Corn-Bred NAMMY photo

The Native American Music Awards recently posted the official photographs of the 2007 award winners. Check out the NAMA website and click on the "Photo" for the shot of Corn-Bred holding the NAMMY! Corn-Bred won for best blues recording of the year.

Engerman Grooves at Crepe de Paris

No stranger to the Seattle cabaret scene, Engerman presented his first-ever one-man cabaret show, "Engerman Grooves," at Seattle's premiere cabaret venue, the Crepe de Paris, a French restaurant, bar and cabaret in the heart of downtown. He played to enthusiastic audiences over two weekends.


"It was only four performances, but I learned a lot. About half the tunes were from Maquette [his recent Hondo Mesa Records release], and the others were ones I'm considering for the next HMR album. It was terrific to get such strong response. Many of the tunes were from shows I'd written as far back as 1977. Shows like "Ronnie Bwana, Jungle Guide," "The Ballad of Mary Reade," and "The Big Bad Wolf (and How He Got That Way)." Greg Palmer, who wrote the book and lyrics for "The Big Bad Wolf" even revised the lyrics to one of the songs expressly for the cabaret show.


"There were some songs that I did mainly because I thought they'd work well in the cabaret setting, but wasn't sure they'd word on a recording. I was pleasantly surprised to change my mind and now believe they'll record well, too. The production also kicked me in the butt to finish some tunes that were half-baked, and try them out fresh on the audiences."

The Bing Bang Theory by 3rd & Main

Hey Cool Noir Fans,
Here's another look at 3rd & Main's music video of The Bing Bang Theory. Hondo Mesa Records sends a special thanks out to Larry Hoyt, the artist who put this together. Thanks Larry.

Corn-Bred photos from Redhouse

Hello Corn-Bred fans,
Here are a few shots of Corn-Bred playing the Artists as Artists concert at the Redhouse, October 19, 2007. The band:
Lenny Printup (above)
Jerome Lazore
Curtis Waterman
Morris Tarbell and Morris Tarbell (Ladies Love Morris)
John "JB" Buck

Larry Hoyt and Ulf Oesterle hangin' at the Redhouse

Hondo Mesa Records recording artist Larry Hoyt (left), shares a laugh with Aux Records owner Ulf Oesterle (right) at a recent Artists as Artists show.

Upper State Independent Award Finalist

Congratulations to Central New York's own Dana "Short Order" Cooke and his Band Joe for their nomination as a 2007 Upper State Independent Award Finalist in the Folk category. Good luck at the Nov. 17, 2007 award show.

Merit's Music and Art on Nov. 9

Aux Records recording artist, Merit, headlines the next Artists as Artists show at the Redhouse in Syracuse, NY. Doors at 8:00, artist talk at 8:45, music at 9:00. $6 gets it all. Stop in. Check it out. Support local artists and independent music. Let's rock!

Gary Small and The Coyote Bros. photo

Hello Music Fans,
Here is another shot of Gary Small and Jobe Jennings, rocking the Seneca Niagara Casino, minutes after winning the Nammy Award for "Best Rock Recording of the Year."
Check out their website and award winning CD when you get a chance.
Regards,
Dennis

Hondo Mesa Records on Whole Wheat Radio

Four Hondo Mesa Records releases can be heard anytime of the day or night on Whole Wheat Radio. Here are the stats for (total plays, total requests, and total listens, respectively):

John Engerman (137, 122, 4797)
3rd & Main (43, 40, 1161)
Larry Hoyt (275, 156, 7379)
Corn-Bred (152, 133, 5236)

Thanks for requesting our guys.
Dennis

3rd & Main music video

Hello Hondo Mesa Records fans,
Here is the cool noir sounds of 3rd & Main. Check out their latest video, Trumbling Cafe. Long live independent music!

Native American Rock & Roll

One of the great pleasures of attending the Native American Music Awards show last week, was meeting the nominees and seeing the excellent performances of scheduled bands. One band caught my attention immediately. Gary Small and the Coyote Bros. rocked the house. Five minutes after accepting their Nammy Award for "Best Rock Recording of the Year," they had all 2500 audience members bopin' and rockin' to their music. Keep an eye on these guys. They are going places.

Here's a shot of them on the Nammy Stage:


Image courtesy of CoyoteBros.net

Artists As Artists occupies the space where music and art meet.

