Anthology

An Interview with Beverly McClellan

by: Casey Pukl

There are just some people in the world that are easy to talk to. They’re open, honest, and confident in who they are and what they put out into the universe. That’s Beverly McClellan, and after our interview, I’m pretty sure we’re BFF’s. No, seriously. She’s that fun to talk to! Widely known for her time on NBC’s show, “The Voice,” McClellan quickly captivated audiences with her soul-shaking vocals, honest sense of humor, and energetic performances. With twenty years of experience under her belt in the South Florida music scene, McClellan gained the exposure she needed to take her already successful career to the next level.

I was fortunate enough to speak with Beverly this morning. I had all intentions of asking her a ton of questions, but instead, we wound up having a great conversation about everything from her recent writing session with Keb’ Mo’ to her tattoos, her discovery of Nina Simone, and her love affair with her van.

Oh, and then there’s her latest record that drops NEXT WEEK! Fear Nothing is the sixth release for McClellan, and she couldn’t be more excited for everyone to have a copy.

CP: I want to thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me this morning. I was a huge fan of yours on the show, and I’m so looking forward to your latest record.  Read the rest of this entry »

An Interview with Booker T. Jones

by: Casey Pukl

Booker T. Jones. What’s the first thing we think of when we hear that name?

A. “Green Onions”
B. B3 Hammond Organ
C. Stax
D. Booker T & the MG’s
E. Grammy Award winner
F. Musical Genius

Or there’s always G. All of the Above.

Booker T is a living legend. He’s credited with pioneering the modern rock organ. That tone you hear on every late night show? Guess who that’s inspired by? Nord Keyboards— who do they ask to review their latest keyboards? It’s a little overwhelming to prepare to interview him. I’m not going to lie— I’ve been stressing this week— a lot. Where do you even begin to talk about a career than spans half of a century and includes dozens of #1’s, countless accolades, ridiculous collaborations, and more? What can you ask the person who inspired the sound you personally aim for every time you sit down at a keyboard?

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An Interview With Boney James

by: Casey Pukl

I’m always honored to interview the incredible artists that play here at Anthology. Boney James is no exception. With over three million copies of his twelve albums sold, four certified Gold albums, three Grammy nominations, a Soul Train Award, and an NAACP award nomination, James has plenty to be proud of.

His latest release, Contact, has been nominated for a Soul Train Award, and has also received much critical acclaim. The album covers new ground for James, who is constantly striving to innovate and span across genres. Fortunately for me, I had the opportunity to talk to Boney James about his latest record, his evolution as an artist, and what we can look forward to seeing when he comes to Anthology at the end of the month!

CP: I want to start out by congratulating you on our Soul Train Award nomination for Contact!

BJ: Oh, thank you! Yeah, it’s pretty cool. I’m really excited about it!

CP: Tell me a little bit about this record and how it came about.

BJ: Sure. This record is a real departure from the last one. The last one was more of a late night record with a lot of covers on it, you know, it had that slower vibe. I really tried to give this record a new energy. There’s a lot of up-tempo stuff on it, a lot of vocal tunes, it’s really got a different vibe. I always try to reach across genres, that’s where the name Contact comes from in a lot of ways. It started out being like the roar of a plane and that electrical contact, but it later became about people connecting.

CP: Speaking of people connecting, you featured a lot of great R&B singers on this record. How did that come about?

BJ: I started writing the songs for the record, and you know, sometimes the horn just doesn’t sound right. Sometimes the melody was made for a voice and not the horn. So I started writing lyrics, and then trying to match a voice to it.

CP: Did you have any particular artists in mind as you were writing, or did that come later? Read the rest of this entry »

Creative Uses from Appetizers to Cocktails

by: Casey Pukl

There are so many great fall flavors, that I’m starting to think I have too many favorites. When I head into the kitchen to discuss the Farm Fresh Pick of the Week with Chef Todd, it can be tough for us to narrow down which ingredient to feature. This week, the stars aligned and our beverage manager, Marc Canzoneri, presented us with a phenomenal cocktail made with fresh apples. If only one would magically appear on my desk, it would truly be the greatest Friday of my life. It would’ve been a crime not to share it with you, so Chef Todd decided to help plan an entire meal from start to finish featuring apples!

Apples can give new life to any recipe- throw a few slices on a salad, bake them with a little cinnamon and sugar for dessert, coat them in caramel, or make a savory stuffing with apples, bread, walnuts, thyme, pears, and more. These crispy, sweet tarts pack a big punch that’s sure to please.

