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Past Events |
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MUSIC BRIDGES WORLD EXPO {GERMANY} view film |
Organized in conjuction with the World Expo in Hannover, this project featured the "Music Bridges" concept of writers retreat (in this case, over 40 writers /artists from more than 25 countries), demo recordings, final night concert premiering the newly written songs, documentary film and compilation album to bring specific focus to songwriting as a tool for communication in cultural exchange, during the World Expo. The writer's retreat took place in the historic village of Gosler, then the concert took place "Beat Box" on the World Expo site. Countries with participating artists including: Ireland and Northern Ireland, USA, Latvia, Mexico, Chile, Holland, Lebanon, Israel, Belgium, Australia, Kazkstan, Russia, Norway, Germany, Malaysia, Jamaica, Hungary, Switzerland, Czech Republic, UK, Finland, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia and The Philippines.
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MUSIC BRIDGES...OVER TROUBLED WATERS (CUBA}
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A total of over 90 American, European and Cuban artists and songwriters took part in this historic international collaboration project in Havana, Cuba. Against the backdrop of the embargo, this watershed moment event in Cuban/US cultural relations, was organized in partnership with Cuba's Instituto Cubano de la Musica and Ministerio de Cultura, as well as under license from the U.S. Treasury Department. Over 60 songs were written and recorded over a 5 day period, culminating in a final night free concert of them at the Karl Marx Theatre, followed by a private reception with Fidel Castro. Established international participants included :Burt Bacharach, Peter Buck (REM), Bonnie Raitt, actor Woody Harrelson, Dave Koz, Jimmy Buffett, Stewart Copeland, Andy Summers (The Police), Peter Frampton, Gladys Knight, Duncan Sheik, Mick Fleetwood, Indigo Girls, Lisa Loeb and Don Was. On the Cuban side were such luminaries as Chuco Valdés, Alberto Tosca, Carlos Varela and members of renowned bands Los Van Van, Sintesis, and NG La Banda.
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CELTIC HARMONY (IRELAND}
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A diverse group of 25 American & UK artists including: Lamont Dozier, Montell Jordan, Delbert McClinton, Rodney Crowell, Lloyd Cole, Better Than Ezra (Kevin Griffin), The Go Go's (Jane Wiedlin & Charlotte Caffey), Jeff Healy, Jill Sobule, and Arrested Development (Speech) co-wrote for a week in Western Ireland's Abbeyglen Castle with some of Northern Ireland & The Republic of Ireland's best songwriters and artists including: Jimmy McCarthy, Eleanor McElvoy, Andy White, Liam O'Maonlai (Hothouse Flowers), , Garrett Wall, Niall Toner, Donagh Long, Michael McGlynn, Mick Hanly, Frank McNamara, Kieran Goss, Fiona Joyce, and Brian Kennedy. A joint venture between Music Bridges and the Irish Musical Rights Organization (IMRO), the project resulted in the creation of over 50 songs, and an amazing final night concert at Dublin's Temple Bar Music Centre of the highlights. The entire event was filmed by RTE as both concert and documentary programs. |
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PACIFIC HARMONY (INDONESIA}
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28 top US and European artists and songwriters traveled to Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia to collaborate with artists and songwriters from Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, The Philippines, Hong Kong and Australia on the creation of new original songs. The best of these songs were performed in a final night Charity Concert that raised over $500,000 USD for Sumatran earthquake victims. The retreat was covered extensively by MTV Asia ("The Vibe"), the largest cable channel in Asia..The roster included such artists and writers as: The Scorpions, Cathy Dennis, Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, Styx (Tommy Shaw), Night Ranger (Jack Blades), Brenda Russell, Mark Mueller, Allan Rich, Mark Hudson, Lisa Fischer, Victoria Shaw, Dave Koz, Tommy Page, Stewart Harris, Randy Sharp, and Jeff Lorber. |
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COUNTRY &. EASTERN (ROMANIA}
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12 acclaimed country music artists and writers traveled to Romania to collaborate with their counterparts from Romania, Slovakia, The Czech Republic and Hungary on new, original songs. A copyright seminar and several press conferences were organized to bring awareness of intellectual property rights to the region. As a direct result of this project, stalled copyright legislation was passed in Romania. A documentary film of this project was made by Romanian TV as well as there being a farewell concert featuring the newly written songs. The US writer roster included Sonny Curtis, Gary Burr, James Dean Hicks, Ralph Murphy, Peter McCann, John Ims, Gary Nicholson, Richard Leigh and Angela Kaset. |
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MUSIC SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS (USSR}
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25 US songwriters and artists traveled to Moscow, Tallinn, Estonia and Leningrad (St. Petersburg) to collaborate with 25 of their Russian counterparts in the creation of new, original songs. A documentary film of the project was produced and released in Europe and Eastern Europe in conjunction with Finnish partner Storyfilm. US writing participants included: Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bolton, Diane Warren, Desmond Child, Barry Mann, Mike Stoller, Franne Golde, Kelly/Steinberg, Brenda Russell, Holly Knight, Gregory Abbott, Emmanuel, and Albert Hammond. An album of the best songs from the project was released on Epic Records worldwide featuring performances by: Earth, Wind &. Fire, Cyndi Lauper, Patti LaBelle, Starship, Roberta Flack, Animotion, Anne Murray, Atlantic Starr and The Cover Girls.
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