Author: ayminor

J Music: Performance and Meet & Greet with Pentatonix at B.B. Kings

ayminor

So this post is suppper delayed, but last week I took a little hiatus from some of my social media activities. I went to see the Pentatonix perform at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City on Tuesday, September 12.  Pentatonix is a 5-member a cappella group that is most known for winnning season 3 of NBC’s The Sing-Off, and for having the ability to transcend the customary boundaries of a cappella with unique and futuristic arrangements.

http://hal9209.com/blog/2012/09/pentatonix-concert/

The show was nothing short of phenomenal.

I know Pentatonix is impressive, but nothing prepares you to see them performing live! 

If you are familiar with The Sing-Off then you can recall the judges always referred to Avi and Kevin as the “meat and potatoes.” I have always been so obsessed with Scott (he is always featured on my blog), but my breakout stars for the night were definitely Kevin and Avi. It’s not very often that the focus is on the lower parts, but the bass and the beatboxing made the show!

The opening act for the night was Julia Easterlin — who deserves, and will get her own blog post. Great start to the night, and the crowd was pumped up for Pentatonix to hit the stage.

They did not disappoint, performing all of their big songs from The Sing-Off and all of my favorite covers from YouTube.

http://hal9209.com/blog/2012/09/pentatonix-concert/

The best part of the night was the end when I got to meet them and, of course, I absolutely shower them with praise!  I have been around a number of celebs/musicians in my life, but I was so in awe of their performance that I was actually nervous (embarrassing). They were so sweet!

For the full Pentatonix biography see below.

Buy the Pentatonix EP PTX, Vol. 1 here.

Read more →

J Music: Julia Easterlin at B.B. Kings, Looping Artist

ayminor

From the opening notes she captured the audience. I fathom for many concert-goers it was their first exposure to “looping” live.

http://hal9209.com/blog/2012/09/pentatonix-concert/

Julia Easterlin is a vocalist and loop artist wielding composition, production and performance in one fell swoop. One part siren and one part technologist, she uses looping hardware to build a one-woman chorus live onstage.This rare sound has driven Julia to recent performances at Lollapalooza, SXSW, MIDEM, CMJ, and the TEDxWomen Conference.

She performed about 4 or 5 songs (a bit long for an opening act to retain an audience’s attention), but everything she performed was well received. You could hear a pin drop as everyone marveled at her ability to create the beats, harmonies, and lead vocals live with great precision. To top if off Julia has a great voice, poise, and the ability to create a calming emotional connection with everyone in the room.

Watch Julia perform “Eyes on the Prize” below.  She also goes into a short explanation of looping.

Just listening to her music does not do it justice — you have to see & hear her live!

To download “Eyes on the Prize” by Julia Easterlin click here.

For more information about Julia Easterlin click here.

J Music: JoJo Performs “Demonstrate” Live at NYFW 

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I wish her label would properly support this single because it should be playing on urban radio across the US!!! I say it every time I do a Jojo post, but this girl has true talent. She tweeted her frustration a few days ago (now deleted), but I hope she starts getting the exposure she deserves.

JoJo showcased her new single “Demonstrate” live for the first time during Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavillion in New York on Tuesday. Strutting down the runway in a short black dress and stilettos, the 21-year-old singer set the sexy mood before the Front Row fashion show at STYLE360.

Click here to read the full article at Rap-Up.Com

J Thoughts: Happy 22nd to Me

ayminor

This made me tear up!!!!! I wish all of my friends could be here on my birthday, but their presence is felt even if so many of them are miles away. It’s captured moments like this that remind me how much we have matured over the years from high school students, to college, to adulthood — but what is most amazing about it is we grow up together! So thankful for the thoughtful, loving people that I have in my life. I wish I could stay 21 forever, but I’m also so grateful to see another year. Bring on 22.

J Food: Trying My Hand at The Cheesecake Factory’s Steak Diane

ayminor
The Cheesecake Factory Steak Diane

I finally had some time in between the chaos to take on a few of my personal projects that have been shelved, including exploring the world of cooking. While on vacation I had the Steak Diane dish at The Cheesecake Factory and it was thebomb.com. Decided to give it a go.

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INGREDIENTS

  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 12 oz. Beef Tenderloin, cut into 3 oz. medallions, salt to taste
  • 2 teaspoon cracked whole black peppercorns
  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (such as baby bella)
  • 3 Tablespoons pearl onions, chopped
  • 1/4 Cup brandy or white wine (I used cooking wine but I would suggest brandy)
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard, prepared (I prefer a much smaller amount of mustard)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 Cup beef stock
  • 1/4 Cup cream

DIRECTIONS

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2 On top of the stove, heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter to the hot pan and heat until it begins to foam.

3 Season the beef with salt and sprinkle cracked black pepper over both sides of steaks, pressing pepper into steaks. Add the first steak to skillet and sear, cooking no more than 1 to 2 minutes before turning it over and cook 1 minute on the second side. Remove the steak from the pan to a warm ovenproof platter. Repeat with the remaining steak. Keep Steaks warm in low oven. (I then finished cooking the steak on the grill for 2 to 3 minutes.)

4 After the steaks are cooked and warming, add the pearl onions to skillet, add more butter if needed, cook 2 minutes until translucent.

5 Add mushrooms and saute 1-2 minutes. Add the wine and Worcestershire sauce to the pan, bring quickly to a boil. Stir in the mustard. Allow this to cook 1 minute before adding the stock. Cook 1 minute more. Add the cream. Bring just to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the chives.

6 Place steaks on individual plates topping with sauce.

(Patricia Lane)

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Overall the meal was a success! The sauce at The Cheesecake Factory was a darker hue (brandy? water instead of cream?), but this recipe makes a delicious sauce as well. I ended up having to make the sauce twice because I added too much dijon mustard in the first batch [something to keep in mind].

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I found this video after the fact, but it is helpful as well. 

J Music: Marie Dahlstrøm

ayminor

I  came across Marie on Tumblr and I really liked her classic, yet contemporary tone and the soulful, mellow vibe of the first video I came across entitled “Interlude.” You can find a link below.

Marie – Interlude (Unoffical Video)

Marie Dahlstrøm is a Scandinavian soul singer, songwriter, musician and producer who is currently in London pursuing her music and career.
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Scandinavian soul singer Marie Dahlstrøm released her first EP “Feelings” in November 2011, an intimate, self-composed six-track release that captures her feelings through simple lyrics and strong melodies.

She most recently released a single entitled “Search.” Can’t wait to hear more music!

For more information about Marie Dahlstrøm click here.

Buy Marie Dahlstrøm’s EP Feelings here.