Michael Thompson Band's first, and so far only live show in Europe, happened on a magic night on Saturday, April 28, 2018, when in front of an awed crowed, Michael Thompson, together with Larry King on vocals, Larry Antonino and Guy Allison (Unruly Child) on bass and keyboards respectively, and Sergio Gonzalez on drums, performed a set which created a special kind of AOR magic at the Live Music Club in Milan, IT.

Cherrypicking the best songs from their now legendary debut album 'How Long' and offering some previews from the then upcoming album 'Love and Beyond', MTB offered a magnificent hour long set which delighted all the fans in attendance.

After a first EP « Another One » in 2009 and a first album « Sweet Bitter Love » in 2012 noticed by the Westcoast/AOR Music fans, MANDOO, alias Pierre Vanier de Saint Aunay and Esther Ben Daoud, matures for this third opus « Pacific Addiction » by surrounding themselves with a talented franco-american team.

In this new album, most of the songs have been written in collaboration with Eric Tagg, famous artist and American songwriter (« Is it You? » with Lee Ritenour), who gives through this project a new orientation to his career by devoting himself to writing with his wife Linda in the tradition famous couples of songwriters.

The Legendary “Rock Band With Horns” Gets Into The Spirit Of The Holiday Season With An Album That Mixes Original Christmas Songs And Yuletide Favorites.

Produced by founding member Lee Loughnane, CHICAGO CHRISTMAS is the 37th album of the band’s career and its fourth holiday collection. Whereas its previous releases focused more on traditional Christmas songs, the new record spotlights holiday music the band wrote especially for the album, including “All Over The World,” “(Because) It’s Christmastime,” and “I’m Your Santa Claus.” The album also features R&B and ballad versions of “Merry Christmas, I Love You,” a song that Loughnane wrote with John Durrill of The Ventures, the best-selling instrumental band of all time.

Along with the new songs, the album also features the band’s interpretations of two holiday standards: “Here We Come A Caroling” and “Sleigh Ride.” It’s the second time Chicago has recorded “Sleigh Ride.” A different version appears on Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Thee (2011). The album’s other non-original track is a soulful Chicago interpretation of the Hal David and Burt Bacharach classic, “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” which founding member Robert Lamm thought had a timely message for the holidays.

Chicago Christmas features original compositions by many of the band members, along with unmistakable horn arrangements by founding member James Pankow. The album was recorded and mixed by Tim Jessup.

State Cows new album "Challenges" is now available!!!

STATE COWS is one of very few modern yacht rock / westcoast / AOR bands that creates new original music. The band consists of Daniel Andersson on vocals and guitars and Stefan Olofsson on keyboards and bass.

Many guest musicians have contributed to their recordings and live gigs, most notably Jay Graydon (two-time Grammy winner, twelve-time Grammy nominee, STEELY DAN, EARTH, WIND & FIRE), Bill Champlin (CHICAGO), Jason Scheff (CHICAGO), Michael Landau (MICHAEL JACKSON, PINK FLOYD) and Ian Bairnson (KATE BUSH, ALAN PARSONS PROJECT).

Ali Thomson is a Grammy and Emmy nominated, multi award winning songwriter and music producer. Over the last 30 years his songs have been recorded by artists from all over the world achieving many international hits (Roch Voisine, Laura Pausini, Girls Aloud, Mark Owen, Brian Kennedy and many more). He was born in Glasgow, Scotland and moved to London shortly before his 17th birthday. A few years of jobs, bands and recording sessions followed before landing a publishing contract as a songwriter. His recording career started with A&M Records and his debut album featured the hit song “Take a Little Rhythm” which achieved Top 10 success in the USA, Canada, Japan and various other countries. A follow up album “Deception is an Art” was released to critical acclaim but Ali decided to curtail his brief time as a recording artist to pursue his ambitions as a songwriter.

