Prog Ensemble Head With Wings To Release New Concept EP “Comfort in Illusion”

“We often start naive and green and either blossom into something remarkable, or we fizzle out - resigning to the life that we feared all along; the one we've been resisting - an uncertain path, a repetitive/menial existence, and the promise of a life without limitations. How far are you willing to go to either abandon or protect the way of life that you've been leading?”

These words paint the scene for the first act of alternative progressive rock quartet Head with Wings’ next chapter.

Amidst sweeping changes felt on a global scale, aspirations were put on hold, radiant futures dimmed, lives ended prematurely, and dreams were left to rot on the vine. For so many, the struggle was a silent one - a daily war waged alone.

On their forthcoming EP, “Comfort In Illusion,” Head with Wings draws the listener into the isolated, agonizing, and momentarily euphoric struggle for self-actualization amidst the stifling frame of an increasingly unfamiliar world.

The collective’s first output since 2018’s critically-acclaimed debut, “From Worry to Shame,” presents a concise summation of the group’s collective growth as artists and individuals. “Comfort in Illusion” dives deeper into the quartet’s textural and emotive sound exploration with a timely personal narrative of self-discovery and the anxiety of change.

Says lead vocalist Josh Corum, “‘The Comfort in Illusion’ EP has a two-fold meaning, but we realize that it’s subject to the listener’s interpretation and we fully embrace that. To the band, it operates in a binary fashion narratively; connecting to the protagonist of our debut album From Worry to Shame (2018), while also paving the way for an alternatively surreal story, that is told in tandem with a specific point in the protagonist’s timeline on the debut (parallel to the songs “From Worry to Shame” and “Beyond the Wall”).  Admittedly, this wasn’t my initial intention, but intuitively I wound up here some years down the line after these songs were initially conceived. The music on this EP isn’t motivically or thematically linked to the debut, but rather, connected through narrative/thematic concepts and visual interpretations through our music videos.”

“Of Uncertainty’s” hypnotic sway and surreal acoustic and electric voice-painting opens the three-movement suite in arresting fashion. A fitting bridge from the world of old to that of the new, the single embodies everything in seven crisp minutes that make Head with Wings a singular presence in a rock landscape that has been all too content to echo the hallmarks of yesteryear.

Andrew Testa’s inspired and mature drum performance radiates intention; giving the song an addicting sense of weightless movement, while Brandon Cousino and Mike Short’s soulful and dexterous lead guitars shade and illuminate the scene around the striking vocal character of Joshua Corum. These qualities are further enhanced by the single’s immersive visual accompaniment provided by Black Soil’s talented animation crew.

Cathartic and soothing, “Contemplating the Loop” exercises the group’s fluid command of abstract rhythm, leaving the listener to feel, rather than think their way through its floating, ever-shifting pulse. Anchored by Steve Hill’s silky bass runs, the song sets the constant ebb and flow of self-doubt and willful determination to sound.

Finally, the tumultuous, mathy voyage of “In a House Without Clocks” brings the concise three-track journey to a poignant coda. Bittersweet and overflowing with yearning, Corum leaves the listener with the parting questions: “Would you consider a life without a path … or would you fear it would all just fall apart—the plan that never started, the waters left uncharted?”

The odyssey feels both hopeful and grave—reckoning with an ever-fleeting sense of a gratifying future drifting further away each day, and the uncertainty of correcting course. The dark side of pursuing one’s dreams and the toll time takes on ambitions that were once so vivid are laid bare. Swelling into heart-searing vocal peaks and commanding streaks of expressive lead guitar, “In a House …” sets the tone for a pivotal moment of change, with Corum rising to the occasion as one of the eminent voices in modern alternative music.

The delicate beauty and lushness of “Comfort in Illusion” was carefully captured by Greg Thomas (END, Misery Signals) and Chris Teti (The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die) at Silver Bullet Studios. Thomas’ spacious, engrossing mix is heightened by Kris Crummett of Interlace Audio’s adept mastering - delivering a shimmering, modern sound that listeners will discover in new ways with each pass.

The themes of conviction and change, etched into the fibers of these songs, are also reflected in the band, whose own internal makeup shifted in a similarly bittersweet way. Capturing what amounts to founding drummer Andrew Testa’s most stylistically-definitive performance, the EP also serves as a fitting send off for a member who was integral to crafting the core architecture of the band’s sound. His legacy will be continued and expanded upon through the deft percussion skill of Head with Wings’ resident multi-instrumentalist, Mike Short, who shifts from his co-lead guitar role on the recording of the new songs to drums going forward.

We can never again return exactly to where we have been, and the same can be said of the distinctive lineup of performers in their designated roles on this special output—a moment in time faithfully preserved.

“Comfort in Illusion” features a unique release format, with each song being followed by a cinematic companion piece delivered by the remarkably talented Vikram Shankar. The prolific composer, who was heralded for his expressive piano interpretations of songs on “From Worry to Shame,” expands his contributions to the Head with Wings collective with fully reimagined arrangements of each movement of the forthcoming EP. These remixes transform each track’s mood into a palpable visual scene listeners can explore in their own personal way.

June 25th marks the launch of the Bandcamp pre-order for the "Comfort in Illusion" digipak CD/standard digital edition, along with the pre-order for the digital expanded edition, which contains the Vikram Shankar remixes and instrumental mixes.  As of today, all three songs from this EP are represented by animated music videos on the band's YouTube channel.  All formats of "Comfort in Illusion" will be available on July 16th.  

Says Josh, “Truthfully, each of our songs has its own message and baggage, but globally, I think the band would be in agreement that we want people to push themselves to lead a life that is self-fulfilling and not one that was either chosen for them, expected or assumed. We want people to find themselves in this world and then double down on who they are. Part of being an artist is giving yourself to the unknown and unabashedly believing in yourself, sometimes to the point of delusion. It doesn’t matter what you do, but that you love doing it. Have no regrets about believing in yourself. This band travels through darkness to find empowerment and we want people to feel that too.”

All of the music/lyrics on this EP were written before the pandemic/quarantine. However, the band was dwelling on concepts of isolation and withdrawal on “From Worry to Shame,” where coincidentally, the protagonist withdraws from society for one year and then begins his reemergence as a “new man.” This EP occurs during his year of isolation.

The band is currently in pre-production for the next album, which will be the finale to the saga that was started on their debut. There’s talk about shooting a music video with Ingwar Dovgoteles (The Black Soil) in Ukraine for the next one and that is certainly exciting. Says Josh, “We’re looking to shoot more live action music videos, as we’ve really gone down the rabbit hole with animated videos. Regarding gigs, we’re taking stock of the venues and festivals that are re-emerging, as society crawls out of the clutches of the pandemic. Though we’ve been rehearsing, we haven’t played a show since our 2019 tour in Germany (where we played Euroblast Festival).  We’ll be announcing new shows for late summer/fall on our Facebook page as they get confirmed. There is one festival on the books for us on May 20-22, 2022 which is Festival Terra Incognita in Quebec City.” Head With Wings is scheduled to perform at Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT opening for Moon Tooth on August 5th.

“Comfort in Illusion” was recorded at Silver Bullet Studios (Burlington, CT) between December 2019 and March 2020. The EP was tracked, edited, mixed and produced by Greg Thomas with additional tracking and mixing by Chris Teti. Mastered by Kris Crummett at Interlace Audio (Portland Oregon) in Fall 2020. All songs were written and performed by Head with Wings. Releasing July 16th.

