As part of the weekly series here on the Sixthman Blog, we’ll be highlighting a Mayercraft Carrier artist every Monday afternoon from now until we set sail on on this floating musical fiesta on March 27th, 2009!  For those of you newbies, this will give you a chance to get to know some artists that you might not have heard.  Without further ado, let’s shine that spotlight on 2 Mayercraft artists this week:

Pictures and Sound

Grammy-nominated singer and multi-instrumentalist Luke Reynolds, former Blue Merle frontman, returns as Pictures And Sound with a self-titled debut album produced by Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Modest Mouse, Kings Of Leon) on Vanguard Records. In 2005, Reynolds found success with Blue Merle’s well-received album and smash hit, Burning In The Sun. Blue Merle has since parted ways allowing Pictures And Sound to flourish.

Reynolds, who played a dozen instruments on the Pictures And Sound album including pedal steel, guitars and keyboards, is joined by his friends Dave Wilder (Macy Gray, Liz Phair) on bass and Pete McNeal (Jem, Z-Trip, Ricki Lee Jones) on drums, to create an album that is modern in its arrangements and soundscapes yet a throw back to an era when songs were written and recorded in a more organic atmosphere.

Here is a video of them recording their album released last year (pretty cool stuff):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIxxVZcLej4

DJ Logic

If you like dancing, this is your man.  As one of the world’s most accomplished turntablist’s, DJ Logic is widely credited for introducing jazz into the hip – hop realms and is considered by most as a highly respected session musician and an innovative bandleader.  Plus, look at him in that robe.  How sweet is that picture?

These days, the man is focusing on studio endeavors, producing notable projects such as: Re-imagination with jazz piano phenomenon Eldar ; collaborating with Vernon Reid on a project he co-founded called the Yohimbe Brothers; participating in a side project called Soleslide (featuring Kyle Hollingsworth from String Cheese Incident and Speech from Arrested Development) and co-anchoring a rock band with John Popper (The John Popper Project featuring DJ Logic).  He’s a busy man!  Just check out these last six tour dates:

02/12/09	Jazzaldia	San Sabastian, Spain
w/ The Yohimbe Brothers
02/13/09	Musiques De Nuit Diffusion	Bordeaux, France
w/ The Yohimbe Brothers
02/14/09	Son D’Hiver Festival	Paris, France
w/ The Yohimbe Brothers
02/17/09	Muziek Podium	Middelburg, Netherlands
w/ The Yohimbe Brothers
02/18/09	Club Paradox	Tilburg, Netherlands
w/ The Yohimbe Brothers
02/19/09	Bimhuis	Amsterdam, Netherlands
w/ The Yohimbe Brothers

So DJ Logic is pretty well-traveled too. He’ll be spinning like crazy in the Disco on the Carnival Splendor, and maybe even pop up other places on the ship.  Here is his video for Hope Road:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4HCygf1ZzY