American Idol alum delves into progressive rock with Chicago’s District 97

District 97 just signed to premier prog rock label Laser’s Edge

Ken Golden, President of Laser’s Edge Group, announces the addition of Chicago’s District 97 to the Laser’s Edge label. The label will release the band’s debut album Hybrid Child in Fall 2010.

Featuring 2007 American Idol finalist Leslie Hunt, District 97 mixes adventurous musical prowess with accessible catchy vocal melodies. The band features exceptional musicians including Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Katinka Kleijn.

District 97 was formed in the Fall of 2006 by drummer Jonathan Schang, keyboardist Rob Clearfield, bassist Patrick Mulcahy and guitarist Sam Krahn. The foursome from Chicago honed a no-holds barred style of Liquid Tension Experiment inspired Instrumental Rock before deciding to add the right vocalist. They found their vocalist in Hunt, a 2007 American Idol Top 10 Female Finalist. With a look, sound and stage presence comparable to a young Ann Wilson from Heart, Hunt's dynamic performances pushed the band into a new direction. After attending a show and being highly impressed, Kleijn joined the band. She was followed shortly thereafter by one of Chicago's finest young guitarists, Jim Tashjian. With this new lineup of peerless musicianship in place, District 97 began wowing crowds and establishing a devoted fanbase through packed shows at legendary Chicago venues such as House of Blues, Schubas and Martyrs'.


For further information, go to www.lasersedgegroup.com or www.district97.net.

Trey Gunn announces new CD Modulator

Modulator is Trey Gunn with uber-drummer Marco Minnemann; but with a gigantic twist. This entire recording was composed and produced over the top of a 51 minute, live drum solo by Minnemann. Modulator is scheduled for release May 18 through 7dMedia.

Minnemann has enlisted several different musicians to create a full cd, each, from the same drum solo. No editing of the drum performance was done. All the music had to fit with what Minnemann played and, ideally, make it seems like only this drum performance could go with this music.

"This was the hardest recording I have ever taken on," says Gunn. "The challenges of this process prove the old adage that 'with great restrictions come great creative leaps'."

Watch Trey's website for updates.

Laser’s Edge signs Germany’s Eloy for 40th Anniversary Release

Ken Golden, President of Laser’s Edge Group, announces the addition of historic German Progressive Rock band Eloy to the Laser’s Edge label.

Laser’s Edge Records will exclusively release Visionary in North America, the band’s first studio album in over 10 years, on January 12, 2010. Visionary celebrates the 40^th Anniversary of Eloy, Germany’s most successful and prized progressive rock group.

Eloy was formed in 1969 by Hanover guitarist Frank Bornemann. The band has released numerous albums but are best known for 1977’s Ocean, which remains its best selling album. Although Eloy have not been active as a band since 1998, the demand for their music is still remarkable. Their work has had a significant impact on the history of rock, and many a journalist, as well as numerous fans, consider them to be one of the best progressive rock bands ever.

The band’s music continues to be rediscovered. It fascinates and touches many fans with its emotional, complex symphonic rock-music with atmospheric sound creations, pulsating rhythms and massive guitars, combined with lyrics which escape irrelevance, performed in a way to transport the listener to another world.

The strong feedback from all parts of the world eventually reached the musicians themselves. It encouraged Bornemann, lead singer, guitarist and producer of ELOY, to bring the band together again for a 40th anniversary reunion. After a break of eleven years, they have launched the new album Visionary, which recaptures the spirit of the early years.

For further information, go to www.lasersedgegroup.com or www.eloy-legacy.com.

Ronin Rhythm Records announces June 1 Digital Releases

Ronin Rhythm Records brings its complete back catalog to the digital download platform in collaboration with Iapetus Distribution/Unsung Records.

Seven titles are being released digitally on the June 1, 2009 via most major download stores such as iTunes, emusic, Amazon, etc.

Ronin Rhythm Records is a platform for new creative music covering New Minimal, Funk and Ritual Groove Music.  The label was founded in 2006 on the base of pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch’s pre-ECM albums and is dedicated to releasing music from stylistically-related young musical acts, such as Sha’s Banryu and more artists to be announced.

Swiss pianist, composer and producer Bärtsch is known for his solo work as well as his ensembles Mobile and Ronin.  

“RITUAL GROOVE MUSIC, the title of my first CD, also points to the fundamental concept of my musical thinking,” explains Bärtsch. “The music shows a close affinity to architecturally organized space and is governed by the principles of repetition and reduction as well as by interlocking rhythms. A piece of music can be entered, inhabited like a room. It moves forward and transforms through obsessive circular movements, superimposition of different meters and micro-interplay. The listeners attention is directed toward minimal variations and phrasing. The band becomes an integral organism - like an animal, a habitat, an urban space. One must think with ears and hands.” 

“Repetitive rhythms are so fundamental to Bärtsch's aesthetic that he even overdubs his Piano Solo album, one of six albums of ‘Ritual Groove Music’… the fifth [Rea], is sublime, its simple, shifting rhythmic figures building imperceptibly to gratifying climaxes.”  Tom Hull, The Village Voice

The following titles will be digitally released on June 1: 

Sha's BANRYU, Chess Boxing Vol. 1

Nik Bärtsch's MOBILE, AER

Nik Bärtsch's RONIN, REA

Nik Bärtsch's RONIN, LIVE

Nik Bärtsch, HISHIRYO, Piano Solo

Nik Bärtsch's RONIN, RANDORI

Nik Bärtsch's MOBILE, RITUAL GROOVE

More label releases to be announced later in the year.

http://www.roninrhythmrecords.com

http://www.iapetus-media.com

 

#     #     #     #

 

For further information or to request a digital download for review, please contact Lori Hehr at LHPR  at   runbox.com.

New Reviews online

Thanks Tommy Hash at Ystejam for new reviews on:

Crimson Jazz Trio

The Aurora Project

KTU

Ricky Flake at the Sun Herald says It's Better Late than Never to discover Danny Brill and tells prog fans to pick up The Aurora Project.

Gooner at Prog Archives gives the Ozrics' new one 4 stars.

New Bill Bruford article

Eric Deggans at the St. Petersburg Times takes a look at Bill Bruford's career.  Here's the link.  Thanks Eric! 

Ozric Tentacles Summer Tour

Here's the dates so far for the Ozric Tentacles Spring/Summer Tour:

May 21 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre
May 27 San Francisco, CA The Independent
May 29 Portland, OR Club 2140
May 30 Seattle, WA El Corazon
June 5 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
June 11 Madison, WI Memorial Union Terrace
June 12 Chicago, IL The Abbey
June 18 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom
June 19 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café
June 20 New York, NY BB King’s Blues Club
June 21 Burlington, VT Club Metronome
June 23 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
June 25 Baltimore, MD 8 x 10 Club
June 26 Falls Church, VA The State Theatre
Sept. 6 Chapel Hill, NC Prog Day