The newly launched music/art series at the Redhouse in Syracuse, New York, has a website. Check out www.artistsasartists.com for up-to-date information on which artists/musicians will be playing and showing their art. The opening session features the music of Corn-Bred and Larry Hoyt, as well as the native crafts of John J.B. Buck (Corn-Bred), the photography of Larry Hoyt and paintings by me, Dennis Kinsey(Hondo Mesa Records). Ulf Oesterle (Aux Records) is curating this October 19, 2007 show.

Corn-Bred Video

Hi Guys,
As soon as Corn-Bred's Native American Music Awards performance is released on DVD I will post it. For now, here is Corn-Bred's first music video.

Corn-Bred wins Nammy

Yes, yes, yes. They did it! The All Native American Blues Band, Corn-Bred, won "BEST BLUES RECORDING" at the 9th Annual Native American Music Awards on October 6, 2007. Needless to say, all of us here at Hondo Mesa Records (HMR) are psyched. This is our first Native American release and our first award.

Corn-Bred is a fantastic band from Central New York. Steve Masiclat, my friend and artistic directior of HMR, designed the CD package and created the graphics. It looks as good as it sounds. Check out the image at CDBaby.com.

If you want to see what all the hype is about, Corn-Bred will be playing at the Redhouse (Syracuse, NY) on Oct. 19, in a new series call "Artists as Artists." This Redhouse series is the brainchild of Aux Records chief, Ulf Oesterle.

Artists as Artists at the Redhouse

Hondo Mesa Records will be the first in line for the new Redhouse innovative shows called "Artists as Artists." Two Hondo Mesa Records artists will play -- Larry Hoyt and Corn-Bred -- on October 19, 2007. Additionally, artwork from Larry Hoyt, John "J.B." Buck, and me (Dennis Kinsey) will be displayed. I'll send out more details when they are available. Here is a photo of one of my paintings from the Corazon series.
Regards,
Dennis

Native American Music Awards

I am so excited. My wife, Christiane, and I are heading to the Native American Music Awards on Saturday. The awards show will be held at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, NY. This is our first trip to the NAMMYs. Our Corn-Bred release, on Hondo Mesa Records, is a finalist for Best Blues CD. Can you believe it -- a finalist at the 9th Annual Native American Music Awards! I need to get some new threads for the occasion.
Regards,
Dennis

Let's Go For A Ride by Larry Hoyt

Larry Hoyt performing at Jazz Central is a wonderful thing. Here is Larry doing his signature tune, "Let's go for a ride," from his debut CD Folksinger/Songwriter on Hondo Mesa Records.

Ghost of Love by Larry Hoyt

Here is Larry Hoyt, Hondo Mesa Records recording artist, performing his original song, "Ghost of Love," at the Sept 1, 2007 Jazz Central show (Syracuse, New York). To hear clips from Larry's debut CD, "Folksinger Songwriter," please go to www.cdbaby.com/all/dfkinsey

Lifetime Achievement Award for Joanne Shenandoah

Central New York's own Joanne Shenandoah will be presented with the Native American Music Awards' "Lifetime Achievement Award." The Native American Music Awards show will be held on October 6, 2007.

Congratulations Joanne. You rock!
Dennis

Photos of Larry Hoyt and 3rd & Main at Jazz Central

Photographer, Roger Theise, showed up at Jazz Central in Syracuse, New York on Sept. 1 to take in the music of folksinger, songwriter Larry Hoyt and the cool noir jazz originals of 3rd & Main. While there he shot some great images. Check them out at:

http://rogerwilliamphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/3434128

More of Roger's work can be viewed at: www.ROGERWILLIAMPHOTOGRAPHY.com

Regards,
Dennis

Larry Hoyt and 3rd & Main at Jazz Central

On Saturday, Sept. 1, Larry Hoyt and 3rd & Main are playing at Jazz Central in Syracuse, New York. Doors open at 7:00. Show starts at 7:30.

This is a free concert (e.g., Hondo Mesa Records fan appreciation night), but reservation are required. Reservations can be made by emailing dfkinsey@HondoMesaRecords.com or by calling 315.708.5217.

Attached are excerpts from reviews of 3rd & Main's CD and Larry Hoyt's CD.

