Band of Virgos Archives • Diane Ward Music

Jack Shawde

January 31, 2015 by imc

“JACK SHAWDE, WHOSE FLUENCY AND IMAGINATION AS A PLAYER, PRODUCER AND ARRANGER MAKE HIM ONE OF THE REGIONAL MUSIC SCENE’S INDISPENSABLE PEOPLE.” – Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Jack Shawde is one of the Southeast’s most in-demand performing and recording musicians, and producer. In addition to being a craftsman of the electric guitar, nylon string and steel string acoustic guitar, Jack also plays the mandolin, resonator ‘Dobro’ style guitar, lap steel, dulcimer and banjo.

Throughout his career, Jack has performed, recorded or toured with such legends as Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, Richie Havens, Stan Lynch (Tom Petty), Al Cooper (Blood Sweat & Tears), Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. Jack has performed and recorded all over the world, including accompanying Enrique Iglesias at the Latin Grammy Awards, which were televised live to a world-wide audience of 10 million.

The latest CD by Diane Ward, titled “Beautiful Ways”, is now available !!! Jack co-produced, recorded & played multiple instruments on “Beautiful Ways”. Mixed by John Merchant (Mika, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, BeeGees) and mastered by Adam Ayan (Carrie Underwood, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters and countless others) at Bob Ludwig’s Gateway Mastering, the CD sounds terrific and is chock full of great Diane Ward songs!! Buy it — you’ll like it !!

Jack also co-produced, recorded & performed on Diane’s previous albums, including ‘Wonderlight’ which was mixed by John Merchant and mastered by legendary mastering guru, Bob Ludwig (Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin). ‘Wonderlight’ received airplay on AAA radio nationally. ‘Trampoline Hero’ was the #1 Single on Sirius OUT Q channel 109. ‘Unloving Game’ was a top 10 single on Sirius OUT Q channel 109.

Prior to ‘Wonderlight,’ Diane released her tour de force album ‘The Great Impossible.’ It was another co-production by Jack & Diane and mastered by Greg Calbi (Bruce Springsteen, Aimee Mann). Songs from Diane Ward’s CD ‘The Great Impossible’ were featured in the 2013 independent film, ‘Calloused Hands.’ Previously, MTV took notice of the album and licensed it in its entirety. The producers of the Academy Award nominated film ‘Crash’ featured one of Diane’s songs on the premier episode of their TV series, ‘Angela’s Eyes’ broadcast on the Lifetime Channel & several songs from ‘The Great Impossible’ were also featured in the Award-winning documentary ‘Blindsided’ which aired on HBO.

Pre-production work has begun on the latest Diane Ward CD, which Jack and Diane are co-producing. Stay tuned for updates!
Jack’s recent production credits include Karen Feldner’s latest CD, ‘Take My Heart and Run’ (on which Jack plays numerous instruments), and singer-songwriter Jim Wurster’s Americana album entitled ‘Straight To Me.’ Jack is currently producing and playing on a batch on new Karen Feldner songs, as well as the new CD by singer-songwriter Darrell Arnold.

He also appears on several tracks of the new Edison Project CD featuring LA based songwriter, Karma.

Jack co-produced and performed on ‘Treachery, Lust & Misfortune – American Celtic,’ the latest album by the Celtic rock band, The Three Jacks. In 2011, The Three Jacks played a series of benefit concerts to raise money for A Better Life Foundation to help support their wonderful work with disabled kids in one of the world’s poorest countries, Burkina Faso…The Three Jacks headed south to Managua, Nicargua and played concerts to raise money for the Fabretto Organization, a charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children. This followed on the heels of The Three Jack’s successful fundraising concerts in Peru to raise money for those affected by the 2007 earthquake, and Miami for Jackson Memorial Hospital. The Three Jacks also performed at Gusman Center in Miami with million selling international pop star Alexander Rybak.

In addition to producing new projects and doing studio session work, Jack continues to play shows all over the country with Diane Ward, The Three Jacks, Karen Feldner, Darrell Arnold, Edan Archer, Magda Hiller, The Shackdaddy’s, Bonefish Johnny, Darrell Arnold, Nicole Yarling, and many others.

Jack would like to thank Eric Zidovec at Indigo Amplifiers for providing such wonderful guitar amps, and to Cliff at Destroy All Guitars for providing other great amps by Little Walter Tube Amps, Todd Sharp Amps, Lazy J Amps, Glaswerks Amps, and Louis Electric Amps. Jack also plays Carr amps and Welagen amps, as well as wonderful guitars by Dennis Fano, Charles Whitfill and Tom Anderson. And Sage Benado at Benado Effects makes some killer sounding effects pedal boards ! I am honored to be playing such outstanding gear, and thank you for including me in your families !! You make me sound good !!

