Author Archives: glassonyonpr

2017/07/10

Frontman From Progressive Rock Band Mars Hollow Announces New Album, New Line-up, and New Name – Life After Mars

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Frontman From Progressive Rock Band Mars Hollow Announces New Album, New Line-up, and New Name – Life After Mars

Progressive rock band Mars Hollow has announced that they will be recording a new album after a nearly 5-year hiatus. The announcement was made during a semi-reunion show and subsequent radio interview in June, and came on the heels of a show billed as “John Baker and Steve Mauk Perform the Music of Mars Hollow” in Chicago. The show was the first time Mars Hollow has performed live since May, 2012. The most recent studio effort from the group was the track “So Far Away,” which also had a video release and was included on the Mars Hollow Live album. The album, also available on DVD, documented the band’s ‘Church of Prog’ spot at RosFest, 2011 and was released in Fall of 2012.

However, guitarist and lead vocalist John Baker says that the new band will update both its name and line-up to fit the spirit and music of the new incarnation, and will be called “Life After Mars.” The band’s debut album release is tentatively scheduled for Summer, 2018.

Says John, “As Life After Mars is the newly reformed incarnation of Mars Hollow, the best way to explain it is ‘Mars Hollow…the Next Generation.”

Mars Hollow landed on the progressive rock scene in 2010 with their self-titled debut album, produced by Ronan Chris Murphy, and followed up in 2011 with “World In Front of Me,” co-produced by Mars Hollow’s John Baker and Billy Sherwood, now of Yes. Playing festivals and numerous gigs in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the band also played and toured with Billy Sherwood’s Circa, and received accolades and positive reviews for several years. In the spirit of progressive rock, “Life After Mars” seems a natural progression.

Says John, “I think of this as good timing. A perfect time to rethink your mindset, and have a new jumping off point. At one time, walking on the moon, or landing on Mars was the future. Everyone wondered if there was life on mars, and now they are talking about colonization of Mars. Truly, the FUTURE is life AFTER mars.”

Life After Mars features:
John Baker – lead vocals and guitars
Don Schiff – NS stick, various basses and string instruments
Lisa LaRue – keyboards
Emily Dolan Davies – drums

Bios:
JOHN BAKER
Throughout the years, John Baker has held stints as guitarist and backing vocalist for various original bands and musicians, including Christian Love of “The Beach Boys” and bassist for The Little Girls. Since 1995, John has been operating a successful studio business, comprised of music projects, audio drama, and dialogue work. In the music field, John has worked with many musicians and producers, including Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones) and Richie Zito (Elton John, Tina Turner, Heart). In the dialogue field, John has directed, engineered, and edited hundreds of audio books including works by authors such as Robert Ludlum, Danielle Steele and Deepak Chopra. John Baker, an original member of Mars Hollow, is also the lead vocalist for the LA-based progressive rock band, Forever Twelve, who has just completed their 4th studio album, Home, on Melodic Revolution Records.

DON SCHIFF
Don Schiff has worked with some of the best – including Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, Sammy Davis, Arjen Lucassen among many others. Don is also a member of Rocket Scientists. Having scored soundtracks as well as acted in TV shows and films such as “Live From Death Row” and “84 Charlie Mopic,” he has also received gold records for co-writing for Pat Benatar’s “Wide Awake in Dreamland” and Winfield/Schiff’s “Cerebral Man.” Don is internationally known for his expertise with the NS/Chapman stick. He was also a member of Lisa LaRue’s former band 2KX.

LISA LaRUE
Keyboardist Lisa LaRue has worked with many musicians including: John Payne (Asia), Don Schiff (Rocket Scientists, Tina Turner, Elvis, and more), Ryo Okumoto (Spock’s Beard), Michael Sadler (Saga), Oliver Wakeman (Yes). Esquire (Nikki Squire) and others. Lisa has been awarded Oklahoma Native American Artist of the Year and nominated for other awards including the Hollywood Music Awards, Los Angeles Music Awards, and the Native American Music Awards. She collaborated with Gilli Smyth of Gong on a self-released album titled “Dreamscapes,” and has released 5 solo albums, 1 album with Lisa LaRue Project 2K9, 2 albums with Lisa LaRue 2KX, and 1 album with Federico Fantacone (Fantacone/LaRue – Sonic Landscapes).

EMILY DOLAN DAVIES
Emily Dolan Davies is a British drummer who has been playing since age 11, with full time gigging beginning at age 18. She has extensive experience in many genres as a session and live drummer, in addition to playing with artists such as Bryan Ferry, The Thompson Twins, The Darkness, and many more. She is currently touring with Howard Jones.

Here’s what the press have said about Mars Hollow:

“It’s quite clear that Mars Hollow is a band to be reckoned with. This is no garage band, but a very serious group of players with some serious chops.” – Rok Podgrajšek – The Rocktologist

“If you take a little bit of Yes – mostly in John Baker’s vocals – and a little bit of Rush (also there in the vocals), that’s a bit what Mars Hollow sound like.” – Stephanie Sollow – ProgressiveWorld.net

“Each member of the quartet is a star player in his own right. Their sound is a rocking and melodic mix of the best of Yes & Genesis with a bit of latter-day King Crimson.” – Mike Flavin – USA Prog Music

“I would consider Mars Hollow to be a band that will withstand the test of time for the advancement of the progressive genre.” – Grant Hill – Music Street Journal

For further details and to watch the project progress, please follow the Life After Mars Fan Page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lifeaftermarsmusic or http://www.lifeaftermarsmusic.com ;

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

Leave a comment | posted in Life After Mars, Mars Hollow, Press Release

2017/07/09

French Music Legends Magma’s Critically Acclaimed 1975 “Magma Live” Album Remastered With Bonus Tracks

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

French Music Legends Magma’s Critically Acclaimed 1975 “Magma Live” Album Remastered With Bonus Tracks

Remastered 2-CD In DigiPack – contains Booklet with text & lyrics – original recordings & bonus tracks

Paris – Much to the excitement of Magma fans worldwide, the band’s critically acclaimed 1975 live album “Magma Live” has been remastered and contains two bonus tracks not on the original release! After the departure in autumn 1974 of Jannick Top and most of the other members of the band, Magma rose phoenix-like from the ashes with a new hot line-up, which saw the musical opportunity lying before it. After long rehearsals Christian Vander realized that he had yet another exceptional group and the decision was taken to records the first Magma live album. The recording, made in June 1975 at the Taverne de l’Olympia, perfectly demonstrates the incredible impact made by Magma. Absolutely dedicated to the music of Christian Vander, who by that time had reached the summit of his art, the band plays as if they were one man and sweeps all before it in its triumphant passage.

Whether it was a new arrangement of any old pieces (KOHNTARK, KOBAH, MEKANIK), or a previously unheard piece (HHAI, LIHNS), the sound of Magma has never been heard more powerfully as on this incredible recording. Although it remains difficult to point any one performance as being outstanding, it would never-the-less be difficult not to react to the mind-blowing performance by Didier Lockwood, whose violin playing contributes so greatly to the profound originality of this magnificent double album!

ZUND 1:
1 – KOHNTARK part 1 (original mix 1975)
2 – KOHNTARK part 2 (original mix 1975)
3 – EMEHNTEHTT-RE announcement (alternative mix 1989)**

ZUND 2:
1 – HHAI (original mix 1975)
2 – KOBAH (original mix 1975)
3 – LIHNS (original mix 1975)
4 – DA ZEUHL WORTZ MEKANIK (alternative mix 1989)**
5 – MEKANIK ZAIN (original mix 1975)

Christian VANDER – drums, vocal
Klaus BLASQUIZ – vocal
Stella VANDER – vocal
Bernard PAGANOTTI – bass
Gabriel FEDEROW – guitar
Didier LOCKWOOD – violin
Benoit WIDEMANN – keyboards
Jean-Pol ASSELINE – keyboards

Recorded live between June 1st and June 5th 1975 at la TAVERNE DE L’OLYMPIA by Frank OWENS. Mixed by Georges CHKIANZ at studio le Chateau except **Mixé au studio UNIWERIA ZEKT par Francis LINON et Christian VANDER. Mastering Southeastern lab, Fierce mountain, NC

To purchase: http://www.seventhrecords.com/en/magma-19/magma-live-remastered-new-presentation-64.html

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

Leave a comment | posted in Christian Vander, Magma, Press Release

2017/07/01

ELP Legend Greg Lake’s Eagerly Awaited Autobiography “Lucky Man” Now Available In The UK!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

ELP Legend Greg Lake’s Eagerly Awaited Autobiography “Lucky Man” Now Available In The UK!

