NEWS FROM THE MOJO ZONE RECORDING STUDIO IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN.....

Well, it has been a year since our un-official opening, and we figured it was time to share what has been happening here in the Mojo Zone!.

After 5 luxurious months in Germany , Brad returned in November to see if we could extend our lease with our new landlord at the Tequila Barrel. Link proved to be very generous and gave us until April to find new digs, thereby avoiding the dreaded high season move.  Thanks to Link and everyone at the Tequila Barrel for their continued support!!!

We are looking to move somewhere in the Ejido, as we need a lot more space and an isolated building so we can record and mix at all hours when necessary, and it has become necessary, so if you know of a possibility please let us know.

 Kudos to Jozef, our engineer and Uncle Ron (Carpenter and Head Philosopher) who  held down the fort for the summer and kept it all running, and even managed to get a few artists recorded as well as keeping everyone in CDs. Jozef also managed to procure some snazzy new gear for the studio as well....AND ONLY ANOTHER $100,000.00 USD AND WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING WE WANT! If owning a studio sounds like owning a boat, you are right, there is always one more piece of gear, or a repair to make it just right, which makes it interesting!

 SUNDAY BBQ JAM SESSIONS:

Our Sunday BBQ sessions started up  again in December with 6 BBQS so far, and we managed to slip in a New Years Party as well, WHICH WE DID RECORD FOR FUTURE CD RELEASE...Art Nance came out to play with us that night,  and we had an absolute blast. Art has toured and recorded with everyone from James Brown to Stevie Wonder to George Benson, and he was kind enough to play 3 sets with us that night. We won't soon forget it! Thanks also to Jozef, Ozzie, DJ Kampa, Emily,Chivo Azul, Brent Parkin, Grady, Chef Gina, Julian, Cowboy John, and every one else who turned out for the BBQs and New Years party.We will be having more BBQS starting in March, after football season ends, and when we return from Germany, again!!!

 LOCAL ARTISTS:

 THE CULTURE ORPHANS:  Well, that would be me,(Brad), Yvon, Noe and Kike....well, we did play around 10 nights on 5th Av,  December 10^th through December.24th in front of the No Name Bar. playing for  Angel Notion and The Bomberos, who managed to raise enough cash and presents to hand out 10,000 Christmas Gifts (yes, ten thousand) to local kids in Playa del Carmen. Thanks to Lavona and Edie and everyone else who put in the hours to make it all happen. I would say that qualifies as a miracle, no? We got to meet and play for a lot of people at a proper sound volume, with the usual  hassles from Mrs. Macaroni, whose incessant complaining  was a source of amusement and irritation for all, including her! We were joined by local and visiting artists for the 2 weeks and had a great time, and we are looking forward to next years show already!!!!!

Besides playing a few gigs, We have been recording and practicing, getting ready to go to Germany in February for 2 weeks.  We will be  staying in the lovely, but cold, town of Fischen and Oberstordf (BAVARIA), where the World Ski Jumping Championships and Cross Country Championships are being held. Somehow by the grace of God, and our good friends, we managed to secure 4 plane tickets and accommodations  (Thank you Monika!),  and we have 7 gigs lined up at the moment. The Culture Orphans will be representing Mexico at this prestigious event and we have volunteered to go off the Big Ramp while playing Fly Like An Eagle!!!!!! Thanks to Babes, La Rana Cansada, Java Joes, Blue Planet, La Gloria II, The Tequila Barrel, Lawrence, and everyone else for their support!!!!!!!

Grady- What can we say? The man simply rolls on and on.....Neither the Fiscales, the flu, unlimited beer, and more groupies then the Rolling Stones, can stop the man. This Local Legend continues to perform night after night at Captain Dave’s (6 night’s a week). He has been joined by Brent Parkin from Canada and Car Frank from Playa del Carmen for the last 4 weeks. His Tamale Sessions CD continues to sell well (now that "Keef" has Grady proofed the CD box). Grady  just came into the studio and recorded 3 new tunes that we will be compiling to his Tamale sessions CD, and he is planning to start recording another release this spring.....watch for it!!!!

 Brent Parkin- All the way from Winnipeg, Canada, Brent spends 2 to 3 months down here every winter, playin the Blues and jammin with Grady nightly. Brent fronts his own band in Winnipeg and plays across Canada as well as wherever he happens to be. There was a guitarist named Danny Gatton who had the nickname " THE HUMBLER" as his playing humbled everyone who heard him.......well, Brent certainly brings the term to mind, as his approach to playing the guitar in whatever style, will have musicians re-thinking their approach to playing music. His humble and kind approach to life seems to have spilt into his playing as well (seems true for all great musicians) and he is a true inspiration as a musician and a friend!Thanks Brent for the  great music and your encouragement to all the locals! Brent’s current release can be found at Captain Dave’s.

 Car Frank- Born in Merida and playing around Playa del Carmen for the winter seasons, Car Frank has toured Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, France, Italy, Austria, and the USA. He has played and recorded with Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead), Eli Levi ,of Switzerland, and countless other musicians of international caliber. Car Frank plays a 6 string fretless bass, and besides playing the blues with Grady, he plays and composes Jazz, Fusion and whatever else he likes. His current CD, State of Flux, can be found at Captain Dave’s, as can he, He will be heading back to Europe for a summer tour in May, and will be playing with Grady in the studio before he leaves, (hint hint).

Chivo Azul- Local Blues greats Chivo Azul are playing around town every night as well as in Akumal ,and the occasional wedding or private party. They will be heading to Texas to record their first all original CD this May or June. Their Mojo Zone Recording  "Live In Playa", is selling well and the band is unbelievably tight these days. They play frequently at our BBQ sessions and  at all the  local  hot spots like  TGIF, Tutix,  and Bourbon Street. If you love Jazz and Blues don’t miss them!!!

 Luis Garcia- A local  singer/songwriter who has lived in Playa del Carmen for the last 10 years, Luis recently finished his first solo release, and has been playing around town at local cafes and restaurants. His unique compositions in Spanish will convert any rock n roller, with songs such as Playa Del Carmen, XXXXXXXX.  His influences,  range  from Pop, Latin, and Brazilian, which bring a fresh unique sound that is pleasing to the ears and heart. Congratulations Luis on a Great CD!!!!!!

Well, that's it from the MOJO ZONE, see you next month with more news and music. Please contact me at:    This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  to let me know of any other musicians that you think deserve a write up!

 Thanks,

Bradley James Ryan,

Mojo Zone Studios

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