It is with deep shock and sadness that we report the unexpected passing of Debra Mann, an acclaimed and supremely talented jazz singer, pianist and composer on our Whaling City Sound label. Her most recent recording, Full Circle, featuring the music of Joni Mitchell, was released in August 2018. She had also released three CD recordings on her label, Jobe Records.
Her career was decorated with highlights. A Berklee grad, Debra was widely hailed as Rhode Island’s premier jazz pianist and vocalist. She performed at Symphony Hall in Boston as a featured guest soloist with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra. She had the distinct honor of performing at the request of Frank Sinatra. In celebration of Women’s History Month, she performed with her trio on Ron Dellachiesa’s WGBH radio program “Music America.” She was a prized member of the regional jazz community, having shared the stage with artists including Dick Johnson, Herb Pomeroy, Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood, Ted Casher, Jeff Stout, Ed Saindon, and many others. Dino Govoni, Jay Azzolina, Dave Zinno, Marty Richards, Jerry Leake, and Paul Angel joined her on our Full Circle release.
She was also a passionate educator, on the faculty of Brown University and Wheaton College.
We at Whaling City Sound, along with the music community, will miss Debra’s extraordinary and elegant musical voice. We mourn deeply her passing and extend our sympathy to her family and friends.
Dave Howard performs throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. He is a exciting musician influenced by many great jazz, blues and funk artists. David Howard is a Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
He’s a guitarist, composer, arranger and leader on many recordings including “Souvenirs” featuring Kenwood Dennard. “Clouds”, “Almost Carefree”,and “Block Island Summer” with the Joe Parillo Ensemble, and “Autumn Leaves” with Dave Rasmussen Jazz Orchestra.
Dave has Performed tours and clinics in Europe, and has worked as a Composer and Performer on various jingles.
Some European Concerts and Clinics includes: Roccella Jazz Festival / Clinics with the Dave Howard Calabrese 5tet Project, Cortale’ Jazz festival, Calabria, Italy. Umbria Jazz Clinics with Berklee College of Music, Umbria, Italy and The Pepperoncino Jazz Festival , Calabria, Italy.
Dave leads his group THE DAVE HOWARD INITIATIVE in high energy live performances and recordings of contemporary jazz/funk original compositions.
Dave’s new CD release is “INFINITE BLU” featuring a great group of musicians, six vocalists and all new compositions.
Willie Myette
Jazz Keyboardist, Composer, Author, Teacher
There is a way that most people do things. There are trends and styles; common mistakes and Murphy’s Law. However, Berklee College of Music graduate, Willie Myette has been bucking the system for most of his adult life. Shortly after graduating from Berklee in ‘96 with a degree in Film Music, Willie set out to live as a jazz performer. He started by returning home to Rhode Island, where his father had taught him piano.
Like those before him and after, he taught to make a steady income. Wanting to teach jazz and improvisation to his students, he looked for materials that mirrored his own free- formed musical upbringing. What he found was material that did not encompass the freedom and creativity that he was accustomed to. So, he wrote his own music for his young students. Giving his songs catchy titles like Jessica’s Blues and Dustin’s Da Man, JazzKids® was born with the goal of teaching young students how to improvise.
Willie has written almost a dozen books on teaching improvisation to young students. In addition, he has presented JazzKids at conferences around the U.S. and workshops in the United Kingdom. Soon, the attention at these conferences caught the attention of some very big names in the publishing industry. MelBay, a company best known for its guitar method, published Willie’s first collection of JazzKids songs. Soon, Alfred Publishing, perhaps one of the biggest names in printed educational music, signed Willie to create music for them.
Willie has not stopped there. We all know that old adage, “Those that can’t, teach.” Once again this mold has been broken in Willie’s case. While perfecting the JazzKids method in the 90’s, Willie was also busy performing and writing. In 2002 he met bassist and Berklee professor John Funkhouser. This meeting of the musical minds proved to be quite fruitful. Adding to the dynamic relationship that already existed between Willie and drummer Mike Connors, bringing Funkhouser aboard created a truly special musical group.
In 2004, combining his love of hiking and jazz, Willie formed the group Katahdin’s Edge with Connors and Funkhouser. Their 2004 release, Step Away on Myette’s own Incline Records label, garnered stellar reviews by the media. C. Michael Bailey from allaboutjazz.com wrote “This is a superb piece of avant- garde jazz that should satisfy fans from everyone from Harry Connick to Medski, Martin and Wood.”
Now was the time to hit the road. In September of ’04, the trio began their first North West tour. Willie remembers, “It was exciting to be bringing our music to the opposite end of the country. But, it was also scary not knowing how it would be received.” Well, their performance at MusicFestNW in Portland proved that this group had something to say and people were ready to listen. After launching into the funky groove of the CD title track Step Away, and displaying their “no holds barred” approach to jazz, the group was asked to double their set for the excited crowd.
After the tour, the group focused on radio play and future bookings. Katahdin’s Edge was added to the playlists of over 90 radio stations nationwide. This is an impressive feat for any independent record. With fans likening the group to the Bad Plus and E.S.T. Myette focused on creating new material for their next tour. In April, the band performed at the Triple Door in Seattle, a hot spot for some of the biggest names in jazz.
