Ben Howard & Trousse-Chemise Pinot Noir

Ben Howard was born in West London in 1987. His family moved to Totnes, Devon when he was eight. His parents, musicians themselves, surrounded him with music as he grew up and exposed him to singer-songwriters of the 1960s and 1970s like Joni Mitchel and Simon and Garfunkel. Two of his biggest musical influences were John Martyn and Nick Drake.

Ben began writing his own songs when he was around ten, using the guitar as his composing vehicle. He attended Torquay Boys’ Grammar School and King Edward VI Community College then went on to study journalism at the University of Falmouth. But six months shy of getting his degree, he decided to make music his full-time career focusing on the folk-style genre made popular by Nick Drake. His guitar style is a blend of fingerpicking, standard tapping, and lap-tapping. His lyrics are full of imagery, some of which is rather dark. He released two EPs before signing with Island Records. His debut CD, Every Kingdom, went gold in the U.K. and is gradually gaining traction in the U.S. due to a recent tour.

In 2013, he won BRIT awards for Best British Breakthrough Act and Best British Solo Male Artist. His voice and guitar have a haunting quality to it that I hope you like. Enjoy!

The Fear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnxCxHLAqn8

Depth over Distance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phktiVZqUbQ

Old Pine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzzCthKw_C0

Soldiers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWhm-H7M8Us

Live Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58xfJLrRr4U

Eurosonic Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW2kUiQh9Kk

I’m pairing Ben with the 2012 Trousse-Chemise Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Oregon, and particularly the Willamette Valley region, produces some of my favorite Pinot Noirs. This one is bright cherry red with a nose of red raspberries and cherries. The palate follows the nose with rich fruit and a fresh vibrant finish. It’s a nice wine to enjoy with a good book while listening to the music of Ben Howard.

Cheers!

Boyce Avenue No. 2 & Willakenzie Pinot Noir

I reviewed Boyce Avenue last October, but I like their music so much, it calls for an encore. The group’s review is the same as before, but the songs are all new. I know you’re going to like them.

Boyce Avenue is a Puerto Rican-American acoustic rock group consisting of the brothers Alejandro, Daniel, and Fabian Manzano. They’re named after a combination of two streets they lived on as kids. 

They formed in 2004 after Daniel (bass and percussion) moved back to Florida after graduating from Harvard law School. Alejandro (lead vocals and guitar) and Fabian (guitar and vocals) were attending the University of Florida, but dropped out to form the group. Since 2007, they’ve been posting videos of both original and covers of popular songs, many of which have received over 10,000,000 views and have been released as digital EPs by their own independent record label, 3 Peace Records. They have over 700,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel (including me).

They’re firm risk-takers and believing in the strength of their online presence, they booked a solo show in New York in January 2009. It was their first ever performance in the city and surprised label and industry experts who thought it was a huge gamble, because the show was a sellout. Later in the year, the group performed for an estimated 25,000 fans in the Philippines and followed with a successful whirlwind tour of the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

They are, in my opinion, one of the finest acoustic rock groups to hit the scene. Alejandro’s guitar and vocals are amazing and the percussion accompaniment by Daniel and the augmenting guitar of Fabian plus several outstanding guest guitarists, vocalists, and pianist, makes them one of my favorites. Hope you like them as much as I do.

Radioactive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jskyqPEIiG4

Titanium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA_CNajQpJY

Here without you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxWEvV9zYj4

Just the way you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhFSgnvKqm4

What makes you beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmZArPW3wzc

Broken angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fB4gAt5Jrw

Use somebody:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRssA4UoKo

Need you now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjb8OZm3Pjs

With arms wide open: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkVX3ZEElXY

Mirrors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvEZUbzqqyM

Roar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqoHPzqUkZo

When I was your man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8tEcMjV_zE

Jar of hearts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTlUu0a9oWc

Skyscraper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3r-rXUABI

Mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asKaiRpW0Z4

Half of my heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpTu85fsqCU

Fast Car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4zCOHFrLVY

Airplanes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d9YmSSg7Pw

We found love/Dynamite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpxGBLAuy74

Superman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw3tYiAFVfg

Drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfAh3uDXWEo

Breakeven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4rvGGFt7LU

I was out in San Francisco last week and had a 2010 WillaKenzie Estate, Estate Cuvee Pinot Noir ($23.00). It’s ruby red in the glass with a fragrance of strawberry, cherry, and herbs. The wine is light with a palate of juicy cherries, rhubarb, strawberries, and a hint of caramel. The tannins are mild and the wine hangs onto your tongue with remembrances of more strawberry and cherry. Very nice Pinot that perfectly compliments Boyce Avenue.

Cheers!

Calum Graham & Nautilus Pinot Noir

Been gone for several months due to a classic case of writer’s fatigue. In the past eighteen months I’ve published six new thriller novels containing a total of 468,000 words and since they’re now available as ebooks, I’m starting to get some traction. But just because I’ve been gone doesn’t mean I haven’t been discovering some great new guitarists.

I first became aware of Calum Graham while sifting through video performances of the 2010 Canadian Guitar Festival competition. I believe he was 18 at the time and became the first teenager to ever win. What’s even more amazing to me is that he’d only been playing for five years when he won.  Since then he’s continued to increase his guitar chops exponentially.

Maybe it’s because the winters are so cold, and there’s nothing else to do but stay inside and play the guitar, but Canada seems to be a spawning ground for incredible guitarists and Calum is one of them. He was born in British Columbia in the small town of High River. He grew up in a family that surrounded him with various forms of music that he says had a strong influence on his style. His picking technique and sense of melody are self-taught and not the result of any classical training. One thing is certain. Few people on the planet can play the guitar like him.

