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Thanks to a wonderful friend - Lance (El) Bowman - and his wonderful wife Kat - for sending this outstanding release to me - Two very special people who make the world a better place - for so many - each and every day......

 

    United By Music - We've Got The Music - 2024 - Executive Producers - Amanda Gresham , Barbara Hammerman and Raymond Lavine - weareunitedbymusic.org

 

 

        Bruce Iglauer - "It is just thrilling to me to hear musicians who bring much of themselves and put themselves into the songs this way. It's also very exciting to see experienced blues musicians accompanying them and working to bring the best out of them . United by Music musicians come from such an honest place into this music."

     Bobby Rush - "There's nuthin' like it! I love everything about it. Hope! United by Music gives people HOPE! I can't wait to get back to playin' with them." - UBMNA Mentor

 

       United by Music North America (UBMNA) is a performing band within a non-profit program that finds musically talented people with developmental challenges and delays such as autism who collaborate with professional musicians serving as mentors, giving them the chance to perform blues, swing, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll on stages coast to coast and internationally. UBMNA seeks to improve the quality of life as well as facilitate the inclusion of this population of people, while challenging public attitudes towards developmentally challenged and delayed artists. The organization’s wide-ranging efforts have now spawned Yes We Can, a joyful album, UBMNA’s first, that showcases the talents of participating artists as they perform a high-energy collection of songs featuring four standout originals with their singular band that includes an array of professional musicians. Yes We Can is made possible with the support of a network of dedicated family, friends, presenters and donors led by Amanda Gresham, producing artistic director of UBMNA.

            "We've Got The Music " - Released in 2024 , and once again produced by Amanda  Gresham , this is another exciting collection of 5 outstanding tracks that explodes with buoyant enthusiasm . Seldom do you hear music played and sung with greater passion , each track standing  on its own with a distinctive flair . An unbelievable list of players perform here , and there are special guests - Tommy Castro , John Boutte,"Kingfish" Ingram , Curley Taylor ,and Tikyra "T.K." Jackson - a river of emotion that  pours over the listener. To steal a bit from Little Steven , they certainly have that " Soul Fire" . 

             The central theme threading all the songs together is "We're not as different as we are the same'' ( "Common Ground'' - Tommy  Castro) , that we have more in common than we have differences , and that life should be more about "jumpin' in and havin' fun" . Can we imagine a world in which no prejudice exists regardless of race , creed , color , gender or developmental challenges? Track by track this is a joyous and  riveting collection that delivers such a wonderfully positive message . The entire project casts a spell that is totally seductive. Listening to the funky and soulful blues of "We've Got The Music"  gives you hope for a better future while the infectious rhythm has you singing along , a track that features the riveting vocals of Tikyra Khamir Jackson , multi-intrumentalist and vocalist , from the band "Southern Avenue" ; Give a listen to "It's Alright" ,which features Curley Taylor on accordion , and you are transported to the dancefloor of "Buck and Johnny's",where you can scuff up the dancefloor with a room full of dance partners ; "Listen" , written by Tom Haambridge and Christone Ingram , is a throwback to 60's soul , wonderfully sung by the "Kingfish" , with backing vocals reminiscent of the work of Tammi Tyrell , tugging at your heart while wrapping itself around your soul ; "Treme" , written by John Boutte,  pumps the Crescent City directly into your veins , a second-line shuffling slice of  good-time boogie fever straight from Decatur Street ; and "Common Ground" , from Tommy Castro , is a feel-good blues romper that brings us all together to gather , dance , and have a good time ; and stick around for the soulful rhythm and blues of track 6 , another exceptional track with outstanding musicianship and  exceptional vocals front and back . 

           Barbara Hammerman and Amanda Gresham , founders of United by Music North America , work with a team of professional musician mentors and supporters , find the musical talents for the program , work in weekly sessions to create performance shows that play at festivals and events . There is no fee to the artists to be a part of the program . Once selected , all mentor sessions and other activities are primarily paid through founder funding and generous donations from the public . United by Music North Americas is a 501(C)(3) is a charitable organization . 

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