ZANE KUCHERA RECORDS PRESENTS SINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE VOLUME I An eclectic mix of 22 songs in the genres of Folk, Pop, Jazz, Cabaret, and R&B from various recording artists August 6, 2008, Waltham, MA – Zane Kuchera Records announces the release of a new CD featuring songs and performances by: Amy Syd (Westford, MA) Doug Allen (Provincetown, MA) Elena J (West Bridgewater, MA) Jenee Halstead (Somerville, MA) Jon Gilbert Leavitt (Brooklyn, NY) Martha Rogers (Billerica, MA) Rachel Katz (Newton, MA) Wayne Fritsche (Jamaica Plain, MA) Zane Kuchera (Waltham, MA) Zola (Newton, MA & Cape Town, South Africa) ARTIST BIO Amy Syd (Westford, MA) Amy Syd Babcock is a singer-songwriter with a background in musical theater. Growing up in the suburbs of New York, Amy studied flute, piano, voice and drama, including a stint in high school at the Juilliard School. She received a BA from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a major in theater arts and a minor in music. Amy started writing songs at 16. Now a homemaker and mother of two, she has discovered her niche – songwriting allows the freedom of self-expression combined with the talents of her heart: poetry, music and performance. She plays acoustic guitar, keyboard and flute. Amy Syd has independently released two CDs - Inner Landscape, Amy’s debut CD, was released in December 1999. It is a collection of 12 original songs reflecting the artist’s own inner journey in discovering herself. Her second CD, An Armful of Flowers, was released in 2006. The music is heartwarming, with positive, uplifting messages. Elena J (West Bridgewater, MA) Singer/Songwriter Elena J is originally from Seattle WA, but made the journey to Boston MA, to attend Berklee College of music. She is now in the progress of writing her first album with co-writer/producer/arranger Zane Kuchera. Jenee Halstead (Somerville, MA) A recent transplant to Boston, Jenee Halstead arrives with an alto voice that floats hypnotically between the spectrums of frailty and strength—part Emmylou Harris, part June Carter, part Patty Griffin. With "The River Grace", Halstead presents a collection of highly personal songs, effortlessly suited to her voice, bringing together bluegrass, folk and electronic rhythms to create a sound rooted in the past yet beckoning the progression of Americana. Joined by Steve Moore (Laura Veirs, Mount Analog), Mike Grigoni (Anais Mitchell), Zak Borden (Willy Mason), and Matthew Weiner (Asylum Street Spankers), "The River Grace" boasts a cast of stellar musicians that breathes life into tunes like "Before I Go" and "Darkest Day", creating a sonic palette as lush, lyrical and evocative as the stories Halstead tells. As Boston musical luminary Billy Beard (Session Americana, The Dennis Brennan Band) puts it, "The road to salvation is a treacherous one, and the traffic is worse than the Southeast Expressway at rush hour. Alternate routes won't help at all—the indie rock bypass is strewn with broken careers, the Nashville Trace is washed out and the NY Thruway is backed up from Brooklyn to Woodstock. So if you're gonna take that trip, you'd better be brave, you'd better be honest and you'd better be good. Thank goodness that Boston newcomer Jenee Halstead has all three of those elements going for her". Jon Gilbert Leavitt (Brooklyn, NY) Jon Gilbert Leavitt is a songwriter, keyboardist, piano performer, producer and arranger who has played, recorded and performed both independently and currently under JGLsongs LLC. Jon has arranged and performed music featured on film, including My Dinner With Abbie (1991) featured at the Berlin and L.A. Film Festivals, and aired on PBS television; promotional videos German High (2004), Guys and Goals (2005) and For Butter or Wurst (2006) and Eurokids (2007), produced by the Munich-based Goethe-Institut. His 2000 single "Pride" received worldwide airplay and recognition; "Proud and Free," recorded by Deian McBryde, was featured during the 25th anniversary of the rainbow flag in 2004. Jon received numerous American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) ASCAPlu$™ awards; 'Outstanding Songwriter' and nominations for 'Outmusician Of The Year' in the 2001 and 'Out Song' (for "Proud and Free") in the 2004 Outmusic (OMA) Awards. Most recently, he produced the music for the 50th Steuben Parade, held in September 2007 in New York and featured on New York and German television, and is currently producing artists and composing for films, documentaries, events as well as upcoming projects with visual art installations and a dramatic stage production. JGLsongs LLC is online at www.jglsongs.com Martha Rogers (Billerica, MA) In her daily life with music she considers herself primarily a teacher, and performs only occasionally. In her teaching she uses a combination of movement, song, improvisation, instrumental work, and integrated disciplines--all with the goal of artistic and authentic expression. Teaching children and training music educators inspires and fills her. Settings have included public schools in the Boston area, Boston Conservatory, U. Mass. Lowell, U.New Hampshire, and Lesley College. Awards include New England Water Environment Association Public Educator for 2003, Lexington Education Foundation summer fellowship for improvisational studies; Fannie Mae Teacher of the Year. She is currently involved in fellowships for improvisation and Jazz studies. Rachel Katz (Newton, MA) Rachel is a very gifted young singer/songwriter and pianist. A recent Bates College graduate, this talented rising star is a name, face, and voice to watch and listen for in the music scene. Zane Kuchera Studios is proud to have recorded, engineered, co-produced, and mastered her latest album "Girl In The Picture Frame" - original songs in the contemporary pop genre. Wayne Fritsche (Jamaica Plain, MA) Wayne is reinventing himself from a white-collar marketing professional with a passion for acting to a professional actor with no interest in marketing (other than Brand Wayne). He is deeply grateful to his beautiful husband and his amazing son for their love, encouragement, and patience. Wayne wrote the lyrics to "Yours" as a gift for his husband on their wedding anniversary. Zane Kuchera (Waltham, MA) Zane Kuchera is a Boston-based singer, songwriter, and record producer. After starting as a church organist at age 11 and as a sound engineering assistant in a 24-track recording studio at age 17, Zane has been composing and recording songs all his life. His broad musical style encompasses contemporary popular music, folk, jazz, R&B, and musical theater. He is a member of ASCAP, BACA, NOMTI, BSW, and an alumnus of Berklee College of Music. He has written for musical theater, taught voice and piano, and has many years of experience as a software developer and multimedia web designer. Zane’s first CD of original music, “Patterns”, released in 2005, is available on CDBaby.com and iTunes. With music spanning two decades of creativity and production, this collection of music and lyric documents Zane’s emotional life journey from adolescence into adulthood. Zane is currently working on a new CD of original jazz / folk / soft rock songs. Zane recently released his first soundtrack CD, "Shakespeare's As You Like It - A New Musical Soundtrack". This work was inspired by and used for a production by the Gazebo Players of Medfield, Massachusetts in July of 2006. This collection of music is unique in that it is a complete soundtrack for the Shakespeare play, with 15 tracks of lush orchestral contemporary arrangements, 5 of which are sung by Zane. This CD is ready for stage production and includes scene change underscores and instrumental reprises. Full piano and vocal sheet music for the performance is also available from www.zanekuchera.com. Zola (Newton, MA & Cape Town, South Africa) ZOLA is a South African born recording artist and Billboard award winning songwriter. She has released a number of original critically acclaimed CD’s. Her latest CD, “HERE WITH YOU”, released at Scullers Jazz Club, features some of Boston’s finest musicians. Visit www.zola.us. Quotes: “Zola's original jazz/pop/cabaret songs and performances are a warm hug, a sensuous cuddle under a warm blanket ­ a sense of 30s and 40s déjà vu from an ancient soul in a contemporary time ­ a soulfully intimate, expressive voice that wraps around her timeless melodies and contemporary love lyrics like a blue mist.” - John Braheny, - Music Biz Magazine . “…dreamy vocals…that quiver with emotion... Her songs have a startling immediacy” - Beverley Creasey (IRNE) QUOTES “[Zola]...good hooks and such pretty melodies…”-Ralph Murphy, Hit Songwriter, Assistant VP ASCAP “Jenee Halstead has that rare ability to write songs that sound fresh and new, as well as familiar and timeless.”-Matt Smith, Manager of Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts "[Zola]..a world-class artist."-Showbiz Time Magazine, 2007 "[Amy]...reclaims the true meaning of contemporary. Her simple piano tunes evoke thoughts of life and love and leave you feeling just plain good inside... like a breath of fresh air."-Jake Nuckolls, cdreviews.com "[Jon]...He has more sky-punching anthems than are found in the halls of the United Nations."-Nick Dedina, Listen.com. "[Zane]...music is unique, beautiful, powerful, personal and moving. When a singer can open up his soul and share his feelings with people he's never met -- that's an artist.-David Logan-Morrow (playwright) "[Zane]...He delivers the song directly to your heart from his with a beautiful balance of raw emotion infused with passion and musical technique.”-Zola (Recording Artist/Songwriter/TulipSongs International) "Zane Kuchera sings with conviction - allowing the words to come through him and have meaning for him and the audience. His lovely tenor voice is a pleasure to hear."-Leslie Holmes, Host, Amazing Things Arts Center “In every song, Zane wears his heart on his sleeve, and it's a gorgeous heart. Zane's strong tenor rings out with understated candor”-Lindsay Cobb, Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange SONG PLAYLIST 1) A Dancer's Grace 4:02 words and music by Martha Rogers performance by Martha Rogers ©2004 Martha Rogers (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 2) A Friendly Love 3:40 words and music by Zane Kuchera performance by Zane Kuchera ©2005 Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 3) All I Can Think Of Is You 3:11 words and music by Amy Syd piano by Amy Syd vocals by Amy Syd & Zane Kuchera ©2001 Sunshine Girl Music (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 4) An Armful of Flowers 3:18 words and music by Amy Syd performance by Amy Syd ©2005 Sunshine Girl Music (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 5) Before I Go 3:03 words and music by Jenee Halstead performance by Jenee Halstead ©2007 Jenee Halstead (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 6) Believe 4:45 words and music by Jon Gilbert Leavitt performance by Zane Kuchera ©1999 JGLsongs LLC (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 7) Don't Need To Be Right 2:50 words and music by Elena J & Zane Kuchera vocals by Elena J arrangement and instruments by Zane Kuchera ©2007 Elena Joyner & Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 8) Learning To Let Go 3:57 words and music by Amy Syd performance by Amy Syd ©2004 Sunshine Girl Music (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 9) Lost 2:44 words and music by Elena J & Zane Kuchera vocals by Elena J arrangement and instruments by Zane Kuchera ©2006 Elena Joyner & Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 10) More Than There Are Stars 4:05 words and music by Zane Kuchera performance by Zane Kuchera ©2004 Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 11) My Prayer 3:29 words and music by Zola piano by Zola vocals by Zane Kuchera ©2004 Zola Shuman (BMI) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 12) Not Too Much To Ask 3:52 words and music by Martha Rogers performance by Martha Rogers ©2004 Martha Rogers (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 13) Pinwheel of Time 3:36 words and music by Martha Rogers performance by Martha Rogers ©2004 Martha Rogers (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 14) Run 4:26 words and music by Rachel Katz performance by Rachel Katz ©2006 Rachel Katz (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 15) Sober 2:18 words and music by Elena J and Zane Kuchera vocals by Elena J arrangement and instruments by Zane Kuchera ©2006 Elena Joyner & Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 16) Social Lubrication 2:16 words and music by Zane Kuchera performance by Zane Kuchera ©2006 Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 17) The Way Things Never Were 2:02 words by Doug Allen music by Zane Kuchera vocals by Zola arrangement and instruments by Zane Kuchera ©2006 Doug Allen & Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 18) Too Beautiful 3:37 words and music by Rachel Katz performance by Rachel Katz ©2006 Rachel Katz (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 19) Tough Love 2:40 words and music by Elena J and Zane Kuchera vocals by Elena J arrangement and instruments by Zane Kuchera ©2007 Elena Joyner & Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 20) We Were OK 3:47 words and music by Rachel Katz performance by Rachel Katz ©2006 Rachel Katz (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 21) Yellow Balloon 3:30 words and music by Zola piano by Zola vocals by Zane Kuchera ©2001 Zola Shuman (BMI) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. 22) Yours 3:02 words by Wayne Fritsche music by Zane Kuchera vocals by Wayne Fritsche arrangement and instruments by Zane Kuchera ©2007 Wayne Fritsche & Zane Kuchera (ASCAP) . All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. © P 2008 Zane Kuchera Records (ASCAP), All Rights Reserved World Wide Recorded, Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered at Zane Kuchera Studios, Waltham, MA