[Blindtlk] Brand New CD Released by my Folk trio "Fine Company"!

[Jim Portillo]

Hello everyone!

I'm thrilled to share the following news with you.  The subject line might
have you asking what this has to do with blindness or the NFB.  Very simple.
The NFB is an organization of which I'm a proud member.  It has taught me to
have a positive outlook on life and blindness.  It also encourages me to
live the life I want, and the following is definitely part of the life I'm
living.  I also have many friends and acquaintances on this list who might
be interested.

 

At long last, my trio, known as Fine Company, has recorded and released a
brand new CD!  It's hot off the press and ready for the enjoyment of
listening ears.  We're a folk trio whose sound is based on the folk trio
sounds of the 1960's but who has brought it to the 21st century!  Some of
you know it's been a work in progress for a little over a year, but we
finally have a product we're proud of and want to share with folks.

 

You can purchase our album by going to the following link.

www.cdbaby.com/finecompany <http://www.cdbaby.com/finecompany> 

For the time being, you can only buy it digitally.  Physical copies of the
CD will begin being sold in a few days, and unless you get them from me, you
can only get the physical CDs through CD Baby.

It will also be available digitally from iTunes, Amazon, etc.  If you want
to buy from those places, give them a few days.  As I said, this album is
hot off the presses and we just finished the distribution process.

Cd Baby is a wonderful and reputable company, and we're glad to be
partnering with them.  Feel free to buy your digital or physical copies from
them.  In fact, if you like the album, please go back and write a review.

Of course, I will have copies in Orlando, at NFB17.

 

Below I will also paste our bio, so you can know what we're all about.  I
hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to hearing from you.  If you have
questions, please feel free to contact me.  I'm guessing we don't want to
clutter the list with emails about this, so go ahead and write me off-list
if you'd like.

Jim Portillo

 

Fine Company

www.finecompanymusic.com <http://www.finecompanymusic.com> 

If you're on Facebook, so are we!  Like our page!

www.facebook.com/finecompanymusic <http://www.facebook.com/finecompanymusic>


 

"IN FINE COMPANY" CD RELEASE AND BIO

 

"In Fine Company" - a great place to be. It warms the heart and in this
case, the ears as well.   Fine Company's debut album says, "We're glad
you're here. Come stay a while."  The enticements are crisp string work on
guitar, banjo, and bass along with vocal harmonies that say synergy, which
is a fancy word when applied to folk music. But it aptly fits Fine Company.
It is clear from the songs on In Fine Company that the whole is greater than
the sum of the parts.  

 

Bill Murlin, Jim Portillo, and Ron Dalton are talented Northwest musicians
who love what they do - sing and play together. Folk Icon, Tom Paxton says,
it shows. "Fine Company is fine company, indeed. This is what happens when
three friends who love music get out the instruments and decide to enjoy
themselves. We are privileged to sit and listen and if we just can't help
joining in, nobody will mind." Indeed. 

 

Take an old Carter Family standard - Dixie Darling. Fine Company keeps that
old timey feel with banjo, guitar and bass yet there's something different -
that harmony. Tom Paxton's Last Thing On My Mind is the perfect song for
that rich harmony.  Synergy.

 

Ron's original Backroad Country Ride, puts listeners in the car to enjoy
some scenery and silliness as well.  And the tightly timed guitars in Bill's
instrumental Cascade Creek transport the listener to an idyllic mountain
stream. Each song creates anticipation for what's next and Fine Company does
not disappoint. 

 

One of the leading ladies of bluegrass, Laurie Lewis says, "Fine Company has
a welcome air of love and dedication in their thoughtful arrangements and
choice of songs. These are songs that beg to be sung, and Jim, Bill and Ron
join their voices with obvious and infectious delight."

 

Bluegrass star, Kathy Kallick noted that "Fine Company evokes the folk trio
sound of the 1960s."  That's when Bill learned his early folk music skills
in a college group called The Wanderers.  More recently Bill has published
the Columbia River Collection, 26 songs Woody Guthrie penned in Portland in
1941. 

 

Jim fell in love with folk music when he was seven in El Paso, Texas, long
after the 1960s. He heard Doc Watson on the radio and was hooked.  Later in
Seattle, lessons, open mics and sitting in with various groups helped him
hone his skills. He's still stealing licks from pickers like Wayne
Henderson. 

 

Ron is the "vocal gymnast" of the trio. He is equally comfortable as a
tenor, baritone, or bass, though how he does that seems magical. The soaring
harmonies from the 1970s got his attention.  Ron's clever songwriting shows
in three originals on the CD: Round and Round, Down, Down, Down and Backroad
Country Ride. Ron also performs with the Seattle duo/trio, Burgundy Pearl. 

 

Bringing these three together blends the love of the folk tradition with a
fresh perspective on how music connects us. 

 

Kathy Kallick added, "They have a rich and mellow blend, and a warm
sweetness. While they are paying homage to this traditional sound, they
bring originality with their newly composed tunes. Their vocal blend is
satisfying, and the perfect combination with the twin guitars, and
occasional banjo. This collection feels like sitting in front of a big cozy
fire, sipping a mug of hot cider with a splash of something thrown in for a
little kick!"

 

And some folk radio programmers have taken notice.

 

Rik James (KGLT-Montana): "Fine Company sounds to me like a trio rooted in
the traditions of the American folk music era - three guys who love to sing
and to be entertaining. They encourage their audiences to sing along. That
is so refreshing. And people singing are always good company in my book.
Recommended listening."

 

Larry Lewin (KBCS-Seattle): "Fine Company's debut release is definitely a
winner, featuring sweet harmony, well-chosen songs and finely-crafted
accompaniments."

 

 

So come stay a while.  Sit back with that mug of nectar. You're with Fine
Company.