On this EP, Head with Wings is:
Andrew Testa - Drums
Brandon Cousino - Guitars
Steve Hill - Bass
Mike Short - Guitars
Joshua Corum - Lyrics, Lead & Backing Vocals

“Comfort in Illusion” Track Order:

1) Of Uncertainty (7:00)
2) Contemplating the Loop (4:52)
3) In a House Without Clocks (6:02)

Run time: 17:54

Art Direction & Layout - Darcy Kelly-Laviolette // darcykellyl.myportfolio.com
Album Design Concept - Joshua Corum & Darcy Kelly-Laviolette

Here’s what the press has said about Head With Wings:

“From the moment the picked guitars of opener ‘Goodbye Sky’ make their sun-kissed presence felt, it's clear this is an album boasting an embarrassment of riches on the melody front.” - Planet Rock Magazine

“There are more than enough points of melancholic majesty to make this well worth a listen.” - PROG Magazine

“There's a passion in the vocal delivery that matches the subject matter.” - Powerplay Magazine

“Although at times melancholic and stark with lyrics to match, Head With Wings have put out a winner with ‘From Worry To Shame.’ I also commend the band for tackling some societal issues that many bands wouldn’t touch. A thought provoking and rewarding listen, both lyrically and musically. Recommended.” - Sea of Tranquility

“The music is delicate and flows organically from the deep lyrics and obvious passion that the band has for both art and humanity.” - The Prog Mind

“With this delicate subject, Head with Wings achieved a masterful debut album of maturity and emotion. This album is proof that the prog does not have to be outrageously technical to succeed in touching.” - Koid'9 Magazine Rock & Progressif

“It is an incredibly intense album, both lyrically and especially musically, so much so that at times it feels there is a weight, a physical pressure, being delivered. It is all part of the presence and forethought which has gone into it. Overall this is a wonderful debut, and I for one am certainly looking forward to the next one with great interest.” - Kev Rowland, Progressor

Pre-order link on bandcamp: https://headwithwings.bandcamp.com/album/comfort-in-illusion

For more information:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HeadWithWingsband/
Twitter https://twitter.com/HWWMusic
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/headwithwingsmusic/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb6XXjwB_IUzCp6j-jy1g-g
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1D64KNUd1VVqKMe5F1fUEF
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/head-with-wings/635032165

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

Prog Ensemble Head With Wings To Release New Concept EP “Comfort in Illusion”

“We often start naive and green and either blossom into something remarkable, or we fizzle out - resigning to the life that we feared all along; the one we've been resisting - an uncertain path, a repetitive/menial existence, and the promise of a life without limitations. How far are you willing to go to either abandon or protect the way of life that you've been leading?”

These words paint the scene for the first act of alternative progressive rock quartet Head with Wings’ next chapter.

Amidst sweeping changes felt on a global scale, aspirations were put on hold, radiant futures dimmed, lives ended prematurely, and dreams were left to rot on the vine. For so many, the struggle was a silent one - a daily war waged alone.

On their forthcoming EP, “Comfort In Illusion,” Head with Wings draws the listener into the isolated, agonizing, and momentarily euphoric struggle for self-actualization amidst the stifling frame of an increasingly unfamiliar world.

The collective’s first output since 2018’s critically-acclaimed debut, “From Worry to Shame,” presents a concise summation of the group’s collective growth as artists and individuals. “Comfort in Illusion” dives deeper into the quartet’s textural and emotive sound exploration with a timely personal narrative of self-discovery and the anxiety of change.

Says lead vocalist Josh Corum, “‘The Comfort in Illusion’ EP has a two-fold meaning, but we realize that it’s subject to the listener’s interpretation and we fully embrace that. To the band, it operates in a binary fashion narratively; connecting to the protagonist of our debut album From Worry to Shame (2018), while also paving the way for an alternatively surreal story, that is told in tandem with a specific point in the protagonist’s timeline on the debut (parallel to the songs “From Worry to Shame” and “Beyond the Wall”).  Admittedly, this wasn’t my initial intention, but intuitively I wound up here some years down the line after these songs were initially conceived. The music on this EP isn’t motivically or thematically linked to the debut, but rather, connected through narrative/thematic concepts and visual interpretations through our music videos.”

“Of Uncertainty’s” hypnotic sway and surreal acoustic and electric voice-painting opens the three-movement suite in arresting fashion. A fitting bridge from the world of old to that of the new, the single embodies everything in seven crisp minutes that make Head with Wings a singular presence in a rock landscape that has been all too content to echo the hallmarks of yesteryear.

Andrew Testa’s inspired and mature drum performance radiates intention; giving the song an addicting sense of weightless movement, while Brandon Cousino and Mike Short’s soulful and dexterous lead guitars shade and illuminate the scene around the striking vocal character of Joshua Corum. These qualities are further enhanced by the single’s immersive visual accompaniment provided by Black Soil’s talented animation crew.

Cathartic and soothing, “Contemplating the Loop” exercises the group’s fluid command of abstract rhythm, leaving the listener to feel, rather than think their way through its floating, ever-shifting pulse. Anchored by Steve Hill’s silky bass runs, the song sets the constant ebb and flow of self-doubt and willful determination to sound.

Finally, the tumultuous, mathy voyage of “In a House Without Clocks” brings the concise three-track journey to a poignant coda. Bittersweet and overflowing with yearning, Corum leaves the listener with the parting questions: “Would you consider a life without a path … or would you fear it would all just fall apart—the plan that never started, the waters left uncharted?”

The odyssey feels both hopeful and grave—reckoning with an ever-fleeting sense of a gratifying future drifting further away each day, and the uncertainty of correcting course. The dark side of pursuing one’s dreams and the toll time takes on ambitions that were once so vivid are laid bare. Swelling into heart-searing vocal peaks and commanding streaks of expressive lead guitar, “In a House …” sets the tone for a pivotal moment of change, with Corum rising to the occasion as one of the eminent voices in modern alternative music.

The delicate beauty and lushness of “Comfort in Illusion” was carefully captured by Greg Thomas (END, Misery Signals) and Chris Teti (The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die) at Silver Bullet Studios. Thomas’ spacious, engrossing mix is heightened by Kris Crummett of Interlace Audio’s adept mastering - delivering a shimmering, modern sound that listeners will discover in new ways with each pass.

The themes of conviction and change, etched into the fibers of these songs, are also reflected in the band, whose own internal makeup shifted in a similarly bittersweet way. Capturing what amounts to founding drummer Andrew Testa’s most stylistically-definitive performance, the EP also serves as a fitting send off for a member who was integral to crafting the core architecture of the band’s sound. His legacy will be continued and expanded upon through the deft percussion skill of Head with Wings’ resident multi-instrumentalist, Mike Short, who shifts from his co-lead guitar role on the recording of the new songs to drums going forward.

We can never again return exactly to where we have been, and the same can be said of the distinctive lineup of performers in their designated roles on this special output—a moment in time faithfully preserved.

“Comfort in Illusion” features a unique release format, with each song being followed by a cinematic companion piece delivered by the remarkably talented Vikram Shankar. The prolific composer, who was heralded for his expressive piano interpretations of songs on “From Worry to Shame,” expands his contributions to the Head with Wings collective with fully reimagined arrangements of each movement of the forthcoming EP. These remixes transform each track’s mood into a palpable visual scene listeners can explore in their own personal way.

June 25th marks the launch of the Bandcamp pre-order for the "Comfort in Illusion" digipak CD/standard digital edition, along with the pre-order for the digital expanded edition, which contains the Vikram Shankar remixes and instrumental mixes.  As of today, all three songs from this EP are represented by animated music videos on the band's YouTube channel.  All formats of "Comfort in Illusion" will be available on July 16th.  

Says Josh, “Truthfully, each of our songs has its own message and baggage, but globally, I think the band would be in agreement that we want people to push themselves to lead a life that is self-fulfilling and not one that was either chosen for them, expected or assumed. We want people to find themselves in this world and then double down on who they are. Part of being an artist is giving yourself to the unknown and unabashedly believing in yourself, sometimes to the point of delusion. It doesn’t matter what you do, but that you love doing it. Have no regrets about believing in yourself. This band travels through darkness to find empowerment and we want people to feel that too.”

All of the music/lyrics on this EP were written before the pandemic/quarantine. However, the band was dwelling on concepts of isolation and withdrawal on “From Worry to Shame,” where coincidentally, the protagonist withdraws from society for one year and then begins his reemergence as a “new man.” This EP occurs during his year of isolation.

The band is currently in pre-production for the next album, which will be the finale to the saga that was started on their debut. There’s talk about shooting a music video with Ingwar Dovgoteles (The Black Soil) in Ukraine for the next one and that is certainly exciting. Says Josh, “We’re looking to shoot more live action music videos, as we’ve really gone down the rabbit hole with animated videos. Regarding gigs, we’re taking stock of the venues and festivals that are re-emerging, as society crawls out of the clutches of the pandemic. Though we’ve been rehearsing, we haven’t played a show since our 2019 tour in Germany (where we played Euroblast Festival).  We’ll be announcing new shows for late summer/fall on our Facebook page as they get confirmed. There is one festival on the books for us on May 20-22, 2022 which is Festival Terra Incognita in Quebec City.” Head With Wings is scheduled to perform at Space Ballroom in Hamden, CT opening for Moon Tooth on August 5th.

“Comfort in Illusion” was recorded at Silver Bullet Studios (Burlington, CT) between December 2019 and March 2020. The EP was tracked, edited, mixed and produced by Greg Thomas with additional tracking and mixing by Chris Teti. Mastered by Kris Crummett at Interlace Audio (Portland Oregon) in Fall 2020. All songs were written and performed by Head with Wings. Releasing July 16th.