If you are interested in using Jack’s services, please email him at jack@jackshawde.com or contact him thru Facebook.

Debbie Duke

January 31, 2015 by imc

Band of Virgos

Debbie Duke has been one of South Florida’s premier bass players for many years and is known for a versatile and deep pocket. Her unique style mixes swinging grooves with rich melodic counterpoint and she is equally at home playing with singer-songwriters, jam band funk rockers, blues and bluegrass artists and is a master in all styles of rock.

She is currently an active member of the following bands: Diane Ward Band, The Three Jacks. Previous bands: Chris Harford and The Band of Changes, Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, Armando Zuppa Band, Sixo, Robbie Gennet Band, She Said, Rudy, Trophy Wife, Matthew Sabatella, Cassius Clay, Brian Franklin, Zach Ziskin, Funky Blu Roots, Crooked Hat, Teri Catlin Band & Free Radicals Band.

She’s appeared on stage with: Nil Lara, Marco Benevento & Joe Russo (Benevento Russo Duo), Dean Ween (Ween, Chris Harford & The Band of Changes), Chris Harford, Jack Shawde (Diane Ward, Enrique Iglesias, Paul Butterfield, Bob Dylan) , Jack Stamates (Shakira, J-Lo, Celtic Mayhem), Brendan Buckley (Shakira, Damien Rice, Spam All-Stars), Bobby Lee Rodgers (Codetalkers), George Porter Jr. (Meters), Indigo Girls, Kristen Hall, Angela Bowie, Alexander Rybak, Julian Adam Zimmon (Shakira, Spam All-Stars, Iggy Pop, Raw B Jae), Halcyon, Fernando Perdomo (Dreaming In Stereo, Fast Forward Records), Adrian Olivares (Menudo), Alana Chirino (Chirino Sisters), John Yarling, Brother Lou, Fernando Sanchez (Volumen Zero), & Ben Peeler (The Mavericks, Wallflowers).

To learn more about Debbie Duke, please visit: http://www.debbiedukemusic.com

Bob Taylor

January 31, 2015 by imc

Band of Virgos

Keyboardist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Bob Taylor has worked successfully across genres and in a broad array of contexts, from backing iconic musicians to writing music for film and TV. Throughout it all, his instinctual creativity has been a key asset. “My approach is organic, I try not to impose myself on what’s happening musically, and, instead, let what’s happening dictate what I play.”

Taylor’s intuitive musicality has enabled him to traverse such diverse styles as rock, pop, world music, jazz, reggae, bluegrass, funk, soul, and blues. With such an expansive palette, Taylor has been able to compose music for production libraries, and television shows and films such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Saturday Night Live, Sex in the City 2, and Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead, among others. He’s also worked with a broad cross section of artists, including reggae legend Marcia Griffiths of The I-Threes, Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin, pop icon Buster Poindexter, and Grammy®-winning guitar virtuoso Brian Stoltz (Neville Brothers, Funky Meters). Back home in South Florida, Taylor has gigged and/or recorded with such beloved artists including, Diane Ward, Dark Horse Flyer, Groove Thangs, Shack Daddys, Raiford Starke, and Native-American singer/songwriter Chief Jim Billie.

John Yarling

January 31, 2015 by imc

Band of Virgos

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John Yarling (drumset, jazz percussion) is a lecturer in the Department of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. His flawless musicianship and commitment to his art make him the drummer of choice for many South Florida performers such as Ira Sullivan & the Inter-Outer Continental Quintet, The Shack Daddys, South Florida Jazz Orchestra, Brian Murphy Trio, The Nicole Yarling 4-Tet, the Jeff Taylor Band & Diane Ward. John Yarling is at ease playing in many styles including Modern Jazz, Blues, Funk and Rock. In past years he has performed with jazz luminaries Mose Allison, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderley, Lou Donaldson, Jaki Byard, Jimmy Forrest, Mark Murphy, Mike Stern, Pete Minger, Larry Coryell and Dave Liebman as well as rockers Mick Taylor, Nicky Hopkins and Bobby Keys (The Rolling Stones). He has recorded with Ira Sullivan, Curtis Fuller, Pepper Adams, Joe Williams, Ernest Ranglin, Kevin Mahogany, and most recently, Pink. Yarling attended Florida State University (classical percussion) as well as the University of Miami (jazz performance, drum-set). Earlier in his career he taught general music and percussion at North Broward Preparatory Schools, and established a percussion program at the Florida Youth Conservatory.