Vernon's Black Diamond Lounge

Zoltan Orkestar

FRIDAY, April 19th at 7:30pm

Zoltan Orkestar has been filling Albuquerque dance floors for more then four years, with their brand of high energy circus swing, and a quick dash of country twang you’ll be on the dancefloor before you know what hit you. Comprised of Top notch musical talent the group is composed of Glynda Szekely on Vocals, who comes all the way from Michigan to share her legendary voice, she is affectionately known as “the hummingbird of the gods”. Zoltan Szekely plays fiery guitar. Zoltan has an impressive musical resume, including a stint in The New York Musical “Chutzpah” as well as touring Romania with Al Dimeola’s Drummer Csaba Cserey. On Accordion is John Keith, who often appears on Stages across the nation with Greats like Eric Mcfadden as well as the Polkettes. Upright bass is handled by Michael Grimes a regular in Albuquerque Jazz clubs, he has played with many greats including Bernadette Seacrest. Together they are an unstoppable well oiled and witty machine known as Zoltan Orkestar. www.reverbnation.com/zoltanorkestar

Sweet and Lowdown

THURSDAY, April 18th at 6pm

Guitarist John Sandlin has been playing music for over twenty years. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance in 2003 from the University of New Mexico. During that time, he studied with the great Michael Chapdelaine, former student of Andres Segovia. In addition to classical guitar, John studied jazz guitar with Michael Anthony, 25-year Los Angeles studio veteran and local jazz hero.

John has played with many local groups over the past decade. The Melizmatix, a lounge-funk trio, the dub reggae group Sub Agencia, and in a brief trucker country stint, John played guitar in the enormously popular Breaker 19. Currently John can be seen performing with his filthy, mangy, jazz band, Le Chat Lunatique, and his “other band,” a two-toned ska outfit known as The Blue Hornets.

Elizabeth Dwyer Sandlin has been acting, singing and writing since the age of eleven. She has performed in Minneapolis, Seattle, Los Angeles, and her present home of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Throughout her childhood, Elizabeth sang in her church and school choirs, and performed in various musical theater roles. As a jazz vocalist, Elizabeth has studied with Beth Winter at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington, and Amber Quintana in Los Angeles, California.

Brought together by a fateful road trip through the Southwest, Elizabeth and John marry vocals and guitar to form the jazz duo Sweet & Lowdown. Pairing classic jazz standards with the occasional Abba song and a sprinkling of vintage country, this sultry, swingin’ twosome always fits the bill.

 The DCN Trio

SATURDAY, April 13th at 7:30pm

An exciting and versatile trio, DCN’s repertoire has earned a reputation for the vast variety of songs they perform.  With refined talent, they adapt with ease to a wide range of genres including Jazz Standards, Bossas, R&B, Funk, and Soul Classics.   Their unique and innovative arrangements add an astonishing level of sophistication. www.thedcnproject.com 

Sina Soul

FRIDAY, April 12th at 7:30pm

SINA Aurelia SOUL is the product of an international marriage between a Native Pacific Islander & a North African Latino. While her mother was a traditional healer, served as a nurse in the US Army and her father was an Naval immunohematolist and chemist, Soul womanifests a synthesized shamanic sound that synthesizes harmonic healing with a soothing of the senses. Soul’s proliferation as an international underground icon stems from work as a multi-lingual lyrical activist & multi-instrumental vocalist to Hip Hop Culture educator & lecturing socioethnomusicoloist. In layman’s terms, Soul sings in 8 different languages, is a trained classical pianist, a fierce percussionist and a true JazzMaster of the voice. Described by Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly as “the southwest will not contain the cosmic jazz stylings of sexy, sultry, funky international vocal artist Sina Soul for much longer- she is destined for worldwide fame… her sound and interpretations falling between powerhouses Rochelle Ferrel and Ella with a hint of Tina Turner and a splash of Sade.” Soul’s repertoire encompasses selections by Sade Adu, Norah Jones, Dianna Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Cassandra Wilson, Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Dianna Reeves, Abbey Lincoln, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Randy Crawford, and Nancy Wilson in addition to works by international jazz artists in French, Spanish, Portugese and Italian.

Soul weaves a masterful web of original and cover tunes spotted with lyrical compositions from all 7 continents.  Soul is a Zulu Queen, ordained by Afrika Bambaata, curandera & griot, named Wumei or ‘beautiful warrior’ by Mokotaidejekan.  She has performed with Rock Steady, Cassandra Wilson, K.R.S.O.N.E., the Roots, Cody Chestnut, Celia Cruz, Ozomatli, DeadPrez, Bahamadia, Ziggy Marley, B.B.King & Zap Mama! as well as toured with Erykah Badu & George Clinton (P-Funk) on the Smoking Grooves Tour (‘96).  She attended BROWN University and is a SLAM Poet, author, mc, martial artist and healer in addition to being hailed as the premiere Jazz & Soul vocalist of the Southwest. Soul performs with iconic bassist Rodney Bowe and his RB Jazz trio. Her sounds will soothe and entice you; her scintillating, powerful voice will entrance you and have you coming back for more. www.reverbnation.com/sinasoulqueen 

Melange

THURSDAY, April 11th at 7:30pm

Melange is a duo made up of Monique Candelaria and Matthew Harrell.

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s rising star, Monique Candelaria, is a native New Mexican showing her amazing talents all over the world and hypnotizing her audience with her abundance of strength and beauty. Since Graduating from the University of New Mexico in 2009 she has shown her ability to manipulate her self-image and make a name for herself by being cast in 4 full-featured films in the last two years. Her repertoire includes a 1940’s period film called “Bless me, Ultima” directed by Carl Franklin, “Ten Year” staring Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson and Justin Long, as well as a horror film called “The Banshee Chapter” being ranked 4th on the character cast list as the mentally corrupt antagonist due to chemical experimentation. Her most recent accomplishment is being cast in the award winning television series Breaking Bad for the #501 episode titled “Live Free or Die.” On her time off she has been modeling for Siren Audio Studios for the audio book covers “Sid Guy Private Eye” and “Sin Temer La Noche” which is Albuquerque’s first audio cinema providing a full cast list of local actors to narrate each book. She has also reached as far as the UK with her beauty by gracing the cover, “Seven Point Eight” written by Marie Harbon from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England. Besides her talent to act and model she has shown her amazing vocal range by singing a variety of music with only vocals and a guitar in the duo “Mélange.” One thing is clear; this is only the beginning of a prosperous journey that will captivate the world around her.

Matthew Harrell was born with a love of music.  His mother would tell him stories of how he as an infant, lying in front of the stereo, would try to match pitch with the music. He started on saxophone in the 5th grade and played through college at LSU.  There he earned his B.A. in Music Education.  He first picked up a guitar towards the end of high school when he became tired of waiting to play a solo while everyone else was jamming.  His older brother taught him a few chords and he never looked back.  Guitar took center stage and after playing in several bands in Baton Rouge, La. he moved to Los Angeles to chase his rock and roll dreams. After three years in L.A., he returned to Baton Rouge to rejoin his old band.  They played together until he and his girlfriend moved to Albuquerque to follow her job opportunity.  They got married in 2005 and started a family.  After almost a decade of not playing on stage, Matt is excited to start gigging again. https://www.facebook.com/Melange.duo

 Shane Wallin Duo

SATURDAY, April 6th at 7:30pm

Shane is a name soon to be synonymous with the forward motion of music. Already stirring a buzz in the recording industry the singer songwriter from Albuquerque, NM yielded songs from the very first moment he cradled a guitar in his arms. Since, he has produced two albums, and was recently voted “Best New Singer/Songwriter of 2011” by Albuquerque the Magazine. Influenced by 60‘s soul, pop, folk and rock music, Shane’s songs are tender and soulful and with his

organic yet fluid voice Shane draws you into a most comfortable place and keeps you there like a gentleman host.

Citing his parents as planting the musical seed at an early age, most every morning music from his parent’s record player greeted Shane’s young ears with the sounds of Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, The Drifters, The Eagles and Patsy Cline. With an ear for soul and a mind for philosophy and Eastern religion (he graduated with a degree in Religious Studies and English Literature from the University of New Mexico), Shane’s music is moving and introspective while being inviting and most enduring, all. While Shane’s first album, When the Light Comes In (2008), consists entirely of raw, acoustic songs, his sophomore offering filled out his sound with a full band in This Year Has Changed Me (2010) . Garnering critical acclaim and quite a buzz in the southwest and beyond, the latter has received praise by numerous

media, including The Albuquerque Journal, The Mountain View Telegraph, KRWG and PBS in El Paso, TX, and the Albuquerque Examiner.

Shane is currently in the finishing stages of his as yet unnamed third album project where it is rumored he has teamed with a Grammy Award winning producer/engineer. While information about the recordings is being tightly guarded, the album is also said to feature the talents of some of Rock and Rolls greatest players including Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane fame on bass! Sounds’ exciting! Time will tell. 

shanewallinmusic.com

Chava & Paid My Dues Rhythm & Blues

FRIDAY, April 5th at 7:30pm

Chava & Paid My Dues Rhythms & Blues have been performing in New Mexico for the past three years. The group consists of accomplished artists:

Dave Clausen - Guitar & Vocals

Alyson Steinman - Bass Guitar, Vocals

Nicholas Baker - Drums, Percussion, Vocals

Chava - Lead Vocals & Percussion.

Chava has an amazing voice and her voice has a unique presence. She can belt out clear, unembellished tones as well as the guttural Jazz/Blues voice most associated with New Orleans and New York City. Chava is an experience!

With the exceptional musicianship of David Clausen, Alyson Steinman  and Nicholas Baker blending  tasty vocal harmonies to much of their repertoire. Paid My Dues Rhythms and Blues is unforgettable. From the Tap Roots of the early Blues Era to the present day, Paid My Dues Rhythms and Blues will take you on a musical, historical journey of what is a great American art form to be proud of………

Lori Michaels

THURSDAY, April 4th at 6pm

Lori Michaels brings years of professional experience and has performed through out Europe and the southwest region of the United States.  Her background leans towards traditional style Jazz from the 40’s era bringing a fresh sound with warm phrasing.  She has a soft laid back style with scat accents and her inspiration derives from Streisand, Jane Monheit and Ella with a splash of Sinatra and Etta James.  

http://www.facebook.com/lorimichaelsjazz

http://lorimichaelsmusic.webstarts.com  

 Le Chat Lunatique

SATURDAY, March 30th at 7:30pm

 As unpredictable, fearless, and entertaining as their namesake, Le Chat Lunatique purveys an addictive genre they call “filthy, mangy jazz,” a signature sound that makes you want to smoke and drink too much-if only you could get off the dance floor. Le jazz hot of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli is their north star, but they use that beacon to navigate through a wide range of genres, blending Western swing, classical, reggae, doowop, and “anything else we damn well please” into strikingly original compositions and audaciously reworked standards alike. www.lechatlunatique.com    

Melange

FRIDAY, March 29th at 7:30pm

Melange is a duo made up of Monique Candelaria and Matthew Harrell.

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s rising star, Monique Candelaria, is a native New Mexican showing her amazing talents all over the world and hypnotizing her audience with her abundance of strength and beauty. Since Graduating from the University of New Mexico in 2009 she has shown her ability to manipulate her self-image and make a name for herself by being cast in 4 full-featured films in the last two years. Her repertoire includes a 1940’s period film called “Bless me, Ultima” directed by Carl Franklin, “Ten Year” staring Channing Tatum, Rosario Dawson and Justin Long, as well as a horror film called “The Banshee Chapter” being ranked 4th on the character cast list as the mentally corrupt antagonist due to chemical experimentation. Her most recent accomplishment is being cast in the award winning television series Breaking Bad for the #501 episode titled “Live Free or Die.” On her time off she has been modeling for Siren Audio Studios for the audio book covers “Sid Guy Private Eye” and “Sin Temer La Noche” which is Albuquerque’s first audio cinema providing a full cast list of local actors to narrate each book. She has also reached as far as the UK with her beauty by gracing the cover, “Seven Point Eight” written by Marie Harbon from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England. Besides her talent to act and model she has shown her amazing vocal range by singing a variety of music with only vocals and a guitar in the duo “Mélange.” One thing is clear; this is only the beginning of a prosperous journey that will captivate the world around her.

Matthew Harrell was born with a love of music.  His mother would tell him stories of how he as an infant, lying in front of the stereo, would try to match pitch with the music. He started on saxophone in the 5th grade and played through college at LSU.  There he earned his B.A. in Music Education.  He first picked up a guitar towards the end of high school when he became tired of waiting to play a solo while everyone else was jamming.  His older brother taught him a few chords and he never looked back.  Guitar took center stage and after playing in several bands in Baton Rouge, La. he moved to Los Angeles to chase his rock and roll dreams. After three years in L.A., he returned to Baton Rouge to rejoin his old band.  They played together until he and his girlfriend moved to Albuquerque to follow her job opportunity.  They got married in 2005 and started a family.  After almost a decade of not playing on stage, Matt is excited to start gigging again.