MuzikMan's Reviews And News: Jazz Rock Fusion

Showing posts with label Jazz Rock Fusion. Show all posts

12/09/2015

Unreleased Live Recordings By Fusion Legends Brand X Now Available!

London, UK - Although, typically considered an off-shoot band for Genesis legend Phil Collins, UK fusion group Brand X was much more than that. Featuring several virtuosic musicians (as well as Collins) Brand X took the genre of fusion to a whole new level of expertise. Along with Collins on drums, the band featured Percy Jones (bass), John Goodsall (guitar) and Robin Lumley (keyboards), Morris Pert (percussion), with sometimes Mike Clark, Kenward Dennard (drums), Mike Clark (drums), John Giblin (bass), Peter Robinson (keyboards), and Mike Miller (guitar). Active from 1975-1980, Brand X was another one of those bands who were beloved by other musicians, and the more discerning critics, but despite everything never had the commercial success they deserved. The band released several critically acclaimed albums on the Charisma label in the UK and Passport label in the US, including 'Unorthodox Behaviour', 'Moroccan Roll', 'Livestock' and 'Product'. Now much to the excitement of Brand X fans and fusion music fans worldwide, Gonzo MultiMedia is releasing 3 rare live Brand X titles on CD - “Ronnie Scotts Live 1976”, “Live in San Francisco” and “Live From Chicago 1978”.

Brand X - Ronnie Scotts Live 1976 (CD)

Sometimes the title of a record is self explanatory. Here we have the legendary jazz fusion band at the legendary London club, when both were at their commercial zenith. The band performs with precision and intensity, and the results are extraordinary.

Tracks:
Unorthodox Behaviour
Malaga Virgen
Improvisation

John Goodsall Guitar
Robin Lumley Keyboards
Percy Jones Bass
Phil Collins Drums

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15861

Brand X - Live in San Francisco (CD)

This amazing live recording was taken from a show in San Francisco on November 28, 1977.

Tracks:
Disco Suicide
Access To Data
Malaga Virgen
Earth Dance
Euthanasia Waltz
Deadly Nightshade

John Goodsall Guitar
Robin Lumley Keyboards
Percy Jones Bass
Kenwood Dennard Drums
Morris Pert Percussion

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15849/Brand_X-Live_in_San_Francisco.html

Brand X - Live From Chicago 1978 (CD)

This incandescent set recorded live in Chicago 1978 shows the band in full force with virtuosic performances!

Tracks:
Earth Dance
The Poke
Access to Data
Dance of the Illegal Aliens
The Ghost of Mayfield Lodge
The Poke

Morris Pert Percussion
Percy Jones Bass
Mike Clark Drums
Peter Robinson Keyboards
Mike Miller Guitar

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15866/Brand_X-Live_From_Chicago_1978.html

Forthcoming titles:

HST354CD - Stockholm March 30th 1978

Peter Robinson Keyboards
Morris Pert Percussion
Percy Jones Bass
Mike Miller Guitar
Chuck Burgi Drums

HST355CD - Rochester 1977

John Goodsall Guitar
Percy Jones Bass
Robin Lumley Keyboards
Morris Pert Percussion
Kenwood Dennard Drums

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Unreleased Live Recordings By Fusion Legends Brand X Now Available!

10/10/2014

Bass Guitar Virtuoso Jeff Berlin To Tour Europe Fall 2014!

“The greatest bass player on the planet!” - Geddy Lee

Clearwater, FL – Much to the excitement of European music fans, bass legend Jeff Berlin will be touring Europe with his trio beginning mid-October! Jeff Berlin is internationally regarded as a legend, considered one of the greatest bass players in the world. The late Jaco Pastorius regarded Berlin as a better soloist than he was, and Geddy Lee famously referred to Berlin as “the best bass player on the planet!” Known worldwide for his innovative style, Jeff has graced bandstands and recordings with legendary players like Bill Bruford, Dennis Chambers, Neil Peart, Billy Cobham, and Allan Holdsworth, and has led bands and recorded his own CDs for nearly 30 years. He has recorded for vocalists Patti Austin and KD Lang; he has traversed the progressive rock realm with former YES members Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe; Jeff famously turned down an offer to join rockers VAN HALEN. Jeff is also hailed outside the usual musician ranks: Actor Gary Sinise (also a bassist) is one of his biggest fans, and renowned boxing trainer and ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas refers to Jeff as “the best in the business.” From straight ahead Jazz to Fusion to Prog-Rock, Jeff plays it all, always at the very highest level of proficiency and musicality.

