Raphael McGregor - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I am a member of the Nation Beat, a really unique ensemble that performs music based on the traditional rhythms and styles of the Northeast of Brazil, such as Maracatu, Coco, and Forro. We've mixed these sounds with the sounds we grew up hearing here in the USA--jazz, funk, rock, New Orleans, country, bluegrass--basically whatever we're into at the moment--and have created something that I think is unique and fun to listen to. We tour all over America, just returned from Brazil, and will be heading out again soon to parts unknown. Check them out on my friends page.In addition, I have a band called Five Star Day, with whom I play weekly at Perch Cafe in Brooklyn. We do mostly covers of country, soul, and rock and roll in our own unique way. The band consists of myself on lap steel guitar, Yuval Avnur on guitar and vox, Jared Shapiro on bass, and usually one of a few different drummers. Check out our unique versions of classics by Dylan, Gram Parsons, Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, and, of course, Beyonce.I also do freelance work in the city and beyond with a bunch of different musicians in different genres including folk, country, singer/songwriter, bluegrass, rock, indie, jazz, etc. I have a small project studio in Brooklyn and do a lot of recording there, so if you're interested in having some steel guitar or guitar on a track of yours, send me an email and we can work something out. Thanks for stopping by, look forward to hearing from you again!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Band Website: raphaelmcgregor.com
Band Members: I play with a bunch of different acts; primarily Modiba recording artists Nation Beat, but also freelance work all over the country. I also have my own band, Five Star Day. Check them out in my friends page...thanks!
Influences: Django Reinhardt, Jaco Pastorius, Neil Young, Duane Allman, Hank Williams, Derek Trucks, Maracatu Nacao Estrella Brilhante, Luiz Gonzaga, Cascabulho, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, George Lewis, John Coltrane, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ravi Shankar, Siba, Mestre Salustiano, John Neff, Don Helms, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Britpop, Avishai Cohen, Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Djavan, Mahalia Jackson, VS Naipaul, David Bowie, Blur, Portishead, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Grateful Dead, Sknyrd, Suede, Jefferson Airplane, Sonny Rollins, Monk, Miles Davis, Jim Hall,Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Bill Evans, Buddy Emmons, Aubrey Ghent, The Campbell Brothers, Tribe called Quest, Ornette Coleman, Ricky Gervais, Monty Python, Hoots the Owl, Buju Banton, Danny Gatton, Redneck Jazz Explosion, Jim Campilongo, hell, it's all in there. Hope it comes out all right.
Sounds Like: http://www.oldtownschool.org/video/2007/06/11/world-music-se ries-nation-beat/
Type of Label: None

My Blog

New (old) Tune

Just put a new tune up. it's actually something I recorded a while ago with Scott Kettner in our project studio. It's all lap steel--many layers of it-- and percussion, recorded through our DP rig. ...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:45:00 PST

New Tune

Hey All,I recently wrote a new tune, all on Garageband, and thought it turned out pretty good. I was just trying to make some beats and loops, and ended up getting a whole three minutes out of it. E...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Tue, 01 May 2007 02:59:00 PST

Gourmet Dog food?

Are you kidding me? The animal that will happily eat squirrels, bluejays, chipmunks, and, oh yeah--shit--is now being served filet mignon flavor alpo? Talk about pearls before swine...or maybe I'm ju...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:42:00 PST

Classic New York Experience

Last night, I was walking my friend Hannah to the R train at 4th ave. and 9th St. As we walked down 9th St. towards the station, I saw a building with a business name I recognized (I won't say what i...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:48:00 PST

Could be Worse...

I'm writing this from the room in the house in Olinda, Brasil, which the Nation Beat has rented for the duration of our stay here. We've just finished two really good shows--one at Porto Musical late...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:58:00 PST

Airplane travel

Hi,So, I'm a week away from going to Brasil with the Nation Beat for two and a half weeks...we'll be playing Porto Musical and a couple of other festivals, and hanging out with some musicians down the...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:54:00 PST

Battle Cry of Freedom

I just wanted to write something briefly about this song. In case you didn't know, this was originally written in 1862 and was used as a Union marching song. Apparently the melody had a un...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:48:00 PST

New Tunes, new pics: New Computer!

So I finally got a computer of my own...set me back a bit, let me tell you. I've been using it, as you can see, to post idiotic pictures of myself and record low-quality music on Garage Band. Well w...
Posted by Raphael McGregor on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 08:18:00 PST