On this EP, Head with Wings is:
Andrew Testa - Drums
Brandon Cousino - Guitars
Steve Hill - Bass
Mike Short - Guitars
Joshua Corum - Lyrics, Lead & Backing Vocals

“Comfort in Illusion” Track Order:

1) Of Uncertainty (7:00)
2) Contemplating the Loop (4:52)
3) In a House Without Clocks (6:02)

Run time: 17:54

Art Direction & Layout - Darcy Kelly-Laviolette // darcykellyl.myportfolio.com
Album Design Concept - Joshua Corum & Darcy Kelly-Laviolette

Here’s what the press has said about Head With Wings:

“From the moment the picked guitars of opener ‘Goodbye Sky’ make their sun-kissed presence felt, it's clear this is an album boasting an embarrassment of riches on the melody front.” - Planet Rock Magazine

“There are more than enough points of melancholic majesty to make this well worth a listen.” - PROG Magazine

“There's a passion in the vocal delivery that matches the subject matter.” - Powerplay Magazine

“Although at times melancholic and stark with lyrics to match, Head With Wings have put out a winner with ‘From Worry To Shame.’ I also commend the band for tackling some societal issues that many bands wouldn’t touch. A thought provoking and rewarding listen, both lyrically and musically. Recommended.” - Sea of Tranquility

“The music is delicate and flows organically from the deep lyrics and obvious passion that the band has for both art and humanity.” - The Prog Mind

“With this delicate subject, Head with Wings achieved a masterful debut album of maturity and emotion. This album is proof that the prog does not have to be outrageously technical to succeed in touching.” - Koid'9 Magazine Rock & Progressif

“It is an incredibly intense album, both lyrically and especially musically, so much so that at times it feels there is a weight, a physical pressure, being delivered. It is all part of the presence and forethought which has gone into it. Overall this is a wonderful debut, and I for one am certainly looking forward to the next one with great interest.” - Kev Rowland, Progressor

Pre-order link on bandcamp: https://headwithwings.bandcamp.com/album/comfort-in-illusion

For more information:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HeadWithWingsband/
Twitter https://twitter.com/HWWMusic
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/headwithwingsmusic/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb6XXjwB_IUzCp6j-jy1g-g
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1D64KNUd1VVqKMe5F1fUEF
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/head-with-wings/635032165

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

Mothers of Invention Keyboard Legend! The Don Preston Trio To Play Virtual Concert at The World Stage on July 2, 2021

Mothers of Invention keyboard legend Don Preston and his Trio will be performing a free-form Virtual Concert at The World Stage on July 2, 2021!

Don Preston leads a life filled with music, innovation, and experimentation. “Groundbreaking” is a phrase that is clearly overused…with Don it rings true. One of the first performers to drag a pile of oscillators and filters onstage, he brought his classical training to the avant-garde. In the early 60s a weird guy named Frank Zappa would come to see Don’s “electronic music with films of bacterial life” shows in Los Angeles. Don was soon in Zappa’s radical new group The Mothers Of Invention, touring and playing on classics like “We're Only In It For The Money” and “Roxy & Elsewhere” from 1966 to 1973.

Don’s played with everyone from Elvin Jones to The Residents, Jack Bruce and Robbie Krieger.  His keyboard solos on Zappa albums, as well as countless soundtracks like Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, are considered ground-breaking moments in synthesizer music history.

Still very active in his 80’s, Don was there for the dawn of electronic musical performance, and today grafts new technologies into his experimental palette with software synths & iPhone apps, blending jazz, rock, comedy, magic and ambient synths into a captivating performance.

Don has performed with artists like: Frank Zappa, Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau, Nat King Cole, Billy Daniels, Johnnie Ray, Vaughn Monroe, Connie Francis, Herbie Mann, Elvin Jones, Charlie Haden, Art Davis, Paul Bley, Carla Bley, Joe Beck, Shorty Rogers, Leo Sayer, Charles Lloyd, Nelson Riddle, J.R. Monterose, Flo & Eddie (Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman of The Turtles) Yusef Lateef, Don Ellis, Meredith Monk, Bobby Bradford, Michael Mantler, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

The Don Preston Trio:
Don Preston - pianoforte, prepared piano, synths, and what knots
Anders Swanson - acoustic bass
Christopher Garcia - El Monstro, percussion

Friday July 2, 2021
THE DON PRESTON TRIO@THE WORLD STAGE

THE WORLD STAGE SITE: http://theworldstage.org/events.html
THE WORLD STAGE ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/theworldstage/
THE WORLD STAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWorldStage/featured?app=desktop

“The guy that really impressed me was Don Preston, I didn't know what that stuff was when I heard it on Frank Zappa's records. I said, ‘Man!’” - GEORGE DUKE

“Revisiting choice moments of weirdness and glory, as well as dig into original works and unlikely standards, is not to be missed. The range of the program is somewhat camouflaged by the seamless interplay of Preston and cohorts. They possess a cohesion born of fluidity that is reminiscent of Paul Bley’s 60’s trios, but they have their own crisp edge. It is a high common denominator for such a diverse program.” – JAZZTIMES

“Best known as the first synth wielding Mother of Invention - Frank Zappa’s keyboardist aide de camp, to others he is an avowed New Music experimentalist, whose work in theatre, and with assorted sonic daredevils is the stuff of underground acclaim…in the jazz orbit Preston’s credits have included Gil Evans, Carla Bley, Buell Niedlinger, Michael Mantler, John Carter, and Bobby Bradford” - DownBeat

“Preston demonstrated anew that he is one of the most consistently exciting keyboardists anywhere, he plays with an intensity and a rhythmic vitality that approached the demonic, at climactic moments smashing the keys with a forearm and elbow, as if the piano were just not instrument enough for him” - LA JAZZ SCENE

“Bassist Anders Swanson and drummer Christopher Garcia have a tough tensile strength to their rhythm with flexibility that allows for metric disembodiment…” - GLENDALE NEWS PRESS

“Christopher ‘Chris’ Garcia, born in East Los Angeles, California, plays countless percussion instruments and is a composer in many musical ethnological environments such as his family home Mexico…he has made a living as a world musician and has drummed for the ‘Grand Mothers of Invention’ as well as for the classical conductors Kristjan Järvi or various chamber music ensembles.” - ZAPPANALE.DE

For More information:
DON PRESTON ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/don.preston.54540MAking
EL MONSTRO LINK
https://christophergarciamusic.weebly.com/el-monstro-faqs-and-facts.html

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

Mothers of Invention Keyboard Legend! The Don Preston Trio To Play Virtual Concert at The World Stage on July 2, 2021

Mothers of Invention keyboard legend Don Preston and his Trio will be performing a free-form Virtual Concert at The World Stage on July 2, 2021!

Don Preston leads a life filled with music, innovation, and experimentation. “Groundbreaking” is a phrase that is clearly overused…with Don it rings true. One of the first performers to drag a pile of oscillators and filters onstage, he brought his classical training to the avant-garde. In the early 60s a weird guy named Frank Zappa would come to see Don’s “electronic music with films of bacterial life” shows in Los Angeles. Don was soon in Zappa’s radical new group The Mothers Of Invention, touring and playing on classics like “We're Only In It For The Money” and “Roxy & Elsewhere” from 1966 to 1973.

Don’s played with everyone from Elvin Jones to The Residents, Jack Bruce and Robbie Krieger.  His keyboard solos on Zappa albums, as well as countless soundtracks like Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, are considered ground-breaking moments in synthesizer music history.

Still very active in his 80’s, Don was there for the dawn of electronic musical performance, and today grafts new technologies into his experimental palette with software synths & iPhone apps, blending jazz, rock, comedy, magic and ambient synths into a captivating performance.

