Bernhoft & Miro Cuvee Sasha

Jarle Bernhoft (born on June 27, 1976), also known as Bernhoft, is a Norwegian looper. I stumbled upon him when I did the blog on loopers and he is a true find. He originally hails from Nittedal, Norway, but makes his home in Oslo. As a child, he performed with the Norwegian Opera where he began developing his vocal skills. In the mid-90s, he joined a four-piece alternative rock band, Explicit Lyrics that later changed its name to Span. Span landed a deal with London’s Island records and released a single album before breaking up on 2005. After the band’s breakup, Bernhoft decided to go solo and revamp his act taking stripped down one-man-band based on his abilities as a multi-instrumentalist and his new-found skill at looping tracks in real time on stage.

Largely on the strength of his looping-enhanced live show, Bernhoft racked up 250,000 sales of Solidarity Breaks,  his most recent solo-release and earned more than three million views for “C’Mon Talk” (a link is below), a beatbox-infused, acoustic-guitar-laced single that Bernhoft performed during his September 2011 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. With his irresistibly of-the-moment approach to classic R&B and soul, Bernhoft also nabbed the Best Artist and Best Male Artist of the Year awards at the 2012 Spellemannprisen, which are the equivalent to the GRAMMYs in Norway. 

Wielding his loop station to weave in layers of harmony—and showing off his formidable beatboxing skills along with his remarkable vocal range—Bernhoft ends up creating a live experience that’s both breathtakingly intricate and intensely warm in its simplicity. He’s a gem!

C’mon talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxoiZZ8UBEY

Fly away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQd4go1ESvM

Sunday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCxn7EgQvt8

Shout: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMYe6rtq3lc

Control: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mONfJhY3oPk

So many faces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OtVgj0PCyA

Ever since I was a little kid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvkJF8m8QNM

Streetlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLaoACFn3co

A space in my heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWwVQvg4FcY

On time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJfnvna4kwI&list=PL8E5F916FB790F8B5

A bad place to reside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baJPk-Nx8OA&list=PL8E5F916FB790F8B5

The moon is a harsh mistress: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giTGaCEfkag

Down the road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au7t1h0NCxc

Choices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWwUsPvIJao

Like Bernhoft, tonight’s wine is also a true find, especially since it’s name is shared with the chief protagonist in my recent novel, “An Impolitic Solution.” Just as the Sasha of my novels is a killer, so is this wine. The 2011 Miro Cuvée Sasha is a dark ruby blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre and although it’s from California, it has all the characteristics of some of my fav’s from the southern Rhone of France. Its aromas are filled with strawberries, cranberries sauce, and Herbs de Provence just like a southern Rhone. The taste echoes the nose adding blueberries and a touch of peppery spice and finishes dry and smooth with silky tannins. At $18.00 a bottle, it’s also the bargain of the year. So grab a bottle and enjoy two of the best finds of the year.

Cheers!

Indigo Girls and Saint-Amant Grangeneuve

Although I was a professional bassist when I was younger, I took up the acoustic guitar because playing the bass by myself was boring. I used take my Martin D-35 and play regularly at a particular coffee house in college. So, although I’m a jazz/blues musician by training, I have always loved the folk scene.

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers make up what I consider to be one of the premier duos to ever hit the music scene—the Indigo Girls. The only other due that comes close to their melodies, harmonies, and lyrical beauty is Simon and Garfunkel. They first met at Laurel Ridge Elementary School near Decatur, Georgia. They didn’t become friends until high school because Emily was a year older than Amy. While attending Shamrock High School, they recognized their musical love and started performing together, first as “The B-Band” then as “Saliers and Ray.”

After graduating, they went their separate ways, Saliers to Tulane University and Ray to Vanderbilt. Both became homesick and returned to Georgia where they attended Emory University and reunited as a musical duo. They needed a name and began going through the dictionary looking for words that struck them. Indigo was the winner and they began performing publically under the name Indigo Girls.

Around 1988, the duo seemed to fit into the category of “the next big thing,” following the success of artists like Tracy Chapman and Suzanne Vega. As a result, Epic Records signed them to their first major recording contract. Their first release, “Indigo Girls” contains one of my all time favorites, “Closer to Fine.” The album won a Grammy award for best folk recording.

While their guitar and vocal harmonies are captivating, don’t miss the poetry of their lyrics starting with “Closer to Fine.” Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Closer to fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgwM1Ky228

Galileo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI1keSSwdcI

Least complicated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOBZ_dkGpJ4

Power of two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj0yVN8pFNw

Blood and fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIDyGTD6EZw

Prince of darkness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY9-98tkfvg

Hammer and a nail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTI2GGNFR_U

Romeo & Juliet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEcMzxLxSgo

Chickenman/Bitter root: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-rxBU5p2cs

Tangled up in blue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PKoMxd3Idk

Share the moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGPAwHHHpQ

Bus bus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ZMkqdgzI8

Opened a bottle of one of my favorite wines recently, which is very appropriate since the Indigo girls are one of my favorite folk groups. The 2009 Saint-Amant Grangeneuve Beaumes-du-Venise is a Southern Rhone crafted from 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 5% Viognier. In the glass it’s dark purple with aromas of red raspberries and spice. Its tastes like a bowl full of raspberries and cherries with a bit of pepper due to the Syrah. At $17.00, it also a bargain. Get your local wine shop to order a case and enjoy it with the music of the Indigo Girls.

Cheers!