Captain Phil fillin in for Bob Duffy

Michael Veitch “Wachtraum” 2022

Michael Veitch can’t help but to look at music from all sides. This year--the same year that he’ll be appearing on PBS’s upcoming series about songwriters co-writing with Holocaust survivors, he will release an album with the title, “Wachtraum,” which means “wake dream” in German. “Wachtraum”’s theme focuses on his writing and beautiful tenor voice’s reflections on unique qualities of each month.

Highlights include “First Day” of a new year, and “Valentine’s Day,” about love which helps coldness melt away. It’s a co-write with his long time recording engineer Julie Last. April Fools” is topical and personal and co-written with Judy Kass; it deals with delusional thinking. “Happy Fourth of July” recalls leaders and peace activists we’ve lost since the 1960s and features Dan Whitley playing brother Chris’s guitar. “August Nights” is inspired by the Beach Boys—but is really The Veitch Boys! “Wachtraum” ends with the holy days of December with “One Wish” a duet with ethereal singer-songwriter Kirsti Gholsen.

Michael’s been thankful on how the folk community has helped him through the years. “They’ve helped kept me going as a writer and performer,” he says. Judy Collins covered his song “Veteran’s Day,” on her “Temple of “Dendur Live” DVD and Bohemian CD. She said, “ Veterans Day is one of the best songs I ever recorded," Michael’s song “Pledging Allegiance,” which reached #10 on the 2017 Folk/Americana charts, was honored by Music2Life Foundation. He’s a regular at festivals, notably the 2001 Newport Folk Festival.

Since the 1980s, when Michael was a regular in the Greenwich Village music scene, he’s had an angel by the name of Shawn Colvin, mentoring him along in his musical career. She brought Michael to the Village to “learn songwriting from Jack Hardy, who was regarded as a songwriting leader in the scene.

In the 1990s, after Michael (who earned a Community Action degree from New York’s SUNY Empire) lost the race for Vermont’s U.S. Senator, he opened for Shawn Colvin, and shared stages with many fabulous singer-songwriters.” Then White House Communications Director George Stephanopolis heard Michael perform, and invited Shawn and him to meet President Clinton in the Oval Office. A who’s who of Michael’s folk heroes—including Jackson Browne, Richard Thompson, Lucinda Williams, David Crosby, Leo Kotke--came to Shawn’s shows. “I hope their genius rubbed off on me,” smiles Michael. “It was both inspiring and a thrill for Shawn to introduce me to them.”

Shawn sang on Michael’s first album, “New York Journal” on a song called “Anybody But You,” released in 2000. About that same time Michael moved to Woodstock, NY, and recorded and intensified his songwriting reputation. .”

Now he’s releasing his eleventh album, “Wachtraum,” and involving himself with unique projects geared to use music for empowering purposes. One of them was songwriting with Holocaust survivors to help express their emotions. That series, “We Remember-Songs from Survivors" will be broadcast on PBS this spring, 2022.

www.MichaelVeitch.com

Aleksi Glick is virtuosic guitarist and composer who draws inspiration from a wide variety musical genres. His distinct musical voice and presence provides for a captivating listening experience.

Aleksi is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory, where he held the Charlie Byrd Memorial Guitar Scholarship. While at Peabody, he was the guitarist for the Peabody Jazz Orchestra from 2007-11, during which time he worked with several renowned musicians including John Abercrombie, Uri Caine, and Steve Wilson.

Since moving to New York in 2011 Aleksi has played with many of the cities most esteemed musicians. Aleksi leads the much buzzed about funk and soul band Snack Cat (signed to Ropeadope Records), as well as his solo guitar project and jazz trio. He also has had the opportunity to play and or record with with, Roberta Flack, Jersey Boys (NY), The Seth Weaver Big Band, Paul Bollenback, Richard Saunders (of Third Story), Erena Terakubo, Alita Moses, Vic Juris, The Kelly Bell Band, Ed Cherry, Benny Benack III, Peter Bernstein, Michael A Levine, Bailen, The Silver Arrow Band, Augie Haas, The Cast of Aladdin (NY), J Hoard, Gracie Terzian, Mike Glick, Andrew Gould, Sam Dillon, The Brighton Beat and many more.