For this meal, Chef Todd recommends starting with an Endive and Apple salad. Throw in some golden raisins, bleu cheese, and candied walnuts, and voila! (Chef Todd actually loved this one so much that he decided to include it on our special New Year’s Eve menu!)

For a main course, Chef Todd recommends braising apple slices in a little white wine with some sautéed onions.

Season with some salt, pepper, a little cinnamon, and nutmeg. Serve the braised apples on top of a grilled pork chop, and prepare to be impressed. This recipe is not only incredibly easy, but balanced and comforting. It almost felt like a guilty pleasure.

Now, I’ve got to warn you. The finale I’m about to tell you about is both ridiculously addictive and really simple. Once you try it, it’ll be tough to forget. 

Chef Todd is currently featuring an apple crisp on our dessert menu that is every bit as sophisticated and classic as his food has always been. It’s the perfect ending to a meal. Todd adds cranberries to the crisp, and the topping is made of toasted oats and pecans. I can’t forget to add that there’s also a scoop of caramel swirl ice cream on top that is what puts this dessert over the edge.

Are you drooling yet? Because there’s more. I’ve got two words for you:

42^nd Street

Buffalo Trace Bourbon, muddled apples, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, cinnamon. Throw some ice in there, give it a shake, strain, and serve up. This drink is like a goldmine full of fall garnished with a cinnamon and sugar rim. It’s perfectly balanced; not too sweet, not too tart, just right.

If you’d prefer to have it hand crafted by a pro, be sure to come on down and have Eric (see right) make one for you. Look at how much fun he has muddling those apples! If you want to make it yourself, just be sure you have as much, if not more, fun than Eric.

As always, you can come in to taste the dishes featured from our menu, and be sure to send us your photos of your farm fresh experiments! Our Facebook page is always open, and we’d love to see what you come up with!

An Interview with Patrizio Buanne

by: Casey Pukl

I hope you’re all sitting down and comfortable, because you’re in for a long, slow, and wildly entertaining treat today. I’ve never hung up the phone after an interview with an artist blushing and giggling uncontrollably… that was until I spoke with the one and only Patrizio Buanne. What can I say? I’m an American girl with an affinity for accents and men who sing love songs. Aren’t we all?

Buanne is currently touring the US promoting his new album, Patrizio, and he has titled this his, “Up Close and Personal” tour. Coming from playing 5,000 to 10,000 seat venues throughout the world, Buanne expressed his excitement for his upcoming intimate performances. The smooth talking gentleman was so much fun to speak with, and even ended the interview by telling me that instead of an interview, this felt like more of a chat with a friend… perhaps even a flirtatious chat. [Insert a blushing Casey here] But Patrizio is far more than a charismatic crooner with a gorgeous face. He’s a man who is passionate and incredibly knowledgeable about his work, his roots, and getting to know his steadily growing fan base. He also happens to have a great sense of humor, which is also a bonus in my book.

CP: Tell me a little about your latest record. It seems to be a bit of a departure from your previous releases.

PB: Yes, this album incorporates a lot of things that I love and many different pieces of myself and who I am. From the beginning of my career, I’ve been called the “Ambassador of the Italian Songbook,” which is a great honor. I think some people have no idea what the Italian Songbook really is. It’s not just opera or music that has been performed classically. It’s much more than that. I love to educate people about this great music.

You know, in the 1960’s, so many of the great stars of the day sang songs from the Italian Songbook in English, and a lot of people don’t realize that. The song, “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” by Dusty Springfield was actually an Italian song called, “lo che non vivo (senza te)” written by Pino Donaggio and Vito Pallavicini. A lot of people don’t know that. They’ve been hearing these songs but don’t know where they came from.

CP: I had no idea that’s where that song came from!

PB: Yes. Many people don’t know that. So that’s where I started from, but on this album, I wanted to incorporate a few different parts of me and what I love. The new album, Patrizio, has three parts. First, it has the original songs that were written for me. Second, it has the songs that I love that I wish had been written for me that I took and made my own. Third, it has the Italian Songbook aspect that my fans have come to know. I love those songs, and I don’t want to alienate my original fans, but I also want to show that there’s more to me than that.

CP: Absolutely. Now, I know that you were born in Vienna, and your parents are Italian. You’ve got a very rich cultural background.

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