Big O Records (Lansing, MI) is excited to present the debut album by
the new progressive rock band THEO. Formed by world reknown
keyboardist Jim Alfredson (organissimo, Dirty Fingers, Janiva Magness,
Greg Nagy Band, Root Doctor) THEO harkens back to the keyboard-centric
superbands of the 1970s like Yes, Genesis, and Emerson Lake and
Palmer, but with a distinctly modern and bold approach.
Alfredson is joined by bassist Gary Davenport (805 Band, Janiva
Magness), drummer Kevin Depree (Sound Is Red, Greg Nagy Band) and
guitarist Jake Reichbart. The eponymous debut album features six
tracks including an epic 30 minute opening suite.
Jim Alfredson is best known for his work with acclaimed jazz trio
organissimo and is considered among the best Hammond organists working
today. As Downbeat magazine wrote, "Alfredson is a remarkable organist
who seamlessly synthesizes several generations of keyboard
influences…" Keyboard magazine, in reviewing organissimo's album Alive
& Kickin', wrote that Alfredson "successfully walk[s] the line between
complex and accessible…"
With THEO, Alfredson brings his considerable musicianship to bear on
his first love, progressive rock. As Alfredson explains: "I grew up
listening to Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson,
Gentle Giant… all the classic prog bands. I even made my own prog
'album' when I was 16 that I passed out to friends and family. But
then I was bitten by the jazz bug and dedicated the next 17 years of
my life to figuring out that music. Surprisingly, that education paved
the road back to progressive music, back to my love of synthesizers
and exploring different musical forms. I feel like my musical journey
has brought me full circle."
THEO also represents a return to the concept of the keyboardist as a
vital and irreplaceable part of the group, rather than a mere sideman.
"Most prog these days is metal-based," says Alfredson, "and there's
nothing wrong with that. But I feel like it's past time keyboardists
get our due again. My primary influence is Tony Banks; his melodicism,
his understatedness, his lyricism, and his use of timbre. There's a
time and a place for flashiness and there's a time and place for
subtlety. THEO is a manifestation of that belief. It should be about
the song first, putting that song within a certain atmosphere, and
then exploring."
THEO's intrepid and dynamic music is paired with auspicious lyrical
themes of corporatization, consumerism, loss of innocence, exile, and
the obsession with celebrity. Lead vocals are handled by Alfredson
himself. Usually relegated to background duties, Alfredson's
surprisingly flexible baritone voice shifts from soaring muscularity
to intimate falsetto and everything between. "I think that may be the
most notable aspect of this project for my long time fans," says
Alfredson. "Those that know me only as an instrumentalist and
background singer will hopefully be pleasantly surprised."
THEO is scheduled for a November 17th, 2014 release on Big O Records.
http://www.theoHQ.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/THEO/656605707769844
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_6OXW_cDO0&feature=player_embedded
--
Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-ZINE
http://www.progressiverockbr.com
http://progrockmetal.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/carlosvaz.ferreira
ON LINE, ON TIME, FULL TIME NEWS