Now fans will have a chance to watch Jeff and his new trio perform throughout Europe! This also includes a rare performance in Russia!

Says Jeff, “This trio with Scott Henderson on guitar, Gary Novak on drums, and me on bass, is all about the groove, the funk, the strongest rhythm section interplay that we can provide. It will be interesting to play with Gary in this new version of HBC and see what new areas of playing the three of us can come up with.”

Jeff Berlin tour dates:

October
13 France Bordeaux Clnic Jeff & Scott
14 France Bordeaux Le Rocher de Palmer
15 France Montpellier Le Jam
16 France La Fayet Le Repaire des Ours
17 Switzerland Basel Volkshaus
18 Switzerland Lugano Villa Carmine
19 Russia MOscow Alexey Koslov Club
20 Russia Rostov Rostov Philarmonic
22 Austria Wien Porgy & Bess
24 Germany Osnabruck (TBA)
25 Germany Minden jazz Club Minden
26 Germany Heinsenberg Rondell im Klevchen
27 Netherlands Zoetemmer Boerderij
28 Germany Munster Hot Jazz Club
29 Denmark Esbjerg Tobakken
30 Sweden Malmo Victoria Teatern ( + clinics)
31 Sweden Goteborg Nefertiti

November
1 Norway Oslo Herr Nilsen
2 Sweden Stockholm Fasching
5 Poland Opole dom Expo
6 Poland Wroclav Zaklete Rewiry
7 Norway Bergen Sardinen USF
8 Norway Stavanger Folken
10 Spain Lugo Lugo Jazz

In 2013, Jeff released his critically acclaimed album 'Low Standards', which proved once again, that his is the highest standard of virtuosity in the low-end spectrum. Says Jeff, “Because I am such a huge fan of Keith Jarrett's 'Standards' CDs, I wanted to follow my last project, 'High Standards', with another standards recording, but this time playing on lesser-known tunes, lesser known to the general public... However, Jazz fans should know every tune that I chose to play. I chose compositions with lots of harmony so that I was forced to seek out non-typical bass lines. The harmony in these tunes demanded that I find something different to play on my bass. I also heard in my head how each composer played their own songs, often while we were recording. That was a strange experience.”

For more information:
Jeff Berlin: www.jeffberlinmusic.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com
Jeff Berlin is available for interviews – please contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR

Bass Guitar Virtuoso Jeff Berlin To Tour Europe Fall 2014!

7/02/2014

The Lost Album From Early ‘70s Prog-Fusion Band The Flock Finally Sees Light Of Day!

Los Angeles, CA - Nearly lost to the sands of time, a recently discovered set of vintage ‘70s recordings from Chicago-based jazz-rock ensemble The Flock will finally be released as Heaven Bound - The Lost Album on July 22 through Cleopatra Records imprint Purple Pyramid! These never-before-released recordings feature founding Flock members Fred Glickstein (vocals, guitar), Ron Karpman (drums), and Jerry Smith (bass) on what could have been the band’s magnificent fourth album.

The Flock were one of the most adventurous bands in the jazz/fusion music scene of the ‘70s alongside Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears, well known for featuring violin great Jerry Goodman (later of Mahavishnu Orchestra) on the band’s first two Columbia Records albums - 1969’s self-titled debut and 1970’s Dinosaur Swamps. After Goodman left, a reformed Flock released Inside Out on Mercury Records in 1975, and though the band was dropped from the label shortly thereafter, Glickstein and Karpman continued to write and record together, with Smith popping in every now and again, in anticipation of a new recording contract. No such deal ever materialized, however, and so those recordings were shelved away for safe keeping, never released...until now!

Glickstein, speaking on behalf of the entire Flock, offers these words in honor of this momentous release: “We are all very lucky to have had that happy musical trip and the chance to entertain people in the US and Europe. A special thanks to everyone at Cleopatra Records for helping this project become a reality and for keeping the spirit of the Flock alive.”

Featuring dynamic musicianship, rich vocal harmonies and the unmistakable warm fuzz of vintage ‘70s guitar on such standout tunes as “Heaven Bound,” “Don’t You Know (Who I Am),” and “Love Away,” this collection will not only keep the spirit of Flock alive but also the spirit of superbly crafted classic rock!

1. Heaven Bound
2. The Bells
3. Reasons
4. Crying Out / The Voice
5. Don't You Know (Who I Am)
6. Makes It All Worthwhile
7. Noise Boys
8. Mama
9. Rolling With The Clones
10. Love Away
11. C'mon Let's Walk
12. Be Strong and Survive
13. The Christos Jig
14. The Test
15. Outroduction

To pre-order the CD at Amazon, visit: http://georiot.co/14f2
To pre-order the digital version on iTunes, visit: http://georiot.co/331D

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

The Lost Album From Early ‘70s Prog-Fusion Band The Flock Finally Sees Light Of Day!

