New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Lorenza Ponce Official Website) - Singer/violinist Lorenza Ponce has crafted a sultry rock/Americana collection on her new CD, 'Soul Shifter.' Featuring her ethereal vocals and blues violin, Ponce's album charts a path out of the shadows and into the spotlight for a talented artist who has spent years as a self-professed 'rock-girl side person' for such superstars as
Sheryl Crow and as violinist for
Bon Jovi and others.
On 'Soul Shifter,' Ponce eschews the new-age instrumentals of her previous solo efforts and instead has embraced vocals and the roots rock grooves she had always hoped to create. 'Soul Shifter' was produced, recorded and mixed by Matt Wells in New York City, using instruments from his collection of vintage items, including an equalizer from Hitsville USA (the original Motown studio); the Fender Rhodes Mick Jones used on Foreigner's hits, and even a cowbell Matt's brother 'borrowed' from Foghat in the 70's...The result, Ponce explains, represents 'a style change from the classical training and new age music of my past, while incorporating the 'graduate degree' I have earned at the school of rock star employers and mentors."
Ponce has had a storied career as a performer and as a string arranger, and her credits include such notable tracks as Dixie Chicks 'Landslide', Sheryl Crow's 'Mother Nature's Son' and 'It's Only Love', Bon Jovi's MTV Unplugged 'Living on a Prayer' and more. Her extraordinary list of projects can be seen via ALL MUSIC: https://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:a9fqxqrgldhe~T4. Ponce credits Sheryl Crow for her transformation from sidewoman to 'rock chick'. 'Sheryl was Patsy Cline to my Loretta Lynn. She encouraged me to pick up the guitar again, and in addition to hiring me to write string arrangements for her recordings, bought me my first really good pair of leather pants. And she encouraged me to keep making solo records.'
The title track is a tribute to one of Lorenza's icons, Frank Sinatra. She comments: 'A 'Soul Shifter' is someone who will turn your blue mood into joy and laughter, without you even thinking about it. They are so cool, or funny, or genuine, that you can't help being drawn into their world. Frank Sinatra was one of these people. Obviously I never met him, but his music, charm, and talent were so significant that to listen to him sing, read his interviews, or watch him performing, is uplifting. He was a Soul Shifter. I also consider Dolly Parton and Keith Richards to be in this group as well.'
Upcoming Lorenza Ponce Concert Appearances Include:
Oct 26 The Living Room New York City
Nov 5 The Bearsville Theater Bearsville, NY
Nov 6 The Stanhope House Stanhope, NJ
More dates will be announced soon.
Ponce has parlayed her music career into a growing involvement in a number of charitable causes. She has long supported "Joan's Legacy: Uniting Against Lung Cancer," and helps by getting artists to sign guitars for auction at their yearly fundraiser - learn more here:
https://www.joanslegacy.org/. Ponce will perform at this year's Rocktoberfest fundraiser for A Leg To Stand On, https://www.altso.org/about_us/ - an extraordinary charity that provides limbs for children. Next month, Ponce will begin working with the non-profit Little Kids Rock, https://littlekidsrock.org/, going into the schools to help inspire children with music.
THE AQUARIAN - INTERVIEW Q&A
Local Noise: Lorenza Ponce
By Hal B. Selzer , May 26, 2010
https://www.theaquarian.com/2010/05/26/local-noise-lorenza-ponce/
Lorenza Ponce has hung with the Rolling Stones, toured with Bon Jovi, and mingled with presidents. But through it all, her true love is making her own music. 'I will always make records,' she states. 'It is my passion and I can't imagine not doing it. Even if I stopped touring and worked at Macy's, I would still make records.'
Her new CD, Soul Shifter, has just been released on Melodia Records, and was produced by Matt Wells. She has three previous critically acclaimed releases to her credit. However, the new album differs in two significant ways. 'First, Soul Shifter is a rock/Americana record,' she explains. 'All my previous records were in the new age/Instrumental genre. Second, I had more of an input in the production of my other records. This record, Matt had all the control. That was really tough for me, being a control freak. Matt is something of a legend in the 'behind-the-scenes' of the music business. Not only is he a guitarist and studio owner, but he is also an expert in the field of tube amplifiers and vintage gear.'
Matt also helped get the musicians together for the sessions. 'Matt knew who he wanted to use, so he made the suggestions and I made the calls,' Lorenza continues. 'The other core musicians are Rich Pagano and Shawn Pelton on drums, John Conte on bass, and Brian Mitchell on piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, and organ. All the guys are really well-known musicians. Shawn Pelton is the SNL house drummer, but has also played on thousands of records and has toured with everybody. Rich Pagano is in the Fab Faux. John Conte works with Southside Johnny, and Brian Mitchell regularly performs with Levon Helm.'
So far, a couple of the songs have gotten a great initial response. 'Everyone seems to love the first two tracks,' Lorenza relates. 'Those are 'Baby Please Don't Go' and 'Casual Girl.' I can't wait for people to hear 'Frostbite,' 'I Won't Lose Faith,' 'Soul Shifter,' and 'Testify.' If truth be told, I love every song on my record!' Musically, you'll find it an eclectic, intriguing mix of rock and violin. 'It's traditional roots rock with sexy vocals and blues violin,' says Lorenza. 'I also play guitar and piano in the live show. Almost everyone in the band sings, so there are lush background vocals, and there are strings, which adds a grand element to certain tracks. It's really in the tradition of the great performers from the '60s and '70s. If you can't play, you're not in my band.'
The songs came to Lorenza in a variety of ways. 'Many ways, and any way,' she laughs. 'Sometimes I come up with a lyric and write the main chorus or theme of the song first, and then come up with the music. Other times I find a musical theme while noodling on a guitar or piano, and that will often dictate the lyrical content. I have also dreamt several songs.'
And the title track? 'The song is about Frank Sinatra,' she says. 'A 'Soul Shifter' is someone who will turn your blue mood into joy and laughter, without you even thinking about it. They are so cool, or funny, or genuine, that you can't help being drawn into their world. Frank Sinatra was one of these people. Obviously I never met him, but his music, charm, and talent were so significant that to hear him sing, read his interviews, or watch old footage of him performing, is uplifting. He is a 'Soul Shifter'.'
Lorenza has done quite a bit in her career thus far, and can't even begin to pick out one or two highlights. 'Oh brother, where to begin,' she laughs. 'Performing at historical locations like Himeji Castle, The Coliseum, and The Pantheon. Opening for the Rolling Stones, and having tea with Mick Jagger. Hanging with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and trying to figure out what the heck they were saying! Performing and hanging with legends like Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton and Neil Young, and having high tea with the monks at a monastery in Kyoto. Meeting Muhammad Ali, and playing the Commander In Chief Ball for President Obama's Inauguration. Being stuck with Sheryl Crow in a blizzard on a tour bus in the Alps in Switzerland, and having to be rescued by one of those crazy snow cat vehicles. Of course, being asked to be the solo violinist on the Bon Jovi Lost Highway tour, the biggest tour of 2008, and a female no less. That was a really big deal, to be let into the boys club for a tour. I met Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, at a show, and she told me how 'brilliant' she thought it was that Bon Jovi had decided to have a woman on stage!'
Is there anyone she hasn't worked with yet that she'd like to? 'I've always thought Paul McCartney should take a string quartet on tour, but he doesn't,' she says. 'He has the amazing keyboardist, Paul 'Wix' Wickens play all the parts. Wix is a friend of mine though, so I forgive him for hogging that gig!'
Asbury Park Press
Lorenza Ponce: Have violin, will travel BY KELLY-JANE COTTER MAY 23, 2010
When Bon Jovi added a Nashville accent to its sound for its 'Lost Highway' tour, the band turned to Lorenza Ponce for some country-rock violin. Sheryl Crow also recruited Ponce for tours, and encouraged the violinist to play guitar and to sing, as well as to write string arrangements for the tour.
On her own solo tour, the New York-based Ponce takes with her the lessons she learned from these stars and applies them to club performances. 'One thing I learned from Bon Jovi - it's good to be on top,' Ponce said, with a laugh. 'They live a great lifestyle. But, it's a lot of hard work and they are incredibly disciplined. Everything is geared to the show - working out, eating, vocal warm-ups. Everything is scheduled to be gig-ready. And that's why they're so successful. It's a job. They love it, but they know they have to take it seriously. They don't always get the best press or whatever, but there's a reason why they've lasted. You can go crazy and drink and last for five years, or you can have the discipline that Jon has and still be performing at the top after 25 years.'
Ponce continues to make occasional guest appearances on Bon Jovi's current tour, promoting 'The Circle.' The tour will open the new Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, with shows May 26, 27 and 29, as well as July 9. Meanwhile, Ponce celebrates the release of her most recent solo disc, 'Soul Shifter,' with a show May 24 at The Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. in Manhattan. Ponce performs at 8 p.m., followed by an after-party at the club's Googies Lounge from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Admission to the show is free, though a one-drink minimum is required. 'Because of the tours I've been on, I haven't been in clubs for so long,' Ponce said. 'I love being able to talk to people and take pictures with fans, and sit for a couple hours afterward. I'm really active on Twitter and Facebook, so I know a lot of foreign fans, especially from Italy, are coming in for the Bon Jovi shows and they're coming to see my show, too.' Ponce estimates she spends two or three hours a day managing her social networking accounts. 'The wonderful thing about the Internet is that it's leveled the playing field,' she said. 'It's so much easier to get my music heard. I released this record faster than I planned because I kept getting messages from fans saying, 'Where's your record?' It's my pleasure being on the computer answering questions from fans, even though it means there are 250 private messages you need to answer any time you check in.'
