I've been singing professionally for over 15 years. I started out in the background, singing backing vocals and an occasional full song. I've always LOVED finding those interesting harmonies. But after a while I started to want to sing more, so I found good songs that fit my voice and started taking the chance in front. I started singing songs by Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks, and Sheryl Crow, to name a few. I hadn't gotten the urge to write my own material at that time...YET. Years went by, I found myself doing acoustic duos/trios, and even fronting a rock band of my own, still not very interested in writing original songs. But then one day something changed. I started feeling a little empty, like something was missing. Here I was singing other people's songs (and really enjoying it, I must add), but I felt like I had nothing to show for my dedication and hard work, so I started tinkering around with ideas for lyrics. Having majored in English at Rugters University, with a concentration on writing, I was used to writing short stories and some poetry, but never realized that writing lyrics was an art on its own. My first few attempts, now that I look back, were flops, but at the time I didn't care. It was fun to just get my ideas down on paper. But then I met a new friend, Michael Ghiggeri, and that blossoming friendship and musical partnership would change me as an artist forever. Michael had been given my name some time before as a possible singer for HIS originals. He asked me to come into the studio and record vocals for a few of his original songs. I did, and that's when our collaborative partnership began. We began writing songs together--he would write the melodies, and I concentrated on the lyrics. What resulted was beautiful songs spanning several genres. I have also collaborated with other singer/songwriters, and in the fall of 2006 I released my debut CD entitled, "Out There."
Caren Kennedy
Michael Ghiggeri
Michael started recording in 2001 with his debut Flamenco CD "Dance With the Gypsy". He later recorded a Singer/songwriter CD with Acoustic, blues, jazz, Latin, pop, and folk rock influences. Michael used some great singers on the recordings such as Caren Kennedy, Kathie Weber, Kathy Phillips, and Rick Lee. This record to be released in October 2006 with Michael's second Flamenco CD release, "Echoe's of Laughter". Michaels latest will have many world influences in the sound and arrangements fusing his guitar with violin and flute creating an incredible, original journey through rockin' upbeat rhythms to ambient, mellow, romantic, melody's................................................................................................. Michael has also written 2 songs for the show "timeless" which aire'd on ESPN2 in January of 2005. Michael is also continuing to write for ESPN. With interviews and spins on local radio station's, internet blog video's and past performances at venues like the NJPAC in Newark, and Black Potatoe Festival in Clinton, NJ, some great things will come this year. Keep a watch out!...................................................................................................... ..... Michael has collaborated with some great artist. Writing songs for and with Caren Kennedy, and great vocalist Kathie Weber and Kathy Phillips singing some songs................................................................................................................................................ Michael's Debut CD "Dance With the Gypsy" is available: CDbaby, Apple Itunes, msn music, Rhapsody, Musicnet, and just about every digital music sites
Matt Angus
Putting his bid for the United States Congress seat in District 7, NJ, behind him, Matt Angus is ready to start playing his guitar again. “I enjoyed the campaign, especially meeting and talking with people within the district and seeing how their views may be similar or different than mine. I certainly wish that people were not as discontent as they vocalized, but at the same time it was quite comforting to find that I was not alone, that I was not the only one that felt that way." Angus finished with 1% of the vote and actually participated in the District’s only debate. Now, however, it is back to music. He has a new album coming out in February, his label (Black Potatoe) just split into two companies (Black Potatoe Records & Black Potatoe Entertainment), he has a new partner in Black Potatoe Entertainment (Richard Urmston) and it is the tenth anniversary of The Black Potatoe Independent Music Festival, July 13th –16th, 2006. Also, albums Matt produced for Kathy Phillips, Caren Kennedy and Michael Ghiggeri will be released in 2006. The new album is Matt’s first solo release and is simply titled “Matt Angus”. The record includes some of the best session players in the world including: Larry Campbell, Tony Garnier, Tom Nelson, Kim Williams, Jeff Sarli, Pat O’Shea, John Ginty and Tamika McClellan. Although the album will not be released until February, Gannett newpapers NJ had the record as a top-ten pick for 2005 citing,“Angus…may have assembled one of the best bands recorded in 2005”. With the release of the album, Angus plans on touring the west coast & Texas from the end of February through the middle of March, and he plans on sharing a band and touring with Kathy Phillips through the Northeast and South in April and May. Phillips’ new album will be released at the end of April. For more information on Matt Angus visit www.mattangusthing.com or www.blackpotatoe.com.
