31 August 2010: Chicago Theater Blog Review of Drum Circle Pandora
"Quest Theatre Ensemble has created a community experience in the truest sense of the word with Drum Circle Pandora. This is actually theatre of the people where in the audience is encouraged to participate in a celebratory manner. Many theatres try too hard to draw the audience into an alternative reality for a short time. Quest, however, provides a dizzying array of percussion instruments for the audience to use, allowing participants to create the production on a primal level... "
Read the entire review here.
26 August 2010: Review of Ida Jo's Providence in Local Sounds
"There is little doubt that Ida Jo’s talents are in demand but Providence should give her the platform on which to build her own legacy of songs. It is Ida Jo’s personality that shines through on Providence, and that may be its biggest accomplishment. A personality that is rich in experience and introspection; one that people accept as authentic in artists they appreciate most and is capable of moving them in a genuine and sincere manner..."
Read the entire review here.
23 August 2010: Anthony Lamarr's Opening Night
Formally titled Opening Night: A Symphony From Sorrow, Anthony Lamarr's (aka The Soundshaker) debut album is complete. A 21 track, 80 minute opus full of hip-hop, R&B, rock, gospel and even spoken word. It features many of the Madison area's best-known musicians including Aaron Williams, Lucas Cates, Rob Dz, Ida Jo, Danielle Brittany and Anna Laube.
Produced and arranged by Lamps, the album is a celebration of commmunity and red-blooded performances. No synthesizers here. Only real musicians playing real instruments. Opening Night is set to be released on September 12th.
1 August 2010: Drum Circle Pandora
Lamps' latest collaboration with playwright Andrew Park, a drum-circle rock musical called Drum Circle Pandora is in its final stages of preparation. Once again produced by the courageous and charitable Quest Theatre Ensemble, Pandora opens on the 13th of August. The music combines the traditions of Drum Circles, Rock & Roll, and Ancient Greece (it is the story of Pandora after all). Visit Quest's website for more information or to make reservations.
8 July 2010: Isthmus Providence Review
"Providence is a reminder that pop instrumentation still has lots of boundaries to be pushed. To that end, Ida Jo's violin is a welcome shove."
Read the entire review here. Visit Ida Jo's website.
16 June 2010: New Emily White Album Finished
The recording stage of Emily White's Resolutions EP was wrapped up late last night at DNA Studios in Madison. Lamps produced the recording aided by veteran engineer Mark Whitcomb. The EP contains 6 new songs by White recorded in a stark setting. The intimacy of her performances is supported by cello, mandolin and an occasional harmony. The Resolutions EP is slated to be released on July 10th at Martyrs in Chicago.
8 June 2010: Evolution/Creation Wins Jeff Award!
At Chicago's Non-Equity Jeff Awards, Evolution/Creation was awarded "Best Artistic Speciality" for the puppets designed by James T. Scott. The production was nominated for four other awards including "Best Musical Production" and "Best New Work."
15 May 2010: New Chants Album Enters Final Stage
The last week has seen Lamps working with electronic musician and old friend Jordan Cohen on the newest Chants album. The music is heavily influenced by electronica and dub with a healthy dose of jazz and rock. Many of the sounds on the album were played or sung by fellow musicians before being edited. When Cohen finishes the album in a few weeks, many of the sounds will hardly resemble the violins, saxophones, pianos or voices that were used to record them. The album will be called Onlooker. Look for it this fall.
9 May 2010: Evensong Is "Best Classical Album!"
Last night, Evensong took home two MAMA Awards. One for "Best Classical Album" and one for "Best Classical Song" (for the title track).
7 May 2010: Evolution/Creation Is Nominated For 5 Jeff Awards!
1. Best Production, Musical
2. Best Director, Musical (Andrew Park)
3. Best New Work (Andrew Park and Scott Lamps)
4. Best Music Direction (Gary Powell)
5. Artistic Specialization (James T. Scott)
Read the Chicago Sun-Times article and see all of the nominees here.
Congratulations to Quest Theatre Ensemble and all the Jeff Nominees! Jeff Award winners are announced on June 7.
20 April 2010: New Ida Jo Album Providence
Recorded in various locations and mixed on the Trident in the final days of Madison's legendary Smart Studios, Ida Jo's debut album Providence is done. Produced by Lamps and featuring three of his songs, Providence is a tour de force by Ida Jo and a revelationary (yes, that's a word) musical experience. You have never heard anything like it. Ida Jo plays violin with a seldom used technique called "chopping" that gives the album an edge to compliment her soulful vocals.
10 April 2010: Evensong is a MAMA finalist for Best Classical Album.
Other Lamps-produced MAMA Best Album finalists are:
And the World Makes Sense Again by Mike Droho and the Compass Rose
Quietly Marching by Mark Harrod
We Make Em Say Ooh by Mama Digdowns Brass Band
Shoddy Heart by The Nod
MAMA Winners are announced at the Annual MAMA Award Ceremony on May 8th.
20 Feb 2010: Evolution/Creation is Jeff Recommended! The show runs through March 28th. Visit Quest Theatre for tickets. Admission is FREE!
19 Feb 2010: Evolution/Creation, the new musical play by Lamps and Andrew Park opens tonight. To the right is the publicity photo for the show.
Produced by Chicago's Quest Theatre Ensemble, Evolution/Creation is free and open to the public. It runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through March 28th. Go to Quest's website to make a reservation.
05 Feb 2010: Scott Lamps is nominated for 9 MAMA awards including Best Classical Album for Evensong and Best Folk Album for both Travels and On the Porch. See all the nominees and vote at MAMA.
04 Jan 2010: Happy New Year! Lamps' new collaboration with playwrite Andrew Park will be named Evolution/Creation and will open on February 19.
06 Dec 2009: Mark Harrod's new album Quietly Marching is now available. Lamps produced the album and wrote the horn arrangement for the single Body and Bones. Get the album at Harrod's website.
03 Dec 2009: On the Porch is now available! A collection of folk songs with Scott Lamps in duet with singer and violinist Ida Jo.
01 Dec 2009: Lamps will collaborate with playwrite Andrew Park to create a new musical play for Chicago's Quest Theatre Ensemble. The show is scheduled to open in February of 2010.
10 Nov 2009: Evensong is a new collection of pieces for solo piano by Scott Lamps!
17 Oct 2009: Lamps will be playing bass and piano with Mike Droho to celebrate the release of Droho's album And the World Makes Sense Again, which is produced by Lamps. Get the album at Droho's website.