quarta-feira, novembro 29, 2017

John McLaughlin is now an 8 Time Grammy Nominee - Best Improvised Jazz Solo Nomination for 2018 Grammy Awards...

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN

JAZZ FUSION PIONEER, COMPOSER AND BANDLEADER

NOW

2017 GRAMMY® NOMINEE


EIGHT TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE

Up for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Miles Beyond" Featured on

Live @ Ronnie Scott's Album


SOLD-OUT FAREWELL TOUR CURRENTLY UNDERWAY

   through DECEMBER 9 with JIMMY HERRING (Widespread Panic)

(Los Angeles, CA) November 28, 2017  --  The 60th Annual Grammy® Awards have just been released and Abstract Logix, home to genre bending composers and creators, are honored to announce that the Guitar Pioneer, JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, has been nominated for the BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO for the live track "Miles Beyond" from his album Live at Ronnie Scott's.  The disc serves as a souvenir from a sold-out, two-night stand at the beloved London venue by John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension, recorded in March of 2017.  

In tribute to his nearly 50-year career, McLaughlin has set out on his final U.S. tour which began on November 1st in Buffalo, NY.  The nearly sold-out Meeting of the Spirits Tour – is currently taking McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension across the country for over 5 weeks before winding up on December 9th at a sold out  UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, CA.

The tour is in collaboration with one of McLaughlin's favorite musicians, American guitarist Jimmy Herring, who joins the Maestro with his own band, Jimmy Herring and the Invisible Whip.  Show reviews have been spectacular, raves from critics at Buffalo News, Relix, Downbeat, Chicago Sun-Times, Billboard, Guitar Player and more have overwhelmed the guitar legend. Recently the Boston Globe testified,  "Fans knew what to expect: blinding speed on the strings and often eccentric time changes. What they got was thrilling realization that McLaughlin, one of the most lauded fusion guitarists for decades, has gotten better at his craft. He's faster, more inventive, more soulful...A memorable farewell" 

McLaughlin recently revealed to Billboard Magazine one of the reasons for his surprising retirement  "You know, musicians never die. They just decompose. So I'm on my way.  God bless mother; I inherited music from her but I also inherited arthritis, so it's creeping up on me," McLaughlin tells Billboard. "I think one of the most catastrophic things that could happen would be to go on tour and have a really bad day where I'm not really able to play. "

"You realize as you get older that tomorrow is not guaranteed for anybody," McLaughlin says. "I've been aware of this for quite a while now, so I really consider every concert to be my last one since we don't know when we're going to be taken away and sent back to that wonderful place we came from. This really is my attitude. We're just going to play and have a lot of fun, and I'm excited."

Meeting of the Spirits Tour - Remaining Dates:
Nov 30 Paramount Theatre                                                    Austin, TX
Dec 01 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival                                            Playa Del Carmen, Mexico  
Dec 05 Moore Theatre                                                               Seattle, WA
Dec 06 Revolution Hall                                                               Portland, OR  (sold-out)
Dec 08 The Warfield                                                                   San Francisco, CA
Dec 09 Royce Hall-UCLA                                                           Los Angeles, CA  (sold-out)
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EYNOMIA - "Break Free"




EYNOMIA is a fantastic band from the USA and "Break free" is probably the best melodic Metal albums in 2017! The musical abilities of the band have a range from FIFTH ANGEL over SYMPHONY X to QUEENSRYCHE. The songs are even more catchy than the ones from the named bands but as powerful and finally the female vocalist Phyllis Rutter is singing on a high-end level! 

Coming from Minneapolis besides Phyllis Rutter we have guitarist Chris Bickley (Christine Ohlman Band, Thunderhead), bass-legend Mike LePond (Symphony X, Mike LePond's Silent Assassins, Heathen's Rage), Jimmy Pitts (Christian Muenzer Band, Fountainhead) on the keys and drummer Gaetano Nicolosi (Ron Keel Band). If you think, in the melodic Metal genre all is said and done, you will be convinced from EYNOMIA that this is definitely not right. Listen to great songs you won't get out of your ears!  

TRACKLIST:

1. Cleansing
2. Someday Maybe
3. Till We Meet Again
4. Break Free
5. Let It Go
6. Through Your Eyes
7. I Can Tell
8. Take A Look
9. When Its Over
Total Playing Time: 42:12 min

LINE-UP:
Phyllis Rutter – vocals
Mike LePond – bass
Chris Bickley – guitars
Jimmy Pitts - keyboards
Gaetano Nicolosi – drums

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Mabel Greer's Toyshop To Release New Album The Secret Featuring Guitar Legend Peter Banks - December 8, 2017



London - Prog rock pioneers, Mabel Greer's Toyshop (for without Mabel Greer, there would be no YES), are to release a new album The Secret on December 8th. 

