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Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Michelle Branch was only 18 years old when she dominated the music charts during the summer of 2001 with her supercatchy, guitar-strumming anthem “Everywhere.” Subsequent hits from her albums, “The Spirit Room” and “Hotel Paper,” helped cement her popularity.
Branch’s impressive major label debut, “The Spirit Room,” ended up selling more than 2 million copies. A Rolling Stone review noted, “Merging a genuine song-writing talent and a strong conviction, the Arizona native draws inspiration from mid-90s artists like Alanis and Jewel to churn out songs that real people can identify with.”
“I’ve been singing since I could talk, and playing guitar since I was 14,” Branch told CNN. “I’ve wanted to do this my whole life.”
Her follow-up album, “Hotel Paper,” included the 2003 Grammy-nominated hit “Are You Happy Now?” The same year, Branch won a Grammy for her collaboration with Carlos Santana on the song “The Game of Love,” from his “Shaman” album. The duo performed the song at the Super Bowl.
“I was approached to go into the studio and sing a song (for Santana),” she told MTV. “I found out later it was the first single. It was a really amazing experience.”
In 2005, Branch formed the country music duo the Wreckers with fellow musician Jessica Harp. Their debut album, “Stand Still, Look Pretty,” produced a No. 1 single on the Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.
“Writing and singing country music is actually a natural progression for me,” Branch told SingerUniverse. “I grew up listening to all kinds of music at my parents’ house. We would listen to everything from Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, to Marty Robbins and Patsy Cline. And as a songwriter, I’ve always been influenced by country and folk music.”
When the Wreckers disbanded in 2007, Branch continued to pursue her solo career. In 2010, she collaborated with hip-hop star Timbaland for the upbeat song “Getaway.”
“I love Michelle Branch, I love what she does,” the rapper reported. “What I did was take her beautiful soft voice on my grungy, hard beats. Country meets Timbo.”
She also released the country-flavored EP “Everything Comes and Goes.” The sessions included a catchy duet with Dwight Yoakam, which she released as a free download.
“Now comes ‘Everything Comes and Goes,’ proof of an artist with a vast emotional range, from the dark tones of Texan campfire tales to the urgent romance of pop passion,” praised American Songwriter. “Her voice is gentle and powerful, and cuts through instrumental layers like a knife through butter, merging the whimsy and twang of Dolly Parton with the ethereal vulnerability of Stevie Nicks.”
On her website, Branch posted that she’s currently completing a new album, and has recorded a couple of new songs co-composed with Chris Isaak.
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Some of our top Hawaiian slack-key guitar musicians will gather at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center’s A&B Amphitheater from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday for the free 24th annual Ki Ho’alu Festival.
This year’s lineup includes George Kuo, George Kahumoku Jr., Bobby Moderow Jr., Stephen Inglis, Paul Togioka, Michael Keale, Glen Smith, Kawika Kahiapo, Aja Gample, Dwight Kanae, Peter Apo, Kevin & Ikaika Brown, Danny Carvalho, Donald Kaulia and Ola Hou.
* For more information, visit www.mauiarts.org.
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Willie K will present his first “GanjaFest” on Saturday at Mulligans on the Blue in Wailea. The event will feature headliners reggae-rockers Common Sense from Orange County, Calif. Other performers include the Deborah Vial Band, Soul Kitchen, the Minorities, Avi & Indio, Alika Nako’oka, Murray Thorne, Riddim of Knowledge and, of course, Willie K. And Kathy “Tita” Collins will serve as emcee.
“It’s just another reason to party,” says Willie, laughing, adding that he’s making plans for a big birthday bash in Las Vegas in October.
Lead vocalist Nick Hernandez started Common Sense in Santa Barbara while studying music at University of California. After debuting in 1992 with “Live at the Belly Up” in 1996, Common Sense returned with the album “Psychedelic Surf Groove.” “State of the Nation” followed in mid-1999 to coincide with the band’s appearance on that summer’s Vans Warped Tour.
Their latest album, “What’s It All About,” mixing reggae, blues funk and ska, was released in 2013. Recently, members of Common Sense, Steel Pulse and Big Mountain have teamed as the SoCal Reggae All Stars.
Willie hopes to make “GanjaFest” an annual event, like his blues festival, which he is already planning for next year.
“I have had people from Louisiana, Chicago, the East Coast and England asking if they can play next year on Maui. A lot of people are submitting their CDs to be part of it.”
* Doors open at noon for “GanjaFest.” Advance tickets are $30 and are available online through www.eventbrite.com, or from Still Smokin’ in Kihei, Lahaina and Kahului, Requests Music in Wailuku and Mulligans. VIP packages are also available.
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Jazz Maui 2015 will present the Arturo O’Farrill Jazz Sextet featuring Jim Seeley in concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater.
Arturo O’Farrill is a Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer and educator. Son of the late Cuban bandleader and jazz legend Chico O’Farrill, he played piano in Carla Bley’s Big Band from 1979 through 1983 and earned a reputation as a soloist in groups led by Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Harry Belafonte and others.
“If there is such a thing as a first family of Afro-Cuban jazz, the O’Farrill clan has a right to claim that distinction,” noted The New York Times.
In 2002, he established the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and in 2014 won the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album. O’Farrill is internationally recognized as a leading music educator who has conducted workshops and seminars for thousands of students and musicians throughout the world to promote interest and appreciation for the unique music genre of Latin jazz.
A Jazz Times review praised, “There is nothing more exciting, more sensuous, than the fusion of jazz and Latin.”
Grammy-winning trumpeter Seeley has been heard on many recordings as a featured soloist with Ray Charles, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Chucho Valdes, Chico O’Farrill and Gregg Allman. As an original member of the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Seeley has toured and recorded extensively and continues to perform regularly with the group.
“Trumpeter Jim Seeley may hail from Kansas, but he’s clearly got Latin in his soul, having recorded with artists including the Mambo All-Star Orchestra, Luis Bonilla and, most significantly, Chico O’Farrill,” noted AllAboutJazz.
The concert is part of a weeklong series of workshops and free concerts presented by Jazz Maui. Classes being offered include a Jazz Camp with the University of Texas at Arlington jazz faculty on Monday and Tuesday at King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani and Jazz Clinics with UT Arlington faculty, Arturo O’Farrill and Seeley on Wednesday at the MACC.
Free concerts will be presented, including student performances July 2 at The Shops at Wailea at 6:30 p.m. and July 3 at Whalers Village in Kaanapali at 7 p.m.
A Fourth of July Concert will be held at the Lahaina Library lawn beginning at 5 p.m. with the UT Arlington Faculty Jazz Ensemble, Chop Suey Jazz Band and the Maui Community Band followed by fireworks. And July 5, the Mike Buono Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. at Whalers Village in Kaanapali.
A Gala Benefit concert will also be held on July 3 at a private residence in Kaanapali. This intimate evening of acoustic jazz featuring O’Farrill, wine and pupus is limited to 50 guests. Tickets are $100. For more information, visit www.jazzmaui.org or call 283-3576.
* The Arturo O’Farrill Jazz Sextet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater. The UT Arlington Jazz Faculty Sextet will open. Tickets are $35 and $45 and are available at the box office, by calling 242-7469 or by visiting www.mauiarts.org.