Category music

Big Band Beat (Mix)

Mike Hope Leave a comment

I was messing around with some sounds and found an intro to an old Big Band recording I have, as well as a talking segment from legendary Xavier Cugat where he talks about the joy of bringing people together through music… I added it to the beat mix for this short segment. Hope you like it and I’m working on some extended versions with a Latin/Cuban flavor.

 

The picture was taken in the colorful town of La Boca, Buenos Ares, Argentina outside of a Tango Cafe…

Thanks for taking a listen and if you like it share it 🙂

Mike-Hope

 

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Aha – Best Infotainment App!!

Mike Hope Leave a comment

 

I have been testing this app on my phone and through the new on screen Infotainment app in the new Mazda 6, 2016 Touring Edition. It works great and integrates well with the on board system. I can select my favorite stations from music, talk, news and create a list of favorites to access at anytime. Go to the online page for Aha at Aharadio.com and choose from thousands of internet stations, genres and even talking books!! If you want some cool on board infotainment on you Mazda 6 Infotainment System then you should seriously consider this app. For me this is way better than Pandora as I have such a great selection of radio stations to choose from. What’s also cool about this app is it uses your location to serve up information on what’s around you, like restaurants, parks, hotels and gas stations. Not new but if you don’t have full nav installed this is definitely a plus!!

THIS IS WHAT INFOTAINMENT SHOULD BE

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Thanks for taking a look and check out the Aha app

Mike-Hope

Mike Hope @ Weebly

Mike Hope Leave a comment

Hi all,

I was looking around at good blog site set ups and came across weebly. This is a great alternative to wordpress if you want a lot of features and easy ad ins. I put together a site in around an hour as a test and can easily add content. The great thing is you can get a basic site up for FREE, how good is that. I really like the flow and ease of use and think you should take a look if your considering making your own blog. The site also allows easy upgrade for online store and a host of other options. Of course that’s not to say wordpress isn’t the best!!!

Thanks for checking it out,

Mike Hope 

PONO IS HERE!!!

Mike Hope 1 Comment

Hi All,

I just wanted to share this with you if you are hankering after better quality audio to sooth your tired ears this might just be for you!!

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This is from the CSM on Pono and I’m right there with em, well maybe not the Christian side but certainly I’m all for the HD music stuff!!!

“There’s never been a rock star more predictably unpredictable than Neil Young. Whatever your opinion of his music, the man has always followed his unique inner compass – often at his own expense – veering from feel-good folkie to angry political firebrand to raucous guitar strangler, sometimes over the course of consecutive albums. He’s truly an artist who dances to a different drummer.

Mr. Young’s burning passion these days is Pono, a Toblerone-shaped digital music player that attempts to turn back the clock to the glory days of high-fidelity sound reproduction.

Beginning with the arrival of CDs in the early 1980s up through today’s MP3s, audio recordings have been getting squashed and compressed so radically that sound engineers estimate we’re only getting about 5 percent of the sound recorded in the studio by the time we listen to a song through our earbuds”.

So get on down and check it out! I’ve had a sample and I really can’t go back. Don’t cheat your ears, let them be who they were made to be and get into the HD music revolution!! 

Thanks for listening,

Mike Hope

Sunset Music Studio – New Location – Redondo Beach

Mike Hope Leave a comment

Hi All,

I just wanted to tell you about a great place to learn all those musical skills you have always wanted to develop, Sunset Learning Studio.  This is a wonderful learning studios situated in Redondo Beach. The studios have been set up by two wonderful and talanted friends of mine who have created a community feel where learning to express your musical talents is not only fulfilling but full of fun too. From kindergarten to those of us who just want to express our creativity, Sunset Learning Studio has something for everyone!! I know I’ll be going there to brush up on piano or pick up where I left off with that guitar I have in the closet. Why not stop by or send off an email. You’ll be suprised at how just how affordable and fun it can be.

Here is a little about the founders Jan and Nicola,  from their web site Sunset Learning Studio. If you are looking for lessons check them out, the first lesson is FREE!!

Make sure to check out their new location…

South Redondo Location

1203 South PCH, Redondo Beach CA 90277

On the Pacific Coast Highway between Avenues D and E.  (Right next to Vicki’s Antiques)

Were the good people go!!

Sunset Learning Studio – Where learning is a pleasure!!

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Sunset Learning Studios:

The Sunset Learning Studio was founded by South Bay musician, Dan Jenks.

After attending the University of Evansville as a trombone Performance Major, Dan toured the US for many years on the east coast as a multi-instumentalist (guitar, sax, flute, keys, and singer-songwriter).  As a freelance music arranger in New York City, he became hooked on studio recording.  Eighteen years ago, Dan moved to California and opened his private recording studio in Redondo Beach.  As a music producer, Dan has recorded, arranged and produced over 70 albums.

More recently, he opened the local and online music store called My Gear Guy (www.mygearguy.com) in the same business complex as his recording studio.  My Gear Guy continues to be a great source for music gear and technical advice for local musicians.

As a member of our music community, Dan saw a need for a special kind of music instruction in the South Bay.  Together with his wife, Nicola McGillicuddy, the Sunset Learning Studio has been created to offer music students an EXCEPTIONAL learning experience – right here, in the South Bay!

The Sunset Learning Studio offers private lessons and music classes in voice (vocals), guitar, drums, piano, bass, and music technology – including Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar, Logic, Studio Recording, and Modern Music Production.

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to tell Dan and Nicola that Mike let you know about their great studios…

Mike Hope

Arrowead Resort – Mike Hope

Mike Hope Leave a comment

The lovely Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, great place for a weekend getaway. They have a little private beach, lot’s of lake view rooms and pretty good amenities. Close to Arrowhead Village with plenty of live music on Friday and Saturday evenings!! I took this one while hanging out on the balcony watching the light fade away… which is exactly what I was doing too!!

Lake Arrowhead Concert Series

Lake Arrowhead Concert Series