About Heart Music

• Heart Music is an established independent label whose first 28 releases have been recognized with international press, awards and radio airplay. A Texas label with jazz roots, Heart Music now branches out to bring you other exceptional, innovative music from the heart. Credit for the label goes to its president, Tab Bartling, an industrious Austin businessman and longtime music fan for whom Heart Music is the result of a lifelong dream. The company opened its doors in late 1989 with its first release -- guitarist Erich Avinger’s Heart Magic -- which received airplay on more than 240 radio stations (Collage, Jazz stations and AAA) around the country. Bartling spent 1990 expanding his distribution and recording new product, including First Takes, the first of five albums by Tony Campise, a consummate saxophone player. First Takes has an acoustic, traditional sound that set the tone for ensuing releases.

• The following are highlights of Heart Music and its artists accomplishments. Erich Avinger's second release, Si and Tony Campise's First Takes both received worldwide airplay, including the Voice of America. Campise's First Takes and Once In a Blue Moon both reached #3 on the Gavin Jazz charts. Once In a Blue Moon charted in the Top 20 of Billboard for 3 months as well as receiving a several awards. Critics have included all of Tony Campise's releases on their Best Record of the Year lists, more recently Ballads, Blues and Bebop and Ballads, Blues, Bebop and Beyond.

• Campise's newest release, Strange Beauty, moves in a new direction expressing the lyrical side and soul of Campise as well as his unique sound. It showcases Campise on ballads such as Try to Remember, Stardust and Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry. There is also a burnin' version of The Flintstones and seven exciting new originals penned by Joe LoCascio. Strange Beauty reached #7 on the Gavin Jazz charts and was the only independent release in the Top 25.

• Other releases by Heart Music are 1) Joe LoCascio Silent Motion and A Charmed Life 2) Beth Ullman/Rich Harney Aren't We the Lucky Ones, 3) Fred Hamilton (with David Friesen and Ed Soph) Looking Back on Tomorrow, 4) Elias Haslanger Standards and For the Moment 5) Carla Helmbrecht One For My Baby, 6) Tod Vullo Uh Huh 7) Jae Sinnett Listen (which reached #1 on the Gavin Jazz chart) and Jae Sinnett The Better Half.

We are really excited about our latest releases :

• Our first pop/rock/A3 release will be by Monte Montgomery, who covers the territory from ballads, bluesy slide grooves, hip reggae rhythms to intense rockers. Monte is a singer/songwriter/guitarist with an emphasis on guitar. "Plays guitar like a mother f***er" is the comment from Delbert McClinton. Check out the reviews by Billboard and Acoustic Guitar Magazine. If you have listened to "1st and Repair" and would like to review it please go to:http://www.amazon.com

• Elias Haslanger released "Kicks are for Kids" w/ special guest Elli Marsalis and is currently #4 on Gavin Jazz. Elias was recently compared to Coltrane by Billboard writer Steve Graybow: "Combining the lyricism and intensity of a young Coltrane with a sense of fun and adventure." Feature article in DownBeat Magazine; reviews in upcoming JazzTimes and Jazziz Magazine.

• The solo album by pianist Joe LoCascio called "Home" exemplifying his passion, beauty and unique stylistic approach to mainly standards. Look for a new Joe LoCasio Trio Close To So Far (featuring Tim Solook on drums and John Adams on bass) featuring new LoCascio originals on March 5th, 2002.

• Monte Montgomery released "Mirror"in July, 1999. There were 200 radio staions playing this record with incredible features by Guitar World Acoustic, Billboard Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine and Guitar One as well as incredible reviews by The New York Times and many more. Guitar One voted Monte as one of the best undiscovered guitarist in the U.S. For the fifth year in a row, Monte was voted best acoustic guitarist by the Austin Chronicle during SXSW for seven straight years. (1998-2004).
• "Austin, Texas, has once again unleashed a phenomenal guitar slinger on the world. This time, however, the trouble comes on acoustic guitar. His impassioned attack evokes every great player he has ever loved. He slaps the neck like Michael Hedges, taps Van Halen-esque false harmonics,soarsmelodicallly like Eric Johnson and strums with the brutal attack of SRV. Montgomery has pushed the acoustic-electric further into the realm of virtuoso rock guitar than anybody before him." - Jude Gold, Guitar Player Magazine