Waiting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFJXgBMlZM

12:34: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB4GRmgUpR8

Phoenix Rising: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqn-7ZkYUYM

It is what it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcrflRwGRyI

The Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iP5OGXGqmw

Indivisible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D4RwrMyjGQ

3-Way Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4aQZeNP57w

1^st Place Canadian Guitar festival: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MadlZwIeD5k

Carol of the Bells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbblsGRKLOU

Stonebridge visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MNbuwoy3bs

Song for Canada: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4owmSM_46gI

Hey Ya, with Don Ross: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HGmgPGyGm4

Since I’m climbing back in the saddle, I thought I’d pair Calum with one of my favorite wines, a Nautilus Pinot Noir (the 2011 is $22.00 at CostCo). The first thing you notice as you pour it is the bright ruby red color. The second is the nose of cherries, raspberries, and baking spices.  The taste is full of tart, succulent cherry with accents of red raspberry and vanilla. Great wine and a great guitarist.

Cheers!

Wes Montgomery & Cooper Mountain Pinot Noir

John Leslie “Wes” Montgomery was born on March 6, 1923 in Indianapolis IN. He’s one of my favorite jazz guitarists and was a superb improviser. Wes learned to play the guitar by studying Charlie Christian and playing his music by ear. Like several other jazz greats, he never played with a pick but used his thumb instead. You hear a lot of his influence in the styles of countless guitarists today, especially when they use his technique of playing octaves while soloing.

From 1948 to 1950 he toured with the outstanding vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, but returned to Naptown (Indianapolis for those of you not familiar with its nickname) where he joined up with his brother Monk (bass) and Buddy (vibes) and began recording for the Pacific Jazz label. He began to move away from straight jazz and crossed over to a more pop/jazz style where he became immensely popular. In 1966 he won a Grammy Award for “Best Instrumental Jazz Performance. He won his second Grammy Award in 1969 in the same category. Unfortunately, he wasn’t around to receive it, because at the height of his career on June 15, 1968, he died of a heart attack.

Montgomery was a jazz and guitar giant who left a legacy of style that is copied by practically every virtuoso guitarist today.

Round Midnight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOm17yw__6U

Impressions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQi48T4YWh4

Bumpin on Sunset: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqn3PF_DcSg

Windy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBGZgyl72_g

A day in the life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ooeMXnPuIg

West coast blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0sipEKhIhc

Round Midnight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pbp2FhdKyg

Twisted Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVVhJkeCF04

California dreaming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMm1X2sBJVk

All the things you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyVjDHaBPAc

The days of wine & roses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JadIhIihTFw

The Joker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXpOjTbVif4

Live in concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLWlqBH9nrU

The elegance of Wes Montgomery’s playing calls for an equally elegant wine, so I suggest a 2010 Cooper Mountain Reserve Pinot Noir ($23.00 from Shaw’s off Copley Place in Boston). My wife and I enjoyed a bottle as we relaxed in our hotel room after hearing my son’s successful defense of his doctoral thesis at Harvard Med. Now there are two Dr. Olives in the family. The Cooper Mountain Pinot has subtle aromas of bright cherries and black tea. Likewise the palate is full of tart cherry joined by nuances of black raspberry, nice acidity and light tannins. It’s quite dry and refreshing and perfect for the occasion because the weather in Boston was unseasonably warm. It’s perfect for listening to the music of a musical giant like Wes.

Cheers!

Davy Knowles & Castle Rock Pinot Noir

Davy Knowles (born 1987) is one of my favorite young blues guitarist and singers with a voice that sound like he’s a lot older than his is. His band, Back Door slam was  a great blues/rock band, but now he works as a solo artist. With Back Door Slam, he played lead guitar and sang on their debut album, Roll Away. Knowles drew his musical influences from blues musicians that he grew up listening to such as Mark Knopfler, Peter Green, and Eric Clapton. In April 2009, Knowles toured with Jeff Beck on his American tour as the opening act. He also toured with Joe Satriani in a modified G3 tour with Sonny Landreth and later with Chickenfoot in the United States through December 2009. He’s only twenty-nine, but in my opinion he’s one of the best up-and-coming young blues guitarists on the scene today. Hope you enjoy his music.

It’s what you’re made of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDQzQfKhm-c

Comin up for air: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv2N6fBR1Ks

Acoustic Lift up every stone & Riverbed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7jXP_BClUk

Come home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urGWq-e5qZI

Riverbed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtgJ-yLXrIU

Outside woman blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTb-Chljqvs

In a little while: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xw1CGgUvIE

Roll away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwiszfRd9X4

Hear me Lord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3RJJ9JxGrw

Tear down the walls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOhLwuee6no

Gotta leave: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZekYkYUE9c

Heavy on my mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggzsbdSvCH4

Tonight, I’m pairing Davy with a 2009 Castle Rock Pinot Noir ($10.00).  Castle Rock Winery makes high quality wines at affordable prices and they have become one of the fastest growing wineries in the industry. You can always find this wine for 10 dollars or less and I have even seen it on sale for closer to seven. The Castle Rock Mendocino Pinot Noir gets its grapes from Northern California, a prime growing region for the finicky Pinot Noir where the climate matches that of the Burgundy region of France. The wine is delicate yet complex with a silky long-lasting taste of black cherries, strawberry, and raspberry. It starts out with a perfumed floral aroma of roses complimented by brambly fruit and cherries. The entrance is full of bright cherries and strawberries lingering through the mid palate to dry, silky tannins and a dark fruit finish. It’s a perfect wine to compliment Knowles rockin blues and the first days of fall. Enjoy!

Cheers!