Rock Review: The Ann Wilson Thing-#2

Release Date: August 12, 2016
Label: Rounder Records
Website

One of the most beloved performers in music is Ann Wilson, renowned for her legendary work as the vocalist with Heart and her highly acclaimed solo work. Yes, Ms. Wilson is rock royalty.

The Ann Wilson thing is one of her projects and now she has released #2 of her covers of classic rock songs and originals.

Having old friend and Heart guitarist Craig Bartock along for the ride gives the singer an immediate comfort zone. Wilson finds plenty of familiarity with her choice of tracks and we cannot forget she was part of band in the 70s onward that contributed some of their own slices of classic rock like “Magic Man” and “Barracuda” to name just a few.

The two originals are “Fighten Fer Life” and “Anguish,” which she collaborated with Bartock on.

The opener is the Hendrix all time classic “Manic Depression.” This is a song covered by numerous artists and emulated throughout the history of recorded music. Ann does a terrific job with the song and as to be expected she totally owns it and the instrumentation is exceptional per usual.

“Don t Give Up” was featured track on our Rate The Tracks site. The Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush track still rings true to this day and the talented Wilson covers both parts like the accomplished pro she is. The timbre of the song is mellow and thoughtful as the vocalist accentuates every word to make sure it hits home. Her voice is still poignant after all these years. She is one of those performers that has not lost a step and that is a tribute to her dedication to the craft.

People tend to have higher expectations for established stars like Ann Wilson and without fail she never disappoints. 

The curtain closer is the original “Anguish.” The track starts off with twangy slide guitar made for the blues then Wilson’s voice joins in with as much vitality and color as the guitar musters. She still hits those high notes with ease. Even though I love “Manic Depression” and the way it was presented this one is so killer you wish it would just keep going.

Everything is here for the folks that appreciate Ann Wilson, Heart and any of her solo projects. What can I say the lady is one of the best ever and with music like this it’s hard to argue that she still isn’t on top. #2 is great EP.

5/5 Stars

Key Track: Anguish

Tracks:

1. Manic Depression

2. Fighten Fer Life

3. Don t Give Up

4. Anguish

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

August 28, 2016

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Bay Area Rock Songstress Karney to Release Her New Singles Vol. 1: Manifest Destiny w/ I Got Mine From Her Upcoming Full-Length Album Renditions in Early 2017

San Francisco - Karney is a San Francisco-based singer/songwriter that has been making great music for many years, performing across the US and collaborating with many talented and notable artists. Keeping her mind on social justice and positive messages, her lyrical content offers a sardonic and sometimes straight forward approach to many of the issues facing people today, with a message of hope resonating throughout every song she writes. Karney is digitally releasing a handful of new songs between August and the end of 2016 in support of her upcoming full-length album Renditions, due out in early 2017.

While Karney’s eclectic songwriting is based in solid musicianship, her new material echoes a diverse set of musical influences. She will release a series of digital EP’s, featuring a few different renditions of her new songs on each, through her own independent record label, Karney Music & Sounds. The first in the series, Singles Vol. 1: Manifest Destiny w/ I Got Mine, will be released on August 26, 2016. This digital EP will include 2 versions of the track “Manifest Destiny” ranging from a solo acoustic to a full rock band version with drums, bass, electric guitars, overdubs and top notch production.

Some songs in the upcoming series will feature additional remixes rendered by some of Karney’s producer colleagues and friends, exploring Karney’s music in an assortment of other styles. All of these releases will culminate in a full album of recordings titled Renditions which has a tentative release of March, 2017.

For this body of work, Karney has been collaborating with other Producers and musical artists in the SF Bay Area such as: Producer/engineer Mark Pistel (Michael Franti, Grace Jones, Chuck Prophet, www.markpistel.com); Producer/Engineer Michael Rosen (Rancid, Tesla, Smashmouth, Santana, and Papa Roach, www.michaelsrosen.com); Adam Munoz (Herbie Hancock, Dave Mathews, Branford Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Chester Thompson and Lyle Lovett); and renown trumpet player, recording artist and producer Bill Ortiz (Santana, Destiny's Child, Tito Puente, Tony Toni Tone, www.billortiz.com).

Also joining Karney on these new recordings are members of her live band, including long time musicians Jeff Herrera (Drums), Kimon Manolius (Bass and Vocals) and Mike Doyle (Guitar), while Karney holds down Guitar and Lead Vocals on all songs.