Regards,
Dennis


"3rd & Main puts out a very hip, all-original jazz sound...3rd & Main's cast of Gil Lopez on guitar and vocals, Chris Kneisel on guitar and effects, Mark Eich on bass and Ken Hart on drums weaves a cool effect throughout." Mark Bialczak, Music Critic The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) April 22, 2007

Larry Hoyt's "Folksinger/Songwriter" on Hondo Mesa Records, was reviewed on September 26, 2004 in the Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY). Music critic, Mark Bialczak noted that Larry "carved quite a comfortable niche with his country-folk hybrid." Hoyt's debut release, "captures the simplicity of folk, the honesty of country... he writes lyrics that are direct...right to the heart." Bialczak went on to say, "Even the covers are full of devotion."

Music critic, Nathan Turk, of the Syracuse New Times found a lot to like in Larry Hoyt's debut CD. Turk notes that Larry "...has such a keen insight of what sounds good in his own music... Hoyt's own songs have especial weight, showing an uncommon handle on folk's poetic simplicity." Turk also praised musician, Henry Jankiewicz's work on the CD, "[Larry's] backing cast lets him breathe, but fleshes out key spots, shining in the achingly pretty instrumental 'Maura's Waltz,' as Henry Jankiewicz's fiddle heads for the stratosphere." Turk concludes with, "Hoyt's Folksinger Songwriter is a near-flawless outing."

Corn-Bred CD Graphics

Did the graphics on the purple Corn-Bred CD catch your eye? The Corn-Bred CD was a designed by my friend, and Hondo Mesa Records art director, Stephen Masiclat (http://newmedia.syr.edu/newmedia/recent.html). Masiclat based his design on the historic symbol of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Hiawatha Belt.

I got to tell you, Curtis Waterman (the fantastic harp player for Corn-Bred) and I were a little worried when Masiclat started moving in this direction. This was risky. Masiclat was walking a thin line between creating a design that is recognizable and respectful but not blasphemous.

The Hiawatha wampum belt was made to record the event of five nations (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk) joining together in peace. Each nation is represented with the Onondagas symbolized in the great white tree of peace. The Onondaga Nation site (www.onondaganation.org/history.html) has more on the history of the belt.

Masilcat accomplished a difficult task. He succeeded in getting the look and feel of the first wampum on Corn-Bred’s CD, without being offensive. The color purple is predominant in the symbols of the Onondaga Nation. Masiclat’s treatment of the color is reminiscent of the beads used to make wampum. He is a talented guy.

To see the cover and to hear cuts from the CD, please go to CDBaby at www.cdbaby.com/all/dfkinsey.

Best regards,
Dennis

Take a breath

Wow. John Engerman's and 3rd & Main's Jazz Central CD release concert was a blast. The place was packed. Folks seemed to like the show: they clapped, they laughed, they bought CDs, they asked for more, etc. It was a fantastic night for the Syracuse, NY music scene.

John is back on the west coast and 3rd & Main is preparing for the upcoming gig at the Taste of Syracuse on June 2.

Hondo Mesa Records will be back at Jazz Central on Sept. 1 with Larry Hoyt and Corn-Bred. I'll keep you informed.

Regards,
Dennis

Corn-Bred is SAMMY finalist

Corn-Bred's debut CD on Hondo Mesa Records is a finalist for a Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY). Corn-Bred was nominated in the Best Blues category. Winners will be announced June 1, 2007 as part of the Taste of Syracuse festival (Syracuse, NY). To hear clips from Corn-Bred's SAMMY nominated CD, check out CDBaby.com. Way to go, guys. Congratulations.

Larry Hoyt's video of 3rd & Main

Larry Hoyt took some footage of 3rd & Main at their CD release concert on April 26, 2007 at Jazz Central in Syracuse, New York. He put together a cool noir version of their opening number, The Bing Bang Theory.

Gonstermachers promo video

You've got to check out the Gonstermachers. They are not on my label, Hondo Mesa Records, but I love 'em!

Larry Hoyt's Bluegrass Blues

Check out Larry Hoyt's performance of his original tune, Bluegrass Blues. The studio version of this is on his debut CD, "Folksinger Songwriter" on Hondo Mesa Records.

Larry Hoyt on YouTube singing Bluegrass Blues

Check out the video of Larry Hoyt's performance of Bluegrass Blues from his CD, "Folksinger Songwriter" on Hondo Mesa Records.