• Erich Avinger released "Poets, Misfits, Beggars and Shamans" in July, 2000. This guitar virtuoso tours with El Buho featuring Gary Gazaway (Phish) and Victor Wooten. This band is what Jerry Garcia probably would have envisioned as a real jam band. If you love guitar oriented creative music, this cd is a must. "Moments of easy octave leaps, scalar runs and singing legato abandon...builds to a hair-raising crecendo with Avinger unveiling his nastiest grunge tones...an
  inpressive instrumentalist. - Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes Magazine

• Carla Helmbrecht released "Be Cool, Be Kind" in February, 2001, following up her 1994 "One For My Baby" debut. Carla's pure vocal style will warm your heart, while Ernie Watts' beautiful tenor saxophone lines compliment Carla's originals and other less covered standards. As Steve Graybow of Billboard Magazine concludes: "Carla's voice is very captivating and Ernie Watts sounds great.""Be Cool, Be Kind reached #8 on the Gavin Jazz charts, with reviews in JazzTimes, JAZZIZ, Jazz Improv, R & R Magazine and many more.
• Reached #8 on Gavin Jazz radio, "Be Cool, Be Kind" debuted as most added jazz record on radio in the nation. "Be Cool, Be
  Kind" has been in the top 20 for six weeks. Look for reviews in JazzTimes, JAZZIZ, Billboard Magazine and R & R Magazine.
  
  "With her clarity, she's the lyric writer's best friend. Good thing:
  She writes excellent words herself that hold up well in
  competition with the Bergmans, Betty Comden, Yip Harbug and
  Ray Noble. Her writing is like her singing: cool and kind."
  
  Harvey Siders, JazzTimes Magazine
  
  "A thoroughly delightful album that features a voice of
  uncommon beauty. From the very first song, the self-penned title
  track, Ms. Helmbrecht had this heartless cynic wrapped up in
  her graceful charms. Her voice, possessing a slight sultry quality,
  exudes such an intimate warmth and embracing clarity that one
  is not so much enticed or seduced as simply welcomed into her
  songs." Jay Trachtenberg, Austin Chronicle
  
  "Her voice is very captivating and Ernie Watts is Great!"
  
  - Steve Graybow, Billboard Magazine
  
  "she exudes warmth in spades…An unusually gifted vocalist,
  impeccable phrasing…steeped in a swinging jazz sensiblity that
  reminds me of Mel Torme….Ernie Watts’ eloquent saxophone
  lines. Keep an eye and ear on Carla Helmbrecht; hers is a voice
  that we’re destined to hear in the future."
  
  Carol Archer, R & R Magazine

• Doug Hall Quartet "Jihi" (featuring Adam Kolker on saxophones, John Abert on bass and Bruce Hall on drums) stayed at #15 on the Yellow Dog Jazz charts and received great reviews from Downbeat, Jazz Times Magazine and Jazziz Magazine.
• "Austin-based pianist Doug Hall's "Jihi"simultaneously soothes the soul and excites the mind. The eight original
  compositions on "Jihi" follow fairly complex harmonic schemes. This is advanced material, modern right down to
  the dregs but never bitter in its loftiness. Showing utter restraint in execution, the quartet lifts the listener into this
  higher realm, which proves to be quite a joyful place. Hall solos with extreme chops on the uptempo numbers. He
  explores the harmony exhaustively and extrapolates the changes whenever it suits him. His use of dynamics is
  effectively subtle; he doesn't need to pound the keys to catch your ear. On the ballad "Under The Rainbow," Hall
  drifts cloud-like from one reflection to the next, applying tastefully muted colors to eache scene of his Oz-derived
  dream. Hall-sympathizer Adam Kolker obviously shares his bandleader's vision on "Jihi," named after a Japanese
  word for compassion. Kolker plays tenor sax, soprano sax and bass clarinet with strength and control; he provides
  the perfect voice for Hall's postmodern melodies and solos with refreshing fluidness." - Ed Enright, Downbeat
  Magazine
  
  "Hall shines as a pianist/composer who has quite a bit to say. Hall makes every note count and seems intent
  on illuminating the compositional frameworks and melodic underpinnings! Simply stated, Hall offers the best of
  both worlds thanks to his shrewd compositional pen and penchant for injecting off-kilter yet largely memorable hooks
  into his works. Fervently recommended." - Glenn Astarita Allaboutjazz.com
  
  "In reality, Texas has produced many fine jazz artists, with North Texas State University -- where Hall studied --
  laying claim to one of the top jazz programs in the nation. Jihi can be taken as a good indication that Doug Hall
  may well be that state's next, if by no means its lone, star in the jazz world." Drew Wheeler CDNOW Senior Editor, Jazz
• You can listen to real audio samples now!

