Brad Clements joins Eric Benét at DAR Constitution Hall
The crowd loves the music and Brad Clements is glad to be a part of the performance by Eric Benet and Band.
Show is July 25, 2012:
Four-time Grammy-nominated singer, Eric Benét is coming to DAR Constitution Hall on July 25 for a performance guaranteed to leave many an audience member speechless. Known for his perfect pitch, this smooth and soulful R&B master will sound even better than usual on Wednesday night because of one thing – his accompaniment! B&B’s own Brad Clements is the trumpeter in Eric’s band for the show, and he’s sure to make the instrumentals as unforgettable as Eric’s velvety vocals.
Brad Clements poses, trumpet in hand, ready for a great night with Eric Benet and Band.
…“He can blow!”
But this won’t be their first gig together. The two originally worked with one another on Tom Joyner’s Fantastic Voyage Cruise in 2011, and they’ve done a few shows together since. Brad, who’s worked with the likes of Chuck Brown, Prince, and Jill Scott, instantly respected Eric for being an original, consistent hard worker with a unique interpretation of song. And on top of all that, Brad added, “He can blow!”
Eric Benet passionate about music, sings along side Brad Clements on trumpet.
Get Your Tickets Before They’re Gone!
But don’t take Brad’s word for it. Come see for yourself. Eric’s performing as a special guest for Ledisi’s Be Good To Yourself Tour. But tickets are going fast. To get yours or for more info, please visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/Ledisi-tickets/artist/1104783
Brad Clements plays his heart out, flanked by Greg Boyer and Brent Birkhead.
“Ledisi … a force certain to bring the house down…”
And by the way, Brad has experience playing with Ledisi too! She’s actually one of his favorite performers to work with, a force certain to bring the house down. You can check her out here.
Beacon Theater before the show, Ledisi with special guests Eric Benet & Band with Brad Clements.
Brad Clements enjoying some down time with Greg Boyer and Brent Birkhead.
Check out Greg Boyer’s performance below!
Four-time Grammy-nominated singer, Eric Benét performs along side trumpeter and B&B Music Lessons co-founder, Brad Clements.
B&B Student Recital: July 8, 2012 (Group C)
The attendees, parents and friends of our students, of July 8, 2012′s recital.
*scroll down to view videos
B&B’s 2012 Summer Recital, Group C
This Sunday, our students took to the stage for B&B’s 2012 summer recital at the Strathmore Mansion. All of the performers had a blast entertaining the crowd with their own renditions of some incredible jazz, pop, and classical numbers. Plus, they got solid experience playing in front of people – and that’s what music’s all about!
“They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere.”
Well, I guess it’s not all about the performing because music’s also about having fun. From weekly lessons, to personal practice time, to listening to MP3s, students should enjoy the process of learning music. And we treat our recitals the same way. They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere. After all, performing in front of people is stressful enough on its own!
“…we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through.”
Music aside, one of my favorite parts about our recitals is that they’re such social functions. I finally get to meet our parents face-to-face. And the students get to hang out with one another and see what their peers are up to. Our busy parents like that we break our recitals into four mini-sets, instead of having one big show. So they can just come for their child’s set. (We love music, but we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through – especially if you have toddlers in tow.)
Enjoy a few videos of the event below…
If you made it out on Sunday, thanks so much for coming! I hope you had a fantastic time as we did. You can now enjoy a few videos of the event below. Enjoy!
Because music matters,
Bhagwan Khalsa
B&B Music Lessons Co-founder
*Be sure to click the word “playlist” in the bottom left hand corner of the video player below.
Student Recital: July 8, 2012 (Group B)
The attendees, parents and friends of our students, of July 8, 2012′s recital.
*scroll down to see the videos
B&B’s 2012 Summer Recital, Group B
This Sunday, our students took to the stage for B&B’s 2012 summer recital at the Strathmore Mansion. All of the performers had a blast entertaining the crowd with their own renditions of some incredible jazz, pop, and classical numbers. Plus, they got solid experience playing in front of people – and that’s what music’s all about!
“They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere.”
Well, I guess it’s not all about the performing because music’s also about having fun. From weekly lessons, to personal practice time, to listening to MP3s, students should enjoy the process of learning music. And we treat our recitals the same way. They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere. After all, performing in front of people is stressful enough on its own!
“…we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through.”
Music aside, one of my favorite parts about our recitals is that they’re such social functions. I finally get to meet our parents face-to-face. And the students get to hang out with one another and see what their peers are up to. Our busy parents like that we break our recitals into four mini-sets, instead of having one big show. So they can just come for their child’s set. (We love music, but we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through – especially if you have toddlers in tow.)
