Jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler is still going strong with a new CD project on Rendezvous Music
Native South African Jazz guitarist Jonathan Butler is about to release
his 15th solo CD project, "So Strong," on Mack Avenue/Rendezvous Music on May 11, 2010. The Grammy nominated musician
is also a singer/songwriter and producer who received his first record deal at age 17 with Jive Records. The result of the
debut album resulted in Butler being the first black artist to be played on white radio stations in his native home of South
Africa. "So Strong" is a brilliant collection of songs supported by a "class-A" team of artists.
"I haven't
had a CD out in quite some time," Jonathan said during an interview. "I just got signed and had to start writing."
Butler said he drew inspiration from the lost of Wayman Tisdale and his mother, and his wife's battle with cancer.
"It speaks about standing strong, trusting God, no matter what," He said. "I want people to be inspired."
Butler, who lived in England for 17 years and now resides in Southern California, enlisted the help of such greats
as Rick Braun (trumpet); Dave Koz (saxophone); Michael Lington (drums); Angie Stone, Kurt Lykes, and his daughters Randy and
Jodie - who sings background vocals on the CD. The first single to Smooth Jazz radio, off "So Strong," is "Make
Room for Me" featuring Sax man Dave Koz. This is one of my favorites on the CD because Jonathan goes crazy on his guitar
and it also has a Latin feel to it - I love the Latin culture.
"It's my spiritual views and feelings,"
Jonathan said about the project. "And it's me having fun. I am fortunate to have Angie Stone, Rick (and the rest)."
Jonathan duets with Angie on an Urban R&B number titled "Be Here with You," another favorite of mine that
I found myself playing over and over again. On "Good Times" Jonathan makes his guitar sing, that ability has always
left me in awe when musicians can do that.
I went to the Smooth Jazz 2012 Cruise launch party to see Jonathan
Butler performed. He did not disappoint the standing room only crowd that came to the very popular Spaghettini Jazz Club in
Seal Beach, California.
"We all have a special assignment on the earth...we have to stay true to it,"
Butler points out.
Jonathan certainly stays true to his assignment and his current CD "So Strong"
is evident of that fact. The CD is sure to be one of the best Smooth Jazz/Urban R&B CD's of the year. For more on Jonathan
Butler and his new release "So Strong" log onto
www.jonathanbutler.com or
www.mackavenue.com/jonathanbutler.
Designer to the stars Angela
Dean adds another client and a new business venture
Designer Angela Dean, who has designed gowns and outfits for such high-profile people as Madonna (bullet bra bustier), Oprah
Winfrey, Mary J Blige, Jill Scott, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Halle' Berry, Paula Abdul, Sherri Sheppard, Neicy Nash, Katy Perry,
Mo'Nique, and Nancy Wilson, adds California television personality Michaela Pereira (KTLA-Morning News Anchor-channel 5) as
a client and will dress her twice a week starting in May, 2010. Angela has also added a new business venture called Hollywood
Secrets, where she makes available to the general public garments, ointments and drinks that celebrities use to make them
look smaller, makes their cellulite disappear or make fat cells melt away.
"I met Michaela at a fashion show for a CASA Charity for Foster Children (where Dean made prom dresses for everyone),"
Angela said when asked how she met the Los Angeles anchorwoman. "I did a dress for her for the Image Awards. I've known
her for quite some time and she loves my clothes. She knows I know the body of real women with ‘real' bodies...any size."
Angela Dean talked about her line of "ready to wear" clothes that are featured
on her website www.DeanZign.com. Also available on the website is Angela's new line of "body shapers," part of her Hollywood Secrets venture that
includes undergarments that tucks-in and reshapes the body for full figure and voluptuous ladies.
"I've been successful with celebrities because I listen and understand a little about their style. I sit and take notes
and make suggestions," Angela pointed out.
Dean has also designed
CD/album and magazine covers, such as the O Magazine cover with Oprah in the Angela Dean red dress or the Essence
Magazine cover with a group of black female celebrities that included Queen Latifah, Halle' Berry and Laretta Devine.
She has also designed the covers of Us, Sister2Sister, Ebony and People magazines. Dean
also designed the Paris Hilton gown seen in her Can Can Perfume ad campaign.
"People are branding themselves...that's why the reality shows are taking off," said Angela. "The
system is not set for you to win...you have to get in where you fit in."
Angela Dean is also in the process of launching her contemporary line of clothes for women and men. The female line
is called DZ Fashionista and her men's line is called DZ Men.
"The
DZ Fashionista line started with handbags and then T-shirts," Deans said.
She is currently looking for investors for her men's line, but she says she has the designs "in her back pocket."
Dean is not new to designing for men, haven worked for many major record labels that had her designed for artists such as
Montell Jordan, Immature/IMX... Dean said all of Montell Jordan's' clothes had to be made by her because he was so tall.
"God placed me in this position...there's a niche for it," Angela said. "With
the recession...now high-end designers are grabbling and don't know what to do. Consumers' are not using credit cards."
Angela is developing a "recession proof wardrobe" that will give the consumers
high-fashion at an affordable price. In addition, it will be clothes that fit the body shape; no longer will consumers have
to wear merchandise they can't fit.
Dean's Hollywood Secrets is sure
to be a winner, because it is already a winner amongst her celebrity clients, such as Sherri Sheppard, Queen Latifah, and
Neicy Nash.
"Celebrities use them all the time," Dean
concluded about the body shapers, cellulite ointment and drinks that melt body fat.
For more information on Angela Dean's contemporary and "ready to wear" designs or for more on her Hollywood
Secrets products log onto her website at www.DeanZigns.com.
