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| Michelle Mangione: "Life Beneath the Sun" On her solo debut CD, Life Beneath the Sun, Michelle Mangione, featured on acoustic guitar and vocals, has crafted songs into a pop-folk hybrid. An independent artist in the true sense of the word, she produced, wrote and arranged all the songs on the album also playing drums, piano, organ and percussion. While the songs on her CD are mostly acoustic, many of Michelle's arrangements are derived from her love of percussion and rhythm: in live performance the song, "Train, " gives way to a riveting box drum solo. Delivered with a powerful voice and poetic lyricism, Michelle's songs are written from personal experience and observation - "Man With a Gun, " trying to understand a cycle of hate, poverty and crime after she was held up at gunpoint; "America the Blue" inspired by a conversation with a homeless Vietnam veteran, or poking fun at her own ethics and morality in the song, "I've Become." Selected tracks also feature guest musicians on cello, acoustic and electric bass, steel guitar, organ and electric guitar. Michelle taught herself to play guitar, bass and piano as a way to facilitate songwriting and arranging. A graduate of the Percussion Institute of Technology in Hollywood, she also studied drums under L.A. teaching legend Kay Carlson. Michelle went on to become a successful road musician and played drums for such greats as saxophonist Buddy Colletteand guitarist Robben Ford. Her ability to cross over musical genres as easily as she changes instruments gained her professional notoriety. In the rock world, Michelle was well-known as the drummer behind the band Sideswipe, named one of the ten Greatest Orange County Bands Ever by OC Weekly and winner of two Orange County Music Awards. Michelle's original music was used in the feature film True Rights and picked up by Sony Television for the series, Time of Your Life. The cover of Life Beneath the Sun features a painting by Grace Slick, that the rock icon/artist contributed after hearing a demo version of the CD. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |