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I have worked alongside some of the best players in the world. The core members of EFX are on the newest project, of course - drummer Lionel Cordew, bassist Jerry Brooks, and keyboardist Jay Rowe. They've been part of the group for almost 20 years!  I brought drummer Omar Hakim back onboard as well.  Many will remember him from our earlier CDs, as well s the famous groups he's been with on his own (Weather Report, Miles Davis, Sting, Madonna, others..) George Jinda's close friend, and percussionist extraordinaire, Mino Cinelu, is a special guest on much of the project.  Mino is also known from his days with Weather Report, Miles Davis, & Sting.  George and Mino have much in common as percussionists and it felt so natural to bring him into the band for this project, and for touring!  I also invited my good friend, rising-star, pianist Lao Tizer to perform his moody interpretations.

interpretations. Violinist Karen Briggs also made a guest appearance, appearance, with her fiery playing on "The Haunting.

Probably the biggest change in the sound of the music comes from my guest vocalists, Xu Feiyu and newcomer, Victor Starsky.  Feiyu co-wrote 2 pieces, "Mirage" & "Wishing" in addition to singing both as a featured vocalist as well as background textures.  She's a Shanghainese performer who is responsible for Special EFX's introduction in China!  Victor Starsky is an up and coming singer from the NYC area who I know from the neighborhood I live in.  We did a fair amount of co-writing some years ago when he sang on some rock/pop tracks for the TV show I was scoring, Guiding Light”.  In this case he sang my moody and wistful, "Far Away."  All heart!

This new CD has great meaning for me. Like other CD releases, it is an honest expression of the musical & personal life I lead at this particular time in my life. 30 years is quite a milestone! (I can remember my first manager telling us that if we ended up playing in the Poconos when we hit our 60s we were doing all right!~  We are not there yet!)  

I always liked to use some sort of theme as inspiration for creating an entire CD.  For me, the word "Genesis" has a deeper meaning. It suggests new beginnings. Genesis also has a past meaning for me. When George Jinda I started Special EFX in 1983 we were called "Special Delivery" for about 1 year, but once signed to the GRP label we needed to change it due to a conflict with another act.  

Lionel Cordew (drums), Chieli Minucci, Xu Feiyu (guest vocalist), Mino Cinelu (percussionist), Jerry Brooks (bassist)

I was a big fan of the English prog-rock group, Genesis, and had considered calling us "Cinema," based on their song, "Cinema Show," and also because many felt that Special EFX had such a cinematic quality at that time. 

I'm sure George would love a few songs on the new CD in particular. He was a 'world' percussionist and those songs have that same world-fusion flavor that we both loved way back in the early days of the band, when we both grooved to King Sunny Ade.  I also believe he would've loved the spirit of my guest female singer, Xu Feiyu! 

"I am grateful every day for that gift of creative energy.  It is still mostly a mystery to me, but I suspect that lifestyle is the key to inspiration.  Healthy living, consistent relationships with family and loved ones, friends, and traveling.  The music is simply a consequence of what I am thinking about and feeling. (combined with a lot of childhood training)"

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Keyan Williams now makes his home in Meriden, CT after many years in Phoenix

Phoenix, AZ. The multi-talented musician started playing the sax at age 8 and by the age of 16 he was playing jazz sax and classical flute. When saxophonist Keyan Williams released his debut album The Art of Living in 2006, the smooth jazz format was already contracting, leaving steep challenges for new independent artists to find avenues to get their music heard. One of his radio station contacts suggested some unique grass roots approaches to promotion, including placing the tracks up on GarageBand in the contemporary jazz category. Williams’ tunes created an immediate sensation, averaging a rating of 4.5/5 stars; the most popular of these songs, “Thought I Told You About That” stayed on the chart for over four months, leading to terrestrial airplay on stations in Phoenix (where Keyan lived from 2000 to 2008 and recorded The Art of Living with musicians Jeremiah Norah and Raymond Love) and Reno. Williams also submitted his CD to The Weather Channel, which spun four tracks for over a year and a half, exposing his music to millions of people. Another sweet success from the album was the techno-house/jazz influenced tune “Swift Kick”, which was a huge hit on the college radio circuit. Williams was also one of only four artists chosen (out of 400 entrants) ...

for a distribution deal with Iris Distribution via Sonicbids—and the only jazz artist.

The Brooklyn born and raised, NYC based Williams built such an enthusiastic fan base that his few years away from recording due to personal issues and other business endeavors led many of his supporters to reach out asking when he would be back in action, and supporting him every step of the way as he did so. While still grounded in the style of his personal musical hero Grover Washington, Jr., Williams takes some outside the box risks on his second full-length project It’s All About You. Explaining the title of the album, he says, “While my fans were asking me about the next CD, they would tell me what they loved about the first one. So I decided to create a CD based on what they said they loved. It’s about my fans, those people who kept me uplifted during this challenging time in my life. I’m always writing songs that reflect everything I’m going through, and my goal was for them to identify with my music. I started out with 25 songs and chose the ones that stuck with me and which I felt they would enjoy best.”

