Dave Schulz: Connect: CD Review: Buffalo and LA

 

Dave Schulz breaks free with his solo debut CD titled, "Connect."  Recorded mixed and engineered at: The Cave and Studio Atlantis, this 10 track CD is a 10+ year sentiment of the dedication Dave Schulz has lent to, grown within and around the art of music. 

The first track, "Everything", introduces itself with quintessential classical piano by Schulz. Written by Dave and Gretchen Schulz, this tune takes you to pensive heights with Dave on vox along with constant driving force of Matt Oloffson on percussion with Gretchen Schulz on backing vox, Robi Banerji on bass, Todd McCool on guitar and Jack Ellis on trombone. Each of them, in unison, bring you to the vortex of self with: "If you had everything / would it mean everything? / would you feel anything? / would you give everything? / just to feel like anything? / would it mean everything?"  Dave follows through with piano to end a tune, that is by far, radio ready.

Dave Schulz, singer/songwriter/keyboardist, of Buffalo, NY, were raised with a Father that was pianist and conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.  Dave shared the stage with Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Marilyn Manson, Pete Townshend, Bon Jovi, Rolling Stones, Spice Girls, Elvis Costello, Buffalo Tom, Sugar Ray, Fastball, New Radicals, Shania Twain, Blink 182, Missing Persons, DEVO, Berlin, Dramarama, Pet Shop Boys, N’SYNC, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, Maceo Parker, Dido, and Smashmouth, as well as performing at Woodstock in front of 60, 000 fans. 

This Western New York musician was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year (2005 Los Angeles Music Awards), Best Keyboardist of the year (2006 All Access Awards), and nominations for Song of the Year (“Planet 39”) and Album of the Year (for his work with One Tribe Nation).

Present Awards and Inductions include: 2008:  Dave Schulz, (along with Robert and Gretchen Schulz) Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, 2009, honorable mention (16th Annual Billboard World Song) and (12th Annual Unisong International Songwriting Competitions) for his song, "Everything" that appears on his debut CD, "Connect."  Dave has performed with various musicians such as:  Goo Goo Dolls, Fuel, English Beat, Bran Van 3000, General Public, Berlin, Ryan Cabrera, Bo Diddley, Jihad Jerry and the Evildoers (Jerry Casale from DEVO’s solo project) Glenn Hughes, Bernard Fowler, One Tribe Nation, Phil Upchurch, Meleni, Fastball, The Rembrandts, Carmen and Camille, Hilary Hawn, When In Rome, Mesner, Michael Mccarthy and the Beautiful Fools, Last Conservative, Kristine W., Duke Graham, Daniel Morones, Derek Sholl, Eric Sardinas, Pine Dogs, Marvelous Sauce, Gretchen Schulz and the Morvelles, Steam Donkeys, Geno McManus, The Quakes, and The Buffalo Sabres. 

Schulz has appeared on VH1, MTV, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson,  Rosie O’Donnell, and CNN with live radio play on The BBC.

The 3rd song on the CD, "Perfect Day", written by Schulz and Steve DeMarchi, has intense lyrical significance. "have you ever been on your own / still waiting to feel like someone / have all the roads you've known / led to cities of ice in desert sun / and buried in the sand / a shattered image of a land / seen with eyes of a child."  Robin DiMaggio on percussion, Mike Porcaro on bass, Steve DeMarchi on guitars, Matt Gruber on guitars and Dave on keyboard and vox, continues with a warlike remnant of past with: "i'm in a space in between the wine and truth / i can't erase all i know from all I knew / forgot where i'm goin' but ended up here with you / its a perfect day to be insane"  This tune is cohesive, strong, and a post 9-11 eulogy.

"Lovers" if not currently playing on the radio, should be. It is significantly the strongest tune on this entire CD. With Dave's furlough into indie/pop/rock, the jazzy backbeat and sensual lyrics, flips you off your feet, turning you around, upside down, and does not set you directly on your feet with: "we were like lovers / i could tell from the start / we were just strangers / but you opened my heart / with a lifetime of memories / and nothing to lose / not being close / would have been easy to do / but i can never look back at all / i can never move forward till i let you run / when we were like lovers / the world couldn't pull us apart."  Written by David Cordrey, "Lovers", features Cordrey on guitar, Michael Rosas on guitar, bass and drums, Steve DeMarchi on guitar and David Aido on acoustics. "Lovers" is a heartbeat, a solitary touch, its poetry.  "Lovers" is the past, present and future.

