The Sounds of VTech

With the IS9181, you’re radio never had it so good.

-VTech® Wireless Music Hub Now Available Online-

  The IS9181, a feature-rich Wi-Fi music streaming device designed as a complete music hub for the home is now available online now at www.vtechphones.com. The IS9181 (MSRP: $199.95) extends the VTech’s core leadership in innovative cordless phone systems to the wireless home audio arena.

 The IS9181 takes Internet radio enjoyment to a new level beyond the PC listening experience with a device that delivers better sound quality than other similarly priced offerings. It’s streaming music hub offers built-in 3W front-facing tuned stereo speakers, as well as a 10W subwoofer with class D amplifiers for a powerful bass response. Once users connect the IS9181 to any wireless network (802.11 b & g), they can enjoy a variety of music offerings from more than 11,000 free Internet radio stations worldwide. 

 At home, users can access audio files (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, Real) stored on their Wi-Fi-enabled PCs or Macs. For more music flexibility, the IS9181 includes an auxiliary audio cable to play files from digital audio and CD players or any other device with a 3.5mm headset jack. It also can be connected to other audio systems/speakers via RCA connections.

 For ‘virtual’ music exploration, IS9181 users can search for stations by country, state or genre using the one-touch access button or remote control, or by visiting the comprehensive online music guide offered on www.vtechphones.com. The IS9181 un-tethers music lovers from their computers with sound quality unparalleled by PCs so digital music from around the globe can be enjoyed in the living room, bedroom or anywhere in the home.

Music has been a part of the VTech brand for many years. The company has combined its wireless innovation with an understanding of consumer music tastes gleaned through sponsorship of a variety of concerts, music events and festivals nationwide. To promote the coming launch of the IS9181, VTech recently presented the “Timeless Concert Series” in conjunction with music production company Mochilla. The three-part series in Los Angeles paid homage to arrangers and composer from around the world such as Mulatu Astatke and Arthur Verocai who have influenced hip-hop since the 1970s. VTech has also sponsored special events at the annual South by Southwest Music (SXSW) Conference in Austin and the Winter Music Conference (WMC) in Miami. The company will be sponsoring the Playboy Jazz Festival in Los Angeles in June as well as the VooDoo Music Experience in New Orleans later this fall.

 IS9181 Key Features

In addition to multiple music options, the IS9181 offers localized weather (based on zip code) and a full-color LCD for easy viewing. 

 Other key features of the IS9181 include:

• Best-in-class 802.11 digital Wi-Fi technology, providing superior range and streaming rates
• Internet radio streaming from 11,000 stations; ability to search for any stations that stream online
• Internet radio station search from VTech’s site or on the device itself
• Ability to preset favorites on the product or online
• PC or Mac-stored MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, Real music file playing
• Ability to connect an MP3 player or any audio device with a 3.5mm headset jack using the provided cord
• Ability to connect the IS9181 (via RCA connections) to other audio systems for streaming access
• Internal 2.1 speakers
• Convenient remote to browse, select and control music from across the room
• AC Power Adapter
• Battery-operated option (requires six AA batteries, not included)
• MSRP:  $199.95
• One-year limited warranty

 AVAILABILITY

The IS9181 Wi-Fi Internet Radio and the latest VTech DECT cordless phones can be purchased online at www.vtechphones.com.

About VTech®

For further information on VTech and its array of products, please visit www.vtechphones.com.

We’re ending our week here at VTech and Mochilla on a positive note. Our good friend and supporter over at BBC-Radio1 Gilles Peterson has given us some big love. We’re a part of the All Winners Show of 2009. This list represents the hottest music from the first four months of this year and we couldn’t be prouder of Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson for “Fall in Love” which was performed during the Suite for Ma Dukes, Timeless Series.  Also making an appearance are Quantic and Mulatu.

Congratulations to everyone on the list.

