Advance copies of Ed DeGenaro's latest album Holiday In Madras (Unfretted Records) are now available through his website. The impressive lineup includes Ric Fierabracci, Marco Minnemann, and many others. See below for full personnel and tracklisting.
Personnel: Ed DeGenaro - all guitars Ujjayinee Roy - voice Steve Zerlin, Ric Fierabracci, Trip Wamsley, Chuck Rainey - bass Benny Greb, Lyndo Rochelle, Marco Minnemann, Atma Anur - drums Dr. S. Karthick - ghatam, kanjira, morsing, konnakol Satish, Natalie James - trumpet, James Carson, Anton Pukshansky - keys
Tracklisting: 1. Merera 2. Bible Camp 3. G Spot Blues 4. '57 Progosaurus 5. The Brother 6. Tutu 7. U Know What I'm Sayin' 8. Refried Funkay Ass Chicken Tikka 9. Holiday In Madras 10. Have Geetar Will Travel 11. Kolonkini Radha 12. Echo Maschine
Drummer/composer Chad Wackerman's new disc Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations is now available for preorder through Abstract Logix. The album begins shipping on February 15th. From the ABLX website:
"Four masters of musical improvisation collaborate on the latest release from esteemed drummer Chad Wackerman. Known for his work with Frank Zappa, Allan Holdsworth and James Taylor, Wackerman blurs the line between composed and improvised pieces on Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations. The featured musicians: guitar legend Allan Holdsworth, bassist Jimmy Johnson and keyboard player Jim Cox, have all developed a unique musical telepathy with Wackerman over decades, which is allowed to shine on this inventive, adventurous CD.
Ranging from atmospheric to edgy, the music on Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations showcases four creative musicians at the height of their musical powers. Wackerman has structured the CD so that the interplay between the performers is ever-present. Many of the improvised pieces sound like fully formed compositions, while the written pieces provide ample opportunities for spontaneous flow.
Wackerman’s history with these musicians goes back a long way. He has been playing with Jim Cox since their first gig together in 1979, backing trombonist Bill Watrous. Thanks to Peter Erskine, Wackerman met and started working with Jimmy Johnson in the early 1980’s, a continuing collaboration that both cherish. Wackerman began touring and recording with Allan Holdsworth in 1982, beginning with Holdworth’s well known Road Games release. Listen to the sparks fly as these musical bonds deepen on this incredible new CD."
Chad Wackerman - Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations
1. Glass Lullaby 2. A New Day 3. Bent Bayou 4. Star Gazing 5. Edith Street 6. The Fifth 7. Waterways 8. The Billows 9. Monsieur Vintage 10. Rapid Eeye Movement 11. Brain Funk 12. A Spontaneous Story 13. Two For Ya 14. Invisible
Gary Husband discusses his new album Dirty and Beautiful Volume 2 coming February 21st from Abstract Logix. Guests include Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, and Robin Trower among others.
"Forget About It" from the forthcoming Polcat album featuring Chris Poland on guitar, Frank Catalano on sax, Sean O'Bryan Smith on bass, and Jim Gifford on drums.
Flying Colors, the spectacular new virtuoso prog/pop/rock band, featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) and guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple),will release their eponymous debutalbum in the UK on Monday March 26th, followed by a US release on Tuesday March 27th.
Released by Music Theories Recordings,the debut album includes the talents of Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Dave LaRue (bass), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Casey McPherson (lead vocals, guitar), and Steve Morse (lead guitar). "The album has bits and pieces of what you'd expect from each of us,” says Portnoy. “The sum of all its parts led to brand new, unchartered territory for everyone involved." Click here to read the full web press release and download hi res photos - www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/mascot/flyingcolors.htm.
The formation of Flying Colors began with a simple idea: virtuoso musicians and a pop singer joining together to make new-fashioned music the old fashioned way. Refreshing, classic, old and new, the recordings are saturated with the many styles, tones and hues of the players who, in becoming a band, have delivered a unique fusion of vintage craftsmanship and contemporary music.
