After many years of silence from the band, we get the second studio album of the reunion era.
The highly acclaimed 2016 release TOO LATE TO HATE was the long awaited album the fans had been asking for... and now LUCIFER’S FRIEND bring us BLACK MOON.
Black Moon features three found members of the band...PETER HESSLEIN, DIETER HORNS and JOHN LAWTON...with Stephan Eggert laying down the drum tracks.
10 new tracks all written by HESSLEIN / LAWTON with Peter Hesslein supplying not only the guitar tracks but keyboards as well...it also features 2 guest musicians in CHUCK FINDLEY (trumpet solo on BLACK MOON) and STEFAN PINTEV (electric violin solo on FREEDOM).
Produced and mixed by Simon Hesslein in New York with cover design by Damian Bydlinski...this album is another milestone in the band’s history...
France - Less than 2 years after the release of “Karma Obscur,” which had brought him all over Europe (Norway, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Slovaquia, France) for more than 30 shows (NattJazz w/Cory Henry, St Emilion Jazz fest w/Maceo Parker, Boerderij/Zoetermeer, MAI/Nancy, Bordeaux w/Greg Howe…), Shob is back with “Solide,” 11 Fusion/Afro/Funk tracks which will be released on May 3, 2019 (Inouïe distribution/La Route Prod). On April 15, SHOB and his musicians will be playing at London's famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club opening for guitarist Scott Henderson.
“Solide” showcases 11 tracks with Afro/Punk colors (Hostile, Vertige, la Brèche), Hip Hop moods with heavy brass riffs (Totem, Mémoire), or even Electro/80's sounds (Solide). The whole thing led by the powerful and precise drum parts of Morgan Berthet (Myrath, Eths, Kadinja), who also performed on the first two albums.
Rocky and funky guitars are amazingly played by the two newcomers: Johary Rakotondramasy & Jean Lou Siaut, who are also on stage for live performances. There is even some New Orleans color with the really fresh track “Cure,” which reminds one of John Scofield's best moments (guitar played by Christophe Maroye).
Brass section with FM Moreau & PJ Ley gives the album a strong Funk and Afro beat influence, reminiscent of Fela Kuti, Maceo Parker, Trombone shorty or Ibrahim Electric.
Finally, the wild and groovy percussion played by Ludo Lesage bring a real “back to the roots” ambiance.
Except two tracks with vocals (“Solide” w/Célia Marissal & “Totem” w/Lyne & Hugo Senbei), the album is mainly instrumental and leaves a great space for improvisations, with solos on every track. The songs on “Solide” were specifically written to be played live.
Again, it's a really mixed variety of music that SHOB and his friends will be playing on stage from April 2019 through an European tour which will bring them to Germany, UK, Austria, Latvia, Poland and France.
Tour line up: SHOB (bass), Simon Renault (drums), Tony Lavaud (key), Johary Rakotondramasy/JL SIaut (guitar)
SOLIDE tour 2019 : 24/02/19 FR – Bordeaux - Le café brun 16/03/19 FR – Carignan – Salle de la mairie 15/04/19 UK- London – Ronnie Scott 24/04/19 DE – Fûrth – Kofferfabrik 25/04/19 DE – Karlsruhe – Kohi 26/04/19 AT – Hard – Kammgarn 27/04/19 DE – Mainz – Jim 30/04/19 FR – Nancy – MAI 19/07/19 LV – Saulkrasti Jazz Fest 27/07/19 DE – Herzberg - Burg Herzberg Festival
“More Solide than ever” - Bassiste mag
“Best fusion album of the year” - Planet Waves
“Not only for bass players, those who look for groove and various musical colours will be pleased.” - Pavillon 666
“This kind of album is timeless and in 50 years from now, we still can play it, it won't get old at all” - Metal is the Law / Webzine
The Akku Quintet was founded by drummer and composer Manuel Pasquinelli. Says renown writer Sid Smith, “Best-known for his work in Swiss post-rock minimalist outfit, SONAR, Pasquinelli's writing contains an almost cinematic dimension that encompasses bittersweet moods and moments of unfolding drama.” The band is based in Switzerland, from where they dispense a minimalistic jazz groove to great effect.
Since their first concerts in 2011 the band gained more and more international attention (North-America tour in autumn 2018). Their debut album “Stages of Sleep” was released in May 2013 (Morpheus Records). The quintet then set the different phases of sleep to music. Following their acclaimed 2015 album “Molecules” Akku Quintet released their third record “Aeon” in 2017. In October 2018 the band toured Canada and USA.