Ponce began learning classical violin at the age of 10. She has done extensive work with new age musicians such as Kitaro and John Tesh, and her solo work has included new age material. 'Soul Shifter,' however, is a rock album, filled with rootsy, Sheryl Crow-like songs lightened by more ethereal vocals. 'As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a pop musician,' Ponce said. 'Just because I play violin doesn't mean my heart wasn't into rock music. I was listening to Van Halen and Guns N' Roses and playing Dvorak. I had to find a way to make it work, and playing with Sheryl Crow made it work. On tour with her, singing background and playing guitar, I found myself becoming the rock-girl side person I wanted to be.'
More about Lorenza Ponce:
The multi-talented musician Lorenza Ponce has toured the world playing violin alongside such artists as Ben Folds, Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, John Tesh (!) and Thriving Ivory. As Lorenza explains, her rock debut Soul Shifter represents 'a style change from the classical training and new age music of my past, while incorporating the 'graduate degree' I have earned at the school of rock star employers and mentors.' Growing up on a farm in Maryland, Lorenza had a prescient idea of her career path. 'Even though I chose the violin, I always knew I would be a non-classical musician, and as soon as I found out that there was a NYC, I knew that was where I would live. So as soon as I was legal, that's where I headed.' Keyboardist Joe McGinty recommended Lorenza for her first session and a chance meeting with Jon Anderson of Yes led to a collaboration on his album Deseo (Windham Hill, 1994). Anderson encouraged Lorenza to start writing her own music as well, and her solo debut as a classical crossover artist, Imago, was released in 1997 by EMI/Angel Records. Ever eager to take to the road as well as developing her solo work, Lorenza toured with new agers Kitaro and John Tesh and appears in the An Enchanted Evening and One World videos documenting those shows. Ponce's strength as a performer/instrumentalist was recognized by The St. Petersburg Times: 'Ponce is a violin virtuoso, plucking her strings while singing on the ethereal 'Canta Domine.'' As a first call session player, Lorenza was part of the string quintet that accompanied Sheryl Crow on the theme for the James Bond film 'Tomorrow Never Dies' (1997). Lorenza next worked with her on The Globe Sessions, where she broke a cardinal rule of her session work and gave the artist a copy of her record. 'I was hanging on a break, talking about the Bond session with Sheryl, and a little voice said, 'ask her if you can give her a record.' That moment changed my life.' Sheryl invited Lorenza to play on her VH 1 Storytellers special, which led to the violinist accompanying her on the subsequent world tour. Lorenza credits Sheryl Crow for her transformation from New Age sidewoman to rock chick. 'Sheryl was Patsy Cline to my Loretta Lynn. She encouraged me to pick up the guitar again, and in addition to hiring me to write string arrangements for her recordings, bought me my first really good pair of leather pants. And she encouraged me to keep making solo records' Ponce subsequently recorded another solo new age album, Mystic Fiddler (Melodia, 2000) and returned to write orchestral arrangements for Sheryl Crow's C'mon, C'mon (A&M, 2002). When it was time to hire a conductor, Crow handed Lorenza the baton and insisted she take the podium. This experience was critical in Lorenza being responsible for writing string arrangements (and touring with) The Dixie Chicks, along with her more recent work with rock icons Bon Jovi. 'After the tragedy of 9/11, every person wanted to help. I was thrilled when I got a call to play the Tribute to Heroes Telethon with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. I had never met them, but it turned out to be the start of a good musical collaboration.' Lorenza also played the historic Concert For New York with Bon Jovi, as well as smaller benefits for the families of the servicemen lost from Jon's hometown. It's no wonder Lorenza has such deep regard for the band. 'It was an honor to be part of their contribution to healing.' Lorenza became a permanent member of Jon's solo acoustic group (which mainly plays charity and political events) and was subsequently asked to join the Bon Jovi 'Lost Highway' tour, which featured her prominently. 'After completing a rock tour as big as Lost Highway, I knew I was ready to make my own rock record. My writing had been shifting towards rock for several years. My new record represents that.'
Visit: www.lorenzaponce.com