"Connect" certainly does just that. Every song on this CD is electric.  It is a testament to the many years Dave Schulz has performed.  "Connect" is a must have and one of the most complete compilations of musicians, instruments, lyrics, and subject matter I have encountered in a long time.

Visit Dave Schulz at: www.daveschulzmusic.com for accomplishments, more on Dave and connect directly to and with him. "Connect" can be found on the above website under: STORE and Dave can be found on myspace, facebook, itunes, twitter, reverbnation and you tube.

This entire CD is a sensory hallucinatory dance into a bluesy mix of hypnotic lyrics and jazz tempos. Grab this CD, go to www.daveschulzmusic.com.  This is one that you will leave in the player all day long. An absolute spiritual progression.

"you can hold me forever / you can feel me right now / hold me like lovers / hold me wherever you are."

© Susan Marie 2010

Susan Marie Public Relations
Think Twice Radio
This is NOT the Apple
New York USA 2010

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Celebrate Starlight! Starlight Studio 5th Anniversary

You are cordially invited to

CELEBRATE  STARLIGHT!

Friday, October 1, 2010

 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

STARLIGHT STUDIO & ART GALLERY

340 DELAWARE AVENUE

BUFFALO, NY 14202

716.842.1525

       A Program Created by Learning Disabilities Association

www.starlightstudio.org

Gallery Hours:  Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

           

Come celebrate the 5th anniversary of Starlight

Studio and Art Gallery.  5 years of individuals

developing themselves as creative artists.

This is a FREE event featuring the sounds of Free Henry!

SB Reeves and his Outfit and Fredonia Jazz Trio as well as

food from Globe Market and a silent art auction.

                      

Preview Event :  Friday, September 24,  5 p.m.-11 p.m.

View the beautiful artworks up for auction on this evening while also seeing

Bruce Adams’ installation, Divine Beauty, as part of the

Beyond/In Western New York 2010 exhibition.

Celebrate Starlight: 5 Year Anniversary Starlight Studios

On October 1, 2010 from 7-10pm, Western New York will celebrate the 5 year anniversary of Starlight Studios in conjunction with The Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York.   

"Celebrate Starlight", is a gathering of community, artists, business, educators, art aficionados, teaching artists, organizations, musicians and students of the gallery to celebrate the work both organizations continue to provide to all genres of art.   

This event is FREE and open to the public.  All are invited and welcomed. 

"Celebrate Starlight" will provide live music, light refreshments, a silent auction of framed art prints, along with t-shirts, calenders and note cards created by students of The Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York.   

Starlight Studio and Art Gallery is an open art studio habilitation program for adults with developmental disabilities and neurological impairments.  Participants work with professional artists to cultivate their skills in a myriad of media and techniques.  An on site gallery affords participants and other artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work. Visits to museums, galleries, artist studios and other sites are an integral part of the program as is hosting visiting artists in the areas of visual art, poetry, storytelling and songwriting. The mission of Starlight is to provide individualized guidance for the cultivation of artistic expression with people who have disabilities.  Participants have the opportunity to interface with the public and broaden public perceptions about people with disabilities as well as enrich their own lives. 

The Learning Disabilities Association of Western New York provides high-quality individualized, comprehensive, and innovative services, which support, educate, and empower individuals with learning disabilities, neurological impairments, and other disabilities with similar needs.

 

The event will commence at 7pm with Western New York's finest musical performances by Free Henry!, SB Reeves, and Fredonia Jazz Trio. 

  Please join us for an enchanting evening celebrating art and music, with an auction, light refreshments and a gathering of all aspects of community at Starlight Studios, 340 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY  716. 842.1525 from 7-10pm. The event is FREE and open to all public. 

For more information: www.starlightstudios.org and http://www.ldaofwny.org/. Support your community, art in all genres and two organizations that continue to fuel a positive growing presence in our world. Create, diversify, dedicate and educate.

