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.