Please click here: Gilles Peterson/BBC Radio 1 to hear his broadcast of the show

All Winners 2009 Part 1

2:00

LD – Traumatic Times (Hyperdub)
Kafka – The Kafka Anthem (Mighty Highness Records)
Miguel Atwood Ferguson & Carlos Niño - Fall In Love (Mochilla) **
Sa Ra – Cosmic Ball (Ubiquity)
Jam Da Silva – Dia Santo (3014)
Elmore Judd – Staring (Test)
Oumou Sangare - Lyo Djeli (World Circuit)
Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics – Mensequo (Strut)
Beirut – The Akara (Ba Da Bing)
Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu – Global Party (Sahko)
Jack Penate - Today’s Tonight (XL)
Nacho Patrol – African Space Program (Kindred Spirits Electronic)
Quantic And His Combo Barbaro – The Dreaming Mind Part 1 (Tru Thoughts)
Mos Def – Quiet Dog (Downtown)
Jay Electronica – Candyman (Test)
Bullion – Time For Us All To Love (One Handed)
Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So Maybe No (Stones Throw)
Alice Russell – Let Us Be Loving (Little Poppet)
Sound Species Ft Ahu – Can We Call It Love? (CDR)
Theophilus London – Cold Pillow (Test)

3.00

Foreign Exchange – Take Off The Blues (Fat Beats)
Jonathan Jeremiah – It Doesn’t Bother Me (Island)
Elan Mehler - New Breed (Brownswood)
The Long Lost – Amiss (Ninja Tune)
Rasmus Faber – Never Figure Out (Victor)
Mocky – Jinti (Crammed Discs)
Hudson Mohawke – Monde (Warp)
General Elektriks - Cottons Of Inertia (Discograph)
Harry Whitaker – Come See Through My Eyes (Smalls)
Doom – Gazillion Ear (Thom York Remix) (Lex)
Dobie – The New Madness (Brownswood)
DOP – Romeo (Blanche Neige)
Martyn – Elden Street (3024)
Manuel Tur – Patchworks (Freerange)
Manuel Tur – Stay (Freerange)
Floating Point – Like This (Eglo)
Chaz Jankel - Glad To Know You (Todd Terje Re-edit) (Tirk)
Phlash & Friends – Do It Up (Archive)
Toddla T – Better (1965) 

March 23, 2009

 Verocai triumphant, Axelrod cancelled – Timeless to return late Summer, 2009.

 It is with saddened hearts that we must announce today that Timeless, the extraordinary musical series, has ended without its fourth installment.

 Due to unforeseen circumstances, the David Axelrod concert scheduled to take place on April 5, 2009 is now cancelled. Pre-concert ticket purchasers for the show will be automatically refunded via credit/debit cards. Patrons who purchased tickets at the Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex box office should return to the theater for a refund.

On a personal note, I don’t really know what to say – my arduous attempts to make this event a reality did not work out as planned. We had luminaries from as far away as Ethiopia and Brazil grace the Timeless stage; and to have to cancel a local legend in the end has been very difficult. Those of you who know me and know my personal relationship to David will know the enormity of my disappointment.  Though we are unable to present our series in its entirety, it was still an undeniable success. From the composer-arrangers to our special guests to the incredible orchestra, we made history and breathtaking magic.

 I would like to extend our complete gratitude to VTech - more personally Tom Bacon for taking this chance with us and sticking with it.  Tom isn’t one to want to be in the limelight but I can say that none of this would have been possible without him, his wisdom and patience.

 Worth revisiting, here is our take on last Sunday’s show:

 It isn’t often that the cosmos align as perfectly as they did on Sunday to bring Arthur Verocai to L.A. for the first time. Though some people in attendance may have been familiar with his work through hip-hop’s skillful integration of his epic sound, there was no mistaking that Verocai’s symphonic artistry extends beyond the confines of sampling. With a 36+ piece orchestra – including Brazilian heavy hitters Ivan “Mamao” Conti, Aloisio Aguiar, Jose Bertrami and Airto Moreira – Verocai made his fabled 1972 self-titled album unfold before a “timeless” group of admirers.

 Leading his troupe through cascading horns and soaring string arrangements, Verocai looked like an elegant prophet sent to take us on a journey to an unknown heavenly destination. Without hesitation, he opened the night with the intense “Karina (Domingo no Grajau),” dominated by an all-pervading horn section and the soulful twangs of Woody Aplanalp’s purposeful electric guitar.

