. It was our fans who insisted we put together The Bens. I’ve always had that kind of relationship with the smart asses who listen to my music…some of my favorite versions of my songs have been done by fans, and it sometimes hurts my feelings when it’s better. Bastards.”

PledgeMusic provides a sophisticated but user-friendly platform through advanced web and mobile technology to target fans through websites, fansites, Facebook and other networks, creating the thinnest skin possible between the artist and the fan. Also unique to PledgeMusic is its ability to create campaigns in different languages and collect funds in different currencies, allowing the artist to have access to fans across the world.

To Pledge on the Ben Folds Five campaign, please visit:
www.pledgemusic.com/projects/benfoldsfive

For more on PledgeMusic, please visit:
www.pledgemusic.com

DANNY ELFMAN’S DARK SHADOWS ORIGINAL SCORE MAY 8

Film Marks 14th Collaboration Between Composer Danny Elfman And Director Tim Burton

(April 17, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA) – WaterTower Music will release Dark Shadows – Original Score digitally and in stores on May 8, 2012. The album features original music by Grammy Award-winning and four-time Oscar®-nominated composer Danny Elfman, which is featured in director Tim Burton’s new gothic comedy Dark Shadows.

For more than 25 years, Burton and Elfman have collaborated on some of the cinema’s most beloved and recognizable films and soundtracks, including Big Fish, for which Elfman received an Oscar® nomination; Beetlejuice; Batman; Edward Scissorhands; Sleepy Hollow; Corpse Bride; and, more recently, Alice in Wonderland.

“Tim had some specific ideas about the music on Dark Shadows,” says Elfman. “I knew that the bigger dramatic scenes would be played in a rather grand theatrical manner, but the real treat was tapping into the retro pallet Tim had imagined. He wanted something that payed homage to both the original TV series and other ’70s horror genres as well. For that we kept it minimal, eerie, and atmospheric with only electronics and a few solo instruments carrying the melodies.”

Elfman has also received Oscar® nominations for his scores for Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black, and Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting and Milk. Movie audiences worldwide have also heard Danny Elfman’s unique sound and style in some 80 film scores, including Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man; Brian De Palma’s Mission: Impossible; Martin Brest’s Midnight Run; Jon Amiel’s Sommersby; the Hughes Brothers’ Dead Presidents; Rob Marshall’s Academy Award-winning Chicago; and Shawn Levy’s Real Steel.

In the year 1750, Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England to start a new life in America. Two decades pass and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet—or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire, and then burying him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin and the dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets.

Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, presents an Infinitum Nihil/GK Films/Zanuck Company production, a Tim Burton Film Dark Shadows in theaters and IMAX on May 11, 2012. “Dark Shadows” stars Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote and Gully McGrath.
The Dark Shadows — Original Score on WaterTower Music will be available digitally and in stores on May 8, 2012; and on the same date, WaterTower Music will also be releasing the Dark Shadows –Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, containing eleven songs from the film.

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www.darkshadowsmovie.com

Hans Zimmer’s All-Star Academy Awards® Band Releases “The 84th Academy Awards – Celebrate the Music” Collection on the iTunes Store

Beverly Hills, CA – A new compilation of music centered around Academy Award®-winning composer Hans Zimmer’s theme for this year’s Oscar® telecast is now available on the iTunes Store. Titled “The 84th Academy Awards – Celebrate the Music,” the collection includes the show’s musical theme plus six unique, inventive interpretations of the theme by other artists, and the “In Memoriam” choral rendition of “What a Wonderful World.”

In addition to both of the 84th Academy Awards music directors – Zimmer and musician/producer/composer Pharrell Williams (of The Neptunes) – the extraordinary group of international artists who contributed their talents includes: percussionist/drummer/composer Sheila E.; Grammy®-winning double bass player/singer Esperanza Spalding; guitarist/composer Stephane Wrembel (“Midnight in Paris”); three-time Oscar-winning composer Giorgio Moroder; two-time Oscar winning composer/musician A.R. Rahman; violin/cello virtuosi Ann Marie Calhoun and Martin Tillman; Dutch hit remixer/composer/electronic musician Junkie XL; and multiple Grammy-winning British musician/producer Peter Asher.

Each musician created their own piece of music inspired by or derived from Zimmer’s basic thematic framework. The compilation of these unique interpretations of the theme is available for download now at iTunes.com/oscars.