Heidi Peterson
Caren's little sister Heidi spends some time in the Clinton, NJ, studio recording some Clarinet on "Vienna".
November, 2005
About Heidi:
For the past several years, i have been completely unsettled in several ways. I have moved, been on tour, moved again, temporarily staying somewhere...unsettled. I am currently about to move again. I am going to be teaching music in North Jersey right outside of NYC which is great. I have lived down south for the past 10 year almost, so moving back up to Yank territory is going to be interesting. And great :) I just recently found a SWEET little apartment and couldn't be happier about it. Prior to the move, i have been primarily making my living as a performing musician. A traveling musician at that. I was on tour with the show "42nd Street" for a while, i just finished the show "Cats" at a regional theater in Vermont, and am taking the occasional local show here and there. In addition to that, I am also a visual artist. I paint large murals and draw portraits mostly. I am a very fun loving girl. I love singing my karaoke ass off, playing flippy cup with my Busch Gardens buddies, or cooking a huge feast while savoring a cheap bottle of wine :) I am often the loud silly one...although i no longer think that polishing off several 40's in one night is a good idea. (lesson learned). My mother thinks that i have a black cloud floating above my head at all times. I have ridiculous things occur to me that supplies me with a never ending amount of drama. Not to mention a never ending source of amusment for all my friends. Most of it i laugh at also...once the trauma of it is gone! It really is quite amazing. All of my stupid moments in late teens to early 20's seems to all find me again. But it has made me very resourceful and can usually get things done no matter how impossible people tell me it is. (I once got a passport once in 20 minutes) Though i never was able to get out of a traffic ticket... I love my 2 cats more than most people understand. I love beer because it is delicious. I love coffee because i have an addiction and go thru withdrawl without it. True story. And i am a sci-fi dork. Star Wars, Star Trek:Next Gen, my new love Firefly. It makes me happy. Plus i am my nephew's hero because of it. And that makes me happy, too :)
November, 2005
About Heidi:
For the past several years, i have been completely unsettled in several ways. I have moved, been on tour, moved again, temporarily staying somewhere...unsettled. I am currently about to move again. I am going to be teaching music in North Jersey right outside of NYC which is great. I have lived down south for the past 10 year almost, so moving back up to Yank territory is going to be interesting. And great :) I just recently found a SWEET little apartment and couldn't be happier about it. Prior to the move, i have been primarily making my living as a performing musician. A traveling musician at that. I was on tour with the show "42nd Street" for a while, i just finished the show "Cats" at a regional theater in Vermont, and am taking the occasional local show here and there. In addition to that, I am also a visual artist. I paint large murals and draw portraits mostly. I am a very fun loving girl. I love singing my karaoke ass off, playing flippy cup with my Busch Gardens buddies, or cooking a huge feast while savoring a cheap bottle of wine :) I am often the loud silly one...although i no longer think that polishing off several 40's in one night is a good idea. (lesson learned). My mother thinks that i have a black cloud floating above my head at all times. I have ridiculous things occur to me that supplies me with a never ending amount of drama. Not to mention a never ending source of amusment for all my friends. Most of it i laugh at also...once the trauma of it is gone! It really is quite amazing. All of my stupid moments in late teens to early 20's seems to all find me again. But it has made me very resourceful and can usually get things done no matter how impossible people tell me it is. (I once got a passport once in 20 minutes) Though i never was able to get out of a traffic ticket... I love my 2 cats more than most people understand. I love beer because it is delicious. I love coffee because i have an addiction and go thru withdrawl without it. True story. And i am a sci-fi dork. Star Wars, Star Trek:Next Gen, my new love Firefly. It makes me happy. Plus i am my nephew's hero because of it. And that makes me happy, too :)
Carter William Humphrey
Matt and Carter
Malibu, CA
January 2006
Malibu, CA
January 2006
Kim Williams
Kim Williams is a keyboard player and vocalist, mainly for singer-songwriter Kathy Phillips and guitarist/singer/songwriter Matt Angus. You can also find her playing Hammond, and sometimes even a little violin or flute will creep into the mix. She's been at the keys since the age of 4, when her nightclub musician dad wrote her a little song to remember note names. Following in his footsteps, she's been onstage since she was very young and has shared that stage with such heavy hitters as Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Bernard Purdie, Bernie Worrell, Jerry Jemmott, and Jimmy Vivino.
Randy Artiglere
http://www.myspace.com/bassmanran
Tom Nelson
Walt Bibinger
Rick Lee
Chris Hedges
