2012 Uptown Art Expo

I will be appearing with Lindy Romez & Sol Y Mar at the beautifully unique Eddie Rose Amphitheatre in Altamonte.FL on Sat., Feb 18th at 10:15 AM for the 2012 Uptown Art Expo.



For the past 7 years the Expo was located in Downtown Orlando along Lake Eola Park. This year the expo is moving Uptown! Visible from I-4 in Central Florida, Beautiful Cranes Roost Park is at the heart of Uptown Altamonte surrounded by Cranes Roost Lake. The Expo’s new event location will offer our visitors an exciting, beautiful festival setting and exposure to Central Florida’s finest artist and musicians.

For more info, please visit Uptown Art Expo.

Music from De Soto

Hello folks!
As promised,here is the 1st in a series of improvised solo Native American Flute from the 2011 De Soto National Memorial Luminary Walk recorded along the Tampa Bay in Bradenton,FL. on Dec 17th,2011.

Merci!!!

I would like to thank all of you who came out to the 3rd Annual De Soto National Memorial Luminary Walk last night in Bradenton,FL. The event was a succes as a gathering of visitors (2000+,approx) strolled the candle lit pathways of the park.There was food,historical re-enactors,and music.
I was able to record my entire performance and will be sifting through almost 3 hours of files. As soon as I get them cleaned up,I will post them here.
Thank you to Head Park Rangers Scott Pardue and all of his amazing rangers for all their hard work and efforts. A special thank you to Jorge and Ben who were on top of things,making sure the audio and staging was just right.
In it's 3rd year,The De Soto Luminary Walk is getting better and better. Form 2009's event which featured 1 musician (myself) to this year's roster which included a guitar quartet,a solo violinist,and a small string orchestra,it is evident that Scott and his team are passionate about community outreach and educating visitors with Florida's rich history.
Please plan a visit to this wonderful state park.De Soto National Memorial
features events throughout the year featuring historical walks,music performances,re-enactments,kayak tours,and a vast array of activities for both young and old.

Another Solo Flute Show

It's that time of year again..the 3rd Annual De Soto National Memorial Luminary Walk will soon be here.
I will be performing on solo Native American Flute for the event along with other solo musicians throughout the park's many nature walks.

More info fro the De Soto site:

Winter Luminary Walk

Dates: 12/17/2011
Times: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: De Soto National Memorial

Summary: Winter luminary walk featuring music,history,and luminary trail walk.

Fees: Free

Details:
For the holidays, park visitors are treated to an outdoor winter event featuring music and a historical luminary walk along park trails.


Contact: De Soto National Memorial

Email: daniel_stephens@nps.gov

Phone: 941-792-0458

SSA Music Awards

Merci to all of you who voted in the SSA 2011 Music Awards.

The Top 10 Finalists in a variety of categories have been announced.Juan is one of the finalists for Musician Of The Year. Come on out tonight for the 11th Annual Deland Original Music Festival as winners are announced at 8PM!

Sat,Nov 5th.2011

"It's Alive!" Project

Get ready for the 2nd Annual Dias De Los Muertos And Monster Factory Exhibition!

This year local and national artists where invited to interpet their own vision of Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster. 80 busts were handed out and each artist was given free reign to bring to life their own interpretation of one of horror films most iconic characters. The busts will be on display at the City Arts Factory in downtown Orlando and sales of the busts will benefit the St Jude
Children's Research Hospital.



The exhibit will be opening on Thursday, October 20, 2011 and showing until Saturday, November 11, 2011

Admission to the public is Free..

The simultaneous exhibitions will feature the artwork & murals of both local and international artists in the theme of Dia de los muertos and Monsters (Halloween).

Opening night will include:

- "'Till Death do us part” : a Dia de los Muertos Wedding of Abdias Ernesto Garcia & Carolina Suarez-Garcia
- Sugar Skull procession on Pine St
- LIVE Music provided by Tacatantan! Records
- The “It’s Alive Project”: Frankenstein's Monster busts by renowned artists from around the World (Sponsored by Reynold's Advanced Materials)
- Salvador Live's Dynamic Paint show
- Master of Ceremonies: Mandaddy from Gargamel
- Donation Beverage bar provided by City Beverages
- Sugar Skull & Monster Face Painting throughout.



I was fortunate enough to participate in this year's event submitting,as luck would have it,a Dia De Los Muertos themed bust for the "Its Alive!" Project.
Come on out and enjoy the festivities,buy a bust and help support a worthy cause..it will make ya feel great and you will get a cool,one of a kind bust for your home! With 80 artisits participating you will be sure to find a bust to your liking.

Ñeco's Official Music Video for "Otro Dia Mas" released

It's here! The Official Music Video for Renaldo Ñeco Peña's "Otro Dia Mas" from his latest release "7 Años".
I had a blast both recording for the album and being a part of the video.It was a long day of just doing the band shots..but I know that Ñeco and the fine crew at Advanced Audio put in even more hours of filming and post production work.
And it shows...
Congrats Ñeco!

7 Años: Parte 1 by Renaldo Ñeco Peña is live!

I am honored to have been a part of Ñeco's latest offering, "7 Años:Parte 1" released today! I was happy and elated to have contributed bass on 3 tunes.
Thanks Ñeco and congratulations!

7 Años on i-Tunes

7 Años at CD Baby

BLaH at the Orlando Science Center

Here's some footage from the Birdsal/Leõn/Hayes show at the Orlando Science Center's Darden Theatre.

"The Chapman Stick®:Guitar or...what?"

Come on out to the Orlando Science Center on Saturday Aug 6th and catch Jeremy Birdsall and myself as we present and informative and entertaining presetantion on the Chapman Stick®.Reed Hayes will be joining us on drums as well as BLaH takes the stage at the Darden Theatre.

Reserve your seats,tickets are on sale now at Museum Tickets

Want more information? Visit the Orlando Science Center website for times,tickets,and more.

Chapman Stick Stuff

I am currently working on putting together a presentation for the Chapman Stick to be held at the Orlando Science Center with fellow Stickist and BLaH bandmate Jeremy Birdsall during their "Guitar:The Instrument That Rocked The World!" exhibit. Emmett Chapman himself and his wonderful team at Stick Enterprises will be providing us with promotional material for the event. I will have dates and times up as soon as we work out the details.

New Music

Back in Jan/Feb of 2011 I went into the Advanced Audio Recording Studios with Jose Nazario at the helm to record with a young man by the name of Ramon Goveo Reyes. Ramon is a singer/songwriter/musician with a penchant for great pop rock.His sound is new and fresh...reminiscent of Coldplay,Phil Wickham,Jeremy Camp,and others. He is about to release his EP on which I play bass.Follow the link below for a short promo on Ramon's Facebook page.

Ramon Goveo Reyes EP Promo

Happy 4th of July!!!!

How cool is it when you have friends and fans of your music who wish to show their gratitude in such magnificent ways? Today a long time fan,supporter,and friend of Jupiter Groove gifted me a Fender Jazz Bass!
Seriously! Who does that? I was awe struck at my friend's generosity and support! What a blessing it is to have such great friends and fans.I really appreciate the gesture so much.
Thanx Shaver..you are truly one of a kind and Jupiter Groove's No. 1 Fan!!!!!!!!!

Birdsall/Leõn/Hayes Improv I is up!

Here's the first of two improvisations performed at the Shut Up & Play Festival this past Sat June 25th..hope you enjoy it!

Jeremy Birdsall: Stick,keys
Reed Hayes: Drums,percussion
Juan R Leõn: Octave bass

What a weekend!!!!!