The credits and details of the tracks are as follows:

The 84th Academy Awards – Celebrate the Music

“Celebrate the Oscars”
[Written by Hans Zimmer]

Stephane Wrembel – Guitar solo
Sheila E. – Percussion
Ann Marie Calhoun – Violin
Martin Tillman – Cello
Produced by Hans Zimmer

“It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got Pharrell”
[Written by Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer]

Recorded by Mike Larson for i am OTHER entertainment at Circle House Studios, Miami, FL.
Assisted by Matthew Desrameaux and Gennaro Schiano. Digital Editing and Arrangement by Mike Larson.
Produced by Pharrell Williams for The Neptunes

“Sunrise on Bleecker Street”
[Written by Esperanza Spalding and Hans Zimmer]

Esperanza Spalding – double bass and vocal
J.R. Robinson – Drums
Satnam Ramgotra – Percussion and Human Beatbox
Dan Higgins – Soprano Saxophone
Ann Marie Calhoun – Violin
George Doering – Guitar
Randy Kerber – Keyboard
Arranged by Esperanza Spalding
Produced by Peter Asher

“Giorgio’s New Dancing Shoes”
[Written by Giorgio Moroder and Hans Zimmer]

Arranged by Giorgio Moroder
Special Thanks: Sheila E. and Junkie XL
Produced by Giorgio Moroder

“D_Generation”
[Written by Junkie XL and Hans Zimmer]

Arranged and remixed by Junkie XL @ the Computer Hell Cabin Santa Monica
Produced by Junkie XL

“Bump The E.”
[Written by Sheila E. and Hans Zimmer]

Featuring Sheila E.
Arranged and remixed by Sheila E.
All drums and percussion by Sheila E.
Engineer: Sir Mychael Davison
Recorded at at Blue 52 Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA
Production & Studio Manager: Raymond Mckinley
Assistant: Ia Cheveres
Managers: Lynn Mabry & Gilbert Davison Avid, Brian Carter
Produced by Sheila E.

“Oscar Sangamam”
[Written by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer]

Featuring A.R. Rahman on vocal
Arranged by A. R. Rahman
Recorded at Panchathan Hollywood Studios and AM Studios
Sound Engineers: Deepak Pa, Srinidhi Suresh, Tony Joy and Kevin Doucette
Vocals, Harpejji and Continuum Fingerboard: A.R. Rahman
Produced by A. R. Rahman

“What a Wonderful World”
[George David Weiss & Bob Thiele – Range Road Music Inc. & Quartet Music Inc. – George David Weiss, Assigned to Abilene Music Inc.]

Sung by Esperanza Spalding with the Southern California Children’s Chorus conducted by Carol Aspling
Additional choir – The KMMusic Conservatory Chamber Choir (recorded at Yashraj Studios, Mumbai, India)
Additional singers – Sally Stevens, Teri Koide, Susie Logan, Donna Medine, Suzanne Waters, Gerald White, Fletcher Sheridan, Eric Bradley and Peter Asher
Arranged by Nick Glennie-Smith
Produced by Hans Zimmer and Peter Asher

Album Produced by: Peter Asher

Music Supervisor: Bob Badami
Musical Director: Nick Glennie-Smith
Music Production Services: Steven Kofsky
Associate Music Producer: Andrew Zack
Technical Consultant: Chuck Choi
Music Editor: Jessica Weiss
Sound Engineers: Slamm Andrews, Daniel Kresco and Satoshi Noguchi
Album Mixed By: Daniel Kresco
Assistant Engineer: Christian Wenger
Orchestrators: Bruce Fowler and Rick Giovinazzo
Copyist: Booker White
Digital Instrument Design: Mark Wherry
Sample Library Development: Cladius Bruese, Sam Estes and Michael Hobe

Album Mastered by: Pat Sullivan of Bernie Grundman Mastering

Studio: Remote Control Productions, Santa Monica, California
2012

SONY CLASSICAL RELEASES NEW TITANIC SOUNDTRACKS TO COINCIDE WITH THEATRICAL RELEASE OF TITANIC in 3D

TITANIC: ANNIVERSARY EDITION
TITANIC: COLLECTOR’S ANNIVERSARY EDITION
BOTH AVAILABLE MARCH 26, 2012

Features Remastered Original Soundtrack Composed And Conducted By James Horner,
Plus Unreleased Film Music By I Salonisti

Collector’s Edition Also Includes Remastered Version Of The BACK TO TITANIC Soundtrack
And A Special Disc Of Popular Music From The Titanic Era

TITANIC in 3D will open on April 4, 2012

Sony Classical announces the soundtrack releases of TITANIC: Anniversary Edition and TITANIC: Collector’s Anniversary Edition on March 26, 2012. The releases will coincide with the newly re-mastered re-release of TITANIC, the world’s most beloved and acclaimed film, in theaters on April 4, 2012.The theatrical re-release marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic setting sail (April 10th).