On this album, Peter Banks (former YES & Flash guitarist) can be heard playing a guitar duo with Mabel Greer's founder, guitarist and vocalist, Clive Bayley for the first time in 50 years. Clive has written a new song around guitar parts recorded by Peter Banks, who passed away in 2013. This song is a tribute to Banks and Chris Squire who both joined the band in September 1967.

Bayley explains, "I was inspired to do this because Peter's passing in 2013 was the catalyst for meeting Bob Hagger (drummer with Mabel Greer's Toyshop) again and coming up with the crazy idea of re-forming Mabel Greer. The result is that we have produced two new albums since then, and released re-mastered BBC tapes from 1967 on the EP Images".

The Secret is an album of 9 new songs, with Max Hunt on keyboards and Hugo Barré on bass joining Bayley and Hagger. With roots back to an era when music evolved like never before and now combined with musical maturity, this album is must have for all Prog fans everywhere.

Track Listing:

1. Big Brother, Little Brother
2. Love's Fire
3. Turning To The Light
4. Angel Sent
5. More & More
6. Swan
7. Image of Existence
8. You
9. The Secret (ft. Peter Banks)

Clive and Bob first met in 1966 - a time when the London underground music scene was an impressive force for future development of a different kind of rock music. Clive was only 16 years old but had already been playing in a band since the age of 13. He was writing his own compositions and knew what kind of music he wanted to perform. Bob had previously been for an audition with THE SYN whose bassist was Chris Squire and guitarist Peter Banks. Not long after, both Squire and Banks joined Bob and Clive in Mabel Greer's Toyshop and the seeds of YES were planted. In early 1968, Jon Anderson also joined the group, followed by Bill Bruford, who replaced Bob and Tony Kaye joined on keyboards. When Clive left the band in August that year they changed name to "YES".
 
Fast forward to 2013, Clive met Bob again for the first time in 45 years! Both now in their sixties. The first thing Clive said to Bob was "let's get into the studio, see if we still have the old magic". The result became the album New Way Of Life featuring Billy Sherwood and Tony Kaye, released in 2015.

Watch the new video for the song "The Secret": https://youtu.be/Fxqaq1T2Oro  ;

The Secret will be available on 8th December on CD and digital download from: https://mabelgreerstoyshop.bandcamp.com ;


Mabel Greer's Toyshop official website: www.mabelgreerstoyshop.com
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King Crimson Uncertain Times European Tour 2018



King Crimson has announced the "Uncertain Times" European tour for 2018. The ensemble will visit Poland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Italy, France and UK.

Pre-sale VIP tickets will go on sale on 23rd November from the band's website www.dgmlive.com, where fans can also find recordings and photographs of recent shows. General tickets will go on sale on 1st December.

King Crimson 2018 European tour dates:

13th June Poznan, Poland Earth Hall
14th June Poznan, Poland Earth Hall
16th June Krakow, Poland ICE Congress Hall
17th June Krakow, Poland ICE Congress Hall
18th June Krakow, Poland ICE Congress Hall
20th June Essen, Germany Lichtburg
23rd June Vienna, Austria Stadthalle
24th June Vienna, Austria Stadthalle
26th June Prague, Czech Republic Forum Karlin
27th June Prague, Czech Republic Forum Karlin
1st July Berlin, Germany Admiralspalast
5th July Stockholm, Sweden Cirkus
6th July Stockholm, Sweden Cirkus
8th July Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene
9th July Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene
10th July Oslo, Norway Sentrum Scene
13th July Amsterdam, The Netherlands Concertgebouw
16th July Munich, Germany Philharmonie
19th July Pompeii, Italy Teatro Grande
20th July Pompeii, Italy Teatro Grande
22nd July Rome, Italy Auditorium Cavea
23rd July Rome, Italy Auditorium Cavea
25th July Lucca, Italy Piazza Napoleone
27th July Venice, Italy Teatro La Fenice
28th July Venice, Italy Teatro La Fenice
29th Oct Bournemouth, UK Pavilion Theatre
31st Oct Cardiff, UK St Davids
2nd Nov London, UK Palladium
6th Nov Birmingham, UK Symphony Hall
9th Nov Manchester, UK Bridgewater Hall
12th Nov Glasgow, UK Royal Concert Hall
15th Nov Paris, France L'Olympia
16th Nov Paris, France L'Olympia