Mike Portnoy was the co-founding member and drummer for one of the world’s biggest prog metal bands “Dream Theater”. Neal Morse is the co-founding member of the prog rock band Spock’s Beard and is currently the prog rock supergroup “Transatlantic”. David LaRue plays bass for the Dixie Dregs and has also worked with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Steve Morse has been playing lead guitar for Deep Purple for the last 16 years. Founder and leader of “Alpha Rev”, Casey McPherson, has enjoyed major success in the US with multiple hits including the song “New Morning”.
"It was quite an experience,” recalls Dave LaRue. “The band moved at a fast pace, ideas flying around the room at all times. Sections of tunes were arranged, and then re-arranged. Ideas were tried every which way until we made them work, or, in some cases, discarded them altogether. Just keeping track of everything was a challenge!" The album is filled with trial and triumph. It's been an inspiring challenge melding folk, prog, pop, and metal all into one big recording."
Drummer Chad Wackerman's forthcoming album Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations will include Allan Holdsworh on guitar, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Jim Cox on keys (the same lineup Wackerman used on his 1991 solo debut Forty Reasons). The release date has not yet been announced, but the band will be playing special CD launch shows at The Baked Potato in Studio City, CA on February 16th and 17th. Stay tuned for more details.
Jazz fusion multi-instrumentalist Gary Husband's latest album Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 will be released on February 21st 2012, and is now available for pre-order. Similarly to his 2010 release Dirty & Beautiful Volume 1, the new disc includes an assortment of special guests including Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, and others. See full tracklisting below.
1. IF THE ANIMALS HAD GUNS TOO (featuring Ray Russell) 2. ROLLING SEVENS (featuring Mike Stern) 3. NEW BLUES, OLD BRUISE (featuring Sean Freeman) 4. EAST RIVER JAM (featuring Wayne Krantz) 5. FRED 2011 (featuring Allan Holdsworth and Jan Hammer) 6. RAIN (featuring Neal Taylor) 7. LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BROTHERS (featuring Alex Machacek) 8. FUGUIE 9. SULLEY (featuring John McLaughlin and Mark King) 10. ENGLAND GREEN (featuring Jimmy Herring) 11. YESTERNOW - EPILOGUE (featuring Robin Tower)
Renegade Creation (which features Robben Ford and Michael Landau - guitars and vocals, Jimmy Haslip - bass and Gary Novak - drums) will release their next album in March 2012. As a gift for the Holidays, the band has made one of the new tracks, entitled "High And Low," available as a free download! Check out Mike Landau's website for more information, or download the song via the link below.
Wayne Krantz will release his latest album How The West Was Left in April 2012 on Abstract Logix. In support of the new release, Krantz will be touring Europe next Summer and Fall with a new quartet featuring Nate Wood on drums,Geoffrey Keezer on keys, and Anthony Tide on bass. I'll post the date and venue details when they become available. Click here for more information.
Great News! Guitar legend Michael Landau will release his latest album Organic Instrumentals on February 13th. From the Mascot Label Group website:
"Michael Landau is perhaps the most widely respected session guitarist of all time. On "Organic Instrumentals", he once again proves to be the ultimate connoisseur of taste and tone as he navigates a cinematic assortment of musical landscapes. Landau contrasts some of the most melodically beautiful phrases ever recorded with passion drenched guitar solos, resulting in a guitar tour de force that must be heard to be believed. Acting as both engineer and producer, Landau is a master craftsman, working the recording console with the same artistry with which he approaches playing the guitar." See tracklisting below. The album is also available for pre-order via the Mascot Label Group.
The Michael Landau Group - Organic Instrumentals
1. Delano 2. Sneaker Wave 3. Spider Time 4. The Big Black Bear 5. Karen Mellow 6. Ghouls And The Goblins 7. Big Sur Howl 8. Woolly Mammoth 9. Smoke 10. The Family Tree
