Shaun Evans Media & Entertainment

I’m sure many of you are as interested as I am in getting your charts onto a digital platform like a Tablet PC (a laptop either without a keyboard or one where it folds behind the screen), A UMPC (ultra-mobile PC) or even the Ipad.  It looks like these boys in the Netherlands have been ahead of the game with MusicReader.  The free program (to try) allows you to drop in your PDF scores and with a Wireless USB or Bluetooth (soon to come) pedal you can be flipping pages to your heart’s content!  It seems to allow you to also scan the chart so it can recognize the bar lines for metronomic playback.  You also have the option to do highlighting and markups so you can also get rid of the pesky gig pencil! (that you always forgot to bring to rehearsal anyways …

I gave the program a run on my Windows 7 (x64) machine and did find it a bit clunky but promising.  I’ll definitely look forward to toying with it a little further.  They have an Ipad application in the works so you can drop your MusicReader-converted files straight into your Ipad for reading on the road.  Is the Ipad the new Manhasset? (guess it needs some legs …

MusicReader does seem to be a much more cost effective tool than alternatives like MusicPad that can come at a steep price …  What do you think?

Many people have been asking lately where to get quality arrangements for their band.  I have to recommend the guys at www.jazzwise.com .. they have a quality London Orchestrations line that is played around the world and well respected.  Next time you need a new big or small band chart drop into them and check them out!

Hey guys and gals:  For those of you that have been looking for an inexpensive way to get your music off the paper and onto and LCD it looks like this company AirTurn has what you’ve been looking for.  Their program MusicReader appears to be a free download that’s really similar to some of the high end LCD music reader programs that I’ve seen out there.  Its runs on your Windows or OSX laptop and there is IPad support coming soon.

But the real kicker (or page turner, perhaps is the USB dongle they sell for $40 -$100 (depending on features) that can be used with MusicReader or any PDF program like Adobe Acrobat Reader to flip the pages on your tunes.

Check out more at www.AirTurn.com … sounds like a good great gift for the music-geek in your life!

We’ve been working with Bo Jackson and the Unusual Suspects of Atlanta big band for a while now and the guys are still swingin it and keepin’ it funky down Atlanta way.  Here’s a little blurb on what they’re doing:

THE USUAL SUSPECTS is a professional 17-piece Big Band in the tradition of the Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller Big Bands featuring male and female vocalists.  We play exciting musical arrangements from the golden age of the Big Band era, memory-filled Beach Music, the soul-stirring vibes of Motown as well as today’s favorites!  What better way to ignite a corporate event, a family occasion such as a wedding or even a fund raiser for your favorite charitable organization than to include THE USUAL SUSPECTS in your next celebration?  We’re available for a variety of dinner-dance events and venues.

You can visit them online at www.theusualsuspectsatlanta.com and definitely visit their clips page where they feature some of our tunes!  Thanks, guys!

Don Stiber and the gang from Sarasota Gold were recently featured on a PBS documentary.  Check out Don’s beautiful, custom rehearsal space … I’m envious!  Great feature guys!

Greg Bella just let me know about the great Youtube vids from his band Swing Assembly that are live and kickin’! The 6 horn band has been crankin out some great grooves around the Chicago area since 2009. Great working with these guys! Check out the vids or their website at www.swingassembly.com

Wow! … Here I am updating you from the road on my Blackberry! You’ve got to love the access that these new technologies give you to share information. We’re making some new additions to the site to do just that: if you look on the left side of the website you’ll see our new twitter feed. If you don’t know what twitter is (you don’t know what twitter is?!? its a way for us to send out quick little messages and updates to your computer or phone once you’ve subscribed to our feed. That way we can start giving you up to the moment updates on new tunes, specials we’re running or let you know when to check for the newsletter. You’ve got to love this stuff! All the best from the road . Shaun

Straight from Las Vegas, we’re excited to be working with one of the city of lights’ premier entertainment companies, RNRH Entertainment.

RNRH Entertainment is Las Vegas’ most comprehensive and ONLY 24 hour full service Entertainment provider and is the home of Impersonator Central – the largest selection of celebrity impersonators and uncanny look-alikes in the world.
RNRH Entertainment books talent nationally as well as internationally.
Visit them online at  www.celebrity-lookalikes.com to find out more about this top notch entertainment provider.

We’re proud to be working with a top notch Vegas pro, Rob Garrett.  He’s one of the most requested Neil Diamond tribute artists in North America.  Here’s more about Rob and a video after the break …

“Long time Las Vegas entertainer and “2008 Male Music Tribute Act of the Year” , ROB GARRETT, is North America’s most requested Neil Diamond tribute artist. Rob is the only ‘dead-ringer’ lookalike/soundalike for the “Jazz Singer” era Neil Diamond and performs in more cities across the U.S.A than any other tribute artist in the industry.
For more information, visit www.neildiamondclone.com“

Wow! … The guys from LA’s In Good Company band are tearing it up on Youtube. Check out the video after the break. Great working with you guys and thanks for passing on the vids!: