News & Gigs archive 2006

Mo's CD "Goin' Basic" has officially been put on sale as of today by Mo's digital distributor CDBaby, best of independent music, at http://cdbaby.com/cd/momillar

Mo will perform a crossover jazz set at the Fontys Journalism & Communications Faculty's 25th anniversary in the southern Dutch city of Tilburg on 16 December 2005 with the kind collaboration of the Brabant Music Conservatory http://www.fontys.nl/conservatorium. On this occasion she'll present a line up of great musicians: Ludo van der Winkel on upright bass http://www.ludovanderwinkel.nl  (picture) and session musician Mark Vermeeren on guitar.

The Socks, a.k.a. les Socquettes Mauves, the party band that was put on the Swiss map with Mo as frontlady in between 2000-2003, have ressurrected from death (despite a convincing burrial ceremony in 2003: never say never!) It's line up can be described as unquestionable promising: on bass Marc Favez (T.A.F.K.A.M.F), on drums Marc-Olivier Savoy (riddim man Moonraisers - Switzerland's top reggae band - Trio Marc Perrenoud e.a.), on guitars 'old-timers' Chablues and Cyril Mrazek (Hot Dogs) and...Mo back as Janis Joplin's alter ego on lead vocals. Official Socks web site: http://www.bille.ch/socquettes-mauves/

Considerate public voting on Dutch web radio NCRV (http://www.ongekendtalent.nl) in the Netherlands for Mo's interpretation of "In My Life" resulted into its entering onto the top 40 of most popular MP3's of new artists. The song entered the MP3 list five days ago at position 205 to climb to position 35 three days later. "Voodoo Music" also received significant support; it entered the station's listing at position 330 to reach position 41 within' the same time frame. The MP3 list of new talented artists bodies a total of 950 songs. Mo wishes to express all her gratitude to everybody voting for her.

Mo 's first solo CD "Goin' Basic" will soon be put on sale via http://www.cdbaby.com offering easy payment, fast delivery and reliability. Direct orders via this website will remain possible but postal delivery may take a little longer as your bank payment has to be received prior to shipment. In case you prefer ordering through this website, thank you for sending an e-mail to info@momillar.com with your specific query. You also may want to check out the section "Music" for this.

A special live television marathon programme, initially on the agenda for December 16th, has been called off due to a stand-off in the collaboration between Dutch radio & television station "Omroep Brabant" (http://www.omroepbrabant.nl and the Fontys Journalism & Communications institute. Unfortunately, Mo was programmed to perform live on this show with Juan Sanchez on guitar and Dennis Orsel on guitar, bass and backing vocals.

Mo is to go funky as guest vocalist - revisiting her roots - with the excellent Patatas Chipas Club (http://www.patatas.ch) in a special programme with a wide variety of other guests at the Usine a Gaz concert hall in Nyon, Saturday 16 September 2006, marking the end of the Patatas 2006 gigs season. Come along and get potatoed too! More info: http://www.usineagaz.ch

TAzik.org, the independent website of the French APAGA (Association for the Promotion of Independent Artists), is currently highlighting "Goin' Basic" on its main page as "CD Of The Month" with a link to a more than flattering CD review for the series "ChroniKs" (http://www.tazik.org/) TAzik writes (in French): "Millar Mo'town revisits the 60's-70's, unplugged and mellow, in blues-soul mood combined with full sense mezzo-vibrato unfaltering vocal quality. We've got spicy feelings for "Voodoo Music"; the Montreux Jazz Festival isn't far away. Very good stuff. When will her own work be out there?...." (direct link: http://www.tazik.org/cds/?Action=View&CdID=91) "Goin' Basic" is also on its way to recognition in The Netherlands where it positioned itself on the playlist of radio station Omroep Brabant.

