| Issue #3- April 13, 2007 |
review: luma
It’s a familiar story – an undiscovered starry-eyed
musician works at the local coffee shop and spends his nights and weekends
jammin’ with the band, looking for a break. But a not-so-familiar
version of the story unfolds when the local coffee shop (or, in this
case, big corporate chain) gives the musician the break he’s been
waiting for. That’s essentially what happened to Claes Brondal,
the assistant manager at the Bridgehampton Starbucks, the same guy who
makes my double espresso every morning, and, most likely, yours as well.
He plays drums for the East End-based jazz trio LUMA (Life, Unity, Music,
Amplified), the only band from New York that is included on Off The
Clock Vol. 1, a compilation of new music from up-and-coming artists
with one thing in common – they are all employed by Starbucks.
In 2006, after years of being asked by its employees how they can get
their music heard, Starbucks launched its first-ever Partner Music Contest.
When Claes heard about the contest, he submitted several of LUMA’s
tracks, including Ever So Slow, with no expectations. Over 800 entries
were received, but only 15 bands were selected. Not only was LUMA was
one of them, but they were the only jazz number included among the collection
of pop and rock. Not bad for a group that spent the majority of its
three years together playing small local gigs and private parties. LUMA’s
sax player, Dan Lauter, credits the band’s success to their perseverance
and desire to keep the project going, along with the dynamic quality
of their music that never gets static.
The jazz ensemble formed in 2004 with Lauter, bassist Jeff Marshall,
and a slew of musicians that came and went. In wasn’t until 2005
that they met Brondal, the talented drummer and barista who would complete
the trio. Brondal has been employed at the Bridgehampton Starbucks for
almost five years, but never dreamed it would be the ticket he needed
to pursue his artistic ventures. Because many view Starbucks as a lifestyle,
not just a coffeehouse, I asked Lauter if this perception influenced
the band’s decision to participate in the project. He assured
me it didn’t. “We don’t see it from a political point
of view. Starbucks is doing something that no other corporation has
done. They are helping to promote their employee’s music and their
executives are willing to listen.” In fact, the Vice President
of Starbucks attended their show last Saturday in Bridgehampton, where
the guys played alongside guitarist Stan Wright. Right smack in the
middle of a sunny afternoon, the lively jazz quartet kept the crowd’s
feet tapping, fingers snapping and heads bopping, creating an almost
smoky, jazz club-like intimacy. This could very well be their big break,
but for now, the future of LUMA’s relationship with the Starbucks
music label lies in the hands of the voters.
– Janine Cheviot
Visit www.hearmusicnow.com/#OFF_THE_CLOCK to vote for LUMA to help them
win the grand-prize of being featured on an upcoming Starbucks Entertainment
CD alongside major artists. LUMA is currently in the process of booking
future gigs, and you can check them out on 4/13 at 7:30 p.m. when they
jam out at Astor Place Starbucks in Manhattan. For more information,
visit www.myspace.com/lumamusic or www.lumamusic.com.
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