9/03/2010

Miles Davis-Bitches Brew Legacy Edition (2 CD/1 DVD)

So where do you start with a recording that created a genre? Bitches Brew and its legendary and iconic status has not waned one iota since the celebrated release of the set in 1970. Miles Davis changed jazz forever more than once from the 50s all the way up to this marvelous concoction of jazz-rock fusion genius.

To honor the 40th anniversary of Bitches Brew Sony Legacy has completely outdone everyone else with a remasters series by releasing three different exceedingly tempting configurations. This is the Legacy Edition then there will be the Legacy Collector’s Edition and to follow that, if that wasn’t enough for you jazz enthusiasts, the Super Deluxe 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition, which has a previously unissued performance from Tanglewood in August 1970. I happen to have the advance copy of that Tanglewood performance however this edition includes a live performance from Copenhagen in 1969. Confused yet? I guess it depends how much of a Davis fan you are and how many dollars you are willing to drop for these sets. You can snag up this gem for $18.99 at Amazon right now.

I think Bitches Brew remains unmatched for flat out jazz-rock fusion albums and then some considerations are necessary for the influences you hear in world music as well. There is a reason for that, several actually. The primary driving force, Mr. Miles Davis was an innovator of the trumpet the day he picked it up and as for his collaborators that lofty status applies as well. You cannot have one innovator and the rest of the band in a box musically, they all need to be flexible and stretch the boundaries of their genre and instruments to come up with a classic recording like Bitches Brew. I don’t have to remind you of how great this recording sounds but I will anyway. With the Columbia/Sony Legacy stamp adorning each disc you will see underneath that text ‘360 Sound’ STEREO ‘360 Sound’ with little arrows pointing in either direction. That little advertisement lives up to its billing you can be sure of that.

As the opening track “Pharaoh's Dance” kicks off you are immediately challenged to listen intently yet Miles and his cohorts gradually pull you in with more mellow passages and it all builds into amazing crescendos of sound with Miles leading the way. “Bitches Brew”, “Spanish Key” and “John McLaughlin” are jaw dropping examples of jazz-rock fusion, monuments in time and a tribute to men at the top of their game, With Shorter, Holland, Corea, DeJohnette (look up the names in Wikipedia) and a host of other musicians passing through the studios during the recording sessions it was like a hall of fame jazz gathering. Miles was the definitive leader of the pack and everyone else followed and the resulting music that was captured was groundbreaking and still totally mind blowing to this day.

The four tracks on disc one cover some ground; “Pharaoh’s Dance” (20:04), “Bitches Brew” (26:58), “Spanish Key” (17:31) and “John McLaughlin” (4:22). The title track alone is nearly one full LP and the Davis tribute to one the greatest six string benders, McLaughlin, seems like a short running single in comparison. Was this self indulgent, bombastic and long drawn out improvisation? You better believe it, and it was all so breathtaking. Where do you think progressive rock got its inspiration from besides classical music?

Disc two has some nice treats to offer as well including single edits and alternate versions. The opener “Miles Runs The Voodoo Down” is a real burner featuring that incredibly powerful rhythm section of Dave Holland (bass, who is stellar on the first four tracks as well) and check this out - dual drummers with Jack DeJohnette (right) and Don Alias (left) and some Congas for extra flavor. All that together created an amazing exercise in surround sound syncopated rhythms. And that is just the first track! You get seven more tracks after that then you can put on the DVD and watch some of these amazing performances in a live setting. The DVD is the icing on the cake of one phenomenal exhibition of flawless musical magic that can only be absorbed in chapters like a long, intense novel. To finalize the package a 23 page booklet is included; jam packed with photos and the most fitting and eloquent liner notes from Greg Tate.

I say no more, now the choice is yours what package you want. Anyway you look at it you are going to love every second of this if you are a jazz-rock fusion fan. Just think for a minute where music as a whole would be without brilliant individuals like Miles Davis to show us the way?

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Bitches Brew, Spanish Key, Miles Runs The Voodoo Down

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-August 27, 2010

2/05/2008

Alex Rosselli Releases Indie Instrumental Rock Fusion CD 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rome, Italy-February 1, 2008- Alex Rosselli continues to release new material on regular basis. With 2012, his sixth album, he has reached a level of competency with his guitar that few ever achieve. .”...READ MORE...