With three drummers, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison and Jeremy Stacey, as well as the return of multi-instrumentalist Bill Rieflin on keyboards, guitarist and original founding member, Robert Fripp states that this "double quartet formation" is likely to make more noise than ever before. Rounding out the eight piece line-up are guitarist and vocalist Jakko Jakszyk, long-time bassist Tony Levin, and saxophonist and flautist Mel Collins, who was a mainstay of Crim from 1970-1972. The band's packed three-hour shows draw on material from all periods of their history, including six historic tracks that Crimson have never played live before, as well as new arrangements of Crimson classics – "the music is new whenever it was written" – and, of course, a healthy dose of new material, including the compositions for three drummers, which are a regular highlight.

Here's what the press have raved about King Crimson's summer 2017 North American tour:

"Jimi Hendrix saw them at the Marquee in 1969 and declared them to be the best band in the world. In many ways, almost half a century later, they still are." - ERIC THIESSEN, All About Jazz.

"Fripp and his band offered an impeccable performance in two stages. No melodies, no flapping, only musicians at the top of their art." - IAN BUSSIÈRES La Presse, Quebec

"The band finally reaps all that it has sown in its many transformations...the king is not dead, far from it, and they still rejoice." - REJEAN BEAUCAGE, Voir.ca

"Crimson has never sounded more complete, or more joyous, on stage than it does now." - JORDAN ZIVITZ, Montreal Gazette

"The uniqueness of seeing each of these seasoned musicians working is near indescribable and has to be experienced live to fully embrace their vision - think of eight master painters working in their own style, but on a common canvas, and you begin to get the idea of things." - WE HEART MUSIC, Minneapolis

"On our final evening at the festival, we were witness to the concert that inevitably proved to be its highlight...The blend of mood, melody, ambiance and atmosphere dazzled the audience, which responded with frequent standing ovations." - LEE ZIMMERMAN, Goldmine Magazine


For more information: www.dgmlive.com
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quarta-feira, novembro 22, 2017

ANTIGONE PROJECT (Space Rock) : Reissue of their vinyle "FROM ITS ROOM #1" on November, 30th !


First, take a three-piece act, then add samples and space sounding keyboards : this is Antigone Project's sound. Powerful, dark, melodic, elegant rock. Antigone Project is a project founded by Frédéric BENMUSSA (lyricist, composer, singer and rhythm guitar player) with the addition of Emmanuel VENTRE on bass and Frédéric MONACO on drums (Mickey 3D, Swaat…)
 
Their first EP (released late 2014) was recorded at Studio La Frette and mixed at Studio de la Reine by Florent LIVET (Phénix) and Chab (Daft Punk). It delivers vocal surges, overloaded rhythmic parts, and electro arpeggios in the vein of bands like Muse, Radiohead, Depeche Mode and Tool.
 
The band was offered to play the most prestigious venues : the Sentier des Halles, the Cabaret Sauvage, the Scène Bastille, the Machine du Moulin Rouge, the Alhambra and the Bataclan, as well as numerous festivals in France (Garorock, les Francofolies…) and abroad (Casablanca Festival, Razzmatazz…)

After the release of its first effort « Stellar Machine » in May 2017, the three-headed entity is back with the re-release of its sublime vinyl record « From Its Room », limited to 200 numbered copies.
 
For fans of : Deftones, Devin Townsend, Tool, Muse, Depeche Mode and Radiohead.
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EMPIRE FEATURING PETER BANKS & SYDNEY FOXX THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS - OUT NOW!


Featuring original YES & Flash Guitar Legend Peter Banks!

London - EMPIRE FEATURING PETER BANKS & SYDNEY FOXX – THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS is the first release by The Peter Banks Musical Estate (via Cherry Red) and is also fully endorsed by Sydney Jordan (Foxx). The set includes the songs from all three EMPIRE studio albums and The Mars Tapes together in one place. The 40 page booklet features six different sets of liner notes and extensive pictures from the personal archives of band members. The audio has received a 2017 remaster.