Don has performed with artists like: Frank Zappa, Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau, Nat King Cole, Billy Daniels, Johnnie Ray, Vaughn Monroe, Connie Francis, Herbie Mann, Elvin Jones, Charlie Haden, Art Davis, Paul Bley, Carla Bley, Joe Beck, Shorty Rogers, Leo Sayer, Charles Lloyd, Nelson Riddle, J.R. Monterose, Flo & Eddie (Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman of The Turtles) Yusef Lateef, Don Ellis, Meredith Monk, Bobby Bradford, Michael Mantler, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

The Don Preston Trio:
Don Preston - pianoforte, prepared piano, synths, and what knots
Anders Swanson - acoustic bass
Christopher Garcia - El Monstro, percussion

Friday July 2, 2021
THE DON PRESTON TRIO@THE WORLD STAGE

THE WORLD STAGE SITE: http://theworldstage.org/events.html
THE WORLD STAGE ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/theworldstage/
THE WORLD STAGE YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWorldStage/featured?app=desktop

“The guy that really impressed me was Don Preston, I didn't know what that stuff was when I heard it on Frank Zappa's records. I said, ‘Man!’” - GEORGE DUKE

“Revisiting choice moments of weirdness and glory, as well as dig into original works and unlikely standards, is not to be missed. The range of the program is somewhat camouflaged by the seamless interplay of Preston and cohorts. They possess a cohesion born of fluidity that is reminiscent of Paul Bley’s 60’s trios, but they have their own crisp edge. It is a high common denominator for such a diverse program.” – JAZZTIMES

“Best known as the first synth wielding Mother of Invention - Frank Zappa’s keyboardist aide de camp, to others he is an avowed New Music experimentalist, whose work in theatre, and with assorted sonic daredevils is the stuff of underground acclaim…in the jazz orbit Preston’s credits have included Gil Evans, Carla Bley, Buell Niedlinger, Michael Mantler, John Carter, and Bobby Bradford” - DownBeat

“Preston demonstrated anew that he is one of the most consistently exciting keyboardists anywhere, he plays with an intensity and a rhythmic vitality that approached the demonic, at climactic moments smashing the keys with a forearm and elbow, as if the piano were just not instrument enough for him” - LA JAZZ SCENE

“Bassist Anders Swanson and drummer Christopher Garcia have a tough tensile strength to their rhythm with flexibility that allows for metric disembodiment…” - GLENDALE NEWS PRESS

“Christopher ‘Chris’ Garcia, born in East Los Angeles, California, plays countless percussion instruments and is a composer in many musical ethnological environments such as his family home Mexico…he has made a living as a world musician and has drummed for the ‘Grand Mothers of Invention’ as well as for the classical conductors Kristjan Järvi or various chamber music ensembles.” - ZAPPANALE.DE

For More information:
DON PRESTON ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/don.preston.54540MAking
EL MONSTRO LINK
https://christophergarciamusic.weebly.com/el-monstro-faqs-and-facts.html

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

Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” Deluxe 16 Disc Limited Edition Boxed Set Available For Pre-order

Esoteric presents Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” – an expanded edition of the classic 1977 live album!

• A DELUXE 16 DISC LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET OF THE CLASSIC 1977 LIVE ALBUM BY BE BOP DELUXE
• THE ORIGINAL ALBUM IS NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES RESTORING THE CORRECT ALBUM
RUNNING ORDER
• WITH AN ADDITIONAL 14 CDs FEATURING EVERY CONCERT RECORDED ON THE BE BOP DELUXE UK TOUR OF
FEBRUARY & MARCH 1977 ALL NEWLY REMIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK TAPES BY STEPHEN W. TAYLER
• INCLUDES A BBC RADIO ONE JOHN PEEL SESSION FROM JANUARY 1977
• ALSO INCLUDES A DVD (NTSC / REGION FREE) OF THE STAR RIDER IN CONCERT TV FILM FIRST SCREENED IN 1977,
RELEASED HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME
• INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH MANY PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS & NEW ESSAY BY BILL NELSON
• ALSO INCLUDES POSTCARDS AND A REPLICA POSTER

Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce a new re-mastered super-deluxe expanded boxed set limited edition release (comprising 15 CDs and a DVD) of “Live! In The Air Age” by Be-Bop Deluxe. This legendary live album was released in July 1977 and would prove to be the band’s most successful album, peaking at number 10 in the UK charts. The album was issued at a time of growing commercial success for the band and followed on the heels of two highly acclaimed studio albums in thirteen months, Sunburst Finish and Modern Music, both of which reached the top twenty of the UK album charts. Live! In the Air Age would be the band’s only live record and was recorded on a series of dates in the UK in February and March 1977 on the Rolling Stones mobile unit with John Leckie, who had engineered and co-produced the band’s previous two albums, supervising the location recordings.

The band’s UK tour began in late January and was an audio-visual extravaganza that featured the use of projection screens and excerpts from the 1927 German silent film Metropolis, director Fritz Lang’s striking science fiction masterpiece. Continuing into February, the first concert to be recorded was at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester on the 12th of that month. The following two nights saw concerts at the Grand Theatre in Leeds which were both captured on tape and saw Bill Nelson perform to an enthusiastic home audience. However, at this juncture fate would intervene to cause a postponement to the remainder of the tour. Travelling to a concert in Bristol on 15th February 1977, Bill Nelson and John Leckie were involved in a car accident which resulted in them being hospitalized at Huddersfield Infirmary. Thankfully, all involved recovered quickly from their injuries, but as a result of the accident, the remaining concerts were postponed until the end of March. The tour began again with two concerts at Hammersmith Odeon in London on March 25th and 26th 1977 which revealed the band to be on top form, feeding off the tremendous warmth of the audience. Further shows in Bristol and Bournemouth on the 27th and 28th March respectively also contained many fine moments. Bill Nelson and John Leckie selected the best performances for mixing at Abbey Road and Advision studios in London and “Live! In The Air Age” was released in July 1977.

Research of all of the Be-Bop Deluxe master tapes revealed that multi track tapes of all the shows recorded on the UK tour of 1977 had survived. After digitizing and listening through to all of the Rolling Stones mobile unit 24-track tapes it was decided to include each concert in its entirety in this expanded boxed set. The concerts were mixed over a period of several months by Stephen W. Tayler and are presented here for the very first time. They reveal the improvisational side of Be-Bop Deluxe, particularly on pieces such as “Shine” and “Blazing” Apostles which made each concert unique.

This set features the original album, newly remastered from the original master tapes, and restores the correct running order of the original LP release and has three bonus tracks drawn from a BBC Radio One JOHN PEEL SHOW session from January 1977. This box also adds an NTSC / Region Free DVD of STAR RIDER IN CONCERT – BE-BOP DELUXE, which was first screened on television in 1977 and appears exclusively in this boxed set for the first time. Finally, this limited-edition boxed set includes an illustrated 68-page book with many previously unseen photographs and an essay of recollections by Bill Nelson. Additionally, the set includes postcards and a replica poster. This special deluxe limited-edition boxed set of “Live! In The Air Age” is a fitting tribute to a fine live band and the creative vision of Bill Nelson.

Released August 27, 2021

To pre-order:
Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” 15CD/1DVD Limited Edition Box Set: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/be-bop-deluxe-live-in-the-air-age-15cd-1dvd-limited-edition-box-set/
Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” 3CD Remastered & Expanded Edition: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/be-bop-deluxe-live-in-the-air-age-3cd-remastered-expanded-edition/

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

Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” Deluxe 16 Disc Limited Edition Boxed Set Available For Pre-order

Esoteric presents Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” – an expanded edition of the classic 1977 live album!

• A DELUXE 16 DISC LIMITED EDITION BOXED SET OF THE CLASSIC 1977 LIVE ALBUM BY BE BOP DELUXE
• THE ORIGINAL ALBUM IS NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES RESTORING THE CORRECT ALBUM
RUNNING ORDER
• WITH AN ADDITIONAL 14 CDs FEATURING EVERY CONCERT RECORDED ON THE BE BOP DELUXE UK TOUR OF
FEBRUARY & MARCH 1977 ALL NEWLY REMIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK TAPES BY STEPHEN W. TAYLER
• INCLUDES A BBC RADIO ONE JOHN PEEL SESSION FROM JANUARY 1977
• ALSO INCLUDES A DVD (NTSC / REGION FREE) OF THE STAR RIDER IN CONCERT TV FILM FIRST SCREENED IN 1977,
RELEASED HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME
• INCLUDES A LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK WITH MANY PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PHOTOGRAPHS & NEW ESSAY BY BILL NELSON
• ALSO INCLUDES POSTCARDS AND A REPLICA POSTER

Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce a new re-mastered super-deluxe expanded boxed set limited edition release (comprising 15 CDs and a DVD) of “Live! In The Air Age” by Be-Bop Deluxe. This legendary live album was released in July 1977 and would prove to be the band’s most successful album, peaking at number 10 in the UK charts. The album was issued at a time of growing commercial success for the band and followed on the heels of two highly acclaimed studio albums in thirteen months, Sunburst Finish and Modern Music, both of which reached the top twenty of the UK album charts. Live! In the Air Age would be the band’s only live record and was recorded on a series of dates in the UK in February and March 1977 on the Rolling Stones mobile unit with John Leckie, who had engineered and co-produced the band’s previous two albums, supervising the location recordings.