Enjoy a few videos of the event below…
If you were able to make it out on Sunday, thanks so much for coming! I hope you had as incredible a time as I did. But, even if you missed it, you can enjoy a few videos of the event below. Enjoy!
Because music matters,
Bhagwan Khalsa
B&B Music Lessons Co-founder
* Be sure to click on the word “playlist” in the lower, left hand corner of the video player below.
Student Recital: July 8, 2012 (Group A)
The attendees, parents and friends of our students, of July 8, 2012′s recital.
*scroll down to see videos
B&B’s 2012 Summer Recital, Group A
This Sunday, our students took to the stage for B&B’s 2012 summer recital at the Strathmore Mansion. All of the performers had a blast entertaining the crowd with their own renditions of some incredible jazz, pop, and classical numbers. Plus, they got solid experience playing in front of people – and that’s what music’s all about!
“They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere.”
Well, I guess it’s not all about the performing because music’s also about having fun. From weekly lessons, to personal practice time, to listening to MP3s, students should enjoy the process of learning music. And we treat our recitals the same way. They’re casual, low-pressure events in a fun, friendly atmosphere. After all, performing in front of people is stressful enough on its own!
“…we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through.”
Music aside, one of my favorite parts about our recitals is that they’re such social functions. I finally get to meet our parents face-to-face. And the students get to hang out with one another and see what their peers are up to. Our busy parents like that we break our recitals into four mini-sets, instead of having one big show. So they can just come for their child’s set. (We love music, but we know that a four-hour recital can be a lot to sit through – especially if you have toddlers in tow.)
Enjoy a few videos of the event below…
If you were able to make it out on Sunday, thanks so much for coming! I hope you had an incredible time, as I did. But even if you missed it, you can enjoy a few videos of the event below. Enjoy!
Because music matters,
Bhagwan Khalsa
B&B Music Lessons Co-founder
* Click on the word “playlist” in the lower, left hand corner of the video player below.
Qualities of Famous Musicians
Almost everyone knows the classical music of Beethoven. Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, And world renowned modern and contemporary artists like the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Lily Wayne, 50 Cent etc. to name only a few musicians who have gained worldwide fame, and whose music has already become “classics”.
Every country has produced its own musicians, who have achieved a level of professionalism that has propelled them to fame, either in their own country or as international stars. They, in their own unique and individual styles, have taken the music industry to new levels.
One quality that famous musicians have is a passion for both composing and performing music. To them, music is not just a career; it Is their life and passion. . but it more than just a “job” and a paycheck and “food on the table”: it’s their passion. And they want to be the best.
Famous musicians are the world’s “communicators”. Music is a universal language. It communicate emotions, and create feelings without the need for words — it’s all in the music. And people can enjoy a song even if the words are in a different language. The Sound of Music is a universal language.
There is nothing more exciting than seeing great musicians – individual performers or a band or orchestra — playing live on stage. Then, music becomes a performance, where the audience can participate: they can sing along, dance to the music or just listen in one great communal experience. A live performance connects and interacts with its audience that a mere “recording” cannot do.
Good musicians are well organized. They are disciplined and prepared when it comes time to perform. Music is a business as well as an art; despite what the tabloids say, tardiness, and irresponsibility is not part of a great musician and performer’s values or vocabulary. Performance and recording schedules are tight, and often erratic. They must always meet their deadline and their obligations. They must find the time, and have the discipline to rehearse whenever necessary to take their performance one step higher for each gig.
How did they achieve that pinnacle of fame and become musical legends?
It’s not just talent, but also discipline, hard work and exceptional communication skills. Their aim is to deliver a unique and very personal message to their fans. They must not just perform, but must interact with their audience, through the music, the performance, and their personality. A performer needs to have a unique sense of showmanship, but also must keep their egos in check. Great musicians perform at the highest level every time and always give an audience their money’s worth.
Great musicians do not live in a vacuum. Everyone can learn and be inspired by another’s work, and knowing what their fans want and need, and also what’s going on in the music world, keeps them at the top of their profession. But too much egotism and arrogance alienates audiences and fellow musicians as well. To stay on top, be “on top of your game”. Audience expect t get their moneys worth perfection. Famous musicians play well with others. You should perform and expect the highest quality, but you should also be able to adapt to suit the needs and abilities of your musicians.