Aleksi Is currently writing music for Warner Chappell Production Music and APM and has had works played on major television stations including The BBC, ESPN, The CW Network and many more. He has also been the featured guest on several radio shows and podcasts. Aleksi is a voting member of the Recording Academy/Grammys.

https://www.aleksiglick.com/

BONHAM-BULLICK

The youngest of three children, Deborah Bonham grew up in a musical family, where all siblings had an amazing introduction to music. Deborah’s Mom and Dad were music lovers, regularly playing the music of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. They were also fans of renowned trumpeters Harry James and Louis Armstrong and vocalists Mahalia Jackson, Lena Horne and Frank Sinatra. Deborah’s older brother Michael was a photographer and DJ of Northern Soul and Motown, her eldest brother John was, and still is, considered one of the greatest drummers who ever picked up a pair of sticks. It was Deborah’s two brothers’ love of soul, blues and rock music that sparked her passion for singing from an early age.

Since those early days, Deborah has established herself as one of the finest blues, rock and soul singers the UK has produced. She has released a number of critically acclaimed original albums and her outstanding concert performances at the Royal Albert Hall, London Palladium and the 2018 USA Stars Align Tour with Paul Rodgers and Jeff Beck, all garnered rave reviews.

“Strong voiced, personable and quite the rock & roll singer. This woman, Deborah Bonham (the sister of the late Led Zeppelin drummer) earned a standing ovation at the end of her set, clearly a welcome addition to the tour.”  (Stars Align Tour, Paul Rodgers, Jeff Beck, Ann Wilson, Deborah Bonham, Holmdel, New Jersey) – Elmore Magazine 

Deborah Bonham -The best female vocalist and tightest band we should have been hearing for the last 20 years —An arena- worthy show in a (New York) club!” Carol Miller Q104.3 – Get the Led Out 

Belfast born guitarist Peter Bullick, lauded by the press for his passionate playing, paid his dues playing clubs and theatres across the UK and Europe for many years. The constant touring allowed Peter to develop his own style while holding dear guitarist Rory Gallagher and others who were a big influence on his playing. Of all the guitarists that influenced Peter it was Paul Kossoff with whom he connected with the most. It was fate that eventually Peter would meet up with Deborah and form The Deborah Bonham Band. Years later Kossoff’s influence on Peter’s playing made a strong impression on Paul Rodgers, who selected Peter and the rest of The Deborah Bonham Band to back him on both his Free Spirit tour of the UK in 2017 and the 2018 USA Stars Align Tour.

“Guitarist Peter Bullick constantly showed why Paul Rodgers touted him as a replacement for Kossoff should Free ever reform. His bluesy but always economic fills and solos lit up the stage.” – Tight But Loose

It was after the 2018 Stars Align Tour that Deborah and Peter signed with the California based Quarto Valley Records. Deborah and Peter wanted to recognise that this was a joint band venture and changed the name from The Deborah Bonham Band to Bonham-Bullick. The new album, under the new name Bonham-Bullick, showcases more of Deborah’s powerhouse vocals and Peter’s masterful guitar work, with one blistering solo after another. This is a Bonham-Bullick songbook of interpretations of some great obscure soul, blues, rock and gospel songs spanning seven decades. The Bonham-Bullick album takes you on a journey with songs from amongst others, O.V. Wright, Johnnie Taylor, Ann Peebles, Bernard Fowler, Mark Lanegan, Charles Brown and Betty Harris. Throughout the recording process of the album, Deborah and Peter have shown a deep respect for the original songs while reaching deep to make each song an exciting new adventure for the listener. After the album was recorded, it was Deborah’s lifelong friend, Robert Plant, who suggested sending the album to Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios for renowned engineer Tim Oliver to mix and master. The Bonham-Bullick album will be released on Quarto Valley Records in April 2022.

https://www.deborahbonham.com