Alan Coleman has been writing music for decades and decided it was about time to put some of them out into the universe. Hence, “Cupid’s Alley,” a collection of 10 songs written by Coleman and produced by Ron Crowder at his InCrowd Productions in Albuquerque. Studio personnel featured included Justin Bransford on bass, guitarist Claudio Toulouse, harmonica master Phil Arnold, Brant Leeper of keyboards, pedal steel player Jon Graboff, fiddler Karina Wilson, and Crowder on drums and backing vocals. Coleman provided rhythm guitar and vocals.

The music is unique in that it is modern Americana but influenced by older country and folk music. Some of it sounds as if someone has discovered some unreleased Hank Williams music. Beautifully produced and executed.

Jason’s music assisted in having the CDs produced by editing the artwork and reviewing and uploading the artwork and audio files to the manufacturer. “Cupid’s Alley” is also available on all streaming platforms.

Joel Hudson, a/k/a Purifeye is a New Mexico Music Awards finalist composing, performing, programming, tracking, engineering, and producing music from his Treehouse Studios, in Pecos, NM.

City Electric is his first full length album from Purifeye, a culmination of 2 years of writing and production described as “reaching for the spirit of the 80s and 90s alternative rock,” a nod to a time when labels on your music were frowned upon and a rallying cry and endeavor for indie artists.  The album is a mix of angsty vocals, guitars, synths, heavy drums, and drum loops leaning towards a rock, shoe-gaze, pop and folk-ambient vibes.

The breakout single, “Blood On The Streets” seems pulled directly from today’s headlines and social circumstances, and explores the doubt many now share about what this world has to offer, who and what we should believe, and questions where we are all heading. Other cuts include “How Long” and “Turn It Into Love.” All artwork on the album was created by Pecos, NM artist Vivienne Hereford formerly known as the artist Helen Gruhlkey. All of the album’s final mixes and mastering were completed by longtime associate Chris Bethea in Minneapolis, MN (Ryvoli, Penny and Sparrow).

The video for the single “Knew A Girl” is streaming on Youtube and features the artist Vivienne Hereford. Link: https://youtu.be/NO5ZU8Z8y2w.

The album is currently streaming on all platforms, Youtube, and is available for purchase on 180 Gram Vinyl and CD at Lost Padre Records in Santa Fe, NM or at the website www.purifeyemusic.com.

On Sunday, September 15th, The New Mexico Music Hall of Fame announced its class of 2025 with an amazing variety of veteran performers from New Mexico.

To be inducted into the hall in a ceremony on November 29th of this year will be saxophonist, jazz master and Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra leader Glenn Kostur, longtime performers Mariachi Tenampa, salsa legend Ivon Ulibarri, Native American flutist and Grammy Award winner Robert Mirabal, Angel Espinosa, bassist extrordinaire Maud Beenhouwer, Sondra Isaminger, Mariachi Spectacular co-founder Noberta Fresquez and actress and musician Demi Moore.

Glenn Kostur has a long history of promoting jazz in New Mexico through his music and has been the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of New Mexico since 1995.

Mariachi Tenampa is celebrating 40 years of bringing traditional and ,modern Mariachi music to the southwest beginning in Santa Fe in 1971, with the late Don Miguel Ojeda Sr. Members of Mariachi Tenampa have served as instructors for many conferences across the southwest including conferences in Tucson, Albuquerque, Alamosa Colorado, Midland Texas, San Angelo Texas, Pueblo Colorado and El Rito. Several members of the group also direct school-based mariachi programs at San Jose Elementary School, Washington Middle School, Albuquerque High School, the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association Program and the University of New Mexico.

With her band Cafe Mocha, Ivon Ulibari is one of the pioneers of Salsa, Cumbia and other Latin styles of music in New Mexico. This New Mexico Music Award winning artist has been entertaining throughout the southwest for the past 30 years. Originally from Tucumcari, NM, she studied at the University of New Mexico and also serves as a teacher in the Albuquerque Public School system.

Grammy Award winner Robert Mirabal of Taos Pueblo is a musician, composer, painter, master craftsman, poet, actor, screenwriter, author, horseman, and farmer. A flute player and maker, Robert’s flutes have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of the American Indian. Robert’s music can be heard in the film Prey where he added soundscapes, vocal chant, flutes and percussionist and George RR Martin’s Night of The Cooters and co-scored the soundtrack for the 4-part Hulu series Vow of Silence: the Assassination of Annie Mae. 

Angel Espinoza was born and raised in Espanola and studied music at New Mexico Highlands University and the University of New Mexico. Her career took off in the early 1990’s and in 1996 Angel was signed to Joey Records in San Antonio, TX and recorded her award winning CD, “Amor Cuanto Te Quise”. 

Maud Beenhower is the go to bassist in New Mexico. She has been playing bass for over 30 years and a staff member of the New Mexico Jazz Workshop since 2005, serving at various times as its Director from 2009 through 2014. Her current duties f include grant writing, bookkeeping, Adult Education curriculum design, and “Under the Stars” program support. Maud holds a degree from the University of New Mexico in History and French and has been a professional musician for over thirty years. She plays bass for several popular Albuquerque bands and does occasional teaching as well.

Sondra Isaminger (1956–2008) sang lead and was the front person in the pop dance group Mikado. This group traveled throughout the west coast, touring in Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming and New Mexico. After passing away from cancer in 2008, her husband John founded the Sondra Isaminger Cancer Foundation commemorating Sondra by assisting cancer victims and their families with non-medical needs while they receive treatment in Albuquerque, NM.