London – Greg Lake first won acclaim as lead vocalist, bass guitarist and producer when, together with Robert Fripp, he formed King Crimson. Their first album, the landmark In the Court of the Crimson King, co-produced by Greg, featured the iconic song “21st Century Schizoid Man.” King Crimson pioneered progressive rock and paved the way for many famous bands that followed, from Yes and Genesis to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In December 1969 Greg met fellow legend Keith Emerson at the Fillmore in San Francisco during a North American tour; the two shared common bonds: European musical influences and a desire to reinterpret classical works while creating a new musical genre. After being introduced to drummer Carl Palmer, they formed the first progressive rock supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

To date ELP has sold over 50 million records. Lake produced “Emerson, Lake & Palmer,” “Tarkus,” “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Trilogy,” “Brain Salad Surgery,” “Works Vol. 1 & 2,” and two different live albums. All went platinum and featured a series of hit singles, most written and all sung by Lake. The three created a unique live theatrical performance which featured Emerson attacking his keyboards with knives, Palmer playing a 2.5 ton stainless steel kit and Lake performing on a £6,000 Persian rug which had its own roadie. One of their very first performances was at the historic Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 and they went on to headline California Jam, one of the biggest concerts of the 1970s, attended by 350,000 people.

Probably the voice of his generation, Greg fronted the greatest rock supergroup of the 1970s but never held with the “progressive” tag that attached itself to both the music and the excess. “Lucky Man” not only charts the highs and lows of a career in rock music but also reflects on the death of Keith Emerson last year, living with terminal cancer and the end of life. Greg can best be summed up by his now-famous line: “Material wealth is a very fleeting pleasure … when you can buy anything you want and do anything you want, you soon discover that you actually don’t want any of it.”

To purchase Greg Lake’s “Lucky Man” autobiography: http://amzn.to/2t8BwZy

Watch the promotional video: https://www.facebook.com/GregLakeOfficial/videos/1691998314174403/

For more information:
Little, Brown Book Group Limited, Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DZ, 020 3122 6000. A member of Hachette UK Group, registered in England and Wales under company no. 2304585
Click here for company information http://www.littlebrown.co.uk or here http://www.hachette.co.uk/information/email disclaimer page

Greg Lake’s official website: http://greglake.com/
Greg Lake’s official FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/GregLakeOfficial/

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

Leave a comment | posted in Greg Lake, Press Release

2017/07/01

Spain’s Progressive Rock Legends Kotebel To Release Highly Anticipated New CD “Cosmology”

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Spain’s Progressive Rock Legends Kotebel To Release Highly Anticipated New CD “Cosmology”

Spanish prog legends Kotebel have released their 7th studio album titled “Cosmology.” It is their first studio album since the release in 2012 of their acclaimed “Concerto for Piano and Electric Ensemble” (in the list of 100 All-time best symphonic albums in Progarchives and “Best Instrumental Album” in the 12th edition of the Independent Music Awards).

The band’s new album features, among other tracks, the “Cosmology Suite”; An ambitious work comprised of four pieces that represent different conceptions of the Cosmos.

“Cosmology” marks the return of the flute into their soundscape, by the masterful hands of virtuoso Omar Acosta. It also presents the debut of Adriana Plaza as a composer for Kotebel.

To watch a visual taste of “Cosmology”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CDkZEd-cDo&feature=youtu.be

Here’s what the press has said about Kotebel:

“This is simply a stunning tour-de-force of impeccable musicianship, clever arrangements, and well-composed instrumental progressive rock” (Piano Concerto – ProgArchives)

“This is an instant classic cd for me that already enjoy instrumental music, this band don’t stop to amaze me with the quality of their music.” (Piano Concerto – ProgArchives)

“Crossing genres so seamlessly, effortlessly is what makes this album, IMO, a sure fire masterpiece of progressive rock music. Well done Kotebel! This will be a tough album to beat for 2012 Album of the Year!” (Piano Concerto – ProgArchives)

“This is one stellar disc of symphonic progressive rock!” – Jerry Lucky – The Progressive Rock Files

“This is a masterwork!” – Vitaly Menshikov – Progressor

“Outstanding symphonic prog!” – César Inca – Progarchives

“One of the great contemporary prog rock bands!” – Nuno – Prognosis

“Kotebel appear to be content on exploring and extending the boundaries of their chosen genre, and are definitely a band to watch out for.” – Dave Sissons – DPRP.net

“The musicianship is top-notch!” – Yves Dube – Sea of Tranquility

Watch Kotebel’s interpretation of the “A Bao a Qu” story, as narrated by Jorge Luis Borges in his “Book of Imaginary Beings”:

Kotebel’s line-up for “Cosmology”:
Carlos Franco Vivas – drums and percussion
César Garcia Forero – guitars
Jaime Pascual Summers – bass
Adriana Nathalie Plaza Engelke – piano, keyboards
Carlos G. Plaza Vegas – keyboards

Very special guest: Omar Acosta – flute

To order Kotebel’s Cosmology, and listen to selected fragments, visit:
http://www.kotebel.com/e-store/cosmology.php

For more information: http://www.kotebel.com

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

Leave a comment | posted in Kotebel, Press Release

2017/06/27

Music Legend Frank Zappa’s Brother Bob Zappa To Release Second Book “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story”

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Music Legend Frank Zappa’s Brother Bob Zappa To Release Second Book
“Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story”

NYC – Following his critically acclaimed book “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,” music legend Frank Zappa’s younger brother Charles Robert “Bob” Zappa is releasing a second book titled “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story.”