"Thank you to Daniel Earnshaw, QEDG Management, Cherry Red Records, Carl Glover and Mike Pietrini for the remastering, design and release of this wonderful, definitive collection of 'Empire' recordings. Peter has always said that 'Empire' and the music we created was where his heart was and that it was the closest he had come to his dream of creating another band like 'YES'.  With 'Empire' we achieved 90% of what we set out to. 10% was lost to pressure from the industry and the misfortune of being in L.A. during the 'Disco Era'. But the 90% that remains in this complete collection of 'Empire' recordings is timeless, magical and yet another valuable musical testament to one of the most innovative and greatest guitar players ever, who co-created one of the greatest bands ever!" - Sydney Foxx

Peter Banks passed away in 2013 but his musical legacy will live on with a series of official definitive album releases throughout 2018 and 2019. The Peter Banks Musical Estate is represented by Daniel Earnshaw.

Track List:

DISC ONE: THE BEST OF EMPIRE
1. OUT OF OUR HANDS
2. DESTINY
3. FARAWAY
4. FOUNDATION
5. SKY AT NIGHT (Featuring Phil Collins)
6. WHERE YES MEANS NO
7. OFF WITH THE KING'S HEAD
8. MORE THAN WORDS
9. SHOOTING STAR
PART 1 – FROM THE TOP
PART 2 – COMMON GROUND
PART 3 – ICELAND ON THE ROCKS
PART 4 – SHOOTING STAR
10. FOR A LIFETIME
11. DO WHAT YOU WANT

DISC TWO: THE MARS TAPES
1. OUT OF OUR HANDS
2. FOUNDATION/DESTINY/FARAWAY
3. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW BAR AND GRILL
4. DO WHAT YOU WANT
5. DANCING MAN
6. SOMETHING'S COMING
7. THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE
8. WHEN THE BANKS OVERFLOW
9. ASCENDING TO THE PLANET MARS
10. AS SILENCE PREVAILS

DISC THREE: THE REST OF EMPIRE
1. EVERYTHING CHANGES
2. SKY AT NIGHT (MARK II VERSION)
3. STILL OUT OF OUR HANDS
4. GOODBYE
5. DESTINY (MARK II VERSION)
6. SOMEONE WHO CARES
7. AIN'T THAT PECULIAR
8. DANCING MAN
9. HEAR MY VOICE ON THE RADIO
10. WHO (Featuring Ray Bennett)

To purchase EMPIRE FEATURING PETER BANKS & SYDNEY FOXX – THE COMPLETE RECORDINGS:

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King King announce special guests for January 2018 UK Tour

KING KING ANNOUNCE SPECIAL GUESTS FOR JANUARY 2018 UK TOUR
RHINO'S REVENGE (feat. RHINO from STATUS QUO) in LONDON, B'HAM & BATH
GERRY JABLONSKI AND THE ELECTRIC BAND in EDINBURGH
XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES in SHEFFIELD 

King King are pleased to announce the special guests for their January 2018 UK Tour. The award-winning rock blues band will be supported by Rhino's Revenge (feat. Rhino from Status Quo) at the London Shepherd's Bush Empire on Wednesday 17th January, the Birmingham Town Hall on Thursday 18th January and the Bath Forum on Saturday 20th January. Gerry Jablonski And The Electric Band will support King King at the Edinburgh Queen's Hall on Friday 26th January and Xander And The Peace Pirates at the Sheffield Leadmill on Saturday 27th January. 

King King released their fourth studio album "Exile & Grace" on Friday 13th October 2017 via Manhaton Records. The album features the band's singles (She Don't) Gimme No Lovin' and Long Time Running which have been big hits on Planet Rock radio in the UK. 

The album coincides with King King's biggest UK tour to date. The dates include London's Shepherd's Bush Empire (Wednesday 17 January), Birmingham Town Hall (Thursday 18 January), Bath Forum (Saturday 20 January), Edinburgh Queen's Hall (Friday 26 January), and Sheffield Leadmill (Saturday 27 January). Tickets are available via the 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 478 0898 and can be ordered from www.thegigcartel.com.   

The new album "Exile & Grace" promises to deliver a bigger punch, with killer songs performed with true passion by a fist tight line-up. The album was recorded at Superfly Studios and mixed by Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Feeder and Therapy?). 

Says King King's frontman and guitarist, Alan Nimmo, "Exile & Grace definitely has a rockier feel and sound to it. We are following our influences from the Classic Rock genre, Bad Company, Whitesnake and Thunder. We really set out to challenge ourselves with this album. We've stepped up the quality of songwriting and pushed ourselves physically in both performance and delivery!" 

