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That's our ROZZI RANE ('09) performing with the legendary SERGIO MENDEZ at the North Sea Jazz Festival last summer (2011). Rozzi's work with Sergio included a European tour and the Tokyo Jazz Fest. Video clips abound on YouTube, CLICK HERE for one from Berlin.

Since starting study at USC's elite Popular Music program, Rozzi has also had the honor of opening for Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons, The Steve Miller Band, Neal Schon of Journey, and the underground sensations Chiddy Bang and Milkman.

Four of Rozzi's original songs can be heard on Lifetime Television's second most watched film of all time, "Sins of A Mother," starring Jill Scott. Rozzi's compositions in that film received recognition from the New York Post and other media acknowledging Rozzi as an artist to watch.

Rozzi is back in Los Angeles lighting up the Dean's List at USC. With an acclaimed EP and more new songs on the way, this is just the beginning for this talented, young artist.

Rozzi's website is www.rozzicrane.com.

Mat Davidson ('05) has a band called Low Anthem that you might have seen on David Letterman's show recently. Low Anthem was selected to do special performance at Lincoln Center for the American Songbook Series( Jan. 13th.)

They are getting ready to tour with Emmylou Harris for 10 dates in Nov, did the Newport Folk Festival and 13 country Euro Festival tour this summer, got rave reviews all over- They just completed new album coming out 2011 and Mat has new Twain album done (his solo project).

The photos below are of "Another day at the Office" from the 2010 Newport Folk Festival. In photo with Low Anthem is Glen Hansard (Swell Season, Oscar song winner), and Tao Seeger (Pete Seeger's grandson). They did the Auld Triangle together as encore for Swell Season. NPR.org has the entire Low Anthem audio up and Auld Triangle if you ever want to listen to the Newport show. (NPR.org). They did the final encore also with Levon Helms, Ritchie Havens, John Prine, totally cool!

Latest celeb endorsements for Mat Davidson!

Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) - "The Low Anthem are fantastic, they should be playing the Ryman/Nashville (From the AV Club/Onion)

Rosanne Cash - "I couldn't love Low Anthem more if they were Buffalo Springfield" (From her webpage; they perfomed with her in Dec)

Yoko Ono - Named Low Anthem as inspirational artists for her new album (From BBC6 Mix "Live with Yoko" telecast for Lennon's 70th Birthday)

Luke Notary ('96) recently finished a world tour with Cirque du Soleil's "Varekai". Based in New York, he has composed and performed the live music scores for "The Late Henry Moss" (written by Sam Shepard and the legendary Joseph Chaiken) and "The Long Christmas Home" (by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel). He currently works with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and David Parsons Dance Company.

Luke's website iswww.lukenotarydrums.com.

Ryan Merchant left the MA Music program in '97, after his sophomore year, to live and study in Paris (who can blame him??) He now has a very successful career in LA creating and producing music for advertising, film and television (if you own one you've heard his work for Honda commercials). Ryan also sings and performs, as well as writing a blog on the current LA music scene. You can check him out at www.myspace.com/ryanmerchantmusic andwww.ryanmerchant.wordpress.com

His production company's website is http://lazyhooks.com And his band - http://capitalcitiesmusic.com

BOBS REC: Check out the websites for MA Music Alums Jordan Hyde and Shell ('05). These two MA favorites each brought their HOT New York bands to Slim's in San Francisco over winter break and rocked the house, young and old alike!

Jordan's band, Zongo Junction, can best be described as Brooklyn AfroBeat. Their new album's five original songs feature long-time Fela Kuti band member, Leon Kaleta Ligan-Majek, on vocals. http://www.zongojunction.net

Tayor's band, Turkuaz, is described by CultureMob as "The funkiest of the funk... a band overflowing with the most soul and funk in the tri-state area..."
http://www.myspace.com/turkuaznation

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