Mike Breen And The Big Dream

See link. - Rick Jamison

Arizona Super Group “Mike Breen and the Big Dream” to Headline
Zonal Music Group 7th Annual Christmas Showcase and Benefit
By Mariah Fleming

Start your December partying early at what promises to be an exceptionally entertaining musical event, the Zonal Music Group 7th Annual Christmas Showcase and Benefit at Pranksters Too in Scottsdale. On Saturday December 15, ZMG hosts a back-to-back lineup of excellent live music beginning at 6:15pm for only $10. The impressive showcase leads up to the new CD release party for nationally known Arizona favorite Mike Breen. Breen was honored as Artist of the Week in Alternate Root Magazine this September. Songs from his newest CD “All Night Long” will be performed by the headline act, super group Mike Breen and the Big Dream.

Breen describes his music as “Acoustic Americana with an Arizona Texture.” It’s a perfect description of this group of six veteran Arizona musicians who have worked nationally and internationally with many of the biggest names in contemporary music. “Mike Breen and the Big Dream is my core band, the guys I play with whenever there’s a concert gig.” Breen explained. “We don’t often get to do these things in a concert setting, so we’re really looking forward to this!” Breen has known and played with the members of Mike Breen and the Big Dream Band for many years. Breen and each musician in the band (Ken Skaggs, Russell Skaggs, Mickey McGee, Billy Parker and Mike Cirillo) bring to the stage stellar reputations as some of the best musicians around, no contest.

Ken Skaggs and his brother Russell Skaggs both toured with Glen Campbell for many years, among other things. Prior to that they were involved in legendary Arizona groups like “The Normal Brothers” and “The Two Week Notice Band.” The Skaggs brothers are both very well known, highly accomplished musicians. Ken plays pedal steel, lap steel, mandolin and guitar; Russ plays acoustic and electric bass, and they both sing. That just taps the surface of what these two can do. Mickey McGee, who’ll be playing percussion on ‘Cajon’ (an instrument described by Breen as “the little box drummers sit on and play with their hands”) has played with Linda Ronstadt, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Michael Dinner, Ricky Nelson “and everybody who’s anybody in Los Angeles” Breen explained.

Billy Parker, who plays mandolin in the band, grew up playing bluegrass music on the east coast. He moved to Arizona a long time ago. Breen describes Parker as “The all star mandolin player in Arizona who’s played in a bunch of famous bluegrass bands and is called by everybody to work!” Breen said that he was privileged to meet Parker through Kyle Harris, owner of Arizona’s Playr Recording, when Parker was brought in to play on Breen’s 1996 CD “No Excuses.” Playing fiddle in Mike Breen and the Big Dream is Mike Cirillo, who Breen met at the old Red River Opry in the early 1990’s, when it was a thriving venue featuring Branson style country music shows. “Mike is so smart. He’s one of these guys who is just mind blowing!” says Breen. “Mike Cirillo is one of the best fiddle players I’ve ever known!” he declared. Judging by Cirillo’s reviews, everyone agrees.


When asked why Breen chose to do a CD release party for Zonal Music Group he said he’d seen Ronnie Glover playing at Pranksters Too, and found out about the showcases of original music Rick Wall was doing at Pranksters. “I heard that Rick (Wall) was booking original music, and that’s so great. I found out that he’s been doing this for a long time, and that he knows a lot of musicians. He’s been bringing in some great people. So I contacted him and said: “Hey, can I send you a CD? And if you like it can I do a show down there?” In addition to songs from Breen’s new CD, it’s likely that, with the fantastic players in Mike Breen and the Big Dream, given the great variety of music between the musicians in the group, there will be some ‘don’t miss’ musical surprises in store.

It’s going to be a full night of terrific music. Prior to Mike Breen and the Big Dream at 11pm, the evening will feature a special appearance at 10pm by Tucson’s Namoli Brennet, who has played the ZMG showcase many times to rousing receptions. Brennet is an exquisitely gifted songwriter and singer who is rapidly becoming a national name. She is constantly touring nationwide, so the opportunity to catch her at the showcase may be the last time to see her perform in Arizona for quite awhile. Brennet is also bringing her new CD to the show, and will perform songs from her newest CD in addition to crowd pleasers from her previous CD’s.

The talented and entertaining Darin Mahoney takes the stage at 9pm with a set that includes many friends and musical surprises. At 8pm The Hope Ladder Duo comes onstage with David Bryan Cook and Graham “Dr. Slide” Benike, featuring great songs and a fine, unique stage presence. Benike’s slide guitar alone is something to behold, and together, the group is al - musicandmoreaz.com

Review: The Alternate Root, Artist Of The Week

"Long time buddies came to help Mike Breen and play on his most recent release, All Night Long. Mike gathered friends from the Phoenix area, players who have day gigs that take them to world stages and hearts that hold loyalty as a cherished trait. All Night Long features Doug Haywood (Jackson Browne), Mickey McGee ( Linda Ronstadt), Michael Dinner (Flying Burritos Brothers), Matt Cartsonis (Warren Zevon) and Cheryl Wolff (Alan Jackson).

Listening to All Night Long, your ear can tell why Mike Breen collects friends like coupons offering specials. His vocal delivery is warm and inviting. His story lines are conversations about life and observations on its living moments. “Baby’s Comin’ in on a Plane” lets you feel the excitement of the guy at the gate whose heart beats a little faster with each departing passenger, “Cristina Valencia” slips south of the border to plead to the lady in the title for a little love light from her dark eyes and “Carnival Queen” walks the midway with love at your side."

-The Alternate Root, Artist of the week.

Mike Breen And The Big Dream.

http://www.thealternateroot.com/alternate-root-weekly-features/alternate-root-artists-of-the-week

- The Alternate Root

Mescal Mary & Other B Bender Guitar Instrumentals - Mike Breen (Basilbone)
If you’re into the sound landscape defined by Telecasters and string bending, Breen’s release should fill the bill. This Phoenix guitarslinger, armed with B-bender and G-bender equipped guitars, demonstrates that he knows his way around a Tele all through this instrumental release, starting with the dramatic “Mescal Mary” that sounds like it would have been at home on the Charlie Daniels Band album High Lonesome. Chicken pickin’ with steel guitar type bends abound on cuts like “Ridin’ the Fence,” the Bakersfield-tinged “Havasu,” and the satisfying “Honky Tonk #22,” all Breen compositions. “Moon Glow Supper Club” has a front porch type atmosphere with mandolin, resonator guitar, and banjo joining the B-bender (all played by Breen), while “Remember Me” has an echo of Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover” with country underpinnings. Breen can stop everything with the exquisite “Stillness of a Snowy Night,” and with “North of Sonora” and the acoustic closer “Anastasia,” Breen captures the satisfied end-of-day kind of mood. If you love guitar with a country heart, visit www.sonicbids.com/mikebreen
to get yourself a copy of this enjoyable disc.

By Don Thomason, The Amplifier - The Amplifier

A consistent quality rolls right through the third solo album and instro debut from singer-songwriter Mike Breen. On Mescal Mary & Other B Bender Guitar Instrumentals, Breen performs masterfully on the B and G bender guitar, a guitar device invented by one time Byrds guitarists Clarence White and Gene Parsons to resemble the sounds of the pedal steel guitar. Breen mixes his tasty electric work with his added banjo, mandolin and flatpicking guitar sounds. Supported by drummer Mickey McGee, the Phoenix-based guitarist revives a post-modern Nashville / Bakersfield instro sound injected with some melodic and progressive guitar touches and a vintage Les Paul style feel. Breen never wears his influences out and with it’s wide ranging diversity, the 12 track instrumental CD is just the ticket for twangy guitar and country instro enthusiasts. Among his fine original tracks, Breen covers of two certified instro classics—”Apache” and “Sleepwalk”—further defines the focus and variety on Mescal Mary.
Robert Silverstein - 20th Century Guitar - 20th Century Guitar Magazine

Dirty Linen #72 Oct/Nov 1997
A varied and enjoyable selection of slightly country-flavored originals by a writer with a talent for writing catchy, uptempo melodies (try not singing along to "Juanita's In Love".) With a hint of John Denver in his vocals, this extremely capable guitarist makes great use of mandolins, fiddles, banjos, accordion and backing vocals. I wish all singer-songwriter albums were this rewarding. - Dirty Linen

It's always a pleasure to hear an independant CD that delivers the goods past the first cut and this release from Breen is such an example.
Sing Out Magazine - Spring 2001 - Sing Out Magazine

It's always a pleasure to hear an independant CD that delivers the goods past the first cut and this release from Breen is such an example.
Sing Out Magazine - Spring 2001 - Sing Out Magazine

"For those of you who are already fans of Mike Breen, no sales pitch is necessary, but if you have never had the exquisite pleasure of Mike's live performance, check him out ..."
Maxine Jewett, Publisher - ACOUSTIC SCENE http://www.acousticscene.com/ - Acoustic Scene

"For those of you who are already fans of Mike Breen, no sales pitch is necessary, but if you have never had the exquisite pleasure of Mike's live performance, check him out ..."
Maxine Jewett, Publisher - ACOUSTIC SCENE http://www.acousticscene.com/ - Acoustic Scene