Bob’s first book, “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,” is poignant and insightful perspective on the life of one of the twentieth century’s most provocative and intriguing musicians. This “coming of age” memoir provided readers with never before told stories about events that helped shape Frank’s political, social, intellectual and creative development. The book begins with the brother’s time in Maryland from the late 1940’s until the summer of 1967 in New York City before Frank and the Mothers went on their first of many European tours. This fascinating account describes how the two brothers lived through, and handled, a series of events ranging from amusing to life threatening. It is a must-read for anybody interested in Frank’s amazing life that only his closest confidant and brother, Bobby, can tell.

Bob’s new book “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story” picks up where the first volume leaves off… Says Bob, “For those of you who read my first book, ‘Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa’, thank you. I hope you enjoyed it and found that the information about Frank added to your understanding his complex and brilliant mind and his early development. This book tells the next chapter in our story. It’s about how my brother and I continued on our separate but intertwined paths after his successful long running show, ‘Absolutely Free’ (sic), at the Garrick Theater in New York in the summer of 1967.

“When I decided to write the sequel to ‘Frankie and Bobby: Growing Up Zappa,’ I wanted to provide readers with more personal stories that would fill in gaps on how our lives intersected over the last decades of Frank’s life. I also wanted to describe more about life in America during the Vietnam era and up to the present day to help set the stage for events that fans have wondered about for a long time. This time I added more about my own life’s journey. I wanted to depict how Frank and I maintained our relationship because to me he was a ‘regular guy,’ except for his extraordinary life in the public eye. He was my older brother and best friend regardless of his talents, celebrity or public image. I think fans will find this aspect interesting and should help add a more human dimension to his image.

“There are also the episodes about Frank’s own family – especially his wife, Gail – that try to explain their curious relationship and how she interacted with me and her own children. Of interest are how our mother, sister, and brother, and especially me, were kept from Frank’s and his children’s lives. The reasons for that are still unclear to my niece Moon and nephew, Dweezil.

“But I do end on a positive note by describing my reunion with Moon and Dweezil following Gail’s death, after more than four decades of estrangement. ‘Frankie and Bobby: The Rest of Our Story’ provides new material that will help Frank’s fans add some much needed pieces to the puzzle that is Frank Zappa.”

While there have been several books and documentaries about Frank Zappa, most have forgotten to mention that Frank often referred to himself as “a regular guy.” And that is one of the “driving forces” behind Bob’s new book.

Says Co de Kloet, well-known radio personality and music producer in Amsterdam, “By sharing personal, sometimes extremely personal stories about his relationship with Frank, Bob gives us a clear view of that ‘regular-guyness’ quality, leaving the importance and impact of his brother intact. By not just focusing on Frank and giving us information about other relations and some of his own experiences, he puts Frank in a new and sincere perspective. I had a great time reading it and I hope it will do well. Over the years I had a friendship with Herbie Cohen, Frank’s manager and business partner. He was at my farmhouse a few times and once when he was reading something in a book about Zappa, he smiled and said, ‘It is always fun to read what people THINK really happened (in Frank’s life) but they haven’t got a clue.’ Bob Zappa has! And that is what makes this book a must have.”

The book is also one of rejection, reconciliation and closure… As James Cohen: Zappanale Master of Ceremonies explains, “A memoir is more than recollection, it exposes a continuum of related events: Bob Zappa’s ‘Frankie & Bobby – The Rest of Our Story’ is wisdom gained over time. Picking up where his first book left off, it focuses on Bob’s adventures in the US and elsewhere – a Swedish university course in Deviant Behavior or a close brush with Soviet espionage. Bob’s ultimate purpose of understanding how his alienation from his brother Frank’s world developed, or was created, overshadows these episodes. Climaxing with a series of rejections relating to the passing of their mother Rose Marie and finally of Frank himself, Bob celebrates his subsequent reconciliation with Dweezil and Moon and a new life rooted deep in his past…A great read, and for the Zappa faithful, optimistic closure.”

Distinguished Teaching Professor Joseph Klein, Dmus concludes, “Perhaps most poignant are the episodes relating to Frank’s own family- in particular his wife, Gail…during the final years of Frank’s life…and (sheds) light on a matter that has baffled and frustrated the Zappa fan community for decades…’Frankie and Bobby: The Rest of Our Story’ is essential reading for any Zappologist curious for answers regarding some of the more enigmatic aspects of Frank’s life.”

Bob Zappa’s “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story” is a must-read for all fans of Frank Zappa!

To purchase “Frankie & Bobby: The Rest of Our Story”:
https://www.createspace.com/6991665 (United States)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1544258798 (United States)
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/1544258798 (Canada – Book not currently available in Canada)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1544258798 (United Kingdom)
http://www.amazon.de/dp/1544258798 (Germany)
http://www.amazon.es/dp/1544258798 (Spain)
http://www.amazon.fr/dp/1544258798 (France)
http://www.amazon.it/dp/1544258798 (Italy)

To purchase “Frankie & Bobby: Growing Up Zappa”:

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

Leave a comment | posted in Bob Zappa, Frank Zappa, Press Release

2017/06/27

A Symphonic Journey With Renaissance – Music Legends Renaissance Featuring Annie Haslam To Play Selected Dates With 10-Piece Chamber Orchestra!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

A Symphonic Journey With Renaissance – Music Legends Renaissance Featuring Annie Haslam To Play Selected Dates With 10-Piece Chamber Orchestra!

Renaissance Fall 2017 US Tour!

Following their successful South American tour, Renaissance featuring Annie Haslam will be back in the US Northeast in October and November 2017 debuting their “Symphonic Journey” tour. This tour will include four very special concerts featuring a “10-piece Chamber Orchestra” (a handpicked assemblage of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion); October 26th at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield CT, October 27th at the Keswick Theater in Glenside PA, Town Hall in New York City October 28th and The Egg in Albany NY on October 29th. These performances will be the first time in 40 years that Renaissance will perform on stage with a “live” orchestra and, in addition, 2017 marks the 48th year since the band’s formation and its ninth consecutive year of touring since their reactivation in 2009.

Plans are currently being made for the group to film the October 27th Keswick Theatre show for an upcoming DVD release, which will follow the success of their 2015 London Union Chapel DVD. Additional tour performances without the chamber orchestra are currently being scheduled. A crowd funding campaign has been started to raise the significant funds to produce the new live DVD

For more information: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/renaissance-chamber-orchestra-live-concert-dvd

Renaissance leader and vocalist, Annie Haslam remarks, “The band keeps getting stronger and stronger and the addition of the chamber orchestra will be the most exciting event for the band in years. This addition of ‘live’ orchestral musicians will add an incredible dynamic to our big numbers like ‘Mother Russia,’ ‘Carpet Of The Sun’ and ‘Song For All Seasons,’ all of which included an orchestra on the original recordings.”

Ms Haslam will be joined on stage by long time musical associate Rave Tesar on piano along with Tom Brislin on keyboards, Mark Lambert on guitars, Frank Pagano on drums and percussion, and Leo Traversa on bass.

Tour dates:
Oct 26 – Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT Tickets RSVP (With 10-Piece Chamber Orchestra)
Oct 27 – Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA Tickets RSVP (With 10-Piece Chamber Orchestra)
Oct 28 – Town Hall – New York, NY Tickets RSVP (With 10-Piece Chamber Orchestra)
Oct 29 – The Egg – Albany, NY Tickets RSVP (With 10-Piece Chamber Orchestra)
Nov 01 – City Winery – Boston, MA Tickets RSVP
Nov 02 – Rams Head On Stage – Annapolis, MD Tickets RSVP

Renaissance is a band with a rich history unique unto themselves as progressive rock pioneers who rose from the ashes of the seminal UK rock band, The Yardbirds. Acclaimed for their unique blending of progressive rock with classical and symphonic influences, the band’s career has spanned forty plus years spearheaded by the 5 octave voice of Annie Haslam and the masterful songwriting skills of Michael Dunford. They are widely considered to be the band that most successfully and routinely utilized the sound of a full orchestra in their recordings.

The band has toured throughout the world and has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and additionally at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Chorale Society. Renaissance had a top ten hit in the UK with their song Northern Lights that still demands airplay to this day.

