Art Against War


A variety of music protesting the USA in Iraq

Melvin Taylor


CHICAGO BLUES LEGEND MELVIN TAYLOR
Melvin Taylor is a star in Europe, but it may take some time for U.S. audiences to catch on to just how phenomenally talented a bluesman he is. Part of the problem for Taylor may be his own natural eclecticism. He's equally adept playing jazz or blues, but in the last few years, he's forged a name for himself as a blues guitarist with a slew of releases for Evidence Music. Taylor may well be the most talented new guitarist to come along since Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Taylor was born in Mississippi but raised in Chicago after the family moved there in 1962. He learned guitar from his mother's brother, Uncle Floyd Vaughan, who jammed to tunes by Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Howlin' Wolf with his buddies. By the time Taylor was 12, he was sitting in with his uncle and other grown-ups at those sessions. Almost entirely self-taught, the young Taylor learned slide playing, finger-picking and flat-picking styles from his favorite recordings by B.B. King, Albert King and Jimi Hendrix.

Taylor's recordings include two he first recorded for a French label that have seen been reissued on the Pennsylvania-based Evidence Music: "Blues on the Run", originally recorded in 1982, and 1984's "Melvin Taylor Plays the Blues for You". Back in the U.S., Taylor continued to build a buzz around the strength of his marathon live shows at Rosa's Lounge and other venues in Chicago. Several small labels tried to sign Taylor, but they weren't successful. In 1995, Taylor was signed to Evidence Music and entered the studio with blues impresario John Snyder to record his debut for the label, "Melvin Taylor and the Slack Band", which showcased his original songwriting. He returned in late 1996 to record his second U.S. album, "Dirty Pool". Taylor's debut remains the Evidence label's best-selling release ever. Both records showcase Taylor's awe-inspiring guitar playing and original renderings of classic Chicago blues tunes. "Bang the Bell" followed in 2000, featuring racy cover art and a somewhat funk-influenced sound, but it was his teaming with Lucky Peterson and Mato Nanji on 2002's "Rendezvous with the Blues" that cemented his reputation as a mainstay in the American blues and roots rock scene.

"One of the most exhilarating blues guitarists to emerge in the past decade...[he] is more a blues innovator than a purist, mixing jazz chords and rock influences into his tapestry of electric blues" – ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE

"A volcanic guitarist... the sort of virtuosity that drags an audience into a world of risks and chances and excitement." – THE NEW YORK TIMES

UVULITTLE Recording Artist Jim Schwall


UVULITTLE RECORDING ARTIST JIM SCHWALL
Jim Schwall, Guitar, Mandolin, singer-songwriter - is the co-leader of the Siegel-Schwall Band, "one of the best acts in America", - Billboard Magazine.

After playing drums and accordion in elementary school, Jim Schwall found the guitar in high school and has never put it down for long. In college, Jim met piano/harmonica player Corky Siegel and formed the Siegel-Schwall Band. Siegel-Schwall toured full-time for about ten years, releasing over a dozen albums on Vanguard and Wooden Nickel Records. Siegel-Schwall starting playing occasional reunion gigs in the late '80's and currently have two recent CD's in the Alligator Records catalog.

For well over 40 years, Jim has also played with various other bands, releasing recordings with many of these, including two versions of the Jim Schwall Band. He has also played solo acoustic gigs for over 40 years but, aside from acetates cut in high school, never made a solo acoustic recording until 2007's "Getting Old," on Madison WI's Uvulittle Records. Currently he lives in Madison, is a member of SoDangYang along with singer/songwriter Marques Bovre, plays solo, works in visual arts, and is recently retired from social service work.

Amy Speace

Chase Emery


CHASE EMERY
After two EP releases, Chase Emery thrills his fans with the full album they have been waiting for. His new album, entitled "Definition" delivers songs of boldness and strength that tell stories set to epic melodies-the types of songs that fully instrumental as they are, if broken down to a simple acoustic track, would still hit you just as hard.
Driven from an early age, Chase Emery was determined to make his dreams a reality. At 16 he tested out of high school and began attending college. At 17 he released his first EP, entitled "Fuel," which landed television placements on shows such as MTV's "Laguna Beach," The CW's "One Tree Hill," and an ABC series, and earned him airplay on Clear Channel Radio.
While completing his College Degree on the Deans List, his music was taking off and he still managed to put out a second EP, entitled "Elevated," and tour.
Now, at 19, his album "Definition" is released. Eleven of Definition's 12 songs are new, with one track a new version of his song "I'm Not Going Anywhere" - which played on MTV's "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills." Chase shows off a wide variety of styles and talents on the album, from fun songs like "I Can't Wait"–which was featured on ABC's "Men in Trees," to epic songs like "Fragile" and "I Don't Know," to storytelling with "Hallelujah" and "I Miss You." The album offers substance through its music and sophisticated lyrics. All of the songs on "Definition" are written by Chase Emery, except for one—"Talk to Me" which was written by friend and songwriter, A.R. Tubbs of the Jane Doe's.
At 19, Chase Emery is just beginning.