Additionally, Karney is very excited to be working with New York based visual artist Susan Kaprov, who will bring a dynamic visual interpretation to her songs with assorted artwork. Kaprov’s work is in the permanent collection of major museums worldwide such as the Museum of Modern Art NY, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Museum Boijmans-Beuningen in Rotterdam. www.kaprov.com

Karney has had a diverse musical career, having spent many years composing music for computer games with credits such as Monkey Island IV, Star Wars Galaxies, Armed and Dangerous, many Sim City titles, Metal Dungeon, Death Jr. and many more.

She is also now adding youth choral director to her list of musical endeavors, having recently received the esteemed “Dreamcatcher” award from the Visual and Performing Arts division of the San Francisco Unified School District for her work as a choral teacher and conductor for middle and high school students, as well as her contribution to the furthering of music education in the San Francisco public school system.

Karney has created music in the ballet and contemporary dance world for many choreographers and dancers such as Edward Valela, Anna Sokolo, San Francisco Ballet School, Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Oberlin Dance Collective, Richard Gibson and The Academy of Ballet, June Watanabe, Joe Goode, Lucas Hoving, Ed Mock, Janice Garret, Melissa Fenley and many, many more. She also composed her Opus 1 Chaconne Sur Sept for nationally renowned contemporary music group, Earplay Ensemble.  In addition, Karney was composer in residence at Mills College graduate dance department, San Francisco State’s graduate dance department.

For Music Samples or to pre-order Singles Vol. 1: Manifest Destiny w/ I Got Mine visit: https://karney.bandcamp.com/
Visit iTunes to pre-order or check out Karney’s entire catalog: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/manifest-destiny-w-i-got-mine/id1145645442

Check out Karney’s website for more information and touring schedule: http://karney.org/music/

Press inquiries & Interview Requests contact Billy James at Glass Onyon PR at glassonyonpr@gmail.com or call 828-350-8158
Live Performance Bookings and Management contact Karney Music and Sound at contact@karney.org

ZAP Feat. Zappa Vocal Legend Ike Willis, Chip Z'Nuff & Sean McKee Release Digital Single “Air Traffic Control” on Steve Vai's Favored Nations

Chicago, IL - New band ZAP has released a digital single called “Air Traffic Control” on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. The band is made up of Emmy-nominated composer Sean McKee, who is also collaborating with Jon Anderson from YES on a concept album project, Ike Willis, the voice on numerous Frank Zappa albums, and Grammy-nominated bassist Chip Z'Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff, Missing Persons, Adler's Appetite).

“Air Traffic Control” started as a 60 second piece that was commissioned by Lee Abrams (Co-Founder of XM Radio) to have McKee write a piece of music in the style of Frank Zappa, and produce a video to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his passing. McKee wrote and performed all instruments, including recording the keyboard parts using a then-prototype Lineage MIDI guitar from Inspired Instruments.

Besides being a musician, McKee is known as a pioneer in the field of image processing, creating technology used for new movies and classic film restorations, along with 2D to 3D conversions, with the technology he led development on being used daily in Hollywood. For several years, one of his clients was Gail Zappa, Frank's widow, and he worked on restoring film elements from Frank's archive, and also helped to recover lost video masters that Gail hadn't seen in years.

According to McKee, “When I heard the news of Gail's passing last October, I was deeply saddened, she was very kind to me, and an incredibly smart woman who pioneered the concept of artists' retaining the rights to the master recordings. I decided to take the 60 second piece and finish it as a proper song, as a memorial to Gail and tribute to Frank, who was a big influence on my playing.”

McKee crafted the song starting from the existing 60 second guitar solo, building a complete song around it, similar to methods Zappa incorporated. He then asked Ike Willis to sing on the track and add another guitar solo. Die hard Zappa fans will also notice a lyrical reference to the infamous 'White Zone'.

McKee continues, “The original solo I wrote is what ends the song, and Ike takes the first guitar solo. If you close your eyes, you can see Frank and hear the lineage. When Frank got sick, he asked Ike to carry on his music, and while this is a new, original song, his playing and voice carries the torch for both the legacy fans as well as a new generation of listeners.”

McKee then asked Chip Z'Nuff to play bass on all parts except for the bass under the solos, which McKee had recorded originally.

The end result is a modern interpretation and homage to a timeless and unique style.

Watch the video:

To purchase:
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1146099690?ls=1&app=itunes
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1146099690

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/ZAP-BAND-1618003005158499/

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

ZAP Feat. Zappa Vocal Legend Ike Willis, Chip Z'Nuff & Sean McKee Release Digital Single “Air Traffic Control” on Steve Vai's Favored Nations

Chicago, IL - New band ZAP has released a digital single called “Air Traffic Control” on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. The band is made up of Emmy-nominated composer Sean McKee, who is also collaborating with Jon Anderson from YES on a concept album project, Ike Willis, the voice on numerous Frank Zappa albums, and Grammy-nominated bassist Chip Z'Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff, Missing Persons, Adler's Appetite).

