Featured Track: Instrumental New Age-Ryan Michael Richards-That Trip to Bethlehem

Ryan Michael Richards has been releasing impactful guitar-based instrumental singles this past year. His next release is “That Trip to Bethlehem,” just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

His acoustic guitar playing is extraordinary, in my opinion. Many people would agree with that assessment once they hear this track.

The cover art to the single, with what looks to be the aurora borealis in the sky, evokes the wonder of the cosmos and what took place on the day our savior, Jesus Christ, was born. We need him now, so please send him back! I say that in a severe manner. I don’t think I need to elaborate as to why.

The guitar strings evoke the magic of the Holidays and their meaning to families, individuals, religions, and, in general, humanity across the globe—not specifically Christians, may I add, as I think being a spiritual individual gives reason for belief, and it does in my case. Many others who do not attend church or mass feel the same way.

Music is the universal language; in this instance, it is even more powerful and impactful without words. No religious or political statement is made; it simply speaks to the heart and soul of humanity, whether you believe it or not. Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, it gives pause for reflection just by looking at the image and hearing the guitar strings resonate with joy and gratefulness for the season to come. If you read more about this artist, you will realize why he believes in a power greater than himself.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

November 2, 2024

Website

Growing up in South Philadelphia, Ryan Michael Richards began learning how to play the guitar when he was fourteen years old after being diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder. Ryan's parents encouraged him to learn how to play a musical instrument, for the arts are an excellent way for people to cope with learning disabilities. It did not take long for him to decide that the Guitar would be his musical instrument of choice…READ MORE…

Featured Track: Moonstone-Al Jewer & Andy Mitran

Al Jewer & Andy Mitran return on January 27th of the new year with their follow up to "Emerald," titled "Moonstone."

As they continue with the concept of gemstones, so do their gorgeous soundtracks to emulate the perfect beauty of the stone celebration.  

Once again, Hans Christian delivers fretless bass and cello performances to enhance the track, giving depth and soul and the meditative, ethereal atmospheres provided.

When listening to "Moonstone," I felt like I was taking a journey into a distant land to discover a long-lost treasure. That treasure could be identified in many ways, finding the solitude, peace, or deliverance of a spiritual awakening.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

https://aljewer-andymitran.bandcamp.com/track/moonstone

For access to our other recordings go to www.aljewer-andymitran.bandcamp.com

 

Featured Track: Blackmore's Night-All Our Yesterdays

The tile track of Blackmore's Night new release is All Our Yesterdays. From his days in Deep Purple and Rainbow to present day, legendary guitarist Richie Blackmore remains a relevant force in music. With his enchanting wife Candice Night on vocals, they present an entertaining mixture of Rock, Celtic, World and New Age Music.

The track and video presented here is a superb representation of their unique music. The song starts sadly then breaks into a gala festival of dance and song.

Enjoy the visuals and music that will take you back to simpler times in our history when castles ruled and there was no technology to complicate lives.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck


All Our Yesterdays was released on a variety of formats: CD, CD/DVD and Digital versions on September 18th and in LP and Box Set configurations on October 16th (in North America).


The Band's Bio (Courtesy of their website)

 

 Ritchie Blackmore

British guitarist and songwriter, began his professional career as a session musician as a member of the instrumental band The Outlaws and as a backing musician of pop singers Glenda Collins, Heinz, Screaming Lord Sutch, Neil Christian, etc.. Blackmore was also one of the original members of Deep Purple, playing jam-style rock music which mixed simple guitar riffs and organ sounds During his solo career, he established neo-classical metal band called Rainbow which fused baroque music influences elements with hard rock. However, Rainbow gradually progressed to catchy pop style hard rock. Blackmore formed the traditional folk rock project Blackmore's Night transitioning to vocalist-centered sounds.Click here to read more about Ritchie.

Candice Night

Although she's done back-up vocals for such major bands as Deep Purple, Rainbow, and Twang (the Hank Marvin Tribute album), Candice Night's success was anything but overnight. In 1997, the talented lyricist and lead singer of Blackmore's Night completed a musical project with legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore titled Shadow of the Moon. The album features acoustic renaissance music, a direction she thoroughly enjoyed. "This music is feel good, soul searching music," says Candice. "Listening to it makes me appreciate the beauty in simple things that most of us overlook everyday. It has a magical effect. It makes me smile and it makes me cry, but listening to it always takes me on a different journey somewhere else. Being a part in creating such music is a reward in itself." Click here to read more about Candice.

Bard David of Larchmont

The spine tingling melodies of classical composers wafts through the rehearsal halls as Bard David prepares for his performances. This extremely talented virtuoso has been delighting audiences for the past 20 years on keyboards, piano, organ, harpsichord, accordion and pipe organ. He is a graduate of Purchase University in piano performances and Blackmore's Night is proud to add him to our Minstrel Band.

Lady Kelly DeWinter

Kelly was just a wee babe when she first found herself singing tunes – and it wasn’t long after that she discovered what joy music could truly bring those around her. Classically trained in voice, piano, French Horn, and various other musical instruments, she was clearly drawn to perform - and soon found herself a graduate of the Musical Theatre program at Shenandoah University. Thus far, her professional career has allowed her to perform on stages across the United States, but no indoor theatre ever gave her the same magical feeling as portraying Queen Elizabeth I at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. It was during this time that she truly discovered “All the Fun of the Fayre". She is thrilled to be joining Blackmore’s Night playing French Horn and singing harmony vocals. Lady Kelly says she owes a debt of gratitude to her Renaissance family for introducing her to such a wonderful group.

Troubador of Aberdeen

The percussionist for Blackmore's Night is truly of Scottish descent. His ancestors resided in a castle fortress near Aberdeen during Medieval times. The moonlight beckoned to him and he embarked upon a midnight journey -wandering the countryside, listening to and echoing the rhythms of the night. He spent a lot of time camping in the woods- playing percussion with the otters and badgers- and pitching acorns with the squirrels. Always atune to the rhythms that surround the country side- natural rhythms and sounds of nature abound in his soul, Blackmore's Night came across him in England- we picked him up hitchhiking to London on his way to see the Queen. He instantly felt a comaderaderie with the Band of minstrels and the group invited him to join and share his many talents with them.

Scarlet Fiddler

Our amazing violinist received her MM in violin performance at The Boston Conservatory where she studied with Masters. She has performed at the Amherst Early Music Festival , Oberlin’s Baroque Performance Institute,Trinity Baroque Orchestra and Choir, amongst many other prestigious performances. This Renaissance Fiddler is Concertmaster of the Astoria Symphony and Sinfonia Celestis, and can also be found performing with Greenwich Symphony, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Di Capo Opera Company, Bronx Opera Company and the Orchestra of the Bronx. She has graced the stages at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Town Hall the Apollo Theater and Lincoln Center. She has been seen on tv on “Saturday Night Live,” “David Letterman” and “The View”.

Her heart called out for the simplicity of less technological times - and the beauty of nature. She longed to join a group where she could participate with Medieval/Renassiance music from within the castle walls. She found herself delightfully challenged by the music she heard from Blackmore's Night. We welcome this very talented musician to our group.

Earl Grey of Chimay

Bass, mandolin, guitar. Often enchanted with a musical spirit he can be found performing his music throughout medieval forests and cavernous terrains where they echo the melodic sounds resonating from the instruments played by Earl Grey of Chimay. Assimilating an alchemistic approach to a variety of instruments , he brings to Blackmore's Night his music, camaraderie, a plethora of potent ale, and an extraneous habit of being a bit verbose., yet a dash of humor emanates through the serious facade-but he is always passionate about his love for the music of Blackmore's Night.