The Shut Up & Play Festival has come and gone and with it great friends were made,amazing music was heard,and an incredible time was had by those who attended and participated. Jeremy and Lynn Birdsall did a bang up job putting the roster together while stage manager Jim Furlong kept things running smoothly.Sound-man and lighting tech Herb Palmer kept thing lively on Stage Two while JUpiter Groove guitarist Dan RodZ ran sound and lights for Stage One as well as play over on Stage Two.We had some great interns show up to help out with everything as well.
Over on Stage Three we had more of a laid back feel with a jazz and blues vibe happening where folks tended to go to relax and chill.It was cabaret seating and the vibe was chillin'.
I got to jam with Dominic Gaudious for his set.He invited drummer Ralph Grey and percussionist Johnny "5" Sepulveda and myself on stage for a raucous Arabian inspired jam! It was intense and the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
Lyndy Romez & Sol Y Mar hit the stage at 3:30 and performed her trumpet based smooth Nu-Jazz to an early festival crowd.We really got to flex our musical muscles as Lindy gave each one of us a chance to shine.
Jupiter Groove hit the stage at about 5:30 pm.We ripped through 5 tunes from our debut CD. Definitely the heaviest group of the day! Ralph Grey from Sol Y Mar sat in with us.Marty will be back behind the skins real soon folks,don't worry! Dan RodZ ripped up the fret board once again bringing down the metal,fusion,and blues rain on his Parker Fly...
So...the big event for me (aside from catching Regi Wooten and Dave Larue Trio) was performing with my old band mate Reed Hayes and Jeremy Birdsall. Birdsall/Leõn/Hayes is an idea that Jeremy and I have had for many years now.An experimental improvisational group using Chapman Stick,keys,bass,guitar,percussion,whatever! When we 1st decided to debut the project at this years event,we thought about adding a drummer.Enter Reed Hayes..the perfect fit for such an ambitious outing.We were blown away at the music and mood that we produced! The crowd got into the 2-15 minute pieces.The 1st consisted of Jeremy on Stick and keys,Reed on his downsized but bigger than ever sounding set,and me on octave bass (my Ibanez BTB tuned DADG using the octave strings from an 8 string bass set).We created a moody piece with ambient undertones that weaved in and out of serenity and chaos. For the second piece I switched to Stick. We laid down a mean groove and let Reed propel the music along as he switched tempos and time signatures..whew!!! It was a ride for both band and audience! A union long over due but totally worth the wait.
Keep your eyes on this site folks,I will be posting audio files of Jupiter Groove and Birdsall/Leõn/Hayes soon!

Shut Up & Play 2011 Band Lineup and Schedule.

Here's this years amazing lineup,their performance times,and where they will be playing...
Click on the image to in-large it.
I will be performing with Lindy Romez & Sol Y Mar,Jupiter Groove,and Birdsall/Leõn/Hayes. It's gonna be an amazing event!!!

Even More Jupiter Groove News

OK folks! It is OFFICIAL!
Jupiter Groove will have copies of their debut CD at this year's Shut Up & Play Fest on June 25th.
And also available at the fest will be a compilation CD of live tracks from last year's event!
See ya on Saturday June 25th!

Jupiter Groove News

Jupiter Groove is set to release their debut CD simply titled "Jupiter Groove". The album offers studio tracks,alternate takes,live tracks,and a few surprises!
We headed to Gibsonton,FL. last year to record at Jeff Knauff's Parsonage Studios. Jeff did a fantastic job of mixing and producing our material..offering helpful insights and his own brand of humor. We are extremely excited!
The CD will debut in mid to late June,2011.
Our main site is down for maintenance and a revamping..but you can still find us on Facebook!

Virginia Splendore 1965-2011

An amazing musician in Virginia Splendore passed away earlier this month.
Virna was a Stickist of immense talent and artistry.Her music graced more than one episode of my Strada-Sphere Radio Podcast and her multi-instrumental collaborations with fellow Stickist Irene Orleansky were remarkable.Virna's wonderful spirit and soulful talent will be missed.

Shut Up & Play 2 tix on sale now!

Get your tickets now online for this year's Shut Up & Play Fest by visiting Ticket River.
For more info.band lineup,and everything else that will make ya say "Shut up!",visit the Official Shut Up & Play Facebook Page