 Sultry classic “Dedicada a Ela” was given new life by Justo Almario’s saxophone, while soon after, the mestre himself took the microphone to sing his futuristic lament “Caboclo.” The most anticipated song of the evening was the larger-than-life “Na Boca do Sol,” which serves as an emblem of Verocai’s decidedly Brazilian approach to his visionary fusion of soul, jazz and psychedelic funk. Sung exquisitely by Clarisse Grova, Diana Booker and the recording’s original vocalist, Carlos Dafe, it was only fitting that the concert ended with a stepped-up encore of it.

 The momentous night ended too soon, but we hope this is not the last time our city’s humble ears will be graced by this living legend’s brilliance. Obrigado, Arthur ­– we love you!

 And indeed, thank you, Los Angeles.  It has been an astonishing journey – one that has proven to be a learning curve for all of us at Mochilla and ArtDontSleep. It has raised the bar for all concert goers in this city, and hopefully, institutional programmers will finally come to comprehend that with their budgets, they can make bigger and better things happen in this city. We’ve broken the mold, and there’s no turning back.

With total gratitude…

B+  (Mochilla)

Timeless describes moments outside of time-those moments that exist so deep inside history that they break through that finite grid. Timeless: The Composer/Arranger Series is an homage to the composer-arrangers that have influenced hip-hop in the most literal and profound ways. 

From Ethiopia to Detroit to Brazil, the Timeless Series has brought world music center stage in Los Angeles.

Since the start of the series, Mochilla has been diligently documenting every rehearsal, every show to capture this amazing experience. During the filming process of the Timeless Series, we have been very fortunate to catch many intimate moments between fellow musicians. This moment is a perfect example. Three friends, coincidentally all amazing musicians, sharing music and a brief laugh. Ivan “Mamao” Conti and Jose Roberto Bertrami from Azymuth and Aloisio Aguiar, the original pianist from Verocai’s original album, during a rehearsal day for Arthur Verocai.

“With one of the strongest voices in Brazilian music,“ according to musicabrasileira.org, Clarisse Grova performed at Timeless III with Arthur Verocai, singing “Seriado”.  Here is a sneak peek of Sunday night’s performance from our friends at Mochilla.

Since the start of the Timeless Series on February 1st, 2009, word has spread throughout the streets, over airwaves and the internet, and across oceans about the magic it has brought, not only to Los Angeles, but to music lovers worldwide. Timeless has given those fortunate to attend, the chance to bear witness to musical miracles and be engulfed by beautiful melodies. Music that truly stays with you forever.

On March 15th, 2009, Los Angeles was blessed with a very special gift. The opportunity to see Arthur Verocai perform his seminal 1972 album for the very first time with a 36-piece orchestra.

From the moment the maestro, Arthur Verocai, stepped out onto the stage at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on Sunday night, the audience was mesmerized. Not only by the sight of this musical powerhouse gracing the L.A. stage for the very first time, but by his haunting, intensely beautiful and psychedelically soulful arrangements. 

From the musical Lea family (Chris: flute/piccolo, Tom: viola, Elizabeth: trombone) to trumpet player Todd Simon, from Suite For Ma Dukes arranger/composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (viola) to Justo Almario (alto sax, flute), there was no shortage of talent in Verocai’s orchestra that night. And with the added help of Verocai’s friends and some of the finest Brazilian musicians, Ivan “Mamao” Conti and Jose Roberto Bertrami from Azymuth, percussionist Airto Moreira,  and Aloisio Aguiar (original piano player on Verocai’s debut album), the music was undoubtedly superb. 

Vocals provided by Carlos Dafé (original singer on Verocai’s debut album) and Clarisse Grova (original singer on Verocai’s second album) brought an authenticity to Verocai’s music that was reminiscent to listening to his record for the very first time. And when Verocai took the microphone to perform Caboclo, the audience held its breath. 

There is something special to be said about seeing a live musical performance. The nuances of the singers as they change octaves and harmonize, the synchronization of the string section as each shift in the head and sway of the body is timed perfectly, the love and emotion beaming from the musicians faces as they perform, and the joy and humble gratitude shown by a legend to an audience who appreciates his work. 

To be in the presence of such a man, on such an evening, unequivocally a gift to treasure for a lifetime.

VTech and Mochilla have brought a breathe of fresh air to Los Angeles.

-Let’s keep on breathing- 

Photos by Azul 213*