Watch the recent Renaissance/Annie Haslam music video for “Cry to the World” (with Ian Anderson on flute!): https://youtu.be/finJd6nNo84

For more information:
http://www.renaissancetouring.com
facebook.com/renaissancetouring
http://www.anniehaslam.com
facebook.com/anniehaslamart

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

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Renaissance

2017/06/25

Classic Rock Legends Spirit’s Self-Titled Debut Album To Be Released On Limited Edition Hybrid SACD!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Classic Rock Legends Spirit’s Self-Titled Debut Album To Be Released On Limited Edition Hybrid SACD!

Includes 4 BONUS Tracks!

Marshall Blonstein’s Audio Fidelity will be releasing Spirit’s Spirit on limited edition hybrid SACD, which includes 4 bonus tracks! Spirit’s 1968 debut album spent more than six months on the Billboard album charts and received heavy airplay on underground FM radio. Their music was part of the core, essence, and heartbeat of the hippie, psychedelic, counter culture movement. The album is timeless, as fresh today as when it first appeared.

The band could play more styles than almost any other group. On Spirit they unveiled a mélange of rock, jazz, blues, folk-rock, and even a bit of classical and Indian music. The music is experimental. The vocals flow as easily as the instrumentals. Spirit struck a careful balance between disciplined studio chops, jazz improvisation, and driving rock and roll. Guitar prodigy Randy California is a clear standout, but the other band members are superb as well; John Locke’s shimmering keyboards, Mark Andes’ subsonic wall of bass, and Ed Cassidy’s precision drumming. Big credit has to go to lead singer Jay Fergusson, whose phrasing is always just right with a wonderful spontaneous feel. The Marty Paich string arrangements are sublime.

The songs tackled unusual lyrical themes, like “Fresh Garbage” and “Mechanical World” while “Uncle Jack” showed some solid psych-pop instincts. And, it has long been debated if Led Zeppelin lifted the opening guitar lines of Spirit’s “Taurus” for their own much more famous “Stairway to Heaven.”

This is an essential album if ever there was one, and it would prove impossible to trace any musical time line without the inclusion of Spirit, and in particular, this body of work.

“A true touchstone to the late sixties and the music of the times.”

TRACKS
Fresh-Garbage
Uncle Jack
Mechanical World
Taurus
Girl In Your Eye
Straight Arrow
Topanga Windows
Gramophone Man
Water Woman
The Great Canyon Fire In General
Elijah

BONUS TRACKS
Veruska
Free Spirit
If I Had a Woman
Elijah (alternate take)

Produced by Lou Adler
Mastered by Steve Hoffman
SACD Authoring by Stephen Marsh at Marsh Mastering

For more information: http://www.audiofidelity.net

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

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Spirit

2017/06/21

Legendary Violinist Darryl Way To Release New Concept Album/Rock Opera Called “Underworld”

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Legendary Violinist Darryl Way To Release New Concept Album/Rock Opera Called “Underworld”

London – Much to the excitement of prog music fans worldwide, legendary Curved Air violinist Darryl Way is releasing a new Concept Album/Rock Opera called “Underworld” on June 21st. “Underworld” is released in 2 versions: “Underworld Rock Opera Complete” which is the whole show with dialogue and narration and “Underworld Rock Opera the Songs” which just contains the songs.

Says Darryl, “Having touched on Greek mythology in my last album, ‘Myths, Legends and Tales’ I became fascinated with the idea of writing a major work based on one of these myths. Originally I was going to set Shelley’s epic poem ‘Prometheus Unbound’ to music, but on further investigation it became clear that it was a little too ‘epic’ and too big a mouthful to bite off. Then the thought struck me of updating or re-imagining the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and setting it in a period and environment that I was totally familiar with – the world of rock music and the 1970s. However, I felt a little uncomfortable with the idea of writing a musical, but then it occurred to me that it could be a rock opera, because it is ‘song and drama’ as opposed to ‘song and dance’ and with the addition of a narrator, it could be both a concept album as well as a theatrical production. So in my Underworld, Orpheus is now a rock megastar and Persephone, the queen of the underworld, a nightclub owner and drug dealer. The Asp that Eurydice falls victim to on her wedding day, is replaced by an equally fatal drug addiction. Glibly it could be described as a tale of ‘Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll’, but in essence it is a dark and powerful tale of ‘Love, Betrayal and Revenge’. Underworld starts off gently with songs of love and longing but as the plot develops, the music darkens as we descend further and further into the murky realms, of the ‘Underworld’.”
.
Originally formed in 1969, Curved Air was a groundbreaking progressive art-rock band renowned for their showmanship. Darryl Way was noted for his flamboyant virtuoso exploration of the electric violin. He wrote the music for the Top 10 hit (reached #4) “Back Street Luv” and was a major contributor to the 3 albums that made the Top 20. With Curved Air he toured extensively, performing in practically every major city in both America and Europe. Before becoming headliners themselves, Curved Air toured with Black Sabbath in the UK and in the USA they toured with Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. They also appeared on the same bill as The Doors, Steppenwolf, B.B. King, Johnny Winter and Dr. John.

