Aural Elixir is a lyrical, multi-genre concept born from the rich musical textures of New Orleans. Aural Elixir was created in 1997 by Jesse, an eclectic songstress whose style is somewhat reminiscent of Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, and Thelonious Monk, yet she deftly keeps Aural Elixir evolving and boundless.
*These artistic auteurs paint musical pictures both delightfully impressionistic and happily expressionistic* Bunny Matthews, New Orleans Offbeat Magazine
The dancing echoes & diverse fluctuations of our undulating universe.
More Aural Elixir videos are available for your entertainment at www.youtube.com/auralelixir !
Sounds Like
A truly eclectic New Orleans Style melange of jazz, funk, folk, rock, roots & comedy music. With a large variety of songs to enjoy, elixir's audiences tend to compare them to a plethora of artists such as Tori Amos, Sarah Mclaughlin, Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple, Ani DiFranco, Jewel, Alanis Morisette, Sheryl Crow, Joan Baez, The Roches, Bjork, Carole King, Natalie Merchant, Gretchen Wilson, Alison Krauss, The Sundays, Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt, Regina Spektor, Madonna, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and many more; individual perception is an amazing phenomenon.
So what does aural elixir sound like? Check out our latest project, "Aural Elixir Piano Ninja" at www.youtube.com/AuralElixir !
You can listen to more Aural Elixir recordings at
OR read some assorted info http://www.auralelixir.indiegroup.com
OR http://auralelixir3.livejournal.com/
As some of y'all might have noticed, WWW.AURALELIXIR.COM is parked here for now. Soon we will be unveiling the new & exciting aural elixir website! Feel free to send us your comments & suggestions. Thanks!
or if you're fancy... Dawn@AmbergEntertainment.com, 303-593-2354
or if you are having an elixir emergency contact Miss Elixir at 303-246-0078
Are you on facebook? We are! With all new pictures, songs and stuff; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aural-Elixir/7988340962
"This is music from a big kitchen. Aural Elixir's low-key, jazzy folk recalls the Roches attention to vocal textures, speaking half a line then completeing it melodically, then fluttering the next thought. ..like sharing jokes and stories on a Thursday night while making dinner and getting drunk on red wine."
Alex Rawls, Offbeat Magazine-April 2002 French Quarter Festival Guide, New Orleans, Louisiana.
"I don't play accurately-any one can play accurately- but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life."
Oscar Wilde, Algernon from The Importance of Being Earnest
The following is an excerpt from an article entitled "Aural Sect" by the reknown writer and artist Bunny Matthews from his column Din'N'Dat courtesy of New Orleans Offbeat Magazine! www.offbeat.com
AURAL SECT by Bunny Matthews, Offbeat Magazine***
When musicians record music, their hope is that listeners will be awed by their compositions melodies and riffs, blown away by the lead guitarists deconstruction of Django Reinhardt, left speechless by the surreptitious sampling of the Soft Machine, enraptured by the contrapuntal references to Timi Yuro. And sometimes, the best that musicians can expect is that folks will play their CDs while waxing the floors and obliterating mildew in the shower stall.
Take the case of Aural Elixir and its Love & Grappling album, recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville, the same place where Elvis Presley once cut Blue Christmas. **I havent heard anyone say anything bad about our CD, explains Ms. Holt. Everyone seems to like it. Oddly, the most common response I get is that the CD is good music for cleaning your house (more often than not the person telling me this throws in the word naked)!**
Music attracted Jesse to New Orleans although not necessarily the music of say, Professor Longhair or Tuts Washington: **The first time I came to New Orleans, in 93, to see Smashing Pumpkins at the State Palace Theatre. At the time, I was really into them but when I got here and saw the city, it totally diminished the concert for me because New Orleans is amazing! This may sound silly, but growing up in South Florida, I had never heard of Mardi Gras! All malls & beaches but no mention of Mardi Gras, what a shame. Happily, soon after I started attending FSU in Tallahassee I was drawn here. There is nowhere like New Orleans. I like walking around, just looking at all the old things and enjoying the unique energy of this city.**
*I write songs all the time. I get snippets of ideas while Im walking through the French Quarter or driving around town. I do most of my writing on a piano at my house (in the Treme) or randomly at someone elses house. I wrote the music to Refrigerator Funk on the piano at Producer Malcolm Burn's house (no stars around, Alishia & I used to house-sit for him). On the song Wastin My Wantin, I had this old car, and this guy ran a stop sign and wrecked my car. The song is a poem I wrote about the car and then I put it to music. Muse Me happened to me while I was sitting on my front porch during a rain storm, wishing i had a song to write. That was sort of magical to me, writing a song about wanting to write a song. The first line of Stupid, stupid, stupid woke me up in the middle of the night, demanding to be realized, a sort of twisted nod to an early Zappa song from Freak Out, I think.**
About the bands name, blame it on the original Mother of Invention:** Frank Zappa is one of my ultimate heroes and he made this movie called 200 Motels. Theres a running joke in it about elixir: how do you get this fabulous elixir, good for everything, put it in your car, on your toothbrush, clean your clothes with it, drink it and turn into a monster and etcetera. Frank Zappa is a huge inspiration to me and I wanted to use the word elixir as a sort of subtle tribute so I had that idea and I knew I wanted it to be some type of elixir. We actually do other configurations of the band Elixir's Sister is me and Lynn as a duo or with a band. Mystery Elixir, like it's name implies, could be anything! I liked the concept of having an elixir, which is liquid, combined with the word aural, which means for your ears.**
JFJO is back in NOLA during Jazz Fest!