“I don’t think I was prepared psychologically or emotionally for the world of the pop star and I found the music business frustrating to navigate at such a young age”. However, in 2018 Ali decided to go back into the studio and record his 3rd album, “Songs from the Playroom”. Ali explains, “I love working with new artists and collaborating with other writers and producers but I’ve always had a desire to record my own music again. The music business has changed so much since I made records in the 80’s and it has opened up for artists to release music without the restrictions and pressures of working with big record companies. I really did this music for myself but hope that my experience and creative instincts have helped to make something that others might enjoy”.

“Songs from the Playroom” is a collection of 9 songs that are musical sophisticated but still melodically engaging. Ali recorded most of the album in his own studio with the occasional guest musician. Guitar legend Robbie McIntosh (John Mayer, Norah Jones, Paul McCartney, The Pretenders) features on several tracks along with the brilliant Robin Mullarkey (Jacob Collier, Laura Mvula, Jesse Ware) on bass guitar.

The opening song “Aqua Blue” is a collaboration with long time song writing friend Peter-John Vettese (Annie Lennox, Julian Lennon, Sia) and “Song for a Broken Heart” features a sax solo from Supertramp’s John Anthony-Helliwell. Ali grew up with his older brother as a member of Supertramp during their most creative and successful period. “Growing up in and around such a hugely successful band was definitely an influence on my understanding of making music. John agreeing to play on this song is particularly pleasing”.


Sixteen-time GRAMMYr award-winning songwriter and one of the most successful producers in history, musical icon David Foster performs songs from his unparalleled catalog along with friends such as Katharine McPhee, Pia Toscano, Loren Allred and more. Revisit hits like "The Power of Love", "The Prayer," songs from The Bodyguard and so many more.

The new album by Huey Lewis & the News, Weather, will arrive on Feb. 14.

Weather is their first release of original material since 2001's Plan B, and features the new single "While We're Young," the first single, "Her Love Is Killin' Me," a cover of Eugene Church's "Pretty Girls Everywhere" and "One of the Boys," which Lewis wrote for Willie Nelson.

The band recorded Weather at their Troutfarm Studio in Marin County, Calif., and brought in Bob Clearmountain, who helped out on some of their biggest hits, to mix the record. "We were in no hurry with these songs," Lewis explained back in September. "The more we road-tested them, the tighter they got, and I think we ended up with some of our best work."

Sessions for the album were cut short when Lewis was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, a condition that affects the inner ear and caused him to indefinitely cancel his touring calendar. Back in February, he disclosed that it causes sound to be distorted -- "like listening to everything through a blown speaker" -- though he occasionally has days where it disappears. Even though the disease, for which there is no treatment, makes it impossible to find pitch, Lewis said he still sings every day to keep his voice in shape and, as he noted in a press release for Weather, is remaining optimistic.

"You've got to look on the bright side and stay creative," Lewis said. "Even if I never sing again, things could always be worse. After all, I'm deaf, not dead."

The creativity has extended to a musical built around the band's catalog of music called The Heart of Rock & Roll, for which Lewis wrote a new song. The show premiered in San Diego in September 2018; Lewis hopes to stage it in other locations in the future.

ultimateclassicrock.com

The new album by Kenny Pore doesn't need a review... Kenny offers us again great music with JIMMY HASLIP, RUSSELL FERRANTE, JOHN PATITUCCI, VINNIE COLAIUTA, PAT COIL, PAUL JACKSON JR., MICHAEL THOMPSON, RUSLAN SIROTA, MARK DOUTHIT, ALAN PASQUA, BOB REYNOLDS, BOB SHEPPARD, PETER ERSKINE, ALEX ACUNA, LUIS CONTE, JIMMY JOHNSON, WILL KENNEDY, SCOTT WILLIAMSON, DOMINIC AMATO, BRANDON FIELDS, GREGORIE MARET, LEON GAER, BRAD DUTZ, AND CHAD WACKERMAN.