The stage of the upcoming Fêtes de Genève will be set on fire by Mo, friend singer & dancer Smack a.k.a. Fabiana Rodrigues, guitar hero Joe Frank as well as six dancers and an excellent group of musicians ensuring a boiling mix of dance, R 'n B and Brazilian rhythms. The Kiosk at the Jardin d'Anglais in Geneva will be the place to be on Wednesday night 27 July 2005 at 20h. Free entrance. Link: http://www.fetesdegeneve.ch/?rubrique=0000000018

Mo has been requested to come over and perform live on Dutch radio & television station "Omroep Brabant" for a special live television marathon programme in December 2005. She will be accompanied by Juan Sanchez (guitar) and Dennis Orsel (guitar, bass & backing vocals). Mo's CD "Goin' Basic" already positioned itself on the station's weekly playlist. More specific info with links to follow once available.

Mo, guitarman Nicolas Wetzell Jr. and percussionnist Julio D'Santiago have been requested to perform with "Blazz" at La Chapelle St. Claude in Talloires, Lake Annecy (France) on Thursday 27 July 2006; kick off at around 20 hrs.

 

Mo, guitarman Guy Nikkels and Afro-American percussionist Julio D'Santiago will perform an open air concert on Saturday 17 June 2006 at Geneva's annual summer Music Festival. Setting is the jazz stage at the "Cour du Onze", which is situated in Geneva's historic "Old Town". Show starts at 23.30h. More info on the festival's site (french): http://w3public.ville-ge.ch/dac/fdm2006.nsf

Venezuelan drummer and Afro-American percussionist Julio d'Santiago will accompany Mo Millar and Guy Nikkels on several gigs to come. D'Santiago initiated the first-ever fusion experiment of classic and contemporary percussion in Venezuela and spent more than a decade studying Venezuelan, Colombian, Puerto Rican and Cuban percussion with percussion greats, such as Miguel "Miguito" Urbina, Jhonny Rudas, Orlando Poleo, Jose Yancen "Pachin", Nestor Gutierrez "El Chivo" as well as drums & classic percussion experts Benjamin Carriel and Jose "Cheo" Cardenas (all Venezuelan).Besides teaching, producing and running workshops, he currently collaborates with the Caracas-based "Fundacion Afroamerica" and its godfather Jesus "Chucho" Garcia in order to analyse existing cultural features in Afro-American countries.

Mo will perform her acoustic jazzy blues collection, including original tunes of her new repertoire, at one of the key jazz scenes in The Netherlands, "The Regentenkamer" in the Dutch political capital The Hague on 27 May 2006. She'll be accompanied by Guy Nikkels on guitar, Ludo van der Winkel on acoustic bass and Joost Kesselaar on drums. More info: http://www.regentenkamer.nl

Some last minute-changes in Mo's lineup for the The Haque concert at the Regentenkamer have been made, due to drummer Joost Kesselaar's engagements in Germany. Mo will be performing with a combo of excellent musicians, including Guy Nikkels on guitar, David Barker on drums, Rein Godefroy on piano and Hendrik Vanattenhoven on bass. Kick off at 18hrs.

Mo will perform her acoustic collection, including some tunes of her newly written material, at the "Gooisch Podium" jazz stage in Dutch broadcast city Hilversum (NL) 20 May 2006. She'll be accompanied by Guy Nikkels on guitar, Ludo van der Winkel on acoustic bass and Joost Kesselaar on drums with possibly some surprise guests popping up as well. More info on http://www.gooischpodium.nl

Mo and guitarman Guy Nikkels will perform in duo lineup ("Millar & Nikkels") at Bodega "Chez Antoinette" in the eastern Dutch city of Deventer on Friday 28 April. This special concert kicks off at 22.30h. on the occasion of the Deventer Music Total Festival that is held all over the town's music settings on 27 and 28 April 2006. More info: http://www.muziektotaal.iklog.nl/

Mo and composer-guitarman Nicolas Wetzell will play an acoustic show with possibly the first songs of their newly composed crossover repertoire at La Scene du Moulin a Poivre in Geneva (CH). For more info and how to get there: http://www.original.ch/calvy

The concert at the Harambée Café at the Swiss Alpine area of Villars sur Ollon is cancelled due to unforeseen events. Mo and Nick still hope to be able to perform there later on the year 2006.