In a live concert, preparation is essential. Know the acoustics qualities of the venue you are performing in. If you are playing outdoors in a park or stadium, or inside a concert hall, you need to tailor your performance and the acoustics of you instruments. You audience will not enjoy a performance where they cannot hear the music, or if the music is so loud it is painful to the ears. Make sure the volume on your instruments, especially a guitar or piano is at the required level that will support, but not drown out the vocals and other instruments. A balance between all elements of the performance including vocals is necessary. You can achieve this if you are well prepared. Good preparation will see you blend your sound in the best way. Ensure you have the right kind of instruments for the music to be played for a gig. Always remember–know your audience.
Herb Ellis
Herb Ellis was born near Dallas, Texas on August 4th, 1921. He studied the string bass at North Texas State University and he switched to the guitar after hearing Charlie Christian. His sound emulated Christian’s tone. Here is a quote from Herb… “The first time I heard Charlie Christian I thought he really wasn’t so much, because I felt I could play faster than that. Then after a few more times it really hit me, and I realized that speed wasn’t everything. I got quite emotional — put my guitar away and said I’d never play again. But the next day I got it out and started to tried to play like Charlie.”
He soon dropped out of college due to financial reasons and started traveling with a college band. He quickly became a highly sought after jazz guitarist who performed with musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Buddy Rich, Ella Fitzgerald, Ben Webster and Louis Armstrong.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are a rock band from England who have enjoyed success as one of the most popular rock groups ever. Led by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones were formed in London in 1962. Drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman were also in the early line up. The release of their album Sticky Fingers was the first of 8 albums that reached number one in the USA. They have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and were number four on the list of the greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Some of their more popular songs include Wild Horses, Brown Sugar, Angie, Beast of Burden and Shattered.
The group performed at the half time show of Super Bowl XL in Detroit.
Steve Herberman, DC Jazz Guitarist
Steve Herberman is a graduate of Berklee College Of Music later adopting the seven-string guitar in 1993. Steve Herberman has performed at venues such as Birdland in NYC, Spazio in Los Angeles, the NAMM shows in Anaheim and Nashville, and recently at the North Wales jazz guitar weekend in the U.K. as a featured guest artist. Closer to home he has performed at Blues Alley, the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe, and the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts. Steve has played with renowned musicians such as Keter Betts, Buster Williams, Gary Bartz, Drew Gress, Chuck Berghofer, Mark Ferber, Jim Snidero, Chuck Redd, Ali Ryerson, Steve Williams, Steve LaSpina, Jeff Hirshfield, John Pisano and many more.
Steve Herberman has recorded three CDs as a leader; Thoughtlines (2001) Action:Reaction (2006) and Ideals (2008.) His recordings have received wide critical acclaim in JazzTimes, Downbeat, Jazz Improv and many others. Steve’s recent CD, Ideals, reached the Top 10 on the JazzWeek chart for national airplay remaining on the chart for 16 weeks. Action:Reaction, a CD of Steve’s original music, was chosen as one of the top 50 CD’s of 2007 by Jazz Improv magazine.
Steve Herberman has taught at Towson University in Baltimore since 1999 as an adjunct faculty member. He has presented masterclasses in the U.K. and at many universities across the U.S. Steve has written instructional material for Downbeat magazine, Mel Bay’s Guitar Sessions, Just Jazz Guitar, the National Guitar Workshop newsletter and columns for Modern Guitars webzine.
The Beatles
Having sold more albums in the US than any other artist, the Beatles are one of the most influential and well known bands of all time. The Beatles formed in 1960, consisting of John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. All four members contributed to vocal harmonies, while the primary song writers were Lennon and McCartney. By 1962, The Beatles had their first Top 20 hit with “Love Me Do”. This was just the beginning of an historic collaboration that led to “Beatlemania” and “The British Invasion”, during which the Beatles established themselves as International stars. Some well known hits of theirs are “Here Comes the Sun”, “Hey Jude”, “Yesterday”, “All My Loving”, “Let it Be” and “All You Need is Love”. Awards and accomplishments include 7 Grammy Awards, 24 multi-platinum albums, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and were collectively included in Time magazine’s compilation of the 20th century’s 100 most influential people.
SNAP!
SNAP! is a rock band from the DC area who has been garnering increasing popularity as they continue to develop their sound. From their first performance at a B&B recital, in which they stole the show with an amazing rendition of “Sweet Home Alabama“, SNAP! has continued to ‘wow’ local audiences. Their pristine vocal harmonies and crisp rhythms are a tribute to the fact that these girls have been a tightly knit unit for years.