After Curved Air Darryl went on to release several critically acclaimed solo albums in both ‘rock’ and ‘classical’ genres. Among these, was his ‘Concerto For Electric Violin’, which was premiered on the South Bank Show with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and himself as soloist. He also performed this concerto live on German television with the Bravarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and in England with the Northern Sinfonia. Darryl’s collaborations include working with Sir Tim Rice, Sting and Gary Brooker (Procol Harum). In classical genres he has orchestrated Stewart Copeland’s ballet “King Lear” for the San Francisco Ballet, and Stewart’s opera “The Holy Blood and Crescent Moon”, premiered by the Cleveland Opera in the US. In 1996, Darryl’s own opera “The Master and Margarita” was premiered at The Place Theatre in London. Alongside these projects, Darryl has also worked as a film and television composer.

As a violinist, Darryl has lead the London-based Electric Symphony Orchestra for concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, and lead and recorded with The Elektra Ensemble, performing classical and contemporary music. As a session musician, he has recorded with Jethro Tull, Sky and Marrianne Faithful. He has also played with the National Philharmonic Orchestra on film scores such as “Die Hard”, “Licensed To Kill” and “Baron Munchausen”. Recent work includes being musical director for the soprano Emma Shapplin, for a series of televised UNHCR concerts at the Parthenon in Athens. Recent compositions include a Symphonic Choral work entitled “Siren’s Rock”, premiered at the Plymouth Guildhall with the South West Sinfonietta, Opera South West, Naomi Harvey (WNO) soprano and Stephen Crook, tenor. During his illustrious career, Darryl Way has created and been a major part of over 20 commercially released albums. His most recent releases “Ultra Violins,” “Children of the Cosmos” and “Myths, Legends and Tales” have all garnered rave reviews worldwide! And now, he will be releasing his highly anticipated new album “Underworld”!

Featuring:

Singers
Orpheo: Graham Foote
Dice: Sarah Vaughan
Vincent: Bryan Walters
George: James Goodman
Cassie: Nicola Avino
Thia: Rachel de Cock
“Wanna feel alive again”: Cassie McIvor
Solo soprano in end music: Naomi Harvey
Backing vocals: Juliet Hopkins and Richard Mead

Dialogue
Narrator: Rob Wheeler
Vincent: John Guilor
George: John Guilor

Musicians
Violin and keyboards: Darryl Way
Guitars: Richard Mead
Drums: Pete Skinner

Produced by: Darryl Way

To check out the whole rock opera, complete with dialogue and narration, go to: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/underworld-rock-opera-complete/id1232440489?mt=1&app=itunes
To check out the songs only, go to: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/underworld-rock-opera-the-songs/id1236224422?mt=1&app=itunes

Both albums also available on Amazon:

For more information: http://www.darrylway.com/ ;

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

Leave a comment | posted in Curved Air, Darryl Way, Press Release

2017/06/19

Experimental Guitarist Rex Shepherd To Release New Album “Never Buy My Self Volume III”

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Experimental Guitarist Rex Shepherd To Release New Album “Never Buy My Self Volume III”

Guitarist and composer Rex Shepherd will be releasing the third installment of the “Never Buy My Self” series digitally on June 29th. The first two volumes, released in 2014, featured Shepherd playing solo and in various duets, and volume three continues the series with a new set of all solo music consisting of both improvised and composed pieces. The new release features four new compositions and ten more improvised tunes that demonstrate Shepherd’s musical range from thoughtfully written jazz ballads to fuzzed out guitar mayhem including one piece in which Shepherd again uses the Theremin for self accompaniment.

Says Rex, “I released a solo set in 2016 called ‘Meditations,’ and doing a new solo thing runs the risk of repetition but ‘Meditations’ was done in just a few sessions and was textural and harmonically focused and the new stuff returns to my tendency to play and write in a linear melodic way and the music on ‘Never Buy My Self, Volume III’ reflects that way of thinking, and it’s also different in that it was recorded over a span of about two years and, like volume I, it includes one particular composition that is very personal and is only for me to play. I have aspirations for new projects with larger ensembles and to return to the No End of Now jazz rock thing too so this will probably be the last solo thing I do for a good while, and given the current socio-emotional environment these days I don’t want to come off as a narcissistic anti-social type. So I hope people enjoy and connect with this music and, as always, much peace, happiness, and music to all people, everywhere.”

Guitarist Rex Shepherd also recently released three albums digitally: “Ohio”, “Sonority” and “Duets”. Combining elements of jazz improvisation and harmony with an approach to guitar playing heavily influenced by diverse players such as Jim Hall, Robin Trower, Fred Frith, and sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Rex Shepherd has forged a niche for himself with original music that typically lies somewhere just outside the usual genre labels but is still music that is approachable.

Says Rex, “This new music was recorded in my personal studio, much of it with other musicians in duets, and at various times throughout the last few years. The past several years have delivered to me a greater understanding of the fleeting nature of this lifetime, so I decided to release much of what I had accumulated, in part to satisfy my own need to communicate musically with the world outside of my little sphere of existence, but also I wanted to honor the musicians who played this music with me. It is these musical and personal relationships that are at the heart of creating music, whether composed or improvised, and for the people who listen to it I hope it also creates a connection between us. Much peace and music to all people, everywhere.”

Having been described as “Robin Trower meets Miles Davis”, Shepherd’s music spans from full on instrumental jazz rock tunes to traditional jazz compositions with a good dose of free improvisation and sound experimentation using “prepared” and effected guitar sounds and instruments such as the “oceanharp” and the Theremin.

Shepherd’s band, sometimes going under the name No End of Now, employs a revolving cast of the most creative players he can find who are willing to take part in a project that is often arranged while playing and with no limitations on the players’ expression of the music. The compositions are also a blend of influences, from Wayne Shorter to John Cage, and most often are directly inspired by people, literature and other art forms, and experiences that hold significant meaning in Shepherd’s life.

Previously released albums:

“Ohio”: With the exception of “Desire”, a ballad Rex wrote several years ago, the music on this recording is all improvised. The songs consist of duet recordings captured in his studio after he had returned home to Ohio for a short time. https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/ohio

“Sonority”: This recent recording features a set of improvised tunes that were arrived at after John and Rex conducted their usual pre-roll discussions about the state of current affairs in the U.S. https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/sonority

“Duets”: Except for the improvisations “Etude #2” and “April 9th”, this release features compositions by Rex that have existed anywhere from 15 years, in the case of “In the Shade”, to just two days before being recorded like “Happy Little Trees”. https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/duets

To purchase Rex Shepherd’s “Never Buy My Self Volume III”: https://rexshepherd.bandcamp.com/album/never-buy-my-self-vol-iii

For more information:
Website: https://rexshep.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicpagerexshepherd/

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

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Rex Shepherd

2017/06/18

Orange County Register – King Crimson brings songs old and new to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles

By glassonyonpr

King Crimson brings songs old and new to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles

King Crimson comes to the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 with what co-founder Robert Fripp, left, considers a double-quartet lineup. Of the eight musicians in the group, bassist Tony Levin, front and fourth from left, has been in the longest after Fripp. Photo by Dean Stockings

By PETER LARSEN | plarsen@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: June 15, 2017 at 7:37 am | UPDATED: June 15, 2017 at 7:49 am

King Crimson, the English rock band co-founded by guitarist Robert Fripp, kicked off its summer tour in Seattle earlier this month on a run that brings them to Los Angeles this week, and while the band had been off the road since December it’s safe to say the eight musicians in the band hit the stage in tip-top form despite the creatively complex music in which King Crimson trades.

“It is complicated music,” says bassist Tony Levin, who after Fripp – the only constant member of the band since it formed in 1968 – might be the longest serving, having joined in 1981. “And because King Crimson is a very conscientious band we rehearse a tremendous amount.

“Robert really wants the band from the first show to be capable of doing a show unlike anything anyone has heard,” Levin says. “So we spend a lot of time and a lot of money, frankly, getting all eight guys together.”

Well before King Crimson arrives at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 21, Crimson’s three drummers – Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison and Jeremy Stacey – spent a week or two practicing on their own, Levin says.

The rest of the band – Fripp, Levin, multi-instrumentalist Bill Reiflin, singer-guitarist Jakko Jakszyk, and saxophonist Mel Collins – then joined them in England for two weeks of rehearsals, with another week still to come at the time we spoke in the last week of May.

“When we get together we don’t just remind ourselves of the material,” he says. “We’re actually constantly trying to reinvent it, and change it if necessary, to make it into the kind of music King Crimson should be.”

For the rest of the article, please visit the Orange County Register website!

Leave a comment | posted in Article, Interview, King Crimson