“Air Traffic Control” started as a 60 second piece that was commissioned by Lee Abrams (Co-Founder of XM Radio) to have McKee write a piece of music in the style of Frank Zappa, and produce a video to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his passing. McKee wrote and performed all instruments, including recording the keyboard parts using a then-prototype Lineage MIDI guitar from Inspired Instruments.

Besides being a musician, McKee is known as a pioneer in the field of image processing, creating technology used for new movies and classic film restorations, along with 2D to 3D conversions, with the technology he led development on being used daily in Hollywood. For several years, one of his clients was Gail Zappa, Frank's widow, and he worked on restoring film elements from Frank's archive, and also helped to recover lost video masters that Gail hadn't seen in years.

According to McKee, “When I heard the news of Gail's passing last October, I was deeply saddened, she was very kind to me, and an incredibly smart woman who pioneered the concept of artists' retaining the rights to the master recordings. I decided to take the 60 second piece and finish it as a proper song, as a memorial to Gail and tribute to Frank, who was a big influence on my playing.”

McKee crafted the song starting from the existing 60 second guitar solo, building a complete song around it, similar to methods Zappa incorporated. He then asked Ike Willis to sing on the track and add another guitar solo. Die hard Zappa fans will also notice a lyrical reference to the infamous 'White Zone'.

McKee continues, “The original solo I wrote is what ends the song, and Ike takes the first guitar solo. If you close your eyes, you can see Frank and hear the lineage. When Frank got sick, he asked Ike to carry on his music, and while this is a new, original song, his playing and voice carries the torch for both the legacy fans as well as a new generation of listeners.”

McKee then asked Chip Z'Nuff to play bass on all parts except for the bass under the solos, which McKee had recorded originally.

The end result is a modern interpretation and homage to a timeless and unique style.

Watch the video:

To purchase:
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1146099690?ls=1&app=itunes
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1146099690

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/ZAP-BAND-1618003005158499/

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

ZAP Feat. Zappa Vocal Legend Ike Willis, Chip Z'Nuff & Sean McKee Release Digital Single “Air Traffic Control” on Steve Vai's Favored Nations

Chicago, IL - New band ZAP has released a digital single called “Air Traffic Control” on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. The band is made up of Emmy-nominated composer Sean McKee, who is also collaborating with Jon Anderson from YES on a concept album project, Ike Willis, the voice on numerous Frank Zappa albums, and Grammy-nominated bassist Chip Z'Nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff, Missing Persons, Adler's Appetite).

“Air Traffic Control” started as a 60 second piece that was commissioned by Lee Abrams (Co-Founder of XM Radio) to have McKee write a piece of music in the style of Frank Zappa, and produce a video to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his passing. McKee wrote and performed all instruments, including recording the keyboard parts using a then-prototype Lineage MIDI guitar from Inspired Instruments.

Besides being a musician, McKee is known as a pioneer in the field of image processing, creating technology used for new movies and classic film restorations, along with 2D to 3D conversions, with the technology he led development on being used daily in Hollywood. For several years, one of his clients was Gail Zappa, Frank's widow, and he worked on restoring film elements from Frank's archive, and also helped to recover lost video masters that Gail hadn't seen in years.

According to McKee, “When I heard the news of Gail's passing last October, I was deeply saddened, she was very kind to me, and an incredibly smart woman who pioneered the concept of artists' retaining the rights to the master recordings. I decided to take the 60 second piece and finish it as a proper song, as a memorial to Gail and tribute to Frank, who was a big influence on my playing.”

McKee crafted the song starting from the existing 60 second guitar solo, building a complete song around it, similar to methods Zappa incorporated. He then asked Ike Willis to sing on the track and add another guitar solo. Die hard Zappa fans will also notice a lyrical reference to the infamous 'White Zone'.

McKee continues, “The original solo I wrote is what ends the song, and Ike takes the first guitar solo. If you close your eyes, you can see Frank and hear the lineage. When Frank got sick, he asked Ike to carry on his music, and while this is a new, original song, his playing and voice carries the torch for both the legacy fans as well as a new generation of listeners.”

McKee then asked Chip Z'Nuff to play bass on all parts except for the bass under the solos, which McKee had recorded originally.

The end result is a modern interpretation and homage to a timeless and unique style.

Watch the video:

To purchase:
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1146099690?ls=1&app=itunes
http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1146099690

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/ZAP-BAND-1618003005158499/

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