The band’s UK tour began in late January and was an audio-visual extravaganza that featured the use of projection screens and excerpts from the 1927 German silent film Metropolis, director Fritz Lang’s striking science fiction masterpiece. Continuing into February, the first concert to be recorded was at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester on the 12th of that month. The following two nights saw concerts at the Grand Theatre in Leeds which were both captured on tape and saw Bill Nelson perform to an enthusiastic home audience. However, at this juncture fate would intervene to cause a postponement to the remainder of the tour. Travelling to a concert in Bristol on 15th February 1977, Bill Nelson and John Leckie were involved in a car accident which resulted in them being hospitalized at Huddersfield Infirmary. Thankfully, all involved recovered quickly from their injuries, but as a result of the accident, the remaining concerts were postponed until the end of March. The tour began again with two concerts at Hammersmith Odeon in London on March 25th and 26th 1977 which revealed the band to be on top form, feeding off the tremendous warmth of the audience. Further shows in Bristol and Bournemouth on the 27th and 28th March respectively also contained many fine moments. Bill Nelson and John Leckie selected the best performances for mixing at Abbey Road and Advision studios in London and “Live! In The Air Age” was released in July 1977.

Research of all of the Be-Bop Deluxe master tapes revealed that multi track tapes of all the shows recorded on the UK tour of 1977 had survived. After digitizing and listening through to all of the Rolling Stones mobile unit 24-track tapes it was decided to include each concert in its entirety in this expanded boxed set. The concerts were mixed over a period of several months by Stephen W. Tayler and are presented here for the very first time. They reveal the improvisational side of Be-Bop Deluxe, particularly on pieces such as “Shine” and “Blazing” Apostles which made each concert unique.

This set features the original album, newly remastered from the original master tapes, and restores the correct running order of the original LP release and has three bonus tracks drawn from a BBC Radio One JOHN PEEL SHOW session from January 1977. This box also adds an NTSC / Region Free DVD of STAR RIDER IN CONCERT – BE-BOP DELUXE, which was first screened on television in 1977 and appears exclusively in this boxed set for the first time. Finally, this limited-edition boxed set includes an illustrated 68-page book with many previously unseen photographs and an essay of recollections by Bill Nelson. Additionally, the set includes postcards and a replica poster. This special deluxe limited-edition boxed set of “Live! In The Air Age” is a fitting tribute to a fine live band and the creative vision of Bill Nelson.

Released August 27, 2021

To pre-order:
Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” 15CD/1DVD Limited Edition Box Set: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/be-bop-deluxe-live-in-the-air-age-15cd-1dvd-limited-edition-box-set/
Be-Bop Deluxe “Live! In The Air Age” 3CD Remastered & Expanded Edition: https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/be-bop-deluxe-live-in-the-air-age-3cd-remastered-expanded-edition/

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

Prog Ensemble Dario and the Clear Release New Album “Optic Nerve” Featuring Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta and Trey Gunn

Prog Ensemble Dario and the Clear has released a new album titled “Optic Nerve.” The release features an impressive collaboration of musicians that have worked with Dario on previous recordings and several new musical guests. He was reunited with keyboardists, Jamie Peck and Natt Kerr, as well as his Woodstock friends, Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) and Jerry Marotta (Orleans, Peter Gabriel & Paul McCartney). Trey Gunn (King Crimson) is on Warr guitar. Music engineer, Eric Dalton, joins Dario for the first time on bass and backing vocals and Robert Kopec on upright and electric bass. Adam Siegel joins on alto sax. “Optic Nerve” is a combination of progressive, ambient and rock.

Says Dario, “The message is to find yourself not just as an artist but a human being. Through all the craziness in the world I had to keep reminding myself that after the Dark Ages came the Renaissance, I really think that will happen. We’ve had so much time to reflect and dig deep into ourselves. For the recording process I was really concentrating on what I call the ‘three I's.’ Instinct, Intuition and Intent. As a result the creative process was so much freer.

Watch the Video for “This Moment”: 

Biography
Dario Saraceno was born in Ripacandida, Italy and moved to London, England during the height of Beatlemania. After his mom took him to see the Beatles at an outdoor concert, he was profoundly influenced and became infatuated with becoming a musician. Fast forward to his teenage years and music became a reality when he purchased his first guitar.

Dario took an unusual approach. When most musicians were aspiring to play covers, Dario was immediately drawn to writing original music and spent time learning multi-track recording.

After graduating Berklee College of Music, Dario toured with his band, Decoy and worked as a session guitarist, touring and teaching. His instructional book, “The Shapes Remain the Same” was published in 2010.

After his Decoy project came to a close, Dario went solo, starting a new band he named Dario and the Clear. Dario and the Clear has released five albums since 2011. His recent album “Optic Nerve” was born out of a creative burst during the coronavirus pandemic when there was time for a great deal of self-reflection.

Track list:
1. Deities and Splendor
2.Smile/Lies
3. Sustained and Distorted
4. Saint Street
5. This Moment
6. Designated Skin
7. Tattooed Prophet.

“Amazing variety of timbres and depth.” Steve Ball, Guitar Craft League

“Fantastical…Cool and iconic voice…and the mood is great. I see it as a thought-provoking and passionate recording.” Joe Battista, Director, The 13th Street Theater

To purchase:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dar...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CcS9...
darioandtheclear4.bandcamp.com

For more information:
Darioandtheclearfacebook.com
Darioandtheclear.Instagram.com

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

Prog Ensemble Dario and the Clear Release New Album “Optic Nerve” Featuring Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta and Trey Gunn

Prog Ensemble Dario and the Clear has released a new album titled “Optic Nerve.” The release features an impressive collaboration of musicians that have worked with Dario on previous recordings and several new musical guests. He was reunited with keyboardists, Jamie Peck and Natt Kerr, as well as his Woodstock friends, Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) and Jerry Marotta (Orleans, Peter Gabriel & Paul McCartney). Trey Gunn (King Crimson) is on Warr guitar. Music engineer, Eric Dalton, joins Dario for the first time on bass and backing vocals and Robert Kopec on upright and electric bass. Adam Siegel joins on alto sax. “Optic Nerve” is a combination of progressive, ambient and rock.

Says Dario, “The message is to find yourself not just as an artist but a human being. Through all the craziness in the world I had to keep reminding myself that after the Dark Ages came the Renaissance, I really think that will happen. We’ve had so much time to reflect and dig deep into ourselves. For the recording process I was really concentrating on what I call the ‘three I's.’ Instinct, Intuition and Intent. As a result the creative process was so much freer.

Watch the Video for “This Moment”: 

Biography
Dario Saraceno was born in Ripacandida, Italy and moved to London, England during the height of Beatlemania. After his mom took him to see the Beatles at an outdoor concert, he was profoundly influenced and became infatuated with becoming a musician. Fast forward to his teenage years and music became a reality when he purchased his first guitar.

Dario took an unusual approach. When most musicians were aspiring to play covers, Dario was immediately drawn to writing original music and spent time learning multi-track recording.

After graduating Berklee College of Music, Dario toured with his band, Decoy and worked as a session guitarist, touring and teaching. His instructional book, “The Shapes Remain the Same” was published in 2010.

After his Decoy project came to a close, Dario went solo, starting a new band he named Dario and the Clear. Dario and the Clear has released five albums since 2011. His recent album “Optic Nerve” was born out of a creative burst during the coronavirus pandemic when there was time for a great deal of self-reflection.

Track list:
1. Deities and Splendor
2.Smile/Lies
3. Sustained and Distorted
4. Saint Street
5. This Moment
6. Designated Skin
7. Tattooed Prophet.

“Amazing variety of timbres and depth.” Steve Ball, Guitar Craft League

“Fantastical…Cool and iconic voice…and the mood is great. I see it as a thought-provoking and passionate recording.” Joe Battista, Director, The 13th Street Theater

To purchase:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dar...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CcS9...
darioandtheclear4.bandcamp.com

For more information:
Darioandtheclearfacebook.com
Darioandtheclear.Instagram.com

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

Italian Prog Ensemble Syndone To Release New Concept Album “Kāma Sūtra”

Italian Prog ensemble Syndone will be releasing their new concept album “Kāma Sūtra” on June 10th.

The sacred text “Kāma Sūtra” is the “Bible” of how to achieve pleasure in sexual intercourse.

The Kāma Sūtra (aphorisms on pleasure) therefore constitutes for Hindus a compendium on the art of loving and achieving sexual pleasure, in a way consistent with the ancient rural and pastoral origins of their religious culture. This culture still considers love in all its most natural manifestations, from poetry, to singing, dancing, painting, sculpture to enhance its divine sanctity of procreation and the adoration of the principle of life, also through erotic pleasure.