Susan Marie Public Relations
Think Twice Radio
This is NOT the Apple
New York USA 2010

Western New York Musicians Support Pakistan Flood Victims

Contact: Aaron O'Brian
Ph: 716-602-2465
  blackbird2009@gmail.com

 

Western New York Musicians Support Pakistan Flood Victims

On Sunday, September 19th from 1-9pm, Western New York musicians will help raise money for the victims of the Pakistan flood at the Pakistan Flooding Relief Benefit Show at Alternative Brews 3488 Sheridan Drive, Amherst NY.


The show will feature ten local bands with musical styles ranging from acoustic solo acts to original rock and alternative songs and covers. Bands and musicians scheduled to play are: Michael Bly, Black Heart Republic, The Improvements, Concubine, The Gibbets, Force Of Habit, Big Tree Road, Ozzmageddon, Rosaleen Marion and Nicolette Saraf.


All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to UNICEF: Pakistan Flood Relief.


Local musician Aaron O'Brian, lead singer of the Buffalo-based band Black Heart Republic, organized the event to help out the millions of people left homeless and in need of food, shelter, clean drinking water and medical services.

"The United Nations estimates that more than 20 million people are injured or homeless as a result of the flooding, exceeding the combined total of individuals affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake," said O'Brian.


Acoustic musician Rosaleen Marion felt compelled to help out and would rather take some sort of action in order to help the people in need.

"When the world turns upside down, everyone is moved, "said Marion. "If the choice is to cry or sing, I would rather sing. If the tears are going to come anyway, then at least I am not crying alone in front of the TV wondering what to do, because I have done that before and I am grateful for the opportunity to do something helpful instead."


Doors open at 1 p.m. and admission is $5 at the door for this 21 and over show. Bands will play throughout the day starting at 3 p.m. The Buffalo Bills/Green Bay game airs at 1pm and can be watched at Alternative Brews.

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YOU are a part of HUMANITY. This is OUR World. 

Please help the PEOPLE of PAKISTAN. 

Susan Marie Public Relations

Think Twice Radio

This is NOT the Apple

New York USA 2010

Grace Stumberg: Music in Action: WNY Org as Model in Quality

View Article in Buffalo Rising

Here's a homegrown response to the growing call for education reform and accountability.

Future Schools Network, a small WNY non-profit organization with a 15-year track record of providing innovative student-centered programming, just did something that no one else has done, at least not in New York State. They received a rare "quality" certification for a 2nd time for providing leadership, career and service learning programs to area students.

The Promising Practice certification, received last month, comes from a NYS quality assurance board, www.sharingsuccess.org, supported by the Legislature & Governor's office.

"Less than 1% of programs ever receive this award, states Dr. Felicia Watson, Technical Assistance Director for New York State's 21st Century Community Learning Centers. "Earning two is the definition of being an evidence-based 'best-practice', and a great lesson in quality and dedication to continuous improvement."



Future Schools Network, was first certified in 2007 for their Future Leaders / Student Voices program and received this second award in July for "Music in Action", a program co-authored by Future Schools Director, Bob James and Robby Takac, Founder of Music is Art.

Students also "get it", but on a more personal level, including Grace Stumberg, who was invited to open a May 2009 education conference at the State Capital with her song, "Change the World."

"For myself and others, it [Music in Action] was the reason to come to school," Stumberg was quoted. "If it weren't for the program, I wouldn't be here today and I'd probably be drifting and not knowing my own voice inside."

Official quality certification is rare, requiring ample data and analysis. Many high-profile programs like D.A.R.E. & Save the Music have not achieved similar honors.

The New York State Education Department advocates the use of proven "evidenced-based" programs. Many claim to do this, but few have the data to prove it.

"The ultimate goal of funding for educational programs should be youth development", states John Soja, former Director of the NYS Education Department's 21st Century Community Learning Centers. "Students need meaningful service learning experiences in order to nurture the academic, social and emotional skills necessary to function as productive citizens.  Future Leaders, and now Music in Action have effectively utilized grant funding to accomplish this goal."

Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said, "Buffalo should be proud of the double 'quality' certification that Future Schools Network has received.  Its work is a model of accountability and has the ability to transform the way services can be delivered in schools across the state."