VTech(R) Presents Brazilian Artist Arthur Verocai With 36-Piece Orchestra in Third 'Timeless' Concert

VTech(R) Presents Brazilian Artist Arthur Verocai With 36-Piece Orchestra in Third 'Timeless' Concert

Airto Moreira, Ivan 'Mamao' Conti, Jose Bertrami, Carlos Dafe and Many to Perform; Opening DJ Sets by Madlib and DJ Nuts

LOS ANGELES, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- VTech(R) Communications, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of VTech Holdings Ltd. HKSE: 303; ADR: VTKHY, and the largest U.S. cordless phone manufacturer), in conjunction with music production company Mochilla, presents the third concert in the "Timeless" concert series, which will be headlined by Arthur Verocai on Sunday, March 15, at the Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex in Los Angeles.

Combining Brazilian influences with American jazz and soul, Verocai is one of the influential musicians from the 1970s, and contributed greatly with countless poignant albums, arrangements and compositions. Following opening DJ sets by Madlib and DJ Nuts, where the two turntablists will build their sets around Verocai's legacy and era, Verocai will take the stage with a 36-piece orchestra and special guests Airto Moreira, Ivan "Mamao" Conti, Jose Bertrami and Carlos Dafe, among others.

The "Timeless" concert series, which culminates with a fourth and final show on April 5 featuring David Axelrod, is a unique homage to arrangers and composers as the predecessors to today's beatmakers. The series is presented by VTech, which recently launched a feature-rich streaming music and Internet radio device, the IS9181, and sponsors a variety of concerts and music events nationwide.

"Timeless has showcased legendary composers' lasting mark on hip-hop music in each of their own unique ways," said Tom Bacon, vice president of marketing, VTech Communications. "The response that these artists have received has been remarkable and illustrates their relevance to every generation. We are thrilled to have Arthur Verocai headline our third concert in the series."

Timeless is curated by production company Mochilla, which has previously developed campaigns for other tastemaker brands such as Adidas, Dickies and Vans.

   March 15 "Timeless" Concert: About the Musicians    Arthur Verocai  

Brazilian folk-jazz composer and arranger Arthur Verocai was born in Rio de Janeiro on June 17, 1945. The product of a classical music education, he first earned widespread attention in 1966, when Leny Andrade recorded his song "Olhando o Mar" for her LP We Are There. Embracing the contemporary pop, soul and jazz sounds emerging from both sides of the equator, Verocai gradually honed a sweeping orchestral psych-funk sensibility not far removed from American producers David Axelrod and Charles Stepney.

Despite collaborations with artists including Paulinho Tapajos, Elis Regina and Maria Creuza, Verocai maintained a civil engineering position until 1969, when he scored the theatrical production "Is the Greater" and arranged sessions for Gal Costa, Marcos Valle, Quarteto em Cy and others.

After producing a pair of LPs for singer Celia and Ivan Lins' 1971 effort Agora -- as well as scoring a series of Brazilian television series - Verocai contracted with the Continental label to record a self-titled solo LP, a stunningly innovative effort that effectively bridged the divide between the Tropicalia of the late '60s and the deep-groove funk of the decade to follow. Released in 1972, the album fared poorly during a period marked by the Brazilian military government's opposition to creative expression. Subsequently, Verocai turned to advertising, writing and producing music for clients from all walks of industries. In 1983, he opened his own recording facility, Studio V, and in 2002 self-released Saudade Demais, his first solo record in three decades.

Madlib

The multi-dimensional Madlib quickly rose to prominence as one of the most interesting figures in late-'90s hip-hop. With his childhood buddies in Lootpack, Madlib quickly made a name for himself as a rapper, producer and DJ. In particular, his expansive style and deft touch for composition made him one of hip-hop's most sought-after producers.

An enthusiastic crate-digger, with a deep reverence for jazz and soul, Madlib branched out into a number of ambitious and engaging solo projects. Along with DJ Romes and Wildchild, Madlib formed Lootpack in their hometown of Oxnard, Calif. The trio made their debut on Tha Alkaholiks' 21 & Over in 1993. They continued doing work for Tha Alkaholiks and other artists before releasing their full-length Soundpieces: Da Antidote! six years later.

After hooking up with Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib produced multiple releases on Wolf's Stones Throw label. In 1999, the label released the astonishing LP The Unseen under Madlib's alter-ego "Quasimoto," which was a huge critical success. Not resting on his laurels, Madlib followed-up a year later with his Yesterdays New Quintet project. Madlib played all the instruments himself, infusing his exploration of jazz with both style and substance.

In 2003, while managing a massive release schedule and workload, Madlib completed a remix/ reinterpretation project for Blue Note with Jay Dee (J Dilla) under the "Jaylib" alias, as well as collaboration with MF Doom as "Madvillain." Never one to slow down, the next few years brought a myriad of new releases, including Jackson Conti's Sujinho, and a collaboration with Azymuth's Ivan "Mamao" Conti, who will be playing drums for Verocai's L.A. debut.

DJ Nuts

Hailing from Sao Paulo, DJ Nuts is the foremost turntablist living in Brazil today. In 2000 he became the turntablist champion of Brazil and has worked with Brazilian music legends Gilberto Gil, Planet Hemp, Joao Donato, Trio Mocoto, O Rappa and Dom Um Romao.

In 2002, DJ Nuts was a tutor at the Redbull Music Academy in Sao Paulo. He became the main consultant and DJ for Brasilintime: Batucada com Discos, Mochilla's documentary on the relationship between Brazilian music of the 1970s, hip-hop and funk.

Timeless Concert Information

Tickets for the March 15 Verocai "Timeless" concert at The Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex at the California State University, Los Angeles are available through Ticketmaster and the Luckman Box Office for $22.50 until March 7, and $32.50 starting March 8 until the show is sold out. Performances are open to all ages.

   Upcoming and Final Concert:   --  Sunday, April 5, 2009 - David Axelrod with a 26-piece orchestra; DJ       set by J.Rocc; special guests to be announced    

For additional information on the final concert in the "Timeless" series or photos and video from the previous concerts, please visit www.vtechphones.com/timeless.

About VTech(R)

VTech is one of the world's largest suppliers of corded and cordless telephones and a leading supplier of electronic learning products. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. Founded in 1976, the Group's mission is to be the most cost-effective designer and manufacturer of innovative, high-quality consumer electronics products and to distribute them to markets worldwide in the most efficient manner.

About Mochilla

Mochilla is a production company formed by photographers Eric Coleman and B+ in 1997. Mochilla has produced five music videos, four documentaries, several ad campaigns, a remix album and more than 40 album covers. Both Coleman and B+ have taken their respective fields to new heights, selling films to the Sundance Channel, being distributed by Ninja Tune and touring Europe several times to execute campaigns for Adidas, Dickies, Alphanumeric and Vans. They both have successful solo careers, but their continuing collaboration is housed at Mochilla.

   Media Contact:   Jeanette Liang   GolinHarris   213-438-8760   jliang@golinharris.com  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: VTech Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Jeanette Liang of GolinHarris, +1-213-438-8760,
jliang@golinharris.com, for VTech Communications, Inc.

Web Site: www.vtechphones.com/timeless

---

Profile: International Entertainment