Even in modern India, as in ancient India, the dominant impression offered by Hindu culture is still that of a world in contact with all the natural forces that transfer the richness of life into an existence permeated by tenderness, by pleasure and beauty in all its manifestations.

Like the movements of sex, music and lyrics go in and out of the different variations of the concept of Kāma Sūtra in history and in the contemporary; Kāma Sūtra is here intended only as the sound of a word already heard from which people begins to wonder.

For Syndone it becomes text and pretext to sink the nails with passion in the love between two people, in today’s real prostitutes, in provocation. Images, symbols, roles and people; among all a true story, the one of Giorgio Perlasca, hero against Nazism and many other common stories, among which, maybe, the ours, with invented characters, divinities, erotic symbols and much, much love.

“Kāma Sūtra,” the eighth album of Syndone, is a key to unhinging the menageries of progressive doctrine. In fact, it is the least progressive album of Syndone, but the news is not bad for this at all: the forays into more rock material are interspersed here and there by the scratches and sweeps of the Hammond that refer to Brian Auger and John Lord, from choral fragments where you can feel the smell of Queen. If “Mysoginia” was Géricault's Raft of the Medusa, “Kāma Sūtra” is a painting by Kandinsky. To be fascinated, the wonderful “We Are the World We Created” is enough. Finally, David Jackson’s saxes and the beautiful vocal duet with the singer Annie Barbazza are a certificate of authenticity of a new masterpiece.

Syndone’s music, supported by the analytical and deeply cerebral texts of Riccardo Ruggeri - a front-man with great theatrical and an amazing voice - is something truly surprising: next to small jewels that shine with joy and pain, sweetness and of bitterness, it burns the fuel of the most genuine rock.

Watch the making of the album teaser: 

BIO

Born in 1989, in the wake of the second progressive wave, Syndone – led by Nik Comoglio – have delved into every aspect of niche music during their first quarter of a century.

Seven excellent albums (Spleen/1990, Inca/1992, Melapesante/2010, La Bella è la Bestia/2012 and Odysséas/2014, Eros & Thanatos/2016 and the new Mysoginia/2018) have come out of this collaboration, contaminated with tones that, more often than not, have gone beyond all codes and frontiers.

Their sound – which reflects the moods of Emerson Lake & Palmer to a certain extent – is not restricted to a slavish reading of the British band though. It tends to revitalize their spirit with formulas that have little to do with the style per se and move towards new shores, new sounds characterized by a rock background with extensive classical openings (sometimes played on strings), all tied together by a very expressive, sometimes theatrical, voice which brings everything together in an original, cultural and innovative product.

While their name might elicit thoughts of the Holy Shroud or Sindon (and all the rules and regulations surrounding it) kept in Turin, we could say that, in the meantime, it also brings to mind the provocative magic of this subalpine capital. Nik explains, “We wanted a name that would evoke all together ‘Sacredness,’ ‘Turin,’ ‘Spirituality’ and ‘Scored Grooves’ (like an old vinyl LP) so I thought of Syndone, with the ‘Y’ to distinguish it from the famous relic and make it International at the same time, without being blasphemous. This name in fact immediately evokes Turin in any part of the world... and I liked this!”

Syndone
Riccardo Ruggeri: composition, vocal, lyricist
Gigi Rivetti: composition, acoustic and electric pianos, clavinet, keyboards
Marta Caldara: composition, vibraphone, timpani, keyboards
Simone Rubinato: composition bass, taurus bass e keyboards
Eddy Franco: drums and percussions
Nik Comoglio: composition, orchestration, arrangements,  Hammond, Moog, Juno dist., Mellotron and keyboards

To purchase: https://www.manticorerecords.com/syndone-kama-sutra?fbclid=IwAR344YhX_jfNot5l-mJoMm0cSDotpg6iDIkfWE5QvoiTR8Fquf9tT8HQnCA

For more information:
Website: www.syndone.it
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=188463544523800&ref=content_filter

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

Italian Prog Ensemble Syndone To Release New Concept Album “Kāma Sūtra”

Italian Prog ensemble Syndone will be releasing their new concept album “Kāma Sūtra” on June 10th.

The sacred text “Kāma Sūtra” is the “Bible” of how to achieve pleasure in sexual intercourse.

The Kāma Sūtra (aphorisms on pleasure) therefore constitutes for Hindus a compendium on the art of loving and achieving sexual pleasure, in a way consistent with the ancient rural and pastoral origins of their religious culture. This culture still considers love in all its most natural manifestations, from poetry, to singing, dancing, painting, sculpture to enhance its divine sanctity of procreation and the adoration of the principle of life, also through erotic pleasure.

Even in modern India, as in ancient India, the dominant impression offered by Hindu culture is still that of a world in contact with all the natural forces that transfer the richness of life into an existence permeated by tenderness, by pleasure and beauty in all its manifestations.

Like the movements of sex, music and lyrics go in and out of the different variations of the concept of Kāma Sūtra in history and in the contemporary; Kāma Sūtra is here intended only as the sound of a word already heard from which people begins to wonder.

For Syndone it becomes text and pretext to sink the nails with passion in the love between two people, in today’s real prostitutes, in provocation. Images, symbols, roles and people; among all a true story, the one of Giorgio Perlasca, hero against Nazism and many other common stories, among which, maybe, the ours, with invented characters, divinities, erotic symbols and much, much love.

“Kāma Sūtra,” the eighth album of Syndone, is a key to unhinging the menageries of progressive doctrine. In fact, it is the least progressive album of Syndone, but the news is not bad for this at all: the forays into more rock material are interspersed here and there by the scratches and sweeps of the Hammond that refer to Brian Auger and John Lord, from choral fragments where you can feel the smell of Queen. If “Mysoginia” was Géricault's Raft of the Medusa, “Kāma Sūtra” is a painting by Kandinsky. To be fascinated, the wonderful “We Are the World We Created” is enough. Finally, David Jackson’s saxes and the beautiful vocal duet with the singer Annie Barbazza are a certificate of authenticity of a new masterpiece.

Syndone’s music, supported by the analytical and deeply cerebral texts of Riccardo Ruggeri - a front-man with great theatrical and an amazing voice - is something truly surprising: next to small jewels that shine with joy and pain, sweetness and of bitterness, it burns the fuel of the most genuine rock.

Watch the making of the album teaser: 

BIO

Born in 1989, in the wake of the second progressive wave, Syndone – led by Nik Comoglio – have delved into every aspect of niche music during their first quarter of a century.

Seven excellent albums (Spleen/1990, Inca/1992, Melapesante/2010, La Bella è la Bestia/2012 and Odysséas/2014, Eros & Thanatos/2016 and the new Mysoginia/2018) have come out of this collaboration, contaminated with tones that, more often than not, have gone beyond all codes and frontiers.

Their sound – which reflects the moods of Emerson Lake & Palmer to a certain extent – is not restricted to a slavish reading of the British band though. It tends to revitalize their spirit with formulas that have little to do with the style per se and move towards new shores, new sounds characterized by a rock background with extensive classical openings (sometimes played on strings), all tied together by a very expressive, sometimes theatrical, voice which brings everything together in an original, cultural and innovative product.

While their name might elicit thoughts of the Holy Shroud or Sindon (and all the rules and regulations surrounding it) kept in Turin, we could say that, in the meantime, it also brings to mind the provocative magic of this subalpine capital. Nik explains, “We wanted a name that would evoke all together ‘Sacredness,’ ‘Turin,’ ‘Spirituality’ and ‘Scored Grooves’ (like an old vinyl LP) so I thought of Syndone, with the ‘Y’ to distinguish it from the famous relic and make it International at the same time, without being blasphemous. This name in fact immediately evokes Turin in any part of the world... and I liked this!”

Syndone
Riccardo Ruggeri: composition, vocal, lyricist
Gigi Rivetti: composition, acoustic and electric pianos, clavinet, keyboards
Marta Caldara: composition, vibraphone, timpani, keyboards
Simone Rubinato: composition bass, taurus bass e keyboards
Eddy Franco: drums and percussions
Nik Comoglio: composition, orchestration, arrangements,  Hammond, Moog, Juno dist., Mellotron and keyboards

To purchase: https://www.manticorerecords.com/syndone-kama-sutra?fbclid=IwAR344YhX_jfNot5l-mJoMm0cSDotpg6iDIkfWE5QvoiTR8Fquf9tT8HQnCA

For more information:
Website: www.syndone.it
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=188463544523800&ref=content_filter

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

Bass Icon Jeff Berlin Launches GoFundMe Campaign For New Tribute Album To Legendary Jack Bruce

Nashville, TN - Bass icon Jeff Berlin has launched a GoFundMe Campaign for a new tribute album to legendary Jack Bruce titled “Jack Songs - An All-Star Tribute To Jack Bruce”! Jack Bruce, best known for his work with classic rock legends Cream, as well as his critically acclaimed solo work, passed away in 2014. Jeff Berlin, who has been called “the greatest bass player in the world”, was a personal friend of Jack's and wanted to record Jack's songs in remembrance of how Jack helped Jeff to find his own musical path.

