Ghost Dog Blog
04/16/2008
Spring has Sprung - April in Paris - Texas that is (Our Apologies to Count Basie)
Greetings Soonaphiles,
Here is hoping you are coping with the pollen that is floating from those blossoms blooming all around your head. Yes, Ghost Dog is feeling springily poetic, a little misty, and overflowing with doggerel. How not, when blooming along with the azaleas, pears, cherries and dogwoods we have new videos, new snacks, and new shows?
First, a message from our Esteemed CEO... (please change the song in your head from April in Paris to Tax Man)...
May we remind you that a great place to patriotically* spend your tax rebate is the Soona Songs Store. Buy for America! Thank You.
*OK, Beth Cahill is Canadian, but they are our friends...
New Videos Up from Jazz Diva, Lisa Markley!
Two great performances from Lisa Markley (vox) and J. Paul Slavens (piano). These are tunes that really really should be standards, give them a listen and we are sure you will agree.
Fell Asleep Driving (Lyrics by Kelly Higgins, Music by J Paul Slavens)
The sky is blue and sometimes cries (Lyrics by Little Jack Melody, Music by Jeffrey Barnes)
Ghost Dog would also like to credit the high quality of our videos to the efforts of engineer and former master, Graham(too many jobs)Duncan.
Be sure to check out our new Soona Snacks! One from the upcoming Markley & Balmer album and one from the soon to be released heliopause v.II.
Shows old and new...
Esteemed CEO, Marilyn Duncan has just returned from her yearly trek to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The blossoms were in full bloom and she had fun seeing our good friends Dulcie Taylor and Brian (heliopause) Pinke. Filmmaker Elvert Barnes stopped by for some of her performance, and the results are posted on YouTube - see what a woman of a certain age looks like singing with the sun in her eyes...
Our good friends at the Labyrinth Walk Coffee House, here in Oak Cliff, are shining the spotlight on Soona Arteests - April 26, Marilyn Duncan will open for Jenni Peal project, Reflecting Pool, and May 17 The Malvinas will rock the house. The Malvinas will also be performing at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on May 2 at 11:15am. Catch them if you can!
Work continues on the Radiophonic and Beth Cahill releases and Markley & Balmer continue to track in the studio. Ghost Dog is certain if she runs fast enough she will actually catch her tail.
All the best until next time!
Soona
03/04/2008
Ghost Dog Says, "Hold the Green Beer, Guinness, Please"
Greetings Soonaphiles!
As the sun makes its way back to the northern hemisphere, we can celebrate St. Patrick's Day right up to the Equinox. Ghost Dog had so much fun in Memphis at the Annual International Folk Alliance Conference, that she wants to keep the party going - and a Markley & Balmer video, and a new Beth Cahill Soona Snack are just the way to do it.
First, a message from our esteemed CEO:
St. Patrick's Day is the perfect gift giving opportunity, and the perfect gift is, of course, music from the Soona Songs Store. We have albums that go well with Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd's Pie, Irish Whiskey and either Stout, Ale or Lager. Some of them even have green covers... Enjoy!
Folk Alliance Report:
Converging upon Memphis, Tennessee from Quebec, New Orleans and Dallas, the Soona Songs acoustic acts - The Malvinas, Markley & Balmer, Beth Cahill and Marilyn Duncan - came together for five fun filled days of music, networking and no sleep. We hosted the Soona Songs Showcase, and many wonderful musicians graced our stage. A slide show of all the performers is available at http://myspace.com/soonasongs
Our female power trio, The Malvinas packed and then rocked the house with each performance; the haunting songs from Beth Cahill's upcoming album captivated her audience (see Soona Snacks); and Esteemed CEO, Marilyn Duncan, tried out her new material on several unsuspecting, but receptive groups. Ghost Dog is especially excited about the excellent response to our new duo, Markley & Balmer. To give you a hint of how well they wowed the crowd, check out their video below or at http://youtube.com/soonasongs
We were very happy to make so many new friends and look forward to doing it all again next year! (Sleep - who needs it!)
Meanwhile, at the mid-western division of the Soona Songs music factory the albums continue to churn. Beth Cahill, Radiophonic, and heliopause, v.II. In fact, those mixing guys, The Hoody Brothers (Graham Duncan and Brian Pinke) are getting together this week with fellow heliopause member Kevin Matz for final v.II touches. While down in Dallas, we continue tracking Markley & Balmer's new release. There is a lot going on!
So until next time, Ghost Dog wishes you all the happiness of Spring, and advises you to keep your tail from under the rocker.
Soona
2/5/08
Ghost Dog Says "Be Mine, Valentine"
Hearts and Flowers Greetings to All You Soonaphiles!
Ghost Dog hopes Love and Chocolate are heading your way. Things have been crazy busy here at Soona Songs. We have two BonBons up from our December video effort, three albums in the mixer and new Soona Snacks for your Valentine enjoyment - we are very romantic!
First up, our very own Diva, Lisa Markley (singing barefoot in an Armani dress), with our good friends J. Paul Slavens (on piano) and Jeffrey Barnes (on Clarinet and Harmonica). They look and sound divine. Look and Listen to two videos on YouTube, or watch "Someone Exactly Like You" right here:
We have more of these little gems coming out as our Audio (and now Video) Engineer Graham Mixmaster Duncan gets to them. So be on the watch for The Malvinas, Markley & Balmer, and more Lisa too.
Our esteemed CEO wishes to remind everyone of the proven romance of giving music for Valentines (Ghost Dog thinks adding some Godiva's or See's will improve your chances) and hopes you will consider our highly romantic album selection.
And now to the Soona Songs music factory. Beth Cahill's new Album will be the first release of 2008. We are very excited as it is coming together and you should be able to buy it in April! Markley & Balmer, our new indefinable duo (acoustic, bop, folk, jazz, etc.) are currently laying down tracks at Soona Central. And our Rocker Guys - Radiophonic - are perfecting and finishing towards a June release.
New Soona Snacks up for Valentines!
A sneak preview from the new Markley & Balmer album, the evocative "Hopelessly," written and played by Bruce Balmer and sung by Lisa Markley. Like a glass of wine it is...
And reaching deep into the Soona Catalog, we find the song "Valentine" from Old Friends and Lovers, written and sung by our esteemed CEO, Marilyn Duncan who is helped out on this effort by Radiophonic members, Michael Galante on drums and Graham Duncan on electric guitar; and the late great Harry Dailey on bass.
Look for a report on Soona Songs' first visit to Folk Alliance in our next blog...
Until then...
Soona