Tues. April 28th @ The Dragon's Den
(1 set starting around 9pm)
Tues. April 28th @ Hi Ho Lounge
(Skerik's Saucefest late night event)
Thurs. April 30th @ The Blue Nile
(2 sets upstairs starting around 10pm)
Fri. May 1st @ Hi Ho Lounge
(JFJO on late night after A Living Soundtrack, Caddywhompus & MyNameIsJohnMichael)
We just posted Steps To The Top for FREE DOWNLOAD!!! You can visit HoldenYoungMusic.com and click on the Music section. We are gearing up to record our next project this Summer and want everyone to enjoy last year's release for FREE. Thanks for listening and we'll hope to see you at a show soon.
JFJO returns to NOLA at during Jazz Fest in support of 'Winterwood', the new studio album available as FREE download at www.JFJO.com!
Tues. April 28th @ The Dragon's Den - 1 long set @ 9pm
Thurs. April 30th @ The Blue Nile - 2 sets beginning 10pm
Fri. May 1st @ The HiHo Lounge - late night headlining after MyNameIsJohnMichael, A Living Soundtrack, & Caddywhompus!
Hi Aural Elixir ... here is my new Shaman Strings video 'Beautiful Plateau.' It was created & recorded live at the March 29th concert in Trier Germany. more of my Shaman Strings music is at http://www.myspace.com/ShamanStrings ... for our journey, Scot Aaron
Hi Aural Elixir ... Spring greetings from Scot Aaron... Here is my new Shaman Strings video 'holding the breath.' if you like this new music, download songs at http://www.myspace.com/ShamanStrings
If it's too far from your home, if you have better things to do, if you're scared to go out...discover
Jack Dupon's video almost live at a private concert...
Oppression
Si c'est trop loin de chez vous, si vous avez mieux a faire, si sortir vous fait peur... Découvrez la vidéo de Jack Dupon presque en live lors d'un concert privé filmé sur Clermont-1ère en octobre 2008...
oohh.. your site is soooo much better than mine!! oooohhh... so mysterious.! take that jesse!! i hate dogs. except for Rif-raf cause she's smart and doesnt lick me!! ha.. Lick it and like it! why you never used that as an album title? Italians are making me mean.
Progressive Motion Presents is happy to announce the lineup for PROGRESSION II with over $10,000 cash & prizes paid out to the top 10 groups! We are also giving away over $500 in prizes to the audience! Every ticket is good for a FREE raffle ticket.
Want to perform @ the 3rd Annual SKY HIGH Music Festival SEPTEMBER 24TH - 27TH? Looking to play shows or book a tour? Submit your contact info @ www. PMpresents. com
JFJO just released their new studio album 'Winterwood' as a FREE DOWNLOAD! Get it now at WWW. JFJO. COM!
....
JFJO just released their new studio album 'Winterwood' as a FREE DOWNLOAD! Get it now at WWW. JFJO. COM!
Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat?
A while ago I came across some stuff that inspired me to make this film:
Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella
Both artistic (ensure you get the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice.
Though source materials are quite aged, the fundamentals are still relevant today.
I encourage all to visit the YouTube page to learn more (Show support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly circulate as widely as possible, here: http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4