Says Jeff, “Recording the music of Jack Bruce has been the most emotional recording project of my career. Jack was the greatest musical influence I ever had. In the center of his music were these strange and wonderful bass lines weaving in and out of the key, reaching for resolutions and finding them, again, and again. Jack's playing was a living evolving improvisation.

'Jack Songs' isn't a cover CD, not in the literal sense. Except for a couple of tunes from his Cream period (arranged in ways that should surprise people) most of the songs on this CD come from other periods in Jack's musical life before and after Cream. Jack's solo career represented a multitude of musical styles. This recording will be a new revamp of some of those songs, some of the best music that I heard from one of the greatest musicians of the last fifty years.”

Guest performers are:

1. Alex Lifeson
2. Sammy Hagar
3. Tony Levin
4. Billy Sheehan
5. Brian Auger
6. Scott Henderson
7. Eric Johnson
8. Nathan East
9. Gary Husband
10. Mark King
11. Geddy Lee
12. Ron Carter
13. Albert Lee
14. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal
15. Marcus Miller
16. Michael League
17. Alex Ligertwood

Guest list is still being expanded.

JACK BRUCE, BASSIST FOR THE ICONIC BAND CREAM, ONCE DESCRIBED JEFF BERLIN AS THE “THE BEST BASS PLAYER I’VE EVER HEARD.”

For over 40 years, he has stood as one of the most innovative electric bassists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Known for his one-of-a-kind tone, jaw dropping technique and highly advanced harmonic approaches to the bass, Jeff has been one of the major figures in firmly establishing the electric bass as a solo instrument well deserving of its own distinct place in modern music.

Jeff’s recording and performance credits include a who’s who of jazz and rock. They include: Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Larry Coryell, Pat Martino, John McLaughlin, Yes, Frank Zappa, Patrick Moraz and many more.

GoFundMe Campaign Link: https://gofund.me/8c50584e
Your investment contribution will get you a CD, T-shirt, or Bass Mastery lesson book. The details are listed on the Jack Bruce GoFundMe page.

Jeff Berlin's official website: www.jeffberlinbass.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JEFFPLAYSJACK
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jbplaysjb

Contact:
Project Management:
John McCracken
Phone 646-470-6842
email: john@johnmccrackenmusicgroup.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 Icon Jeff Berlin Launches GoFundMe Campaign For New Tribute Album To Legendary Jack Bruce

Nashville, TN - Bass icon Jeff Berlin has launched a GoFundMe Campaign for a new tribute album to legendary Jack Bruce titled “Jack Songs - An All-Star Tribute To Jack Bruce”! Jack Bruce, best known for his work with classic rock legends Cream, as well as his critically acclaimed solo work, passed away in 2014. Jeff Berlin, who has been called “the greatest bass player in the world”, was a personal friend of Jack's and wanted to record Jack's songs in remembrance of how Jack helped Jeff to find his own musical path.

Says Jeff, “Recording the music of Jack Bruce has been the most emotional recording project of my career. Jack was the greatest musical influence I ever had. In the center of his music were these strange and wonderful bass lines weaving in and out of the key, reaching for resolutions and finding them, again, and again. Jack's playing was a living evolving improvisation.

'Jack Songs' isn't a cover CD, not in the literal sense. Except for a couple of tunes from his Cream period (arranged in ways that should surprise people) most of the songs on this CD come from other periods in Jack's musical life before and after Cream. Jack's solo career represented a multitude of musical styles. This recording will be a new revamp of some of those songs, some of the best music that I heard from one of the greatest musicians of the last fifty years.”

Guest performers are:

1. Alex Lifeson
2. Sammy Hagar
3. Tony Levin
4. Billy Sheehan
5. Brian Auger
6. Scott Henderson
7. Eric Johnson
8. Nathan East
9. Gary Husband
10. Mark King
11. Geddy Lee
12. Ron Carter
13. Albert Lee
14. Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal
15. Marcus Miller
16. Michael League
17. Alex Ligertwood

Guest list is still being expanded.

JACK BRUCE, BASSIST FOR THE ICONIC BAND CREAM, ONCE DESCRIBED JEFF BERLIN AS THE “THE BEST BASS PLAYER I’VE EVER HEARD.”

For over 40 years, he has stood as one of the most innovative electric bassists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Known for his one-of-a-kind tone, jaw dropping technique and highly advanced harmonic approaches to the bass, Jeff has been one of the major figures in firmly establishing the electric bass as a solo instrument well deserving of its own distinct place in modern music.

Jeff’s recording and performance credits include a who’s who of jazz and rock. They include: Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Larry Coryell, Pat Martino, John McLaughlin, Yes, Frank Zappa, Patrick Moraz and many more.

GoFundMe Campaign Link: https://gofund.me/8c50584e
Your investment contribution will get you a CD, T-shirt, or Bass Mastery lesson book. The details are listed on the Jack Bruce GoFundMe page.

Jeff Berlin's official website: www.jeffberlinbass.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JEFFPLAYSJACK
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jbplaysjb

Contact:
Project Management:
John McCracken
Phone 646-470-6842
email: john@johnmccrackenmusicgroup.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

Prog Legends Nektar’s “Vinyl Sides Live” Tour to Kick Off September 2021

When the vinyl meets the road!

For more than 50 years, Nektar has taken legions of fans on audio-visual journeys to far reaches of the universe and the depths of the ocean with their immersive blend of sight and sound. These prog-rock pioneers have been champing at the bit to get back on the road and are excited to announce they will tour America’s Northeast and Midwest this autumn, with many more dates scheduled through Spring 2022.

The “Vinyl Sides Live” Tour marks Nektar’s eagerly awaited return to the road, spotlighting some of the best-loved “album sides” from their evergreen catalog, as well as 2020’s acclaimed release, “The Other Side,” plus new material. Nektar changes their live show every single night; fans love to follow along on the journey.

Founding member Mo Moore says, “After doing 31 dates at the beginning of 2020 and getting into tour shape, we were stopped in our tracks by COVID.”

The band made the most of this ‘down time’ by preparing for their upcoming tour, adding another 90 minutes of music to the 3 hours of repertoire they performed on the previous tour. Audiences will be treated to entire album sides from some of Nektar’s epic recordings – including “A Tab in the Ocean,” “Remember the Future” and “Recycled,” as well as “The Other Side.” Rounding out the shows will be expanded offerings from other albums; unfinished tunes from 1978 that the band has rediscovered; as well as brand new compositions the band has created during their weekly online and in person get-togethers.

“I think the next shows are going to be even more exciting, as we will continue our direction of not doing the same set twice if we have multiple dates at one venue or are playing two gigs that are drivable,” says Mo. “This keeps the music fresh and gives incentives to our ‘Nektarines’ to attend more than one show, knowing they will be different.”

Nektar has captured the imagination and admiration of listeners the world over with their multimedia concerts, melding a jam-band vibe with superb musicality and a visual cornucopia that perfectly complements the performance. A Nektar show is an unparalleled feast for the senses.

Formed in Germany in 1969 by British expats, Nektar soaked up the musical freedom they found in their new home, favoring extended compositions and concept albums over the constraints of pop. They were among the progenitors of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s as well as the jam-band scene that arose in the late 1990s. Their sound traveled well to the States, where they enjoyed Top 40 success with “A Tab in the Ocean” (1972) and “Remember the Future” (1973). Nearly 20 albums and a half-century later, the band’s artistic and personal charisma has earned them masses of devoted fans, who have flocked to festivals such as NearFest and ProgStock, and venues like the Wildey Theatre (where they perform multi-night sold-out shows) to indulge their passion for the Nektar experience.

Currently, Nektar features three of the original members – Derek ‘Mo’ Moore (bass guitar, vocals), Ron Howden (drums, percussion, vocals) and Mick Brockett (visual environment). Ryche Chlanda (guitar, vocals) and Randy Dembo (bass guitar, bass pedals, 12-string guitar, vocals) are alums of previous Nektar incarnations. World-class multi-instrumentalist Kendall Scott completes the lineup on keyboards; his performance credits include Project/Object and Ryche Chlanda’s Flying Dreams. They will be joined onstage by Maryann Castello on backing vocals, and Maryann will also oversee merchandise sales and VIP events.