Further info about King King's new album "Exile & Grace" and the January 2018 Tour, click here – www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/kingking/exileandgrace.htm 

KING KING – "EXILE & GRACE" JANUARY 2018 UK TOUR
BOOK TICKETS: 0844 478 0898, www.thegigcartel.com 

London Shepherd's Bush Empire              Wednesday 17 January
Birmingham, Town Hall                                Thursday 18 January
Bath, Forum                                                       Saturday 20 January
Edinburgh Queen's Hall                               Friday 26 January
Sheffield, Leadmill                                         Saturday 27 January
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KHARA There Were Heroes Amongst Us


Khara are a post-rock / instrumental quartet hailing from Kumanovo, Macedonia featuring the likes of Emil Pachkovski, Milan Trajkovikj, Filip Stojkovski and Filip Mihajlovski. They started playing together in October 2014. The name of the band comes from Mongolian mythology. It tells the tale of the first shaman who could bring the dead back to life, his name was Kara. They have been inspired by the myths of Kara, as well as his life with all of its elements. From the characteristic heavy-riff guitars, through the high pitched shredding melodies accompanied by a heart-pounding bass guitar and drums, the soft and quiet instrumentals building into a climax and the ethereal live performances, they try to evoke feelings and leave their listeners to create their own stories. Love, war, hope – that's what affects these four young men to wander through the world with one goal, creating music for people to relate to. "There Were Heroes Amongst Us" is the debut album and a conceptual album, meaning that there is a theme wandering throughout it. The album tells the tales of the forgotten heroes, the people who achieved extraordinary things with nothing but their courage. People who should not have been forgotten, but they were. The album breeds with different types of melodies, ranging through melancholic and sad, to joyful and happy. Six songs that are crafted to represent a specific person, object or event. Their names may not mean nothing if you look at them separately, but if you add ''To all of you, soldiers'', everything starts making sense.
Fluttery Records is a home for post-rock, ambient, modern classical music since 2008.
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KAYAK - launch 'Seventeen' album trailer; pre-orders begin

KAYAK inks worldwide deal with InsideOutMusic; announce release date for "Seventeen"!


Legendary Dutch progressive rock band KAYAK will release their seventeenth studio album entitled "Seventeen" on January 12th, 2018. Today they have launched a trailer for the record, featuring snippets of three tracks, and you can watch that here: https://youtu.be/_428wBMD1AQ
 
Founding member Ton Scherpenzeel has this to say about the upcoming new record:
"Who would have thought that the quirky Dutch prog band that began its journey in 1973 (the year "See See The Sun" came out) would still have a future some 45 years later. Yes, we have had our share of ups and downs. Often it seemed the band would either break up for good or fade into oblivion. But we didn't. So here we are, a new line up, but as dedicated to the music as we were in the beginning. If there is a secret to KAYAK's longevity, it must be that. Writing this, I realize that the album title does not only mark the number of studio albumsKAYAK has made up until now. It also represents that exciting feeling of being 17 all overagain, embarking on a musical journey, full of expectations. And just like in 1973, I don't knowwhere it will lead us, but we're on our way. Here's to new horizons."
 
"Seventeen" is now available to pre-order on 2CD Digipak (featuring an extra disc with 36 minutes of demo material), gatefold 2LP + CD & digital download. Digital pre-orders through iTunes & Amazon receive the track 'Feathers & Tar' immediately and you can also stream the track on Spotify, Apple Music & other services: http://smarturl.it/KAYAKSeventeen
 
A strictly limited blue Gatefold 2LP+CD (200 copies only) is exclusively available at the band's own official store: https://kayak.merchandise-entertainment.com
 
The full track-listing is as follows:
Disc 1
1. Somebody (3:04)
2. La Peregrina (11:42)
3. Falling (3:08)
4. Feathers And Tar (3:14)
5. Walk Through Fire (10:23)
6. Ripples On The Water (3:40)
7. All That I Want (3:47)
8. X Marks The Spot (1:58)
9. God On Our Side (3:30)
10. Love, Sail Away (3:12)
11. Cracks (8:50)
12. To An End (3:32)
 
Disc 2
1. Cracks (Demo 2016) (10:16)
2. La Peregrina (Demo 2016) (12:21)
3. Falling (Demo 2016) (3:00)
4. Walk Through Fire (Demo 2016) (10:41)

 

The band will play some headline dates in the Netherlands in January, and support will come from Rikard Sjöblom's Gungfly:

24th January - 013, Tilburg
25th January - Neushoorn, Leeuwarden
26th January - Victorie, Alkmaar
27th January - De boerderij, Zoetermeer
28th January - Luxor, Arnhem
 
KAYAK was founded in 1972 by keyboardist/composer Ton Scherpenzeel and drummer/composer Pim Koopman, along with lead singer Max Werner, guitarist Johan Slager and bass player Cees van Leeuwen. Often compared to contemporaries like Yes and Focus, the band quickly developed their own style of symphonic rock that was rather concentrating on songs than elaborate solos and long instrumental passages while KAYAK never shied away from including epic, longer tracks and captivating, dramatic arrangements. Throughout the years, KAYAK has seen many line-up changes with Ton Scherpenzeel now being the only original member and leader of the band.
 
