Nostalgia is Back !
by Jo Hogan ~ Director Vintrix Entertainment

Music is one of the ways we make sense of our lives, express feelings when we have no words, a way for us to understand things with our hearts when we can't with our minds.       Karl Paulnack, pianist and director of the music division of the Boston Conservatory.

True words. In 2009, our communities have been experiencing unprecedented challenges and emotions in both the economic and social realm. Global Financial Crisis, swine flu, the passing of a pioneer in music, Michael Jackson. However music is the universal language that brings us together, provides a sense of strength and relief. As a community challenged by world events and changing times, how many times have some of you heard yourself say, Remember the good old days!

Nostalgia is back and we will see it repackaged in Harry Connick Jnr’s forthcoming vinyl album release on the 25^th August and CD release in September. I’m looking forward to hearing his interpretations of songs such as the Beatles' And I love Her and Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are.

Psychologist, Tim Wildschut, believes nostalgia is now emerging as a fundamental human strength. It is part of the fabric of everyday life and serves a number of key psychological functions. The study of nostalgia has an exciting and promising future.

Something else with a bright and promising future… Our own, classic of today, Garth Ploog also has some great nostalgic surprises in his expanding song catalogue through his work with USA based songwriter Kristy Jackson. While the chanteuse of jazz, Maria Tecce is set to take the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by storm with her one woman show that takes her audience back to reminisce upon the words of master poet of love, Pablo Neruda. 

If you would like to relax and chill and reminisce about life and the universe be sure to visit our web site vintrix.com.au to tune into great jazz on the Euro Jazz radio program.

There is nothing more nostalgic in the music game than the vinyl record. In fact this year marks the 60^th Anniversary of the vinyl record. Vinyl album sales nearly doubled last year, with 1.88 million sold - up from just under 1 million in 2007. We have been seeing and will continue to see a trend where artists are producing their lead launch on Vinyl.

Record companies such as Universal, EMI and other majors have produced vinyls for artists such as U2, Radio Head, Elvis Costello, Stevie Wonder & Coldplay etc. Many turn-tables that provide us with today’s current retro, hip warm vinyl sounds are equipped with USB that connect directly into a hard drive and convert vinyl to MP3 files

Vintrix has been close to the Vinyl in the past months, having  completed photoshoots with Australian DJ’s Miss Eleni and Phillip Mezzatesta, both of whom have been busy on the International Circuit. I’m also looking forward to the event Deja Vu on the 30^th August, by the JET boys where many vinyls will be spun.

My final trip down nostalgic lane  is to pay tribute to a great man of music, who has been a wonderful support to me over the past 2 years, the legendary, Dini Clarke, who passed away in June. Through the magic of recorded music, I have enjoyed reliving the sound of Dini and his tributes to Duke Wellington. His spirit and legacy lives on in his music through Vinyls, CD’s and on-line.

So may I suggest, take time out from the rat race, and execute the ritual of playing your favourite tracks from times gone by and enjoy the memories.

In the meantime......Join me on

Vale Dini Clarke
Legendary man of Jazz, Dini Clarke, passed away in Los Angeles on June 14th, 2009 from heart failure. Dini, with his trio backed singers including Mel Tormé, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Eartha Kitt, Diahann Carroll and Al Hibbler. In addition, Dini has played in various groups such as Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Tiny Grimes, Louis Jordan, Kai and Jay, Eddie South and Stuff Smith and composed lyrics to the songs of Billy Strayhorn.

As musical director of NBC show Fragments, he composed the theme, sang several songs, arranged and conducted the music. In LA he studied dance with Roland Dupree, and acting with Leonard Nimoy which led to an acting career that included appearances on General Hospital, Hill Street Blues and 16 episodes of Misfits of Science. Dini was also a much sought after vocal teacher-coach, having had the position of Vocal Director for eleven musicals, including West Side Story, Oliver and Gypsy.

Dini also taught privately for such well known artists as Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau (winner of five GRAMMY Awards), Ernestine Anderson (receiver of five GRAMMY nominations), Peabo Bryson (winner of more than five GRAMMY awards), Lonnette McKee of Cotton Club and Round Midnight fame, Debbie Shapiro-Gravitte (who won a TONY Award for her performance in Jerome Robbins' Broadway), Dianne Reeves (also a GRAMMY winner) and numerous others. Dini taught voice classes at Los Angeles City College for 16 years, USC Music Department and Howard University as well as the World Stage Theatre in Los Angeles.

On Sunday 16th August 3.00pm - 8.00pm, a special presentation celebrating the life of Dini Clarke will be staged at Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill, 6122W Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.