The future holds bright for Myette and Katahdin’s Edge. Their new album is being picked up by a record label and is due out January of 2006.
“Hiking a mountain is difficult,” says Willie. “You have to watch where you put your feet. Otherwise, you might have a really bad day. Music is like this too. You need to promote your art, but always remain true to your calling.”
Myette proves that he can walk that line. The road less traveled can still lead to spectacular and unexpected results.
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For tour schedules or to see Myette in action teaching JazzKids, visit www.jazzkids.com or www.jazzontheedge.com.
For high resolution/300 dpi jpegs, visit www.jazzontheedge.com/media.html
Mixed Media Promo has been a critical part of our plan and our success since we began over 10 years ago. Their flexibility and willingness to work with others in executing an overall publicity and promotion strategy has enabled Whaling City Sound to become much more widely and well known, in jazz circles but also in the wider music scene, throughout North America and Eastern and Western Europe. Our artists are fortunate to have Mixed Media Promo working on their behalf.” ~Neal Weiss, president Whaling City Sound
…the Maine show had a good turn out, many of them never having seen me before which I think has to come from press. House and management say even biggish singer-songwriters do those numbers there, and on a slow summer stretch (that week being notoriously slow) and they were thrilled. Thanks for running it up the flagpole so fast and making my career happen!~Vance Gilbert, singer-songwriter
Fifteen years ago, Ginny Shea listened to my dreams, and believed they were moments that should, could, and would be realized. Listening with heart and mind, she was my “voice” and representative in the truest sense! Whether it involved endorsements, reviews, promotion, or a detail that was precise and individualized, I always felt the steps taken to actualize my vision were above and beyond… Mixed Media possesses the essential elements of success: tenacity, confident skill and communication that is heartfelt! THANK YOU, Mixed Media!!~Harry Skoler, Jazz Clarinetist, Associate Professor – Berklee College of Music
Ginny Shea at Mixed Media began spreading the word for us over 10 years ago. That one decision has made a huge difference in many ways. Ginny always goes the extra mile for her clients. If you have a new promo need of any kind she may know it before you do and have a solution for you. Ginny is passionate, thoughtful and artistic about her work and well connected to the world of media, just what we needed 10 years ago and today more than ever.~Anne Saunders, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Ginny has done outstanding publicity and promotion work for Jukebox Jazz across many years and lots of different settings. She has helped us roll out our new CD titles, secured excellent reviews for them in coveted print publications like JazzTimes, and prodded critics to recommend our live shows by giving us “Best Bet” placements in newspapers from the L.A. Times to our local Daily Freeman. In addition, she has worked tirelessly in support of our annual “Healing Voices, Caring Hearts” concert fundraiser to benefit music therapy at Hospice, Inc. She has a genuinely good heart, is reliable, dependable, hard-working, and extremely creative. We are forever grateful to have her in our jazz corner!~Terry Blaine & Tom Desisto, Jukebox Jazz
Ginny Shea is a dynamic, thoughtful and talented public relations expert. She has been guiding and helping me to build my entertainment brand for several years and I consider her an excellent communicator, caring ear, and an “on the mark strategizer” when it comes to marketing my brand. Ginny has a unique talent, in that she concentrates on her client’s strong points and makes it a point to understand where they need to be by increasing their professional visibility in the industry. I highly recommend Ginny for your next project!~Laura Theodore, Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist and President, Jazzy Vegetarian, Inc.
Ginny Shea, President and Owner of Mixed Media, has a true passion for her work as a top notch publicist. Ginny is priced well in this competitive market, and you get personalized service and attention that is second to none. Beyond an endless database of resources she’s personally compiled over the years, Ginny communicates on a very high level, so her clients always know where they stand. Mixed Media is ultimately about results, and I’ve experienced that on many occasions, most recently for my fundraising event which got network attention on NBC due to her efforts. I highly recommend the publicity services of Ginny and Mixed Media: you won’t be disappointed!~Don Wilson, motivational speaker/Prospecting Intel, musician
Ginny Shea of Mixed Media is a pleasure to collaborate with. She has done a wonderful job promoting my recordings and she’s introduced me to many opportunities that are helping to enlarge my career.
~John Stein, Whaling City Sound/Berklee
Ginny & company are caring, creative, enthusiastic and assertive professionals!
~Dawn Arpin, Director of Development, spurwink|ri
Neal Weiss of Whaling City Sound referred me to Ginny Shea in 2008. Ginny is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in the various aspects of the music business and although we’ve just begun the campaign she has already arranged my first interview with JazzTimes.com and our first press release has been posted on music blogs throughout the world. She’s constantly developing new avenues of exposure, suggesting radio stations and venues for me to contact, and marketing my music to a very diverse sector of the press. Ginny is dedicated, well connected and hard working. I’m looking forward to releasing the CD and our upcoming touring, knowing that Mixed Media has my best interests in mind. I would not hesitate to recommend Ginny Shea and Mixed Media to artists, labels and managers.~Charles Xavier, Producer/CEO, Happy Note Records
Music industry consultant and publicist Ginny Shea has garnered international exposure for her clients through radio and video promotion, print media, and her vast industry network.
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Music industry consultant and publicist Ginny Shea has garnered international exposure for her clients through radio and video promotion, print media, and her vast industry network.