KAYAK achieved tremendous success from the late 70's onwards, cracking the US top 50 charts with the single 'Want You To Be Mine' in 1978, holding number #1 in the Dutch charts for several weeks with the Platin awarded "Phantom Of The Night" album released in 1979 with its single 'Ruthless Queen' reaching #5 on the Dutch single charts. This first era of KAYAK ended after eight albums in 1981. All members went their own way, Ton Scherpenzeel for instance played and recorded with groups like Earth & Fire and Camel, whereas former singer/drummer Max Werner scored a number #2 hit in Germany with 'Rain In May' from his second solo record "Seasons" already in 1981.
 
But the story of KAYAK was not over.
 
Fast forward to 1999: after an 18 year absence, Ton Scherpenzeel and Pim Koopman restarted KAYAK, with Max Werner again taking over lead vocals. This second era was marked by an explosive, new creativity making the band's output exceed the early days. In 2009, disaster struck when Koopman died of heart failure in the middle of the "Letters from Utopia" tour. In 2011, the band had overcome this big loss and returned to the stage and with a new album. A couple of years later KAYAK completed their rock opera trilogy "Merlin", "Nostradamus" and "Cleopatra" but when lead singers Cindy Oudshoorn and Edward Reekers left the band shortly after, Scherpenzeel realized he had to completely renew the line up in order to maintain his creativity as well as keep the band going.
 
Now, with singer Bart Schwertmann and guitarist Marcel Singor joining Ton Scherpenzeel as the band's creative core and additional members Kristoffer Gildenlöw (bass / ex Pain Of Salvation) and Collin Leijenaar (drums / Affector, Neal Morse, Dave Bainbridge), a reborn KAYAK once again proves that the band's name - though chosen randomly back in 1972 - is as appropriate as ever. Just when everyone expects the boat to sink, it miraculously resurfaces and sails on. 

KAYAK online
 
INSIDEOUTMUSIC online: 
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John Wetton & Geoff Downes' iCon Zero Now Available on CD and Download!



iCon Zero is a revised presentation of the Wetton/Downes album and is a precursor to their iCon series of albums. It is essentially a collection of tracks mostly recorded in the late 1980s through the time of their brief reformation in 1990.

The original version of the album was released in 2002 and in retrospect seemed like an iCon album from a previous era, so both John and Geoff readily agreed to it being brought into the iCon family. John came up with the name Zero, and both John and Geoff approved the new front cover artwork.

The album has received a 2017 remaster and includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Geoff Downes reminisced about this time period in their joint career with these comments: Icon Zero brings back many fond memories of working with John back in the early-mid 80s. Despite being the principal writers for Asia, we both felt there was at least one other string to our bow. This manifested itself in later years as the Icon project, and this album is an insight into the inner workings of our early relationship, not just as members of Asia, but also as songwriters. These recordings were made largely at weekends when we rented demo studios to try out our 'other' ideas and simply - have some fun time away from the pressures of the music business. Most of these songs were put together in a few hours, and written on the fly. Then, they were recorded straight down that same day. One great aspect of this was, we always seemed came up with something new, and as the inspiration flowed it was captured there and then even in its embryonic form.

Sadly John Wetton passed away in January 2017, but this release was already on the cards, with his Estate and Geoff Downes approving it going ahead as originally planned.

Geoff Downes had these further comments about his late bandmate: "John was a genius in every sense of the word, and I am most privileged to have been a big part of his career. The Icon project in itself stands alone as a complete cycle of our work together, and this album (Icon Zero) displays an important part of that development. The great John Wetton's unique presence can be felt on every note and lyric of these songs. Please enjoy."

iCon Zero will be followed by definitive edition re-releases of the subsequent three iCon albums, with bonus tracks, during 2018 with Geoff Downes' personal approval.

To purchase John Wetton & Geoff Downes iCon Zero:
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