In commemoration of these events, Sony Classical will release two newly remastered versions of the original TITANIC soundtrack with extensive bonus material. Both feature an unreleased disc of period music recorded for the movie by I Salonisti, plus 4 bonus vintage Titanic luggage stickers. I Salonisti is the 5-piece quintet that appears in the film. Director James Cameron painstakingly researched the music that was played on the ship and hired them to record authentic music from the period – specifically, the music that all bands from the White Star Line would have been required to perform when hired to play as employees of the prestigious cruise fleet.  Arranger and music historian/advisor John Altman oversaw the process and was tasked with taking the White Star Line official playlist, arranging and recording those songs for the film. Two of the marquee songs on the disc I Salonisti: Gentlemen, It Has Been a Privilege Playing with You Tonight are “Nearer My God To Thee” which was the last song played by the band as the ship went down, and “Song of Autumn” which does not appear in the movie, but is rumored to be the actual song that the band played as the ship went down.

TITANIC: Collector’s Anniversary Edition will include two additional discs featuring the remastered BACK TO TITANIC soundtrack and Popular Music From The Titanic Era, which is a new compilation of songs from the early 1900’s.

The music from this blockbuster movie is central to the film and has always been widely embraced by fans.  The original TITANIC soundtrack sold over 26 million units worldwide and the BACK TO TITANIC soundtrack sold over 3 million units worldwide.

Of the new releases, composer and conductor James Horner says, “I’m thrilled that Sony Classical is re-releasing the soundtrack album to TITANIC.  It is wonderful to know that the original music has retained its magic through all of these years.”

Of the new film version, director James Cameron says, “There’s a whole generation that’s never seen TITANIC as it was meant to be seen, on the big screen.  And this will be TITANIC as you’ve never seen it before, digitally re-mastered at 4K and painstakingly converted to 3D.  With the emotional power intact and the images more powerful than ever, this will be an epic experience for fans and newcomers alike.”

The film is released by Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Lightstorm. Written, directed and produced by Cameron, TITANIC is the second highest grossing movie of all time. It is one of only three films to have received a record 11 Academy AwardsÒ including Best Picture and Best Director; and launched the careers of stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

TRACK LISTINGS:
Included on TITANIC: ANNIVERSARY EDITION and TITANIC: COLLECTOR’S ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DISC ONE: TITANIC – Music from the Motion Picture
1. Never an Absolution
2. Distant Memories
3. Southampton
4. Rose
5. Leaving Port
6. “Take Her to Sea, Mr. Murdoch”
7. “Hard to Starboard”
8. Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave
9. The Sinking
10. Death of Titanic
11. A Promise Kept
12. A Life So Changed
13. An Ocean of Memories
14. My Heart Will Go On (performed by Celine Dion)
15. Hymn to the Sea

DISC TWO: I Salonisti: Gentlemen, It Has Been a Privilege Playing with You Tonight
1. Valse Septembre
2. Marguerite Waltz
3. Wedding Dance
4. Poet and Peasant
5. Blue Danube
6. Song Without Words
7. Estudiantina
8. Vision of Salome
9. Titsy Bitsy Girl
10. Alexander’s Ragtime Band
11. Sphinx
12. Barcarole
13. Orpheus
14. Song of Autumn
15. Nearer My God to Thee

Included only on TITANIC: Collector’s Anniversary Edition

DISC THREE: Back to TITANIC
1. Titanic Suite
2. An Irish Party In Third Class (performed by Gaelic Storm)
3. Alexander’s Ragtime Band (performed by I Salonisti)
4. The Portrait
5. Jack Dawson’s Luck
6. A Building Panic
7. Nearer My God to Thee (performed by I Salonisti)
8. Come Josephine, In My Flying Machine (performed by Máire Brennan)
9. Lament
10. A Shore Never Reached
11. My Heart Will Go On – with dialogue from the film (performed by Celine Dion)
12. Epilogue: The Deep And Timeless Sea

DISC FOUR: Popular Music from the Titanic Era
1. It’s a Long Way to Tipperary (John McCormack)
2. Let Me Call You Sweetheart (Halfway House Dance Orchestra)
3. Vilia (Guy Lombardo & His Orchestra)
4. My Gal Sal (Chick Bullock & His Levee Loungers)
5. Oh! You Beautiful Doll (Chuck Foster & His Orchestra)
6. Martha (Adrian Rollinoi Trio)
7. In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree (Duke Ellington & His Orchestra)
8. Waiting at the Church (Beatrice Kay)
9. Frasquita Serenade (John Kirby & His Orchestra)
10. Shine On, Harvest Moon (Hal Kemp)
11. From the Land of the Sky Blue Water (Mildred Bailey & Her Orchestra)
12. Loch Lomond (Maxine Sullivan & Her Orchestra)
13. A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight (Miff Mole’s Molers)

