A Train is pleased to announce Downton Abbey with music composed by Raspe Music’s John Lunn won four Emmy Awards

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Outstanding Miniseries or Movie: “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

Outstanding Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Brian Percival, “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

John Lunn is a prolific and respected UK composer whose work has been heard previously in “Little Dorrit”, “Bleak House”, “The Little House” and will be featured in the upcoming “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”

– Outstanding Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Julian Fellowes, “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

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A Train Mourns the Passing of Tom Borton, Friend and Client and Some Extra Text

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Tom’s first television scoring experience, a documentary on the Smithsonian, nominated for an Emmy, opened doors for composing for television and commercials. This soon lead to his establishing Los Angeles Post Music, which provides music for visual media including commercials, television and film.

Tom has produced multiple CD’s for Steve Allee and performed with him twice at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. He has composed, arranged and produced over 150 CD’s while continuing to perform with LA’s finest musicians. His forthcoming solo jazz project “Simply One” was slated for a fall 2011 release with Steve Allee on piano, James Genus on acoustic bass and Will Kennedy on drums.

Tom began playing saxophone in his native Indiana at age 7 and never looked back. While studying classical saxophone in his school years, he also launched several successful bands in high school and college. His high school R&B/ Funk band consisted of Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Daryl Simmons and drummer Rayford Griffin. At that time he also performed at Indianapolis Clowes Hall with the Indiana Symphony Orchestra and was featured on a live radio broadcast on the soprano sax. His next youthful adventure was a fusion band with guitarist David Grissom and Kenny Aronoff, who went on to become Rolling Stone Magazine’s drummer of the year multiple times. All the while Tom studied extensively with some of the leading teachers of the day including David Baker, Phil Sobel and Bob Sheppard.

Moving to LA in 1981, Tom became part of the session player scene and found his talent as a composer. Soon after, Tom landed his first recording deal as a solo artist and his debut album shot to number one on radio airplay all across the nation. Extensive performances at national jazz festivals and clubs soon followed.

http://tomborton.com/

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World Music Charts Europe, August 2011, Preview

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A Train and Six Degrees artist Vieux Farka Toure’s The Secret is number 1 on the World Music charts Europe. Including appearances by Dave Matthews, John Scofield, Derek Trucks and Ali Farka Toure, The Secret is a masterpiece.

Traveling down Linden Blvd towards JFK Airport, Vieux Farka Touré had a realization. Having just left The Bunker recording studio in Brooklyn, he was discussing the sessions with his manager, Eric Herman. A newly constructed song, played in part by his father-the great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré-came on over the car stereo, and Vieux said, “This is what we call ‘the secret of the blues.” The two friends laughed, though it quickly dawned on him that his off-the-cuff remark was a perfect summation of his third album. The Secret (Six Degrees Records) was born.

“To make this album I had to dig deep into the secrets of my own history and my country’s culture in order to move the music forward,” Vieux said, back in his native Mali. Indeed the song, which is pulled from the last session Ali cut before heading to a French hospital (he would die of bone cancer shortly thereafter), will be instantly recognizable to fans of the elder’s classic albums, such as Niafunke and Talking Timbuktu. The Secret is the young Farka Touré’s attempt at blending generations, making it difficult to surmise where Vieux begins and Ali ends. Including a beautiful flute section by Cheick Diallo, Ganda Tounkara on n’goni and Vieux on guitar, there is no doubt that he succeeded.

We also are pleased that A Train publishing partners Asphalt Tango continue their winning ways with Balkan Brass Battle (this month # 4).

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Peter Rowan Records for Bill Monroe Film

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Six time Grammy nominated Peter Rowan was recently in Nashville recording music for the forthcoming Bill Monroe film, Blue Moon of Kentucky. Peter played guitar and sings on various songs that are under consideration for both the film and a soundtrack recording.

Blue Moon of Kentucky, starring Peter Saragaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal, is directed by Finn Taylor with a script that is being worked on by Callie Khouri and music assembled and produced by T Bone Burnett. Other outstanding musicians involved include Stuart Duncan, Ronnie McCoury, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien and much more.

Posted in Artist Management, News, Peter Rowan, Publishing |

The Voice of Clannad

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Lead vocalist and composer of many of Clannad’s timeless songs, Moya Brennan signs with A Train for worldwide publishing administration.

In her music making, Moya has never been content to nestle within comfortable boundaries. From an early age she trod the boards with her father Leo in the dance halls, then became fixated with the likes of Joni Mitchell and the Beach Boys before going on to share, with her band Clannad, an enlightening discovery of the extraordinary wealth of Celtic history and melody on her doorstep. Clannad sent tremors through the world of traditional music. With “Harry’s Game” they took the Irish language and its melodies to places that it had never been before. Top of the Pops, major record contracts and world tours. The accolades followed -Ivor Novello and BAFTA awards plus, after several nominations, a Grammy award in 1999.

Along with her consistent touring worldwide, Moya has recently been collaborating with Triona Ni Dhomhnaill (ex Nightnoise and a long time A Train family member), her sister Miaghread Ni Dhomhnaill and Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh in a new ensemble, T With The Maggies, a delightful blend of old and new sounds from Ireland. Look for a release on Compass Records and tour dates to follow.

Click for Moya Brennan’s EPK

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Congratulations to A Train’s Grammy Winners!

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Category 8 Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

“Imagine” Herbie Hancock w/ Konono (Crammed Disc artist)

Category 26 Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

“Hang On In There” John Legend & The Roots (Songwriter Mike James Kirkland)

A Train congratulates these artist for their well-deserved recognition and would like to thank them for all their hard work and dedication.

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Airto Inducted into Drum! Magazine’s Hall Of Fame

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Airto gets put on his rightful pedestal as Drum! magazine introduces its own Hall Of Fame.

Check out the issue here: http://www.drummagazine.com/issues/post/february-2011/?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d54c60b9bb840a9,0

Posted in Artist Management, Flora & Airto, News |

Too Good Records Aligns With A Train

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Too Good Records
A partnership between noted guitarist, composer and skateboard wizard Tommy Guerrero and A-Train’s owner, Al Evers, Too Good Records is launched to release Tommy Guerrero recordings as well as those of other artists. The first release on Too Good Records is From The Soil To The Soul, previously released on Quannum Records but now with the bonus track, “Better Days”; release date for this is February 1 . Other releases are planned from Too Good Records for later in 2011.

Continue reading →

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A-Train Artists top the 2010 World Music Charts Europe

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A-Train is pleased to announce that A-Train affiliated artists and labels held 5 of the top 30 recordings in 2010’s World Music Charts Europe, including number #1.

With the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars’s “Rise and Shine” at number one, other A-Train clients were Six Degrees’ “Vagarosa” by Ceu, Cumbancha’s “Lero Lero” by Luisa Maita, “Opa Hey!” by Kottarashky on Asphalt Tango and Konono No 1’s “Assume Crash Position” from Crammed Disc.

Congratulations to all!

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Billboard.com Best of 2010

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Congratulation to the the following A-Train Entertainment artists for earning a top 10 spot on Billboard’s best of 2010!

Smooth Jazz Songs Artists:

#3 Chris Standring

#4 Rick Braun

#8 Spencer Day

Smooth Jazz Songs:

#1 “Bossa Blue” – Chris Standring   Blue Bolero

#6 “Christiane” – Rick Braun  All It Takes

#10 “Retro Boy” – Richard Elliot  Rock Steady

Dance Airplay:

#2 “Radio” – Get Far feat. H- Boogie

http://www.billboard.com/#/

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