music

creative inspiration

| heather parlato

jazzatlan
jazzatlan

this week, we’re looking at jazz-themed design. doesn’t this menu for mexican nightclub, jazzatlán look like it’s straight out of great 60s album cover design? so swanky! see the spread at art of the menu.

blue note legend
blue note legend

this is a beautiful piece for a proposed specialty sub-label of blue note: blue note legend, a modern twist on traditional blue note style. see the whole identity system here, i love how the letters break up, like notes in the air.

the jazz scene
the jazz scene

one of many great typographic covers from penguin books by alan fletcher. i love the big, bold, overprint type. thanks to book worship for this find!

congratulations to terri lyne carrington

| heather parlato

this year’s grammy nominations came in last week, and i’m happy to see terri lyne carrington’s all-female collaboration the mosaic project nominated for best jazz vocal album of the year. after esperanza spalding’s win last year, i’m hoping this album [which includes esperanza and my sister, gretchen] gets some big attention. this arrangement of i got lost in his arms by irving berlin is lovely!

hp+gp holiday special — one week only!

| heather parlato

hp+gp holiday pack 2011

my sister and i got our heads together and made you a very special holiday pack, including items designed by each of us. cozy into your super-soft tee or tank, warm up with a pot of tea and get into a thoughtful frame of mind for writing your holiday cards while listening to the lost and found. need more than 12 cards? order more in sets of 12 in the store. this package includes:

• 1 i heart gp tank [black or white, womens sizes] or tee [black only, mens sizes] of your choice
• 1 signed copy of the lost and found cd, named in npr’s best music of 2011
• 1 4oz bag of how we love loose tea: earl grey tea with rose petals and lavender [contains caffeine]
• 1 4oz bag of still loose tea: peppermint, lemon verbena, rose petals, lavender [herbal]
• 1 variety pack of 12 holiday cards from parlato design studio

the complete hp+gp holiday pack: $45 + postage
standard shipping is $10.95 domestic, $27.95 to canada / mexico, and $45.50 international, in USD.
our paypal button defaults to domestic shipping—you will be contacted if international shipping is required.

this holiday special is available for one week only!
order anytime during the week of december 5 – december 9, 2011 [that’s until 11:59pm ET, december 9, 2011]; all orders will ship december 10 by priority mail. once it’s done, it’s done!

i heart gp white tank i heart gp black tank i heart gp mens tee, black
click on thumbnails above to see all options for tanks & tee.

robert boardman promotional dvd

| heather parlato

robert boardman dvd packaging

how do you grab attention in a competitive job market? if you’re in one of the performing arts, compiling your best clips into a promotional reel as part of a mailing makes it easy for any prospects to see exactly what you do as soon as they receive it. as an addendum to his web site and youtube channel, conductor robert boardman contacted me to create a dvd in the same style as part of his intro kit mailing, for maximum exposure to music department decision makers. i was happy to help showcase his energy and personality to get him one step closer to connecting with his dream jobs.

gillian welch’s letterpress & coffee-stained album cover

| heather parlato

it seems like letterpress projects are abounding these days, or maybe we’re just hearing about them more. Recently, target decided to do a run of vintage graphics with the hamilton type museum, and just today i caught this video of gillian welch’s process of creating her album cover in letterpress with aardvark press. they even went as far as to hand-stain the cotton covers in a diluted coffee bath for a slightly-aged look and a deepening of contrast. read more and see the coffee staining demo at LAist. see & hear more on all songs considered.

gp’s new album is out today!

| heather parlato
the lost and found, available today!
my sister gets the itunes trifecta: a banner ad, the first spot in new & noteworthy, and #1 in top charts!

there’s a whole lotta gretchen in that screen grab! better yet, it’s in the itunes store, on amazon and barnes & noble, so if you want it, you can buy it digitally or in hard copy starting today. or, check out her tour dates, buy a copy in person and get it signed.

what else can i add, i am super-proud of her on this very exciting day! here’s to you, girl! ♥ ♥ ♥

event calendar: december 27, 2010 – january 2, 2011

| heather parlato

happy monday
[twilight in highland park]

owning the last week of the year, one day at a time.

here’s what i’m up to:

tuesday, december 28 project blowed 10th anniversary show It’s that time again! Celebrating their 16th year of history making Hip Hop, the world renown Underground Project Blowed crew will once again come together as only they can to create a night of styles, lyrics, big beats & the twisted word play. The Project Blowed Open-Mic workshop in Leimert Park is thee longest running Hip Hop open-mic on the planet.

thursday, december 30 justin morell quartet at the blue whale. childhood friends playing jazz in LA.

event calendar: december 20 – 26, 2010

| heather parlato

hope springs resort cat
[hope springs resort cat visiting during our retreat]

i can’t believe we’re here again, but we’ve nearly completed another year. there’s some great music going on this week, and then merry christmas to all the christmas celebrators out there!

here’s what i’m up to:

monday, december 20, 10pm smith III – clayton – revis – reid jam session at the blue whale

tuesday, december 21, 6pm winter warming party at tony’s darts away ring in the first day of winter, bring a toy to donate and have a free beer!

tuesday, december 21, 7pm emily lacy cd release & biscuit party at the echo country outpost.

thursday, december 23 down & derby roller disco at the echo

event calendar: november 29 – december 5, 2010

| heather parlato

cotoneaster in elysian park
[cotoneaster in elysian park]

here’s what i’ll be doing

tuesday, november 30, 12-2pm jazz for the holidays FREE at ernst & young plaza.

thursday, december 2, 7:30-9am the groop skool executive breakfast, ditigal execution: getting web sites made $25 to attend. i won tickets, yay!

friday, december 3, 7-10pm beatnik bookster presents HI-FI FREE! Come view a selection of record cover art produced by graphic designers & artists from the 1960’s using primarily only the elements of color, shape and typography.

sunday, december 5, 5-10pm the typographic joyride $20 for materials. carve a potato typeface, print a ransom note, watch a screening of typeface, have all kinds of fun!