Their fourth album “Depart” is the first to be released on Trey Gunn's (King Crimson, Security Project) 7d Media label on May 17th.
Says Manuel, “We have chosen 'Depart' as the album title because it describes very good the general feeling/spirit of the album. I'd say compared to our previous albums, 'Depart' is more driving and expressive. I think one can hear a forward-moving undertone on all the tracks. The title track 'Depart' comes along in a courageous and at the same time doubting and mysterious mood, performed with lots of playfulness. 'Depart' was the best word to describe the mood of this track and the album in general.”
“The group connect and lock together yet remain constantly in motion, maintaining a balletic poise and grace that skilfully builds and adds line upon line of long, sonorous notes. Though each one on its own might be gossamer-thin, when combined, they create something strong and enduring, something substantial and memorable.” - Sid Smith
Akku Quintet's new album still has a minimalistic touch, but you'll hear more of the soloistic qualities of the group members. It's a colourful, powerful album of a well attuned band. Recorded live in the studio April 16-19, 2018, the compositions were written by Manuel Pasquinelli.
Says Manuel, “We recorded the album within 4 days. All the songs were performed live in the studio, playing all together as a band. We rehearsed/developed the music in a short but intense rehearsal phase. At the weekend before the studio we played one concert with the new material. In the studio we were well prepared but the songs were still new for us. The music was finally shaped while playing as a group in the studio. I've written the music over a period of several months. Some sketches I already had long before, but there are also parts or songs that I've written just one or two weeks before the studio session.”
Line Up: Michael Gilsenan: Sax Maja Nydegger: Keys Markus Ischer: Guit Andi Schnellmann: Bass Manuel Pasquinelli: Drums
Manuel Pasquinelli is also known as drummer of the band Sonar which is currently collaborating with David Torn and Bill Laswell. Andi Schnellmann is regularly touring with Schnellertollermeier (Cuneiform Records). In support of the new release the Akku Quintet will have some album-release gigs in Europe in May and will be touring in Europe and Russia in autumn. The band also hopes to play North America again soon.
In closing Manuel has this to impart, “My goal is to impart a specific mood to the listener. Not a concrete story, but a mood and a progression with changing conditions/colors to dive in as a listener. And I hope one can listen a tune on the album several times and discover always new things in the song and look at it/listen to it with a different focus/perspective.”
We are very pleased to announce that the UN Singers will perform with Strawbs in the Grand Finale of the band’s 50th Anniversary celebration at the Strand Theater, Lakewood NJ on Saturday April 27, 2019.
The UN Singers are designated by the United Nations as unofficial ambassadors of goodwill who convey a message of peace and tolerance, and a celebration of other cultures and religions, through music.
The UN Singers, a club affiliated to the UN Staff Recreation Council (UNSRC), were formed in 1947. Members of the choir come from all walks of life and from all over the world.
Features two full CDs of previously unreleased demos!
Drum legend Simon Phillips will be releasing a 6-CD box set on April 12th on Phantom Recordings. This truly deluxe set celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Protocol, the powerhouse jazz-rock vehicle for the music of legendary drummer Simon Phillips (Jeff Beck, Toto, The Who, Mike Oldfield, Hiromi). Included are all of the previous Protocol releases (I, II, III & IV), re-mastered for an even better sonic experience. Plus two full CDs of previously unreleased demos, with the embryonic tunes that would later become finished material for the Protocol II, III & IV albums. Protocol 4, included, was nominated for a Grammy in 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Recording.
Phillips himself composed the liner notes of a glorious 24-page booklet with historic photos, providing deep insight into the genesis of the band, the tunes and recording processes. An absolute must-have collector's item for Simon's devotees worldwide! Previously Unreleased Demos
Disc: 5 - Protocol II & III Demos 1. Wildfire 2. Funk Tune #1 3. Six Eight 4. Pump Type 5. Thirteen 6. Herbie Type 7. Ballad 8. Three Four 9. Zawinul 10. Mystery 11. Protocol Blues 12. A Perfect Flush 13. Circle Seven 14. Pilatus 15. Stir Crazy 16. Fast Five
Disc: 6 - Protocol IV Demos 1. Six Eight 2. Pentangle 3. Indian Theme 4. 7 Four Funk 5. Intro + Celtic Boogie 6. Blues 7. Ballad 8. Jan Type
Audio CD (April 12, 2019) Number of Discs: 6 Label: Phantom Recordings
Protocol's 6-CD Set is available worldwide wherever you shop for CDs including:
Featuring drummer Gavin Harrison (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree)
The Pineapple Thief will be heading out on an eagerly anticipated tour of North America in November 2019. The band, now complete with full-time drummer Gavin Harrison (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree) will be heading to the USA, Mexico and Canada for the first time ever.