LUKE JAMES RELEASES NEW WHO IS LUKE JAMES? VIDEO

N.A.R.S. / MERCURY RECORDS / ISLAND DEF JAM ARTIST
LUKE JAMES
RELEASES NEW “WHO IS LUKE JAMES?” VIDEO

DEBUT SOLO ALBUM MADE TO LOVE COMING THIS SPRING

January 13, 2012 – On the heels of the release of his #LUKE pre-album and being announced as a performer at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in his hometown (July 6-8), N.A.R.S. / Mercury Records / Island Def Jam recording artist Luke James offers a deeper look into growing up in New Orleans and touches on his artistic inspirations with the latest installment of his “Who Is Luke James?” video series: http://youtu.be/S7z4GlrB67o.

Having already charmed critics from coast to coast and headlined events like Give Back Hollywood / VH1 Save The Music Foundation’s Pre MTV VMA benefit, Luke James recently wrapped his multi-city opening gig on Robin Thicke’s “Love After War” tour.  The much buzzed-about artist’s growing celebrity fan base includes Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Estelle, and none other than Beyoncé, who selected him for a featured role in her “Run the World” video, and Melanie Fiona, who featured him as her boyfriend in her “4 A.M.” music video.  Luke James is also the co-writer of Chris Brown’s “Crawl” and has penned songs for Justin Bieber (“That Should Be Me”), Michael Bolton, and Britney Spears (“Kill The Lights”), among others.

To view Luke James’ new “Who Is Luke James?” video, please visit: http://youtu.be/S7z4GlrB67o

GRAMMY-NOMINATED R&B SINGER AND MUSICIAN KARINA PASIAN RELEASES TRIPS TO VENUS EP

NEW EP FEATURES CHRISTMAS BONUS OF THE NAT KING COLE CLASSIC,
 “THE CHRISTMAS SONG,” JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

December 21, 2011 (New York, NY) – This December, GRAMMY®-nominated R&B singer and musician Karina Pasian released her follow-up EP, Trips To Venus, to her GRAMMY® Award-nominated Def Jam debut album, First Love. Working with a bevy of esteemed producers and songwriters including GRAMMY®-winning producer Needlz, Barry Eastmond, GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Cassius D. Kalb and Gordon Chambers, Karina Pasian delivers a lyrically stunning collection of songs on Trips To Venus that is filled with stirring piano solos and packed with personality.  As a special holiday bonus for fans, Karina Pasian concludes the EP with a breathtaking version of the popular Mel Tormé and Bob Wells-penned Christmas classic, “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” originally made famous by Nat King Cole.

Born in New York City, Karina Pasian first began taking piano lessons at the age of three.  By 13, she had already won Star Search, met Quincy Jones and was the subject of a bidding war between three major record labels: Def Jam, Interscope, and Bad Boy Records.  In June 2007, at the age of 15, Karina Pasian performed at the White House for President George W. Bush, in celebration of Black Music Month, making her the first person of Dominican descent to perform there.  Karina Pasian’s debut album, First Love, was released by Def Jam on August 19, 2008 and was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category.

Since breaking out onto the music scene with First Love in 2008, Karina Pasian has been recording music and finished up her studies at NYC’s Professional Performing Arts School.  Trips To Venus, available for $3.99 on iTunes (also available on Amazon and Google Music), marks the now 20-year-old’s R&B singer’s much-anticipated return.

Trips To Venus EP Track Listing:
1.     “Dead End”
2.     “Just Another Melody”
3.     “Last To Know”
4.     “Perfectly Different”
5.     “When You’re In Love”
6.     “The Christmas Song”

To stream Karina Pasian’s new EP, Trips To Venus, please visit: http://soundcloud.com/user206388/sets/karina-pasian-trips-to-venus/s-1wzzP and follow @KarinaPasian on Twitter.

To purchase Karina Pasian’s new EP, Trips To Venus, please visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trips-to-venus-ep-volume-one/id488361854

SONY MASTERWORKS RELEASES SOUNDTRACK OF THE IRON LADY

ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY THOMAS NEWMAN FOR THE FILM
STARRING MERYL STREEP IN THE ROLE OF MARGARET THATCHER

Soundtrack Recording Available December 20, 2011

Sony Masterworks is pleased to announce the release of the soundtrack of The Iron Lady on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.  Award-winning composer Thomas Newman created the original music for the soundtrack recording.  The Iron Lady opens in theatres on December 30, 2011.

The Iron Lady tells the compelling story of Margaret Thatcher, a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power, and is a surprising and intimate portrait of an extraordinary and complex woman.

The film stars Academy Award-winners Meryl Streep as Lady Thatcher and Jim Broadbent as Denis Thatcher.  Their young selves are played by Alexandra Roach and Harry Lloyd. The rest of the cast of family and friends, politicians and advisers, is made up of the very best of British acting talent, including: Olivia Colman, Anthony Head, Richard E Grant, Iain Glen, Susan Brown, Nicholas Farrell, Roger Allam and Michael Pennington.

The original soundtrack is the work of Thomas Newman, one of the most respected composers in the movie business, who has scored over fifty feature films. Newman has been nominated for an Academy Award on no less than ten occasions, nine times in the category Best Original Score and once for Best Original Song. He has won a BAFTA, two Grammys and an Emmy, and has also been nominated for a Golden Globe. Born in Los Angeles, Yale-educated Thomas Newman comes from a prominent Hollywood musical dynasty: his father, brother, sister and uncle have all composed for the movies, and the singer-songwriter Randy Newman is his cousin.

His first major work in movies was in 1984 for Reckless. In 1999 Newman composed the score to Sam Mendes’ first feature film, American Beauty, and has written the music for all but one of Mendes’ later films, as well as Erin Brockovich and The Good German for director Steven Soderbergh, and such hits as Finding Nemo and The Horse Whisperer. Newman has also composed for TV, including the theme music for Six Feet Under, which won him Grammys for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Instrumental Arrangement, and has been commissioned to write orchestral concert music, for example for the Cleveland Bicentennial in 1996 and for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The film was written by award-winning writer Abi Morgan (The Hour, Shame, Sex Traffic, Brick Lane), directed by Phyllida Lloyd CBE (Mamma Mia) and produced by Damian Jones (The History Boys, Adulthood).  It is executive produced by Francois Ivernel and Cameron McCracken for Pathé, by Tessa Ross for Film4 and by Adam Kulick for Goldcrest.

CAROLE DEMAS, ORIGINAL STAR BROADWAY’S GREASE AND TV’S MAGIC GARDEN BACK ON BROADWAY WITH ORIGINAL GREASE CAST

Launching GREASE 40th Anniversary Year

(November 22, 2011 – New York, NY)  The original Broadway GREASE cast is reuniting for two very rare performances as part of Broadway Cares/Equity Fight Aids Annual Gypsy of the Year Event. A rollicking opening number will feature a reunion of the original cast of GREASE in a special 40-year anniversary tribute. In addition to Carole (Sandy), appearing will be original cast members Barry Bostwick (Danny), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino), Walter Bobbie (Roger), Don Billett (Vince Fontaine), James Canning (Doody), Daniel Douglas (Burger Palace Boy), Katie Hanley (Marty), Tom Harris (Eugene), Ilene Kristen (Patty Simcox), Joy Rinaldi (Pink Lady), and Mews Small (Frenchy).  This show is easily the biggest party in town with appearances by dozens of Broadway and Off-Broadway’s most popular shows and performers.

With thousands of performances in leading roles on and Off-Broadway and in major regional theatres, TV, radio, recordings, in concert, and cabaret, Carole has stolen the hearts of audiences and critics alike.  She created the role of ‘Sandy’ in the original Broadway blockbuster, GREASE, originated the title role in Stephen Schwartz’s THE BAKER’S WIFE in Los Angeles and played ‘Luisa’ in New York City’s longest running Off-Broadway show, THE FANTASTICKS, for two years. She is loved and remembered by generations of fans as co-star of THE MAGIC GARDEN, the most successful regional show in children’s television history.

Recently, Carole was featured in Town Hall’s Broadway Originals Concert, Off- Broadway Close Up at Merkin Concert Hall, Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway at Harry Chapin Theatre and 50th Anniversary Concerts for WBAI Radio, The Fantasticks (Night of 1000 Luisas) and The Lincoln Center Library For The Performing Arts.  Carole and her Magic Garden partner and lifelong friend, Paula Janis, were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.  Carole also performed a series of her cabaret show at NY’s Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Carole’s upcoming performances:

Gypsy of the Year
December 5th (4:30PM) and 6th (2PM)

http://www.broadwaycares.org/gypsy2011

Sean Harkness at The Players Club NYC
December 7th (7PM)
reservations@theplayersnyc.org

Neil Berg’s Broadway All-Star Holiday Concert
December 10th, (8pm)
www.irvingtontheatre.com
www.caroledemas.com

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