The Return of the Suite 16

Watch the return of Shore Fire's house band, the magnificent The Suite 16, here featuring the three Sweetettes (Lauretta Charlton, Diana D'Angelo, Miya Hannan). With Chris Brudzinski and Mark Satlof on guitars and vocals, Chris Taillie on keys, Nick Baily on drums and the ringer, true bass legend Tony Maimone, whose fluid work on this song, recorded at his Brooklyn studio, is a standout. Video directed by Diana D'Angelo



And click here for the band's past releases.

2008 Wanes But the Party Continues: Slipper Room Pix Part II

We're blessed that many friends old and new were able to make it to our holiday party last week at the Slipper Room. Speaking for myself, it was a whirlwind night so I didn't get as much time as I'd have liked to meet and greet, but I did have a blast. Here's some of the Shore Fire staff in moments of fun with our guests:

SFM's Brendan Gilmartin with Meridith Ochs and her husband "Julio" (Larry, really)

"Sunday Morning's" Ramon Parkins (center) with me and Bert Dahl of Madison House.

The Impact Artist Management team, Ed Gerrard (left); their newest employee; Aki Odoule; and Savoy Label Group's Stu Fine.

Nick Baily's wife Becky, with SFM's Nora Lyons and Nick Baily
Arthur Levy with SFM's Lauretta Charlton and Premiere's VP Ira Robbins.

SFM's Nancie S. Martin with Michael Mooney and Jeff Iorio from OK
Magazine.

It's About the Talent: Slipper Room Pix Part I

A couple of hundred friends made it to Shore Fire's annual holiday party last week at the Slipper Room, but it's always an extra special treat when our musician clients are able to make it. It can never be said enough that it's the artists who come first in our book. Without you guys, we might as well be pushing toothpaste. So from us to you: a sincere, a hearty, a big-headline-in-the-press-release-worthy "THANKS."

Here's Ben Allison with Shore Fire's Rebecca Shapiro, who stopped in on a break from working on new music.


A new client, Anne Heaton, quieted a tough, end-of-party crowd with her supple, must-hear voice and piano-based songs from her upcoming album Blazing Red. She definitely walked out that evening with some important new fans in the press...stay tuned.

Sarah Borges (on right, with SFM's Maggie Poulos) drove down from Boston just for our party, a wonderful surprise. She came with some of her band and their presence was very welcome, lending a black leather jacket vibe to the event...and you gotta check out her black leather jacket album that's coming next year with her band The Broken Singles, The Stars Are Out.


When Maiysha arrived, she was the automatic center of attention, and hands down winner of the "Best Subject Of A Snapshot Taken by a Teetering Amateur Photographer" Award. Here she is with her producer Scott Jacoby (far right) along with guest Shawn Greenbaum and a sliver of Rebecca Shapiro.



I missed seeing her and snapping a shot, but Jersey rocker Danielia Cotton was also in the house.

on the town with tom jones

spent a few days doing press with Tom Jones in the last two weeks. here's jimmy kimmel's satirical sneak peak at Tom's new show:



and a few behind-the-scenes shots. the whole thing was filmed in hollywood, in front of a green screen:





while out in la, tom also did the tonight show w/ jay leno:



previously, in new york, Tom did a few fascinating interviews. here he is interviewed by wnyc's stalwart host, and one of the best interviewers out of there, leonard lopate. listen here:



and here's tom after his interview w/ the washington post's chris richards:

We've Got Office Visitors!

Some of our friends from AOL Music stopped by last Friday to tell us about some of the cool things they've working on - which, as it turned out, included a nice "What's That Song?" item about our client Max Morgan, whose song "Secret" from his forthcoming debut 'Interrupting the Silence' accompanied a pivotal scene on Thursday's Grey's Anatomy.

From left below: Shore Fire's Andy Silva, Chris Taillie and me, and AOL Music's Bill Crandall, Jessica Robertson, Gaylord Fields and Mike Spinella.

Blues Foundation Honors Muddy Waters With Blues Trail Marker

On December 3rd Blues Foundation members gathered in Rolling Fork, MS with the Morganfield family and local students to commemorate the late blues legend McKinley Morganfield (better known as Muddy Waters) with a Blues Trail Marker. The marker identifies the site of Muddy’s home and details the immense contribution he made to the blues genre throughout his life. The state of Mississippi and the Blues Foundation continue to preserve and honor the legacy of blues musicians with new additions to the Blues Marker Trail. Check out photos from the unveiling below.

Muddy Waters' Rolling Fork, MS Blues Trail Marker

Blues Foundation dignitaries, including Executive Director Jay Sieleman (far right), gather for a photo-op behind the marker.

The Morganfield family poses with students who won the Muddy Waters essay competition at the unveiling ceremony in Rolling Fork, MS

Let Them Eat Cupcakes. And Ice Cream Cake too.

Shore Fire staff got to choose between cupcakes (Red Velvet or White Cake) and ice cream cake yesterday as we celebrated Rebecca Shapiro and Nancie S. Martin's December birthdays. Some had both (no names please!).


Here's Nancie and Rebecca.

Ledisi Lights Up Bryant Park, and NYC Rocks

Diana D'Angelo and I had a pretty awesome New York night yesterday, and we've got the pictures to prove it.

First stop was the live broadcast of CBS 2's Holiday In Bryant Park, where Ledisi gave an amazing performance of "Give Love on Christmas Day" from her new album 'It's Christmas.' Diana and I had no idea that our VIP seats would be quite so…visible. Specifically, we sat onstage right behind the Barenaked Ladies' drummer.

You can watch the broadcast here (including the third-time's-almost-a-charm tree-lighting):
http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=120787@wcbs.dayport.com

Ledisi's performance is about 37 minutes in (but don't skip past the synchronized skating routine because it's pretty rad). I'm the girl in the orangey-red hat and Diana's in the black coat to my right.

Here's a shot of Ledisi right before she sang:



Me, Diana and the giant tree:


After sitting outside for about an hour and a half, Diana and I decided to warm up with a carousel ride in Bryant Park:


Wheeee!!!

Next stop was the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's NY Annex. A fabulous soirée featuring a performance by Debbie Harry. Here's one Diana took of me pretending to be famous: