Tuesday, June 30, 2026

SUMMER PARTY DANCE MUSIC RELEASE PERFECT FOR YOUR NEXT BACKYARD BBQ COMING JULY 1ST

How we made the ultimate Summer of 2025 Festival Anthem TITLE - THIS SUMMER BY GREGORY BOYD INCLUDED IN THE ULTIMATE SUMMER EDM PLAYLIST 2026 FT MYROSLAV PYATNIKOV - TRUMPETS SPARK - I was composing some ideas and one popped in my head. I thought man I should do a track with trumpet player friend of mine. (Myroslav). Back Story - Myroslav and I met in Ukraine back in 2013 we were both performing in a festival in Odessa called THE MASTER JAM FESTIVAL. Which was a brilliant showcase of musicians from around the world. I will post videos of this at a later date. We also performed together in Warsaw, Poland as a featured act at Skyhall Jazz Club. Also we did a series of performances with a live video project called BEDROOM MUSIC in Odessa so I thought would be the perfect person with his groove composition background and my New Orleans Street vibes to make a killer Summer Track for 2026. And this is what we set out to accomplish. The track is here and is NOW included in this Ultimate Summer Track Playlist that I curated specially for the occasion. Check it out right here Get Your Summer Vibes Flowing and Lets Stay in touch Peace Gregory and Myroslav! Check out the Zoom chat on the back story in the next post!!!!

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Steelpan Jazz in the Arctic Circle?

Live from Sortland, Norway, Gregory Boyd with GBTNO at the Sortland Jazz Festival 2025, featuring Jens Damm on drums and Thomas Sejthen on acoustic and electric bass. Talk about amazing—Sortland, above the Arctic Circle, has blue water and fish right beside the hotel. By the way, we stayed at the Scandic Hotel in Sortland. It’s a really nice hotel, and a highlight was the food. During the first two days of the festival, I wasn’t very adventurous with my eating. If I haven’t heard of a place being good for food, I tend to be conservative about what I eat. However, on the third day, I finally took the plunge and had a brilliant reindeer shank! So, if you’re staying in Northern Norway near Sortland and happen to stay at the Scandic Hotel, do yourself a favor and try their restaurant—you’ll be glad you did. Sortland is a cozy town that seems a bit odd at first because many of the buildings are painted blue. At first, it seemed like one of those strange 1990s European ideas, but I realized it was actually a clever way for the town to stand out and get on the map. The decision was made to paint the buildings blue for the upcoming year 2000 celebrations. It’s also said there was a minor disagreement between those who wanted a darker shade of blue and those who preferred a lighter one, but they worked it out. I was warmly received in this town, along with my band, during our performances for both youth and adults. Seeing steel pans on stage with conventional bass and drums was, I’m sure, an eye-opener. I certainly did my best to make it an ear-opener as well. We had three performances in total, the first one for young people, roughly ages 7 to 11—and it was packed, by the way. It was challenging because, when we do shows about New Orleans music and explain cultural aspects, we usually speak in English with some Danish if it’s a Danish crowd. But here, we had to speak entirely in English, which was tough but manageable. On the second day, we performed for immigrants and young people, and the third day’s performance was for teenagers, who, I’m sure, loved us. I love it when I can connect with teens; they bring this energy that helps us get it together and give them what they’re really looking for in a band performance. All of a sudden, it feels like you're at a rock concert, and it can get pretty wild if given the green light. For example, at one point, the young people started picking each other up and tossing each other in the air like it was a football match, grabbing each other, leaning back and forth while listening to the music. I think whoever has the opportunity should perform for young people in their teens because music at that time in life is so formative. It makes everyone in the room aware of how powerful music is. It gives the performers life because it reminds us of what drove us to do this in the first place. So there they were, jumping up and down—I loved it, I was like "Jump! Jump! Jump!" and rocking along, even though my jumps aren’t as high as they used to be, I’m still pushing my limits. I have some pictures from these performances and some videos from Sortland posted on my Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok pages—all linked in my description. Please check them out. After the show, we had another performance earlier that’s worth mentioning, attended by about 40 immigrants who moved to Norway to escape or leave their homeland for various reasons. This is where I truly come alive. I absolutely love performing for people of diverse cultures. It's just in my DNA. Ever since I performed in Japan during that tour, specifically in Kobe, Japan, in 2013, for a festival called Asia Month. During that festival, I performed with a man called Ryiro Furusawa, who was a master percussionist from Japan. I was on stage with brilliant musicians and artist from all over the world and at one point I sang my song "World Groove" which is a song I wrote in the 90's that talked about settling our differences and coming together as people and there I was in thishuge performance area with all these diverse peformers around I immefiate sang to them and in true James Brown fashion included them in the song. People went crazy. I love doing this, and so there I was. I did not know where these people came from, but I was in my peaceful element once again, and I sang these songs to them. Along with our regular show of GBTNO GOING BACK TO NEW ORLEANS. So we finished the young peoples concerts and went to rehearse our show which was brillint to that too a nap and when to gt ready to for evening jazz concert I beleive we the last show of the day at night and knowning recorded this portioin of the show and unfortunatly it only recorded the first 23 minute not sure why it did not record the full hour and a half but it only record the very beginning but it was fun and we warmed with The Funky Meters Cissy Strut and then into Bill Withers Aint No Sunshine and my own conpostion "Common Ground".

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

My Thoughts - By Gregory Boyd

 My Thoughts. 

By Gregory Boyd


It is the pursuit of beautiful chords, killer beats, a pioneering spirit, the pursuit of tone science, writing original music, finding personal cover songs, and the connection of people that drives me. I am a lover of traveling and finding people who inspire creative impulses. It is also my love to be at home with family and friends talking and enjoying life to its fullest. Over the years I have developed a sincere love to be out in the world and to go deep into myself and find what makes me tick and I love to be around others who express the same. 


I enjoy speaking to people expressing my experiences and hearing about others' experiences in life. Money and fame have never been my goal. My goal has always been to perform with as many great people as possible and reach the corners of the earth doing so. It's a pursuit that has indeed led me there and continues to arouse, tantalize, and inspire me to keep going and be the engine of my gifts.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

My Steelpans and the Art of Releasing a Single on the Internet



Title: The Journey of Releasing a Single on Social Media: A Musician's Perspective

Introduction

In the digital age, social media has revolutionized the way musicians share their music with the world. Releasing a single on social media is an exhilarating journey filled with anticipation, creativity, and the opportunity to connect directly with your audience. In this blog post, we will explore what it's like to release a single on social media, from the pre-release preparations to the post-release engagement with fans. So, let's dive into the exciting world of music promotion in the digital era!

  1. Preparing for the Release

Before hitting the "publish" button, there's a lot of groundwork to be done. Musicians meticulously plan every aspect of the single release to maximize its impact. This includes choosing the release date, creating eye-catching artwork, and drafting engaging posts and captions. Building anticipation among followers is crucial, and teasers, behind-the-scenes content, and sneak peeks are all part of the strategy.

  1. Choosing the Right Platforms

Social media offers a plethora of platforms, and each one caters to a different audience. Musicians need to identify which platforms align best with their target audience and musical genre. From Instagram and Facebook to Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok, selecting the right mix of platforms can significantly impact the reach and engagement of the single.

  1. The Big Day: Release Day!

Release day is a whirlwind of emotions for any musician. There's excitement, nerves, and hope that the hard work invested in the single will be appreciated by fans and new listeners alike. The artist shares the single across selected social media platforms, using visually appealing posts, short snippets of the song, and heartfelt messages to connect with followers.

  1. Engaging with the Audience

Social media allows for real-time engagement with fans. Responding to comments, messages, and shares is an integral part of the process. Engaging with the audience helps create a sense of community, loyalty, and appreciation among fans. Additionally, musicians can gain valuable insights from fan feedback, helping them improve their craft and understand what resonates most with their listeners.

  1. Utilizing Social Media Features

Social media platforms continually introduce new features, such as Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, and Twitter Spaces. Musicians can creatively leverage these features to promote their single further. Creating engaging challenges or live-streaming acoustic performances are just a few ways to take advantage of these tools to connect with the audience on a deeper level.

  1. Collaborating with Influencers

Partnering with influencers can amplify the reach of a single release. Influencers with a significant following in the music niche or a related genre can introduce the single to new audiences, extending its visibility beyond the artist's immediate circle.

Conclusion

Releasing a single on social media is a multifaceted experience that requires a blend of creativity, planning, and genuine connection with the audience. With the potential to reach millions of people worldwide, social media has transformed the music industry, empowering independent artists to share their music on a global stage.

However, amidst the excitement of a single release, it's essential for musicians to remember the core of their craft: the music itself. Social media is a powerful tool, but it's the artistry and authenticity that will ultimately resonate with listeners and create a lasting impact in the hearts of music enthusiasts.

So, to all the aspiring musicians out there, embrace the journey, enjoy the process, and let your music shine brightly in the realm of social media. Happy releasing!


Gregory Boyd

SUMMER PARTY DANCE MUSIC RELEASE PERFECT FOR YOUR NEXT BACKYARD BBQ COMING JULY 1ST

How we made the ultimate Summer of 2025 Festival Anthem TITLE - THIS SUMMER BY GREGORY BOYD INCLUDED IN THE ULTIMATE SUMMER EDM PLAYLIST 20...