• Joe LoCasio Trio "Close To So Far" (featuring Tim Solook on drums and John Adams on bass on LoCascio originals) reached #14 on Yellow Dog Jazz charts and now is featured in June, 2002's DownBeat Magazine and June's JazzTimes Magazine.
• "His technical facility, harmonic sophistication and fluid melodic
  lines" Paul McArthur, DownBeat Magazine
  
  "A great deal of inventiveness..a very fine set indeed...highly
  recommended" Lawrence Brazier, Jazznow
  
  Check out the Yellow Dog review : "Close To So Far" also
  reminds us quite a lot of Keith Jarrett/ Gary Peacock/ Jack
  DeJohnette in the sense that the arrangements are interwoven
  and collaborative. LoCascio unravels some rather otherworldly
  progressions that drape the composition with an extra layer of
  mystery and intrigue". Keith Zimmerman , Yellow Dog Jazz
  
  "Close To So Far"is very satisfying, by an artist who merits
  being included among the best of his contemporary piano
  playing peers. Recommended. - Dave Nathan, allmusicguide.com
• You can listen to real audio samples now!
• Libby Kirkpatrick :
• Winner of several songwriting awards such as the 1999 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubador award for vocals and
  songwriting and the 2003 Lady Six String Songwriting contest, Heart music released Libby Kirkpatrick's Goodnight Venus in October of 2003.
• "Libby Kirkpatrick is a stunning singer/ songwriter....Goodnight Venus is a superb effort. Kirkpatrick has a distinctive voice with range and power. There's not a bad track among the 13 here." Mick Skidmore, Relix Magazine
• 
  " Libby's soothing, melt-chocolate singing voice, her jangly, flowing guitar riffs and her captivating songs.....simultaneously channel the spirits of Joni Mitchell and Andy Summers and you'll probably get the vibe here." Jude Gold, Guitar Player Magazine
• 
  " A fluid, dark, utterly beautiful record. Kirkpatrick’s breathtaking, agile voice and fearless delivery take this already solid set of songs and lift them into the stratosphere. Conjuring heartbreaking voices from Rickie Lee Jones to PJ Harvey and Cat Power, she keens, howls, croons and chirps her way through smart contemporary pop, brooding folk and luscious, pulsating laments. The sonic textures of Goodnight Venus are as deep and luxurious as the content of her lyrics. Standouts “Circus,” “To a Child,” and “Vaulted Heart” illustrate Kirkpatrick’s ease with lyrical complexity and mind-bending melody and harmony. Patty Griffin, watch your back." - Clay Steakley, Performing Songwriter
  
   " This Austin-based songstress possesses a clear voice that weaves itself unexpectedly through a melody, and a firm command of acoustic guitar...she easily shares the lineage of Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, or Ani DiFranco."
  — Carrie Havranek, The Village Voice
• 
  "Libby Kirkpatrick’s horoscope must have been that she was going to release a great folk album this year.   The Goodnight Venus CD is comprised of 13 original songs penned by Libby.  Her unique vocal performance is artfully done.  This album is full of surprises and a captivating listen.****(four stars)" - John McLaughlin, Roots Music Report
  
  • For further information, please contact:
  • Heart Music, Inc.
    P.O. Box 160326
    Austin, TX 78716-0326
    Phone: 512/795-2375
    Fax: 512/795-9573
  • To order CD's, please send $15.00/CD( check or money order) to: Heart Music, P.O.Box 160326, Austin, Texas 78716

    or by credit card, please go to: Secure credit card orders

  • Distributors include City Hall, RockBottom, Baker and Taylor or your favorite one-stop.
  • info@heartmusic.com
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