Ksenia Mack - Boston songwriter, performer and guitar teacher: Blog

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Laura Vecchione workshop

Laura Vecchione graced the stage at the studio of Ksenia Mack last night providing an exclusive guitar and songwriting workshop to guitar students of guitar guru Ksenia Mack. Laura Vecchione is one of the hottest acts in town. She has a rustic country edge to her thumping, gritty and heartfelt songs. Her "Jane" is iconic and makes you aware of all the music you've heard.

Ksenia's guitar workshops are a unique feature provided to her acoustic guitar students. To find out more about Ksenia Mack's guitar lessons go to Boston guitar teacher.

To order Laura Vecchione's CD go to CD Baby, baby...

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Acoustic Brazil

Sulinha Boucher, Acoustic Brazil leader

Acoustic Brazil is an elementary school performance program which exposes the students to the different musical styles of Brazil. These include: Samba, Bossa Nova, Choro and Baiao. Through these styles of music, the students will experience the sounds of the Cavaquinho, the Surdo, the Pandeiro, and the Berimbau. They will learn about each instrument and become a part of a Carnival rhythm section called Samba Batucada. The musical presentation includes Sulinha Boucher, Katrin Peterson, and Ksenia Mack. This past winter the band performed in all of the Boston libraries to rave reviews. For more information please visit Sulinha's Acoustic Brazil.

To contact Acoustic Brazil about bookings or other information go to Program Directory.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Jeannie Deva

Ksenia Mack highly recommends the voice techniques and coaching of Jeannie Deva. To see a review of Jeannie's teaching methods go to LA Splash.

To visit Jeannie Deva's Boston studio website go to Jeannie Deva Voice Studios.

"One of the best decisions I made about my recording was to put Jeannie Deva in charge of vocal production. The minute she entered the studio good changes began to occur. Her directions were precise and correct, her ability to pin point and fix vocal problems were uncanny. Ranging from where I positioned the vocal mikes to aid the tone production, to understanding the content and context of my songs, she helped me create vocally the communication beyond what I imagined possible. - She also facilitated the speed of the recording toward completion. Needless to say, I am ecstatic about the results."

The one and only Ksenia Mack

(opening act for Willie Nelson, Indigo Girls, Mark Cohn, Warren Zevon)

Ksenia's style?

What style of music does Ksenia play?

She's always been a difficult one to categorize but here are some attempts. If you have an idea let us know in the comments section below.

"Ksenia Mack plays hard hitting folk rock with a dose of beatnik edge sensibilities." Club Passims

"This woman's got a mochaccino in her voice and lightning in her hands. Letters from the Jalopy is a self-produced studio album from Medford, MA guitar-teacher and folk-singer, Ksenia Mack. Mack's voice has at times the lilt of Joni Mitchell, the warm low tones of kd Lang, and the blues of old Bonnie Raitt, her style blends such disparate influences with old-fashioned songwriting and scorching guitar-work. She's more incredible in her live performances than on this album, but Jalopy's well worth a listen." S. Donovan Mullaney

(Donovan brings up a good point. Somehow Ksenia shines on stage. It's as if the crowd and the setting bring out her true grit and ability as she absorbs the energy of the crowd and spits it back out in her guitar work and vocal performance.)

"A point-blank, brilliant performance style that is unrivaled in today's 'new folk' era." CD Baby

"Guitar swami." Ed Mack

Ksenia wants to hear from you. What's her style? Folk? Rock? New Folk? You name it, we want to to hear it. Post your opinion below...

To see more reviews visit CD Baby.

Porch Party Mamas

One of Ksenia's music groups is the Porch Party Mamas, available to play at your venue.

Boston Globe Sidekick correspondent Stephanie Schorow describes them best:

"...wouldn't it be nice to sit for a spell on your front porch swing with your baby? But if you don't have a front porch swing (or a front porch), try swinging with the Porch Party Mamas, four local singer-songwriters with their own brand of urban folk, country, and blues. The group: "Kelly Riley, Ksenia Mack, Felicia Brady, and Katrin Peterson” gets things going at at Toad (1912 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square).

Ksenia's inspired cartoon

To inspire a cartoon is a sign of success. Either that or it is a sign of ridicule. Luckily in this case it shows that Ksenia Mack was her usual self on stage, dazzling the audience with her guitar virtuosity. John Nickola was likewise impressed and therefore the above artwork. To view in larger dimensions visit John Nickola.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Guitar Lessons

Ksenia is an experienced guitar teacher in the Boston area. Her music background includes a degree in music theory and study of the classical. However she is able to teach in a way that makes music fun and easy to do. Often times her guitar students ask to learn specific songs and she eagerly learns them herself and teaches them. Just this week the grammy award winning song Grave Digger from the album Some Devil was requested and taught. See the music video: Grave Digger. For information on guitar lessons call 617.492.7372 or email at kseniamack@yahoo.com.