For all of us touched by Dini’s generosity and inspiring spirit, he will be greatly missed. A man of great grace and humility, who shared his knowledge, joy of life and love of music with us all.

Vale Dini Clarke.

Viva ! at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival
A message from Maria Tecce

My sizzling new show Viva! is going great guns at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This once-off run includes new songs and arrangements added especially for the Festival, along with smouldering tango & Spanish songs, bossa nova, and words from master poet of love, Pablo Neruda. The icing on the cake is that my lighting design has been created by world reknowned, Irish designer, Paul Keogan. Undoubtedly be the most visually and musically stunning theatrical production this year, it's only happening August 6 - 30 at 10pm every night (except 17 & 24).

So join the mayhem and madness of Edinburgh Fringe and come over and join the party! Follow my brand new blog here and get all the Diva scandal during my month run up in Edinburgh Fringe

The first round of champagne is on the house - Viva la Vida!

Join Maria's mailing list for her latest updates.

Vintrix attended the recent album launch of It’s About Time by WALLENSIS, who took guests on a nostalgic, musical journey, transported through time by the warm, smooth vocals and wonderful harmonies of siblings, Jan, Kristine & Leigh Wallace, who together make up WALLENSIS.

Jan has backed many recording artists and toured nationally with the band Tramm, and her band Topaze. Jan was a regular singer on Shirl's Neighbourhood and has recorded many TV and radio commercials.

Leigh started his career as a member of Channel 7’s Brian & the Juniors, and was a member of The Young Australians led by The Seekers, Athol Guy. One of Leigh’s career highlights was in 1971, when he performed a Command performance for the Royal Family in Melbourne.

WALLENSIS: Jan, Leigh & Kristine

Presenting a repetoire of songs that hold a special meaning and appeal to the trio, It’s About Time is a cross section of many styles and inspirations, ranging from My Funny Valentine by Rodgers & Hart to Van Morrison’s Moon Dance through to Ruth Moody’s, One Voice. It is a collection that reflects part of the Wallace family’s rich musical journey over the past 4 decades.

U P C O M I N G   G I G S

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MARIA TECCE ~ Viva

Sheer theatrical brilliance - The Irish Times

August 6th - 30th, at The Assembly Room Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland

Wednesday, September 2nd - Le Petit Festival, Dubrovnik

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GARTH PLOOG
Garth Ploog & Tanja Karavesov, member of Organising Committee of the Docklands Community Association.

Garth has been busy over the winter months performing at the snowfields of Mt Hotham - Dinner Plains and around Melbourne including Crown Palladium, the Commune Bar, the Blue Diamond, the Point, Albert Park and Docklands.

Sunday, September 20th - Cilantro - Mt Hotham Victoria

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DJ Miss Eleni is an award winning, Melbourne based DJ whose signature style of underground house is enjoyed by many throughout the world. DJ Miss Eleni has entertained her audiences at events such as; The Omega VIP parties every night during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, New Zealand’s annual HERO party, TABOO Night Club in Singapore and the Official World Out Games Opening Party in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Her musical interests are varied and depending on her audience, her style ranges from deep, soulful house, chunky disco and vocal house - with progressive/tribal twists. Her music reflects a lifelong love of female vocalists such as Michelle Weekes, Kathy Brown and Jocelyn Brown. Listen in to her unique style of music.

The always busy DJ Phill has served up an eclectic array of remixes and productions over the years, with many being released on vinyl and landing themselves as permanent fixtures in DJ crates globally.

Remixes include the collaboration with Melbourne's own Blow Waves & Charles Fenech along with Mylo's, In My Arms and the massive Boogie Pimps Somebody to Love, to name a few.

Check out Mezabel, DJ Phill's record store: a store that keeps the tradition of soulful house music alive, encouraging quality music – new & old, Vinyl & CD. And while you're at it, check out DJ Phill's Facebook Page.

DJ Phill is off to the USA in September. We wish DJ Phill all the best for his Real Bad XXI tour in San Francisco.

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ARIA Hall Of Fame - THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre. An annual event since 2005, honouring Australian musicians’ achievements locally and internationally. 

In addition to the inductions, this year’s event will feature a host of special live music performances, The premiere telecast on VH1 is confirmed for Friday, August 28 at 8.30pm and the encore broadcast set down for the Nine Network nationally on Saturday, August 29 at 2pm.

This year’s inductees are John Paul Young, Little Pattie, Kev Carmody, Mental As Anything & The Dingoes.

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Available Now
Click images below to purchase
Maria Tecce's CDs

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