“The Other Side” has been hailed as “an epic concept album” and “the best recording by Nektar since ‘Recycled.’”

“The whole album is a love song,” says Mo. It’s also a memorial to friends the band has lost, including fellow founding member Roye Albrighton, who passed in 2016, and their long-time sound mixer Vinny Schmid.

Mick Brockett, whose visuals are integral to Nektar performances, is upgrading his renowned light show with assistance from the band’s digital wizard, Jay Petsko. The update will incorporate additional film clips plus a rich trove of previously unseen photos of the band on and off tour.

Mick creates a visual environment that directly reflects what the band is playing on stage. “I’m like the Wizard of Oz, behind the curtain,” Mick says. “I’m ‘playing’ this all in real time.”

NEKTAR ‘VINYL SIDES LIVE’ TOUR DATES

SEPT 22 - DARYL’S HOUSE CLUB - PAWLING, NY
SEPT 23 - THE LINDA/WAMC - ALBANY, NY
SEPT 24 - HAMBURG PALACE THEATRE - HAMBURG, NY
SEPT 25 - BEACHLAND BALLROOM - CLEVELAND, OH
SEPT 26 - TOKEN LOUNGE - WESTLAND, MI
SEPT 29 - IRVING THEATER - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
SEPT 30 - THE WILDEY THEATRE  - EDWARDSVILLE, IL
OCT 01 - THE WILDEY THEATRE - EDWARDSVILLE, IL
OCT 02 - THE WILDEY THEATRE - EDWARDSVILLE, IL
OCT 06 - PABST THEATER - TURNER HALL - MILWAUKEE, WI
OCT 07 - ARCADA THEATRE - ST. CHARLES, IL
OCT 08 - DES PLAINES THEATRE - DES PLAINES, IL
OCT 29 - NEW JERSEY PROGHOUSE - RAHWAY, NJ
OCT 30 - THE BEARSVILLE THEATER - WOODSTOCK, NY

MANY MORE SHOWS TO COME! VISIT WWW.NEKTARSMUSIC.COM FOR UPDATES

Check out https://nektarsmusic.com/epk for more information about the band, high-resolution images, video and more.

Official Facebook page: Nektar – The Legendary Rock Band (Official):
https://www.facebook.com/nektarRocks

Fan Pages:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2213439438
Nektar Appreciation Society (private group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nektarfans

Instagram: @nektar.official

Nektar YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoEd-HQa3RmFXHUEQ9j_PJA

Nektar tour publicity: Kate Goldsmith, kate@nektarsmusic.com
Booking: Ozark Talent, Steve Ozark (785) 760-3143, OzarkTalent@gmail.com

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

Prog Legends Nektar’s “Vinyl Sides Live” Tour to Kick Off September 2021

When the vinyl meets the road!

For more than 50 years, Nektar has taken legions of fans on audio-visual journeys to far reaches of the universe and the depths of the ocean with their immersive blend of sight and sound. These prog-rock pioneers have been champing at the bit to get back on the road and are excited to announce they will tour America’s Northeast and Midwest this autumn, with many more dates scheduled through Spring 2022.

The “Vinyl Sides Live” Tour marks Nektar’s eagerly awaited return to the road, spotlighting some of the best-loved “album sides” from their evergreen catalog, as well as 2020’s acclaimed release, “The Other Side,” plus new material. Nektar changes their live show every single night; fans love to follow along on the journey.

Founding member Mo Moore says, “After doing 31 dates at the beginning of 2020 and getting into tour shape, we were stopped in our tracks by COVID.”

The band made the most of this ‘down time’ by preparing for their upcoming tour, adding another 90 minutes of music to the 3 hours of repertoire they performed on the previous tour. Audiences will be treated to entire album sides from some of Nektar’s epic recordings – including “A Tab in the Ocean,” “Remember the Future” and “Recycled,” as well as “The Other Side.” Rounding out the shows will be expanded offerings from other albums; unfinished tunes from 1978 that the band has rediscovered; as well as brand new compositions the band has created during their weekly online and in person get-togethers.

“I think the next shows are going to be even more exciting, as we will continue our direction of not doing the same set twice if we have multiple dates at one venue or are playing two gigs that are drivable,” says Mo. “This keeps the music fresh and gives incentives to our ‘Nektarines’ to attend more than one show, knowing they will be different.”

Nektar has captured the imagination and admiration of listeners the world over with their multimedia concerts, melding a jam-band vibe with superb musicality and a visual cornucopia that perfectly complements the performance. A Nektar show is an unparalleled feast for the senses.

Formed in Germany in 1969 by British expats, Nektar soaked up the musical freedom they found in their new home, favoring extended compositions and concept albums over the constraints of pop. They were among the progenitors of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s as well as the jam-band scene that arose in the late 1990s. Their sound traveled well to the States, where they enjoyed Top 40 success with “A Tab in the Ocean” (1972) and “Remember the Future” (1973). Nearly 20 albums and a half-century later, the band’s artistic and personal charisma has earned them masses of devoted fans, who have flocked to festivals such as NearFest and ProgStock, and venues like the Wildey Theatre (where they perform multi-night sold-out shows) to indulge their passion for the Nektar experience.

Currently, Nektar features three of the original members – Derek ‘Mo’ Moore (bass guitar, vocals), Ron Howden (drums, percussion, vocals) and Mick Brockett (visual environment). Ryche Chlanda (guitar, vocals) and Randy Dembo (bass guitar, bass pedals, 12-string guitar, vocals) are alums of previous Nektar incarnations. World-class multi-instrumentalist Kendall Scott completes the lineup on keyboards; his performance credits include Project/Object and Ryche Chlanda’s Flying Dreams. They will be joined onstage by Maryann Castello on backing vocals, and Maryann will also oversee merchandise sales and VIP events.

“The Other Side” has been hailed as “an epic concept album” and “the best recording by Nektar since ‘Recycled.’”

“The whole album is a love song,” says Mo. It’s also a memorial to friends the band has lost, including fellow founding member Roye Albrighton, who passed in 2016, and their long-time sound mixer Vinny Schmid.

Mick Brockett, whose visuals are integral to Nektar performances, is upgrading his renowned light show with assistance from the band’s digital wizard, Jay Petsko. The update will incorporate additional film clips plus a rich trove of previously unseen photos of the band on and off tour.

Mick creates a visual environment that directly reflects what the band is playing on stage. “I’m like the Wizard of Oz, behind the curtain,” Mick says. “I’m ‘playing’ this all in real time.”

NEKTAR ‘VINYL SIDES LIVE’ TOUR DATES

SEPT 22 - DARYL’S HOUSE CLUB - PAWLING, NY
SEPT 23 - THE LINDA/WAMC - ALBANY, NY
SEPT 24 - HAMBURG PALACE THEATRE - HAMBURG, NY
SEPT 25 - BEACHLAND BALLROOM - CLEVELAND, OH
SEPT 26 - TOKEN LOUNGE - WESTLAND, MI
SEPT 29 - IRVING THEATER - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
SEPT 30 - THE WILDEY THEATRE  - EDWARDSVILLE, IL
OCT 01 - THE WILDEY THEATRE - EDWARDSVILLE, IL
OCT 02 - THE WILDEY THEATRE - EDWARDSVILLE, IL
OCT 06 - PABST THEATER - TURNER HALL - MILWAUKEE, WI
OCT 07 - ARCADA THEATRE - ST. CHARLES, IL
OCT 08 - DES PLAINES THEATRE - DES PLAINES, IL
OCT 29 - NEW JERSEY PROGHOUSE - RAHWAY, NJ
OCT 30 - THE BEARSVILLE THEATER - WOODSTOCK, NY

MANY MORE SHOWS TO COME! VISIT WWW.NEKTARSMUSIC.COM FOR UPDATES

Check out https://nektarsmusic.com/epk for more information about the band, high-resolution images, video and more.

Official Facebook page: Nektar – The Legendary Rock Band (Official):
https://www.facebook.com/nektarRocks

Fan Pages:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2213439438
Nektar Appreciation Society (private group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nektarfans

Instagram: @nektar.official

Nektar YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoEd-HQa3RmFXHUEQ9j_PJA

Nektar tour publicity: Kate Goldsmith, kate@nektarsmusic.com
Booking: Ozark Talent, Steve Ozark (785) 760-3143, OzarkTalent@gmail.com

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