Williams is the founder of Told U So Productions, a company for which he works on developing artists while he continues writing and producing. In addition to his own projects, he is currently collaborating with other artists, looking into producing two singers and working on a project combining poetry and jazz with four poets. He is also a major endorser, with nine total endorsements for mouthpieces, reeds, mics and sax accessories; he is an endorsee of P. Mauriat Saxophones. He has performed for several of these companies at the NAMM convention over the past few years.

Interior Decorating began as a hobby that eventually grew into a passion for Heather Martin. In fact, She changed the entire color palette in her home at least once a year. Her

 

year. Her children would come home from school to find a completely new bedroom than the one they'd left behind just that morning. Family members would wonder aloud, "Why does she change things so much?" She would respond, " It's because I love trying different styles, based on new and innovative trends." Heather never tired of experimenting with unusual color choices, bold patterns and textures.

Her mother and mother-in-law encouraged her to turn her "hobby" into a business. As a working wife and mother of three school-aged children, Heather ...
 

felt it was unlikely that a major career change would squeeze into an already packed routine. Still, she was hopeful. Eventually, her mother came across an interior design program being offered at a local college. She was sure it would be perfect for Heather, and pressed her to think about it. Very little pressure was required. After discussing it with her husband, Heather did enroll, and completed the program in 2009.
 

In 2010, Posh Living Spaces was born. Posh Living Spaces specializes in Interior Design, Color Consultation, Home Staging and Accessorizing.

Sean Mauricette, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL is taking the world by storm. For over 10 years Sean Mauricette a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL has been gifting audiences as a beat-boxer, DJ, lyricist and producer with his unique style of music, where hip hop meets soul. Dubbed “Soul Hop”, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL has been captivating audiences with his distinct sound, opening for a vast array of artists including De La Soul, Mos Def and Eric Roberson.

Fresh off his recent US and UK tours aka SUBLIMINAL has received global praise for his album TRAINATHOUGHT. He has recently teamed up with one of hip hop’s most prominent producers, three-time Grammy nominated Herb “Big Herb” Middleton for his latest musical venture, a series of singles, albums and theatrical productions in collaboration with NuVybe Records.

In addition to his accomplishments in music, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL has been making his mark as an actor. Notable credits include Disney’s Jump In, starring Corbin Bleu, the Sonny Liston biopic Phantom Punch starring Ving Rhames and a highly coveted feature role in an episode of CTV’s police drama The Bridge. Adding to his vast array of credits, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL lends his voice and acting talents in Shaun White’s highly anticipated video game, Skateboard. ...

Not only an accomplished actor, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL is an active member of his community and was hand-picked to host the 2010 Harry Jerome Awards, Canada’s most prestigious award ceremony honoring African Canadians.

A graduate from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL was the first ever recipient of the Arts and Culture Award presented to him by the Black Students Association of the University of Toronto. He was also the recipient of the 2011 Urban Hero Award for Arts & Culture for his work with high-risk youth in Toronto and recently received the 2012 Sickle Cell Miracle Network’s Community Service award for Youth Leadership. Working in collaboration with the YMCA and Toronto Community Housing, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL is the head architectural designer for a one of a kind support center for young fathers located in the Toronto area.

He is the host and keynote speaker for L.I.F.T. (Laying, Important, Foundations, Together), a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL knows that youth need encouragement to follow the right path and not be deterred by the negative stereotypes and images perpetuated by society. a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL was presented with the Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Councilors Association of Ontario and was recently awarded with the Medal of Appreciation from the United Nations Association of Canada. ...

Currently a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL is working on an independent documentary on sickle cell disease entitled, “INSIDE OUT: When Blood Hurts.” This documentary will expose sickle cell to the world and take what those afflicted with this disease are feeling on the inside and externalizing it for all to see. In exploring not only the physical effects, but the social and psychological effects as well, the documentary will examine what it is like to have an “invisible” disease in which the same blood that is needed to sustain life is the very thing that could end it and perpetuate a life of severe pain. Says the filmmaker, “By contrasting the work being done in

severe pain. Says the filmmaker, “By contrasting the work being done in various countries, it is my hope to raise awareness amongst the general public, doctors and professionals within the fields of sickle cell and improve both understanding and treatment of patients. The documentary will highlight the medical advances that are currently being undertaken.”

Through performing, lecturing, mentoring and filmmaking, a.k.a. SUBLIMINAL continues to cement his role as an active leader in the community.

CONTACT INFORMATION: www.LIFTourYOUTH.com

Where people share and discover artistic talent and more