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Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Threadmills

Funny choregraphy from Threadmills...

Monday, 25 February 2008

Michel Petrucciani, In Memoriam

Michel Petrucciani (December 28, 1962, Orange, France – January 6, 1999, New York City, USA), was a French Jazz pianist.



Michel Petrucciani came from an Italo-French family of a musical background. His father "Tony" played guitar and his brother Louis played bass. Michel was born with osteogenesis imperfecta which is a genetic disease that causes brittle bones and in his case short stature. It is also often linked to pulmonary ailments. In his early career his father and brother occasionally carried him, literally, because he could not walk far on his own unaided. In certain respects though he considered it an advantage as it got rid of distractions, like sports, that other boys tended to become involved in.



At an early age he became enthusiastic about the works of Duke Ellington and wished to become a pianist like him. Although he trained for years as a classical pianist, jazz remained his interest. He had his first professional concert at 13. At this point in his life he was still quite fragile so had to be carried to and from the piano. In general his size meant that he required aids to reach the piano's pedals, but his hands were average in length. By age 18 he helped form a successful trio. He moved to the US in 1982. In the US he is credited with leading Charles Lloyd to resume playing actively and in 1986 he recorded a live album with Wayne Shorter and Jim Hall. He also played with diverse figures in the US jazz scene including Dizzy Gillespie.

In 1994 he was granted a Légion d'honneur in Paris.

His own style was initially influenced by Bill Evans although some compare him to Keith Jarrett. He is often deemed to be among the best jazz pianists to ever come from France.

On the personal side he had three significant relationships. His first marriage to Italian pianist Gilda Buttà ended in divorce. He also fathered two children, one being a son named Alexandre. One of these children inherited his condition. He also had a stepson named Rachid Roperch.

Michel Petrucciani died at 36 from a pulmonary infection. He was interred in Le Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.



God rest his soul!

Saturday, 23 February 2008

Greg Pattillo

Greg Pattillo (b. 1977, Seattle, Washington) is a beatboxing flautist originally from Seattle, but now operates in Brooklyn, New York.



Patillo is recognized throughout the world for his redefinition of the flute sound. He was lauded by the New York Times as "the best person in the world at what he does." His performance videos on YouTube, showcasing "beatbox flute," have been viewed more than 12 million times.

Patillo earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Joshua Smith, the principal flautist of the Cleveland Orchestra. After a summer spent as the acting principal flute of Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Patillo moved to San Francisco where he was a founding member of the Collaborative Arts Insurgency and the 16th and Mission Thursday night gathering for performers. It was there that "beatbox flute" materialized in its present state..

Patillo enjoys freelancing as a soloist, and is the flautist of the group PROJECT, the Lalo Quintet, as well as a featured performer at The Box in New York City.

In June 2007 Pattillo was named one of 21 winners of the Metropolitan Transit Authority's "Music Under New York" program. Among other things the award gives Pattillo an official permit, of sorts, to play music in the subway.



Pattillo was also seen on an episode of Nickelodeon's TV series, iCarly.

Bravo Pattillo!

Friday, 22 February 2008

Sabrina Salerno

Very interesting music.



After winning a beauty contest in her native region, Liguria, she started modeling, and in 1985 made her TV debut in the prime time show Premiatissima on Canale 5. That same year, her debut single was released: "Sexy girl", produced by Claudio Cecchetto, the single became a Top 20 hit in her native Italy.

She released her first album in late 1987, simply titled Sabrina, which soon became her stage name in the 1980s. In addition to "Sexy Girl", the album included Sabrina's international top 5 breakthrough, the smash hit single "Boys (Summertime Love)", which has sold more than 1,5 million copies to date worldwide, and "Hot Girl", which made the top 10 in five European countries.



Wonder why?