Ethnic, Instrumental

One of the hottest unknown female rappers in the game Lady Meka.

Husband-and-wife tandem Dan and Cristina Handrabur make up what is Weed!

The latest release from Weed contains many nuggets of musical works with ambient singer Cristina Handrabur that lends her beautifully distinctive vocals to songs on 'Visionary Sessions'. Both ( Dan and Cristina Handrabur) were both born in Bucharest Romania before each moved to live in Geneva. Dan began playing violin and is classically trained musically while garnering a scholarship to study at the Conservatoire de Geneve at the young age of sixteen (16) years old. Cristina began singing also at an early age in her teens with credits on many albums and placements of her music on many soundtrack CD's. As Weed, they blend ambiance, psychedelia, trip-hop and electronica elements into their own unique musical blend and top it with Dan's great playing styles and with Cristina’s distinctive vocals.

Oddly, Weed have been flying under the radar when it comes to music in mainstream world. People are now fast becoming more familiar with this act, and especially those listeners that are fans of Morcheeba, Lemon Jelly, The Cinematic Orchestra and Jazzanova. Fans of triphop in general and electronica music band will love this new album entitled 'Visionary Sessions.' This latest release does sound like an old formula in a modern era, and those that love music with a modern and sophisticated lounge feel to it, this is an album for you.

Earning a set of Technics DJ'ing at the landmark Club 58, Weed adapted the use of a Korg synthesizer and a Roland beat box. The new reality of composing and producing electronic music along with adding Cristina's soothing vocals, make up quintessential Weed. That overall sound is something that automatically makes the entire album accessible to all listeners. The combination of Dan's playing and Cristina's vocals makes them sound like they did the day they met to collaborate as one. The dreamy vocals and trip hop sound is what carries the band. And, the ability to produce sophisticated beats with flashy chords is what makes that cutting edge overall sound.

There is no doubt that we will hear certain songs be used on TV montages and in advertisements, and the band has already been placed in at least four Soundtrack (Suddenly Naked, Guilty, Free Enterprise & Bruiser) CD's to date. Drawn together by similar tastes in music and artwork, Dan and Cristina fell in love literally, and musically. After Dan moved with his family to Toronto, Canada (shortly after his graduation), a year later, Cristina joined him, and they married each other while they also they collaborated on music in Weed. Having relocated to Canada, they both quickly became known among a new electronic music community and have had great successes in large American cities like Detroit and throughout the entire United Kingdom. Their overall ambient sound is actually described as being more than the Industrial sounds any major populated city is more associated with today.

After the participation of many projects over the years (Outersanctum, Floatpoint, Vuemorph, Mere Mortals, Off And Gone, Weed), the duo has since returned to their native home in Romania to settle in a mountain village, and label head (Sunset Jazz Recordings) Don Lichterman, pleaded with them to allow the company to release this latest CD (Visionary Sessions). (Don) Lichterman says that “seeing them around horse drawn carriages, wooden stoves, secular traditional customs and lots of fresh air, the home of Outersanctum Studios is a goldmine of music and most of all, these guys play so well together; they compliment each others great talents.” (Don) Lichterman also says that “Dan continues to produce albums, tour all over in Europe and hopes to be able to travel to India to learn the techniques of Indian violin playing as well as the sarangi, an ancient, almost rudimentary stringed instrument with a distinctive sound.”

Cristina Handrabur says that “in the last years since we moved from Bucharest, we are enjoying a more natural life, growing our own vegetables and herbs, making our own wine, visiting and discovering new sacred places(where European civilization first started), forest trekking, experimenting and finding inspiration for new artwork.” (Don) Lichterman says that “this overall situation is a great recipe for success and most of all, they need to be heard big time.” He (Don Lichterman) ends by saying that he “will give them (Cristina and Dan Handrabur aka Weed) the most viable chances to be placed and they will have the most viable way to be heard by anyone in the world.”

The 'Visionary Sessions” twelve (12) CD is in stores on march 3rd and the new video of the song, “Truth Love Spirit“ is in all video outlets beginning this week. The full length CD is made up with the following beautiful sound recordings:

1. Visionary Sessions
2. Ace
3. Blessed (Proceed Without Caution)
4. Fields Of Love
5. Aloft
6. Finding My Way
7. Follow Me
8. Make U Feel
9. Omen
10. Path Of Rose Petals
11. Peace Mantra
12. So Hi
13. A Sigh Becomes A Thousand Trees
14. Truth Love Spirit

Sunset Jazz Recordings / Sunset Classics & Jazz (SC&J)
A world renowned jazz record label with old school styled and modern day smooth jazz artists signed to the label and with DJ's, Electronica, House, TripHop Music artists on its roster. Featuring the old school traditional Sunset Jazz Recording artist Woodcock Group, Electronica artists Dreamdoktor, DJ Zevzek and Weed, along with the guitar aficionado and genius Steve Tilelli along with avante garde sounds and new age artist, Store Thousands. The label also features great jazz artists on the Lounge Party CD.

This Serbian jazz trio also composes and arranges its music for every one of the ten (10) songs on the full length CD. Woodcock Group’s new debut album, Water Stories (Sunset Jazz Recordings) gives jazz aficionados great evidence that there are new musical artists in jazz; that can carry a wide-range of music of original songs taken as conceptual, the album is now available to pre-order at Amazon and through the Sunset Jazz label. The full length CD is set for the May 3rd street day, with the Sunset Classics & Jazz (SC&J) division, Sunset Distribution Company and then via Republic Universal for digital distribution into stores.

Woodcock Group is a band that is no doubt aware of its mixing modern jazz with traditional jazz music influenced by, among others, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans and Art Blakey. Born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, in the spring of 2009 pianist and composer Aleksandar Jovanovic founded the "Woodcock Group." What is now a trio with (Aleksandar) Jovanovic, Marko Fabry is on the bass while Aleksandar Cvetkovic does the drum work on the ten (10) song CD. Their first performance was at the "Umbria Jazz Balcanic Windows" Music Festival 2009 in Belgrade, which they won over 28 bands from the south-eastern Europe regions. Not to mention, they were listed in the top six as best young jazz band in Eastern Europe this year. “I not only plan on using this album to springboard a new sense of direction at Sunset Jazz (Recordings),” says label head, Don Lichterman, “We are also in hope of using Alex’s (Aleksandar Jovanovic) A&R chops to gain more jazz acts for the label.”

The debut album being released at Sunset (Jazz) is inspired by “water” as in a state of a “form” and (Don) Lichterman says that he, “loves the concept” of it. He (Lichterman) goes on to say that he also “loves the deep traditional style of this band (Woodcock Group).” Woodcock Group’s debut recording entitled, Water Stories, has already gained international radio play with “Vrelo,” the first song being worked to radio this year. And the CD has received great critical acclaim after the label released its initial press to blogs and social networks. Look for the CD to be available in stores everywhere that sells CDs along with being made available at every retailer that sells downloads, ringtones and streams