Mariachi Spectacular co-founder and executive director of Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque Noberta Fresquez recently  received the 2022 Robb Award for Excellence. The Robb Award is presented annually by the Board of Directors of the UNM (University of New Mexico) John Donald Robb Musical Trust to a musician, individual, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution in New Mexico in Music. Beginning in 1990, the Mariachi Spectacular has brought the finest Mariachi instructors in the world to New Mexico to educate those interested in learning this most unique and fascinating music.

While known internationally as an award winning actress, Demi Moore also has a musical history that dates back to 1981, co-authoring music for the Nu Katz with then husband Freddy Moore. Born in Roswell, NM, Moore has gone on to international fame, becoming one of the highest paid actors in the world.

for more information, go to https://nmmhof.org/

New Mexico Music Award winning producer and engineer Roger Baker is looking for emerging artists to assist in their musical journey. Roger is a brilliant arranger, engineer and producer who in semi-retirement would like to give back to the music community. He is looking for singer/songwriters that can use his recording/production/arranging/keyboard skills. Roger has produced award winning music for Emerson Corley and Pat Reyes, among others.

For the right artist, Roger will offer a reduced rate for his studio services. His minimum requirements include:

1. A lyric sheet with chords.

2. Solid communication of their the style/genre and a link to a YouTube that is in the ball park of what they are trying to achieve. 

3. Artists must be able to sing in tune and play in time and repeat their song consistently in the same form if asked to play it several times. If they are planning on having someone else sing the song they should be ready to pay for a professional vocalist. 

For inquiries on how you may take advantage of this generous offer from Roger Baker, reach out to him at rogerdownstairsstudio@gmail.com

New Mexico Music Awards co-sponsor Tonewood Amp will be setting up workshops and demos statewide soon. This little marvel of engineering provides acoustic effects for your guitar without the need for an amp. It works as a stand alone unit, but can also be combined with any sound system.

Setup takes just minutes and you may be surprised with what this little box can do. You’ll never want to be without it again and you’ll want more than one. Affordability and ease of use are the key here. Attaches to your guitar without any alterations to your instrument and works now through a simple app on your phone.

This indispensable piece of hardware for musicians can add magic of to your performance.

Videos to follow soon, but for now, find out more at https://www.tonewoodamp.com/

Musicality, Albuquerque’s full service music store had changed locations to 7200 Montgomery NE, Suite G2 in the shopping center located at the crossroads of Louisiana and Montgomery.

Musicality is student driven, providing lessons, sheet music and instrument rentals. They also carry acoustic instruments, keyboards, pro audio and accessories.

Take the time when you’re in the neighborhood to stop in and visit or find them online at https://www.musicalitynm.com/

Multiple New Mexico Music Award Winner Kito Peters is currently in studio recording a new album, but in the meantime, he has released his latest completes project, What is a Song. Peters is closing in on 30 albums over the past 20 or so years.

The newest album has 13 original songs and feature some of New Mexico’s best musicians including drummer Mark Clark, bassist Susan Hyde Holmes, guitarist John Kurzweg and Kevin Zoernig on keyboards. Peters provides the acoustic guitar and lead vocalsd with backing vocals by Myrrhine Faller

The album was recorded and engineered by Jason Reed at Frogville studios and produced by Kito Peters. Available on all platforms and on CD direct from the artist. Go to https://kitopeters.bandcamp.com/album/what-is-a-song

Bette Korber’s latest nature song and video is Silver Wolf, a tribute to the Mexican Grey Wolf and her friend, actor A Bone Martinez lately seen on the New Mexico produced Dark Winds television series on AMC. The inclusion of Martinez in the song refers to him as an inspiring figure, reminding her of the same struggles the Mexican Grey Wolves have endured and yet still persist and of their key traits of love and loyalty to family and community (pack).

Bette had the pleasure of getting to know Martinez when he came to New Mexico to work on Longmire and through his writings. Korber uses the song as a way to share information about the Mexican Gray Wolf, Lobos. She also uses the Valles Caldera, a place Martinez has visited, as part of the back drop to the video because it is also part of the story of the Lobos.

This video is also a tribute to Korber’s friend Irene Owsley’s amazing pictures of the landscapes of New Mexico. Lyrics are also included in a link on the video page. The music production includes the talents of Peter Oviatt, Brent Berry, Eryn Bent, and Zephaniah Stringfield and also give a not to NM ex-pat Lisa Carman and Joseph Ewatuya for musical inspiration. Laura Ambrosiano provided the running wolf.

Find the video online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JtD6jHd8C4

You can learn more about the LOBOS by linking to:
The Wolf Conservation Center
Lobos of the Southwest
WIldEarth Guardians
The Center for Biological Diversity
New Mexico Wild
The US Fish and Wildlife Service

Rich Rajacich has released his latest album, Better Angels, his 8th in as many years. The album was a finalist at this year’s New Mexico Music Awards and was produced with Jono Manson at the Kitchen Sink Studios in Santa Fe. The album features 10 cuts including the rhythmic Our Time has Come, the Cajun flavored While the Getting’s Good, and a couple of ballads including the title track. Personnel include Mark Clark on drums and percussion, Ronnie Johnson on bass, Jon Graboff on guitar, mandolin, and the pedal steel, Char Rothschild on accordion, and Jono on guitar, tenor guitar, and vocals. Find out more at richrajacich.hearnow.com