Frontman Bruce Soord says: “People have been clamouring for us to bring our show to North America since I can remember. We've completed 4 tours of Europe with this lineup with Gavin. And now we are finally able to bring it over the pond. I for one cannot wait!”
Tour Dates: Nov 19 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse Nov 20 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre Nov 21 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage Nov 22 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer Nov 23 - New York City, NY - Sony Hall Nov 24 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair Nov 26 - Quebec City, Canada - Palais Montcalm Nov 27 - Montreal, Canada - Corona Theatre Nov 28 - Toronto, Canada - Mod Club Nov 29 – Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom Nov 30 – Detroit, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom Dec 1 – Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge Dec 3 – Guadalajara, Mexico - C3 Stage Dec 4 - Mexico City, Mexico - Lunario del Auditorio Nacional Dec 6 – Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre Dec 8 – Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom Dec 9 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre Dec 10 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's Dec 12 – Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre Dec 13 – Vancouver, BC, Canada - Rickshaw Theatre Dec 14 – Seattle, WA - Neumos
The band will once again be offering VIP upgrades which proved so popular during recent European tours. Fans will get the unique opportunity to hang out with the entire band, take photos, get stuff signed and ask questions. Numbers are limited to keep the event intimate and special.
The band's 2016 album, “Your Wilderness” produced 4m+ album streams, a #7 in the UK Independent Charts and two extensive headline European tours culminating at London's Islington Assembly Hall where the concert was recorded for the live release “Where We Stood.” Their recently released album “Dissolution” has seen the band propelled to even greater heights, having gained a #1 position in the UK Rock Charts and #22 in the German national album charts. The band have garnered high praise across the worldwide media as can be seen in the small selection of review quotes below…
Prog Magazine – Album Of The Month - “a varied album that pulls together the band’s diverse styles into nine cerebral but very accessible songs” Kerrang Magazine - “Its existence makes the world a slightly better place” Total Guitar - “this is essential listening for fans of contemporary prog” Slam (DE) - “Just a beautiful, melancholy record, powerful and full of hymn-like harmonies” Lust for Life (NL) - “Dissolution ticks all the boxes” RockTribune (BE) - “an album to cherish” Rockerilla (IT) - “a beautiful album from the beginning to the end, where every track is a piece of a mosaic of enchanted sounds”
The Pineapple Thief are: Bruce Soord - vocalist, guitars Gavin Harrison - drums Jon Sykes - bass Steve Kitch - keyboards
The Swiss quartet SONAR has quickly gained international reputation for creating a unique blend of forward-thinking instrumental music imbued with power, tension and emotional identity. With their slow-build approach to dramaturgy and avoidance of conventional forms, they focus on collective group efforts and a deeper kind of interaction amongst their members Stephan Thelen (guitar), Bernhard Wagner (guitar), Christian Kuntner (electric bass) and Manuel Pasquinelli (drums).
For their internationally acclaimed fourth album “Vortex” (RareNoiseRecords), Sonar made an unexpected move by adding the expressive, experimental and deeply emotional playing of US guitarist and producer David Torn to their precise and disciplined polyrhythmic groove tapestry, thus adding the yin to their yang.
For this new vinyl release, legendary producer, remixer and bass guitarist Bill Laswell remixed and reconstructed two tracks from “Vortex”, also adding electronics and his signature bass guitar.
How did this (again unexpected and unlikely) collaboration happen? Sonar's guitarist and composer Stephan Thelen tells the story: “My friend and music journalist Anil Prasad wrote an e-mail telling me that he was meeting Bill Laswell for dinner and wondered if I would want him to ask if Bill would be willing to do two Sonar remixes. Since Bill has always been one of my favorite musicians, I of course said yes. Then things went really fast. Bill agreed to do it, but he wanted to do them soon, because his schedule was about to get very tight. I talked to the band, we decided which two pieces Bill should remix and then sent the multitracks to James Dellatacoma, Bill's engineer. Exactly 9 days after Anil's e-mail, we had two stunning remixes in our dropbox.”
In Anil's words, this is a “Zürich-New York sonic summit where minimalist groove meets maximum dub.”
